Robonance-15 ISSN: 2321-8134

IJFEAT
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS AND
TECHNOLOGY

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF CROP REAPER

Ku. Shalini P. Shivankar1, Prof. Ashish. M. Wankhade2, Prof. Mansur. N. Syed3

1
B.E Final Year, Department of Mechanical Engineering, J.D.I.E.T, Maharashtra, India, knlkarlekar100@gmail.com
2
Assistant Professor, Department of
MechanicalEngineering,J.D.I.E.T,Maharashtra,India,ashish_wankhade@rediffmail.com

3
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, J.D.I.E.T, Maharashtra, India

Abstract
The ultimate aim of agriculture or farming in India is not only limited to growing of crops but is also associated with the economic
growth of farmers and labours. Small scale farmers frequently face the problem of labour shortage or are unable to afford the wages
constrained by the labours. These problems prevent the fiscal growth of farmers and ultimately hamper the development of their
farmland and family. Efficient, effective, cheap and productive techniques are needed to strengthen the farmers. The project is based
on developing a machine which focuses on labour problems faced by small scale farmers who have agricultural land. The machine
developed can harvest up to two rows of soya bean plant at a time. The components of the machine comprise of a diesel engine of
3.5hp, pulley, a belt drive, a collecting mechanism and a cutter. The crop is being harvested by a scissoring type of motion. The power
from the engine is provided to the cutter through pulley and belt arrangement. Powered by the pulley arrangement a collecting
mechanism is being provided to the adjacent side of the cutter to collect the harvested crops. This machine is a simple and efficient
solution to the problems faced by small scale farmers as it reduces the cost of harvesting to a considerable amount as compared to that
of manual harvesting. The machine developed is small, compact and at very reasonable cost. Also, it is easy to maintain as it is made
up of local spare parts which are easily available.

Index Terms: Harvester, Reaper, Scissoring action.

--------------------------------------------------------------------- *** ------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. INTRODUCTION the harvested crops. This machine is cost effective, easy to

Farmers in vidarbha have been experiencing a problem of lack
of skilled and cheap labour which has ultimately forced them
with no other option but to adopt the use of machinery
harvesters. The alarming rate of growth in population has now
made it necessary to fasten the rate of production of
agricultural products using mechanized harvesters. These
harvesters are available in market for purchase or are made
available on hourly basis on rent by agricultural organizations
but small scale farmers do not require such full/extra featured
combined harvesters. Thus there is a need for the development
of a compact and a comparatively cheap harvesting machine
which will be affordable to the small scale farmers. The focus
of the project is to create a portable, compact and user friendly
low cost mini harvester and collector machine which will
simultaneously perform both jobs of harvesting and collecting
http: // www.ijfeat.org (C) International Journal For Engineering Applications and Technology
maintain and can be simply manufactured as it comprises of
locally available spare parts.
Manual labour takes time and is not effective as they can work
for 3-4 hours at a stretch. According to oral survey, on an
average 5 labours are required to harvest 1 acre of soya bean
crop in a day. Even if the land holding is small it takes
approximately 4-5 labours and they will take a time of two or
three days to completely harvest the soya bean crop. This
harvester is a walk behind type of harvester which is powered
by the 3.5 HP, 3600 rpm engine. With the help of V- belt drive
power is transmitted to cutter. Collecting mechanism consist
of flat belt with collecting plates bolted on it known as lugs.
The crop is guided towards lugs by means of the guiding
 Robonance-15
plates mounted in front of the cutting frame. After cutting the
crop collecting belt simply carry the cut crop sideways.
By using this harvesting machine, problem of the labour crises
can be reduced. As compared with manual harvesting only
18% of labours are required. This makes the process faster
hence reduces most of the harvesting time. So, it reduces the
labour cost. Definitely this machine will be used by maximum
number of farmers. Farmers can overcome the labour crises
problem. The productivity is also increased.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics
was intended to discuss the characteristics of small scale
farmers across Asia. This commission identified the problems
faced, the average land holdings and the average income of the
small scale farmers[5].
Dr.S.D.Kulakarni from Central Institute of Agricultural
Engineering (CIAE) Bhopal ,[discussed the problems faced by
the farmers at the peak season of the harvesting. It specifically
limits its results towards the labour scarcity in India, especially
in the peak harvesting seasons. [1],
Indian Government Analysis was the survey done by
Indian Government in the fiscal year of 2012-13. This survey
was intended to analyze and collect the data related to the
problems faced by the Indian farmers. [5]
N.S.L.Srivastava checked the interests of farmers and the
problems they faced while harvesting and maintaining the
agriculture field. His paper was a deep study of the farming
conditions of the farmers and their basic problems. [6]
Christopher Molica et. al. created a small scale
harvester which was a combined reaper and binder. This
machine was developed concerned to the small scale grain
growers. [4]
Yuming Guo et. al. described the relation between the
stalk strength and the cutting force that is required for cutting
the soybean. The paper briefly explains the Design,
Development and Fabrication of a Compact Harvester. The
paper described the strength of various crops and compares it
with the soybean and also gives a rough idea about the cutting
speed required to cut the crop. [2]
L.P.Raut et. al. created a small scale harvester machine.
The machine targets small scale farmers who have land area of
less than 2 acres. This machine is compact and can cut up to
two rows of soybean plant. It has cutting blades which cut the
crop in a scissoring type of motion. It runs on diesel engine of
5HP, this power from engine, is provided through pulley and
gear box arrangement to the cutter. A collecting mechanism is
provided for the collection of crops to one side after cutting.
The mechanism is powered by pulley arrangement. The
compact harvester is manufactured using locally available
spare parts and thus, it is easily maintainable [3].
3. PROPOSED WORK
3.1 Methodology
With increase in demand of labour, the aim was to
fabricate affordable harvester with locally available parts for
http: // www.ijfeat.org (C) International Journal For Engineering Applications and Technology
ISSN: 2321-8134
the economic growth of small scale farmers. To achieve this
aim, it was decided to follow following steps:
1. Interact with local small scale farmers to obtain a basic idea
traditional techniques used for harvesting and labour cost for
harvesting.
2. Interview agricultural equipment manufacturers to get
information about various equipments that are available and
are in demand.
3. Refer various international papers in small scale harvesters
produced earlier.
4. Design of reaper collector.
Fig 1 : Top view of the Reaper
1. Engine 2.Engine Frame 3. Tyre 4. Cutter Blades 5. Crop
row divider
Past data bases like Google scholar, Google patents
and relevant papers for small scale harvesters were examined.
The purpose was to gain an insight into what researches have
been done earlier and what were the implications of those
designs.
3.2 Components of Machine
3.5 HP Birla Yamaha engine, frame angle, wheel assembly,
pedestal bearings, pulleys, cutting blades, chain and sprockets,
clutch, starwheel and crop guiding assembly.
The engine is mounted to provide power to the harvester. The
frame of the harvester with the dimension 90 cm 22 cm (l
b) is fabricated using frame angles. The frame is light and
strong enough to sustain weight of diesel engine. The wheels
are connected by means of an axle which supports entire frame
of the machine.
Pedestal bearing is used for higher speeds, heavy loads and
large sizes. A pulley is a wheel on an axle that is designed to
support movement of a cable or belt along its circumference.
They are assembled to form a block and tackle in order to
provide mechanical advantage to apply large forces. Pulleys
are also assembled as part of belt and chain drives in order to
transmit power from one rotating shaft to another.
 Robonance-15
Belts are looped over pulleys. In a two pulley system, the belt
can either drive the pulleys in the same direction, or the belt
may be crossed, so that the direction of the shafts is opposite.
V belts are used to overcome the slippage and alignment
problem. It is now the basic belt for power transmission. They
provide the best combination of traction, speed of movement,
load of the bearings, and long service life.
Cutter assembly consists of a sliding cutter plate and a
stationery cutter plate. The cutters used are of triangular shape.
In sliding cutter plate, cutter blade is riveted on 2.5 cm plate
and in stationery cutter plate cutter blade is riveted on 8 cm
plate. The stationary cutter plate is directly bolted and fixed on
frame.
In order to avoid slipping, chain drives are used. These wheels
have projecting teeth of special profile and fit in to the
corresponding recesses in the links of the chain. The toothed
wheels are known as sprocket wheel or simply sprockets.
It is dangerous to start the engine with the whole assembly, so
for the safety purpose, a clutch used to engage and disengage
the engine power to whole assembly. Starwheel direct the crop
towards lugs to convey it on one side of reaper. It is made up
of wood.
3.3 Fabrication
A welded frame is mounted on wheel assembly taking in
consideration that two rows have to be harvested at a time.
Initially the engine is mounted on the frame using nut and
bolts. This step is followed by the mounting of pulley and belt
arrangement for transmitting the power from engine to cutting
blades. The cutting frame on which the cutting blades are fit is
welded to main frame. This combination of cutting blades
provides a scissoring action. This frame consists of two shafts
along with two pulleys on each shaft which are fixed at
opposite sides of the frame. In order to avoid slipping chain
drives are used. The power is transmitted by means of chain
and sprocket to shaft which is connected to crank to get
reciprocating motion of cutting blades. The clutch is used to
engage and disengage the engine power to whole assembly.
Wooden starwheels are used during the fabrication process.
Some power is given to the collecting mechanism. Final step
of fabrication process is to provide a handle to push the
machine.
4. WORKING
The machine is a walk behind type of harvester which is
powered by the 3.5 HP, 3600 rpm engine. With the help of V-
belt drive power is transmitted to cutter. The engine power is
transmitted to cutter bar through belt pulley. The cut crop is
moved to one side of the machine by the conveyer belt fitted
with lugs and is dropped in the field. As the required rpm at
cutter is as less as 600 rpm, a combination of V-belt and
chain-sprocket drives is used. One end of this output shaft is
connected to slider crank mechanism which converts rotary
http: // www.ijfeat.org (C) International Journal For Engineering Applications and Technology
ISSN: 2321-8134
motion of shaft into reciprocating motion of cutter blade.
Reciprocating cutter blade slides over fixed blade and creates
scissoring action responsible for cutting the crops. Collecting
mechanism consist of flat belt with collecting plates bolted on
it known as lugs. The crops are guided towards lugs by means
of the guiding plates mounted in front of the cutting frame.
During forward motion of the reaper, crop row dividers divide
the crop which comes in contact with the cutter bar where
shearing of crops stems takes place by means of the guiding
plates and fix in to the star wheels so that while cutting it will
not fall in front. After cutting the crop collecting belt simply
carry cut crops sideways.
Fig 2. Actual Reaper
5. CALCULATION
The power required to drive the compact harvesting machine
must be such that:
[1] It must carry variable load during constant running of
machine.
[2] According to studies done on soybean crops the
reciprocating speed should be 0.8 to 1.2 m/s.
[3] Scissoring action is used to cut the crop.
[4] Speed given to collecting mechanism will be more than the
reciprocating mechanism.
[5] Along with crop strength, strength of miscellaneous items
such as weeds stems etc.
So, keeping these objectives in mind, the power required to
drive the load is according to the requirement of machine. It
must be 2HP to 3.5HP. So, being on the safer side engine
producing power of 3.5HP is selected.
Drive Design
Let,
N1 = Speed of engine
D1= Diameter of engine pulley
N2= Speed of larger pulley
D2 = Diameter of larger pulley
 Robonance-15 ISSN: 2321-8134

N1D1 = N2D2 * Load at pulley A

3600 6.35= N2 20.32 WAH = T1 + T1 = 320+125.12 =445.42
N2 = 1125 rpm * Load at pulley D
Now, WBH = T3+T1 =1067.75+417.09= 1484.84
N2D2 = N3D3 Now, Bending moment calculations are as follows
1125 6.35= N3 21 RCH+RBH=445.42+1484.84 = 1930.26
N3 = 340 rpm Taking moment at point C
Also, - (T1+T2)7.84- RDH 16.76+(T3+T4)30.16 = 0
N3D3 = N4D4 1484.8430.16 445.427.84 = RDH 16.76
340 15 = N4 15 RDH = 41290.68/16.76
N4 = 510 rpm RDH = 2463.64N
Therefore, final rpm at cutter is 510 rpm. Therefore, RDH = - 533.38N
(1) Design for engine shaft Bending Moment at C and D = 0
DA = 20 cm Bending Moment at A = RCH 7.84 10-2
DB = 6 cm = -533.387.84 10-2
= 180 = - 41.81 N-m
= 0.3 Bending Moment at B = RDH13.4 10-2
N = 1125 rpm = 2463.64 13.410-2
Now, = 930.12 N-m
P = 2NT/ 60 Resultant Bending Moment
2.3 103 = 2 1125 T/ 60 At A, MA = ( MAV)2+ ( MAH)2
T = 2.3 10360/21125 =41.81 N-m
T = 19.52 N-m At B, MB = ( MBV)2+ ( MBH)2
Torque transmitted is same throughout the shaft. =930.12 N-m
Hence, Hence, M max = MB = 930.12 N-m
T1/T2 = T3/T4 = e = e0.3 = 2.56 Maximum Torque, = 16103/D T2+ M2
Now, we have The selected material is SAE 1030
T = (T1 T2 ) RA Then we get maximum torque = 296
19.52= T2 (T1/T2 -1) 1010-2=T2 (2.56-1) 0.1 Let, Factor of safety = 2
19.52= 0.156T2 Then maximum torque = 296/2 = 148
T2 = 125.12 Now,
T1 = 320.30 148= 16103/D3 19.522+930.122
Also, D = 31.75 mm
T= (T3-T4) RB Therefore our shaft design is safe.
19.52= T4 (T3/T4 -1) 310-2= T4(2.56-1) 0.03
5. CONCLUSION
19.52=0.0468T4
T4= 417.09N The machine developed will be of effective use to the farmers
to overcome many of the problems faced by them during the
T3= 1067.75N
peak season of harvesting. As compared with manual
harvesting only 20% of labours are required after the
implementation of this machine. It makes the harvesting
http: // www.ijfeat.org (C) International Journal For Engineering Applications and Technology
 Robonance-15 ISSN: 2321-8134

process faster hence reduces the time required to harvest the
same amount of yield manually which will ultimately reduce
the labour required leading to reduction in labour cost, thus
leading to the economic development of farmers. This
machine can be used by a large number of farmers as it is
small, compact and is easily available.
REFERENCES
[1] Mechanization of agriculture - Indian scenario, Dr. S.D.
Kulakarni, Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering
(CIAE) Bhopal. Vol. 2, Issue 10, 2014 | ISSN (online): 2321-
0613.
[2] Relationship between Stalk Shear Strength and
Morphological Traits of Stalk Crops, Li Liang, Yuming Guo.
Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, Shanxi
Agricultural University. 2011 International Conference on
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Advances in Biomedical Engineering Vols. 1-2.
[3] Design, Development and Fabrication of a Compact
Harvester, Laukik P.Raut, Vishal Dhandare, Pratik Jain, Vinit
Ghike, Vineet Mishra.
[4] Design of Small-Scale Grain Harvester: A tool for Urban
and Pre-urban Growers; Christopher Boyle, Ian Jutras,
Christopher Molica, Earl Ziegler.
[5] Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics
Twenty-Third Session Siem Reap, Cambodia, 26-30 April
2010.
[6] Farm power sources, their availability and future
requirements to sustain agricultural production, by N. S. L.
Srivastava.

http: // www.ijfeat.org (C) International Journal For Engineering Applications and Technology