- Shohreh Kia
The above figures show the components used to prototype a pneumatic harvesting system for Oyster mushrooms.
The above figure shows the major components of the developed motorized harvesting system, which consists of a stainless steel cylinder (C) with fruiting holes suspended from the ceiling of a stool constructed using item profiles. The cylinder contains a plastic bag filled with a substrate for oyster mushroom growth. These holes on the cylinder aligned with the perforation in the plastic bag, allowing the mushrooms to emerge and grow. A 3D-printed lid (L), matching the diameter of the cylinder, seals the bottom to prevent substrate spillage in case of damage to the bag. A stepper motor (S) is installed underneath the suspended cylinder to drive a 3D-printed plate, which vertically holds the blade (B). The plate is specifically designed to accommodate the motor, ensuring stability during rotation.
The stepper motor initiates rotation, causing the blade to cut the mushrooms protruding through the holes in the cylinder. We program the motor to rotate in either direction to ensure successful harvesting. Adjustments such as sharpening the knife and modifying the motor’s speed can be made to optimize the system’s performance.
The CAD files for the 3D printed components used for this system can be found in