Research Patents on Potato Harvesters

Background: Potato is a major food crop that is widely grown in more than 100 countries around the world. The production of this crop is a labor-intensive process, and its field production mainly includes seed arrangement, seedling cutting, ploughing, ridging, transplanting, field management, and harvesting (vine cutting, digging, cleaning up, and collection). With the improved models, the labor can be reduced to nearly half in the production process of potato. Objective: The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of the classification, characteristics, and development of existing potato harvesters. Methods: In this study, a review on the principle of potato harvesting and related patents has been conducted. We have also introduced the structural characteristics and differences in applications of potato harvesters. Results: The existing potato harvesters have been analyzed and compared in this paper, and the typical characteristics have been summarized. The main problems existing in the development of potato harvesters are analyzed, the development trend of potato harvesters is forecasted, and the research status and future development trend of potato harvesters and patents are discussed. Conclusion: Based on our research, we have found that potato harvesters can be classified into three categories based on the harvesting process, clearing the vine, and harvesting machine. The combine harvester is capable of both clearing the vine and harvesting, and it has been reported to significantly improve the efficiency. However, for special terrain or other conditions not suitable for the combine harvester, the cutting and harvesting machine can perform both the steps. Currently, potato harvesters are not popular at home and abroad, and future development of potato harvesters must focus on them being intelligent, lightweight, and unmanned.