Engineering-based development of a manual comb and conceptual design of a portable chamomile picking machine

Abstract

Chamomile cultivation holds significant economic importance, but traditional manual harvesting is inefficient due to high labor costs and low productivity. Existing mechanical harvesters are often too complex and expensive for the small farms prevalent in many regions. To address these challenges, we conducted a study on the engineering properties of chamomile and evaluated a preliminary manual picking comb. The comb's optimal configuration (100 mm length, 5 mm gap width) achieved a peak productivity of 14.88 kg/h and a high picking efficiency of 95.33%, significantly outperforming a single laborer (4.68 kg/h) at a total operating cost of 10.060 L.E/h. Based on these findings, this research proposes a conceptual design for a portable chamomile picking machine. The design, weighing less than 7 kg (without batteries), features a lightweight frame, a picking mechanism with a comb, cutting blade, and brush, along with a power transmission system, a collecting basket, and a portable power source. This design aims to provide a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and highly efficient solution tailored for small-scale farms.