V-Sigpao: Mango Fruit Picker

Patent Number: PH-1-2014-000311

Patent Title: V-Sigpao: Mango Fruit Picker

Description

A mechanical mango fruit picker that uses cutting and shearing mechanism which reduces the latex stain by 80% during harvesting and lessens the bruising damage caused by mishandling. It has two types: (1) the pull-type (double blade); and (2) the trigger type. These mechanical mango fruit pickers are both attached to extendable poles.

​Innovative Features and Benefits:

Mango fruit harvesting is done through pulling which detaches the peduncles causing latex to flow on the fruit resulting in latex stain or if severe, latex burns. A traditional practice of preventing the excessive flow of latex is by scheduling harvest at 9:00 o’clock in the morning of a fair day. However, mangoes harvested beyond the said time are exposed to higher temperatures. This would speed up respiration and transpiration resulting in considerable weight loss.

Thus, V-Sigpao aims to improve the shearing and cutting mechanism of fruit harvesting. Pull-type has a double blade for better shearing. Trigger type is provided with cutting wedges for better cutting. A significant reduction in harvesting time is realized. The use of both types of mango fruit pickers helps reduce the number of fallen and mechanically damaged fruits. The frame is provided with a less abrasive net and an extendable handle/pole is adopted for long-reached fruits.

Business Development Opportunity:

The V-Sigpao has been introduced to various mango farmers and mango cooperatives in the Davao Region to determine its technical feasibility and marketability. The device has already its improved version and has undergone field trials and has been revised through validation.

This technology can be licensed out to interested fabricators and distributors across the country. At present, this product is sold directly to its buyers.

The University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) through its Knowledge and Technology Transfer Division (KTTD) would like to engage partnerships with interested entrepreneurs and is open for non-exclusive and domestic licensing to widen the product reach.

Applications:

This technology is for mango harvesting. The design is an improvement of the existing mango pickers. The harvesting capacity of the trigger type is 12 pieces per minute, while the harvesting capacity of pull-type is 21 pieces per minute. The first portion to pick is the lower part of the tree, next is the middle part, and finally the upper portion. This is the typical sequence in harvesting so that the lower part is spared from the falling latex caused by the middle and upper parts.