Cotton Picking
About the Practice
How might we reduce body pain of labourers, regardless of age or gender, while ensuring a better collecting approach which minimises hand movements and stress on the shoulders and back while collecting cotton, in a cost effective manner.”
Detail:
The prototype we have built is made up of simple mechanics of load distribution in which we have considered two things to reduce the load effort which are: 1. To minimize the distance between the centre of gravity of the human body and the centre of gravity of load. 2. To divide one type of stress into multiple components. In the traditional approach, there was only a single tensile component, thus the point of load falls on the particular point on the shoulders. Now, our prototype divides this component into three components and four directions. To deal with the above mentioned points, we have made a universal load distribution and movement reducing bag which is made up of a waist belt and two straps for the shoulders for the proper distribution among the waist and the shoulders. To deal with the buckling problem, we have used foam as a reinforcement.Keeping in mind the traditional idea, the aim was to redistribute the weight. While the carrying capacity of the traditional method is massive, the problem is that all the weight falls on the shoulders. Thus, we built a large bag which has the capacity of carrying as large as 15 kg. 2. To ensure that the bags do not hinder the knee movement, we have such a shape to the bag that the ends of it are on that part of the waist which is parallel to the knee. In such a way, it doesn’t hinder both the forward and the backward movement as balls won’t accumulate in the front or sideways. We have now made a belt which is easier to wear with minimum tightening and loosening mechanisms. Also under the current system, the straps were very long thus creating the need of cloth unnecessarily. As we plan to make it “Do It Yourself “ product, the labourers can make it according to their physique eliminating all the extra material. 4. We have provided a knot mechanism which when untied empties the entire collected material. Several changes can be made like using a button or buckle instead of simply typing a knot. 5. We removed the concept of two bags and instead made one single large bag with two inlets open on both sides. Also, as needed, irrespective of the side from which the balls are put into the bag, the balls would go and collect at the same place at the back. 6. The biggest advantage of our prototype is its “Do It Yourself” nature. It can be easily made at home using any cloth of 1 metre length. It can be made a minimal cost of Rs. 150 and thus will cost very less and is durable.
About the Innovator
Address: PWD COLONY SHAKTINAGAR,BURLA,
City: SAMBAALPUR
State: Odisha
PIN Code 768017
Email: dayankhan839@gmail.com
Contact No: 8247471682.0
Practice Details
Link: Our prototype is not restricted to picking of traditional cotton balls. 2. It can be used for picking vegetables and fruits that grow at heights like Apple Gourd (Tinda), Mangoes (Aam) & Ivy Gourd (Kundru). 3. It can also be used for picking tea leaves which will reduce constant hand movements to the back.
Manufacturing Capacity: b) Design Support, c) Sub-contracting
Problem Scale: Local in India only