seedling capper device

Problem Definition:

In the fall and winter months, when food becomes sparse for deer, one particularly nutritious source of food is the terminal buds of white pine trees. This is a problem because the pines cannot survive without the terminal bud as it contains the hormones necessary for tree growth and its removal leads to tree death. A proven method of protecting the terminal bud is stapling a small piece of paper over the bud to prevent deer from seeing it. This method is an intensive manual process, and the focus of the project was to design a device that automatically installs the bud caps in order to replace the manual method. In order to understand the problem, several interviews were conducted with industry professionals as well as local tree farmers. From these interviews, a set of design requirements for the bud capping device were formulated. These requirements were as follows:

• the device must take ten seconds or less to cap a tree

• must survive a drop from three feet

• weigh less than seven pounds

• operable with one hand

• operable while wearing gloves as it is cold during the capping months

Design requirement target values

Inspiration & Ideation

Surgical Stapler - Echelon Contour

This device inspired ideation on cutting and stapling mechanisms for the device.

Vine tying device - Max Tapener

This device inspired feeding, stapling, and cutting mechanism ideation for the device.