Rubber Tree Tapping Machine

Options currently suggested does not appear to be practicable. What I suggest is an electrically operated 2 thin self adjusting rotating blade bark cutters with a bark (soft skin) sensor. The machine shoud be permanantly fixed to the tree and should tap the upward bark slot and the downward bark slot simultaneously, self adjusting the distance in between and returning automatically to original position after the desired lenght is moved down for tapping.. Trees shall be thus tapped on two slots once in three days on remote radio controlled operation. Tapping shall be with anti coagualent application (ethipone). Since two slot tapping is opted, the tree shall be given rest for the next year and the machine shall be shifted to a new block next year and returned the year after next. Electrical connection can be given to each machine(tree) either from a centralised solar pannel or external source. There should be a rotating roller moving about 1 inch ahead of the tapping blade to pullout and roll the thread scrap on each tapping.

By this twin slot tapping a tree may yield a maximum of 1 litre latex per day. By once in three days tapping, there will only be 10 tappings per month. A 10 litre storage tank with ammonia, with a remote controlled valve arrangement may be devised to collect each day's latex on a remote signal operation. Latex may be collected manually once a month from the bulk storage tank with each tree as the ammonia will prevent coagulation. By a single signal, collection from all the trees in a block may be completed in 5 minutes. If the collection cups on trees and the tanks are of PET, there will not be much dry scrap remaining. Self closing one way valve on the storage tank and the inflow tube reaching to the bottom of the tank should prevent the ammonia from escaping

Somebody with engeneering skills and imaginative minds may please try to build a machine costing about Rs.500 - 1000 (US $ 10-20)on the above line. This will have huge demand as all are now aware of the labour shortage. I am only a planter with no tech. skills. So I can only say about the requirement.

Kuruvilla