Machine-picking technology for small tea gardens: key points for using the Hengjun 4C-60 tea harvester

How does a tea harvester work?

With traditional hand picking, a skilled picker gathers only a few dozen jin of fresh leaves a day, and during peak labor demand, hired help is both expensive and hard to find. The tea harvester was developed to make picking easier and less labor-intensive. Small tea harvesters like the Hengjun 4C-60 mostly use a reciprocating cutting principle: power drives the blades in high-speed reciprocating motion, cutting the buds and leaves cleanly along the picking surface, while wind power or a collection device sends the fresh leaves into the collection bag. It has a simple structure and light weight, and one or two people working together can operate it between tea rows, making it especially suitable for flat tea gardens and gently sloping tea gardens.

Key points for machine picking, remember these

First, watch the weather. When fresh leaves contain too much moisture, cutting tends to stick to the blade, so machine picking is best done on a sunny day after the dew has dried; after rain, wait until the leaf surface is slightly dry before going into the field.

Second, watch the canopy. Machine picking has requirements for the tea garden's foundation: tea rows should be straight and the canopy should be flat, and it is best to start pruning one or two tea seasons in advance to develop the picking surface. When picking, the blade should advance steadily along the reserved picking line at a uniform walking speed; speeding up and slowing down easily causes uneven cuts and a mix of old and tender leaves.

Third, leave leaves sensibly. Although machine picking is fast, you cannot "shave the tea bush bald"; keep an appropriate number of leaves and buds according to the vigor of the bush, so as not to damage the tea plant's vitality and affect the next round of sprouting.

Fourth, handle fresh leaves promptly. Buds and leaves picked by machine are less intact than those picked by hand and often carry fragments of old leaves. After picking, spread them out as soon as possible and send them to the factory promptly; before processing, it is best to sift and grade them. The sooner fresh leaves enter the processing stage, the more guaranteed the finished tea quality.

Daily maintenance and buying reminders

A tea harvester is "three parts use, seven parts care." After each day's work, clean residual leaves and tea juice from the blades and body, check blade clearance and fasteners, and add lubricating oil as required by the manual; when the blade becomes dull, sharpen or replace it promptly, pay attention to moisture and rust prevention during storage, and it is safer to test the machine once before going into the field in early spring the following year. Remember to wear protective gear during operation, and be sure to shut off the engine before inspection and maintenance.

Finally, a reminder to tea farmers who want to buy a machine: when purchasing, look for a legitimate manufacturer and the "three guarantees" certificate, choose the right model according to your tea garden's row spacing, slope and scale, and it is best to test the machine before placing an order. As for agricultural machinery purchase subsidies, the scope and standards vary from place to place; whether a subsidy is available and how much it is should be based on the catalog and regulations published by the local agricultural machinery authorities.