Harvester configured to receive a platform

Abstract

A harvesting system and method providing a row insensitive plant cutting and gathering capability, suitable for harvesting tall, stalky plants such as sweet sorghum, cane, and the like, in high volume, which also billet cuts the harvested plants. Multiple plants are cut simultaneously on a continuous basis at any locations across a header of the system, and the cut plants are gathered into a continuous overlapping flow having a vertical extent or thickness of several stalks or canes and their associated foliage. The flow is then vertically compacted into a mat of reduced thickness while being conveyed into a billet cutter, which cuts the stalks or canes into billets of a desired length and discharges the billets to a desired location, all while the harvester is moving through a field harvesting. The system can be incorporated into a conventional sugarcane harvester in place of conventional base cutters and row dividers.

Description

"HARVESTER CONFIGURED TO RECEIVE A PLATFORM" Field of Technique This invention generally relates to a system and method for harvesting and accommodating plants for biomass and energy production and the like. Specifically, it is operable for cutting stem-bearing plants, such as varieties of sweet sorghum, as well as sugarcane, in large volumes, in a row-insensitive manner over the width of the harvester's front end, and it transports and contains the mass of cut stems or canes, including leaves and other foliage, together until the stems are cut into stalks, then directs and discharges a stream of stalks to a desired location. The system may also include a cleaning apparatus configured and operable to separate a desired portion of the leaves from the stalks before discharge from the system, as desired, to improve handling and preserve the desired properties of the harvested plants. Background of the InventionHarvesting densely planted, tall, and stem-laden plants, including but not limited to sweet sorghum, for biomass and energy has long been known. Conventional harvesters have commonly been used to harvest sorghum, including grain, forage, and sugarcane-type harvesters, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. With sorghum, the sugars contained in the stalks are the desired element to obtain from the plant. However, it has been found that an undesirable amount of juice containing sugars can be lost or undesirably degraded if the stalks are cut into small portions and stored in that state before the extraction process. It has also been found that sorghum stored in small chunks can generate undesirable levels of heat when stored. Therefore, it is desirable to harvest sorghum in a way that preserves more of the juice in the harvested plant.One challenge of harvesting sorghum is that the harvest season can last many months a year, and any combine harvester used must be designed for a relatively high annual work cycle. Another challenge is that sorghum is sometimes planted relatively densely compared to similar tall plants such as sugarcane, and the use of a sugarcane-configured combine harvester may be necessary. Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 17 / 59 The conventional 2 / 18 timeframe for harvesting sorghum may be slower than desired. Examining the various types of harvesters used for sorghum, grain-type harvesters are advantageous because they allow harvesting wide rows of crop in a row-insensitive manner, i.e., anywhere across the width of the combine harvester's platform, without needing to align with the rows of plants being harvested, and can quickly process the large resulting mass of harvested crop material. Grain harvesters can also collect the grain separately from the stalks and other crop residues. Disadvantages include the fact that grain harvesters are typically built to operate in relatively short annual work cycles, and there is no known adequate method for preserving juices in the harvested stalks.The flow of harvested material from a typical grain combine harvester is, additionally, in the form of a non-sequential mixture of harvested material, including stalks, leaves, grains, and other plant parts, where the stalks are not deliberately oriented in any particular direction. As a result, the stalks are not properly aligned in a way that facilitates cutting into billets of a particular length or range of lengths with the desired uniformity. Forage harvesters are advantageous because they can also harvest in a row-insensitive manner, that is, cut crops anywhere across the width of the harvester's platform, and can introduce a large volume of cut crop material from the platform into the harvester. Forage harvesters also have a large-capacity cutter or chopper that can quickly chop or cut the incoming crop material into small pieces or particles, for example, smaller than a corn or cereal seed, suitable for transport using pneumatic systems.The known disadvantages of forage harvesters are that they also have a relatively short annual work cycle, and the rotary chopper is not adapted to cut stalks in order to produce billets of a desired length for better juice retention, for example, in a range of around 100 mm to around 500 mm. Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 18 / 59 3 / 18 Sugarcane harvesters are advantageous because they have a relatively long work cycle and cut the cane into pieces, including the aforementioned variation if desired. Some sugarcane harvesters have the ability to clean or remove leaves from the stalks in a variable manner, so that the amount of leaves remaining on the stalks can be controlled, which may be desirable. However, sugarcane harvesters are disadvantageous because they are sensitive to the planting row; that is, the device or platform for cutting and feeding the canes into the harvester requires alignment with a limited number of rows of canes spaced at a determined distance during movement across the field.This is required to enable the processing of the cut canes in a sequential, end-to-end order, where the plants are individually lifted, pruned (foliage removal), and cut at the base (the base of the canes cut at or near ground level) by the combine harvester, as needed, to harvest the desired parts of the plants. For the purpose of harvesting sweet sorghum and some other tall, stem-bearing plants for biomass or energy production, this degree of processing is unnecessary and serves to increase harvesting time and decrease productivity.As another disadvantage, sugarcane cultivation is well known, and the row spacing between sugarcane plants is currently uniform, either at 1.4 meters or 1.8 meters, and in some limited cases, narrower spacing, whereas row spacing for sweet sorghum and other plants to be used for energy production has not yet been standardized. Reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 6,062,009, by Caillouet, issued May 16, 2000, which describes a row-sensitive apparatus and method for harvesting and cutting cane into billets. The Caillouet apparatus is configured to prune, cut at the base, introduce, clean, and accommodate two rows of cane simultaneously. The Caillouet apparatus utilizes side-by-side chain platforms to receive and retain canes from each of the two rows in a semi-erect, generally vertical, orientation, to prune and cut at the base by a rotating base cutter situated below the rear end of the platforms, and a return device to move the canes laterally and throw the pruned ends downwards. Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, p. 19 / 59 4 / 18 away from the combine harvester, to introduce, first, the base end of the combine harvester's cutting edge, in sequential order for subsequent separation and accommodation. The separation and cleaning device is located in an intermediate area of ​​the combine harvester and separates leaves from the canes as they pass from the base cutter to an inclined lifting conveyor that transports the canes sequentially from end to end upwards and backwards to a billet cutter. The billet cutter cuts or separates the canes sequentially as they are transported and propelled from the end of the lifting conveyor to an additional cleaning device, a receiving container, or another location. As a disadvantage, the Caillouet apparatus is not configured to cut canes or stalks in a row-insensitive manner, nor is it designed to cut a large number of canes simultaneously into billets. In this regard, although more of a limitation than a disadvantage, many known billet cutters utilize parallel rotating rollers with blades that run the length of the billet at angularly spaced locations around its circumference, respectively, with the blades of the rollers cooperating with the other roller to cut the canes or stalks caught between the drums to specific lengths. This requires the width of the gap between the drums to be close to the thickness or width of the canes or stalks to be cut, to ensure that the canes are completely cut, and not left uncut or only partially cut. It is desirable to develop a harvesting system and method to provide the annual work cycle and billet cutting capabilities of sugarcane harvesters, with row-insensitive cutting and collection capabilities, suitable for harvesting tall and stem-laden plants such as sweet sorghum, sugarcane and the like, that overcomes one or more of the disadvantages and limitations mentioned above. Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a harvesting system and method that provides improvements in the annual work cycle and billing capacity of sugarcane harvesters. Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 20 / 59 5 / 18 sugarcane harvester, with a cutting and harvesting capacity insensitive to the planting row, suitable for harvesting tall, stem-rich plants such as sweet sorghum and similar plants, which overcomes one or more of the disadvantages and limitations described above. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the system can cut multiple, i.e., two or more, routinely including 3 or 4, stem plants or canes at any location across the width of the system's platform, and gather the cut stalks into a continuous overlapping stream having a vertical extent or thickness of several stalks or canes, for example, routinely 3 or more, and their associated foliage. The system then compacts the stream into a reduced-thickness course while transporting it to a billet cutter; then cuts the stalks or canes from the course into billets of a desired length, and discharges the billets to a desired location while moving through a crop field. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the harvesting system and method utilize a harvesting cutting platform carried at the front end of a combine harvester frame, configured and operable to cut any number of stalks or canes within a front area or extension of the platform. A suitable platform may comprise, but is not limited to, a commercially available drum-type forage harvester platform, such as those marketed by Maschinenfabrik KEMPER GmbH & Co. KG, of Germany.The preferred platform has several large-diameter rotating cutting drums across its leading edge, so as to be able to simultaneously cut the stalks or canes found anywhere across the width of the platform, and includes a collection device operable in cooperation with the cutters to quickly extend the overlapping cut stalks or canes on the platform outside the harvester frame, gathering them into a rearward flow, and rapidly and continuously transporting the rearward flow to an inlet opening at the front end of the harvester. According to another aspect of the invention, the inlet opening has a feed passage that extends backward along or into the structure, and is limited by a Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, p. 21 / 59 6 / 18 pair of driven feed rollers similar to or the same as those used in the inlet opening of a traditional forage or cane harvester, or similar to or the same as those used in relation to a platform such as the Kemper platform just discussed. However, unlike a forage harvester which typically includes a rotating instrument that chops near the driven feed rollers to cut or cleaver the inlet flow, the present invention utilizes a sequence of transfer rollers that limit the feed passage, preferably comprising a vertically spaced arrangement of horizontal transfer rollers, configured and operable to continuously convey the flow of overlapping stalks or canes backward and then upward through the feed passage.While substantially and continuously pressing down on the stream to contain and compact it, reducing its vertical extent or height to form the stream into a denser course with a desired thickness of only a few stalks or canes, without exerting enough pressure to crush or compress the individual stalks or canes so as to force significant amounts of juice into the harvester, or damage them in a way that would cause significant juice leakage during subsequent handling and storage. This compacted course is then conveyed to a billet cutter adjacent to the last transfer roller, which cuts the stalks or canes into billets of a desired length variation. Regarding the above, it should be noted that, at this point in the process, the leaves will not be significantly removed from the stalks or canes and, therefore, comprise a portion of the flow. It is these leaves and other foliage that are desirably compressed by the series of transfer rollers, to bring these stalks or canes closer together before cutting by the billet cutter. This compacted state is advantageous and necessary because the stalks or canes are better exposed for cutting and less likely to pass through the billet cutter uncut or only partially cut, or to suddenly lift up before entering the billet cutter. In light of the above, as a particular embodiment to achieve the desired reduction in flow thickness, at least an initial or horizontal forward portion of the sequence of Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 22 / 59 7 / 18 transfer rollers comprise a transfer roller unit that includes an arrangement of lower rollers and upper rollers, arranged in a vertically offset manner, i.e., without the upper rollers being directly above the lower rollers. The upper rollers are optionally supported to allow vertical movement, preferably around a displacement pin, so as to be biased downwards by their own weight. In a further option, biasing elements that may be manufactured such as springs or the like, or an adjustment mechanism using actuators such as cylinders, may be used if desired or required to provide a desired level of flow compaction to form it for the stroke.The optional ability to move vertically allows the rollers themselves to adjust their height, to change the vertical extent or height of the feed passage at that location to accommodate variations in thickness and also the density of the harvest flow, while still acting to compress and reduce the flow thickness while maintaining the required backward movement or yield. As another advantage, this allows relatively long stalks or canes to make a relatively smooth transition from a generally horizontal orientation to an upward-sloping one without damage, for example, harsh tilting, crushing, etc., which can result in jamming or clogging of the feed passage. As an operational example, the relatively thick or tall initial flow of stalks or canes, which, as a non-limiting example, may have a cutting span of 3 meters or more, is driven backward by the feed rollers into the feed passage between the upper and lower rollers of the transfer roller unit. These rollers exert the initial vertical compaction force or pressure against the flow to flatten it, primarily to compact the associated foliage, e.g., leaves. In this respect, it should be noted that the stalks do not enter the feed passage in a single sequential side-by-side row order, as with the sugarcane harvester. As a result, the stalks or canes will overlap longitudinally, and some may be oriented diagonally so as to cross others. As a result, the rear and downstream ends of some stalks or canes that have passed between more rollers may initially be more Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 23 / 59 8 / 18 more compact than the advanced or counter-current ends. To facilitate throughput, at least some rollers are preferably fitted with suitable surface features, such as hooks or ribs, at locations around their outer circumference, configured to catch the stalks for transport to the rear. According to a particular aspect of the invention, a rear section of the transfer roller sequence comprises a backward inclined lifting conveyor, which may also include rollers having outer circumferences with hooks or ribs, to capture the stalks or canes of the course to transport them upwards and backwards to the billet cutter. These rollers are vertically spaced by a distance that further maintains or reduces the vertical extent of the course, so as to have a suitable height for introduction and cutting by the billet cutter. According to yet another particular aspect of the invention, the billet cutter is disposed adjacent to the upper end of the lifting conveyor, and is configured and operable to cut the stalks or canes into billets of a desired length, preferably in a range of around 100 to around 500 millimeters. The billet cutter and the lifting conveyor are preferably of commercially available construction and operation, such as those provided on sugarcane harvesters. The system may also use a frame from a sugarcane harvester. As a result, by way of non-limiting example, the frame, the lifting conveyor, and the billet cutter may comprise elements of a commercially available self-propelled sugarcane harvester from manufacturers including, but not limited to, CNH Global NV under the Case IH brand.Additionally, if separation or cleaning of the stalks is desired, the commercially available cleaning apparatus of the associated sugarcane harvester can be adapted as needed and positioned, for example, adjacent to the end of the billet cutter to receive the billets and associated leaves and other plant matter, and separate them by centrifugation to a desired extent. As a further particular aspect of the invention, the forward-located feed rollers and transfer rollers can be incorporated and packaged as a... Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, p. 24 / 59 9 / 18 unit that can be installed on an existing sugarcane harvester frame, for example, but not limited to, at least some of those available from CNH Global NV under the Case IH brand, in place of separators and base cutters used to harvest sugarcane, and a row-insensitive platform can be mounted at the front end in place of the row dividers and associated apparatus for lifting, pruning and securing the sugarcane for base cutting, to provide the features and capabilities of the present invention. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a simplified side view of a row-insensitive biomass harvester incorporating the invention, illustrated in the position for harvesting a representative plant; Figure 2 is a simplified top view of a platform at the front end of the combine harvester in Figure 1, illustrating the cutting of several plants from the ground across the width of the platform, gathering the cut plants, and feeding them into the forward end of the combine harvester; Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmented top view, illustrating the arrangement of the various plants in overlapping relation as they are introduced into the forward end of the combine harvester; Figure 4 is a simplified schematic representation of aspects of the harvester, illustrating the flow of cut plants through a feed passage of the harvester via a transfer roller conveyor system of the invention and to a billet cutter illustrated cutting the plants into billets of a desired length and unloading them from the harvester; Figure 5 is a simplified schematic front view of a representative pair of transfer rollers located at the front of the conveyor system of the invention, illustrating the flow of cut plants between them; Figure 6 is a simplified schematic front view of a representative pair of the intermediate transfer rollers of the conveyor system of the invention, illustrating the flow. Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 25 / 59 10 / 18 of cut plants compacted vertically between them; Figure 7 is a simplified schematic front view of a representative pair of the rear transfer rollers of the conveyor system of the invention, showing the flow of compacted cut plants much more vertically between them; Figure 8 is a simplified schematic representation and operation of a row-sensitive sugarcane harvester representative of the state of the art; Figure 9 is a simplified, fragmentary schematic perspective view of the sugarcane harvester of Figure 8, illustrating one way of installing a transfer roller unit of the invention on the harvester; Figure 10 is a simplified schematic side view of the sugarcane harvester of Figures 8 and 9, illustrating the transfer roller unit of the invention installed on the harvester; Figure 10A is a fragmentary side view of an advanced transfer roller drive module of the invention, illustrating a representative vertically movable transfer roller and a representative drive associated therewith; Figure 10B is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through a side plate of the module in Figure 10A, illustrating the transfer and drive roller; and Figure 11 is a representative system diagram of the harvester in Figures 8 to 10, illustrating the interchangeability of aspects of the invention with aspects of the prior art sugarcane harvester. Detailed Description of the Invention Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a harvester 20 incorporating the apparatus and harvesting system of the invention which provides the annual work cycle and accommodation capabilities of a sugarcane harvester in combination with a row-insensitive cutting and collection capability, suitable for harvesting tall, stem-bearing plants such as sweet sorghum and the like. Referring also to Figures 2 to 4, a platform 22 of the combine harvester 20 is illustrated simultaneously cutting several rows 24 or stem plants arranged Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, p. 26 / 59 11 / 18 randomly 26 across a width W of the platform 22, close to a ground surface 30 as the harvester 20 moves in a forward direction F over the ground. The platform 22 is configured so that the stalks 26 are cut, they are automatically extended in overlapping relation on the platform 22 with their foliage 32 (leaves, pods, ears, etc.), still intact and attached to the cut stalks, forming a backward flow 28 of overlapping cut stalks 26. The platform 22 is row insensitive, i.e., it is not required to follow a row or rows of plants, or to cut a row of plants in sequential order, and will cut any plant or plants anywhere across the width W.Here, as illustrated in Figure 2, the width W of platform 22 includes 4 rows of plants, but it can be configured to include more or fewer rows, as desired or required for a particular application, at any row spacing. Referring more particularly to Figure 2, to provide the above capacity, independent of spacing or number of rows, the platform 22 comprises a plurality of generally flat cutting discs 34 arranged side-by-side through a more advanced edge thereof, which has knives 36 around the circumferences of the discs, and the discs are rotated as indicated by the associated arrows. The rotation of the discs 34, combined with the forward movement of the combine harvester 20, causes the cut stalks 26 to fall backward in overlapping relation to each other on the discs in a continuous manner, and at the same time, be gathered to the center of the platform 20 and transported backward in a continuous flow 28 towards an advanced end 40 of a structure 42 of the combine harvester 20.For this purpose, the platform 20 additionally also includes a plurality of serrated discs assembled 38 behind the cutter discs 34, and rotated as indicated by the associated arrows for cooperation with the rotating cutter discs 34 to direct the flow 28 of stalks 26 backward in overlapping relation and towards the center of the forward end 40 of the combine harvester 20. As a non-limiting example, a suitable platform 20 may comprise various commercially available drum-type forage harvester platforms well-known to Maschinenfabrik KEMPER GmbH & Co. KG of Germany. The platform Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 27 / 59 12 / 18 as the rotating cutting discs 34 essentially span the entire width W (which can be several meters) and can cut stalks, canes, or other plants anywhere along the width W, and is insensitive to row size. The platform 22 also includes operable dividers 44 on the sides to separate plants in an upright position to be cut by discs 34 from plants that will not be cut, and guards 46 arranged adjacently to the front ends of the discs 34 against which the stalks are pressed as they are cut by the rotating blades 36. Additionally, with regard to platform 22, the flow 28 of overlapping stalks 26 will generally have a width W1 which will be a fraction of the width extension W, and will have an initial height H1 as it reaches the advanced end 40 of the structure 42. As non-limiting examples, the width W1 may be around 1 meter or less, and the height H1 around 0.7 meters or less. The combine harvester structure 42 includes a forward-facing inlet opening 48 in a central location at the forward end. The inlet opening 48 is dimensioned and shaped to have the capacity to receive flow 28 and, therefore, will have a width and height equal to or marginally greater than W1 and H1. The inlet opening 48 connects with the feed passage 50 which extends rearward through the structure 42. Structure 42 carries a driven transfer roller unit 52 comprising a driven advanced roller assembly 54 including a rotatably driven upper roller 56 spaced above a counter-rotatingly driven lower roller 58, limiting and defining the inlet opening 48 between them, and which functions to pick up and pull the gathered stalks back through the inlet opening to the feed passage 50. The transfer roller unit 52 includes a further series of vertically spaced counter-rotating upper rollers 56 and lower rollers 58 arranged in appropriate locations along the feed passage 50 to convey flow 28 back and up to a billet cutter 60. It should be noted and borne in mind that, unlike a forage harvester, which almost immediately chips or chops the stalks, in this invention it is desired to preserve Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, p. 28 / 5913 / 18 the integrity of the stalks 26 until they are cut into billets of a desired length or desired variation. An important reason for cutting into billets instead of chipping or chopping is the intention to preserve the juices in the stalks 26 for use as biomass and, thus, it is important not to significantly damage the stalks, for example, by tilting, separating, and / or crushing them before handling. To facilitate this purpose, the flow 28 of overlapping stalks 26 is advantageously conveyed through passage 50 while being substantially supported continuously, so as to avoid significant possibility of tilting or damage, and towards the rear is gently curved and directed upwards along a slope and fed to the billet cutter 60, the latter part in the manner of a conventional sugarcane harvester, but with an important difference.That is, although sugarcane stalks are easily fed from end to end, in a largely non-overlapping single row, to the billet cutter, here, the multiple overlapping stalks 26 and their resulting foliage 32 are, at least initially, too large in total vertical extent to fit into a billet cutter and, therefore, must be compacted vertically in a way that does not break the continuous flow or damage the stalks. To achieve continuous positive transport of the overlapping stalks 26, several, or all, of the rollers 56 and 58 may include slats or locks 62 extending laterally along them and radially outward from them at spaced locations around them, or other suitable elements to catch and propel the stalks 26 along the passage 50. Due to the overlapping stalk configuration 26 and the fixed foliage obstacle 32, stalks not contacted by a hook or hooks 62, for example, situated towards the vertical intermediate region of the flow 28, will still be transported backward with the flow without requiring crushing of the flow to any degree of potential damage. Referring also to Figures 5, 6 and 7, it is necessary to gradually compact the flow 28 vertically as it moves backwards towards the billet cutter 60, as illustrated by the differences in height H1 of the flow 28 between the upper and lower rollers 56 and 58 of the advanced roller assembly 54 (Figure 5); the height H2 between a pair Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, p. 29 / 59 14 / 18 intermediate between rollers 56 and 58 (Figure 6); and the height H3 between a more rearward pair of rollers 56, 58 (Figure 7). Essentially, for homogeneous and continuous feeding to and cutting by the billet cutter 60, it is required that the flow 28 comprise a generally flat course having a thickness more or less equal to or marginally greater than an interval 64 between the upper and lower drums 66 and 68 of the billet cutter 60, or be sufficiently small so as to be adequately compacted by the drums 66 and 68 upon entering the cutter. In this respect, it is contemplated that the interval 64 be only a few centimeters high and may be variable, either in a driven manner or using gravity or similar means, but in any case, it will be substantially smaller than the initial height H1 of the flow 28.To achieve this compaction, preferably some or all of the upper rollers 56 will be supported so as to be vertically movable, as indicated by arrows VM in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, and may be weighted or have sufficient inherent weight to press the flow 28, as indicated by arrows FD, so as to compact it vertically, in a generally gradual manner as it progresses backward through the passage 50 towards the billet cutter 60. As an option, an actuator or driver may be provided with respect to one or more of the rollers to positively apply an external component of the force FD against the flow 28, if desired or required for a particular application. It can be observed that the decreased vertical extent of flow 28 achieved to enter the interval 64 of cutter 60, for example, height H3, is more the result of compaction of foliage 32, not of stalks 26, and the flow is preferably maximally compacted only as it approaches cutter 60 (comparing Figures 5 and 7), and to a point that facilitates cutting completely, without significantly crushing, the stalks 26. The lower initial compaction is advantageous and desirable to allow the flow 28 to transition from horizontal to inclined in a manner and form that largely preserves the integrity of the stalks 26. In general, Figure 6 reveals either of the pairs of rollers 56 and 58 approximately at the transition from horizontal to inclined, and Figure 7 depicts a set of rollers 56 and 58 at the inclination near the billet cutter 60, although it should Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 30 / 59 15 / 18 It should be understood that the degree of compaction along passage 50 will vary with many factors, including, but not limited to, volume of foliage present, moisture content, number of stems in any given cross-section of the flow, etc. Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 4, and also to Figure 8, as a particular aspect of the invention, the basic structure 42 is derived from a commercially available sugarcane harvester, such as, but not limited to, self-propelled sugarcane harvesters represented by the harvester 70, as commercially available from CNH Global NV under the Case IH brand. More particularly, the upper and lower rollers 56 and 58 on an inclined lifting conveyor 72 of the transfer roller unit 52, and the billet cutter 60, or at least the basic configuration of these devices, comprise those of the commercially available structure, adapted as required to accommodate the flow of several overlapping stalks 26 and associated foliage 32 of the plants to be harvested for biomass, rather than end-to-end flow of individual sugarcane stalks.Other aspects of the existing sugarcane harvester 70 preferably include its propulsion and drive system 74, powertrain 76, operator's cab and controls 78 (all illustrated in Figure 11), cleaning system 80 (also illustrated in Figures 4 and 8), and an optional billet conveyor 82 for transporting billets cut from the harvester 20 or 80, all of well-known construction. Elements of an unused sugarcane harvester 70 include the assembly 84 for cutting and feeding the canes 86 into the harvester and the base cutters 88. Platform 22 is configured to replace device 84 at the front end of the combine harvester, and to attach to the forward end 40 in a suitable manner, for example, using clamped connections 94 in the conventional manner (see Figure 1) and one or more cylinders or other actuators to control the height and / or tilt. Referring also to Figures 9 and 10, the transfer roller unit 52 includes an advanced transfer roller unit module 90 which is installed in a cavity 92 of the frame 42, essentially in place of the base cutters 88 and related to the support frame, and can be suitably fastened, such as using fasteners, pins, Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 31 / 59 16 / 18 and / or similar. Structure 42 is preferably configured for interchangeability of platform 22 and module 90 with device 84 and base cutters 88, for efficient design and manufacture, and to allow easy and convenient selection to configure the harvester with row insensitivity capability, as per the invention, or a conventional row-sensitive configuration, for example, to harvest sugarcane only in row spacing sets. In a particular embodiment, module 90 is housed in a sheet metal casing or container 96 or other suitable construction, includes an inlet opening 48, an advanced roller assembly 54, and upper and lower rollers 56 and 58 limiting and defining the horizontal section of the feed passage 50. Essentially, module 90 fills the gap in the structure 42 between the platform 22 and the inclined lifting conveyor 72 and provides a means of transporting the stream of cut stalks and foliage received from the platform to the inclined conveyor, while also compacting vertically, at least to some extent. Referring also to Figures 10A and 10B, and as commented above, part or all of the rollers 56 and / or 58 may optionally be vertically movable, as indicated by arrow VM, to provide flexibility to accommodate different heights or thicknesses of the flow 28, and to exert the desired force FD against the flow, if desired or required. In this respect, as a way of realizing this capability, the ends of a roller 56 may be supported on a shaft 98 that extends through the slots 102 through the side plates of the container 96 of module 90 so as to be movable along the slot. A drive 100 in connection with the shaft 98 may be situated outside the container 96, and may be counterbalanced on the opposite side of the roller by a weight or similar.The drive 100 may comprise a hydraulic motor connected to a pressurized hydraulic system (e.g., control valves 106 in Figure 11) of the combine harvester 20 via hydraulic lines 104, or it may alternatively comprise an electric motor, drive sprocket or pulley of a chain or belt drive, a gearbox, or the like. The drive 100 may be suitably mounted to permit movement VM. Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 32 / 59 17 / 18 as well as by a rotating connection offset to container 96. Referring also to Figure 11, as mentioned above, as another advantage of the row-insensitive harvester and the accommodation system of the invention, the system elements can be driven by a standard drive and by a drive system 74 of a conventional harvester, such as a sugarcane harvester, interchangeable with normal elements of such harvesters.As a non-limiting example, for a hydraulically driven system, the platform 22 can be driven in a controlled manner via hydraulic lines 104 connected to control valves 106 supplied with pressurized fluid by the pump 108 driven by a combine harvester motor 110, in place of the row dividers used for row-sensitive harvesting, and other devices for cutting or introducing canes 86; at least aspects of the transfer roller unit 52 can be driven in a controllable manner via lines 104 with respect to valves 106 in place of base cutters 88, while the inclined conveyor 72 and the billet cutter can normally be driven by hydraulics supplied through lines 104.The hydraulic fluid rates and other operating parameters can be controllably adjusted and fine-tuned as needed to accommodate the different power demands and operating characteristics of the various aspects of the present system. In light of all the preceding considerations, it should thus be clear to those skilled in the art that a row-insensitive biomass harvesting system and accommodation method incorporating the present invention have been illustrated and described. However, it should also be clear that, within the principles and scope of the invention, many changes are possible and contemplated, including details, materials, and arrangements of parts that have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention. Therefore, although the preceding description and commentary deals with specific embodiments or particular elements, it should also be understood that the concepts of the invention, as based on the preceding description and commentary, can be readily incorporated into or employed in other embodiments and constructions without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the following claims are intended to broadly protect the invention as well as in the form Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, page 33 / 59 18 / 18 specifically illustrated, and all changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications that do not depart from the spirit or scope of the invention are considered covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. Harvester (20), comprising: a self-propelled structure (42) configured to move in a forward direction (F) over a ground surface (30) and including a front end (40) and a cavity behind the same defining an entry opening (48); a billet cutter (60) configured to cut the stalks or canes (26) into billets; a lifting conveyor (72) extending upwards and backwards loaded on the structure and configured to transport the cut stalks or canes to the billet cutter;CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a plurality of transfer rollers (56, 58) disposed in the cavity between the inlet opening (48) and the lifting conveyor (72), the plurality of transfer rollers being configured to transport the flow of harvested stalks or canes (26, 32) gathered in a course and to transport the course to the lifting conveyor to transport, thus, to the billet cutter (60); and wherein the front end (40) is configured to receive a harvesting platform (22), the platform (22) being fixed to the front end (40) with fastened connections (94).

2. Harvester (20), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the plurality of transfer rollers comprises an arrangement of lower rollers (58) and upper rollers (56) arranged in a vertically offset manner and defining a horizontal feed passage between them, wherein at least part of the upper rollers are vertically movable to accommodate different heights of the flow of the gathered stalks or canes.

3. Harvester (20), according to claim 1 or 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the plurality of transfer rollers (56, 58) comprises at least three driven and configured upper transfer rollers to exert a downward force against the overlapping stalks or canes (26) to vertically compact the harvested stalks or canes. Petition 870200031823, dated 09 / 03 / 2020, p. 35 / 59 2 / 2 4. Harvester (20), according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the three driven upper transfer rollers (56) are arranged above at least four driven lower transfer rollers (58) of the transfer roller unit, configured to support the flow of the gathered stalks or canes (26) as the upper transfer rollers exert downward pressure.

5. Combine harvester (20), according to any one of claims 1 to 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the plurality of transfer rollers (56, 58) are mounted directly on the combine harvester frame (42).

6. Combine harvester (20), according to any one of claims 1 to 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the plurality of transfer rollers (56, 58) is contained in a transfer roller unit (90) comprising a removable module loaded into the cavity ahead of the lifting conveyor (72).

7. Combine harvester (20), according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the transfer roller unit (90) is configured to be interchangeable with a rotating base cutter (88) that can be installed on the frame (42).

8. Combine harvester (20), according to any one of claims 1 to 7, CHARACTERIZED in that the plurality of transfer rollers (56, 58) is configured to be actuated by a hydraulic system interchangeable with the combine harvester's hydraulic system.

9. Combine harvester (20), according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that it additionally comprises one or more cylinders for controlling the height and / or inclination of the platform (22).

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