Automatic row unit alignment device for corn harvester header

Abstract

The application discloses a corn harvester header automatic alignment device, comprising a harvester main vehicle body and a header, the harvester main vehicle body and the header are detachably assembled and used, a sensor for detecting whether there is a stem in front is arranged on the most two sides of the front guide wall of the header, a pair of movable wheels are arranged at the rear of the header, a alignment mechanism for placing and limiting the movable wheels is arranged at the front of the harvester main vehicle body, the alignment mechanism comprises an adjusting belt and a driving motor, the adjusting belt is horizontally arranged and is controlled to start and stop by the driving motor, and the horizontal operation is carried out, the header is placed on the adjusting belt through the movable wheels and is connected with the harvester main vehicle body, the sensor is connected with the driving motor in signal connection to control starting and stopping, and then alignment operation is carried out. Through the arrangement of the alignment mechanism and the sensor, the header horizontal position is automatically detected and adjusted before corn plant harvesting, the adjusting efficiency is improved, and the harvesting efficiency is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an agricultural machinery device, and more specifically to an automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technology, the header is installed at the front of the corn harvester's overall harvesting body. The header itself cannot be adjusted left or right, requiring the operator to directly align the harvester with the corn plants. If the alignment is incorrect, edge plants may be missed. To avoid missing plants, the front edge of the harvester is carefully positioned slightly outwards to ensure the edge plants are centered, resulting in unharvested areas and reduced efficiency per pass, failing to cover 100% of the harvested area. If the header could be designed with a horizontally movable structure, the operator would only need to initially align with the plant edges and then adjust the harvesting area by moving the header horizontally to match the plant edges. This would significantly improve both operational ease and harvesting efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide an automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester. By setting up movable wheels and a row alignment mechanism, the header can be quickly disassembled and used with the main body of the harvester, improving the flexibility of use for small corn harvesters. In conjunction with sensors set at the guide wall, the horizontal position of the header is automatically detected and adjusted before the corn plants are harvested, improving debugging efficiency and ensuring harvesting efficiency.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an automatic row alignment device for a corn harvester header, comprising a harvester main body and a header, the harvester main body and the header being detachably assembled and used. Several sets of cutting sections are horizontally arranged at the front of the header. Guide walls are provided on both sides of the cutting sections to guide corn stalks to the corresponding cutting sections. Sensors for detecting the presence of stalks are installed at the upper ends of the outermost guide walls. A pair of movable wheels are provided at the rear of the header. A row alignment mechanism for placing and limiting the movable wheels is provided at the front of the harvester main body. The row alignment mechanism includes a test belt and a drive motor. The test belt is horizontally set and controlled by the drive motor to start and stop, allowing for horizontal operation. The header is positioned on the test belt via the movable wheels to dock with the harvester main body. The sensors are connected to the drive motor via signal connections. In the initial state, one side of the sensor is aligned with the outside of the corn stalk to be cut. When the sensor does not detect any corn stalk obstruction, it sends a feedback signal to start the drive motor, causing the test belt to run and move the movable wheels and the entire header horizontally. When the sensor detects a corn stalk obstruction, it sends a feedback signal to stop the drive motor, thus completing the row alignment operation.

[0005] As an improvement, the adjustment belt consists of two parallel sub-chains, with the movable wheel positioned between the two sub-chains to form a limit.

[0006] As an improvement, the front and rear sides of the test belt are provided with front and rear walls for guiding the movable wheels to be placed on the test belt, and the front wall is inclined forward.

[0007] As an improvement, a push-off mechanism is provided at the lower part between the two sub-chains. The push-off mechanism includes a first drive cylinder and a push plate. The lower part of the push plate is connected to the cylinder shaft of the first drive cylinder. The extension and retraction of the first drive cylinder drives the push plate to rise and fall, and lifts the movable wheel upward when it rises.

[0008] As an improvement, the push plate is tilted forward. When the push plate lifts the movable wheel, the tilted position causes the movable wheel to roll upward against the front wall. The upper end of the front wall extends forward and downward to form a guide slope for the movable wheel to move up and down.

[0009] As an improvement, the front of the cutting table is also equipped with a pair of auxiliary wheels and a pair of swivel wheels. The auxiliary wheels and the movable wheels work together to make the cutting table roll. The swivel wheels are connected to the lower part of the cutting table through a lifting cylinder. In the initial state, the swivel wheels are higher than the auxiliary wheels. When the movable wheels are adjusted to be level, the lifting cylinder drives the swivel wheels to descend and replace the auxiliary wheels to support the cutting table. The swivel wheels support the cutting table to move horizontally.

[0010] As an improvement, a limit mechanism is also provided on the upper side of the test belt. The limit mechanism includes a second drive cylinder and a pressure block. The rear of the pressure block is connected to the cylinder shaft of the second drive cylinder. The extension and retraction of the second drive cylinder causes the pressure block to press against the movable wheel for limit.

[0011] As an improvement, the lower part of the limit mechanism is connected to the test belt, and the horizontal position is adjusted synchronously with the test belt.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0013] 1. The header can be quickly assembled with the main body of the harvester, which facilitates separate design, manufacturing, transportation or transfer to the area of ​​use, and facilitates separate maintenance in the later stage.

[0014] 2. By setting up the row mechanism and sensors, the horizontal position of the header is automatically detected and adjusted before the corn plants are harvested, improving debugging efficiency and ensuring harvesting efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a top view of the cutting platform of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a side view of the structure of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a side view of the structure of the parallel mechanism of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a top view of the alignment mechanism of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] like Figure 1 , 2 Figures 3 and 4 show specific embodiments of the automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester according to the present invention. The figures only illustrate the mutual cooperation between the structures. The position and size ratio of the specific structures can be reasonably adjusted according to the actual product situation, and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] The specific embodiment includes a harvester main body 1 and a header 2, which are detachable for assembly and use. Several sets of cutting sections 21 are horizontally arranged at the front of the header 2. Guide walls 22 are provided on both sides of the cutting sections 21 to guide corn stalks to the corresponding cutting sections 21. Sensors 20 for detecting the presence of stalks are installed at the upper ends of the outermost guide walls 22. A pair of movable wheels 23 are provided at the rear of the header 2. A row alignment mechanism 3 is provided at the front of the harvester main body 1 for placing and limiting the movable wheels 23. The row alignment mechanism 3 includes a test belt 31 and a drive motor 32. The test belt 31 is horizontally arranged and... The start and stop are controlled by the drive motor 32, and the machine runs horizontally. The header 2 is placed on the test belt 31 via the movable wheels 23 and docks with the main body 1 of the harvester. The sensor 20 is connected to the drive motor 32. In the initial state, the sensor 20 on one side is aligned with the outside of the corn stalk to be cut. When the sensor 20 does not detect any corn stalk obstruction in front, it sends a feedback signal to start the drive motor 32, which in turn causes the test belt 31 to run, driving the movable wheels 23 and the entire header 2 to move horizontally. When the sensor 20 detects a corn stalk obstruction, it sends a feedback signal to stop the drive motor 32, thus completing the row operation.

[0022] When in use, the main body 1 and the header 2 of the harvester can be transported separately to the field to be harvested, which reduces the difficulty of transportation to a certain extent. Unlike large harvesting machinery, the main body 1 and the header 2 of the harvester of this invention are used in small-scale planting areas where it is unnecessary or impossible to configure an overly large harvester, as it is not cost-effective, or the field area cannot be used efficiently. Therefore, the main body 1 and the header 2 of the harvester of this invention can be well applied to this small-scale planting scenario. The main body 1 and the header 2 of the harvester are relatively small, which facilitates separate transportation and adapts to use in small-scale fields. Users can also easily assemble and use them on their own. The user can easily move the header 2 by manually holding the frame at the front and using the movable wheels 23. Aligning the movable wheels 23 with the alignment mechanisms 3 on both sides and placing them at the upper limit of the adjustment belt 31 completes the docking between the header 2 and the main body of the harvester 1. Then, connecting the discharge port of the header 2 to the receiving port of the main body of the harvester 1 allows for the rearward transport of the cut corn. After docking, the harvester is driven to the edge of the corresponding corn plant. The user does not need to precisely align the header 2 to the edge; simply positioning the outer sensor 20 at approximately the edge of the corn plant is sufficient. When the sensor 20 detects no corn stalk obstruction, it sends a signal to start the drive motor 32, which in turn moves the adjustment belt 31, causing the movable wheels 23 and the entire header 2 to move horizontally. When the sensor 20 detects a corn stalk obstruction, it sends a signal to stop the drive motor 32. This automated setup improves user efficiency, eliminating the need for precise alignment and ensuring efficient harvesting. After the rows are aligned, as the corn harvester moves forward, the corn stalks are gathered from the guide walls 22 on both sides to the cutting section 21. The cutting section 21 consists of a pair of cutting shafts that rotate relative to each other, pulling the corn stalks downward and cutting them. The corn cobs on the stalks are cut off and blocked by the corn blocking section. As the auger reaches the end of the conveyor, it transports the corn cobs to the discharge port on one side. This discharge port is connected to the inlet of the main body 1 of the harvester, thus orderly conveying the corn to complete the collection.

[0023] As an improved specific implementation, the adjustment belt 31 consists of two parallel sub-chains arranged at intervals, with the movable wheel 23 positioned between the two sub-chains to form a limit.

[0024] like Figure 3 , 4 As shown, the two sub-chains spaced apart can support the movable wheel 23 from front to back, and the movable wheel 23 can be well limited and will not have a displacement change from front to back; the movable wheel 23 itself preferably has a conventional rubber tire surface, and the friction generated between it and the two sub-chains can also ensure its stable limitation, and there is no possibility of slippage when the two sub-chains are adjusted for horizontal movement.

[0025] As an improved specific implementation, the front and rear sides of the test belt 31 are provided with a front wall 33 and a rear wall 34 for guiding the movable wheel 23 to be placed on the test belt 31, and the front wall 33 is inclined forward.

[0026] like Figure 3 As shown, the front wall 33 and the rear wall 34 have a front-to-back gap with the movable wheel 23 after it is placed on the adjustment belt 31, which does not affect the horizontal adjustment of the movable wheel 23. The front wall 33 and the rear wall 34 are used to limit the front-to-back position when the movable wheel 23 enters the space from above, forming a good guide to allow the movable wheel 23 to fall between the two sub-chains and form a limit. The front wall 33, which is inclined forward, can be used to support the movable wheel 23 as it falls from the front onto the adjustment belt 31, and also provides an inclined surface to allow the movable wheel 23 to roll away when it leaves.

[0027] As an improved specific implementation, a push-away mechanism 4 is provided at the lower part between the two sub-chains. The push-away mechanism 4 includes a first drive cylinder 41 and a push plate 42. The lower part of the push plate 42 is connected to the cylinder shaft of the first drive cylinder 41. The extension and retraction of the first drive cylinder 41 drives the push plate 42 to rise and fall, and lifts the movable wheel 23 upward when it rises.

[0028] like Figure 3 , 4 As shown, after the movable wheel 23 is limited in front and behind by the two sub-chains, the space between the two sub-chains can be used for the arrangement of the pushing mechanism 4. When the push plate 42 is driven to rise by the first drive cylinder 41, it can lift the movable wheel 23. The movable wheel 23 can roll along the front wall 33 as the push plate 42 rises until it leaves the front wall 33 and separates forward.

[0029] As an improved specific implementation, the push plate 42 is inclined forward. When the push plate 42 lifts the movable wheel 23 upward, the movable wheel 23 rolls upward against the front wall 33 due to the forward tilt. The upper end of the front wall 33 extends forward and downward to form a guide slope 35 for the movable wheel 23 to move up and down.

[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, the forward-tilted push plate 42 allows the movable wheel 23 to roll and rise more smoothly against the front wall 33, reducing the working pressure of the first drive cylinder 41 and making the rolling rise of the movable wheel 23 smoother. The guide slope 35 allows the movable wheel 23 to be easily assembled or separated from the main body 1 of the harvester along the guide slope 35, reducing the difficulty of assembling and disassembling the main body 1 of the harvester and the header 2.

[0031] As an improved specific implementation, the front of the cutting platform 2 is also provided with a pair of auxiliary wheels 24 and a pair of universal wheels 25. The auxiliary wheels 24 and the movable wheels 23 cooperate to make the cutting platform 2 roll. The universal wheels 25 are connected to the lower part of the cutting platform 2 through the lifting cylinder 26. In the initial state, the universal wheels 25 are higher than the auxiliary wheels 24. When the movable wheels 23 are adjusted to be horizontal, the lifting cylinder 26 drives the universal wheels 25 to descend and replace the auxiliary wheels 24 to support the cutting platform 2. The universal wheels 25 support the cutting platform 2 to move horizontally.

[0032] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown, preferably, after the header 2 is attached to the main body 1 of the harvester, it relies on a pair of auxiliary wheels 24 to provide front support on the ground, giving the header 2 its own ground mobility. When the harvester is moving, the auxiliary wheels 24 of the header 2 are also supported on the ground and in a moving state. When the header 2 is separated from the main body 1 of the harvester, the header 2 can move independently using the auxiliary wheels 24 and the movable wheels 23. Preferably, the movable wheels 23 and / or the auxiliary wheels 24 can be equipped with a power mechanism, i.e., a motor, to assist in the movement of the header 2, such as position transfer, moving the header 2 to dock with the main body 1 of the harvester, etc. During alignment adjustments, the lifting cylinder 26 is operated to lower the casters 25 to support the header 2, suspending the auxiliary wheels 24 in the air. The casters 25 can flexibly drive the header 2 to adjust its horizontal position. After alignment is completed, the casters 25 are retracted, and the auxiliary wheels 24 support the ground again, facilitating stable forward and backward movement of the header 2. The caster wheel 25 can be further equipped with symmetrical reinforcing rods 27 on the front and rear via a bracket. A reinforcing block can be installed on the cutting table 2. The reinforcing rods 27 can slide up and down and be fitted into the reinforcing block. The reinforcing rods 27 are parallel to the cylinder shaft of the lifting cylinder 26 and extend and retract synchronously when the cylinder shaft extends and retracts, thereby making the caster wheel 25 lift and retract stably.

[0033] As an improved specific implementation, a limiting mechanism 5 is also provided on the upper side of the debugging belt 31. The limiting mechanism 5 includes a second driving cylinder 51 and a pressure block 52. The rear part of the pressure block 52 is connected to the cylinder shaft of the second driving cylinder 51. The extension and retraction of the second driving cylinder 51 drives the pressure block 52 to abut against the movable wheel 23 for limiting.

[0034] like Figure 3 , 4 As shown, preferably, the limiting mechanism 5 consists of two sets positioned on the front and rear sides above the adjustment belt 31. During use, the pressure blocks 52 on the front and rear sides are driven by the second drive cylinder 51 to extend to the movable wheel 23 for forward and backward contact and limiting, ensuring the stability of the limiting mechanism. In specific implementation, horizontal through holes can be opened on the front wall 33 and rear wall 34 for the pressure blocks 52 and cylinder shaft to extend into. When the limiting is released, the pressure blocks 52 and cylinder shaft retract to the outside of the front wall 33 and rear wall 34, without causing structural interference.

[0035] As an improved specific implementation, the lower part of the limiting mechanism 5 is connected to the adjustment belt 31, and the horizontal position is adjusted synchronously with the adjustment belt 31.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the limiting mechanism 5, which moves together with the adjustment belt 31, can ensure that it abuts against the rated position of the movable wheel 23, thus ensuring the stability of the limit.

[0037] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principle of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic row alignment device for a corn harvester header, comprising a harvester main body (1) and a header (2), wherein the harvester main body (1) and the header (2) are detachably assembled and used, wherein a plurality of cutting sections (21) are arranged horizontally at the front of the header (2), and guide walls (22) are provided on both sides of the cutting sections (21) to guide the corn stalks to the corresponding cutting sections (21), characterized in that: Sensors (20) for detecting the presence of stalks are provided at the upper ends of the guide walls (22) on both sides. A pair of movable wheels (23) are provided at the rear of the header (2). A row alignment mechanism (3) for placing and limiting the movable wheels (23) is provided at the front of the main body (1) of the harvester. The row alignment mechanism (3) includes a test belt (31) and a drive motor (32). The test belt (31) is set horizontally and is controlled by the drive motor (32) to start and stop, so as to run horizontally. The header (2) is placed on the test belt (31) through the movable wheels (23). The sensor (20) is connected to the main body (1) of the harvester and the drive motor (32) is connected to the signal. In the initial state, the sensor (20) on one side is aligned with the outside of the corn stalk to be cut. When the sensor (20) does not detect any corn stalk blocking the way, it sends a signal to start the drive motor (32), which in turn causes the test belt (31) to run and drive the movable wheel (23) and the overall header (2) to move horizontally. When the sensor (20) detects a corn stalk blocking the way, it sends a signal to stop the drive motor (32), thus completing the row operation.

2. The automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjustment belt (31) consists of two parallel sub-chains, one in front and one behind, with the movable wheel (23) positioned between the two sub-chains to form a limit.

3. The automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front and rear sides of the test belt (31) are provided with a front wall (33) and a rear wall (34) for guiding the movable wheel (23) to be placed on the test belt (31), and the front wall (33) is inclined to the front.

4. The automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester according to claim 3, characterized in that: A push-off mechanism (4) is provided at the lower part between the two sub-chains. The push-off mechanism (4) includes a first drive cylinder (41) and a push plate (42). The lower part of the push plate (42) is connected to the cylinder shaft of the first drive cylinder (41). The extension and retraction of the first drive cylinder (41) drives the push plate (42) to rise and fall. When rising, the movable wheel (23) is lifted upward.

5. The automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester according to claim 4, characterized in that: The push plate (42) is tilted forward. When the push plate (42) lifts the movable wheel (23) upward, the movable wheel (23) rolls upward against the front wall (33) due to the forward tilt. The upper end of the front wall (33) extends forward and downward to form a guide slope (35) for the movable wheel (23) to move up and down.

6. The automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: The front of the cutting platform (2) is also provided with a pair of auxiliary wheels (24) and a pair of universal wheels (25). The auxiliary wheels (24) and the movable wheels (23) work together to make the cutting platform (2) roll. The universal wheels (25) are connected to the lower part of the cutting platform (2) through a lifting cylinder (26). In the initial state, the universal wheels (25) are higher than the auxiliary wheels (24). When the movable wheels (23) are adjusted to be horizontal, the lifting cylinder (26) drives the universal wheels (25) to descend and replace the auxiliary wheels (24) to support the cutting platform (2). The universal wheels (25) support the cutting platform (2) to move horizontally.

7. The automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that: A limiting mechanism (5) is also provided on the upper side of the debugging belt (31). The limiting mechanism (5) includes a second driving cylinder (51) and a pressure block (52). The rear part of the pressure block (52) is connected to the cylinder shaft of the second driving cylinder (51). The extension and retraction of the second driving cylinder (51) causes the pressure block (52) to abut against the movable wheel (23) for limiting.

8. The automatic row alignment device for the header of a corn harvester according to claim 7, characterized in that: The lower part of the limiting mechanism (5) is connected to the debugging belt (31) and is adjusted in a horizontal position synchronously with the debugging belt (31).

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