Vegetable harvester

Abstract

This invention provides a vegetable harvester that ensures good forward visibility for the operator from the driver's seat and provides good workability. The vegetable harvester (1) is used to harvest garlic (2) from the soil and includes: a traveling body (3); a harvesting section (6) disposed on the traveling body (3) and harvesting garlic (2); and a driver's seat (5) disposed on the traveling body (3). The harvesting section (6) includes: a lifting device (22) disposed in front of the traveling body (3) and lifting the stems and leaves of the garlic (2); and a harvest conveying section that conveys the garlic (2). The driver's seat (5) is disposed on one side of the body in the left-right direction relative to the harvest conveying section, and a power transmission section (500) for transmitting power to the lifting device (22) is disposed on the other side of the body in the left-right direction relative to the harvest conveying section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vegetable harvester for harvesting bulbous vegetables such as garlic, onions, and lily roots, as well as root vegetables such as carrots. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, vegetable harvesters used for harvesting bulbous vegetables (bulb crops) such as garlic and root vegetables such as carrots had the following structure: they gripped the stems and leaves of vegetables growing in the field while pulling and conveying them, and cut off unwanted parts such as stems, leaves, and roots during the conveying process to harvest the main body of the vegetable.

[0003] This vegetable harvester includes: a stem and leaf lifting device located at the front of the machine body to lift the stems and leaves of the vegetables; a pulling and conveying device that pulls the vegetables from the ground and conveys them while holding the stems and leaves in a suspended state; and a driving unit for performing various operations such as driving and harvesting (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses the following structure: a garlic harvester for harvesting multiple rows of garlic planted on ridges, with a driving unit (operation unit) located on the left side of the rear of the machine body.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-36280 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The stem-and-leaf lifting device is driven by the rotational power transmitted from the engine of the vegetable harvester. Regarding the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, the power transmission mechanism, as part of the structure for transmitting power to the stem-and-leaf lifting device, is provided on the same side (left side) as the driving unit in the left-right direction of the machine body.

[0008] With this structure, the power transmission mechanism for the stem and leaf lifting device is located in front of the driver's compartment. Therefore, this power transmission mechanism sometimes enters the operator's field of vision while driving the machine, hindering good workability. In particular, the operator's forward field of vision is insufficient, making it difficult to simultaneously confirm the path ahead and align the machine in the left-right direction relative to the target area in the field.

[0009] The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a vegetable harvester that can ensure the operator's forward visibility from the driver's seat and obtain good workability.

[0010] The vegetable harvester of the present invention is a vegetable harvester for harvesting vegetables from soil, comprising: a traveling body; a harvesting section disposed on the traveling body for harvesting vegetables; and a driving section disposed on the traveling body. The harvesting section includes: a stem and leaf lifting device disposed in front of the traveling body for lifting the stems and leaves of the vegetables; and a harvest conveying section for conveying vegetables. The driving section is disposed on one side of the body in the left-right direction relative to the harvest conveying section, and a power transmission section for transmitting power to the stem and leaf lifting device is disposed on the other side of the body in the left-right direction relative to the harvest conveying section.

[0011] In other embodiments of the present invention, the vegetable harvester is based on the vegetable harvester in which the harvesting section has a stem and leaf cutting device that cuts off the stems and leaves from the main body of the vegetable. The vegetable harvester also includes: a conveying device that conveys the main body of the vegetable harvested by the harvesting section; and a leaf discharge conveying device that conveys the stems and leaves cut off from the vegetable by the stem and leaf cutting device and discharges them into the field. The conveying device and the leaf discharge conveying device are configured to convey in the direction of the machine body toward one side in the left-right direction.

[0012] In addition to the above-mentioned vegetable harvester, the vegetable harvester according to other aspects of the present invention further includes: a second conveying device that sets the conveying direction to the rear side of the machine body when viewed from above, and receives and conveys the main body of vegetables conveyed by the conveying device; and a receiving part for receiving the main body of vegetables conveyed by the second conveying device into a receiving container, wherein the conveying device is disposed at a lower position than the leaf-removing conveying device, and the second conveying device is configured such that the upstream portion of the conveying direction is at a lower height than the leaf-removing conveying device, and the downstream portion of the conveying direction is at a higher height than the leaf-removing conveying device.

[0013] In other embodiments of the present invention, the vegetable harvester is based on the vegetable harvester, wherein the driving unit has a driver's seat, and the portion of the second conveying device that receives the main body of vegetables conveyed by the conveying device is located below the driver's seat when the machine is viewed from the side.

[0014] Invention Effects

[0015] According to the present invention, the operator's forward field of vision from the driver's seat can be ensured, resulting in good workability. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the vegetable harvester from the right front according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2This is a left rear perspective view of a vegetable harvester according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a top view of a vegetable harvester according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a left view of a vegetable harvester according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a right view of a vegetable harvester according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a left sectional view of a vegetable harvester according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the power transmission structure of a vegetable harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a left view showing a conveying and cutting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 10 This is a left front perspective view showing the rear part of the conveying and cutting unit assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 11 This is a right view showing the positional relationship of the transverse conveyor, the leaf conveyor, and the longitudinal conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 12 This is a top view showing the positional relationship of the transverse conveyor, the leaf conveyor, and the longitudinal conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 13 This is a front view showing the structure of a lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 14 This is a rear view showing the structure of a lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 15 This is a side view showing the structure of a lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 16 yes Figure 15 CC-direction sectional view.

[0032] Figure 17 This is a top view showing the configuration structure of the guide cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 18 This is a left front perspective view showing the configuration structure of the guide cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0035] 1…vegetable harvester, 2…garlic (vegetable), 3…driving body, 6…harvesting section, 2a…bulb section (vegetable main body), 2b…stem and leaf section, 5…driving section, 7…lateral conveyor (conveying device), 8…receiving section, 9…leaf conveyor (leaf conveying device), 12…driver's seat, 17…longitudinal conveyor (second conveying device), 17A…horizontal conveying section, 17B…inclined conveying section, 22…lifting device (stem and leaf lifting device), 26…stem and leaf cutting device, 32…harvesting bag (storage container), 40…conveying and cutting unit (harvested material conveying section), 86…star wheel, 260…guide rod, 270…guide cover, 500…power transmission section. Detailed Implementation

[0036] In the embodiments of the present invention described below, a garlic harvester, which harvests garlic as a bulbous vegetable, will be used as an example of the vegetable harvester according to the present invention. However, the vegetable harvester according to the present invention can be widely used as a vegetable harvester for harvesting other bulbous vegetables such as onions, root vegetables such as carrots, etc.

[0037] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the vegetable harvester 1 involved in this embodiment is a garlic harvester: used for harvesting garlic 2 from the soil (see reference). Figure 6 The garlic 2 planted in the field is harvested by pulling it out of the soil. The garlic 2 is planted in continuous ridges along a straight line in the field. Furthermore, in the following description, the left side ( ) is positioned facing forward of the vegetable harvester 1. Figure 3 (lower side) and right side ( Figure 3 The upper side of the middle) is set as the left and right sides of the vegetable harvester 1.

[0038] The vegetable harvester 1 clamps and pulls the stems and leaves 2b extending from the bulb 2a in the soil onto the ground while the garlic 2 is planted in the soil. Maintaining the clamped stems and leaves 2b, the garlic 2 is transported upwards and backwards. During this transport, the stems and leaves 2b, along with the roots 2c (which are root hairs extending from the base of the bulb 2a), are cut off from the bulb 2a, thus harvesting the remaining bulb 2a. The cut stems and leaves 2b are discharged from the vegetable harvester 1 at a predetermined location.

[0039] The vegetable harvester 1 is a self-propelled harvester that continuously pulls, conveys, and harvests multiple rows of garlic 2 while traveling along the planting route of the garlic 2. The vegetable harvester 1 of this embodiment has a structure for simultaneously pulling, conveying, and harvesting six rows of garlic 2. The vegetable harvester 1 designates the bulb portion 2a of the garlic 2 as the harvested part, which corresponds to the main body of the vegetable.

[0040] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the vegetable harvester 1 includes: a traveling body 3, which has tracked traveling devices 4 as a pair of left and right traveling devices; a driving unit 5, which is used by the driver (operator) of the vegetable harvester 1 to perform various operations such as driving and harvesting; and a harvesting unit 6, which harvests garlic 2. The driving unit 5 and the harvesting unit 6 are provided on the traveling body 3.

[0041] In addition, the vegetable harvester 1 includes: a transverse conveyor 7 as a first conveyor and a longitudinal conveyor 17 as a second conveyor, which transport garlic 2 harvested by the harvesting section 6; a receiving section 8 for receiving the garlic 2 transported by the longitudinal conveyor 17 into a designated receiving container; and a leaf discharge conveyor 9 for discharging the stems and leaves 2b cut off from the bulb 2a into the field. Furthermore, Figure 6 yes Figure 3 Side sectional view at position AA.

[0042] The traveling body 3 has a frame 15 formed by multiple frame components in a three-dimensional manner, and tracked traveling devices 4 are arranged on the left and right sides of the frame 15. The frame 15 includes a chassis, which is the frame part constituting the frame 15, and is formed horizontally by frame components such as tubular components and plate components arranged in the front-back or left-right directions. A driving unit 5, a harvesting unit 6, a transverse conveyor 7, a longitudinal conveyor 17, a receiving unit 8, and a leaf discharge conveyor 9 are arranged relative to the frame 15.

[0043] The tracked traveling device 4 forms a tracked section within the traveling body 3 for moving the machine body. The tracked traveling device 4 includes: a drive wheel 4a located below the rear of the body frame 15; a driven wheel 4b located at the front end of the tracked traveling device 4; multiple rolling wheels 4c; and a track 4d wound around the aforementioned wheels. The left and right tracked traveling devices 4 are driven by power transmitted from the engine 10 of the vegetable harvester 1.

[0044] Engine 10 is mounted on the left side of the middle part of the traveling body 3 in the longitudinal direction (see reference). Figure 3 A gearbox 11 is provided between the rear ends of the left and right tracked traveling devices 4 (see reference). Figure 6The transmission 11 is positioned above the chassis and is linked to the engine 10 to appropriately change the power from the engine 10 and transmit it to the left and right tracked travel devices 4.

[0045] The driving unit 5 is the part used for driving / operating the vegetable harvester 1, and is located on the right side of the middle part of the traveling body 3 in the longitudinal direction. The driving unit 5 is mounted on the extended frame part 19, which extends to the right side from the chassis of the body frame 15. The extended frame part 19 is a rectangular frame composed of multiple frame members extending in the longitudinal and lateral directions.

[0046] The driver's unit 5 includes: a driver's seat 12 for the operator of the vegetable harvester 1; and a front operating unit 13 and a side operating unit 16, which are respectively located in front of and to the left of the driver's seat 12 and operated by the operator seated in the driver's seat 12. The front operating unit 13 and the side operating unit 16 are equipped with various operating components such as levers and switches for controlling the movement of the traveling body 3 and the operation of the harvesting unit 6. The driver's seat 12 is mounted on a driver's seat support 18 mounted on the machine frame 15. A horizontal floor section 14 is provided below and in front of the driver's seat 12.

[0047] The harvesting section 6 includes a tiller 21, a lifting device 22, a digging device 23, a pulling and conveying device 24, a shoulder alignment device 25, a stem and leaf cutting device 26, a root cutting device 27, and a leaf removal device 28. The above devices are configured to be supported on the prescribed working frame 30 of the vegetable harvester 1 and driven by power transmitted from the engine 10.

[0048] The harvesting section 6 has multiple conveying and cutting units 40 (see reference) configured as unit structures including a pulling and conveying device 24, a shoulder alignment device 25, a stem and leaf cutting device 26, a root cutting device 27, and a leaf removal device 28. Figure 9 The harvesting section 6 has six conveying and cutting units 40 arranged laterally in accordance with the structure for six rows. The six conveying and cutting units 40 are positioned in the front-to-back direction.

[0049] The conveying and cutting unit 40 is an example of a harvester conveying section for conveying garlic 2. As multiple harvester conveying sections arranged side-by-side with respect to the traveling body 3 in the left-right direction, the vegetable harvester 1 has six conveying and cutting units 40. The six conveying and cutting units 40 are configured to utilize the shaft support 20 (see reference 20) located below the leaf discharge device 28. Figure 6 , Figure 9 The front side rotates relative to the traveling body 3 by taking the lifting axis O1, which is the lifting axis with the left and right directions as the center.

[0050] The six conveying and cutting units 40 are configured to move up and down around the lifting rotation axis O1 via the working unit frame 30. That is, the six conveying and cutting units 40 are supported by the working unit frame 30, which is connected by two lifting cylinders 29 located on the left and right sides (see reference). Figure 6 The extension and retraction movement of the cylinders causes them to rotate relative to the body frame 15. Two lifting cylinders 29 are arranged between the front of the left and right track travel devices 4 and are mounted between a predetermined frame portion constituting the body frame 15 and a predetermined frame portion constituting the work unit frame 30.

[0051] The transverse conveyor 7 is an example of a conveying device for transporting the bulb portion 2a harvested by the harvesting section 6. The transverse conveyor 7 is configured to transport in the left-right direction of the machine body, receiving the garlic 2 transported by the pulling conveyor 24 and conveying it towards the right side of the machine body. The transverse conveyor 7 also receives the bulb portion 2a cut by the stem and leaf cutting device 26 from the stem and leaf portion 2b and conveys the bulb portion 2a to the right.

[0052] The transverse conveyor 7 is located below the rear of the conveying and cutting unit 40 group. The transverse conveyor 7 extends in the left-right direction over the entire or approximately entire area of ​​the six conveying and cutting units 40. The transverse conveyor 7 has a conveying surface that, when viewed from the side, is inclined, with a lower rear and a higher front (see reference). Figure 6 ).

[0053] The transverse conveyor 7 is a belt conveyor and includes: a drive roller 57 located at the right end of the conveying section; a driven roller 58 located at the left beginning of the conveying section; and a belt 59 wound around the rollers (see reference). Figure 7 The drive roller 57 and the driven roller 58 are configured such that the direction of the rotation axis is along the front-to-back direction when viewed from above, and the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 is inclined with the back lower than the front.

[0054] The transverse conveyor 7 is driven by motor 50 as a power source (see reference). Figure 7 That is, the output shaft of motor 50 and the rotation shaft 57a of drive roller 57 (see reference). Figure 11 The drive roller 57 is rotated by the driving force of the motor 50, which in turn drives the transverse conveyor 7. The motor 50 is located on the rear side of the drive roller 57 (see reference). Figure 5 ).

[0055] The longitudinal conveyor 17 is an example of a second conveying device that receives and conveys the bulb portion 2a conveyed by the transverse conveyor 7. The longitudinal conveyor 17 is set to convey in the direction of the rear side of the machine body when viewed from above. The longitudinal conveyor 17 receives the bulb portion 2a conveyed by the transverse conveyor 7 and conveys it in a rearward and upward (rearward and obliquely upward) direction.

[0056] The longitudinal conveyor 17 is located on the right side of the conveying and cutting unit 40 group in the left-right direction of the machine body. The longitudinal conveyor 17 is arranged in a forward-backward direction such that the beginning of the conveying is located below the end of the conveying of the transverse conveyor 7 and the end of the conveying is located at the rear end of the traveling machine body 3, thus extending in an inclined manner with the rear higher than the front.

[0057] The longitudinal conveyor 17 forms a horizontal conveying path at the beginning of the conveying process, located below the end of the transverse conveyor 7, and forms a conveying path that extends obliquely upwards from the rear side of the horizontal conveying path portion. That is, the longitudinal conveyor 17 has: a horizontal conveying section 17A, which constitutes a horizontal conveying surface; and an inclined conveying section 17B, which constitutes a large portion of the longitudinal conveyor 17 and forms an inclined conveying surface that is higher at the rear and lower at the front. When viewed from the side, the conveying section forms a zigzag conveying surface shape (see reference). Figure 5 , Figure 11 The inclined conveying section 17B of the longitudinal conveyor 17 has a conveying direction inclined at an angle of approximately 45° relative to the horizontal direction.

[0058] The longitudinal conveyor 17 is a rod-type conveyor having a plurality of rods 41 extending in the left-right direction. The plurality of rods 41 include protruding rods having a plurality of protrusions 42 at predetermined intervals. The protrusions 42, when viewed from the side, are elongated, approximately triangular, and protrude approximately perpendicularly to the conveying surface of the longitudinal conveyor 17. The two ends of the rods 41 are fixed to annular chains 44 disposed within chain boxes 43 located on the left and right sides of the longitudinal conveyor 17. The rods 41 are positioned between the left and right chains 44.

[0059] The longitudinal conveyor 17 includes: a conveyor input shaft 45 disposed at the rear upper end of the conveyor and axially oriented in the left-right direction; and a conveyor driven shaft 46 disposed at the front lower end of the conveyor and axially oriented in the left-right direction (see reference). Figure 5 , Figure 7 The conveyor input shaft 45 receives rotational power from the engine 10 and is driven to rotate. An input pulley 47 for receiving the rotational power from the engine 10 is fixedly installed at the left end of the conveyor input shaft 45. The rotational power of the conveyor input shaft 45 is transmitted to the conveyor driven shaft 46 via left and right chains 44 that support multiple rods 41. Sprockets 48 and 49 (see reference) are fixedly installed on each shaft of the conveyor input shaft 45 and the conveyor driven shaft 46 to receive the left and right chains 44. Figure 7 ).

[0060] Regarding the longitudinal conveyor 17 with this structure, the rod 41 moves with the rotation of the left and right chains 44, thereby conveying the bulb portion 2a backward and upward while locking it with the multiple protrusions 42 of the protruding rod.

[0061] A receiving section 8 is provided at the rear of the longitudinal conveyor 17. The receiving section 8 is structured such that the bulb portion 2a falls from the conveying end of the longitudinal conveyor 17, and is used to receive the bulb portion 2a conveyed by the longitudinal conveyor 17 into a harvesting bag 32, such as a harvesting net, which serves as a storage container. The receiving section 8 has a guide 33 that serves as a guide for receiving the bulb portion 2a flowing downward from the end of the longitudinal conveyor 17 and guiding it towards the harvesting bag 32.

[0062] A guide 33 is formed on the rear side of the conveying end of the longitudinal conveyor 17 to allow the bulb portion 2a to pass through, and is composed of multiple plate-like portions in a surrounding shape. The guide 33 has an inlet having an opening width in the left-right direction that includes the entire conveying width of the longitudinal conveyor 17; and an outlet that allows the bulb portion 2a inserted from the inlet to fall off. The guide 33 opens downwards towards the outlet.

[0063] The harvest bags 32 are placed with their upper sides open, facing the outlet of the guide 33, using a bag holding device 34 located below the guide 33. The bag holding device 34 is configured to hold multiple (e.g., five) harvest bags 32. Furthermore, in Figures 1 to 6 The diagram shows the state in which one harvest bag 32 is held, with regard to the bag holding device 34.

[0064] Regarding the receiving section 8 of this structure, the bulb portion 2a, which is conveyed rearward and upward by the longitudinal conveyor 17 and falls rearward from the conveying end of the longitudinal conveyor 17, is fed into the guide 33 through the inlet and then stored in the harvesting bag 32. Alternatively, a container can be placed instead of the harvesting bag 32 as a storage container, and the bulb portion 2a falling from the guide 33 can be stored inside the container.

[0065] An auxiliary seat 64 is provided on the left side of the housing section 8 for an assistant operator to sit in during harvesting operations, together with the operator who sits in the driver's seat 12 and operates the machine. The auxiliary seat 64 is located behind the engine 10 and is positioned to face the right side of the housing section 8 while being supported by a predetermined frame portion that constitutes the machine frame 15.

[0066] A horizontal foot pedal 68 is provided on the lower right side of the auxiliary seat 64. The foot pedal 68 extends rearward from the chassis of the machine frame 15. The auxiliary operator sitting in the auxiliary seat 64 can perform tasks such as switching the bag holding device 34 to receive the harvesting bag 32 inserted into the bulb 2a via the guide 33.

[0067] The leaf-extruding conveyor 9 is an example of a leaf-extruding conveyor that transports the stems and leaves 2b cut off from the garlic 2 by the stem and leaf cutting device 26 and discharges them into the field. The leaf-extruding conveyor 9 is located behind the harvesting section 6 and diagonally above and behind the transverse conveyor 7. The leaf-extruding conveyor 9 is located below and behind the rear end of the conveying and cutting unit 40 group.

[0068] The leaf conveyor 9 is configured with the conveying direction being the left-right direction of the machine body. It receives the stem and leaf portions 2b that have been cut off from the bulb portion 2a by the stem and leaf cutting device 26 of each conveying and cutting unit 40 and discharged by the leaf discharge device 28, and conveys them to the right side, and discharges the stem and leaf portions 2b to the right side of the machine body. In addition, regarding the vegetable harvester 1, the right side of the machine body is the harvested and dug side in the garlic 2 harvesting operation.

[0069] The leaf discharge conveyor 9 extends horizontally in a manner that covers the entire area of ​​the six conveying and cutting units 40. The leaf discharge conveyor 9 has a conveying surface that, when viewed from the side, is inclined at the front and upward at the back, following the slope of the conveying and cutting units 40 (see reference). Figure 6 ).

[0070] The leaf conveyor 9 is a belt conveyor, comprising: a drive roller 36 disposed at the right end of the conveying section; a driven roller 37 disposed at the left beginning of the conveying section; and a belt 38 wound around the rollers (see reference). Figure 7 The drive roller 36 and the driven roller 37 are configured such that the direction of the rotation axis is along the front-to-back direction when viewed from above, and forms an inclined direction with the front lower and the back higher along the conveying surface of the leaf conveyor 9. The drive roller 36 is driven to rotate by the conveyor drive shaft 39 located on its front side.

[0071] The end portion of the vane discharge conveyor 9 is located above the front portion of the inclined conveying section 17B of the longitudinal conveyor 17. A vane discharge guide 67 is provided on the end portion side of the vane discharge conveyor 9 in a continuous manner relative to the conveying surface of the vane discharge conveyor 9. The vane discharge guide 67 has: a guide surface 67a, which slopes downward from left to right; and sidewall portions 67b, which are provided on the front and rear sides of the guide surface 67a (on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the machine body), such that the end portion is located further to the right than the longitudinal conveyor 17 in the left-right direction (see reference). Figure 11 , Figure 12 The guide face 67a and the front and rear side walls 67b are inclined in a direction that is lower in the front and higher in the rear, corresponding to the slope of the conveying surface of the leaf conveyor 9.

[0072] The leaf guide 67 receives the stem and leaf portion 2b conveyed by the leaf guide 9 above the lower part of the longitudinal conveyor 17, and guides the stem and leaf portion 2b to a position further to the right of the longitudinal conveyor 17 and causes it to fall. Most of the stem and leaf portion 2b guided by the leaf guide 67 falls into the field from inside the frame of the protruding frame portion 19.

[0073] The following describes the various devices that make up the harvesting section 6.

[0074] The dividing body 21 is configured to protrude forward from near the front end of the conveying and cutting unit 40. The dividing body 21 is a so-called dividing device that divides the stems and leaves 2b of garlic 2 into rows while passing between them. Seven dividing bodies 21 are arranged to be inserted into each of the six consecutive rows in the left-right direction (see reference). Figure 3 That is, seven division bodies 21 are provided relative to the six conveying and cutting units 40 in a manner that they are located on the left and right sides of each conveying and cutting unit 40 in the left-right direction of the machine body. Each division body 21 is configured to be supported by a division body support 52, which is provided at the end of the pulling conveying device 24 of the conveying and cutting unit 40.

[0075] A gauge ring 69 is provided inside the tiller 21. The tiller 21 has a pointed end shape for obtaining tillering action, and is configured as a cover with a space that opens to the lower side, in which the gauge ring 69 is housed (see reference). Figure 6 The gauge ring 69 is located inside the dividing body 21 and is supported by a left-right rotation axis, allowing it to rotate freely.

[0076] As described above, the conveying and cutting unit 40 assembly, which is rotatable about the lifting and lowering axis O1, is supported by a gauge ring 69 on the field surface G1, which is the ground of the field. The gauge ring 69 is a grounding ring that determines the ground height (height of the conveying inlet) of the front end of the conveying and cutting unit 40 assembly. That is, the gauge ring 69 is a grounding ring for adjusting the vertical position as follows: it is configured to be height-adjustable relative to the conveying and cutting unit 40, and is used to set the clamping position (clamping height) of the pulling conveyor 24 for the stem and leaf portion 2b to an appropriate height. The gauge ring 69 is supported by the tiller support 52 on the pulling conveyor 24 in a manner that allows for vertical adjustment of the tiller 21.

[0077] The gauge ring 69 moves along the field surface G1, thereby maintaining the ground height of the conveying and cutting unit 40 group as it rotates up and down around the lifting rotation axis O1. That is, the conveying and cutting unit 40 group is configured to be floatingly supported on the field surface G1.

[0078] The lifting device 22 is a stem and leaf lifting device located at the front of the traveling body 3, which lifts the stems and leaves 2b of the garlic 2. The lifting device 22 is located at the rear of each tiller 21. Therefore, with respect to the harvesting section 6, the seven lifting devices 22 are arranged in a transverse manner. The lifting device 22 is a device that lifts (raks together) the stems and leaves 2b of the garlic 2 from the front of the machine body and transfers them to the pulling conveyor 24, thereby assisting the pulling conveyor 24 in pulling the garlic 2.

[0079] The lifting device 22 has a long, narrow frame 81 and a raised belt 83. The frame 81 has a slender, thick plate-like shape, with the plate surface facing forward and backward, and tilted in a backward-sloping, forward-sloping direction when viewed from the side. The raised belt 83 is wound around the two ends of the frame 81 along its length onto pulleys 84a and 84b (see reference 84a and 84b) whose rotation axis is set in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the frame 81. Figure 7 ).

[0080] The digging device 23 is located below the pull-out conveyor 24 of the conveying and cutting unit 40. The digging device 23 is a so-called deep loosening shovel, and is designed to easily pull the garlic 2 using the pull-out conveyor 24, by entering the underside of the garlic 2 to break up the soil. The digging device 23 has a soil-breaking blade 55, which is a plate-shaped digging blade extending in the left-right direction. The soil-breaking blade 55 is arranged in a left-right direction as an integral part of the six conveying and cutting units 40.

[0081] Regarding the excavating device 23, the soil-breaking blade 55 is configured to receive the excavating drive shaft 56 arranged in the left-right direction at a position below the middle of the front-rear direction of the conveying and cutting unit 40 (see reference). Figure 6 The digging drive shaft 56 receives power from the engine 10 and rotates. As the vegetable harvester 1 advances, the digging device 23 inserts the soil-breaking blade 55, which swings in the back-and-forth direction, into the soil and positions it below the bulb 2a of the garlic 2, softening the soil and digging six rows.

[0082] Regarding the harvesting section 6, the six conveying and cutting units 40 share a common structure. Utilizing... Figures 1 to 10 The various devices constituting the conveying and cutting unit 40 will be described.

[0083] The pulling and conveying device 24 is as follows: it pulls garlic 2 from the soil at the front of the device, while clamping the stem and leaf portion 2b of the pulled garlic 2 and conveying it backward and upward (slantedly upward). The pulling and conveying device 24 is located behind the lifting device 22, clamping the stem and leaf portion 2b that is lifted by the lifting device 22, and pulling the garlic 2 while conveying the stem and leaf portion 2b backward and upward, maintaining the upright posture while conveying the garlic 2 backward and upward. Multiple (6) pulling and conveying devices 24 are arranged side by side on the traveling body 3 in the left-right direction of the machine body.

[0084] The drawing conveyor 24 is inclined upwards and backwards from the lower end of the lifting device 22. The inclination angle of the drawing conveyor 24 relative to the horizontal direction is, for example, about 35°. The drawing conveyor 24 is arranged in an extending manner such that the straight conveying direction is along the front-back direction when viewed from above.

[0085] The drawing conveyor 24 has a structure in which a pair of conveyor chains 61, which are rotating in annular shapes, are respectively wound around a drive sprocket 62 located on the rear side of the conveyor serving as the downstream side, and a driven sprocket 63 located on the front side of the conveyor serving as the upstream side. That is, the drawing conveyor 24 is a chain conveyor with a pair of chain clamping bodies 60 on the left and right sides, which allow the conveyor chain 61 to be wound around the drive sprocket 62 and the driven sprocket 63, and is configured to clamp the conveyor stem and leaf portion 2b between the left and right chain clamping bodies 60.

[0086] The pulling and conveying device 24 uses the opposing surfaces of a pair of conveyor chains 61 to clamp the stem and leaf portion 2b at its front end, and pulls the garlic 2 from the soil by the rotation of the conveyor chains 61. The pair of conveyor chains 61 are driven by the rotation of the drive sprocket 62, causing the opposing sides to rotate in the direction of movement along the conveying direction. The drive sprocket 62 and the driven sprocket 63 are positioned in a direction orthogonal to the tilt direction of the pulling and conveying device 24 when viewed from the side as the axis of rotation. Multiple guide sprockets and other rotating bodies are provided on the conveyor chains 61.

[0087] The garlic 2 pulled out by the pulling and conveying device 24 is held in a state where the stem and leaf portion 2b is clamped by a pair of conveying chains 61 and conveyed to the rear and upward in a generally vertical suspended position. The pulling and conveying device 24 is extended such that the beginning end (front end) of the conveying is located in front of the tracked traveling device 4 in the front-rear direction, and the end end (rear end) of the conveying is located in the middle of the front-rear direction on the traveling body 3.

[0088] like Figure 7As shown, the drive sprockets 62 of each chain clamp 60 are fixedly mounted on the upper end of the conveyor drive shaft 65, which rotates upon receiving power from the engine 10, and are integrally driven to rotate with the conveyor drive shaft 65. The conveyor drive shaft 65 extends obliquely downwards and rearwards from the rear end of the chain clamp 60 and is housed within a cylindrical conveyor drive shaft housing 66 (see reference 1) along the axial direction of the conveyor drive shaft 65. Figure 9 The drive sprocket 62 rotates, causing the driven sprocket 63 to rotate as the conveyor chain 61 rotates. Thus, the drawing conveyor 24 is configured to receive power from the conveyor drive shaft 65 and be driven.

[0089] The shoulder alignment device 25 is provided on the lower side of the rear part of the pulling conveyor 24. The shoulder alignment device 25 is an example of a position alignment device for aligning the height position of the bulb part 2a of the garlic 2 being conveyed by the pulling conveyor 24.

[0090] The shoulder alignment device 25 defines the upper part of the bulb portion 2a of the garlic 2 as a shoulder, and aligns the height of the shoulder of the garlic 2 with the rear portion of the pulling conveyor 24, located below the pulling conveyor 24. The shoulder alignment device 25, when viewed from the side, is arranged along an inclined plane that is gentler than the slope of the pulling conveyor 24, with the rear higher than the front. The inclination angle of the shoulder alignment device 25 relative to the horizontal direction is, for example, approximately 20°.

[0091] As a pair of left and right annular rotating members that position the stems and leaves 2b of garlic 2, which are conveyed by the pulling conveyor 24, between each other and rotate in an orientation that moves the opposite sides toward the conveying direction of garlic 2, the shoulder alignment device 25 has left and right shoulder alignment chains 71. The shoulder alignment device 25 has the following structure: the left and right pair of shoulder alignment chains 71 are respectively wound around a drive sprocket 72, which is a drive wheel located at the rear of the middle part of the conveying direction, and driven wheels, namely a front driven sprocket 73 and a rear driven sprocket 74, which are respectively located at the front side of the upstream side of the conveying and the rear side of the downstream side of the conveying. That is, the shoulder alignment device 25 has a pair of left and right chain conveyor bodies 70 in which the shoulder alignment chains 71 are wound around the drive sprocket 72 and the front and rear driven sprockets 73, 74, and is configured such that the stems and leaves 2b are located between the left and right chain conveyor bodies 70. The drive sprocket 72 is located on the inner circumferential side of the wound shape of the shoulder alignment chain 71, and is configured to engage from the inner circumferential side with respect to the shoulder alignment chain 71 and the left and right outer portions, that is, the portions opposite to the side of action of the stem and leaf portion 2b in the left and right directions.

[0092] A pair of shoulder alignment chains 71 form a movement path for the stem and leaf portion 2b using their opposing portions. Driven by the rotation of a drive sprocket 72, the opposing sides rotate in the direction in which the stem and leaf portion 2b is moved. When viewing the machine from the side, the drive sprocket 72 and the driven sprockets 73 and 74 are positioned in a direction orthogonal to the tilting direction of the shoulder alignment device 25, which is the axis of rotation. The spacing between the opposing surfaces of the pair of shoulder alignment chains 71 is set to be smaller than the width of the shoulder portion of the bulb portion 2a of a typical garlic clove.

[0093] The shoulder alignment device 25 positions the front end of each chain conveyor 70 directly below the front-to-back center of each chain clamp 60 of the pulling conveyor 24. When viewed from the side, the shoulder alignment device 25, due to the difference in its angle of inclination with the pulling conveyor 24, forms an approximate "V" shape together with the rear of the pulling conveyor 24, and the vertical distance between the shoulder alignment device 25 and the pulling conveyor 24 gradually increases from the front to the rear.

[0094] The shoulder alignment device 25 positions the stem and leaf portion 2b of the garlic 2, conveyed by the pull conveyor 24, between a pair of shoulder alignment chains 71. The pair of shoulder alignment chains 71 press down on the shoulders of the bulb portion 2a of the garlic 2, aligning the height of the bulb portion 2a with a predetermined height. Specifically, the shoulder alignment device 25 positions the bulb portion 2a below a pair of shoulder alignment chains 71 arranged at a gentle slope relative to the conveyor chain 61 of the pull conveyor 24. As the pull conveyor 24 conveys the garlic 2, the pair of shoulder alignment chains 71 abut against the two shoulders of the bulb portion 2a and move upwards, stopping the conveying movement of the garlic 2. This alignment, performed in conjunction with the pull conveyor 24, aligns the height of the garlic 2 (see reference). Figure 9 Arrow B1 in the diagram shows the movement of bulb part 2a.

[0095] The processing of garlic 2 is achieved by a pair of conveyor chains 61 and a pair of shoulder alignment chains 71 of the shoulder alignment device 25, namely, the locking action of the shoulder alignment device 25 on garlic 2. The garlic 2, which is aligned in height, is guided to the stem and leaf cutting device 26 at the rear.

[0096] The stem and leaf cutting device 26 is located above the rear end of the shoulder alignment device 25 and below the rear end of the pulling conveyor 24. The stem and leaf cutting device 26 is used to cut the stem and leaf portion 2b of the garlic 2 being conveyed by the pulling conveyor 24, and to cut the stem and leaf portion 2b from the bulb portion 2a so that the bulb portion 2a falls off. The stem and leaf cutting device 26 cuts the stem and leaf portion 2b of the garlic 2, which is aligned (shoulder height aligned) by the shoulder alignment device 25, such that the stem and leaf portion 2b remains at a substantially constant length on the side of the bulb portion 2a.

[0097] The stem and leaf cutting device 26 has a pair of circular rotating blades 88. The pair of rotating blades 88 are coaxially mounted relative to the rear driven sprockets 74 of the left and right chain conveyors 70 of the shoulder alignment device 25. The rotating blades 88 are supported by a support shaft fixed to the rear driven sprocket 74, and extend upwards from the rear driven sprocket 74, and are positioned parallel to the rear driven sprocket 74 above it. The rotating blades 88 rotate integrally with the rear driven sprocket 74. The pair of rotating blades 88 are arranged close together in the vertical direction with their outer edges overlapping each other, and are approximately symmetrically arranged in the horizontal direction around the movement path of the garlic 2 between the left and right chain conveyors 70.

[0098] The garlic 2, moving obliquely upwards and backwards as a conveyor in the pulling and conveying device 24, is guided to a position between the left and right rotating blades 88 while being stopped by the shoulder alignment device 25 and positioned in the vertical direction. The stem and leaf portion 2b, located between the pair of chain conveyors 70 of the shoulder alignment device 25, reaches the overlapping portion of the left and right rotating blades 88 and is cut off by the rotating blades 88. The bulb portion 2a, cut off from the stem and leaf portion 2b by the pair of rotating blades 88, falls off (see reference). Figure 9 (Arrow B2) The transverse conveyor 7 receives and transports the material toward the right side of the machine body. In addition, the leaf discharge device 28 discharges the stem and leaf parts 2b cut off from the bulb part 2a to the rear side.

[0099] The root cutting device 27 is located below each of the chain conveyors 70 that constitute the shoulder alignment device 25. The root cutting device 27 cuts the root 2c of the garlic 2, which is aligned by the shoulder alignment device 25. The root cutting device 27 has a pair of circular rotating blades 99 on the left and right sides.

[0100] A pair of rotating blades 99 are arranged close together in the vertical direction with their outer edges overlapping each other, and are arranged approximately symmetrically in the horizontal direction around the movement path of the garlic 2 between the left and right chain conveyors 70. Each rotating blade 99 is fixedly mounted on the support shaft of the drive sprocket 72 and aligns with the lower part of the shoulder-aligned drive shaft 85 extending downward from the drive sprocket 72. That is, the rotating blades 99 are mounted coaxially with respect to the drive sprocket 72 and rotate integrally with the drive sprocket 72 and the shoulder-aligned drive shaft 85. The rotating blades 99 are configured with a surface perpendicular to the axis relative to the shoulder-aligned drive shaft 85.

[0101] Regarding the above structure, the rotational power of the shoulder alignment drive shaft 85, which drives the shoulder alignment chain 71, causes the left and right rotating blades 99 of the root cutting device 27 to rotate. The garlic 2, which is being conveyed backward and upward as part of the pulling and conveying device 24, is guided to a position between the left and right rotating blades 99 while being stopped by the shoulder alignment device 25 and positioned vertically. Furthermore, the root 2c of the garlic 2 reaches the overlapping portion of the left and right rotating blades 99 and is cut off by the rotating blades 99. The root 2c, cut off from the bulb portion 2a by the pair of rotating blades 99, falls onto the field.

[0102] The leaf removal device 28 is a device for conveying and discharging the stem and leaf portions 2b cut from the garlic 2 by the stem and leaf cutting device 26 and conveyed by the pulling conveyor 24. The leaf removal device 28 conveys the stem and leaf portions 2b cut from the bulb portion 2a in the stem and leaf cutting device 26 rearward and discharges them onto the leaf removal conveyor 9. The leaf removal device 28 is configured to form an inclination approximately the same as that of the pulling conveyor 24 in a side view behind the pulling conveyor 24, thereby extending the pulling conveyor 24 rearward.

[0103] The leaf-discharging device 28 constitutes a chain conveying mechanism for conveying the stem and leaf portion 2b using a pair of left and right leaf-discharging chain conveyors 90. The leaf-discharging device 28 directs the conveying direction of the stem and leaf portion 2b along the conveying direction of the left and right chain clamps 60 of the drawing conveyor 24.

[0104] The leaf-discharge chain conveyor 90 includes: a drive sprocket 92 disposed at the rear end of the conveying process; a driven sprocket 93 disposed at the beginning end of the conveying process; and a leaf-discharge chain 91, which is an annular rotating component wound around the aforementioned sprockets (see reference). Figure 8 The leaf-discharging device 28 is configured such that the left and right leaf-discharging chains 91 rotate in an orientation that causes the opposing sides to move backward, and the leaf-discharging portion 2b is clamped between the left and right leaf-discharging chains 91.

[0105] According to the leaf-removing device 28 with this structure, the stem and leaf portion 2b, which is held by the pulling and conveying device 24, is transferred (replaced) to the leaf-removing device 28 and conveyed backward and upward while being held between a pair of leaf-removing chains 91. At the end of the leaf-removing device 28, the stem and leaf portion 2b conveyed by the leaf-removing device 28 is released. The stem and leaf portion 2b released by the leaf-removing device 28 falls onto the leaf-removing conveyor 9, which conveys it to the right and guides it to the field using the leaf-removing guide 67.

[0106] The pull-out conveying device 24 and the leaf-extrusion device 28 constituting each conveying and cutting unit 40 are configured such that a portion of the conveying range overlaps with each other.

[0107] like Figure 9As shown, the vane discharge device 28 is arranged parallel to the drawing conveyor 24 on its lower (rear) side relative to the drawing conveyor 24, which is inclined with the rear higher than the front. The vane discharge device 28 is configured such that its front portion in the inclined extension direction overlaps with the rear portion (rear end) of the drawing conveyor 24 from below. Therefore, the vane discharge device 28 causes its rear portion in the extension direction to extend rearward and upward from the rear end of the drawing conveyor 24.

[0108] The left and right chain clamping bodies 60 constituting the drawing conveyor 24 and the left and right leaf-exhausting chain conveyors 90 constituting the leaf-exhausting device 28 are configured such that the centers of the left and right chain conveyors of each device are aligned with each other, and the two devices are configured to be approximately symmetrical. Furthermore, the width dimensions (dimensions in the left-right direction) of the chain clamping bodies 60 and the leaf-exhausting chain conveyors 90 are approximately the same. Regarding this structure, the left and right leaf-exhausting chain conveyors 90 are configured such that the front half of each corresponding chain clamping body 60 overlaps with the rear part (rear end) of the chain clamping body 60 from below.

[0109] [Power transmission structure of a vegetable harvester]

[0110] use Figure 7 and Figure 8 The power transmission structure of the vegetable harvester 1 according to this embodiment will be described. Furthermore, Figure 8 yes Figure 7 The diagram shows a partial enlarged view, specifically illustrating the power transmission structure of the conveying and cutting unit 40. Furthermore, in the description of the power transmission structure, a "belt drive mechanism" is a drive mechanism comprising a pulley mounted on a rotating shaft and a belt wound around the pulley, while a "chain drive mechanism" is a drive mechanism comprising a sprocket mounted on a rotating shaft and a chain wound around the sprocket.

[0111] The power of engine 10 is divided into two types: power transmitted to the driving drive system that drives the tracked traveling device 4, and power transmitted to the speed-synchronized work drive system that drives the specified work unit by transmitting driving force synchronized with the vehicle speed; and power transmitted to the speed-dissynchronized work drive system that drives the specified work unit by transmitting driving force that is not synchronized with the vehicle speed (independent of vehicle speed). According to the speed-dissynchronized work drive system, a constant rotational driving force is transmitted based on the rated output of engine 10.

[0112] (Driving system)

[0113] Describe the driving system. For example... Figure 7As shown, the rotational driving force of the output shaft 10a of the engine 10 is input to the transmission input shaft 102, which is axially positioned in the left-right direction, using the first belt drive mechanism 101. The first belt drive mechanism 101 is equipped with a travel clutch 103 that is operated by a travel clutch lever provided in the driver's compartment 5.

[0114] The rotational power of the transmission input shaft 102 is transmitted to the input shaft of the transmission 11 via the HST140. Here, "HST" refers to a hydraulic continuously variable transmission (CVT) that uses a hydraulic motor to convert the hydraulic pressure generated by driving a hydraulic pump back into rotational force. The HST140 has a variable displacement hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor that are interconnected via oil passages and form a common hydraulic circuit.

[0115] The rotational power input from the output shaft 141 of HST140 to the transmission 11 is transmitted to the left and right axles 11a of the transmission 11 via the transmission mechanism of the transmission 11. Drive wheels 4a of the tracked travel device 4 are mounted at the ends of the axles 11a.

[0116] The transmission 11 has an output shaft 104 protruding to the right. The output shaft 104 is linked to the output shaft 141 of the HST140 within the transmission housing of the transmission 11, and serves as a gearshift shaft for shifting gears using the HST140. The HST140 has an operating shaft, and the gearshift lever (main gearshift lever) located in the driver's section 5 is linked to this operating shaft via a shifting mechanism or the like. The rotation of the output shaft 141 is driven by the hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor of the HST140 through the operation of the gearshift lever.

[0117] The machine's travel speed (vehicle speed) is continuously variable due to the change in the rotational speed of the output shaft 141 of the HST140, and the rotational drive speed of the vehicle speed synchronization operation drive system changes synchronously with the vehicle speed. The output shaft 141 of the HST140 rotates in both directions by operating the gear lever or the like.

[0118] (Speed-synchronized operation drive system)

[0119] The vehicle speed synchronization operation drive system will be described. The rotational power of the output shaft 104 of the HST140 is input to the first transmission auxiliary shaft 107 in the axial direction via the second belt drive mechanism 106, which directs the rotational power to the left or right. Furthermore, a one-way clutch is used to transmit rotational power in only one direction to the pulley supported on the output shaft 104 in the second belt drive mechanism 106, which transmits the rotational power of the output shaft 104.

[0120] The rotational power of the first conveyor shaft 107 is transmitted to the second conveyor shaft 109 via a third belt drive mechanism 108 located on the left side of the machine body. The third belt drive mechanism 108 is equipped with a first working clutch 110 operated by a working clutch lever located on the driver's unit 5.

[0121] The rotational power of the second conveyor shaft 109 is input to the pre-processing input shaft 120, which is axially configured in the left-right direction, via a first chain drive mechanism 119 including a sprocket 118 fixedly mounted on the left end of the second conveyor shaft 109. Near the left end of the pre-processing input shaft 120, an input sprocket 121 of the first chain drive mechanism 119 is fixedly mounted, which, along with the sprocket 118, receives the winding of the chain.

[0122] The rotational power of the pre-processing input shaft 120 is transmitted to the conveying drive shafts 65 of the left and right chain clamps 60 of each of the six conveying and cutting units 40. The rotational power of the pre-processing input shaft 120 is transmitted to each conveying drive shaft 65 via an input-side bevel gear 122 fixedly mounted on the pre-processing input shaft 120 and an output-side bevel gear 123 fixedly mounted on the lower end of each conveying drive shaft 65. The pre-processing input shaft 120 is configured to rotatably support the harvesting unit 6 on the traveling body 3 via a shaft support 20.

[0123] Furthermore, the rotational power of the pretreatment input shaft 120 is transmitted to the conveyor drive shaft 39 via a bevel gear 126 fixedly disposed at the right end of the pretreatment input shaft 120 and a bevel gear 127 fixedly disposed at the front end of the conveyor drive shaft 39. As a result, the drive roller 36 is driven to rotate, thereby driving the leaf conveyor 9.

[0124] Regarding each conveying and cutting unit 40, the chain clamping body 60 of the pulling conveying device 24, the chain conveyor body 70 of the shoulder alignment device 25, the rotating blade 88 of the stem and leaf cutting device 26, the rotating blade 99 of the root cutting device 27, and the leaf discharge chain conveyor body 90 of the leaf discharge device 28 are driven by the rotational power of the left and right conveying drive shafts 65.

[0125] Furthermore, the rotational power of the pre-processing input shaft 120 is input to the lifting input shaft 113, which is axially configured in the left-right direction, via a second chain drive mechanism 112 including a sprocket 111 fixedly mounted on the left end of the pre-processing input shaft 120. An input sprocket 125, which receives chain winding along with the sprocket 111, is fixedly mounted on the left end of the lifting input shaft 113.

[0126] The rotational power of the lifting input shaft 113 is transmitted to the lifting drive shafts 136 of the seven lifting devices 22. The rotational power of the lifting input shaft 113 is transmitted to each lifting drive shaft 136 via an input-side bevel gear 137 fixedly mounted on the lifting input shaft 113 and an output-side bevel gear 138 fixedly mounted on each lifting drive shaft 136. A drive-side pulley 84a is fixedly mounted on the lifting drive shaft 136, receiving the winding of the raised belt 83 along with the driven-side pulley 84b. The drive-side pulley 84a is located near the upper end of the lifting device 22, and the driven-side pulley 84b is located near the lower end of the lifting device 22. The rotation of the lifting drive shaft 136 causes the raised belt 83 to rotate, thereby driving the lifting device 22.

[0127] As mentioned above, regarding the vegetable harvester 1, the working unit that receives power from the engine 10 and performs synchronous speed drive using the vehicle speed synchronous operation drive system includes the leaf conveyor 9, the pulling conveyor 24 constituting the conveying and cutting unit 40, and other devices such as the lifting device 22.

[0128] (Asynchronous operation drive system)

[0129] The asynchronous operation drive system for vehicle speed is described below. The rotational driving force of the output shaft 10a of the engine 10 is input to the first secondary shaft 139, which is set in the axial direction in the left and right directions, through the fourth belt transmission mechanism 128.

[0130] The fourth belt drive mechanism 128 is provided with a second working clutch 129 operated by a working clutch lever provided in the driver's unit 5. The second working clutch 129 and the first working clutch 110 are configured to be linked to each other, and the engagement (connection) / disengagement (cutoff) of the clutches is switched by the operation of the working clutch lever.

[0131] The rotational power of the first auxiliary shaft 139 is input to the conveyor input shaft 45 of the longitudinal conveyor 17 via a fifth belt drive mechanism 147, which includes a sprocket 146 fixedly mounted at the right end of the first auxiliary shaft 139. The fifth belt drive mechanism 147 has a conveyor auxiliary shaft 148 that supports a pulley on the left side that receives the belt winding together with the sprocket 146, and a pulley on the right side that receives the belt winding together with the input pulley 47. The rotational driving force of the conveyor input shaft 45 is transmitted to the conveyor driven shaft 46 via a chain drive mechanism including left and right chains 44, thereby driving the longitudinal conveyor 17.

[0132] On the other hand, the rotational power of the first auxiliary shaft 139 is transmitted to the double pulley 151 via a sixth belt drive mechanism 150, which includes a pulley 149 fixedly disposed at the left end of the first auxiliary shaft 139. The double pulley 151 is rotatably supported at the left end of a rotating support frame portion 152 coaxially disposed with respect to the second transmission auxiliary shaft 109.

[0133] The rotating support frame 152 is a straight frame section extending in the left-right direction. It is composed of a tubular component with a circular cross-sectional shape and is located at the rear end of the working section frame 30. The rotating support frame 152 is located behind the transverse conveyor 7 (see reference). Figure 6 The working frame 30 has the rotating support frame 152 fixedly positioned on the traveling body 3 as a shaft support, and is configured to support the front side in a way that allows it to rotate around a rotation axis that coincides with the central axis of the rotating support frame 152. This is achieved through two lifting cylinders 29 (see reference). Figure 6 The work unit frame 30 rotates due to the extension and retraction of the work unit.

[0134] The rotating support frame 152 supports the second conveying sub-shaft 109 at its left end. The second conveying sub-shaft 109 extends from the rotating support frame 152 toward the left and is supported in a rotatable manner by means of a bearing.

[0135] The double pulley 151 is an integral rotating body comprising a first pulley that receives the belt along with the pulley 149, and a second pulley that receives the belt in the seventh belt drive mechanism 153. The seventh belt drive mechanism 153 is a mechanism that transmits the rotational power of the first auxiliary shaft 139 to the digging drive shaft 56 via the double pulley 151, and includes: a second pulley of the double pulley 151; a pulley 154 fixedly disposed at the left end of the digging drive shaft 56; and a belt wound around the pulley. The rotational power of the digging drive shaft 56 drives the digging device 23.

[0136] As described above, regarding the vegetable harvester 1, the working parts that are driven at asynchronous speeds (constant speed) by receiving power from the engine 10 through a speed-asynchronous operation drive system are the longitudinal conveyor 17 and the digging device 23. Furthermore, regarding the drive of the transverse conveyor 7 driven by the motor 50, it is preferable to drive it at asynchronous speeds (constant speed) in the same way as the longitudinal conveyor 17, through the motion control of the motor 50. However, the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor 7 can be controlled independently through the motion control of the motor 50. Therefore, the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor 7 can, for example, be controlled to change in sync with the vehicle speed.

[0137] The power transmission structure for the vane discharge device 28 and the shoulder alignment device 25 will be described. The drive sprockets 92 of the left and right vane discharge chain conveyors 90 constituting the vane discharge device 28 are respectively fixedly mounted on the auxiliary shaft 155. The auxiliary shaft 155 is arranged parallel to the conveyor drive shaft 65 at the rear and above the conveyor drive shaft 65.

[0138] The upper end of the secondary shaft 155 is rotatably supported by a bearing 157 on a frame member 156 that constitutes the frame portion of the vane chain conveyor 90. The lower end of the secondary shaft 155 is rotatably supported by a bearing 159 on a frame member 158 that constitutes the frame portion extending rearward from the conveyor drive shaft housing 66 in the conveying direction. The secondary shaft 155 receives the rotational power of the conveyor drive shaft 65 through a vane drive chain mechanism 160 provided for each vane chain conveyor 90 and is driven to rotate together with the drive sprocket 92.

[0139] A vane discharge drive chain mechanism 160 is disposed on the lower side of the vane discharge chain conveyor bodies 90 on the left and right sides of the vane discharge device 28. The vane discharge drive chain mechanism 160 includes: a drive sprocket 161 fixedly disposed on the conveyor drive shaft 65; a driven sprocket 162 fixedly disposed on the secondary shaft 155; and a vane discharge drive chain 163 wound around the aforementioned sprockets. The drive sprocket 161 is disposed in the middle of the conveyor drive shaft 65. The driven sprocket 162 is disposed on the secondary shaft 155 below the drive sprocket 92. According to the above structure, each vane discharge chain conveyor body 90 receives power from the conveyor drive shaft 65 via the vane discharge drive chain mechanism 160 and is driven together with the drawing conveyor 24.

[0140] The shoulder alignment device 25 is driven by the rotational power transmitted from the left and right leaf conveyor chains 90. The driven sprockets 93 of each leaf conveyor chain 90 are fixedly mounted on the leaf driven shaft 165. The leaf driven shaft 165 is rotatably supported by bearings 167 on a predetermined frame component that constitutes the frame portion of the leaf conveyor chain 90.

[0141] The vane driven shaft 165 extends downward from the portion supporting the driven sprocket 93 and is connected to the shoulder-aligned drive shaft 85 via a universal joint 168. The drive sprocket 72 is fixedly mounted in the middle of the shoulder-aligned drive shaft 85. The shoulder-aligned drive shaft 85 is positioned such that its axis is parallel to the rotational axis of the front and rear driven sprockets 73 and 74.

[0142] Thus, the shoulder alignment device 25 is configured to receive the rotational power of the conveyor drive shaft 65 via the leaf-extension drive chain mechanism 160, the leaf-extension chain conveyor 90, the leaf-extension driven shaft 165, and the shoulder alignment drive shaft 85, and is driven together with the pulling conveyor 24. Regarding this structure, the leaf-extension chain 91 of the leaf-extension chain conveyor 90 functions as a shoulder alignment drive chain that transmits the rotational power received from the conveyor drive shaft 65 to the shoulder alignment device 25 via the leaf-extension drive chain mechanism 160 and drives the shoulder alignment device 25. That is, the left and right leaf-extension chains 91 that clamp and convey the stem and leaf portions 2b transferred from the pulling conveyor 24 in the leaf-extension device 28 also serve as shoulder alignment drive chains that drive the left and right chain conveyors 70 of the shoulder alignment device 25.

[0143] Regarding the above structure, the shoulder alignment device 25 is positioned further forward of the machine body than the conveyor drive shaft 65. That is, the shoulder alignment device 25 is configured such that the entire or substantially entire left and right chain conveyors 70 are located further forward than the conveyor drive shaft 65. Furthermore, the shoulder alignment device 25 is driven by receiving power from the left and right blade chains 91 constituting the blade discharge device 28, and aligns the height of the bulb portion 2a of the garlic 2 conveyed by the pull conveyor 24.

[0144] Regarding the vegetable harvester 1 with the above structure, the driving unit 5 is disposed on one side (right side) of the machine body in the left-right direction relative to the conveying and cutting unit 40, and the power transmission unit 500 for transmitting power to the lifting device 22 is disposed on the other side (left side) of the machine body in the left-right direction relative to the conveying and cutting unit 40.

[0145] That is, regarding the structure of a group of six transport and cut-off units 40 arranged side by side in the left-right direction, the pilot unit 5 is positioned to the right of the rightmost transport and cut-off unit 40 in the left-right direction of the aircraft, and the power transmission unit 500 is positioned to the left of the leftmost transport and cut-off unit 40 (see reference). Figure 3 ).

[0146] like Figure 7 As shown, the power transmission unit 500 includes at least one of a third belt drive mechanism 108, a first chain drive mechanism 119, and a second chain drive mechanism 112.

[0147] The third belt drive mechanism 108 includes: a pulley 501 disposed at the left end of the first conveying sub-shaft 107; a pulley 502 disposed on the second conveying sub-shaft 109; and a belt 503 wound around the pulleys. The first conveying sub-shaft 107 is positioned between the conveying and cutting unit 40 and the engine 10 in the longitudinal direction. Additionally, the first conveying sub-shaft 107 is positioned directly below the vane conveyor 9 in the vertical direction.

[0148] The first chain drive mechanism 119 includes a sprocket 118, an input sprocket 121, and a chain 504 wound around the sprocket. A second conveying sub-shaft 109, fixedly mounted on the left end of the sprocket 118, is located below and in front of the first conveying sub-shaft 107, and is coaxially arranged relative to the rotation support frame 152 on the left side. A pre-processing input shaft 120 supporting the input sprocket 121 is located above and in front of the first conveying sub-shaft 107 and the second conveying sub-shaft 109.

[0149] The second chain drive mechanism 112 includes a sprocket 111, an input sprocket 125, and a chain 505 wound around the sprocket. The sprocket 125 is fixedly mounted on the left end of the lifting input shaft 113, which is located above the front end of the drawing conveyor 24.

[0150] Regarding the left-right positional relationship of the transmission mechanisms constituting the power transmission unit 500, the first chain transmission mechanism 119 is located to the left of the third belt transmission mechanism 108, and the second chain transmission mechanism 112 is located to the left of the first chain transmission mechanism 119.

[0151] The third belt drive mechanism 108, the first chain drive mechanism 119, the shaft portion supporting the pulleys or sprockets of the aforementioned drive mechanisms, and the rear end of the second chain drive mechanism 112 are covered by a first box 511 located on the left side of the conveying and cutting unit 40 group in the left-right direction. The first box 511 has a left side surface, an upper surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and a bottom surface, and the aforementioned surfaces are configured as a flat box shape in the left-right direction. The first box 511 is set to be fixed to the machine frame 15.

[0152] The shaft portion that supports the second chain drive mechanism 112 and the sprocket of the second chain drive mechanism 112 is covered by a second box 512 located on the left side of the conveying and cutting unit 40 group in the left-right direction. The second box 512 is arranged in a forward-backward direction along the extension direction of the second chain drive mechanism 112. The second box 512 has left and right side portions, a top surface portion, a front surface portion, a rear surface portion, and a bottom portion, and the aforementioned portions are configured as a flat box shape with a thick plate in the left-right direction as the thickness direction.

[0153] The second box 512 is configured such that its rear end is inserted into the first box 511 from the front. An opening is formed on the front surface of the first box 511, through which the rear end of the second box 512 passes. The second box 512 is configured to be mounted on a predetermined part of the device structure supported by the working part frame 30 (e.g., the frame part constituting the pulling conveyor 24) by means of a support member. The second box 512 is a part that rotates integrally with the conveying and cutting unit 40, which rotates up and down around the lifting rotation axis O1 as described above.

[0154] Furthermore, regarding the vegetable harvester 1 involved in this embodiment, the transverse conveyor 7 and the leaf-removing conveyor 9 are configured with their conveying direction set to the right side of the machine body in the left-right direction. That is, the transverse conveyor 7 is configured with its conveying direction towards the bulb portion 2a (refer to...). Figure 12 Arrow H1) and the leaf conveyor 9 convey the stem and leaf section 2b in the following directions (refer to arrow H1). Figure 12 Arrows H1 and H2 both point in the direction from the left side of the machine to the right.

[0155] In addition, both the transverse conveyor 7 and the leaf conveyor 9 have a conveying range that covers the entire or approximately the entire range of the six conveying and cutting units 40, and are set to be approximately the same in the left and right directions.

[0156] like Figure 12 As shown, in the left-right direction, the conveying end of the transverse conveyor 7 is located near the left side of the left edge (chain 44) of the conveyor body of the horizontal conveyor section 17A, relative to the conveying beginning of the horizontal conveyor section 17A of the longitudinal conveyor 17. A guide section 170 is provided on the conveying end side of the transverse conveyor 7 in a manner continuous with respect to the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7.

[0157] The guide section 170 includes: a guide surface 170a that slopes downward from left to right; and a side wall portion 170b disposed on the front and rear sides of the guide surface 170a (on both sides of the machine body in the front-rear direction), such that the end portion is located near the front side of the left edge of the conveyor body portion of the horizontal conveyor section 17A in the left-right direction (see reference). Figure 12 The guide face 170a and the front and rear side walls 170b are inclined in a direction that is lower in the rear and higher in the front, corresponding to the slope of the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7.

[0158] The guide section 170 receives the bulb portion 2a conveyed by the transverse conveyor 7, guides the bulb portion 2a onto the starting end of the longitudinal conveyor 17, and causes it to fall. That is, the transverse conveyor 7 is positioned at a height above the horizontal conveying section 17A of the longitudinal conveyor 17, and the guide section 170 conveys the bulb portion 2a, which is being conveyed to the right, in a manner that causes it to fall onto the horizontal conveying section 17A of the longitudinal conveyor 17.

[0159] like Figure 12 As shown, in the left-right direction, the conveying end of the vane conveyor 9 is located approximately at the center of the width of the conveyor body of the longitudinal conveyor 17. Furthermore, the vane guide 67 extends from the conveying end of the vane conveyor 9 to the right side of the longitudinal conveyor 17.

[0160] Furthermore, regarding the vertical positional relationship of the aforementioned conveyors, the transverse conveyor 7 is positioned lower than the leaf discharge conveyor 9. In this embodiment, the leaf discharge conveyor 9 is positioned diagonally above and behind the transverse conveyor 7 (see reference). Figure 11 ).

[0161] like Figure 11 As shown, specifically, in the vertical direction, the height position K1 of the upper end of the transverse conveyor 7 is lower than the height position K2 of the lower end of the vane conveyor 9. Here, the height position K1 of the upper end of the transverse conveyor 7 is the height position of the upper end of the belt 59, and the height position K2 of the lower end of the vane conveyor 9 is the height position of the lower end of the belt 38. Furthermore, on the conveying surface side (outer peripheral side) of the belts 38 and 59 of the two conveyors, plate-shaped protrusions extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, namely conveying plate portions 38a and 59a, are provided at predetermined intervals in the conveying direction.

[0162] Regarding the structure in which the transverse conveyor 7 is arranged at a lower position than the leaf discharge conveyor 9, the longitudinal conveyor 17 that receives the bulb portion 2a from the transverse conveyor 7 is configured such that the upstream portion in the conveying direction is at a lower height than the leaf discharge conveyor 9, and the downstream portion in the conveying direction is at a higher height than the leaf discharge conveyor 9.

[0163] like Figure 11 As shown, as the upstream portion of the conveying direction, the longitudinal conveyor 17 positions the entire horizontal conveying section 17A and the front portion of the inclined conveying section 17B at a lower height than the leaf conveyor 9. In this embodiment, approximately one-third of the front portion of the inclined conveying section 17B is positioned at a lower height than the lower end height K2 of the leaf conveyor 9.

[0164] Thus, when viewed from the side, the leaf conveyor 9 is located in front of the lower part of the inclined conveying section 17B of the longitudinal conveyor 17. Furthermore, the conveying path of the leaf conveyor 9 for the stem and leaf portion 2b and the conveying path of the longitudinal conveyor 17 for the bulb portion 2a are positioned at the lower part of the inclined conveying section 17B of the longitudinal conveyor 17 such that the conveying path of the leaf conveyor 9 crosses the conveying path of the longitudinal conveyor 17, and that the conveying directions are orthogonal when viewed from above. Thus, the inclined conveying section 17B of the longitudinal conveyor 17 is configured to pass beneath the conveying path of the leaf conveyor 9 for the stem and leaf portion 2b.

[0165] In addition, in the longitudinal conveyor 17, the portion of the bulb 2a that is conveyed by the transverse conveyor 7 is located below the driver's seat 12 when the machine is viewed from the side.

[0166] like Figure 11As shown, the portion of the longitudinal conveyor 17 that receives the bulb portion 2a conveyed by the transverse conveyor 7 is the starting end of the longitudinal conveyor 17 and is the front part of the horizontal conveyor section 17A. The front part of the horizontal conveyor section 17A is the portion located below the transverse conveyor 7 when the machine is viewed from the side.

[0167] That is, when the machine is viewed from the side, the transverse conveyor 7 is located above the front of the horizontal conveying section 17A of the longitudinal conveyor 17, and the driver's seat 12 is located above the transverse conveyor 7. When the machine is viewed from the side, the vane conveyor 9 is located behind the transverse conveyor 7 and the driver's seat 12, and at the height between the transverse conveyor 7 and the driver's seat 12.

[0168] Regarding the structure where the front of the horizontal conveying section 17A of the longitudinal conveyor 17 is located below the driver's seat 12, when the driver's seat 12 is configured in a top-down view, the left side of it overlaps with the horizontal conveying section 17A (see reference). Figure 12 That is, in the left-right direction of the aircraft, the pilot's seat 12 is positioned such that the left side overlaps with the horizontal transport section 17A.

[0169] Thus, when the driver's seat 12 is configured to be viewed from above, at least a portion of it overlaps with the longitudinal conveyor 17. Alternatively, the driver's seat 12 may be configured to overlap entirely with the longitudinal conveyor 17 when viewed from above. Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction of the machine body, the driver's seat 12 is configured such that its entirety lies within the arrangement range of the horizontal conveying section 17A of the longitudinal conveyor 17.

[0170] Furthermore, regarding the configuration of the driver's seat 12, it is located to the right of the conveyor cutting unit 40 group in the left-right direction of the machine body. That is, the driver's seat 12 is positioned to the right of the rightmost conveyor cutting unit 40. Additionally, the driver's seat 12 is positioned further forward than the rear end of the conveyor cutting unit 40 in the front-rear direction of the machine body. That is, the driver's seat 12 is positioned further forward than the rear end of the bladed chain conveyor 90 that constitutes the rear end of the conveyor cutting unit 40.

[0171] According to the vegetable harvester 1 of this embodiment with the above structure, it is possible to ensure good workability by providing the operator with a forward field of vision from the driver's cab 5.

[0172] Regarding the vegetable harvester 1, the driver's unit 5 is located on the right side of the conveyor-cutting unit 40 assembly, and the power transmission unit 500, which transmits power to the lifting device 22, is located on the left side of the conveyor-cutting unit 40 assembly. With this configuration, the operator's forward view is not obstructed by the power transmission unit 500, ensuring ample visibility. This facilitates, for example, alignment of the machine body (row alignment) in the left-right direction relative to the target area of ​​the field while simultaneously confirming the path ahead, resulting in good workability.

[0173] Furthermore, the driver unit 5 and the power transmission unit 500 are positioned between each other and on opposite sides of the conveyor-cutting unit 40, thus allowing the driver unit 5 to be positioned close to the conveyor-cutting unit 40. Even based on this, it becomes easier to align the machine body in the left and right directions while confirming the direction ahead, resulting in good workability.

[0174] Furthermore, both the transverse conveyor 7 and the leaf discharge conveyor 9 are configured such that their conveying direction is directed towards the side opposite to the driver's unit 5, i.e., towards the power transmission unit 500, in the left-right direction of the machine body. With this configuration, interference between the power transmission unit 500 and the power transmission structure used to drive the transverse conveyor 7 and the leaf discharge conveyor 9 can be easily avoided. Additionally, ensuring sufficient space for the conveying of the bulb portion 2a downstream of the transverse conveyor 7 and for the discharge path of the stem and leaf portion 2b downstream of the leaf discharge conveyor 9 becomes easier. Consequently, a compact structure can be achieved for the body of the vegetable harvester 1.

[0175] Furthermore, by setting the discharge side of the leaf conveyor 9 towards the already dug side after the garlic 2 has been harvested during the garlic 2 harvesting operation, it is possible to prevent the leaf 2 discharged from the machine from affecting the subsequent garlic 2 harvesting operation. In addition, according to the structure that discharges the leaf 2b to the side of the machine, compared with a structure that discharges the leaf 2b to the front or rear of the machine, it is easier to, for example, for the worker following behind the moving machine, to collect garlic 2 that has fallen into the field and to detect any remaining garlic 2 after digging it up, thus reducing harvesting losses.

[0176] Furthermore, in the left-right direction of the machine body, the engine 10, which serves as the load, is located on the left side of the machine body, while the operator's seat 12 is located on the right side of the machine body, with the two positioned opposite each other. This structure allows for stable left-right balance of the machine body.

[0177] In addition, regarding the structure with a receiving section 8 at the rear of the body, the transverse conveyor 7 is positioned lower than the vane conveyor 9, and the longitudinal conveyor 17 is positioned in front of the vane conveyor 9 at a height that is in the middle of the conveying direction.

[0178] According to the processing method of the stem and leaf portion 2b in the conveying and cutting unit 40, the discharge position of the leaf discharge device 28 for the stem and leaf portion 2b is higher than the height at which the bulb portion 2a falls from the stem and leaf cutting device 26. Therefore, by setting the leaf discharge conveyor 9 at a higher position than the transverse conveyor 7, and by making the conveying path of the longitudinal conveyor 17 higher than the leaf discharge conveyor 9 from the middle, there is no interference with the conveying path of the leaf discharge conveyor 9 for the stem and leaf portion 2b. The bulb portion 2a can be conveyed to a position higher than the leaf discharge conveyor 9 using the longitudinal conveyor 17, and the height at which the receiving part 8 receives the bulb portion 2a can be ensured.

[0179] That is, relative to the longitudinal conveyor 17 with its inclined conveying path (higher at the back and lower at the front), the leaf discharge conveyor 9 is arranged in a three-dimensional cross shape at the height of the middle part of its inclined conveying path. Therefore, it is not interfered with by the conveying path of the leaf discharge conveyor 9, and the height of the conveying end of the longitudinal conveyor 17 that feeds the bulb portion 2a into the receiving section 8 can be ensured. With this structure, the overall length of the machine body can be shortened, and a compact design can be achieved.

[0180] Furthermore, a portion of the horizontal conveying section 17A of the longitudinal conveyor 17 is located below the driver's seat 12 when the machine is viewed from the side. With this configuration, the driver's seat 12 can be configured to overlap with the longitudinal conveyor 17 when viewed from above, thus enabling a more compact machine body. In this embodiment, the driver's seat 12 is configured such that its left side overlaps with the horizontal conveying section 17A of the longitudinal conveyor 17 when viewed from above.

[0181] Additionally, when observing the aircraft from the side, the vane conveyor 9 is positioned at the height between the driver's seat 12 and the transverse conveyor 7 located below it (see reference). Figure 11 Based on this structure, the degree of freedom in the configuration position of the driver's seat 12 in the front-back and left-right directions can be increased regarding its relationship with the vane conveyor 9.

[0182] Furthermore, the transverse conveyor 7 is configured in an inclined position such that the conveying surface is lower at the rear and higher at the front. With this structure, the bulb part 2a that is cut off by the stem and leaf part 2b in the stem and leaf cutting device 26 and falls onto the transverse conveyor 7 can move backward on the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 due to its own weight.

[0183] Therefore, regarding the transverse conveyor 7 that receives the bulb portions 2a falling from the conveying cutting unit 40 group corresponding to the multi-row (6-row) and conveys them toward the right side of the machine body, the bulb portions 2a on the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 can be dispersed. Thus, the height of the wall portion provided for the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 can be suppressed, and the overflow of the bulb portions 2a from the transverse conveyor 7 to the outside can be suppressed.

[0184] In a structure where the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 is horizontal, to prevent the bulb portion 2a from overflowing from the transverse conveyor 7, it is necessary to ensure the width (dimension in the front-to-back direction) of the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 to a certain extent. In this regard, by making the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 inclined, the transverse conveyor 7 can be made more compact, resulting in a more compact overall structure. Furthermore, the inclination angle of the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 relative to the horizontal direction is, for example, approximately 10°.

[0185] Furthermore, the transverse conveyor 7 is configured such that the conveying surface covers the entire or nearly entire area of ​​the six conveying and cutting units 40 in the left-right direction. With this configuration, the bulb portions 2a falling from the conveying and cutting units 40 can be directly received by the conveying surface of the transverse conveyor 7 without using guiding components such as guides to allow them to fall onto the conveying surface of the conveying device. This allows for smooth and reliable conveying of the bulb portions 2a.

[0186] [Regarding support devices, etc.]

[0187] Conventional lifting devices for vegetable harvesters, located at the front of the machine body and used to lift the stems and leaves 2b of garlic 2, have the following structure: For each row, a pair of drive pulleys and driven pulleys arranged vertically and horizontally are provided, with a lifting conveyor body with a raised belt wound around them; the left and right lifting conveyors are arranged parallel to each other at predetermined intervals in the front-to-back direction (see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-74012). Lifting devices with this structure have the following problems: the number of parts increases, and the construction becomes complex. Therefore, in this embodiment, a structure is provided that can achieve good lifting performance with a simple structure for lifting the stems and leaves 2b.

[0188] use Figures 13 to 16 The lifting device 22 located in front of the traveling body 3 and the surrounding structure will be described. Figure 15 yes Figure 14 BB-direction sectional view. Figure 16 yes Figure 15 The sectional view in the CC direction. As described above, the vegetable harvester 1 has seven lifting devices 22 arranged laterally for a structure used for six rows.

[0189] like Figures 13 to 16 As shown, the lifting device 22 includes: a frame 81, which is inclined in the direction of rear-high and front-low; and a belt with protrusions 83, which is wound around upper and lower pulleys 84a and 84b. When the machine body is viewed from the side, the upper and lower pulleys 84a and 84b are positioned in the direction orthogonal to the inclination direction of the lifting device 22 as the direction of rotation axis.

[0190] The protruding belt 83 has: an annular belt body portion 221 having a rectangular cross-sectional shape; and a plurality of protrusions 222 disposed on the outer periphery of the belt body portion 221. The plurality of protrusions 222 are disposed at predetermined intervals in the extending direction of the belt body portion 221 and are formed along the winding plane of the belt. The protrusions 222 have a straight, slightly tapered end. The protruding belt 83 causes the plurality of protrusions 222 to protrude outward from the periphery of the frame 81.

[0191] like Figures 13 to 16 As shown, at the lower end of each of the five lifting devices 22B (excluding the lifting devices 22A at the left and right ends) among the seven lifting devices 22, there is a star-shaped wheel 86, which serves as an auxiliary rotating component to assist the lifting device 22 in raking the stem and leaf portion 2b.

[0192] The star-shaped wheel 86 has: a circular plate-shaped wheel body 225; and a plurality of protrusions 226 disposed on the outer periphery of the wheel body 225. The plurality of protrusions 226 are disposed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the wheel body 225 and are formed along the plate surface direction of the wheel body 225. The star-shaped wheel 86 is a rotating body in which the plurality of protrusions 226 protrude radially, disposed on the rear side of the lower end of the frame 81, and configured to rotate parallel to the rotation axis direction relative to the pulley 84a, etc., for rotational drive. The protrusions 226 have a straight, slightly tapered protrusion at the end.

[0193] The star-shaped wheel 86 is positioned on the lower left side of the pulley 84b. In the left-right direction, the left side of the pulley 84b is the non-operating side with the protruding belt 83. In a winding manner where the pulleys 84a and 84b are wound around each other and extend in the vertical direction, the protruding belt 83 sets the direction of upward movement of the extension portion on the right side of the pulleys 84a and 84b as the rotational direction when the lifting device 22 is driven (see reference). Figure 13 Arrow L1).

[0194] Furthermore, the protruding belt 83 extends to the right side of the pulleys 84a and 84b located above and below, causing multiple protrusions 226 to extend from the right side of the frame 81, and this right-side extension is designed to function on the stem and leaf portion 2b of the garlic 2. That is, the extension on the left side of the protruding belt 83, located above and below the pulleys 84a and 84b, becomes the non-functional side relative to the garlic 2. Therefore, the star-shaped wheel 86 is positioned on the left side of the protruding belt 83, which is the non-functional side, relative to the pulley 84b in the left-right direction.

[0195] The pulley 84b is disposed on the structural component of the frame 81 and is located on the rear side of the first support plate 231, which forms the front surface of the lifting device 22, and is supported on the first support plate 231 by a pivot bolt 233. The pivot bolt 233 supports its rear end on the structural component of the frame 81 and is located on the right side of a second support plate 232 located on the rear side of the first support plate 231. The second support plate 232 is provided with an internal thread portion 232a that receives the engagement of the pivot bolt 233.

[0196] The pulley 84b is rotatable by bearing components such as bushings through which the support bolt 233 passes. The axial direction of the support bolt 233 is the rotational axis direction of the pulley 84b. Figure 16 The vertical direction within the pulley is hereinafter referred to as the "pulley axis".

[0197] The star-shaped wheel 86 is disposed axially on the rear side of the pulley 84b. The star-shaped wheel 86 is configured such that, when viewed axially from the pulley, the right side of the wheel body portion 225 overlaps with the left side of the belt body portion 221 of the pulley 84b.

[0198] The star-shaped wheel 86 rotates by receiving the rotational power from the pulley 84b through a gear transmission section 250 consisting of a pair of spur gears, the first gear 251 and the second gear 252 (see reference). Figure 16 That is, the rotational power of the lifting drive shaft 136 that drives the lifting device 22 is transmitted to the star wheel 86 via the drive-side pulley 84a, the belt with protrusions 83, the driven-side pulley 84b, and the gear transmission part 250 (see reference). Figure 7 Thus, the lifting device 22 is configured such that the pulley 84b receiving the winding with the protruding belt 83 and the star wheel 86 are linked together.

[0199] like Figure 16 As shown, the first gear 251 is integrally disposed with the pulley 84b. The pulley 84b has a boss 253 formed in a cylindrical shape protruding rearward from its inner circumference. The annular first gear 251 is fixedly disposed on the pulley 84b by pressing, welding, or the like, with its outer portion fitted into the boss 253. The first gear 251 and the pulley 84b together constitute an integral rotating body relative to the shaft support bolt 233.

[0200] like Figure 16 As shown, the second gear 252 is integrally provided with the star wheel 86. The star wheel 86 is provided on the left side of the second support plate 232 by means of a shaft support 241 and a boss 242 that is rotatable relative to the shaft support 241.

[0201] The shaft support 241 is a cylindrical portion and is fixed to the second support plate 232 by welding or the like. The boss portion 242 is a cylindrical portion with a diameter larger than that of the shaft support 241, and the shaft support 241 is inserted by means of a bushing or other bearing component into which it fits. A flange portion 243 is provided on the rear side of the boss portion 242 as an enlarged portion relative to the boss portion 242. The flange portion 243 is provided by fixing a circular plate-shaped component to the boss portion 242 by welding or the like.

[0202] The star-shaped wheel 86 is coaxially arranged relative to the boss portion 242 and is fixed by being clamped by the flange portion 243 and a circular plate-shaped fixing plate 244 located behind the flange portion 243. The star-shaped wheel 86 is fastened by a threaded portion 245 that passes through the flange portion 243, the star-shaped wheel 86, and the fixing plate 244, and a nut 246 that engages with the protruding portion of the threaded portion 245 on the rear side of the fixing plate 244. The fixing portion of the threaded portion 245 is provided at multiple locations (3 locations).

[0203] A screw hole with a rearward opening is formed in the shaft support 241, and a fixing bolt 247 is screwed into the screw hole. The fixing bolt 247 passes through the annular locking plate 248, and the locking plate 248 is positioned between it and the rear end face of the shaft support 241. The locking plate 248 is a circular plate-shaped component that forms an enlarged portion relative to the shaft support 241, and the inner peripheral edge of the flange 243 is positioned between the peripheral edge of the locking plate 248 that protrudes radially outward from the shaft support 241 and the rear end face of the boss 242.

[0204] The second gear 252 is a ring-shaped component, and is fixedly mounted on the boss 242 by pressing, welding, or other means, in a state of being externally embedded in the boss 242. The second gear 252, together with the boss 242 and the star wheel 86, constitutes an integral rotating body relative to the shaft support 241.

[0205] The first gear 251 and the second gear 252 are, for example, gear components that share the same number of teeth and outer diameter, such that the pulleys are axially aligned and mesh with each other. Thus, the pulley 84b and the integral rotating portion including the star wheel 86 are engaged by the first gear 251 and the second gear 252, which are respectively positioned relative to each other. This transmits the rotation of the pulley 84b to the star wheel 86.

[0206] The rotation direction of the star wheel 86 is opposite to that of the pulley 84b (see reference). Figure 13(Arrow L2). The star-shaped wheel 86 assists the lifting device 22 located on its left side with the raised belt 83 for lifting the stem and leaf portion 2b. Therefore, for example, the star-shaped wheel 86 of the lifting device 22B, located in the second position from the left, cooperates with the extension of the lifting device 22A located at the left end, on the right side of the side with the raised belt 83, to lift the stem and leaf portion 2b. That is, the star-shaped wheel 86 acts on the side with the raised belt 83 opposite to the pulley 84b on the opposite side (left side) of the side that receives power transmission via the gear transmission section 250 in order to lift and transport the stem and leaf portion 2b on the field surface G1. In this way, the left side of the star-shaped wheel 86 is set as the side with action for the garlic 2.

[0207] Furthermore, the right-end lifting device 22A has its left-side portion with the protruding band 83 as the working side, and cooperates with the right-side portion of the lifting device 22B, which is the second-positioned lifting device from the right, to lift the stem and leaf portion 2b. Therefore, the right-end lifting device 22A has a structure that is symmetrical about the left and right sides with respect to the frame 81 and the structure with the protruding band 83, relative to the left-end lifting device 22A.

[0208] Based on the structure described above, in which a star-shaped wheel 86 is provided at the lower end of the lifting device 22, good lifting performance can be obtained with a simple structure for lifting the stem and leaf portion 2b.

[0209] like Figure 13 As shown, a dead zone space N1 is generated between the lower ends of the left and right adjacent lifting devices 22 and between the rotational trajectories M1 at the ends of the protrusions 222 with protruding bands 83. The rotational trajectory M1 traces a semi-circular (semi-elliptical in the main view) trajectory at the lower end that makes the lower end contact or approximately contact the field surface G1.

[0210] Dead zone N1 is the space between the semi-circular trajectory portions of the rotational trajectories M1 between adjacent protruding zones 83, and is the area where the protrusions 222 do not directly function (do not pass through). Dead zone N1 is the area where, in the main view, the field surface G1 is considered an approximately isosceles triangle with its base. Furthermore, in... Figure 13 The shaded area in the middle represents the dead zone space N1.

[0211] The raised band 83 cannot directly exert its effect on the dead zone space N1. Therefore, in situations such as when the machine body deviates from the ridge, the lifting effect of the raised band 83 on the stem and leaf portion 2b, which is at a higher position relative to the device side where the dead zone space N1 is higher, can easily become insufficient. Therefore, a large dead zone space N1 is the reason why the lifting performance (access performance) of the lifting device 22 on the stem and leaf portion 2b cannot be fully obtained.

[0212] Therefore, by providing a star wheel 86 near the pulley 84b (lower left side), the dead zone space between adjacent lifting devices 22 can be reduced.

[0213] like Figure 13 As shown, the rotation trajectory M2 at the end of the protrusion 226 is drawn by the star wheel 86 in a circular (elliptical in the main view) trajectory that makes the lower end contact or approximately contact the field surface G1. The rotation trajectory M2 partially overlaps with the rotation trajectory M1 with the protruding band 83 on the left side that assists in the lifting of the stem and leaf 2b in the main view.

[0214] In this way, based on the rotational trajectories M1 and M2 of the raised band 83 and the star wheel 86, which cooperate to lift the stem and leaf portion 2b, the size of the dead space N2 between them can be reduced relative to the dead space N1. Therefore, compared to a structure without the star wheel 86, the lifting performance of the lifting device 22 for the stem and leaf portion 2b can be improved. Thus, even if there is some deviation relative to the ridge regarding the machine body, the influence of the dead space can be reduced, and good lifting performance can be obtained. Furthermore, the dead space N2, in the main view, is an approximately isosceles triangle region with the field surface G1 as its base. Figure 13 In the diagram, the dead space N2 is shown by a shaded area that is darker than the dead space N1.

[0215] Furthermore, the star wheel 86 is configured to receive the rotational power of the pulley 84b via the gear transmission section 250 for rotational drive. With this structure, for example, a mechanism for extracting power from the lifting drive shaft 136, which rotates integrally with the pulley 84a wound with the raised belt 83, is not required, thus simplifying the structure for rotating the star wheel 86. Consequently, the number of parts can be reduced, and the lifting performance of the lifting device 22 can be improved with a simpler structure.

[0216] Furthermore, regarding the lifting device 22, a guide rod 260, serving as a guide member (first guide member), is provided near the star-shaped wheel 86. The guide rod 260 is a member that causes a rod-shaped member with a circular cross-section to bend or bend in a predetermined shape.

[0217] Guide rod 260 is configured along a plane orthogonal to the pulley axis and is set as a straight line when viewed from the side (see reference). Figure 15 The guide rod 260 is located axially between the star wheel 86 and the belt with protrusions 83. Specifically, the guide rod 260 is located axially between the star wheel 86 and the first gear 251 and the second gear 252 constituting the gear transmission section 250, and is located directly in front of the star wheel 86. When viewed axially, the guide rod 260 is configured to surround both the pulley 84b and the wheel body 225 of the star wheel 86.

[0218] The guide rod 260 has one end (left side) as a vertical extension 261 in the vertical direction when viewed from the front, and the other end (right side) as a horizontal extension 262 in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front. The vertical extension 261 and the horizontal extension 262 are fixed to the second support plate 232 by welding or the like, thereby fixing the guide rod 260 to the second support plate 232.

[0219] As part of the guide rod 260 that together with the upper and lower extensions 261 and the left and right extensions 262 form the bent or curved shape of the guide rod 260, the guide rod 260 has a straight guide portion 263 and a curved guide portion 264.

[0220] The linear guide portion 263 extends in the left-right direction and forms the lower side edge of the guide rod 260. The linear guide portion 263 is located below the wheel body portion 225 of the pulley 84b and the star wheel 86, and is located on the rotation trajectory M2 of the star wheel 86 (see reference). Figure 13 Within the range of ).

[0221] The curved guide portion 264 is the portion of the guide rod 260 between the left and right extensions 262 forming the upper side and the straight guide portion 263. The curved guide portion 264, as its curved shape, has an arc shape or approximately an arc shape that, when viewed axially from the pulley, matches or substantially matches the rotation trajectory M2 of the star wheel 86. Thus, the guide rod 260 has a curved guide portion 264 arranged along the rotation trajectory M2 of the star wheel 86 on its right side, which is the non-operating side of the star wheel 86.

[0222] Based on the structure described above, a guide rod 260 is provided near the star wheel 86. The guide rod 260 can be used to suppress the intrusion of the stem and leaf part 2b into the non-operating side (right side) of the star wheel 86, thereby achieving good lifting performance.

[0223] Regarding each lifting device 22, the raised band 83 raises the protrusion 222 on its active side, while the star wheel 86, rotating in the opposite direction to the raised band 83, lowers the protrusion 226 on its non-active side. Therefore, the star wheel 86 applies a downward force to the stem and leaf portion 2b on its non-active side. Thus, by using the guide rod 260, particularly the curved guide portion 264, the stem and leaf portion 2b is prevented from intruding into the non-active side of the star wheel 86. Consequently, the non-active side of the star wheel 86 does not hinder the lifting of the stem and leaf portion 2b by the raised band 83, and the improved lifting performance based on the star wheel 86 can be effectively obtained.

[0224] Furthermore, regarding the belt with protrusions 83, the belt tension can be adjusted by adjusting the fixed position of the pulley 84b relative to the frame 81 based on the shaft support bolt 233 in the vertical direction. For adjusting the position of the pulley 84b, the hole 81a in the frame 81 through which the shaft support bolt 233 passes is designed as an elongated hole with the extension direction of the belt with protrusions 83 as its length direction.

[0225] In this structure, pulley 84b is supported on the second support plate 232 by means of shaft support bolts 233, etc., and star wheel 86 is supported on the second support plate 232 by means of shaft support 241, etc. In addition, guide rod 260 is fixedly installed on the second support plate 232. That is, pulley 84b, star wheel 86 and guide rod 260 are formed as a single unit by means of the second support plate 232.

[0226] According to this structure, when adjusting the tension of the raised belt 83 by adjusting the vertical position of the pulley 84b, the star wheel 86 and guide rod 260 can move together with the pulley 84b. Therefore, the tension adjustment of the raised belt 83 can be easily performed while maintaining the positional relationship of the pulley 84b, star wheel 86, and guide rod 260. For example, when the raised belt 83 becomes slack, the tension adjustment operation involves moving the fixed position of the pulley 84b downwards.

[0227] like Figure 17 and Figure 18 As shown, a guide cover 270, serving as a second guide member, is provided between the lifting device 22 and the tiller 21 located in front of it. The guide cover 270 is composed of a plate-shaped component having a predetermined buckling shape and is configured to extend rearward from the left rear of the tiller 21. The guide cover 270 is configured to cover the space between the tiller 21 and the lower end of the lifting device 22 located behind it, mainly from the side.

[0228] The guide cover 270 has a cover body portion 271 that is a plate-shaped portion along the vertical direction. The cover body portion 271 has: a rear cover portion 272, which is a surface portion constituting the rear part of the cover body portion 271 and is oriented in the left-right direction as the plate thickness direction; and a front cover portion 273, which is a surface portion constituting the front part of the cover body portion 271 and is an inclined surface portion that slopes from the rear side to the front side inward toward the left-right (right side). The rear cover portion 272 and the front cover portion 273 form a curved surface portion that is obtuse-angled when viewed in plan view.

[0229] The guide cover 270 has a fixing face 274 on the front side of the front cover face 273. The fixing face 274 is the face that constitutes the front edge of the cover body 271, and the left and right directions are set in the plate thickness direction. The fixing face 274 is the fixed part of the guide cover 270 relative to the branch body 21.

[0230] The grain section 21 has left and right side cover portions 281 and an upper cover portion 282, each being a plate-shaped portion with a predetermined shape. The cover portions form a space for accommodating the gauge ring 69. The grain section 21 has a shape that is symmetrical or substantially symmetrical from left to right. The side cover portions 281 have a rear portion that is a side portion 281a with the plate thickness direction in the left-right direction, and a front portion that is a beveled portion 281b that forms the pointed end shape of the grain section 21.

[0231] The guide cover 270 allows the fixing face 274 to overlap with the rear edge of the side face 281a of the left-side side cover 281 of the tiller body 21 from the left and right outer sides (left side), and is fastened at two locations, upper and lower, by a fastening part 285 that passes through the side face 281a and the fixing face 274. The fastening part 285 has a threaded portion that protrudes into the interior of the tiller body 21 and receives the engagement of a nut 286 at its threaded portion.

[0232] The guide cover 270 has an upper surface portion 275 that is a horizontal face that bends to the right from the upper edge of the cover body portion 271 and the fixed face portion 274. The upper surface portion 275 is located at approximately the same height as the upper cover portion 282 of the tractor body 21. The upper surface portion 275 has a generally constant width throughout and is formed into a bendable shape when viewed from above, along the rear cover face portion 272, the front cover face portion 273 and the fixed face portion 274.

[0233] The guide cover 270 has approximately the same dimensions in the vertical direction as the rear portion of the tiller 21 at the front of the cover body 271. That is, the guide cover 270 is configured to extend the side cover portion 281 on the left side of the tiller 21 rearward. Furthermore, the guide cover 270 is provided vertically over the entire area including the pulley 84b located at the lower end of the lifting device 22. Additionally, the guide cover 270 has a sloping edge 271a at the lower rear of the cover body 271, which is higher at the rear and lower at the front, following the slope of the lifting device 22.

[0234] The guide cover 270 extends rearward from the fixed portion relative to the tiller 21 such that the rear edge of the cover body 271 overlaps with the lower end of the lifting device 22 from the left. The lifting device 22 has a left face 234 on the left edge of the frame 81 that covers the raised band 83 from the left. The guide cover 270 is configured such that the rear lower edge forming the inclined edge 271a on the rear side of the cover body 271 overlaps with the left face 234 of the frame 81 when viewed from the left. In this way, the guide cover 270 mainly covers the non-functional side of the lower end of the raised band 83 from the left.

[0235] Furthermore, regarding the tiller 21 located in front of the right-end lifting device 22A, the guide cover 270 and its mounting structure are symmetrical about left and right with respect to the same structure of the guide covers 270 provided on other tillers 21. That is, regarding tillers 21 other than those located at the right end, the guide cover 270 is positioned on the left rear side of the tiller 21, and conversely, regarding tillers 21 located at the right end, the guide cover 270 is positioned on the right rear side of the tiller 21 (see reference). Figure 3 ).

[0236] Based on the structure described above, in which a guide cover 270 is provided between the tiller 21 and the lifting device 22, the guide cover 270 can be used to suppress the intrusion of the stem and leaf 2b into the non-operating side (left side) of the protruding band 83, thereby achieving good lifting performance.

[0237] The protruding band 83 causes the protrusion 222 to descend on its non-operating side, so that a downward force is applied to the stem and leaf portion 2b. Therefore, by providing a guide cover 270 that will cover the left side of the non-operating side of the protruding band 83, it is possible to prevent the stem and leaf portion 2b from intruding into the non-operating side of the protruding band 83. Thus, the non-operating side of the protruding band 83 will not hinder the lifting of the stem and leaf portion 2b by the protruding band 83 located adjacent to its left and the star wheel 86 cooperating with it, and the lifting performance based on the star wheel 86 can be effectively improved.

[0238] Furthermore, regarding the vegetable harvester 1 according to this embodiment, the working frame 30 of the harvesting section 6 that supports various devices is configured to be able to move up and down by means of the rotating support frame 152 as the axis support, and the six conveying and cutting units 40 are configured to be able to move up and down by means of the axis support 20 provided in front of the axis support formed by the rotating support frame 152 and to be floatingly supported relative to the field surface G1 by means of the gauge ring 69.

[0239] Furthermore, the lifting device 22 is supported relative to the frame portion constituting the pulling and conveying device 24 by a rear support frame 291 and a front support frame 292 erected from that frame portion (see reference). Figure 6 In addition, the grain section 21 is supported by the grain section support 52 extending forward from the frame 81 of the lifting device 22.

[0240] In this way, the tillage body 21 and the lifting device 22 are configured as floating support parts that rotate up and down around the lifting axis O1 together with the conveying and cutting unit 40. According to this structure, the height of the conveying inlet (the clamping position of the stem and leaf part 2b) of the conveying and cutting unit 40 and the height of the lifting device 22 with the protruding strip 83 above the ground can be kept at an appropriate height according to the unevenness of the field surface G1, and the clamping position of the stem and leaf part 2b can be stabilized.

[0241] The vegetable harvester described above using the embodiments is not limited to the above embodiments, and various methods can be adopted within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vegetable harvester for harvesting vegetables from soil, characterized in that, The vegetable harvester is equipped with: Running gear; A harvesting section, which is disposed on the traveling body, and harvests vegetables; and The driving unit, which is located on the vehicle body, The harvesting unit includes: a stem and leaf lifting device, which is located in front of the traveling body and lifts the stems and leaves of the vegetables; and a harvest conveying unit, which conveys the vegetables. The driving unit is positioned on one side of the machine body in the left-right direction relative to the harvester conveying unit. The power transmission unit for transmitting power to the stem and leaf lifting device is located on the opposite side of the machine body in the left-right direction, relative to the harvested material conveying unit.

2. The vegetable harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that, The harvesting section has a stem and leaf cutting device that cuts off the stems and leaves from the main body of the vegetable. The vegetable harvester also features: A conveying device that conveys the main body of the vegetables harvested by the harvesting section; and The leaf-discharging conveyor utilizes the stem-and-leaf cutting device to discharge the cut stems and leaves from the vegetables into the field. The conveying device and the leaf conveying device are configured to convey in the direction of the machine body from left to right towards one side.

3. The vegetable harvester according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vegetable harvester also features: The second conveying device, which is configured to convey the main body of the vegetables towards the rear of the machine when viewed from above, receives and conveys the main body of the vegetables conveyed by the conveying device; and A receiving section, which is used to receive the main body of the vegetables conveyed by the second conveying device into a storage container. The conveying device is positioned lower than the leaf discharge conveying device. The second conveying device is configured such that the upstream portion in the conveying direction is at a lower height than the leaf discharge conveying device, and the downstream portion in the conveying direction is at a higher height than the leaf discharge conveying device.

4. The vegetable harvester according to claim 3, characterized in that, The driving unit has a driver's seat. The portion of the second conveying device that receives the main body of vegetables conveyed by the conveying device is located below the driver's seat when the machine is viewed from the side.

5. The vegetable harvester according to claim 3, characterized in that, A leaf guide is provided at the conveying end of the leaf conveying device, which directs the stems and leaves toward the field in the direction of the conveying end.

6. The vegetable harvester according to claim 5, characterized in that, The left and right ends of the vane guide are located on one side further than the end of the conveying device.

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