MACHINE WITH A SYSTEM FOR RETURNING PLANT SPOONS

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a turning machine, towed or self-propelled, for turning plant stems, in particular flax, in the form of windrows which are spread on the ground after the passage of the harvester to undergo the action of retting. The present invention will be implemented in particular by manufacturers of agricultural equipment and will find its application in the field of agriculture. Prior art

[0002] Flax is a fiber plant. To facilitate the extraction of fibers for use in the textile industry, flax stalks are retting. This operation requires that during the flax harvest, after the stalks have been pulled out, they are placed on the ground in the form of windrows, consisting of a continuous layer of parallel stalks aligned perpendicular to the movement of the pulling machine. The windrow is left in the field for a sufficient time for the microorganisms present in the soil to carry out the biological degradation of the pectic cements that bind the fibers together. When this degradation is sufficient, the flax is collected for scutching, i.e., to be processed in an industrial site for the extraction of the fibers and their cleaning for use in the textile industry.

[0003] Biological degradation depends on the humidity and sunlight conditions to which the stems are exposed. It is understood that these conditions can vary depending on whether the stem part is facing the ground or the sky. This is why during retting, an operation is carried out consisting of turning the windrow over in the field.

[0004] This so-called turning operation is carried out by a machine, self-propelled or towed, which comprises collection means, capable of removing the windrow from the ground in the form of a continuous sheet, turning means capable of turning the collected sheet over itself and spreading means capable of spreading the sheet thus turned over on the ground. Such a machine is for example described in documents FR 2 484 768 and FR 3 111 515.

[0005] However, such a turning step is not always satisfactory for the treatment of the windrow, in particular due to the quality of the soil on which the windrow is turned.

[0006] Thus, the presence of shoots of other plants invading the flax stems prevents the flax stems from taking hold properly, which then become partially disorganized. Similarly, spreading flax stems over weeds can facilitate the wind's entry into the windrows, which also constitutes a significant risk of disorganization.

[0007] Furthermore, the use of certain chemicals tends to be prohibited due to the risks of inhalation for scutching personnel. Statement of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to solve the various technical problems stated above. In particular, the present invention aims to propose a turning machine making it possible to improve the windrow turning step. More specifically, the present invention aims to propose a machine making it possible to obtain a windrow of better quality in a simple manner and concomitantly with the turning step.

[0009] Thus, according to one aspect, there is provided a machine, self-propelled or towed, comprising a system for turning plant stems, for example at least one windrow. The turning system comprises: collection means configured to collect the plant stems from the ground in the form of a continuous sheet, turning means configured to turn the collected sheet back on itself and spreading means configured to spread the turned sheet on the ground, said operations being carried out continuously while the machine is moving.

[0010] In particular, the machine further comprises a soil treatment system, configured to treat the soil and / or treat plants, in particular undesirable plants such as weeds or weeds, for example weeding, and the soil treatment system is configured to treat plants and / or the soil, after the plant stems have been removed by the collection means and before the plant stems have been spread out by the turning system.

[0011] Thus, the machine takes advantage of the lifting of the plant stems, by the collection means, to treat the underlying soil, before the plant stems are placed on top again by the spreading means. The soil treatment system therefore takes advantage of the exposure of the soil to treat it, before the stems are re-spread on top. In particular, since the stems are removed from the soil when they are turned over by the turning system, the soil treatment system has more freedom to treat the soil, for example by thermal means, without risking damaging the flax stems. Finally, the treatment of the soil during the turning stage also makes it possible to obtain better quality soil when the flax stems are redeposited, which improves the treatment of the layer of stems, in particular its retting.

[0012] Preferably, the soil treatment system is mounted between the collection means and the spreading means of the turning system.

[0013] The positioning of the soil treatment system, between the collection means and the spreading means, allows the soil treatment system to work directly on the ground, without offset or shift.

[0014] Preferably, the soil treatment system is positioned below the turning means of the turning system.

[0015] The soil treatment system allows the soil to be worked directly under the layer of stems being turned. The soil treatment system is therefore positioned between the soil to be treated and the stems being collected, which limits, or even avoids, the risk of soil treatment impacting the stems being turned.

[0016] Preferably, the soil treatment system includes weeding means, for example mechanical and / or chemical and / or electrical and / or thermal.

[0017] Since the stems of the tablecloth are turned over at a distance from the soil during soil cultivation by the soil treatment system, the latter can therefore freely use different types of treatment means such as weeding means which can be mechanical, chemical, electrical and / or thermal.

[0018] Preferably, said weeding means are mechanical means, for example: fixed, rotating around a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of movement of the machine, or rotating around a vertical axis.

[0019] In the case of mechanical weeding means, these can be fixed or rotating, depending on the type of weeding to be carried out.

[0020] Preferably, the soil treatment system also includes means for detecting, on the surface of the soil, the plants to be treated.

[0021] Such detection methods make it possible to limit weeding actions to only those areas where they are necessary. This limits the energy used for treatment, and possibly the quantity of chemical product.

[0022] Preferably, the detection means comprise: image acquisition means, for example one or more cameras, in particular thermal cameras, and analysis means configured to analyze the images provided by the image acquisition means, the analysis means being for example based on artificial intelligence.

[0023] The detection of plants to be treated can be based on computer means, notably based on artificial intelligence, in order to determine the necessary and / or appropriate treatment.

[0024] Preferably, the detection means are also configured to control the weeding means when plants to be treated are detected.

[0025] The detection of plants to be treated can rely on computer means, in particular based on artificial intelligence, in order to efficiently and appropriately identify the plants to be treated and, where appropriate, the treatment method to be used.

[0026] Preferably, the soil treatment system comprises means for compacting the soil, for example a roller.

[0027] Soil compaction methods allow the soil to be levelled before the layer of stems is spread, in particular by breaking up clods present on the surface, or by levelling the soil after its treatment by mechanical means of the soil treatment system.

[0028] Preferably, the soil treatment system comprises weeding means and soil compacting means, and the soil compacting means are mounted downstream, in the direction of movement of the machine, of the weeding means.

[0029] In this case, the compaction means are intended to re-level the soil before spreading the stems, after it has been stirred by the weeding means of the soil treatment system. Therefore, at the outlet of the soil treatment system, we obtain a level soil free of weeds which is suitable for spreading the turned stems.

[0030] Preferably, the soil treatment system also comprises a protective means configured to form a protection between the soil treatment system and the layer of plant stems, in particular the collected layer.

[0031] The protective means is intended to limit the impact of the means of the soil treatment system on the stems being turned over present above said soil treatment system. The protective means thus limits splinters, projections or other things likely to occur during soil treatment and to damage the stems being turned over, or even the turning means themselves. Furthermore, the protective means can also be configured to limit the raising of dust, in particular when the soil is dry. Such dust could damage, pollute or reduce the quality of the stems, and keeping the dust at the level of the soil treatment system makes it possible not to interfere with the stems being turned over.

[0032] Preferably, the protective means comprises a cover arranged on top of the soil treatment system.

[0033] The hood then forms a physical barrier between the soil being treated and the stems being turned, in order to limit the impact of the soil treatment on the said stems.

[0034] Preferably, the machine further comprises a cockpit and a control device, the control device being configured to control the treatment system from the cockpit.

[0035] In order to be able to decide which areas to treat or not, the soil treatment system can be controlled from a cockpit, for example by the machine driver. This allows specific decisions to be made from the cockpit, which areas to treat or not to treat, by activating or deactivating the soil treatment system.

[0036] Preferably, the machine further comprises a lifting means, the lifting means being mounted on the machine and configured to raise or lower the treatment system relative to the ground.

[0037] The lifting device allows the treatment system to be easily deactivated by raising it above the ground. Once raised, the treatment system can then have no further contact with the ground and not affect the operation of the machine or the ground. On the contrary, once lowered, it can then treat and / or level the ground, according to the user's wishes. Brief description of the drawings

[0038] [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 schematically represents an example of a machine with a turning system and a soil treatment system according to the invention, during the turning of a layer of stem; [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2shows in more detail the turning and soil treatment systems of the machine of the figure 1 , when turning the stems; [ Fig. 3 ] There figure 3 represents the soil turning and treatment systems of the figure 2 , during soil treatment and compaction; [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 represents the soil turning and treatment systems of the figure 2 , during soil compaction, and [ Fig. 5 ] There Figure 5 represents the soil turning and treatment systems of the figure 2 , with the soil treatment methods raised. Description of the embodiments

[0039] There figure 1 schematically illustrates an example of machine 1 with a turning system and a soil treatment system according to the invention.

[0040] As illustrated on the Figures 1 and 2, the machine 1, self-propelled or towed, comprises a turning system 2 with, successively, from front to rear, picking up means 3, turning up means 5, and spreading means 7. The picking up means 3 make it possible to take from the ground 9 a continuous sheet 11 of stems constituting the windrow. The turning up means 5 are capable of turning said continuous sheet 11 on itself, the latter making a half-spiral from its taking at the front of the picking up means to the rear of said picking up means. The spreading means 7 are capable of spreading the turned over continuous sheet 11' on the ground 9. All of these picking up, turning up and spreading operations are carried out continuously while the machine is moving. According to the preferred mode illustrated, the collection means 3 comprise a pick-up 13 provided with metal fingers 15, which may or may not be retractable.The pick-up 13 rotates on itself in the direction of the arrow F' opposite to the direction of rotation of the wheels of the machine 1, so that the metal fingers 15, coming into contact with the continuous sheet 11, lift the latter and drive it in rotation on the surface as shown in the . figure 2. The pick-up is preceded by a wheel 19 which, when the machine 1 is moving, comes to bear on the outer surface 21 of the continuous sheet 11. This wheel 19 is adjustable in height, and makes it possible to maintain a constant distance between the pick-up 13 and the continuous sheet 11 regardless of the irregularities of the ground 9. According to the example illustrated, the turning means 5 consist of a belt 23 provided with pins 25, which is stretched between a front cylinder 27 and a rear cylinder 29. The front cylinder 27 is associated with the pick-up 13 in such a way that the sheet 11 picked up by the fingers 15 of the pick-up is driven onto the belt 23 by the pins 25. This belt 23 is crossed between the front cylinder 27 and the rear cylinder 29 in such a way that the sheet describes a half-spiral between the two cylinders during its movement from the front to the rear. the back.In doing so, the stems initially arranged at ground level on top of the sheet are found below it after turning and vice versa. The crossed belt has an active strand and a passive strand. The active strand is understood to mean the part of the crossed belt transporting the flax stems from the front cylinder 27 to the rear cylinder 29 of the turning means 5. Conversely, the passive strand corresponds to the return of the empty crossed belt from the rear cylinder 29 to the front cylinder 27, the flax stems having been previously transferred to the spreading means 7. Furthermore, the turning means 5 comprise mechanical elements such as round irons (not shown) allowing the support of the sheet 11 during its turning, when it is no longer supported by the spiked belt.Indeed, initially, the lifted sheet 11 is rotated by the metal fingers 15 of the pick-up 13, are then transported and supported by the belt 23 until said sheet 11 turns over, the latter then being supported by the round irons, the belt 23 with spikes 25 only allowing the transport of said sheet 11 to the rear of the turning means 5.

[0041] The spreading means 7 preferably comprise a set of two parallel belts 33, 33' provided with spikes 35, 35'. Each belt 33, 33' is mounted taut between a front cylinder 37, 37' and a rear cylinder 39, 39'. The front cylinder 37, 37' is arranged on the same axis 41 as the rear cylinder 27 of the turning means 5. The rear cylinder 39, 39' is arranged close to the ground 9 so that the turned over sheet 11', driven by the spikes 35, 35' which penetrate into the sheet 11', is spread on the ground 9 as close as possible to it so as to avoid any disturbance. Just like the turning means 5, the spreading means 7 also comprise a mechanical element, in particular round irons or a plate (not shown) allowing the support of the turned sheet 11' during its transfer from the front cylinder 37, 37' to the rear cylinder 39, 39'.

[0042] The machine 1 also comprises, according to the present invention, a soil treatment system 43 intended to treat the soil. The soil treatment system 43 may thus comprise weeding means 45 and / or soil compaction means 47.

[0043] In order to be able to treat the soil without damaging the windrow placed on it, the soil treatment system 43 is mounted on the machine 1, between the collection means 3 and the spreading means 7, that is to say that the soil treatment system 43 is positioned on the machine 1 so as to be able to treat the soil at the moment when the windrow is lifted by the machine 1 to turn it over. Thus, the soil treatment system 43 can be mounted on the machine 1, below the turning means 5, as illustrated in the figures. The soil treatment system 43 is advantageously configured to treat a width of soil 9 corresponding to the width of the windrow(s) lifted by the machine 1 during the turning step.

[0044] The soil treatment system 43 may be mechanically connected to the pick-up 13, for example by a front end or by both ends. The mechanical connection between the soil treatment system 43 and the pick-up 13 then makes it possible to move the soil treatment system 43 vertically, simultaneously with the pick-up 13, in order to adapt to the surface roughness of the soil 9. The treatment system 43 may then always be at the same distance from the soil 9.

[0045] Alternatively, the soil treatment system 43 may be mounted on the chassis of the machine 1, independently of the pick-up 13, so that it can be positioned vertically relative to the ground 9, independently of the vertical position of the pick-up 13.

[0046] In both cases described above, the machine 1 may comprise a lifting means (not shown), integral with the machine 1 or the pick-up 13 as the case may be, and on which the soil treatment system 43 is mounted. The lifting means may thus be configured to raise or lower the treatment system 43 relative to the soil 9, to enable it to work the soil or not. Thus, and as illustrated in the figures 3 And 5 , the lifting means can make it possible to position the soil treatment system 43 on the ground 9 to allow it to work, or on the contrary to lift the soil treatment device 43 above the ground 9 when it is not necessary to use it, so as to limit the energy consumption of the machine 1, and limit, where appropriate, the raising of dust during the turning of the windrows.

[0047] It is also possible to provide an inclination of the soil treatment system 43, as illustrated in figure 4 , in particular when it comprises different means positioned successively in the direction of movement of the machine 1. In this case, the inclination of the soil treatment system 43 can allow certain treatment means to be used, and not others, depending on the situations.

[0048] The control of the lifting means, and possibly the tilting means, of the soil treatment system 43 can in particular be done from the control cabin of the machine 1, in order to implement them at the same time as the weeding means 45 or the compaction means 47 of the soil treatment device 43.

[0049] The soil treatment system 43 may comprise weeding means, for example mechanical and / or chemical and / or electrical and / or thermal.

[0050] The weeding means 45 may be mechanical, and include, in a non-limiting manner: fixed towed means, such as plows or Canadian plows, for which the tool remains fixed relative to the support; rotating towed means for which the tool is mounted to rotate around a substantially horizontal axis so as to roll on the ground when the machine is moving, in order to limit the resistance to the advancement of the latter; and / or rotating animated means, such as rotary harrows, driven in rotation around a substantially vertical axis and capable of contributing to the advancement of the machine 1.

[0051] Such mechanical weeding methods can be used continuously, to systematically treat the soil when turning the windrow.

[0052] Alternatively, it is also possible to carry out such mechanical weeding on an ad hoc basis, for example by lowering said mechanical means onto the ground when it is desired to carry out such weeding, and raising said mechanical means otherwise.

[0053] The weeding means 45 may also comprise chemical means, for example nozzles for spraying a chemical product such as a weedkiller. Such chemical weeding means may in particular allow a localized action, in the case of a nozzle with limited projection, or a global action, in the case of a nozzle with extended projection or in the case of a plurality of nozzles. Such chemical weeding means may in particular allow a localized treatment of the soil, only in the places where weeds are to be treated, in order to limit the consumption of the weedkiller.

[0054] Other weeding means 45 are also conceivable, such as thermal weeding means, or even electrical weeding means, whether on an ad hoc basis, to treat only the areas requiring such treatment, or on the contrary to systematically treat the soil, when the windrow is no longer placed on it.

[0055] In order to allow less heavy treatment of the soil, and limit the energy consumption and / or weeding of the soil treatment system 43, the latter may comprise means for detecting (not shown), on the surface of the soil, the plants to be treated. Such detection means may for example comprise image acquisition means, such as one or more cameras, in particular thermal cameras, and analysis means configured to analyze the images provided by the image acquisition means. The analysis means may for example be based on artificial intelligence in order to identify, on the images provided by the image acquisition means, the plants or areas to be treated, and possibly the type of treatment to be carried out.

[0056] For example, the detection means can be configured to identify and recognize the different types of plants likely to be present under the windrows, and to determine which ones to treat and how.

[0057] Finally, the detection means can also be configured to control the weeding means 45 when plants to be treated are detected. Such detection and recognition of plants therefore makes it possible to concentrate the weeding resources of the machine 1 only at the locations of the soil 9 where this is necessary, so as not to over-treat the soil and not to over-consume energy or weedkiller.

[0058] The soil treatment system 43 may also comprise treatment means other than those for weeding, such as the soil compacting means 47. The compacting means 47 may for example comprise a compacting roller mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of the machine 1, so as to roll over the soil and flatten it by compacting or by crushing clods or other elements present on the surface of the soil 9. Advantageously, the soil compacting means 47 are mounted downstream, in the direction of movement of the machine 1, of the weeding means. The compacting means 47 therefore make it possible to improve the surface of the soil before redepositing the returned windrow 11' there, and in particular to re-flatten the soil 9 if the surface thereof has been deformed by weeding means 45, in particular mechanical ones.

[0059] Here again, the detection means can be used to activate the soil compaction means 47 in a punctual and localized manner, so as not to create constant additional resistance to the advancement of the machine 1.

[0060] In order to limit the lifting and / or dispersion of dust during the work of the various means 45, 47 of the treatment system 43, a protective means, for example a cover 49, is mounted above and around the weeding means 45 and compaction means 47. The cover 49 then makes it possible to confine the particles and dust raised during the treatment of the soil 9, at the level of the soil treatment system 43. The cover 49 in particular limits the attachment of dust to the windrow during turning.

[0061] Advantageously, in the case of using a protection means such as the cover 49, the detection means described previously are mounted outside said protection means, for example above, in front of, or directly on the machine 1, at a distance from the protection means, so as not to alter their operation.

[0062] Thus, thanks to the machine according to the present invention, it becomes easy and efficient to treat the soil on which windrows rest, by acting at the time of lifting the windrow(s) with a view to turning them over. The treatments carried out can be localized and punctual, or on the contrary generalized, without this causing damage to the windrows, which are above the soil treatment means at the time of their action, nor additional working time, since the treatment is carried out simultaneously with the turning of the windrow.

Claims

1. A machine (1), either self-propelled or towed, including a system for turning over (2) plant stems, e.g. of at least one swath (11), the system for turning over (2) comprising - means of picking-up (3) configured to collect the plant stems from the ground (9) in the form of a continuous mat (11), - means of turning over (5) configured to turn over the picked-up mat (11) and - means of spreading (7) configured to spread the turned-over mat (11') over the ground, said operations being carried out continuously during the movement of the machine (1), characterized in that the machine (1) further comprises a soil treatment system (43) configured to treat the soil (9) and / or to treat plants, e.g. to weed, and in that the soil treatment system (43) is configured to treat plants and / or the soil, after collecting the plant stems by the means of picking-up (3) and before spreading the plant stems by the system for turning over (2).

2. The machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the soil treatment system (43) is mounted between the means of picking-up (3) and the means of spreading (7) of the system for turning over (2).

3. The machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the soil treatment system (43) is positioned below the means of turning over (5) of the system for turning over (2).

4. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the soil treatment system (43) includes weeding means (45), e.g. mechanical and / or chemical and / or electrical and / or thermal weeding means.

5. The machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said weeding means (43) are mechanical means, e.g.: fixed, rotating about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of travel of the machine, or rotating about a vertical axis.

6. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the soil treatment system (43) also comprises means of detection, at the surface of the soil, of the plants to be treated.

7. The machine (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the means of detection include: image acquisition means, e.g. one or a plurality of cameras, in particular thermal cameras, and means of analysis configured to analyze the images supplied by the image acquisition means, the means of analysis being e.g. based on artificial intelligence.

8. The engine (1) according to claim 6 or 7 in combination with claim 4, wherein the means of detection are also configured to control the weeding means (45) when plants to be treated are detected.

9. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the soil treatment system (43) includes soil compaction means (47), e.g. a roller.

10. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the soil treatment system (43) includes weeding means (45) and soil compaction means (47), and wherein the soil compaction means (47) are mounted downstream, along the direction of travel of the machine (1), of the weeding means (45).

11. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the soil treatment system (43) further includes a means of protection configured to form a protection between the soil treatment system (43) and the mat of plant stems, more particularly the mat (11) picked up.

12. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means of protection comprises a cover (49) arranged on the top of the soil treatment system (43).

13. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a driving cab and a control device, the control device being configured to control the treatment system (43) from the driving cab.

14. The machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further including lifting means, the lifting means being mounted on the machine (1) and configured to raise or lower the treatment system (43) relative to the soil (9).