Combine

Abstract

To solve such a problem that, in conventional designs, a transfer section from a lifting-up and conveying device to a grain tank has a nearly cylindrical shape, when an amount of grain is large, an amount of grain that enters the grain tank without being detected by a load cell becomes large, resulting in a significant discrepancy between the calculated yield data and the actual yield.SOLUTION: In a combine which comprises a traveling machine body, a reaping device 4 that harvests crops at a front side of the machine body, a threshing device 3 that separates and sorts grain from reaped grain culms, a storage tank 5 that stores the threshed grain, and a steering part 6 on which an operator rides, a grain conveying path 10 is provided to convey the grain from the threshing device 3 to the storage tank 5, a discharge port 11 of the grain conveying path 10 is configured to be wide, and a grain sensor 12 that detects passage of the grain is disposed along the longitudinal width direction at the discharge port 11. The combine is configured to estimate and calculate the amount of grain on the basis of the detection position and detection time by the grain sensor 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a combine harvester. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when threshing and sorting grains in a combine harvester, a load cell is installed near the transfer section, and the approximate grain quantity and moisture content are calculated from the detection results to obtain yield data (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-91167 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned known example, the transfer section from the grain lifting and conveying device to the grain tank is nearly cylindrical, and when the amount of grain is large, a large amount of grain enters the grain tank without being detected by the load cell, which causes a problem of a large discrepancy between the calculated yield data and the actual yield (for example, a large difference between the estimated weight and the actual weight). The present invention improves the accuracy of measuring the amount of grains put into the storage tank by devising a grain conveying path configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The invention of claim 1 is a combine harvester comprising a running body, a harvesting device 4 that harvests crops at the front of the body, a threshing device 3 that separates and sorts grains from the harvested stalks, a storage tank 5 that stores the threshed grains, and a control unit 6 on which an operator rides, characterized in that a grain transport path 10 is provided for transporting grains from the threshing device 3 to the storage tank 5, the discharge outlet 11 of the grain transport path 10 is configured to be wide, and a grain sensor 12 that detects the passage of grains is arranged at the discharge outlet 11 in the longitudinal width direction, and the amount of grains is estimated and calculated from the detection position and detection time of the grain sensor 12. The invention of claim 2 is a combine harvester characterized in that multiple grain sensors 12 are arranged above and below the discharge outlet 11 at a predetermined interval in the width direction, the grain sensors 12 are arranged in positions on the upper and lower sides that do not overlap, and the grain sensors 12 are configured to be able to detect grains without coming into contact with them. The invention of claim 3 is a combine harvester characterized in that the grain sensor 12 is arranged on the inside upper part of the discharge outlet 11, over a length approximately equal to the width of the interior, and the moisture content sensor 15 is arranged on the inside lower part of the discharge outlet 11, over a length approximately equal to the width of the interior, the detection value of the grain sensor 12 is corrected based on the moisture content detected by the moisture content sensor 15, and the grain sensor 12 and the moisture content sensor 15 are configured to be able to detect grains without coming into contact with them. The invention of claim 4 is a combine harvester characterized in that a grain chute 16 is provided in the storage tank 5 to guide grain that enters the discharge outlet 11 side of the storage tank 5 from the grain conveying path 10 into the storage tank 5 on the outside of the machine body, opposite the discharge outlet 11, and a partition plate 17 that is long in the vertical direction is arranged in the front-to-back direction within the storage tank 5, closer to the inside of the machine body than the discharge position of the grain chute 16, so that when the capacity of the storage tank 5 is low, the grain is stored between the outer wall 18 of the machine body and the partition plate 17, and when the capacity exceeds the height of the partition plate 17, the grain is stored between the partition plate 17 and the inner wall 19 of the machine body of the storage tank 5, and a discharge conveying path 21 is provided below the storage plate 20 to transport the grain to a discharge device 7 that discharges the grain outside the machine. The invention of claim 5 is a combine harvester characterized in that a left-right battery mounting space 25 is formed below the threshing device 3 and the storage tank 5, and in the battery mounting space 25, a slide table 27 is provided that is equipped with a battery 26 and can move left-right, a pull spring 28 is provided at the outer end of the body of the storage tank 5 to pull the slide table 27, a grain elevator 30 is provided inside the storage tank 5 that receives grain and descends as its weight increases, the grain elevator 30 and the slide table 27 are connected by a connecting wire 31, and when the grain elevator 30 descends, the slide table 27 moves toward the threshing device 3, and when the grain elevator 30 rises, the slide table 27 moves toward the storage tank 5 due to the elasticity of the pull spring 28, and a discharge conveying path 21 is provided at the bottom of the storage tank 5 to transport grain to a discharge device that discharges the grain outside the machine, and the battery mounting space 25 is formed behind the discharge conveying path 21. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] In the invention of claim 1, a grain conveying path 10 is provided to transport grains from the threshing device 3 to the storage tank 5, and the discharge outlet 11 of the grain conveying path 10 is made wide. A grain sensor 12 that detects the passage of grains is arranged at the discharge outlet 11 facing in the longitudinal width direction, and the amount of grain is estimated and calculated from the detection position and detection time of the grain sensor 12.This allows grains to be poured into a wide area of ​​the storage tank 5, makes it less likely that grains will be poured into an uneven position, and prevents the weight balance of the machine from being disturbed. By keeping the vertical length of the grain mass short when it is placed in the storage tank 5, the grain sensor 12 can easily detect the grains, the difference between the actual yield and the detected yield can be reduced, and the accuracy of yield detection is improved. In the invention of claim 2, multiple grain sensors 12 are arranged above and below the discharge outlet 11 at a predetermined interval in the width direction, and the grain sensors 12 are arranged in positions where they do not overlap on the upper and lower sides, and the grain sensors 12 are configured to be able to detect grains without coming into contact with them.Therefore, the arrangement density of the grain sensors 12 can be increased to reduce the number of grains that are collected in the storage tank 5 without being detected, and the accuracy of yield measurement can be improved. By detecting grains using the non-contact grain sensor 12, it is possible to prevent the grains from cracking or discoloring due to contact with the grain sensor 12, and to prevent deterioration in the quality of the grains. In the invention of claim 3, the grain sensor 12 is arranged on the inside upper part of the discharge outlet 11 over a length approximately equal to the width of the interior, and the moisture content sensor 15 is arranged on the inside lower part of the discharge outlet 11 over a length approximately equal to the width of the interior, and the detection value of the grain sensor 12 is corrected (high moisture content → decrease correction, low moisture content → increase correction) based on the moisture content detected by the moisture content sensor 15, and the grain sensor 12 and the moisture content sensor 15 are configured to be able to detect without coming into contact with the grains, so by widening the arrangement range (detection range) of the grain sensor 12, the number of grains that are collected in the storage tank 5 without being detected can be reduced and the accuracy of yield measurement can be improved. The moisture content is detected by the moisture content sensor 15, and the number of grains that would have been counted collectively due to the moisture content is corrected by increasing or decreasing the number of grains, thereby improving the detection accuracy to suit the working environment. The grain sensor 12 and moisture sensor 15 detect grains in a non-contact manner, so that the grains can be prevented from cracking or discoloring due to contact, and the quality of the grains can be prevented from deteriorating. In the invention of claim 4, a grain chute 16 is provided in the storage tank 5 to guide grains entering the discharge port 11 side of the storage tank 5 from the grain conveying path 10 down into the storage tank 5 on the outside of the machine body opposite the discharge port 11, and a partition plate 17 that is long in the vertical direction is arranged across the front and rear direction inside the storage tank 5 closer to the inside of the machine body than the discharge position (outside end of the machine body) of the discharge chute grain chute 16, and when the capacity of the storage tank 5 is low, the grains are stored between the machine body outer wall 18 and the partition plate 17, and the partition plate When the height of the plate 17 is exceeded, the grain is stored between the partition plate 17 and the inner wall 19 of the storage tank 5, and below the storage plate 20 there is provided a discharge conveying path 21 for transporting the grain to the discharge device 7 which discharges the grain outside the machine.When storage begins, the grain is stored closer to the outside of the machine, which reduces imbalances in the left-right balance caused by heavy objects (engine, battery, etc.) placed on the opposite side, making it less likely that the harvesting posture or direction of travel will be disturbed, thereby improving work efficiency and accuracy. As the amount of collected grain increases, the weight increases toward the inside of the storage tank 5, i.e., near the center of the machine in the left-right direction, so the left-right balance of the machine is stabilized while maintaining storage capacity. In the invention of claim 5, a battery mounting space 25 is formed in the left-right direction below the threshing device 3 and the storage tank 5, and a slide base 27 that is equipped with a battery 26 and can move left-right is provided in the battery mounting space 25, a spring 28 that pulls the slide base 27 is provided at the outer end of the body of the storage tank 5, a grain elevator 30 that receives grain and descends as its weight increases is provided inside the storage tank 5, and the grain elevator 30 and the slide base 27 are connected by a connecting wire 31, and when the grain elevator 30 descends, the slide base 27 threshes. The grain elevator 30 moves toward the device 3, and when it rises, the elasticity of the pull spring 28 causes the slide table 27 to move toward the storage tank 5. A discharge conveying path 21 is provided at the bottom of the storage tank 5 to transport the grain to a discharge device that discharges the grain outside the machine, and the battery mounting space 25 is formed on the rear side of the machine body relative to the discharge conveying path 21. Therefore, since the battery 26 is located outside the machine body of the storage tank 5 before the grain begins to be stored in the storage tank 5, it is possible to prevent the weight balance from shifting to the opposite side, and the working posture and direction of travel are stabilized. When the amount of stored grain increases, the battery 26 moves toward the inside of the machine body, which prevents the machine body balance from shifting toward the storage tank 5 side even if the amount of stored grain increases, thereby stabilizing the working posture and direction of travel. By forming the battery mounting space 25 near the rear end of the machine body, it is possible to prevent imbalance between the front and rear of the machine body due to heavy objects such as the harvesting device 4 being placed at the front of the machine body, thereby preventing the harvesting device 4 from coming into contact with the ground and being damaged, or preventing the harvesting height at the harvesting position 4 from becoming higher than necessary, leaving behind tall stubble that would affect driving. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] Top view of a combine harvester. [Figure 2] Plan and side views of the storage tank and grain conveying path. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a rear view of an operational state of another embodiment of the storage tank. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing an operating state of the second embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] Side view of the storage tank. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the storage tank with a portion thereof opened. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are a perspective view and a side view of an opening / closing rotation arm and a stopper pin according to another embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 15] FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. [Figure 17]FIG. [Figure 18] (A) A side view of a conventional storage tank. (B) A side view of a storage tank of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. [Figure 20] 1A and 1B are plan and side views of the cleaning port in operation (use); [Figure 21] FIG. [Figure 22] 10A and 10B are plan and side views of another embodiment of the cleaning port in an operational (used) state, and a perspective view of the same embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] One embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. 1 is the body frame of a work vehicle (combine), 2 is a running device below the body frame 1, 3 is a separating device (threshing device) provided on one side above the body frame 1, 4 is a harvesting device, 5 is a storage tank (grain tank) provided on the side of the threshing device 3, 6 is a control unit, and 7 is a discharge auger that discharges the harvested material from the recovery device 5. This combine harvester is equipped with a traveling body, a harvesting device 4 that harvests crops at the front of the body, a threshing device 3 that separates and sorts grains from the harvested stalks, a storage tank 5 that stores the threshed grains, and a control unit 6 on which an operator rides.It is provided with a grain lifting tube 13 that forms a grain transport path 10 that transports grains from the threshing device 3 to the storage tank 5, and the discharge outlet 11 formed in the connecting gutter 14 of the grain tank 5 of the grain transport path 10 is wide (fan-shaped in a plan view, with a short vertical length), and (one or more) grain sensors 12 that detect the passage of grains are arranged in the longitudinal width direction at the discharge outlet 11, and the amount of grain is estimated and calculated from the detection position and detection time of the grain sensor 12 (Figure 2).

[0009] By making the discharge port 11 from the grain conveying path 10 to the storage tank 5 wide, grains can be widely poured into the storage tank 5, so that grains are less likely to be poured into an uneven position and the weight balance of the machine body is prevented from being disturbed. By keeping the vertical length of the grain mass short when it is placed in the storage tank 5, the grain sensor 12 can easily detect the grains, the difference between the actual yield and the detected yield can be reduced, and the accuracy of yield detection is improved. The grain sensors 12 are arranged above and below the discharge outlet 11 at predetermined intervals in the width direction, and the grain sensors 12 are arranged in positions that do not overlap on the upper and lower sides, and the grain sensors 12 are configured to be able to detect grains without coming into contact with them (Figure 3). That is, the kernel sensor 12 is a non-contact sensor that does not come into contact with kernels. By arranging the grain sensors 12 above and below, the arrangement density of the grain sensors 12 can be increased, reducing the number of grains that are collected in the storage tank 5 without being detected, and improving the accuracy of yield measurement.

[0010] By detecting grains using the non-contact grain sensor 12, it is possible to prevent the grains from cracking or discoloring due to contact with the grain sensor 12, and to prevent deterioration in the quality of the grains. The grain sensor 12 is placed on the upper inside of the discharge outlet 11, over a length approximately equal to the width of the interior, and a moisture content sensor 15, which calculates the moisture content using electrical resistance values, is placed on the lower inside of the discharge outlet 11, over a length approximately equal to the width of the interior.The moisture content detected by the moisture content sensor 15 is used to correct the detection value of the grain sensor 12 (high moisture content → decrease correction, low moisture content → increase correction), and the grain sensor 12 and moisture content sensor 15 are configured to be able to detect grains without coming into contact with them (Figure 4). By widening the range of placement (detection range) of the grain sensor 12, the number of grains collected in the storage tank 5 without being detected can be reduced, and the accuracy of yield measurement can be improved.

[0011] The moisture content is detected by the moisture content sensor 15, and the number of grains that would have been counted collectively due to the moisture content is corrected by increasing or decreasing the number of grains, thereby improving the detection accuracy to suit the working environment. The grain sensor 12 and the moisture sensor 15 detect the grains as non-contact types, so that the grains are prevented from cracking or discoloring due to contact, and the quality of the grains is prevented from deteriorating. The grains entering the storage tank 5 from the grain conveying path 10 on the discharge port 11 side are guided down into the storage tank 5 on the outside of the machine body opposite the discharge port 11. A grain chute 16 is provided in the storage tank 5, and is located closer to the inside of the machine body than the discharge position of the grain chute 16 (the outer end of the machine body). A long downward partition plate 17 is arranged across the front-to-back inside the storage tank 5, and when the capacity of the storage tank 5 is low, the grains are stored between the outer wall 18 of the machine body and the partition plate 17, and when the capacity exceeds the height of the partition plate 17, the grains are stored between the partition plate 17 and the inner wall 19 of the machine body of the storage tank 5. Below the storage plate 20, a discharge conveying path (discharge conveying spiral) 21 is provided to transport the grains to a discharge device (discharge auger) 7 that discharges the grains outside the machine (Figure 9).

[0012] When storage begins, grain is stored near the outside of the machine, which reduces imbalances in the left-right balance caused by heavy objects (engine, battery, etc.) placed on opposite sides, making it less likely that the harvesting posture or direction of travel will be disturbed, improving work efficiency and accuracy. As the amount of collected grain increases, the weight increases toward the inside of the storage tank 5, i.e., near the center of the machine in the left-right direction, so the left-right balance of the machine is stabilized while maintaining storage capacity. A battery mounting space 25 is formed below the threshing device 3 and the storage tank 5 in the left-right direction, and a slide table 27 that is equipped with a battery 26 and can move left-right is provided in the battery mounting space 25. A pull spring 28 that pulls the slide table 27 is provided at the outer end of the storage tank 5, and a grain elevator 30 that receives grain and descends as its weight increases is provided inside the storage tank 5. The grain elevator 30 and the slide table 27 are connected by a connecting wire 31, and when the grain elevator 30 descends, the slide table 27 moves toward the threshing device 3, and when the grain elevator 30 rises, the elasticity of the pull spring 28 causes the slide table 27 to move toward the storage tank 5. A discharge conveying path (discharge conveying spiral) 21 that transports grain to a discharge device (discharge auger) that discharges the grain outside the machine is provided at the bottom of the storage tank 5, and the battery mounting space 25 is formed behind the discharge conveying path 21.

[0013] 31A is a pulley. Before storage in the storage tank 5 begins, the battery 26 is positioned outside the storage tank 5, thereby preventing the weight balance from shifting to the opposite side, and stabilizing the working posture and direction of travel. When the amount of stored grain increases, the battery 26 moves toward the inside of the machine body, which prevents the machine body balance from shifting toward the storage tank 5 side even if the amount of stored grain increases, thereby stabilizing the working posture and direction of travel. By forming the battery mounting space 25 near the rear end of the machine body, it is possible to prevent imbalance between the front and rear of the machine body due to heavy objects such as the harvesting device 4 being placed at the front of the machine body, thereby preventing the harvesting device 4 from coming into contact with the ground and being damaged, or preventing the harvesting height at the harvesting position 4 from becoming higher than necessary, leaving behind tall stubble that would affect driving.

[0014] The discharge outlet 11 (grain tank inlet) of the grain lifting tube 13 is elongated from front to back, and multiple grain sensors 12 (proximity switches 35) are arranged in a row to measure the flow rate, and the flow rate is calculated from the detection time and detection range of the grain sensors 12 (proximity switches 35) (Figure 2). Therefore, the grain sensor 12 can measure the harvest flow rate without contacting the grains. The grains can be widely dispersed and poured into the storage tank 5, and can be stored uniformly in the storage tank 5. The grain sensors 12 are provided on both the upper and lower sides of the discharge port 11, and are configured so that the upper grain sensor 12 and the lower grain sensor 12 do not overlap each other in a plan view (FIG. 3). Therefore, the difference between the actual yield and the detected yield can be reduced, improving the accuracy of yield detection.

[0015] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a capacitance sensor 36 is arranged to measure the flow rate of the grains, and the flow rate is calculated from the amount of change in capacitance when the grains pass through. Therefore, the grain sensor 12 (capacitance sensor 36) can measure the harvest flow rate in a non-contact manner. It can be widely dispersed in the storage tank 5 and stored uniformly. The discharge outlet 11 of the grain conveying path 10 (grain lifting tube 13) is made long and narrow in shape from front to back, and a capacitance sensor 36 is placed at the discharge outlet 11 to measure the flow rate, and a moisture sensor 15 is also placed at the discharge outlet 11, and the flow rate calculation can be corrected based on the moisture value of the moisture sensor 15.

[0016] Therefore, the flow rate calculation is corrected based on the moisture value of the moisture sensor 15, so the difference between the actual yield and the detected yield can be further reduced, improving the accuracy of yield detection. The discharge outlet 11 of the grain conveying path 10 (grain lifting tube 13) of the storage tank 5 is located at the top of the storage tank 5, and the grain is allowed to fall freely from the grain lifting tube 13 into the storage tank 5 using a grain chute 16, and a microwave flow sensor 40 is installed inside the storage tank 5 where the grain is falling freely (Figure 5). This allows for non-contact measurement of harvest flow rate. Figure 7 shows another embodiment, in which the discharge outlet 11 of the grain conveying path 10 (grain lifting tube 13) of the storage tank 5 is located at the top of the storage tank 5, and the grain is allowed to fall freely from the grain lifting tube 13 into the storage tank 5 using a grain chute 16, and a microwave flow sensor 40 is provided on the underside of the grain chute 16 (Figure 7). This allows for non-contact measurement of harvest flow rate.

[0017] A microwave flow sensor 40 is installed in the free grain drop section of the grain discharge outlet 7a located at the end of the conveying end of the discharge auger 7, and the flow rate is measured by detecting the grains falling into the collection container 39 using microwaves (Figure 11). The grain discharge port 7a of the discharge auger 7 is provided at the end of the conveying end of the discharge auger 7, and the grain is discharged from the auger discharge port 7a into a collection container (or flexible container bag, etc.) 39 outside the grain tank 5 of the combine (Figure 11). This allows for non-contact measurement of harvest flow rate. In a combine harvester equipped with an air grain 41, a microwave flow rate sensor 40 is provided at an outlet 43 of a rotary valve 42 (FIG. 8). Therefore, the flow rate can be measured at the time of discharge.

[0018] By integrating the rotary valve 42 and the flow sensor mounting portion 45, a compact configuration can be achieved. A large inspection hatch (cleaning hatch) 50 is provided on the right side of the grain tank 5 in the direction of travel (Fig. 13). The inspection hatch 50 is closed by a side plate 51 and secured with a snap lock 52 so that it can be attached, detached, and opened and closed freely. In this case, the side plate 51 opens upward and is fixed to the main body of the grain tank 5 with a lock plate 53. When the inner wall 51 is closed, the snap lock 52 is hooked onto a lock hook 52A provided on the inner wall 51, thereby preventing the inner wall 51 from opening.

[0019] The lock plate 53 is a rotatable plate member provided on the rear side of the inner wall 51, and has an L-shaped long hole rail 57 formed therein, into which a lock shaft provided on the main body of the grain tank 5 is inserted. When the inner wall 51 is opened, the lock shaft passes through the long side of the long hole rail 57, and when it is opened to its maximum extent, the lock shaft automatically passes over the bent part of the long hole rail 57 and enters the short side, restricting the rotation of the inner wall 51 in the closing direction. Conventionally, a configuration has been known in which a small inspection hatch is provided on the inside of the cover when the outer cover of the grain tank 5 is opened. In the conventional example, because the cover is opened to the side, both an open area and a working space are required. The side panel 51 of the present invention has an upward opening structure, which makes it easy to open, and also simplifies and ensures inspection, adjustment, and cleaning of the internal shutter, sensors, etc. Furthermore, the speed of emergency discharge can be increased.

[0020] When the driving force to the grain discharge conveying system is not transmitted, for example, when the transmission belt breaks or the clutch of the discharge transmission system cannot be connected, the machine stops moving, and with a collection container placed on the side of the grain tank 5, the side plate 51 is rotated upward to discharge the grain stored inside. The grain flows out of the space created by the opening of the side plate 51 due to its own weight, but grain near the bottom of the grain tank 5 must be manually scraped out by an operator and moved to the collection container. If the grains are left in the grain tank 5, they may germinate and make it impossible to polish them as usual, or they may grow mold and lose their commercial value, or harmful animals may get in and eat them, so the side panel 51 is rotated upward to open the inspection hatch 50 and the residue in the grain tank 5 is removed. Furthermore, when repairing a malfunction, if the grain tank 5 is not discharged, the heavy weight of the grain tank 5 makes repair work difficult.

[0021] The discharge conveying path 21, which is provided at the bottom of the grain tank 5 and moves the stored grain to the discharge auger 7, can become clogged with impurities such as straw waste that have been transported along with the grain, preventing the grain from falling onto the discharge conveying path 21 and making it impossible to transport. In this case, an operator must open the side wall 51 and remove the impurities on the discharge conveying path 21. In addition, when the discharge conveying path 21 becomes unable to move due to a break in the transmission belt or the like, the side panel 51 must be opened and the grains stored inside must be manually removed. However, some of the grains come out when the inner wall 51 is opened, and unless they are removed from the grain tank 5, the weight of the grains makes it impossible to reattach the transmission belt, which is inconvenient. A lock plate 53 that can automatically support the left side is provided, and an opening / closing rotary arm 55 that can be manually fixed is provided on the right side. However, if both the left and right sides are set to automatic, it becomes difficult to release the lock.

[0022] The opening and closing pivot arm 55 is an arm that spans the front of the Grain Tank 5 and the inner wall 51, and is not locked even when the inner wall 51 is opened to the maximum. This means that if it is locked, just like the lock plate 53, it must be moved to unlock both the front and rear, which takes time to close, but because the inner wall 51 is long in the front-to-rear direction, it is difficult to unlock both the front and rear. That is, due to the length of the grain tank 5, the front and rear locks must be released separately, which requires the worker to move, reducing work efficiency. Also, because the grain tank 5 is heavy, releasing one lock can cause a slight misalignment, making the other lock that is released later difficult to operate (heavy), further reducing work efficiency.

[0023] The opening / closing pivot arm 55 is an arm that spans the front of the body of the grain tank 5 and the inner wall 51, and is a component that does not have the function of locking when the inner wall 51 is rotated to its maximum extent to open it, for example, it does not have a groove into which a locking pin can fit. If the opening / closing pivot arm 55 is structured to be locked when the inner wall 51 is opened, like the lock plate 53, when closing the inner wall 51, it must be moved to release the locked state on both the front and rear of the machine body, which takes extra time to close. The inner wall 51 is long in the fore-and-aft direction of the machine body, and it is difficult for a single worker to simultaneously release both the front and rear locked states. Therefore, by locking only the lock plate 53 on the rear side of the machine body as in this configuration, work time can be reduced and work efficiency can be improved. Since the inner wall 51 is a fairly heavy part, when it is left open for a long period of time, such as during maintenance, locking it with only the lock plate 53 may result in unstable support. Therefore, when the inner wall 51 is in the open state, it is possible to lock it front and back by inserting a stopper pin 56 into the opening / closing pivot arm 55 and the hole in the grain tank 5 (not shown).

[0024] The automatic locking plate 53 has rails 57 inside the grain tank 5 (Figure 16). The tank lower cover 63 of the grain tank 5 has a hook 64 on the bottom, and a hook 66 is attached to the handle 65 for opening and closing the grain tank 5 (FIG. 17). The hook portion 64 is an attachment portion provided with a hook 66, and a handle portion 65 attached to the lower part of the inner wall 51 is hooked onto the hook 66. The tank lower cover 63 has a shutter 68 on the lower right (Figures 18 and 19), and the grain tank 5 can be opened outward around the pivot axis 5A by opening or removing the shutter 68 and operating the open lever 69 of the grain tank 5 without removing or attaching the entire lower cover 63.

[0025] Conventionally, the open lever 69 could not be operated unless the tank lower cover 63 was removed, as shown in Figure 18(A), but by opening the shutter 68, as shown in Figure 18(B), it can be operated without removing the tank lower cover 63. This eliminates the need to attach and detach the tank lower cover 63 when opening and closing the grain tank 5, thereby reducing the work time. A handle 73 is attached to make it easier to remove the cleaning port 72 for cleaning up chaff and mud around the grain tank 5 (Figure 20). A cleaning port 72 for cleaning chaff and mud around the grain tank 5 is provided with a handle 73 so as to be easily detachable, and is shaped like a dustpan so that it can be used as a dustpan.

[0026] The cleaning port 72 is designed to fit into the frame 75 and does not require bolts to be attached (FIG. 19). The cleaning port 72 is designed to fit into the frame 75 and has a deep box-like shape (Figures 19 and 20). The cleaning port 72 can also be used as a stand for placing a portable can (not shown). In the drawing, 75 is a frame, 76 is a mounting hole, 77 is a plate, 78 is a hinge, and 79 is a rib. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1...machine frame, 2...traveling device, 3...separating device, 4...reaping device, 5...storage tank, 6...control unit, 7...discharge device, 10...grain conveying path, 11...discharge outlet, 12...grain sensor, 13...grain lifting tube, 14...connecting trough, 15...moisture sensor, 16...grain chute, 17...partition plate, 18...machine outer wall, 19...machine inner wall, 20...storage plate, 21...discharge conveying path, 25...battery mounting space, 26...battery, 27...slide base, 28...pull spring, 30...grain elevator, 31...connecting wire, 31A...pulley, 35...close contact switch, 36...capacitive sensor, 40...microwave flow sensor, 41...air grain, 42...rotary valve, 43...outlet, 45...flow sensor mounting portion, 50...inspection hatch, 51...side panel, 52...snap lock, 53...lock plate, 55...opening and closing pivot arm, 57...rail, 63...tank lower cover, 64...hook portion, 65...handle portion, 66...hook, 68...shutter, 69...open lever, 72...cleaning port, 73...handle, 75...frame, 76...mounting hole portion, 77...plate, 78...hinge, 79...rib.

Claims

1. A combine harvester comprising a traveling body, a harvesting device (4) for harvesting crops at the front of the body, a threshing device (3) for separating and sorting grains from the harvested stalks, a storage tank (5) for storing the threshed grains, and a control section (6) for an operator to ride in, is provided with a grain transport path (10) for transporting grains from the threshing device (3) to the storage tank (5), the discharge outlet (11) of the grain transport path (10) is configured to be wide, a grain sensor (12) for detecting the passage of grains is arranged at the discharge outlet (11) facing the longitudinal width direction, and the amount of grains is estimated and calculated from the detection position and detection time of the grain sensor (12).

2. The combine harvester described in claim 1, characterized in that multiple grain sensors (12) are arranged above and below the discharge outlet (11) at predetermined intervals in the width direction, the grain sensors (12) are arranged in positions on the upper and lower sides that do not overlap, and the grain sensors (12) are configured to be able to detect grains without coming into contact with them.

3. The combine harvester of claim 1, characterized in that the grain sensor (12) is arranged at the top inside of the discharge opening (11) over a length approximately equal to the width of the interior, and the moisture sensor (15) is arranged at the bottom inside of the discharge opening (11) over a length approximately equal to the width of the interior, the detection value of the grain sensor (12) is corrected based on the moisture content detected by the moisture sensor (15), and the grain sensor (12) and the moisture sensor (15) are configured to be able to detect grains without coming into contact with them.

4. 4. The combine harvester according to claim 1, wherein a grain chute (16) is provided in the storage tank (5) for guiding grains entering the discharge port (11) of the storage tank (5) from the grain conveying path (10) into the storage tank (5) on the outside of the machine body opposite the discharge port (11), and a partition plate (17) that is long in the vertical direction is arranged in the storage tank (5) in the front-to-rear direction, closer to the inside of the machine body than the discharge position of the grain chute (16). When the capacity of the storage tank (5) is low, the grains are stored between the outer wall (18) of the machine body and the partition plate (17), and when the capacity exceeds the height of the partition plate (17), the grains are stored between the partition plate (17) and the inner wall (19) of the storage tank (5). A discharge conveying path (21) is provided below the storage plate (20) for transporting the grains to a discharge device (7) that discharges the grains outside the machine body.

5. A left-right battery mounting space (25) is formed below the threshing device (3) and the storage tank (5), and a slide base (27) that is movable left-right and mounts a battery (26) is provided in the battery mounting space (25), a pull spring (28) that pulls the slide base (27) is provided at the outer end of the machine body of the storage tank (5), and a grain elevator (30) that receives grain and descends as its weight increases is provided inside the storage tank (5), and the grain elevator (30) and the slide base (27) are connected by a connecting wire (31). A combine harvester as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when the grain elevator (30) descends, the slide table (27) moves toward the threshing device (3), and when the grain elevator (30) rises, the slide table (27) moves toward the storage tank (5) due to the elasticity of the pull spring (28), and a discharge conveying path (21) is provided at the bottom of the storage tank (5) to transport grain to a discharge device that discharges the grain outside the combine harvester, and the battery mounting space (25) is formed rearward of the body of the combine harvester relative to the discharge conveying path (21).

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