Vegetable harvester

Abstract

To provide a vegetable harvester capable of pulling vegetables upward and appropriately discharging the vegetables to a predetermined position to perform harvesting in order to solve such problems that, in a conventional crop pulling machine that grips foliage parts of root vegetables such as radishes growing in a field and pulls the crops out of the field, since a main frame is provided near wheels and below a gripping and conveying part, after pulling out a long root vegetable such as a radish in order to move it to another position to place it sideways, the crop must be moved beyond the main frame and foliage is wound around the main frame, making it impossible to appropriately pull out and harvest the crop and to discharge the crop to a predetermined position.SOLUTION: In a vegetable harvester that performs vegetable harvesting work by traveling by traveling devices 3L, 3R while being equipped with a conveying device 7 for harvesting and conveying vegetables in a field, the conveying device 7 is provided below a machine body frame 2 that is provided from a rear part of the machine body toward a front direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vegetable harvester that grips the stems and leaves of crops growing in a field and pulls them out of the field to harvest them. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is a crop pulling machine that grips the stems and leaves of root vegetables such as radishes growing in a field and pulls them out of the field (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-164411 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the main frame is located near the wheels and below the clamping and conveying section, so after pulling out long root vegetables such as radishes, in order to move them to another location and lay them down, they must be moved beyond the main frame, and the stems and leaves get wrapped around the main frame, making it impossible to pull out and harvest them properly and discharge them to the designated location.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a vegetable harvester that can pull out vegetables upward and properly discharge them at a predetermined position to harvest them. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is a vegetable harvesting machine that is equipped with a conveying device 7 for harvesting and transporting vegetables in a field and moves forward using traveling devices 3L, 3R to perform vegetable harvesting work, in which the conveying device 7 is provided below the machine frame 2 that is arranged from the rear of the machine body toward the front.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, the conveying device 7 is provided below the machine frame 2, which is arranged from the rear of the machine toward the front, so there is nothing to obstruct the transport of the harvested vegetables by the conveying device 7, and the vegetables can be harvested and discharged to the outside of the machine, over the traveling device 3R, making it possible to line them up horizontally in the field.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is a vegetable harvester described in claim 1 in which the traveling devices 3L, 3R are composed of a fixed side traveling device 3R that does not move left and right and a movable side traveling device 3L that moves left and right by changing the tread, and in which a discharge conveying device 10 that discharges harvested vegetables to the outside of the machine body is provided above the fixed side traveling device 3R.

[0009] According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 1, a discharge and conveying device 10 is provided that discharges the harvested vegetables to the outside of the machine body, so that by discharging the harvested vegetables to the outside of the machine body, they do not interfere with the harvesting work of the next row.

[0010] Furthermore, since the discharge and conveyance device 10 is provided above the fixed-side traveling device 3R, the discharge mechanism has a simple configuration.

[0011] The invention as set forth in claim 3 is the vegetable harvester as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, in which a gap K is provided between the machine frame 2 and the transport device 7 so that vegetables to be harvested can pass through.

[0012] The invention described in claim 4 is a vegetable harvester described in claim 3 in which a chute 11 is provided below the discharge and conveying device 10 to cover the upper part of the fixed side running device 3R, and the chute 11 is composed of an inner chute 11a that is configured to be higher on the inside of the fixed side running device 3R and an outer chute 11b that is configured to be lower on the outside of the fixed side running device 3R, and the inner chute 11a is a drive roller type conveying unit.

[0013] According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the advantageous effects of the invention of claim 3, a chute 11 is provided below the discharge and conveying device 10 to cover the top of the fixed side running device 3R, and the chute 11 is composed of an inner chute 11a that is configured to be higher on the inside of the fixed side running device 3R and an outer chute 11b that is configured to be lower on the outside of the fixed side running device 3R, and the inner chute 11a is a drive roller type conveying section, so that the inner chute 11a supports the conveyance of vegetables that are conveyed by the discharge and conveying device 10 beyond the top of the fixed side running device 3R toward the outside of the body, allowing the vegetables to properly clear the apex above the fixed side running device 3R.

[0014] The invention as set forth in claim 5 is the vegetable harvester as set forth in claim 4, wherein the chute 11 is vertically adjustable according to the vertical height of the fixed-side traveling device 3R.

[0015] According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the advantageous effects of the invention described in claim 4, the chute 11 can be adjusted up and down according to the vertical height of the fixed side traveling device 3R, so that the vertical positional relationship between the chute 11 and the fixed side traveling device 3R can be adjusted as desired, and vegetables can be appropriately prevented from getting caught in the fixed side traveling device 3R. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a left side view of a radish harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, a walking-type radish harvester, which is a type of vegetable harvester, will be described as an embodiment of the present invention. Note that, for convenience, directions are indicated as front, rear, left, and right based on the forward direction of the machine body, but the configuration is not limited to these.

[0018] <Overall structure> As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the walking radish harvester 1 moves around the field while performing harvesting work using left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R as running devices provided at the rear of the machine frame 2 that constitutes the machine body and a gauge wheel 4 provided at the front.

[0019] The machine body is equipped with a power transmission device 6 that is mounted with an engine 5 and outputs engine power at a variable speed, a pulling-out and conveying device 7 as a conveying device that pulls out the roots of the radishes D from the field, a discharge conveying device 10 that discharges and conveys the radishes D that have been pulled out and conveyed to the rear of the machine body by the pulling-out and conveying device 7 to the right outside of the machine body, and a chute 11 that discharges the radishes D conveyed by the discharge conveying device 10 into the field outside the right drive running wheel 3R, and the front end of the pulling-out and conveying device 7 is equipped with left and right raking devices 13, 13 and left and right pulling-up devices 14, 14 in front of them that are supported so that they can rotate up and down via a vertically rotating support part 12, so that the lower leaves spread across the field are handed over together to the pulling-out and conveying device 7.

[0020] The discharge conveying device 10 is integral with the extracting and conveying device 7 by bending the rear part of the extracting and conveying device 7 outward to the right of the machine body.

[0021] The power transmission device 6 transmits power to the drive running wheels 3L, 3R via the left and right running transmission cases 3a, 3a in a way that allows for vehicle height adjustment. Power is also transmitted from the power transmission device 6 to the pulling-out and conveying device 7, and an intermediate transmission case 15 is provided on the left side of the pulling-out and conveying device 7 to drive the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13 and the left and right lifting devices 14, 14 in front of it, thereby simplifying the transmission system.

[0022] The left drive running wheel 3L as the moving side running device is supported by a left running transmission case 3a provided on a running transmission shaft 17 that expands and contracts with the rotation of a tread changing handle 16, and can be moved left and right to adjust to the width of the ridge U.

[0023] The right drive running wheel 3R as a fixed side running device does not move in the left and right direction due to the change in tread.

[0024] The gauge wheel 4 is freely rotatably mounted on the lower end of a support tube 18 which is tilted backward at the front right part of the machine frame 2, and the gauge wheel 4 moves up and down by rotating an adjustment shaft 19a which is linked to a height adjustment handle 19 at the rear of the machine frame 2, thereby raising and lowering the front part of the machine frame 2.

[0025] A loop handle 20 for the operator to grip is provided at the rear of the machine body.

[0026] <Airframe 2> As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the vehicle frame 2 is made up of a rear frame 2a having a U-shaped rear portion in plan view and left and right front frames 2b, 2b whose rear portions are welded to the rear frame 2a and extend forward above the vehicle.

[0027] The rear frame 2a has its lower rear end fixed to the left and right ends of the power transmission device 6.

[0028] The front frame 2b has the extracting and conveying device 7, the discharging and conveying device 10, the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13, the left and right raising devices 14, 14, and the gauge wheel 4 attached to its front part.

[0029] The gap K between the machine frame 2 and the extraction and conveying device 7 is a distance (300 mm in this embodiment) that allows the stems and leaves of radishes D to pass vertically after being extracted and conveyed by the extraction and conveying device 7 and discharged by the discharge and conveying device 10 toward the field outside the right drive running wheel 3R.

[0030] Therefore, the machine body frame 2 extends forward with a gap K that allows the stems and leaves of the radishes D to pass vertically above the pulling-out and conveying device 7 and the discharge-conveying device 10, and supports the pulling-out and conveying device 7 and the discharge-conveying device 10 at its front, so there is nothing to obstruct the transport of the radishes D being pulled out and conveyed, and long vegetables such as radishes D can be pulled upward and discharged to the outside of the machine body over the right drive running wheel 3R, making it possible to line them up horizontally in the field facing the same direction.

[0031] The discharge conveying device 10, which discharges and conveys the radishes D that have been pulled out and conveyed to the rear of the machine by the pulling and conveying device 7 to the right outside of the machine, and the chute 11, which discharges them into the field on the outside of the machine, are provided above the fixed right drive running wheel 3R that does not move left and right due to tread changes, so the discharge conveying device 10 and the chute 11 can be simply configured and the radishes D can be properly discharged to a predetermined position in the field on the outside of the machine.

[0032] Furthermore, since the pulling-out conveying device 7 and the gauge wheel 4 are mounted at approximately the same position on the front part of the machine frame 2, rigidity is increased and loss in adjusting the pulling height of the pulling-out conveying device 7 due to deflection of the gauge wheel 4 mounting part can be eliminated.

[0033] Furthermore, by discharging the radish D with stems and leaves outward from the side of the machine, it does not interfere with the pulling out of the next row.

[0034] <Extraction conveyance device 7, discharge conveyance device 10, chute 11> The pulling-out conveying device 7 has left and right opposing circumferential belts 7a, 7a supported by a plurality of pulleys journaled on left and right circumferential support frames 7b, 7b, and a clamping conveying mechanism configured to lift the radish D to a predetermined height by clamping the stem and leaf portion between the opposing left and right circumferential belts 7a, 7a, with the rear part rising upward, and a discharge conveying device 10 that bends the rear part outward to the right of the body of the machine to discharge and convey the radish D outward to the right of the body of the machine.

[0035] The discharge conveying device 10 is configured integrally with the rear of the pulling-out conveying device 7, and the rear part of the clamping conveying mechanism that clamps the stems and leaves and lifts the radishes D to a predetermined height is bent outward to the right of the machine body, passing over the right drive running wheel 3R and conveying the radishes D above the chute 11 on the right side of the machine body.

[0036] The chute 11, which also serves as a cover over the right driving running wheel 3R, has a mountain-like shape when viewed from the front and is composed of an inner chute 11a that is higher on the inside of the right driving running wheel 3R and an outer chute 11b that is lower on the outside of the right driving running wheel 3R. The highest outer end of the inner chute 11a and the highest inner end of the outer chute 11b are connected, and the roots of the radishes D discharged to the right outside of the machine body by the discharge and conveying device 10 are guided by the inner chute 11a to a position above the right driving running wheel 3R, and then guided by the outer chute 11b to the field outside the right driving running wheel 3R and released.

[0037] In addition, the chute 11 is linked to the vertical height adjustment mechanism of the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R, and is automatically adjusted up and down so that the vertical positional relationship with the right drive running wheel 3R is constant in accordance with the vertical height adjustment of the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R.

[0038] Therefore, the radish D can be appropriately prevented from being caught in the right driving wheel 3R.

[0039] The inner chute 11a is a drive roller type conveying section in which rotating rollers 21, the surfaces of which are covered with an elastic material such as sponge to prevent damage to the radishes D, are arranged side by side on multiple surfaces from near the apex of the highest outer end above the right drive running wheel 3R to the lower inside of the machine body, and the multiple rotating rollers 21 are rotated and driven by a drive chain driven by an electric motor 22.

[0040] The rotation direction of the multiple rotating rollers 21 is the same as the transport direction of the radish D that the discharge and conveying device 10 transports to the right outside of the body, passing above the right driving running wheel 3R (the direction in which the radish D is transported from the inside below the body of the inner chute 11a toward the apex of the highest outer end above the right driving running wheel 3R).

[0041] The electric motor 22 is disposed at the top of the inner chute 11a facing toward the rear of the machine body so as not to affect the conveying action of the radishes D.

[0042] Therefore, the inner chute 11a equipped with a plurality of driving rotation rollers 21 supports the transport of the radish D, which has its stem and leaf portion clamped by the discharge and conveying device 10 and is conveyed beyond the right driving running wheel 3R to the right outer side of the machine body, so that the radish D can properly climb over the apex above the right driving running wheel 3R.

[0043] The outer chute 11b is a flat slide-type chute, and has a multi-layered smooth sheet attached to its surface with resin rivets so that it can be easily removed.

[0044] The multi-layered smooth sheet has perforations on the apex side of the highest inner edge, so that if soil gets on it and it becomes less slippery, just one of the smooth sheets on the top surface can be easily removed, allowing the smooth surface to be maintained.

[0045] The outer chute 11b has a pivot point at the apex of the highest inner end, and the outer end is rotatable up and down, and the height of the outer end relative to the field can be adjusted using a height adjustment handle 23 provided toward the rear of the machine body, allowing the radishes D to be appropriately released into the field.

[0046] Furthermore, the outer chute 11b can be rotated upward using the height adjustment handle 23 from an operating position in which it projects outward from the machine body to a storage position in which it is stored inside the machine body. By placing the outer chute 11b in the storage position inside the machine body when traveling on the road or loading onto a truck, it is possible to prevent the outer chute 11b from coming into contact with or interfering with other objects.

[0047] The outer chute 11b has an R-shape such that the inner and outer ends are curled downward, preventing the radish D from getting caught.

[0048] The inner end of the outer chute 11b is positioned lower than the outer end of the inner chute 11a by the radius of the drive rotation roller 21, so that the radishes D being transported can be transferred properly from the inner chute 11a to the outer chute 11b.

[0049] The outer end of the outer chute 11b is made of an elastic material so that it will not be damaged even if it comes into contact with the field surface.

[0050] Therefore, the radishes D, whose stems and leaves are clamped by the discharge and conveying device 10 and conveyed to the right outer side of the machine body, are supported in their conveyance by the inner chute 11a, pass above the right drive running wheel 3R, and transfer to the outer chute 11b, where they are guided by the outer chute 11b and slide downward to be properly released and lined up in the field.

[0051] In addition, if the upper part (inner end) of the outer chute 11b is made to extend outward more than the lower part (outer end) so that the stems and leaves of the radishes D face outward from the body of the machine, the stems and leaves of the discharged radishes D will be oriented in the same direction, making it easier to collect the radishes D by holding the stems and leaves.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, a shoulder-aligning device 8 and a stem and leaf cutting device 9 may be detachably provided on the machine frame 2 below the pulling and conveying device 7.

[0053] That is, the above-described embodiment shows an example in which the shoulder alignment device 8 and the stem and leaf cutting device 9 are removed, and the pulled-out radish D is discharged to the outside of the machine body.

[0054] On the other hand, when the shoulder alignment device 8 and stem and leaf cutting device 9 are attached below the pulling-out and conveying device 7, the radishes D in the field are pulled upward by the pulling-out and conveying device 7, and while the shoulder alignment device 8 maintains the shoulders of the crop at a constant height, the lower ends of the stems and leaves of the pulled-out radishes D are cut by the stem and leaf cutting device 9, and the radishes D (roots) are left upright in the field. In a subsequent operation, a worker picks up the upright radishes D in the field and pulls them upward to harvest and collect them.

[0055] The stems and leaves cut by the stem and leaf cutting device 9 are then discharged to the right outside of the machine body by the pulling and conveying device 7 and the discharge and conveying device 10.

[0056] <Raising device and raking device> The left and right lifting devices 14, 14 at the front end of the machine body each support a plurality of lugs 14a, which are lifting members that protrude forward of the machine body and lift the stems and leaves of crops, in a rotatable manner by means of a circular support portion 14b, and the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13 following the left and right lifting devices 14, 14 each support a plurality of lugs 13a, which are sweeping members that protrude to the sides of the machine body and sweep the stems and leaves of crops, in a rotatable manner by means of a circular support portion 13b.

[0057] The left and right lifting devices 14, 14 and the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13 are transmitted by a front and rear transmission case 30 provided on each of the left and right sides, which connects them front to back, and a lifting connection case 31 is provided which connects the upper parts of the left and right lifting devices 14, 14 to each other, thereby connecting them integrally on the left and right, and thus the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13 and the left and right lifting devices 14, 14 are configured as a single unit.

[0058] The left and right lifting devices 14, 14 are connected to each other by a lifting connecting case 31 at the top, so that the left and right lifting devices 14, 14 lift the stems and leaves while ensuring a stem and leaf passage area within that height range, and the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13 sweep the stems and leaves from the left and right and reach the pulling and conveying device 7, allowing for efficient pulling and traveling with reliable pulling.

[0059] In addition, the left and right front and rear transmission cases 30, 30 that transmit and connect the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13 and the left and right lifting devices 14, 14 on the left and right sides can be kept within the protruding width of the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13 in the left and right directions of the machine body, thereby reducing the width of the machine body, preventing contact between the crop rows being harvested and adjacent crops, and preventing a decrease in the commercial value of the crops due to contact.

[0060] Finally, in the above embodiment, a walking type radish harvester, which is a type of vegetable harvester, has been described, but the present invention may also be applied to harvesters of root vegetables such as carrots other than radishes D, or to harvesters of any other vegetables. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 2. Aircraft frame 3L Traveling device (left drive wheel) 3R Fixed side running device (right drive running wheel) 7. Conveying device (pulling conveying device) 10. Discharge conveying device 11 Shooter 11a Inner Shooter 11b Outside shooter K Gap

Claims

1. This vegetable harvester is equipped with a transport device (7) for harvesting and transporting vegetables in a field and moves forward using traveling devices (3L, 3R) to perform vegetable harvesting work, and is characterized in that the transport device (7) is provided below a machine body frame (2) that is provided from the rear of the machine body toward the front.

2. A vegetable harvester as described in claim 1, characterized in that the traveling devices (3L, 3R) are composed of a fixed-side traveling device (3R) that does not move left and right and a movable-side traveling device (3L) that moves left and right by changing the tread, and a discharge and conveying device (10) that discharges harvested vegetables to the outside of the machine body is provided above the fixed-side traveling device (3R).

3. 3. The vegetable harvester according to claim 1, wherein a gap (K) is provided between the machine frame (2) and the conveying device (7) so that the vegetables to be harvested can pass through.

4. A vegetable harvester according to claim 3, characterized in that a chute (11) covering the upper part of the fixed-side traveling device (3R) is provided below the discharge and conveying device (10), the chute (11) is composed of an inner chute (11a) configured to be higher on the inside of the fixed-side traveling device (3R) and an outer chute (11b) configured to be lower on the outside of the fixed-side traveling device (3R), and the inner chute (11a) is a drive roller type conveying unit.

5. 5. A vegetable harvester according to claim 4, wherein the chute (11) is vertically adjustable in accordance with the vertical height of the fixed-side traveling device (3R).

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