Vegetable harvester

Abstract

There is a root vegetable harvester in which a Seo Yi-ra for loosening soil around root vegetables such as Japanese radish is provided, and the root vegetables are pulled out from a field while holding the stems and leaves of the root vegetables. To solve the problem that a conventional Seo Yi-ra loosens soil on the side of a root vegetable, does not cut unnecessary roots at the lower end of the root vegetable, causes the roots to bite into a field when pulling out the root vegetable, has large pull-out resistance and inhibits good pull-out operation. To provide a vegetable harvester capable of carrying out good pulling out operation by providing a Seo Yi-ra with functions for cutting roots at the lower ends of root vegetables.SOLUTION: In a vegetable harvester provided with a Seo Yi-ra (21) for loosening soil around a crop (D) such as a radish growing in a field, and a pulling and conveying device (7) for pulling the crop (D) out of the field while holding foliage parts of the crop (D), the Seo Yi-ra (21) is provided with a root-cutting part 21b for cutting roots (R) extending downward from a lower end of the crop (D), and the Seo Yi-ra (21) is configured to be switchable between a working state of being plunged into the field to loosen soil and a housed state of being housed near a machine body above the field.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] There is a root vegetable harvester that is provided with a soiler that loosens the soil around root vegetables such as radishes growing in a field, and that grips the stems and leaves of the root vegetables 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 Laid-Open No. 2017-063641 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional soilers loosen the soil around root vegetables, but do not cut off unnecessary roots at the bottom of the root vegetables. When root vegetables are pulled out, the roots dig into the field, creating a large resistance to pulling out the vegetables and hindering good pulling work.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a vegetable harvester that has a soyer that has the function of cutting the roots at the bottom of root vegetables, thereby enabling good pulling-out operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is a vegetable harvesting machine provided with a soiler 21 for loosening the soil around crops D such as radishes growing in a field, and a pulling and conveying device 7 for clamping the stems and leaves of the crops D and pulling them out of the field, in which the soiler 21 is provided with a root cutting section 21b for cutting the roots R extending downward from the bottom end of the crops D, and the soiler 21 is configured to be freely switched between an operating state in which it penetrates into the field to loosen the soil and a storage state in which it is stored near the machine body above the field.

[0007] According to the invention described in claim 1, the soiler 21 is provided with a root cutting section 21b that cuts the roots R extending downward from the lower end of the crop D, so that the soiler 21 loosens the soil around the crop D growing in the field and cuts the roots at the lower end, and the pulling-out conveying device 7 clamps the stems and leaves to properly pull out the crop D, thereby performing good pulling-out work.

[0008] In addition, the soyer 21 is configured to be freely switched between a working state in which it penetrates into the field to loosen the soil and a storage state in which it is stored near the machine body above the field, so that safety can be ensured by switching it to the storage state when the machine body is moved, etc.

[0009] The invention as set forth in claim 2 is the vegetable harvester as set forth in claim 1, in which the ultrasonic cutter 21c is replaceably provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the root cutting portion 21b.

[0010] According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effects of the invention described in claim 1, the ultrasonic cutter 21c can properly cut the roots R extending downward from the lower end of the crop D, and by reducing the cutting load, the running resistance is reduced, allowing for good pulling-out work.

[0011] Furthermore, the ultrasonic cutter 21c is removably attached to the upper or lower surface of the root cutting portion 21b, so that it can be adapted to the length of the crop D, field conditions, and the like.

[0012] The invention as set forth in claim 3 is the vegetable harvester as set forth in claim 2, in which the frequency of the ultrasonic cutter 21c is changed in conjunction with the vehicle speed.

[0013] According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the advantageous effects of the invention of claim 2, the frequency of the ultrasonic cutter 21c is changed in conjunction with the vehicle speed, so that a predetermined cutting state can be ensured even if the vehicle speed changes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [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. [Figure 6] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] 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.

[0016] <Overall structure> As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the walking radish harvester 1 travels in 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 as a free wheel provided at the front.

[0017] The machine body is equipped with a power transmission device 6 that is mounted with an engine 5 and outputs engine power at variable speeds, a pulling-out and conveying device 7 as a conveying device that pulls out the roots of radishes D from the field, and a discharge and 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 the front end of the pulling-out and conveying device 7 supports left and right raking devices 13, 13 and left and right pulling-up devices 14, 14 in front of them 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 collectively passed to the pulling-out and conveying device 7.

[0018] 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.

[0019] The power transmission device 6 transmits power to the left and right 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] The left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R are rotatably mounted at the tip ends of left and right running transmission cases 3a, 3a whose bases are rotatably supported by the power transmission device 6 and which extend downward and rearward of the vehicle body.

[0023] Therefore, the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R are configured to move up and down by rotating the left and right running transmission cases 3a, 3a, thereby freely adjusting the vehicle height.

[0024] Furthermore, when the left and right traveling transmission cases 3a, 3a are rotated up and down to adjust the height of the vehicle (adjust the vehicle height) and lower the vehicle, the left and right traveling transmission cases 3a, 3a extend downward and rearward of the vehicle, so the lower the vehicle is made, the more rearward the left and right drive traveling wheels 3L, 3R move, increasing stability and preventing the rear of the vehicle from rising upward and creating a dangerous situation.

[0025] 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.

[0026] A loop handle 20 that is held by the operator is provided at the rear of the machine body.

[0027] A soyer 21 is provided at the front of the machine body, which penetrates into the field near the gauge wheel 4, loosens the soil on the sides of the roots of the radishes D, and cuts the thin roots R extending downward from the lower end of the roots of the radishes D.

[0028] <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.

[0029] The rear frame 2a has its lower rear end fixed to the left and right ends of the power transmission device 6.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] The discharge conveying device 10, which discharges and conveys the radishes D that have been extracted and conveyed to the rear of the machine by the extraction conveying device 7 to the right outside of the machine, is provided on the side of the fixed right drive running wheel 3R that does not move left and right due to tread changes, so the discharge conveying device 10 can be simply configured and can properly discharge the radishes D to a predetermined position in the field outside the machine.

[0034] In addition, in order to prevent the right drive running wheel 3R from damaging the radishes D discharged by the discharge and conveying device 10, the right drive running wheel 3R is not arranged near the discharge section of the discharge and conveying device 10 where the radishes D are discharged.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] <Extraction conveyance device 7, discharge conveyance device 10> 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.

[0038] 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 body of the machine to convey the radishes D to the right of the body and discharge them into the field.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] 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.

[0043] <Raising device 14 and raking device 13> 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] <Soira 21> As shown in Figures 1 to 6, a soiler 21 is provided at the front of the machine body. The soiler 21 penetrates into the field near the gauge wheel 4, loosens the soil on the sides of the roots of the radishes D, and cuts the thin roots R extending downward from the lower end of the roots of the radishes D.

[0048] That is, a soyer swing support shaft 36 is fixed to a soyer stay 35 which is fixed to the front lower end of the front frame 2b of the body frame 2 and to a digging frame 33 which supports the extraction and conveying device 7, the left and right sweeping devices 13, 13, the left and right lifting devices 14, 14, and the gauge wheel 4, and the base of a swinging arm 37 is pivoted to the middle part of the soyer swing support shaft 36, and a soyer mounting device 38 is pivoted and attached to the tip of the soyer swing support shaft 36.

[0049] Therefore, the soyer mounting device 38 that fixes the soyer 21 is provided on the digging frame 33 that supports the pulling-out and conveying device 7, the left and right scraping devices 13, 13, the left and right lifting devices 14, 14, and the gauge wheel 4, so that the positional relationship between the soyer 21 and the pulling-out and conveying device 7, etc. is properly maintained, allowing for good radish D pulling-out work to be carried out.

[0050] A swing drive arm 39 is connected to the upper end of the swing action arm 37, and the swing action arm 37 is driven to swing back and forth.

[0051] The swing drive arm 39 is driven by a drive force transmitted from a soy vibrating drive device 40 provided on the opposite side (left side) of the machine to the right side of the machine where the discharge conveying device 10 is provided, which conveys the radishes D pulled out by the pulling-out conveying device 7 to the right side of the machine and discharges them into the field, via a drive mechanism 41 from the left side of the machine to the right side of the machine at a position close to the pulling-out position in front of the pulling-out conveying device 7.

[0052] The soyer mounting fixture 38 is composed of a square pipe-shaped member into which the top of the soyer 21 is fitted, and the fitted soyer 21 is fixed and mounted with a pin body 43.

[0053] The pin body 43 is biased inwardly into the pin through-hole 38a of the soyer attachment 38 by a biasing member, and engages with one of a plurality of locking holes 21z provided in the upper part of the soyer 21 to fix the soyer 21.

[0054] Therefore, the soiler 21 can be attached or detached by pulling the pin body 43 outward from the pin through hole 38a of the soiler attachment device 38 against the biasing force of the biasing member and removing the tip of the pin body 43 from the locking hole 21z at the top of the soiler 21.In addition, by changing the locking hole 21z at the top of the soiler 21 into which the tip of the pin body 43 is inserted, the depth to which the soiler 21 penetrates into the soil can be changed according to the length of the roots of the radishes D.

[0055] A protrusion 38b that engages with the swinging arm 37 is fixed to the front wall of the soyer mounting fixture 38.

[0056] In order for the soyer mounting fixture 38, to which the soyer 21 is fixed, to swing back and forth on the swinging arm 37, the protrusion 38b is brought into contact with the front wall of the swinging arm 37, and the locking piece 37a, which can be switched between a downward locked state and an open state facing left and right, is placed in a downward locked state on the front wall of the swinging arm 37, thereby engaging and fixing the protrusion 38b, so that the soyer mounting fixture 38 can swing back and forth together with the swinging arm 37. The upper right view in Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the locking piece 37a.

[0057] By making the soiler mounting fixture 38 swing back and forth together with the swinging arm 37, the soiler 21 is driven to swing back and forth.

[0058] In addition, the front end of a connecting arm 51 that moves back and forth by an electromagnetic solenoid 50 provided on the right side of the digging frame 33 is connected to a rear stay 38c provided on the rear wall of the soyer mounting device 38.

[0059] When the soiler changeover switch 55 provided on the loop handle 20 is set to the storage position, the electromagnetic solenoid 50 is excited and pulls the connecting arm 51 backward, and when the soiler changeover switch 55 is set to the working position, the solenoid is de-energized and the connecting arm 51 can move freely in the forward and backward directions.

[0060] Therefore, when the lock piece 37a is opened to the left and right, the protrusion piece 38b of the soiler mounting device 38 is released, and the soiler changeover switch 55 is operated to the storage position, the electromagnetic solenoid 50 is excited and the connecting arm 51 is pulled rearward, causing the soiler mounting device 38 to rotate rearward and upward around the soiler swing support shaft 36, and the soiler 21 is rotated from the operating state in which it extends below the solid line in Figure 4 to a horizontal position parallel to the bottom of the aircraft as shown by the imaginary line, changing its position to a raised storage state.

[0061] Therefore, when the aircraft is moving, safety can be ensured by changing the attitude of the soiler 21 to the stored state.

[0062] To put the soiler 21 into a working state where it penetrates into the soil and loosens it, the soiler changeover switch 55 is operated to the working position to demagnetize the electromagnetic solenoid 50, allowing the connecting arm 51 to move freely back and forth, and the soiler 21 is rotated downward to bring the protrusion 38b of the soiler mounting device 38 into contact with the front wall of the swinging action arm 37, bringing the locking piece 37a into a downward locked state and engaging and fixing the protrusion 38b to the swinging action arm 37, allowing the soiler mounting device 38 to swing back and forth together with the swinging action arm 37.

[0063] In addition, the electromagnetic solenoid 50 is installed in a position below and in front of the discharge and conveying device 10 (in the case of a model equipped with a shoulder alignment device 8 and a stem and leaf cutting device 9, in a position near the shoulder alignment device 8 or the stem and leaf cutting device 9), so it does not interfere with the discharge of the radishes D.

[0064] In addition, a longitudinal tilt sensor is provided to detect the longitudinal tilt of the aircraft, and when the loop handle 20 is pushed down to raise the front of the aircraft high in order to turn the aircraft (when the longitudinal tilt sensor detects that the front of the aircraft has risen to a predetermined level), the step motor opens the lock piece 37a to the left or right, activates the electromagnetic solenoid 50, and automatically changes the position of the soiler 21 to a stored state, allowing the aircraft to turn easily without dragging the soiler 21 when turning.

[0065] The soyer 21, which has automatically been stored by raising the front of the machine body high as described above, does not automatically return to its working state even when the machine body returns to a horizontal position. Instead, when the digging clutch lever 57 (a lever that operates the clutch that turns on and off the drive to the harvesting work parts such as the lifting device 14, raking device 13, extraction and conveying device 7, and discharge and conveying device 10) is engaged and the soyer changeover switch 55 is set to the working position, the electromagnetic solenoid 50 is activated to lower the soyer 21 to the working state, and the step motor is used to lock the lock piece 37a in a downward position, returning the soyer to its working state, thereby ensuring safety.

[0066] The soiler 21, in the working state of penetrating into the soil and loosening the soil, is composed of a loosening part 21a extending vertically downward from the soiler attachment 38, penetrating into the soil and inclined in the direction approaching the roots of the radishes D, and a horizontal root cutting part 21b which is formed by bending the lower end of the loosening part 21a and extending downward toward the roots of the radishes D.

[0067] The loosening portion 21a of the soyer 21 loosens the soil on the sides of the roots of the radish D, and the root cutting portion 21b loosens the soil below the roots of the radish D and cuts the thin roots R extending downward from the lower end of the roots.

[0068] Therefore, the loosening section 21a of the soyer 21 loosens the soil on the sides of the roots of the radish D, and the root cutting section 21b loosens the soil below the roots of the radish D and cuts the thin roots R extending downward from the lower end of the roots, so that the pulling-out and conveying device 7 can clamp the stems and leaves and pull out the radish D well, thereby performing appropriate pulling-out and harvesting work.

[0069] An ultrasonic cutter 21c is detachably attached by a bolt 21d to the front end of the root cutting portion 21b of the soyer 21. Only the cutting edge of the ultrasonic cutter 21c is replaceable, and the cutting edge is replaced when worn out.

[0070] Therefore, since the ultrasonic cutter 21c is provided at the front end of the root cutting portion 21b of the soyer 21, the thin roots R extending downward from the lower end of the root portion of the radish D can be cut well.

[0071] The ultrasonic cutter 21c is fixed to the upper or lower surface of the root cutting portion 21b with a bolt 21d depending on the length of the root of the radish D and the field conditions.

[0072] That is, when the root length of the radish D is short or the plow pan is shallow, the ultrasonic cutter 21c is fixed to the upper surface of the root cutting section 21b, and when the root length of the radish D is long or the plow pan is deep, the ultrasonic cutter 21c is fixed to the lower surface of the root cutting section 21b.

[0073] The wiring 21e of the ultrasonic cutter 21c is laid through a pipe 21f made of a cylinder fixed to the rear side of the loosening part 21a of the soiler 21 so as not to be broken when the soiler 21 loosens the soil underground.

[0074] The wiring 21e of the ultrasonic cutter 21c has a coiled portion extending from the upper end of the pipe 21f, and is configured to be extendable and contractible.

[0075] The ultrasonic cutter 21c is activated when the digging clutch lever 57 provided on the loop handle 20 is engaged, and is stopped when the clutch is disengaged.

[0076] In addition, a separate operating device (switch) for operating the ultrasonic cutter 21c may be provided on the digging clutch lever 57 so that the ultrasonic cutter 21c can be operated manually regardless of the on / off operation of the digging clutch lever 57.

[0077] Furthermore, when the soyer changeover switch 55 is operated to the storage position and the soyer 21 is in the stored state, the ultrasonic cutter 21c does not operate and is stopped for safety reasons.

[0078] That is, when the soyer switch 55 is operated to the working position and the digging clutch lever 57 is operated (or the ultrasonic cutter 21c operation on / off operating device is operated to operate the ultrasonic cutter 21c), the ultrasonic cutter 21c will operate.

[0079] Then, the vehicle speed is calculated using a vehicle speed sensor (the vehicle speed is calculated by detecting the rotation speed of the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R, or the vehicle speed is calculated while calculating the current position using GPS 60), and the frequency of the ultrasonic cutter 21c is changed (the operating speed is changed) in conjunction with the vehicle speed.

[0080] That is, the faster the vehicle speed, the higher the frequency of the ultrasonic cutter 21c (the faster the operating speed), and the slower the vehicle speed, the lower the frequency of the ultrasonic cutter 21c (the slower the operating speed).

[0081] 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.

[0082] <Other embodiments>

[0083] (1) In the above embodiment, the gauge wheel 4 is an idle wheel, but it may be driven by an electric motor 4a or the like.

[0084] That is, the gauge wheel 4 is normally in a free-wheeling state, but the vehicle's traveling speed is calculated using GPS 60, and when the traveling speed becomes slower than a predetermined value, the electric motor 4a is activated to drive the gauge wheel 4 and assist the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R.

[0085] Alternatively, the gauge wheel 4 is normally in a free-spinning state, but when the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R give in to the resistance of the soiler 21 and spin freely (when the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R are being driven but the GPS 60 does not detect the vehicle's progress), the gauge wheel 4 is driven by the electric motor 4a to assist the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R.

[0086] In models not equipped with GPS 60, encoders are built into the axles of the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R and the gauge wheel 4, and the rotation speeds of the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R are constantly monitored and compared with those of the gauge wheel 4, thereby reducing the slippage of the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R.

[0087] If the left and right drive running wheels 3L, 3R are spinning a lot even when the gauge wheels 4 are driven by the electric motor 4a as described above, the throttle of the engine 5 is automatically controlled to reduce the vehicle speed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 7. Extraction and transport device 21 Soira 21b Root cutting part 21c Ultrasonic cutter D Crop (radish) R root

Claims

1. This vegetable harvester is provided with a soiler (21) for loosening the soil around a crop (D) such as radish growing in a field, and a pulling and conveying device (7) for clamping the stems and leaves of the crop (D) and pulling it out of the field. The vegetable harvester is characterized in that the soiler (21) is provided with a root cutting section (21b) for cutting the roots (R) extending downward from the lower end of the crop (D), and the soiler (21) is freely switchable between a working state in which it penetrates into the field to loosen the soil and a storage state in which it is stored near the machine body above the field.

2. 2. The vegetable harvester according to claim 1, wherein an ultrasonic cutter (21c) is replaceably attached to the upper or lower surface of the root cutting portion (21b).

3. 3. The vegetable harvester according to claim 2, wherein the frequency of the ultrasonic cutter (21c) is changed in conjunction with the vehicle speed.

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