Work equipment

Abstract

The objective is to change the height of the conveying section to follow the top surface of the ridge. [Solution] The work machine comprises a machine frame 21 mounted on a traveling body 20 that can be towed or self-propelled, a scraping section 33 that scrapes up stems growing in the ridges, and a conveying section (first conveying section 31, second conveying section 32) that tears off the stems scraped up by the scraping section 33 by gripping and conveying them upward and rearward. The conveying section is connected to the machine frame 21 via a first swinging shaft 35 whose axis is oriented in the left-right direction, and is capable of swinging in accordance with the upper surface of the ridges.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a working machine.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a working machine that tears off the stems scraped in while traveling (for example, Patent Document 1). The stems are, for example, the vines of sweet potatoes. A scraping portion is provided at the front of the working machine, and a conveying portion is provided behind the scraping portion. The conveying portion sandwiches the vines scraped by the scraping portion and conveys them upward and rearward, so that the vines are torn off and discharged rearward.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The working machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a function of adjusting the vertical position of the wheels with respect to the machine body frame, and also has a function of adjusting the inclination angle of the conveying portion with respect to the machine body frame. By using at least one of these two functions, the height of the conveying portion can be adjusted according to the height of the ridge. However, since the working machine described in Patent Document 1 is self-propelled, it is assumed that the operator observes the state of stem conveyance and interrupts the operation as necessary to adjust the height of the conveying portion. On the other hand, when the working machine is towed by a tractor, since the operator is in the driver's seat of the tractor, the operator cannot observe the state of conveyance and cannot adjust the height of the conveying portion.

[0005] In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to change the height of the conveying portion so as to follow the upper surface of the ridge.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the work machine according to the present invention comprises a machine frame provided on a traveling body that can travel by towing or on its own, a scraping section that scrapes up stems growing in the ridges, and a conveying section that tears off the stems scraped up by the scraping section by gripping and conveying them upward and rearward, wherein the conveying section is connected to the machine frame via a first pivoting shaft whose axis is in the left-right direction, and is capable of pivoting in accordance with the upper surface of the ridges.

[0007] The first pivot shaft may be located behind the scraping portion.

[0008] The transport unit may be equipped with a pair of wheels on the left and right that make contact with the bottom of the ridge.

[0009] The work machine includes a processing unit for processing stems discharged from the rear end of the conveying unit, and the first oscillating shaft may be provided on the rear end side of the conveying unit.

[0010] The aforementioned work machine may be equipped with a diversion section that separates the stems falling from the processing section to the left and right bottoms of the ridges.

[0011] The first swing shaft may be located behind and above the coupling portion to which the wheels of the transport unit are connected.

[0012] The work machine may include a pair of left and right wheel support frames, one end of which supports the wheel and the other end of which is pivotably connected to the connecting part of the conveying section via a second pivot axis whose axis is oriented in the left-right direction, and a pair of left and right fixing members provided on the conveying section for fixing the wheel support frames within a predetermined range of motion.

[0013] The fixing member may have a plurality of holes arranged on an arc centered on the second pivot axis, or an arc-shaped elongated hole centered on the second pivot axis. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the height of the conveying section can be changed to follow the upper surface of the ridge. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] It is a right side view showing a work vehicle and a working machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing a working machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section at the center in the left-right direction of a working machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing a scraping-in part and a first conveying part according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing a second conveying part according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a view showing the arrangement of an idler pulley as viewed in the axial direction according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view of an idler pulley and a conveyor belt in the I-I cross-section of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] It is a view showing a scraping-in conveying part as viewed in the axial direction according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a rear view showing a scraping-in conveying part and a ridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a system diagram showing the mechanism of transmission of driving force according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a side view showing a front wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a perspective view showing a cutting part according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] It is a front view showing a pressing member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] It is a rear view showing a cutting part and a ridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] It is a perspective view showing a flow dividing part according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] It is a rear view showing a flow dividing part and a ridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] The following describes a work machine 3 according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

[0017] First, let's describe the work vehicle 1 and the work implement 3. Figure 1 is a right side view showing the work vehicle 1 and the work implement 3. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the work implement 3. In each figure, U, Lo, L, R, Fr, and Rr indicate top, bottom, left, right, front, and rear, respectively.

[0018] Work vehicle 1 is, for example, a tractor. Work implement 3 processes the stems of crops being cultivated in the field. The field is, for example, a field with ridges formed. The crop is, for example, sweet potato, in which case the stems are sweet potato vines.

[0019] [Work Vehicles] The work vehicle 1 comprises a frame 5, a bonnet 7, a front axle 10, a rear axle 11, a driver's unit 12, a drive source 16, and a transmission 17. The front axle 10 is suspended from the front of the frame 5. The drive source 16 is, for example, an internal combustion engine that uses diesel fuel and is supported by the frame 5 behind the front axle 10. The transmission 17 is supported at the rear end of the frame 5. The transmission 17 includes a PTO (Power Take Off) shaft 18 that distributes driving force to the work implement 3.

[0020] The rear axle 11 is located behind the transmission 17 and is suspended via the transmission 17. Behind the drive unit 16 is the driver's compartment 12. The driver's compartment 12 includes a cabin, driver's seat, steering wheel, etc. In front of the drive unit 16 are the radiator 15, battery 14, and ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 13. The bonnet 7 covers the drive unit 16, radiator 15, battery 14, and ECU 13.

[0021] [Work equipment] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the left-right central part of the implement 3. The implement 3 is connected to the rear of the frame 5 of the work vehicle 1 via a three-point link 5L. The implement 3 comprises a traveling body 20, a scraping and conveying unit 30, a cutting unit 80, and a processing unit 90. The traveling body 20 moves by being towed by the work vehicle 1. The cutting unit 80 cuts the stems growing in the field. The scraping and conveying unit 30 scrapes the stems cut by the cutting unit 80 and conveys them to the processing unit 90. The processing unit 90 crushes the conveyed stems and discharges them into the field.

[0022] [Vehicle] The vehicle 20 comprises a body frame 21, rear wheels 25, and front wheels 26. The body frame 21 comprises a main frame 22 and a front frame 24. The main frame 22 is composed of a pair of left and right beam members with the front-rear direction as its longitudinal direction. The front frame 24 is rectangular in shape and is provided at the front end of the main frame 22. A rear wheel support section 27 is provided below the rear of the main frame 22 to rotatably support the rear wheels 25. The front wheels 26 are provided on the raking and conveying section 30, which will be described later. The rear wheels 25 and front wheels 26 make contact with the bottom of the ridges on the left and right sides of the ridges (the ground surface between adjacent ridges) and roll in conjunction with the towing by the work vehicle 1.

[0023] [Scooping and conveying section] The scraping and conveying unit 30 comprises a scraping unit 33, a first conveying unit 31, a second conveying unit 32, and a conveying frame 34. The first conveying unit 31 and the second conveying unit 32 are examples of conveying units according to the present invention. The scraping unit 33, the first conveying unit 31, and the second conveying unit 32 are attached to the conveying frame 34. A first pivot shaft 35, with its axial direction in the left-right direction, is provided near the connection point between the main frame 22 and the rear wheel support unit 27. The conveying frame 34 is connected to the machine frame 21 via the first pivot shaft 35. The scraping unit 33, the first conveying unit 31, and the second conveying unit 32, together with the conveying frame 34, are pivotable relative to the machine frame 21 about the first pivot shaft 35.

[0024] [Scooping section, first conveying section] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the scraping section 33 and the first conveying section 31. The scraping section 33 and the first conveying section 31 are integrally constructed. The scraping section 33 and the first conveying section 31 are configured symmetrically as a whole. The scraping section 33 and the first conveying section 31 are equipped with one or more pairs (two pairs in this embodiment) of conveying belts 40 facing each other on the left and right sides. The conveying belts 40 may be flat belts, but V-belts (trapezoidal cross-section) or V-belts with protrusions on their outer surface are preferable.

[0025] The following describes the two conveyor belts 40 on the left and the configuration associated with the conveyor belts 40. The two conveyor belts 40 are wrapped around a drive pulley 41 and a driven pulley 42. The drive pulley 41 and the driven pulley 42 have two grooves 43 along the circumferential direction. The two grooves 43 are positioned at different locations in the direction of the pulley axes 41A and 42A. The conveyor belts 40 are wrapped around each of the two grooves 43. In other words, the two conveyor belts 40 are positioned at different locations in the direction of the pulley axes 41A and 42A. A gap is provided between the two conveyor belts 40.

[0026] The drive pulley 41 is positioned behind and above the driven pulley 42. The pulley shafts 41A and 42A of the drive pulley 41 and the driven pulley 42 are inclined forward with respect to the vertical. Between the drive pulley 41 and the driven pulley 42 are two tension pulleys 44 that contact the inner surface of the right portion of the conveyor belt 40, and one tension pulley 45 that contacts the outer surface of the left portion of the conveyor belt 40. The tension pulleys 44 have grooves 43 that run circumferentially, and the conveyor belt 40 is wrapped around the grooves 43. The tension pulleys 44 apply tension to the conveyor belt 40 by causing the right portion of the conveyor belt 40's circumferential trajectory to bulge to the right. The tension pulley 45 applies tension to the conveyor belt 40 by causing the left portion of the conveyor belt 40's circumferential trajectory to recess to the right. Between the two tension pulleys 44 is one or more idler pulleys 46 that guide the conveyor belt 40. The idler pulley 46 has a groove 43 that runs circumferentially, and the conveyor belt 40 is wrapped around the groove 43. In the section between the two tension pulleys 44, the left and right conveyor belts 40 grip and convey the stems. The tension pulleys 44 and the idler pulley 46 are arranged in a straight line.

[0027] Between the front tension pulley 44 and the driven pulley 42, an idler pulley 47 is provided above the upper conveyor belt 40. Between the tension pulley 45 and the driven pulley 42, an idler pulley 47 is provided above the upper conveyor belt 40. The idler pulley 47 has a groove 43 along the circumferential direction. The driven pulley 42 has one additional groove 43 above the two grooves 43 mentioned above. A scraping belt 50 is wrapped around the driven pulley 42 and the two idler pulleys 47. The scraping belt 50 is positioned above the upper conveyor belt 40. The scraping belt 50 may be a flat belt, but a V-belt (trapezoidal cross-section) is preferable. The outer surface of the scraping belt 50 is provided with multiple projections 51 in the longitudinal direction.

[0028] A scraping assist member 52 is provided above the driven pulley 42, coaxial with the driven pulley 42. The scraping assist member 52 is, for example, provided with multiple radially protruding projections 53 at various locations on the circumferential edge of a disc.

[0029] The above describes the two conveyor belts 40 on the left and the configuration attached to them. To the right of this configuration is a configuration that is the reverse of this configuration. The description of the two conveyor belts 40 on the right and the configuration attached to them will be omitted. The two conveyor belts 40 on the left and the two conveyor belts 40 on the right are arranged so that the sections between the two tension pulleys 44 are parallel to each other and facing each other with a gap of a few millimeters between them.

[0030] Of the four conveyor belts 40 (two on each side as described above) and the components attached to the conveyor belts 40, the portion in front of the tension pulleys 44 and 45 is called the scraping section 33, and the portion behind the tension pulleys 44 and 45 is called the first conveyor section 31. In the scraping section 33, the distance between the left and right conveyor belts 40 widens towards the front. Similarly, the distance between the left and right scraping belts 50 widens towards the front. The conveyor belts 40 and scraping belts 50 are examples of scraping members.

[0031] [Second Transport Department] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the second conveying section 32. The second conveying section 32 is equipped with one or more pairs (two pairs in this embodiment) of conveying belts 60 facing each other on the left and right sides. The conveying belts 60 may be flat belts, but V-belts (with a trapezoidal cross-section) are preferable.

[0032] The following describes the two conveyor belts 60 on the left and the configuration associated with the conveyor belts 60. The two conveyor belts 60 are wrapped around a drive pulley 61 and a driven pulley 62. The drive pulley 61 and the driven pulley 62 have two grooves 63 along the circumferential direction. The two grooves 63 are positioned at different locations in the direction of the pulley shafts 61A and 62A. The conveyor belts 60 are wrapped around each of the two grooves 63. In other words, the two conveyor belts 60 are positioned at different locations in the direction of the pulley shafts 61A and 62A. A gap is provided between the two conveyor belts 60.

[0033] The drive pulley 61 is positioned behind and above the driven pulley 62. The pulley shafts 61A and 62A of the drive pulley 61 and the driven pulley 62 are inclined forward with respect to the vertical. Between the drive pulley 61 and the driven pulley 62 is a tension pulley 64 that contacts the inner surface of the right-side portion of the conveyor belt 60. The tension pulley 64 has a groove 63 that runs circumferentially, and the conveyor belt 60 is wrapped around the groove 63. The tension pulley 64 applies tension to the conveyor belt 60 by causing the right-side portion of the conveyor belt's circumferential trajectory to bulge to the right.

[0034] Below the driven pulley 62, a scraping assist member 66 is provided, which is coaxial with the driven pulley 62. The scraping assist member 66 is, for example, a disc with multiple radially protruding projections 67 at various locations on the circumferential edge.

[0035] The above describes the two conveyor belts 60 on the left and the configuration attached to them. To the right of this configuration is a configuration that is the reverse of this configuration. The description of the two conveyor belts 60 on the right and the configuration attached to them will be omitted.

[0036] Figure 6 shows the arrangement of idler pulleys 65 as viewed from the direction of pulley shafts 61A and 62A. Of these, (A) shows idler pulleys 65 in contact with the upper conveyor belt 60, and (B) shows idler pulleys 65 in contact with the lower conveyor belt 60. Idler pulleys 65 are provided at multiple locations between the drive pulley 61 and the tension pulley 64. In both the upper and lower rows, the idler pulleys 65 are arranged in a staggered pattern, with their positions shifted alternately in the left-right direction. Due to this arrangement, the conveyor belt 60 revolves along a path that meanders in the left-right direction. Furthermore, because the idler pulleys 65 are arranged in opposite directions in a staggered pattern in the upper and lower rows, the conveyor belts 60 also meander in opposite directions in the upper and lower rows. In other words, the conveying paths of the pair of conveyor belts 60 in the upper row and the pair of conveyor belts 60 in the lower row are different.

[0037] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the idler pulley 65 and conveyor belt 60 in section II of Figure 6. The idler pulley 65 has a groove 63 along the circumferential direction, and the conveyor belt 60 is wrapped around the groove 63. The upper conveyor belt 60 is pushed relatively to the left by the upper idler pulley 65, and the lower conveyor belt 60 is pushed relatively to the right by the lower idler pulley 65. As a result, a shear force is applied to the stem S that is sandwiched between the upper and lower conveyor belts 60, allowing the stem S to be firmly gripped.

[0038] Figure 8 shows the scraping and conveying section 30 as viewed from the direction of the pulley shafts 41A and 42A. Figure 9 is a rear view showing the scraping and conveying section 30 and the ridge R. The scraping section 33 and the first conveying section 31 are located above the second conveying section 32 (see Figures 3 and 8). The first conveying section 31 and the second conveying section 32 are located behind the scraping section 33 (see Figure 3). The front end of the second conveying section 32 is located behind the front end of the scraping section 33. The rear end of the first conveying section 31 and the rear end of the second conveying section 32 are roughly in the same position in the front-rear direction. The first conveying section 31 and the second conveying section 32 convey the stems S scraped in by the scraping section 33 upward and rearward, and discharge the stems S to the processing section 90 from the rear end. The front ends of the scraping members (conveyor belt 40 and scraping belt 50) are positioned lower than the front ends of the conveying section (first conveying section 31 and second conveying section 32) (see Figures 3 and 8). Also, the spacing between the left and right conveyor belts 40 and the left and right scraping belts 50 in the scraping section 33 is wider towards the front (see Figures 4 and 8). The distance between the front ends of the left and right scraping members is wider than the width of the upper surface E of the ridge R (see Figure 9). Therefore, even if the front end of the conveying section is positioned above the upper surface E of the ridge R, the front ends of the scraping members approach the left and right slopes G of the ridge R, thereby improving the ability to scrape in stems S that hang down from the upper surface E of the ridge R to the left and right slopes G.

[0039] Figure 10 is a system diagram showing the mechanism of power transmission. The work machine 3 is driven by a first power source 100 and a second power source 200. The first power source 100 is the driving force distributed from the drive source 16 of the work vehicle 1 to the gear case 101 via the transmission 17 and PTO shaft 18. The second power source 200 is a motor 201 provided on the work machine 3. The first power source 100 drives the cutting section 80 and the processing section 90. The second power source 200 drives the scraping and conveying section 30.

[0040] The PTO shaft 18 is connected to the gear case 101. The gear case 101 comprises a bevel gear 102 and a drive shaft 103. Sleeves 104, with their longitudinal direction oriented horizontally, are provided on the left and right sides of the gear case 101, and both ends of the sleeves 104 are attached to the front frame 24. The drive shaft 103 is covered by the sleeves 104.

[0041] Motor 201 is, for example, a hydraulic motor and is driven by pressurized oil supplied from a hydraulic pump 202 installed in the work vehicle 1. Motor 201 is located to the right of the right-side drive pulley 41 of the first conveying unit 31. The operating unit 12 is provided with a valve operating unit 203A (see Figure 1) used to operate a valve 203 that adjusts the amount of pressurized oil supplied, and the rotational speed of motor 201 is adjusted by operating the valve 203. Driving force is transmitted from the output shaft of motor 201 to the drive pulley 41 of the first conveying unit 31 and the drive pulley 61 of the second conveying unit 32. Specifically, driving force is transmitted from motor 201 to the right-side drive pulley 41 via belt 41B. Driving force is transmitted from the right-side drive pulley 41 to the left-side drive pulley 41 via a transmission mechanism such as a belt, gear, or chain (not shown). Driving force is transmitted from the right-side drive pulley 41 to the right-side drive pulley 61, and from the left-side drive pulley 41 to the left-side drive pulley 61, respectively, by a transmission mechanism (not shown) such as a belt, gear, or chain.

[0042] [Front wheels] Figure 11 is a side view showing the front wheel 26. The front wheel 26 is connected to the transport frame 34 via a wheel support frame 70 (see Figures 2, 3, and 11). Specifically, one end 70A of the wheel support frame 70 supports the front wheel 26, and the other end 70B is pivotably connected to a joint 34A (see Figures 3 and 11) of the transport frame 34 via a second pivot shaft 71 whose axial direction is in the left-right direction. The joint 34A is the lowest part of the transport frame 34 located below the second transport section 32. A fixing member 72 is provided on the joint 34A of the transport frame 34 and fixes the wheel support frame 70 within a predetermined range of motion. For example, the fixing member 72 has a plurality of holes 73 arranged on an arc centered on the second pivot shaft 71. Female threads are formed in the plurality of holes 73. The wheel support frame 70 has holes 74 whose distance from the second pivot shaft 71 is equal to the plurality of holes 73. The height of the front wheels 26 relative to the transport frame 34 is fixed by fastening a bolt to one of the multiple holes 73 through the hole 74. Alternatively, instead of the multiple holes 73, an arc-shaped elongated hole centered on the second pivot axis 71 may be provided.

[0043] [Cutting part] Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the left cutting section 80. Figure 13 is a front view showing the pressing member 85. Figure 14 is a rear view showing the cutting section 80 and the ridge R. The front of the implement 3 is provided with a pair of cutting sections 80, one on the left and one on the right. The cutting sections 80 cut the stems S that grow between adjacent ridges R. The cutting sections 80 are located in front of the scraping section 33 (see Figure 3). The cutting sections 80 are located outside the machine frame 21 in the left-right direction (see Figure 2). In order to cut the stems S that grow between adjacent ridges R, it is desirable that the cutting sections 80 be located near the bottom of the ridge F (see Figure 14). Also, if the ridge R is covered with a mulch sheet (see illustration), it is desirable that the cutting sections 80 be located near the bottom of the ridge F in order to prevent contact between the mulch sheet and the cutting sections 80. Generally, the standard width of the ridges (R) in sweet potato fields is considered to be between 75 cm and 100 cm; therefore, the spacing between the left and right cut sections (80) should ideally be between 75 cm and 100 cm.

[0044] The cutting section 80 includes, for example, a circular rotating blade 84. The cutting section 80 is supported by one end 81A of a support member 81 (see Figures 1, 3, and 12) (the support member 81 is omitted in Figure 2). The other end 81B of the support member 81 is connected to the machine frame 21 via a third pivot shaft 82 (see Figure 3) whose axial direction is in the left-right direction. The left and right support members 81 can each pivot independently. Driving force is transmitted to the cutting section 80 from the drive shaft 103 via a transmission section 83 (see Figures 2, 3, and 10). The transmission section 83 includes a drive pulley 83A provided on the drive shaft 103, a driven pulley 83B provided on the shaft of the rotating blade 84, and a belt 83C wrapped around the drive pulley 83A and the driven pulley 83B. The center of the drive shaft 103 and the center of the third pivot shaft 82 coincide. Therefore, even if the support member 81 swings, the distance from the drive shaft 103 to the cutting portion 80 does not change.

[0045] The support member 81 is formed in a box shape and also serves to surround the transmission section 83. The thickness in the left-right direction of one end 81A (cutting section 80 side) of the support member 81 is thinner than that of the other end 81B (drive shaft 103 side) (see Figure 12). The rotating blade 84 has multiple blades 84A, 84B with different protrusion amounts. For example, in the example in Figure 12, eight large blades 84A are provided in the circumferential direction, and each of the large blades 84A has three small blades 84B. Note that the form of the rotating blade 84 according to the present invention is not limited to that shown, and any form of grass-cutting rotating blade (for example, one in which multiple blades 84A are of uniform size) is also acceptable.

[0046] A pressing member 85 for holding down the stem S is provided above the cutting section 80. The pressing member 85 is located in front of the support member 81. In the example shown in Figure 12, the pressing member 85 protrudes forward and upward from the front of the support member 81 and near the top of the rotating blade 84. The pressing member 85 (see Figure 13) is U-shaped, with one end welded to a bracket 85A, and the bracket 85A is fastened to the end 81A side of the support member 81 by a bolt and nut 85B. The pressing member 85 straddles the rotating blade 84 in the left-right direction. The divider 86 is positioned closer to the left-right center of the work machine 3 than the rotating blade 84, and its rear end is connected to the main frame 22. The front end of the divider 86 protrudes forward and downward more than its rear end.

[0047] [Processing] The processing unit 90 (see Figures 1 to 3, 10) is, for example, a flail mower. The processing unit 90 comprises a driven shaft 91 and a plurality of hammer knives 92 projecting radially from the driven shaft 91. Driving force is transmitted to the processing unit 90 from the drive shaft 103 via a transmission unit 94. The transmission unit 94 comprises a drive pulley 94A provided at the left end of the drive shaft 103, a driven pulley 94B provided at the left end of the driven shaft 91, and a belt 94C wrapped around the drive pulley 94A and the driven pulley 94B. The transmission unit 94 is located to the left of the scraping and conveying unit 30. The transmission unit 94 is surrounded by a cover 95 (see Figure 1).

[0048] Figure 15 is a perspective view showing the diversion section 93. Figure 16 is a rear view showing the diversion section 93 and the ridge R. The processing unit 90 is surrounded by a cover 96 (see Figures 2, 3, and 15) attached to the main frame 22. Below the driven shaft 91, the diversion section 93 is provided (see Figures 15 and 16). The diversion section 93 is joined to a bracket 93A by welding or the like, and the bracket 93A is attached to a connecting frame 27A that connects the left and right rear wheel support sections 27 using bolts and nuts 93B or the like. The upper surface of the diversion section 93 is inclined such that the left and right ends are lower than the center in the left-right direction. When the left and right rear wheels 25 and front wheels 26 of the implement 3 are located at the bottom of the ridge F, the left and right ends of the diversion section 93 are located above the left and right bottom of the ridge F or the slope G of the ridge R, respectively (see Figure 16). The stems S supplied to the processing unit 90 are crushed by the hammer knife 92 and fall into the flow division unit 93. The fallen stems S slide down from side to side along the upper surface of the flow division unit 93 and fall into the bottom of the ridges F on the left and right.

[0049] Below the conveying frame 34, a pressing roller 36 (see Figure 3) is provided. The pressing rollers 36 are arranged in pairs, left and right. Figure 3 shows the right pressing roller 36. The right pressing roller 36 is inclined so that its right end is lower than its left end. The left pressing roller 36 is inclined so that its left end is lower than its right end. The pressing rollers 36 contact the ridge R and roll as the implement 3 moves. The pressing rollers 36 hold down the sweet potatoes embedded in the ridge R, preventing them from being pulled out of the ridge R. The pressing rollers 36 may also be installed horizontally.

[0050] The implement 3 according to this embodiment described above comprises a machine frame 21 provided on a traveling body 20 that can travel by towing or under its own power, a scraping section 33 that scrapes up stems S growing in the ridge R, and a conveying section (first conveying section 31, second conveying section 32) that tears off the stems S scraped up by the scraping section 33 by gripping and conveying them upward and rearward. The conveying section is connected to the machine frame 21 via a first swing shaft 35 whose axis is oriented in the left-right direction, and is capable of swinging in accordance with the upper surface E of the ridge R. According to this embodiment, the height of the conveying section can be changed in accordance with the upper surface E of the ridge R. Since height adjustment work is unnecessary, the burden on the worker can be reduced. Since observation of the conveying state is unnecessary, it can also be applied when the implement 3 is towed by a tractor.

[0051] Furthermore, according to the work machine 3 of this embodiment, the first swing shaft 35 is located behind the scraping section 33. According to this embodiment, when the height of the scraping section 33 changes in accordance with the upper surface E of the ridge R, the change in the inclination angle of the conveying section (first conveying section 31, second conveying section 32) is suppressed, thereby stabilizing the conveying of the stem S by the conveying section.

[0052] Furthermore, according to the work machine 3 of this embodiment, the conveying section (first conveying section 31, second conveying section 32) is equipped with a pair of left and right wheels (front wheels 26) that make contact with the bottom of the ridge F. According to this embodiment, since the conveying section swings in accordance with the up and down movement of the wheels, the height of the conveying section can be changed to follow the bottom of the ridge F.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the work machine 3 of this embodiment, a processing unit 90 is provided for processing the stems S discharged from the rear end of the conveying unit (first conveying unit 31, second conveying unit 32), and the first swing shaft 35 is provided on the rear end side of the conveying unit. The stems S conveyed by the conveying unit are sent from the rear end of the conveying unit to the processing unit 90, but according to this embodiment, since the first swing shaft 35 is provided on the rear end side of the conveying unit, even if the conveying unit swings, changes in the position of the rear end of the conveying unit are suppressed, and the stems can be smoothly sent from the conveying unit to the processing unit 90.

[0054] Furthermore, the implement 3 according to this embodiment includes a diversion unit 93 that diverts the stems S falling from the processing unit 90 to the left and right ridge bottoms F. According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the stems S discharged from the implement 3 from accumulating on the ridges R.

[0055] Furthermore, according to the work machine 3 of this embodiment, the first swing shaft 35 is provided behind and above the coupling portion 34A to which the wheels (front wheels 26) of the conveying section (first conveying section 31, second conveying section 32) are coupled. According to this embodiment, the swingable range of the conveying section is increased, which improves the ability of the conveying section to follow the ridge R.

[0056] Furthermore, according to the implement 3 of this embodiment, the implement 3 includes a pair of left and right wheel support frames 70, one end 70A of which supports the wheel (front wheel 26), and the other end 70B of which is pivotably connected to the connecting part 34A of the conveying part (first conveying part 31, second conveying part 32) via a second pivoting shaft 71 whose axis is oriented in the left-right direction, and a pair of left and right fixing members 72 provided on the conveying part which fix the wheel support frames 70 within a predetermined pivoting range. According to this embodiment, since the height of the wheel relative to the machine frame 21 is adjustable, the height of the conveying part relative to the ridge R can be adjusted to an appropriate height.

[0057] Furthermore, according to the work machine 3 of this embodiment, the fixing member 72 has a plurality of holes 73 arranged on an arc centered on the second pivot axis 71, or an arc-shaped elongated hole centered on the second pivot axis 71. According to this embodiment, by fastening the wheel support frame 70 to the holes 73 or elongated hole using bolts or the like, the height of the conveying section (first conveying section 31, second conveying section 32) relative to the ridge R can be adjusted to an appropriate height.

[0058] The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0059] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the work machine 3 is towed by the work vehicle 1, but the work machine 3 may also be self-propelled. In that case, the work machine 3 is equipped with a prime mover that drives the wheels, and the processing unit and cutting unit are driven by the driving force distributed from the prime mover via the PTO shaft.

[0060] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the first conveying unit 31 is equipped with two pairs of conveying belts 40, but the first conveying unit 31 may be equipped with three or more pairs of conveying belts 40. The same applies to the second conveying unit 32. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 3. Work equipment 20 Running bodies 21 Aircraft Frame 26 Front wheels (wheels) 31. First Conveyor Unit (Conveyor Unit) 32. Second Conveyor Unit (Conveyor Unit) 33 Scrap section 34A joint 35. First pivot axis 70 Wheel support frame 70A One end 70B Other end 71 Second pivot axis 72 Fixing member 73 holes 90 Processing Unit 93 Diversion section E Top surface F ridge bottom R ridge S Stem

Claims

1. A machine frame provided on a vehicle capable of being towed or self-propelled, The part that scrapes in the stems growing in the furrows, The system includes a conveying section that grips and conveys the stems scraped in by the scraping section upward and backward, thereby tearing off the stems. The conveying unit is connected to the machine frame via a first pivot shaft with its axial direction in the left-right direction, and is a working machine that can pivot in accordance with the upper surface of the ridge.

2. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the first pivoting shaft is provided behind the scraping portion.

3. The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveying section is provided with a pair of left and right wheels that make contact with the bottom of the ridge.

4. The system includes a processing unit for handling stems discharged from the rear end of the conveying unit, The work machine according to claim 1, wherein the first pivoting shaft is provided on the rear end side of the conveying section.

5. The work machine according to claim 4, further comprising a diversion section for diverting stems falling from the processing section to the left and right bottoms of the ridges.

6. The work machine according to claim 3, wherein the first oscillating shaft is provided behind and above the coupling portion to which the wheels of the conveying section are coupled.

7. A pair of left and right wheel support frames, one end of which supports the wheel, and the other end of which is pivotably connected to the connecting part of the transport section via a second pivot axis whose axis is oriented in the left-right direction, The work machine according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of left and right fixing members provided in the conveying section for fixing the wheel support frame within a predetermined swing range.

8. The work machine according to claim 7, wherein the fixing member has a plurality of holes arranged on an arc centered on the second pivot axis or an arc-shaped elongated hole centered on the second pivot axis.

Images