Agricultural machinery

Abstract

To provide an agricultural machine that can prevent the loss of the towing coupling. [Solution] The agricultural implement 1 is equipped with a body 2 that can be fixed in a predetermined position, and a towing coupling 3 is provided on this body 2 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, which is connected to a tractor, which is a towing vehicle. When the towing coupling 3 moves forward, it protrudes forward from the body 2 and enters an operational state, and when it moves backward, it is stored in the body 2 and enters an operational state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to agricultural working machines.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, an agricultural working machine described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

[0003] This conventional agricultural working machine can be towed using a towing vehicle such as a tractor, and includes a machine body having a table and a towing connector (towing tool) connected to the towing vehicle. The towing connector is detachably attached to the front end of the table of the machine body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above conventional agricultural working machine, when the towing connector is not in use, there is a risk of losing the towing connector removed from the front end of the table of the machine body due to, for example, poor management by the operator.

[0006] Therefore, one of the problems of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an agricultural working machine capable of preventing the loss of the towing connector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The agricultural working machine according to the embodiments of the present invention is a stationary agricultural working machine that can be towed using a towing vehicle, and includes a machine body and a towing connector provided on the machine body and connected to the towing vehicle. The towing connector can be changed between a use state and a non-use state.

[0008] Furthermore, an agricultural implement according to an embodiment of the present invention is an agricultural implement that can be towed using a towing vehicle, comprising a machine body and a towing coupling body that is movably provided on the machine body and connected to the towing vehicle, wherein the towing coupling body is in a state of use, protruding from the machine body when moved in one direction, and in a state of non-use, being stored in the machine body when moved in the other direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to embodiments of the present invention, the loss of the towing connector can be prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a partially cutaway side view showing an agricultural machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the same agricultural machine. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the same agricultural machine (in towing position). [Figure 4] A partial side view of the same agricultural machine. [Figure 5] This is a partial perspective view of the same agricultural machine (in the towing position). [Figure 6] A perspective view showing the side cover of the same agricultural machine. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the towing connector for the same agricultural machinery. [Figure 8] (a) is a side view showing the towing coupling in an unused state, and (b) is a side view showing the towing coupling in an operational state. [Figure 9] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 8(a). [Figure 10] This is a partial side view showing the same agricultural machinery being towed by a tractor (tow vehicle). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] In Figures 1 to 3, 1 is an agricultural machine, and this agricultural machine 1 is a large onion processing machine used to perform predetermined agricultural work (processing) on ​​an onion T, which is a crop.

[0013] In other words, the agricultural machine 1 is a stationary type that can cut the long, unnecessary stems and leaves of the ground-dried onions T while it is placed (installed) at a predetermined position (such as near a field) on a mounting surface S such as the ground.

[0014] Furthermore, the agricultural implement 1 can be changed from the working state shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the towing state shown in Figure 3, and then towed using the tractor 5, which is the towing vehicle. That is, for example, as shown in Figure 10, the agricultural implement 1 in the towing state is towed by the forward movement of the tractor 5 with the lower link 7 of the three-point link section (agricultural implement lifting support section) 6 at the rear of the tractor 5 connected to the towing coupling body 3.

[0015] The agricultural implement 1 is equipped with a longitudinally elongated body 2 that can be fixed in a predetermined position on the mounting surface S. A towing coupling 3 is provided on the front side of the body 2 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, and is detachably connected to a pair of left and right lower links (connecting parts) 7 of the 3-point linkage section 6 of the tractor 5. Details of this towing coupling 3 will be described later. On the other hand, a pair of left and right wheels 4 are provided on the rear side of the body 2 so as to be able to easily move the agricultural implement 1 on the mounting surface S when towed by the tractor 5.

[0016] In addition, the agricultural working machine 1 includes a supply container support 11 which is a rotatable support in the vertical direction for detachably supporting a supply container K1 which is a crop storage body storing onions (pre-treatment crops) T having foliage parts, a drive part 12 for rotating the supply container support 11 in the vertical direction with respect to the machine body 2, a conveying and cutting part 13 for conveying the onions T having foliage parts supplied from the supply container K1 based on the upward rotation by the drive part 12 and cutting off unnecessary foliage parts of the onions T during the conveying process, a sorting part 14 for sorting the onions (post-treatment crops) T from the conveying and cutting part 13, and a discharging part 15 for discharging unnecessary discharges (cut foliage parts, small stones, soil clods, etc.).

[0017] Furthermore, the agricultural working machine 1 includes a pair of left and right rotatable supports in the vertical direction for detachably supporting a good product container K2 which is a crop storage body into which the selected onions (good products) T within the specified standard are input and stored, and a pair of left and right drive parts 17 for rotating the good product container support 16 in the vertical direction with respect to the machine body 2.

[0018] Note that the onions (defective products) T outside the standard are input and stored in a defective product container K3 which is a crop storage body directly placed on the placement surface S. Each of the containers K1, K2, K3 is, for example, a mesh container having an outer rectangular parallelepiped shape with an upper surface opening. Each of the drive parts 12, 17 is composed of, for example, hydraulic cylinders (drive sources) 12a, 17a which are opposed to each other with a gap therebetween. An outrigger 18 for adjusting the posture of the agricultural working machine 1 during operation and preventing the agricultural working machine 1 from tipping over is provided on each of the good product container supports 16 so that its vertical position can be adjusted.

[0019] Furthermore, the agricultural machine 1 includes a plurality (for example, two) of detection units 21, 22 for detecting the quantity of onions T, a detection unit 23 that switches between a detection state and a non-detection state depending on the position of the supply container support 11, a plurality (for example, four) of operation units operated by an operator, namely a first operation unit 26, a pair of second operation units 27 on the left and right, and a remote operation unit 28, and a control unit 30 that appropriately controls the drive targets (hydraulic cylinders 12a, 17a of the drive units 12, 17, as well as the drive source of the transport cutting unit 13, the drive source of the sorting unit 14, etc.) based on signals (information) from these detection units 21, 22, 23 and operation units 26, 27, 28, etc.

[0020] The first control unit (central control unit) 26 is operated by sorting workers. The second control units (left control unit, right control unit) 27 on the left and right sides are operated by workers located near both sides of the machine 2. The remote control unit 28 is operated by container handling workers, etc., riding on a forklift.

[0021] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the supply container support 11 is mounted on the upper ends of the elongated front vertical frame portions 32 located on both the left and right sides of the front end of the main frame 31 of the machine body 2, so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around a left-right axis portion 33. In other words, the supply container support 11 is mounted on the upper side of the front end of the machine body 2 so as to be rotatable (movable up and down) in the vertical direction around a left-right rotation axis L.

[0022] Furthermore, the supply container support 11 is equipped with a rod-shaped center marker 34, which serves as a visual indicator of the machine's left and right center, visible to container handling operators on forklifts and towing operators on tractors. The supply container K1, supported by the supply container support 11, is prevented from falling from the supply container support 11 by contact with the container receiving body 35.

[0023] Furthermore, the hydraulic cylinder 12a of the drive unit 12, which rotates (lifts and lowers) the supply container support 11 vertically around the shaft portion (rotation center axis L) 33, has a cylinder body portion 36 and a rod portion 37 that moves in and out of the cylinder body portion 36. The base end of the cylinder body portion 36 is rotatably attached to the cylinder mounting portion 38 of the machine body 2, and the tip of the rod portion 37 is rotatably attached to the cylinder mounting portion 39 of the supply container support 11.

[0024] The supply unit 40 is configured to feed the unprocessed onions (onions with stems and leaves) T from the supply container K1 to the transport and cutting unit 13, using a supply container support (supply container mounting body) 11 on which the supply container K1 is detachably mounted, and a drive unit 12 that raises and lowers the supply container support 11.

[0025] Here, as shown in Figure 5, the supply container support 11 has a rotating frame portion 111 that is mounted between the upper ends of a pair of left and right front end vertical frame portions 32 of the machine body 2 so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis L, and the upper ends of a pair of left and right vertical frame portions 112 that are longitudinal in the vertical direction are fixed to this rotating frame portion 111 by welding or the like.

[0026] At the lower ends of both vertical frame sections 112, a container support section (a supply stage on which the bottom of the supply container K1 is placed), which is a roughly plate-shaped support section that supports the bottom of the supply container K1, is attached so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction around a left-right axis section 114.

[0027] The container support section 113 then rotates upward relative to the vertical frame section 112 to enter a vertically folded state (unfolded state), and rotates downward relative to the vertical frame section 112 to enter a horizontally unfolded state (unfolded state) (see Figures 8(a) and 8(b)).

[0028] The folded container support section 113 is maintained in the folded state by a stopper mechanism (not shown), while the unfolded container support section 113 is maintained in the unfolded state by a pin member 115 being removably inserted into pin holes 116 and 117. Furthermore, below the support plate 113a of the folded container support section 113, there is a space 120 of a predetermined size through which the towing connector 3 can pass. In other words, as shown in Figure 5, when the container support section 113 is in the folded state, the towing connector 3 can pass through the space 120 and protrude forward of the folded container support section 113 (usage state).

[0029] Furthermore, the good product container support 16, like the supply container support 11, has a container support section (product stage on which the bottom of the good product container K2 is placed) 16a that can be changed between an unfolded state and a folded state by vertical rotation.

[0030] The transport and cutting section 13 has a storage and transport conveyor (corrugated conveyor) 41 on its front end, which is the transport starting end, for storing and transporting onions T from the supply container K1.

[0031] Furthermore, the conveying and cutting section 13 includes, in order from front to rear, a conveying chute 42, a stone removal roller 43, a lifting conveyor 44, a vibrating screen 45, a cutting conveyor 47 (a first cutting means for cutting downward-facing stems and leaves) with a cutter 46 for cutting stems and leaves, a tapping conveyor 48 (a second cutting means for cutting stems and leaves not cut by the first cutting means), and a lift conveyor 49.

[0032] The cutting conveyor (cutting unit) 47 is a unit-shaped device having multiple orientation-changing rollers 47a that change the orientation of the onions T so that the stems and leaves face downwards while conveying the onions T. Similarly, the tapping conveyor (tapping unit) 48 is a unit-shaped device having multiple stem and leaf cutting rollers 48a that cut the stems and leaves of the onions T while conveying them.

[0033] Above the storage and transport conveyor 41, a detection unit (a non-contact sensor such as a distance sensor) 21 is positioned to detect the amount of onions T on the storage and transport conveyor 41, and the control unit 30 controls the vertical movement (driving) and stopping of the supply container support 11 based on the detection signal from this detection unit 21. Similarly, above the transport chute 42, a detection unit (a non-contact sensor such as a distance sensor) 22 is positioned to detect the amount of onions T on the transport chute 42, and the control unit 30 controls the rotation (driving) and stopping of the storage and transport conveyor 41 based on the detection signal from this detection unit 22.

[0034] Then, in the transport and cutting section 13, the onions T, which have been unloaded from the storage and transport conveyor 41 and placed on the downward-sloping transport chute 42, are sequentially transported by the stone removal roller 43, the lifting conveyor 44, and the vibrating screen 45, during which time unwanted foreign matter such as pebbles and small clumps of soil are removed.

[0035] Subsequently, the onions T, which still have stems and leaves, are sequentially transported by a cutting conveyor 47 and a tapping conveyor 48, during which time any unnecessary stems and leaves are cut off. The onions T, with their stems and leaves removed, are then lifted and transported by a lift conveyor 49 and supplied to the sorting section 14 for sorting in the next process.

[0036] The waste material, including stems and leaves cut by the transport and cutting section 13, is transported to the rear and discharged by a discharge section 15 located at the bottom of the machine body 2, and stored, for example, in a waste container (not shown). The discharge section 15 has a rotatable discharge section 51 at its rear end that can be changed between an extended and folded state, and this rotatable discharge section 51 can be rotated vertically by operating the handle of a hand-wound winch 52. A locking body 53 is attached to the rotatable discharge section 51 to maintain it in an upright folded state.

[0037] The sorting unit 14 has a small onion removal roller 61 and a sorting conveyor 62 for transporting the onions T that have been unloaded from the lift conveyor 49 of the transport and cutting unit 13. A sorting worker, who has stepped from the stairs 63 onto the floor 64, performs the sorting work on the onions T on the sorting conveyor 62. Handrails 65 are erected on the floor 64 located on both the left and right sides of the machine body 2.

[0038] As a result of the sorting work performed by the sorting workers on the floor section 64, the onions T that meet the specifications and are deemed good quality are stored in the good quality container K2 on the good quality container support 16, after passing through the sorting chute 66, slide conveyor 67, and final chute 68.

[0039] The slide conveyor 67 has a conveying body 58 with multiple protrusions 57. This conveying body 58 conveys onions T that meet the specifications toward the good product container K2 on the left side by rotating in one direction, and conveys onions T that meet the specifications toward the good product container K2 on the right side by rotating in the other direction.

[0040] Furthermore, a frame-shaped spill prevention body 69 and a plate-shaped partition body 70 are provided on the upper part of the machine body 2 to prevent onions T within the standard size from spilling out. The spill prevention body 69 can be changed between an extended state and a folded state by rotating up and down. The final chute 68 can also be changed between an extended state and a folded state by rotating up and down, and a sheet 60 is attached to the tip of this final chute 68.

[0041] On the other hand, the non-standard onions T, which are deemed defective, are stored in the defective product container K3 on the mounting surface S, via the discharge duct 71, the discharge conveyor 73 with a top cover 72, and the discharge chute 74. The discharge chute 74, like the final chute 68, can be changed between an extended and folded state by rotating up and down.

[0042] Small, non-standard onions T that fall through the gaps in the small onion removal roller 61 are stored in the defective product container K3 via the small onion discharge chute 75. This small onion discharge chute 75 can also be changed between an extended and folded state by rotating up and down.

[0043] Furthermore, a separation frame 76 is provided on the sorting conveyor 62. Unprocessed onions (good quality) T whose stems and leaves were not cut in the transport and cutting section 13 of the previous process are sorted by the sorting worker and separated into the separation frame 76. These unprocessed onions T are then returned to the upper end of the lifting conveyor 44 via the return chute 77, and are sequentially transported again by the cutting conveyor 47 and the tapping conveyor 48, where their stems and leaves are cut.

[0044] On the other hand, the agricultural machine 1 is equipped with a release unit (stem and leaf separator) 80 that releases entanglement between the stems and leaves of multiple onions T when the onions T are being transported by the storage and transport conveyor 41 of the transport and cutting unit 13 (when the onions T are being moved) and separates the entangled stems and leaves.

[0045] First, the storage and transport conveyor (storage and transport section) 41 has a transport belt 81, which is a rotatable, endless transport body for temporarily storing and transporting onions T with stems and leaves. This transport belt 81 is stretched over a plurality of rotating sprockets 82. When the transport belt 81 rotates (runs) in a predetermined direction based on power from a drive source (not shown), the unprocessed onions T on the transport belt 81 are transported in the transport direction.

[0046] Furthermore, the unprocessed onions T supplied from the supply container K1 are temporarily stored on the conveyor belt 81. In other words, a pair of opposing plates 84 are positioned on both the left and right sides of the storage conveyor 41, spaced apart from each other, and a regulating plate 85 is positioned at the front end of the storage conveyor 41.

[0047] The left and right opposing plates 84 each have inclined plate sections 86 that form a roughly V-shape in plan view, and the distance between these left and right inclined plate sections 86 gradually decreases toward the rear (conveying direction). A cushioning resin plate (cushioning member) 87 is attached to the inner surface of each inclined plate section 86, and an opening and closing door 88 for access during maintenance, etc., is rotatably attached to the rear end of the inclined plate section 86.

[0048] Furthermore, the conveyor belt 81 has a conveying surface 91 on its upper, forward-facing side that conveys the onions T in the conveying direction. The conveying surface 91 is composed of, for example, a first conveying surface 92 which is an upward-sloping conveying surface toward the conveying direction, and a second conveying surface 93 which is connected to the conveying end of the first conveying surface 92 and is a downward-sloping conveying surface toward the conveying direction. In other words, the conveying surface 91 is roughly V-shaped when viewed from the side.

[0049] The release body 80 is positioned above the conveyor belt 81 of the storage and conveying conveyor 41. More specifically, the release body 80 is positioned, for example, above the end end of the first conveying surface 92 of the conveying surface portion 91 on the conveyor belt 81 of the storage and conveying conveyor 41. The release body 80 is also positioned near the rear ends of both the left and right inclined plate portions 86 (see Figure 2).

[0050] The release body 80 has a long member 101 that is longitudinal in the left-right direction, and a plurality (for example, three) of vertically longitudinal release members 102 that are detachably attached to the long member 101 by the attachment means 100 and are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction (a direction perpendicular to the transport direction in a plan view).

[0051] As shown in Figure 6, a side cover body 123, which can be opened and closed, is attached to the cover mounting portion 121 of the machine body 2 so as to be rotatable vertically around a shaft portion 122 in the front-rear direction, covering the upper side portions of the cutting conveyor 47 and the tapping conveyor 48.

[0052] The side cover body 123 is composed of, for example, a frame member 124 and a translucent sheet member 126 attached to the frame member 124 with a plurality of cable ties 125.

[0053] The side cover body (safety cover) 123 opens when rotated upward relative to the aircraft body 2 and closes when rotated downward relative to the aircraft body 2, and these states are maintained by a gas spring 127, which is a biasing element that biases the side cover body 123.

[0054] Furthermore, when the side cover body 123 is rotated downward to the closed position, a safety limit switch 128 is turned ON, and the transport cutting unit 13 is driven only when this limit switch 128 is ON.

[0055] Therefore, for example, if an operator rotates the side cover body 123 upward to open it while the conveying and cutting unit 13 is working (during stem and leaf cutting), the limit switch 128 will turn off, stopping the drive of the conveying and cutting unit 13 (for example, the drive of at least the cutting conveyor 47 and the tapping conveyor 48), thereby ensuring the safety of the operator.

[0056] On the other hand, the agricultural implement 1 is equipped with a movable towing coupling 3 that is detachably connected to a tractor 5, which is a towing vehicle, when moving the agricultural implement 1 from a predetermined position for stationary work to another position.

[0057] The towing connector (towing device) 3 can be selectively changed between an in-use state and an in-use state by moving it without being removed from the aircraft body 2. For example, as shown in Figures 7 to 10, it is held in a manner that allows it to move in the front-rear direction by a connector holder 131 fixed to the main frame 31 of the aircraft body 2.

[0058] When the towing coupling 3 moves forward, which is one direction relative to the coupling holding part 131 of the machine body 2, at least half of it, including the front end, protrudes forward from the front end of the machine body 2, resulting in a usable state (a protruding state that can be coupled with the tractor 5). When the towing coupling 3 moves backward, which is the other direction relative to the coupling holding part 131 of the machine body 2, it returns to an unused state (a stored state in which it is housed inside the machine body 2), with almost the entire coupling 3 except for the front end being housed inside the machine body 2.

[0059] In other words, the longitudinally oriented towing connector 3 can be selectively changed between an in-use state and an in-use state by, for example, manual movement (sliding, etc.) of the machine body 2 relative to the connector holding part 131 based on the operator's power.

[0060] As shown in Figure 8(a), in a side view (side cross-sectional view) during stationary operation, the front end of the unused towing connector 3, which is in the stored state, is located in front of the front end (front) of the front vertical frame portion 32 of the machine body 2, but behind the front end (front) of the vertical frame portion 112 of the supply conveyor support 11, which is positioned at a predetermined lower limit position. Therefore, the unused towing connector 3 does not interfere with the supply container K1 placed on the deployed container support portion 113.

[0061] For example, although not shown in the diagram, the front end of the towing connector 3 when not in use may be positioned behind the front end of the front vertical frame portion 32 of the aircraft body 2 (front end of the aircraft body) so that the entire towing connector 3 is stored inside the aircraft body 2 when not in use.

[0062] The connecting body holding section 131 has a holding frame 132 that is roughly U-shaped and opens downward, through which the towing connecting body 3 is movably inserted; a pair of left and right front protruding plates 133 projecting forward from the front end of the holding frame 132; a pair of left and right rear protruding plates 134 projecting rearward from the rear end of the holding frame 132; and a plurality of rotatable (driven-rotatable) guide pins 135 (135a, 135b), which are, for example, two parallel front and rear rotating members, that support and guide the lower surface of the towing connecting body 3.

[0063] The front guide pin 135 (135a) is rotatably mounted between the two opposing plate portions 141 of the retaining frame 132, and the rear guide pin 135 (135b) is rotatably mounted between the two rear protruding plates 134. E-type retaining rings 136, which are retaining members, are attached to both axial ends of each of the round-shaft guide pins 135, which rotate in accordance with the movement of the traction coupling 3.

[0064] The retaining frame 132 has a pair of opposing plate portions 141 that are spaced apart from each other, a connecting plate portion 142 that connects the upper ends of these two opposing plate portions 141, a front end flange portion 143 located at the front end of the retaining frame 132, and a rear end flange portion 144 located at the rear end of the retaining frame 132.

[0065] The illustrated retaining frame 132 is constructed by welding together two members having a roughly L-shaped cross-section, but it is not limited to this configuration; for example, it may be constructed from a single U-shaped frame member.

[0066] Furthermore, the forward projection plate 133 has a pin hole 146 into which a pin member 145 is detachably inserted. By detachably inserting the pin member 145 into the pin hole 146 of the forward projection plate 133 and the first pin hole (hole for unused state) 151 of the towing connector 3, the towing connector 3 is positioned in the unused state and maintained in the unused state (see Figure 8(a)).

[0067] On the other hand, the pin member 145 is removably inserted into the pin hole 146 of the forward projection plate 133 and the second pin hole (hole for use) 152 of the towing connector 3, thereby positioning the towing connector 3 in a protruding, use-state position and maintaining it in use (see Figure 8(b)).

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8(b), when the towing connector 3 is moved forward from the unused position (storage position, which is the unused position) to the usage position (usage position), the pin member 149 inserted into the pin hole 148 at the rear end of the towing connector 3 comes into contact with the pin contact portion 150 of the rear projection plate 134. Therefore, this contact restricts the forward movement of the towing connector 3, preventing the towing connector 3 from coming out forward.

[0069] Furthermore, an E-type retaining ring 155, which is a retaining member, is attached to the portion of the pin member 149 that is located inside the long member 156 of the towing coupling body 3, and this pin member 149 is prevented from coming off inside the long member 156.

[0070] The towing connector 3 has a longitudinal member 156 in the front-rear direction and a longitudinal connecting member 157 in the left-right direction that is detachably attached to the front end of the longitudinal member 156 by an attachment means 158 and detachably connected to a pair of left and right lower links 7 of the three-point link section 6 of the tractor 5, which is the towing vehicle, when towing.

[0071] The mounting means 158 consists of, for example, a mounting pin 159 which is a pin member, and an R-pin 160 which is a retaining member that can be inserted into and removed from the tip hole 159a of the mounting pin 159.

[0072] The mounting pin 159 is removably inserted into the pin hole 161 at the front end of the elongated member 156 and the pin hole 162 in the left-right center of the connecting member 157, and the R pin 160 is removably inserted into the tip hole 159a of the inserted mounting pin 159, thereby enabling the connecting member 157 to be removably attached to the front end of the elongated member 156 (see Figure 7).

[0073] Furthermore, the connecting member 157 attached to the front end of the elongated member 156 is rotatable in the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) relative to the elongated member 156, with respect to the vertical pin portion (shaft portion) 159b of the mounting pin 159.

[0074] Furthermore, the rotation of the connecting member 157 relative to the long member 156 is restricted by contact between the connecting member 157 and the front end of the forward projection plate 133 of the connecting member holding part 131 when the towing coupling body 3 is not in use (stored state), but when the towing coupling body 3 is in use, the rotation is restricted by contact between the connecting member 157 and the front end of the long part (pipe part) 163 of the long member 156. The range of rotation of the connecting member 157 relative to the long member 156 is wider when in use than when not in use, and in this use state, for example, it can rotate approximately 55 degrees to the left and right, so that the agricultural implement 1 can easily follow the movement trajectory of the tractor 5 when towing.

[0075] The elongated member (traction rod) 156 has an elongated rectangular tube-shaped elongated section (pipe section) 163 with a square cross-section, and a protruding section 164 that extends forward from the front end of the elongated section 163.

[0076] The elongated section 163 has an upper plate 165, a lower plate 166, and left and right side plates 167, with reinforcing plates 168 fixed to the outer surface of each of these side plates 167. Furthermore, with the lower plate 166 of the elongated section 163 resting on the guide pin 135, there is a small gap (for example, approximately 1 mm) 169 between the upper surface of the upper plate 165 of the elongated section 163 and the lower surface of the connecting plate portion 142 of the holding frame 132 of the connecting body holding section 131 (see Figure 9).

[0077] For example, although not shown in the diagram, there may be no gap 169 between the two, and the upper surface of the upper plate 165 of the elongated portion 163 may be in slidable contact with the lower surface of the connecting plate portion 142.

[0078] The protruding portion 164 has a pair of upper and lower opposing plates 171 that are spaced apart from each other, and a connecting plate 172 that connects these two opposing plates 171. Pin holes 161 are formed in the opposing plates 171, and pin holes 151 are formed in the connecting plate 172.

[0079] The connecting member (lower pin frame) 157 has a frame portion 176 that is elongated in the left-right direction, left-right pin portions (lower pins) 177 provided at both left-right ends of the frame portion 176, and a substantially inverted U-shaped handle portion 178 provided in the left-right center of the frame portion 176.

[0080] A pin hole 162 is formed in the left-right center of the frame portion 176, and pin holes 179 are formed in each of the left and right pin portions 177. A pin member 180 for preventing the lower link 7 from coming loose is removably inserted into the pin hole 179 of the pin portion 177 (see Figure 7). The pin member 180 is, for example, a retaining pin with a retaining hook.

[0081] The handle portion 178 is a curved rod-shaped part that is convex upward and gripped by the worker when moving the towing coupling body 3, and consists of, for example, one U-shaped fitting 181, the two fitting portions 182 of this U-shaped fitting 181 being fitted and fixed into the notched recess 183 of the frame portion 176.

[0082] As shown in Figure 8(a), when the towing connector 3 is not in use, the connecting member (lower pin frame) 157 is positioned between the left and right vertical frame portions 112 of the supply conveyor support 11, which are positioned at a predetermined lower limit position.

[0083] Next, we will explain the operation of the agricultural machine (stationary stem and leaf cutting machine) 1.

[0084] When onions T, which have stems and leaves and are to be processed, are supplied from the supply container K1 into the conveyor belt 81 of the storage conveyor 41 of the conveying and cutting section 13, the onions T are temporarily stored on the conveyor belt 81 and then transported by the conveyor belt 81 and supplied in fixed amounts onto the conveying chute 42.

[0085] Subsequently, the onions T, which have stems and leaves, are transported by a stone-removing roller 43, a lifting conveyor 44, and a vibrating screen 45, and then transported by a cutting conveyor 47 and a tapping conveyor 48, during which time any unnecessary stems and leaves are cut off.

[0086] Next, the onions T, whose stems and leaves have been cut, are lifted and transported by a lift conveyor 49, and then sorted in the sorting section 14.

[0087] As a result of this sorting process, onions that meet the specifications (good quality) T are stored in good quality container K2, and onions that do not meet the specifications (defective quality) T are stored in defective product container K3.

[0088] Here, for example, when towing a stationary agricultural implement 1 using a tractor 5, which is a towing vehicle, after the completion of the above work, the operator changes the container support section 113, etc. to a folded state, then moves the towing coupling body 3 forward relative to the coupling body holding section 131 of the machine body 2 to change it to a usable state, and so on, to set the agricultural implement 1 to the towing state shown in Figure 3.

[0089] Next, as shown in Figure 10, the worker connects the left and right pin portions 177 of the towing coupling body 3, which is in use and protruding forward from the body 2 of the towed agricultural implement 1, to the left and right lower links 7 of the three-point linkage 6 of the tractor 5. After that, the three-point linkage 6 is raised, lifting the contact points other than the left and right wheels 4 (such as the underside of the main frame 31) away from the mounting surface S, and then the tractor 5 is driven forward.

[0090] Then, the tractor 5 tows the agricultural implement 1, and the agricultural implement 1 moves together with the tractor 5 to the desired location.

[0091] After the towing is complete, the operator may remove the pin member 180, release the connection between the pin portion 177 and the lower link 7, and then move the towing coupling body 3 backward relative to the coupling body holding portion 131 of the machine body 2 to return it to its unused state (stored state).

[0092] Therefore, according to the above-described agricultural machine 1, the towing connector 3 is configured to be in use, protruding forward from the machine body 2 when it moves forward relative to the connector holding part 131 of the machine body 2, and in unused state (stored state) when it moves backward relative to the connector holding part 131 of the machine body 2. Thus, unlike conventional configurations, there is no need to remove the towing connector 3 from the machine body 2 for management when not in use, the loss of the towing connector 3 can be prevented, and moreover, the transportation and assembly of the towing connector for each towing operation, which was previously required, is also unnecessary.

[0093] Furthermore, when changing the state of the towing coupling 3, the worker does not need to use any tools; they only need to insert and remove the pins. This tool-less method allows for changing the state of the towing coupling 3, thus reducing the burden on the worker.

[0094] Furthermore, since the system is equipped with a release body 80 positioned above the transport cutting section 13 and which releases entanglement between the stems and leaves of multiple onions T during transport by the transport cutting section 13, for example, workers do not need to manually release the entanglement between the stems and leaves of the onions T, thereby reducing the burden on workers. Moreover, by preventing multiple onions T with entangled stems and leaves from being transported in a clump, intermittent feeding in subsequent processes can be appropriately prevented, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0095] The towing vehicle for pulling the agricultural machinery is not limited to the tractor 5 shown in Figure 10, but may also be a vehicle such as a forklift. In this case, for example, a rope may be attached to the handle portion 178 and the towing unit 3 and the vehicle may be connected by the rope.

[0096] Furthermore, the towing coupling is not limited to a configuration that can be changed between an in-use state and an un-use state by movement; for example, it may be a configuration that can be changed between an in-use state and an un-use state by extension or retraction.

[0097] Furthermore, agricultural machinery may be equipped with drive means (including actuators such as motors and cylinders) for changing the towing coupling between an in-use and non-use state.

[0098] Furthermore, agricultural machinery is not limited to stationary types that perform agricultural work (such as processing crops) while mounted in a predetermined location; it may also include non-stationary types that perform agricultural work while moving, for example. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0099] 1 Agricultural machinery 2 units 3 Towing connection 5. Tractors (towing vehicles) 11. Supporting containers 112 Vertical frame section 113 Container support section, which is the support part 131 Connector holding part 135 Rotating member is a guide pin 156 Long member 157 Connecting member 176 Frame section 177 Pin section 178 Handle section K1 Agricultural product storage unit, supply container

Claims

1. A stationary agricultural implement that can be towed using a towing vehicle, The aircraft and, The aircraft is provided with a towing coupling body which is connected to the towing vehicle, The aforementioned towing connector can be switched between an in-use state and an in-use state. A farming machine characterized by the following features.

2. A farm implement that can be towed using a towing vehicle, The aircraft and, The aircraft comprises a towing coupling body that is movably mounted on the aircraft and connected to the towing vehicle, The aforementioned towing coupling unit enters an operational state, protruding from the aircraft body when moved in one direction, and enters an operational state, retracting into the aircraft body when moved in the other direction. A farming machine characterized by the following features.

3. The aircraft has a coupling holder that movably holds the towing coupling. The agricultural implement according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The connecting body holding section has a rotating member that supports the lower surface of the towing connecting body. The agricultural implement according to feature 3.

5. The aircraft is equipped with a support structure that supports the agricultural product storage unit, The support has a vertical frame portion and a support portion that can rotate vertically relative to the vertical frame portion. The front end of the towing connector, when not in use, is located behind the front end of the vertical frame section. The agricultural implement according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The towing coupling is A long member with a longitudinal shape in the front-to-back direction, The long member has a connecting member attached to the front end and connected to a towing vehicle. The agricultural implement according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The connecting member is Frame section, Pin portions are provided at both ends of the frame portion, The frame portion has a handle portion. The agricultural implement according to feature 6.

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