Harvester

Abstract

To provide a harvester capable of improving work efficiency.SOLUTION: A harvester 1 includes a harvester body 2 for conveying harvested crops W from a work object ridge while travelling along the work object ridge of a farm field. Support means 3 for supporting a container K in which the harvested crops W are stored is provided in the rear of the harvester body 2. The support means 3 can be changed between a first state in which a full container K is lowered to a left side position of the work object ridge and a second state in which a full container K is lowered to a right side position of the work object ridge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a harvesting machine capable of improving work efficiency.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, a harvesting machine (vegetable harvesting machine) described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

[0003] This conventional harvesting machine includes a harvesting machine body that travels along a work target ridge in a field and conveys the harvested product from the work target ridge, and a support means provided at the rear of the harvesting machine body for supporting a container.

[0004] And the support means lowers a container filled with the harvested product to a position on the work target ridge (a position on the worked portion of the work target ridge).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in the above conventional harvesting machine, since the support means lowers the container to a position on the work target ridge, the container may get in the way during the work on the next unworked ridge to be performed, and in this case, it is necessary to interrupt the work, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to provide a harvesting machine capable of improving work efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The harvester according to the present invention includes a harvester main body that travels along a work target field and conveys the harvested product from the work target field, and a support means provided on the harvester main body for supporting a container. The support means can be changed between a first state in which the container storing the harvested product is lowered to a position on the left side of the work target field and a second state in which the container storing the harvested product is lowered to a position on the right side of the work target field.

[0009] Further, the harvester according to the present invention includes a harvester main body that travels along a work target field and conveys the harvested product from the work target field, and a support means provided on the harvester main body for supporting a container. The support means can be changed between a first state in which the container storing the harvested product is lowered to a position on the worked field adjacent to the left of the work target field and a second state in which the container storing the harvested product is lowered to a position on the worked field adjacent to the right of the work target field.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, the working efficiency can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 5

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Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a harvester which is an agricultural working machine, and this harvester 1 is a self-propelled harvesting device for harvesting the harvested product W grown in the field. The harvested product W is, for example, a potato (crop) grown in the soil of the ridges in the field. In the following description, the front-rear, left-right directions are with respect to the traveling direction (running direction) of the harvester 1.

[0014] The harvester 1 includes a harvester main body 2 that travels forward (in the forward direction of the traveling direction) along the working target ridge in the field and conveys the harvested product W from the working target ridge to the rear side by the conveying means 5 and drops it into the container K, and a supporting means (container supporting means) 3 provided at the rear end of the harvester main body 2 for supporting the container K into which the harvested product W dropped from the conveying means 5 falls and is stored.

[0015] The container K is a container with an open top for storing the harvested product W and having a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and has a rectangular bottom plate portion K1 and side plate portions K2 provided on the four sides of the outer periphery of the bottom plate portion K1. Further, the supporting means 3 also has a function (container discharging function) of lowering the container (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as "full container") K filled with the harvested product W to the field when a predetermined amount of the harvested product W is stored.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the harvesting machine main body 2 includes a machine frame 11, an engine 12 which is a drive source installed on the machine frame 11, a crawler 13 that operates based on the power from the engine 12, and a conveyor 14 that also operates based on the power from the engine 12.

[0017] The harvesting machine main body 2 also includes left and right gauge wheels 15 that can adjust the height position and move on the field surface while sandwiching the working target ridge, a digging blade (front metal) 16 that digs the harvested product W from the soil of the working target ridge and sends it to the conveyor 14, and a chute 17 which is an inclined conveying member with a front-high and rear-low slope that conveys the harvested product W from the conveyor 14 and drops it into the container K.

[0018] The conveying means 5 of the harvesting machine main body 2 is composed of, for example, the conveyor 14 and the chute 17. This conveying means 5 linearly conveys the harvested product W from the digging blade 16 above the container K along a linear portion along the front-rear direction that overlaps the working target ridge in plan view.

[0019] Furthermore, the harvesting machine main body 2 includes left and right seats 21 for the operator to sit on, operating means 22 composed of a plurality of operating levers and the like for the operator to operate, and a plurality of container stands 23.

[0020] The harvesting operation using this harvesting machine 1 is performed by, for example, three operators. Two of the operators (sorting operators) sit on the seats 21 to perform sorting, and the remaining one operator (operating operator) does not ride on the harvesting machine 1 but operates the operating means 22 and transports the container K, etc.

[0021] Here, the conveyor 14 has a rotatable conveyor body 25 that conveys the harvested product W dug by the digging blade 16 obliquely upward and rearward. This conveyor body 25 is wound around a drive roller 26, a driven roller 27, and a guide roller 28. The conveyor body 25 also has a plurality of conveying bars 29 arranged in the conveying direction, and a soil dropping opening is formed between adjacent conveying bars 29. For example, vibration means for vibrating the conveyor body 25 up and down may be provided, and the conveyor body 25 is not limited to the bar type and may be, for example, a belt type or a roller type.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 9 and the like, the support means 3 can be selectively changed (switched) between a first state in which a full container K containing a predetermined amount of harvested product W is lowered to a position on the left side of the work target field, that is, for example, a position on the left side of the worked portion of the work target field (the portion of the work target field after the harvesting machine body 2 has passed), and a second state in which the full container K containing a predetermined amount of harvested product W is lowered to a position on the right side of the work target field, that is, for example, a position on the right side of the worked portion of the work target field (the portion of the work target field after the harvesting machine body 2 has passed).

[0023] More specifically, the support means 3 in the first state, which is the left discharge state, is at a position on the left side of the worked portion of the work target field (for example, the worked portion where the ridge has collapsed and the height dimension is lower than before the work, but it may also be a worked portion where the ridge has almost completely collapsed. The same applies hereinafter), and is at a position on the worked ridge adjacent to the left of the work target field (the position on the side of the adjacent worked ridge on the left), and the full container K is lowered using its own weight.

[0024] On the other hand, the support means 3 in the second state, which is the right discharge state, is at a position on the right side of the worked portion of the work target field, and is at a position on the worked ridge adjacent to the right of the work target field (the position on the side of the adjacent worked ridge on the right), and the full container K is lowered using its own weight.

[0025] The support means 3 includes a mounting body 31 attached to a mounted portion 30 at the rear end of the harvesting machine body 2, a pair of left and right rotating arms 32 provided on the mounting body 31 so as to be rotatable in the left - right direction, a moving body 33 provided via the left and right rotating arms 32 and movable to a first position and a second position by the horizontal rotation of the rotating arms 32 with respect to the mounting body 31, a left container support (left movable container stand) 34 provided on the left side of the moving body 33 and capable of being in a horizontal support state for supporting the container K and a downward - sloping lowering state for lowering the container K to the field, and a right container support (right movable container stand) 35 provided on the right side of the moving body 33 and capable of being in a horizontal support state for supporting the container K and a downward - sloping lowering state for lowering the container K to the field.

[0026] Further, the support means 3 includes a left locking means 36 which is a first locking part for locking the moving body 33 at the first position (left position) in the first state, and a right locking means 37 which is a second locking part for locking the moving body 33 at the second position (right position) in the second state.

[0027] In the first state of the support means 3, the moving body 33 is fixedly positioned at the first position while being locked by the left locking means 36, and the left container support 34 is in the lowered state and the right container support 35 is in the supported state. On the other hand, in the second state of the support means 3, the moving body 33 is fixedly positioned at the second position while being locked by the right locking means 37, and the left container support 34 is in the supported state and the right container support 35 is in the lowered state.

[0028] The attachment body 31 has left and right attachment plates 41 that face each other with a gap therebetween, and the lower ends of both these attachment plates 41 are connected by an angle pipe-shaped long member 42. A protruding member 43 that protrudes rearward from this long member 42 is attached to the central portion of the long member 42 in the left-right direction.

[0029] And at the rear end of the protruding member 43, a guide shaft body 45 which is a common maintaining part for maintaining the right container support 35 in the supported state by abutting (engaging) with the right container support 35 in the first state of the support means 3 and for maintaining the left container support 34 in the supported state by abutting (engaging) with the left container support 34 in the second state of the support means 3 is provided. The guide shaft body 45 is a round shaft having an axial direction in the vertical direction and has a contact receiving surface 46 on the outer surface at the rear side.

[0030] Two rotation arms (parallel links) 32 that are parallel to each other have their front end portions rotatably attached to the attachment body 31 about a rotation center axis 48, and their rear end portions are rotatably attached to the moving body 33 about a rotation center axis 49.

[0031] On the left rotating arm 32, a locking pin 104 of the left locking means 36 is provided. On the right rotating arm 32, a locking pin 114 of the right locking means 37 is provided. Further, the front rotating center shaft 48 is provided at both left and right ends in the lateral direction of the long member 42 of the attachment body 31. The rear rotating center shaft 49 is provided at both left and right ends in the lateral direction of the long member 55 of the moving body 33.

[0032] The moving body 33 has a frame member 51 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens rearward in plan view. The frame member 51 has a front plate portion 52 that is elongated in the left-right direction and side plate portions 53 provided at both left and right ends of the front plate portion 52 in the left-right direction. A rectangular pipe-shaped long member 55 is attached to the front surface of the front plate portion 52 of the frame member 51, and two rotating center shafts 49 are provided on this long member 55.

[0033] Also, between both side plate portions 53 of the frame member 51, a reinforcing pipe 56 and a shaft member 57 are installed in parallel with each other. The shaft member (rotating center shaft) 57 is a thin round shaft having an axial direction in the left-right direction, and both container supports 34 and 35 can rotate vertically individually around this shaft member 57.

[0034] That is, each of the left and right container supports 34 and 35 can rotate vertically around a rotation center axis (rotation fulcrum) X passing through the axis center of the common shaft member 57. By rotating upward around the rotation center axis X, it becomes a horizontal support state (horizontal posture), and by rotating downward around the rotation center axis X, it becomes an inclined lowering state (inclined posture).

[0035] On the other hand, on the left side of the moving body 33, a left stopper body 61, which is a left maintaining portion that maintains the left container support 34 in a lowered state by abutting (engaging) with the left container support 34 when the support means 3 is in the first state, is provided. The left stopper body 61 has left and right fixed arms 62 and a round pipe-shaped connecting member 63 that connects the rear ends of both these fixed arms 62. When the left container support 34 abuts against the connecting member 63, the downward rotation of the left container support 34 is restricted.

[0036] On the right side of the moving body 33, there is provided a right stopper body 66 which is a right-side maintaining portion that maintains the right container support 35 in a lowered state by abutting (engaging) with the right container support 35 when the support means 3 is in the second state. Similar to the left stopper body 61, the right stopper body 66 has left and right fixed arms 67 and a round pipe-shaped connecting member 68 that connects the rear ends of both fixed arms 67. When the right container support 35 abuts against the connecting member 68, the downward rotation of the right container support 35 is restricted.

[0037] Furthermore, at the center in the left-right direction of the moving body 33, there is provided a container relay body (slider) 71 that relays the container K between the two container supports 34 and 35, and this container relay body 71 is located between the left container support 34 and the right container support 35.

[0038] The container relay body 71 has left and right fixed plates 72 that face each other with a gap therebetween, and the front end portions of both fixed plates 72 are fixed to the rear surface of the front plate portion 52 of the frame member 51 of the moving body 33. Also, both fixed plates 72 are connected by two round pipe-shaped connecting members, namely a first connecting member 73 and a second connecting member 74. The first connecting member 73 is fixed to the upper front portion of both fixed plates 72, and a shaft member 57 is inserted into the first connecting member 73. The second connecting member 74 is fixed to the upper rear end portions of both fixed plates 72, and both left and right ends in the left-right direction of the second connecting member 74 are bent downward so as to guide onto the container supports 34 and 35 in a state where the full container K is lowered. That is, the second connecting member 74 is composed of one horizontal portion 75 that extends in the left and right horizontal directions and two inclined portions 76 that are inclined so as to be located lower toward the tip side.

[0039] And when moving the full container K from the right container support 35 in the supported state to the left container support 34 in the lowered state in the first state of the support means 3, an operator (for example, an operating operator) slides the full container K leftward along the connecting members 73 and 74 of the container relay body 71. As a result, when the full container K moves onto the left container support 34, the full container K slides obliquely downward and rearward on the left container support 34 based on its own weight and is discharged to the field.

[0040] Also, when moving the full container K from the left container support 34 in the supported state to the right container support 35 in the lowered state in the second state of the support means 3, an operator (for example, an operating operator) slides the full container K rightward along the connecting members 73 and 74 of the container relay body 71. As a result, when the full container K moves onto the right container support 35, the full container K slides obliquely downward and rearward on the right container support 35 based on its own weight and is discharged to the field.

[0041] The left container support (movable container base) 34 is provided on the left side of the shaft member 57 of the moving body 33 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. This left container support 34 has left and right movable plates 81 spaced apart from each other and facing each other, and the front end portions of these two movable plates 81 are connected by a front end connecting portion 82. The front end connecting portion 82 has a contact plate 83 at the front end, which is a contact portion that contacts the contact receiving surface 46 of the guide shaft body 45, and this contact plate 83 is formed in a semi-circular arc shape that fits with the contact receiving surface 46. Then, when the contact plate 83 contacts the contact receiving surface 46 of the guide shaft body 45 and is guided downward, the left container support 34 rotates upward and changes from the lowered state to the supported state.

[0042] Further, the both movable plates 81 are connected by three round pipe-shaped connecting members, namely a first connecting member 86, a second connecting member 87, and a third connecting member 88. The first connecting member 86 is fixed to the front portion of the upper end of the both movable plates 81, and a shaft member 57 is inserted into the first connecting member 86. The second connecting member 87 is fixed to the middle portion of the upper end of the both movable plates 81, and the third connecting member 88 is fixed to the rear end portion of the upper end of the both movable plates 81. Further, a contact portion 89, which is the middle portion of the lower end of the both movable plates 81, contacts the connecting member 63 of the left stopper body 61. A notch portion 90 is formed in the rear end portion of the lower end of the both movable plates 81, and this notch portion 90 approaches (including contact) the upper surface of the worked ridge when the left container support is in the lowered state.

[0043] The right container support (movable container stand) 35 is provided on the right side of the shaft member 57 of the moving body 33 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. This right container support 35 has left and right movable plates 91 that face each other with a space therebetween, and the front end portions of these both movable plates 91 are connected by a front end connecting portion 92. The front end connecting portion 92 has a contact plate 93, which is a contact portion that contacts the contact receiving surface 46 of the guide shaft body 45, at the front end portion, and this contact plate 93 is formed in a semi-circular arc shape that fits with the contact receiving surface 46. Then, when the contact plate 93 contacts the contact receiving surface 46 of the guide shaft body 45 and is guided downward, the right container support 35 rotates upward and changes from the lowered state to the supported state.

[0044] Further, the both movable plates 91 are connected by three round pipe-shaped connecting members, namely a first connecting member 96, a second connecting member 97, and a third connecting member 98. The first connecting member 96 is fixed to the front portion of the upper end of the both movable plates 91, and a shaft member 57 is inserted into the first connecting member 96. The second connecting member 97 is fixed to the middle portion of the upper end of the both movable plates 91, and the third connecting member 98 is fixed to the rear end portion of the upper end of the both movable plates 91. Further, a contact portion 99, which is the middle portion of the lower end of the both movable plates 91, contacts the connecting member 68 of the right stopper body 66. A notch portion 100 is formed in the rear end portion of the lower end of the both movable plates 91, and this notch portion 100 approaches (including contact) the upper surface of the worked ridge when the right container support is in the lowered state. Note that, as described above, the left and right container supports 34, 35 have the same configuration.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 8, the left locking means 36 includes a camshaft 101 provided on the left side of the long member 55 of the moving body 33, a locking plate 102 rotatable about the camshaft (rotation fulcrum) 101, and a lever 103 provided on the locking plate 102. Further, the left locking means 36 includes a locking pin 104 provided on the left rotating arm 32, a pin receiving plate 105 that sandwiches the locking pin 104 between the locking plate 102, and a torsion spring 106 having one end attached to the pin receiving plate 105 and the other end attached to the locking plate 102.

[0046] When the support means 3 is changed from the first state to the second state, an operator (for example, an operating operator) holds the lever 103 of the left locking means 36 and moves the moving body 33 from the first position to the second position.

[0047] The right locking means 37 has a configuration symmetric to that of the left locking means 36, and includes a camshaft 111 provided on the right side of the long member 55 of the moving body 33, a locking plate 112 rotatable about the camshaft (rotation fulcrum) 111, and a lever 113 provided on the locking plate 112. Further, the right locking means 37 includes a locking pin 114 provided on the right rotating arm 32, a pin receiving plate 115 that sandwiches the locking pin 114 between the locking plate 112, and a torsion spring 116 having one end attached to the pin receiving plate 115 and the other end attached to the locking plate 112.

[0048] When the support means 3 is changed from the second state to the first state, an operator (for example, an operating operator) holds the lever 113 of the right locking means 37 and moves the moving body 33 from the second position to the first position. Note that the locking by each of the locking means 36 and 37 is automatically performed as the moving body 33 moves, but the unlocking is performed by the operator manually rotating the levers 103 and 113.

[0049] Next, the operation of the harvester 1 and the like will be described.

[0050] First, the case of changing the support means 3 from the first state to the second state will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0051] In FIG. 9(a), the support means 3 is in the first state. In this first state, the moving body 33 which is a frame body is locked (positioned and fixed) at the first position (the left position offset to the left with respect to the mounting body 31) by the left locking means 36. The left container support 34 is restricted from moving downward by the left stopper body 61 and is set in a lowered state with a rear downward inclination. The right container support 35 is held by the guide shaft body 45 and is set in a horizontal support state.

[0052] When changing from this first state to the second state, an operator (for example, an operation operator), as shown in FIGS. 9(b) and (c), after unlocking by rotating the lever 103, while holding the lever 103, rotates the rotating arm 32 to the right and moves the moving body 33 together with the container supports 34, 35, etc. to the second position.

[0053] Then, the moving body 33 is automatically locked at the second position by the right locking means 37.

[0054] At this time, with the movement of the moving body 33, the contact plate 83 of the left container support 34 abuts against the contact receiving surface 46 of the guide shaft body 45 and is guided downward, so that it rotates upward about the shaft member (rotation fulcrum) 57 to a horizontal support state. That is, the guide shaft body 45 lifts the left container support 34 and holds it in the support state. On the other hand, the right container support 35, since the contact plate 93 is separated from the contact receiving surface 46 of the guide shaft body 45 and the holding by the guide shaft body 45 is released, rotates downward about the shaft member (rotation fulcrum) 57 based on its own weight to a lowered state with a rear downward inclination.

[0055] In this way, the moving body 33 is locked (positioned and fixed) at the second position (the right position offset to the right with respect to the mounting body 31) by the right locking means 37, the right container support 35 is restricted from moving downward by the right stopper body 66 and set to the lowered state in a rearward downward inclined shape, and the left container support 34 is held by the guide shaft body 45 and set to the horizontal support state. Although not shown, the same applies when changing from the second state to the first state.

[0056] Next, a case of performing a harvesting operation using the harvester 1 while referring to FIGS. 10 and 11 will be described.

[0057] In FIG. 10, A to D are ridges adjacent to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. A is a worked ridge where the harvesting operation has already been performed, B is a working target ridge (including the worked part after the harvester has passed through), and C and D are unworked ridges where the harvesting operation has not yet been performed.

[0058] In FIG. 11 following FIG. 10, A and B are worked ridges, C is a working target ridge, and D is an unworked ridge. The height dimension H1 of the unworked ridge is, for example, "25 cm", and the height dimension H2 of the worked ridge is, for example, "10 cm" (see FIG. 1). Also, as shown in FIG. 1, the crawlers 13 of the harvester body 2 travel on the field surface between adjacent ridges.

[0059] Then, as shown in FIG. 10, while the harvester body 2 travels in the traveling direction (upward in FIG. 10) along the working target ridge B, the harvested product W dug out from the soil of the unworked part of the working target ridge B by the digging blade 16 is conveyed rearward by the conveying means 5 and put into the container K on the right container support 35 of the support means 3 in the first state.

[0060] At this time, the right container support 35 is in the horizontal support state, and the left container support 34 is in the lowered state in a rearward downward inclined shape. Since the lowered left container support 34 is located on the side opposite to the unworked ridge side, it does not interfere with the unworked ridge.

[0061] When a predetermined amount of the harvested product W is stored in the container K supported by the right container support 35 in the supported state and the container K is full, the operator (for example, the operating operator) pushes and moves the full container K to the left side, so that the full container K is moved from the right container support 35 in the supported state, through the central container relay 71, and onto the left container support 34 in the lowered state.

[0062] Then, the full container K moves backward on the left container support (that is, the container table on the left side in the traveling direction that functions as a discharge chute) 34 based on its own weight, and is lowered to a position on the worked field A that is located on the left side of the worked part of the target field B and adjacent to the left adjacent field B of the target field B (horizontal field upper surface).

[0063] That is, as shown by the two arrows in FIG. 10, in a plan view, the full container K is sequentially moved to the left side and the rear with respect to the traveling direction, and is lowered to a position on the left side (the rear position of the left part of the harvester body 2) different from the position on the target field B in the field. After the operator lowers the full container K, instead, an empty container K is placed on the right container support 35.

[0064] After that, when the harvesting operation progresses and the harvester body 2 reaches the end of the target field B, the harvester body 2 is turned U-turn for the next harvesting operation on the adjacent unworked field C.

[0065] In this case, the operator (for example, the operating operator) once lowers the container K on the right container support 35 and then switches the support means 3. That is, the operator changes the support means 3 from the first state to the second state as shown in FIG. 9, and this time, places the container K on the left container support 34 in the supported state and resumes the harvesting operation for the target field C.

[0066] Then, as shown in Fig. 11, while the harvesting machine main body 2 travels in the traveling direction (downward in Fig. 11) along the work target field C, the harvested product W dug out from the soil of the unworked part of the work target field C by the digging blade 16 is conveyed rearward by the conveying means 5 and put into the container K on the left container support 34 of the support means 3 in the second state.

[0067] At this time, the left container support 34 is in a horizontal support state, and the right container support 35 is in a lowered state with a rearward downward slope. Since the lowered right container support 35 is located on the side opposite to the unworked field side, it does not interfere with the unworked field.

[0068] And when a predetermined amount of the harvested product W is stored in the container K supported by the left container support 34 in the support state and it becomes full, the operator (for example, the operating operator) moves the full container K by pushing it to the right side, so that the full container K is moved from the left container support 34 in the support state onto the right container support 35 in the lowered state via the central container relay 71.

[0069] Then, the full container K moves rearward on the right container support (that is, the container table on the right side in the traveling direction functioning as a discharge chute) 35 based on its own weight, and is lowered to a position on the worked field B adjacent to the right side of the worked part of the work target field C and located horizontally on the upper surface of the field, which is adjacent to the right side of the work target field C.

[0070] That is, as shown by the two arrows in Fig. 11, in plan view, the full container K is sequentially moved to the right side and rearward with respect to the traveling direction, and is lowered to a position on the right side (rear position of the right part of the harvesting machine main body 2) different from the position on the work target field C in the field. Note that after the operator lowers the full container K, instead, an empty container K is placed on the left container support 34. In this way, the harvesting operation for each field in the field is repeated.

[0071] According to the above harvester 1, the support means 3 that can be changed to the first state and the second state lowers the full container K to each of the left and right side positions different from the position on the working target field (for example, the position on the worked field next to the working target field, etc.), so that when working on the next unworked field to be performed next, the full container K placed on the field does not get in the way.

[0072] That is, for example, in order to avoid interference between the traveling harvester main body 2 and the full container K on the field, it is not necessary to temporarily stop the traveling of the harvester main body 2 and move the full container K to a position where it does not interfere with the harvester main body 2. Therefore, it is not necessary to interrupt the harvesting work for each field, and the work efficiency can be improved.

[0073] Further, in the first state, the support means 3 lowers the full container K to a position on the worked field located to the left of the working target field using the left container support 34 in the lowered state (tilted posture) of the full container K, and in the second state, the support means 3 lowers the full container K to a position on the worked field located to the right of the working target field using the right container support 35 in the lowered state (tilted posture) of the full container K. Therefore, while preventing the full container K from tipping over or being impacted, the full container K can be stably lowered onto the horizontal field surface (on the soft soil after digging) in the worked field.

[0074] Furthermore, since the support means 3 has a left locking means 36 for locking the moving body 33 to the first position and a right locking means 37 for locking the moving body 33 to the second position, the moving body 33 can be appropriately locked to the desired position by each of the locking means 36 and 37.

[0075] Moreover, since the support means 3 has a guide shaft body 45, a left stopper body 61, and a right stopper body 71, the left container support 34 and the right container support 35 can be appropriately maintained in their desired states respectively.

[0076] Furthermore, since the support means 3 has a container relay body 71 located between the left container support 34 and the right container support 35, the full container K can be smoothly guided toward the container supports 34 and 35 in the lowered state.

[0077] Note that the position where the support means lowers the container is not limited to the position on the worked ridge adjacent to the ridge to be worked. For example, it may be a position between the ridge to be worked and the worked ridge (such as the travel track of the crawler) as shown in Fig. 12(a), or a position farther away than the worked ridge adjacent to the ridge to be worked as shown in Fig. 12(b), etc. As long as it does not interfere with the harvester body when working on the next unworked ridge adjacent after making a U-turn.

[0078] Also, the harvested product harvested into the container is not limited to potatoes, and may be, for example, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots, etc.

[0079] Furthermore, for example, a fall prevention means for preventing the container from falling from the container support in the supported state may be provided. When the fall prevention means is provided, it becomes possible to move the moving body with the container placed on the container support.

[0080] Also, for example, the change (switching) of the support means may be automatically performed using a driving means such as a cylinder or a motor.

[0081] Furthermore, for example, the height positions of the left and right stopper bodies may be configured to be changeable so that the inclination angles of the left and right container supports in the lowered state can be adjusted.

Explanation of Signs

[0082] 1 Harvester 2 Harvester body 3 Support means 32 Rotating arm 33 Moving body 34 Left container support 35 Right container support 36 Left locking means which is the first locking part 37 Right locking means which is the second locking part 45 Guide shaft body which is the maintaining part 61 Left stopper body 66 Right stopper body 71 Container relay body K container W harvest

Claims

1. A harvester main body that travels along a work target field and conveys the harvested product from the work target field, and support means provided on the harvester main body for supporting a container. The support means can be changed between a first state in which a container storing the harvested product is lowered to a position on the left side of the work target field and a second state in which the container storing the harvested product is lowered to a position on the right side of the work target field. A harvester characterized by the above.

2. A harvester main body that travels along a work target field and conveys the harvested product from the work target field, and support means provided on the harvester main body for supporting a container. The support means can be changed between a first state in which a container storing the harvested product is lowered to a position on a worked field adjacent to the left of the work target field and a second state in which the container storing the harvested product is lowered to a position on a worked field adjacent to the right of the work target field. A harvester characterized by the above.

3. The support means includes a moving body movable between a first position and a second position, a left container support provided on the left side of the moving body and capable of being in a supported state and a lowered state, and a right container support provided on the right side of the moving body and capable of being in a supported state and a lowered state. In the first state, the moving body is located at the first position, the left container support is in the lowered state, and the right container support is in the supported state. In the second state, the moving body is located at the second position, the left container support is in the supported state, and the right container support is in the lowered state. The harvester according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

4. The support means has a rotating arm rotatable in the left-right direction, and the moving body is movable between the first position and the second position by the rotation of the rotating arm. The harvester according to claim 3, characterized by the above.

5. The support means includes a first locking portion for locking the moving body at the first position, and a second locking portion for locking the moving body at the second position. The harvester according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by the above.

6. The support means has a maintaining portion that maintains the right container support in the supported state in the first state and maintains the left container support in the supported state in the second state. The harvester according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by the above.

7. The support means includes a left stopper body that maintains the left container support in the lowered state in the first state, a right stopper body that maintains the right container support in a lowered state in the second state The harvesting machine according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that

8. The supporting means includes a container relay body positioned between the left container support and the right container support The harvesting machine according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that

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