Edamame harvester

Abstract

To address the demand for a green soybean harvester even when a pull-out conveying device is swung up and down, capable of smoothly delivering green soybeans from the pull-out conveying device to a feed chain.SOLUTION: A green soybean harvester comprises a dehulling device 3 including a feed chain 16 for conveying green soybeans E backward and dehulling the green soybeans E being conveyed by the feed chain 16, a pull-out conveying device 4 provided in front of the dehulling device 3 so as to be swingable up and down with respect to the dehulling device 3, pulling out the green soybeans E from a field and conveying them toward the dehulling device 3, and a guide member 22 provided at a delivery part P of the green soybeans E from the pull-out conveying device 4 to the feed chain 16 so as to extend along a bottom part of the pull-out conveying device 4 and guiding the green soybeans E delivered from the pull-out conveying device 4 to the feed chain 16. One end of the guide member 22 is supported by the pull-out conveying device 4, and the other end of the guide member 22 is supported by the dehulling device 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fresh soybean harvester.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a fresh soybean harvester, for example, the fresh soybean harvester described in Patent Document 1 is known. The conventional fresh soybean harvester has a feed chain (referred to as "conveyor chain

[22] " in the document) that conveys fresh soybeans backward, a threshing device (referred to as "separation unit [5]" in the document) that threshes fresh soybeans during conveyance by the feed chain, and a pulling and conveying device (referred to as "harvesting unit [3]" in the document) that is provided in front of the threshing device so as to be vertically swingable with respect to the threshing device and pulls fresh soybeans from the field and conveys them toward the threshing device. A guide member (referred to as "root guide part

[77] " in the document) is provided at the receiving part of fresh soybeans from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain in a state of extending along the bottom of the pulling and conveying device, and guides the fresh soybeans received from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional fresh soybean harvester, one end of the guide member is supported by the machine body (referred to as "machine body [1]" in the document), and the other end of the guide member is supported by the threshing device. For this reason, when the pulling and conveying device is vertically swung, the vertical interval between the pulling and conveying device and the guide member changes. In this case, there is a risk that the conveyance posture of fresh soybeans deteriorates and the transfer of fresh soybeans from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain cannot be performed smoothly.

[0005] In view of the above situation, there is a demand for a snow pea harvester that can smoothly transfer snow peas from the extraction and conveying device to the feed chain even when the extraction and conveying device is swung up and down.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The features of the present invention include a feed chain for conveying snow peas backward, a shelling device for shelling the snow peas being conveyed by the feed chain, a pulling and conveying device provided in front of the shelling device so as to be swingable up and down with respect to the shelling device, which pulls snow peas from the field and conveys them toward the shelling device, and a guide member provided at the transfer portion of snow peas from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain in a state of extending along the bottom of the pulling and conveying device, for guiding the snow peas transferred from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain. The pulling and conveying device includes a conveying belt for conveying the edamame beans backward, a roller for guiding the conveying belt, and a support frame for supporting the roller. One end of the guide member is supported by the pulling and conveying device the support frame in and the other end of the guide member is supported by the shelling device.

[0007] According to this characteristic configuration, when the pulling and conveying device swings up and down, the guide member will follow the pulling and conveying device. As a result, since the vertical distance between the pulling and conveying device and the guide member is kept constant, even when the pulling and conveying device is swung up and down, the transfer of snow peas from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain can be performed smoothly.

[0008] book Invention Another feature of , has a feed chain for conveying the edamame beans backward, a pod removing device for removing the pods from the edamame beans during conveyance by the feed chain, a pulling and conveying device provided in front of the pod removing device so as to be vertically swingable with respect to the pod removing device, for pulling out the edamame beans from the field and conveying them toward the pod removing device, and a guide member provided at a transfer portion of the edamame beans from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain in a state of extending along the bottom of the pulling and conveying device, for guiding the edamame beans transferred from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain. One end of the guide member is supported by the pulling and conveying device, and the other end of the guide member is supported by the pod removing device. The guide member has a first guide portion supported by the pulling and conveying device, a second guide portion supported by the shelling device, and a hinge portion connecting the first guide portion and the second guide portion, and is configured such that the first guide portion swings up and down with respect to the second guide portion via the hinge portion following the up and down swing of the pulling and conveying device. lies in is.

[0009] According to this characteristic configuration, the first guide part swings with respect to the second guide part via the hinge part following the vertical swing of the extraction and conveyance device. Thereby, the vertical interval between the extraction and conveyance device and the first guide part can be surely kept constant.

[0010] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the delivery part is provided at a position where the conveyance end part of the extraction and conveyance device and the conveyance start part of the feed chain overlap in the longitudinal direction of the machine body, and the hinge part is located at a position corresponding to the delivery part in the longitudinal direction of the machine body.

[0011] According to this characteristic configuration, even if the first guide part swings vertically with respect to the second guide part via the hinge part, the vertical interval between the extraction and conveyance device and the first guide part in the delivery part is kept constant. Thereby, even when the extraction and conveyance device is swung vertically, the delivery of the edamame from the extraction and conveyance device to the feed chain can be performed more smoothly.

[0012] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the other end part of the guide member is supported by the hulling device in a loosely fitted state.

[0013] According to this characteristic configuration, when the guide member follows the extraction and conveyance device, it is possible to prevent a kink from occurring between the other end part of the guide member and the hulling device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] The mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the direction of arrow F is defined as "the front side of the machine body", the direction of arrow B is defined as "the rear side of the machine body", the direction of arrow L is defined as "the left side of the machine body", and the direction of arrow R is defined as "the right side of the machine body".

[0016] 〔Overall Configuration of Edamame Harvester〕 FIGS. 1 and 2 show an edamame harvester. This harvester includes a traveling machine body 1, an operation unit 2 on which an operator rides, a shelling device 3 for shelling edamame E, an extraction and conveyance device 4 for extracting edamame E from the field and conveying it toward the shelling device 3, a posture changing device 5 for changing the posture of edamame E to a lying-down posture, and a collection unit 6 for collecting pods e.

[0017] The traveling machine body 1 includes a crawler traveling device 7 and a machine body frame 8 supported by the crawler traveling device 7. The operation unit 2 is provided at a location on one side (right side) in the left-right direction of the machine body at the front part of the traveling machine body 1. The extraction and conveyance device 4 is provided at a location on the other side (left side) in the left-right direction of the machine body at the front part of the traveling machine body 1. The shelling device 3 is provided behind the extraction and conveyance device 4. The collection unit 6 is provided to the right of the operation unit 2 and the shelling device 3.

[0018] As the traveling machine body 1 moves forward, the edamame E in the field is extracted by the extraction and conveyance device 4 and conveyed toward the shelling device 3. Then, the edamame E from the extraction and conveyance device 4 is changed to a lying-down posture by the posture changing device 5 and transferred from the extraction and conveyance device 4 to the shelling device 3. After the edamame E is shelled by the shelling device 3, the pods e are collected by the collection unit 6, while the branches and leaf debris are discharged from the rear end of the shelling device 3 to the field.

[0019] The pulling and conveying device 4 is provided in front of the pod removing device 3 so as to be vertically swingable with respect to the pod removing device 3. The pulling and conveying device 4 is provided in a state of being inclined downward forward. The pulling and conveying device 4 is configured to be vertically swingable around a swing axis X1 extending along the left-right direction of the machine body. A hydraulic cylinder 9 for vertically swinging the pulling and conveying device 4 is provided across the pulling and conveying device 4 and the machine body frame 8. The pulling and conveying device 4 includes left and right first conveying belts 10 and left and right second conveying belts 11 that pull crops from the field and convey them rearward. (corresponding to the conveying belt) The first conveying belt 10 is wound around a driven pulley 12 and a driven pulley 13. The second conveying belt 11 is wound around a driven pulley 14 and a driving pulley 15. When power is transmitted to the driving pulley 15, the second conveying belt 11 is driven for conveyance via the driven pulley 14 and the driving pulley 15, and the first conveying belt 10 is driven for conveyance via the driven pulleys 12 and 13.

[0020] As the traveling machine body 1 moves forward, the edamame E in the field is pulled out by the left and right first conveying belts 10 and conveyed rearward in an upright posture. Then, the edamame E is transferred from the left and right first conveying belts 10 to the left and right second conveying belts 11, and the edamame E is conveyed in an upright posture toward the pod removing device 3 by the left and right second conveying belts 11. In FIG. 2, the center of the pulling and conveying device 4 (the left and right first conveying belts 10 and the left and right second conveying belts 11) in the left-right direction of the machine body is indicated by C. The edamame E pulled out from the field is conveyed rearward through the center C in an upright posture.

[0021] The pod removal device 3 includes a feed chain 16, a guide rail 17, upper and lower first pod removal rollers 18, upper and lower second pod removal rollers 19, and a support frame 20. The feed chain 16 and the guide rail 17 are provided on the left side of the pod removal device 3. The guide rail 17 is provided along the conveyance path of the feed chain 16. The guide rail 17 is supported by the support frame 20. A guide member 21 for guiding the base of the green soybean E between the feed chain 16 and the guide rail 17 is provided at the front end of the guide rail 17.

[0022] A delivery portion P for the green soybean E from the extraction conveyance device 4 to the feed chain 16 is provided between the rear end portion of the extraction conveyance device 4 and the front end portion of the feed chain 16. The delivery portion P is provided at a position where the rear end portion (conveyance end portion) of the second conveyance belt 11 and the front end portion (conveyance start portion) of the feed chain 16 overlap in the front-rear direction of the machine body.

[0023] The posture changing device 5 is configured to be swingable up and down integrally with the extraction conveyance device 4 about a swing axis X1. The posture changing device 5 is provided in a state of overlapping with the rear end portion of the second conveyance belt 11 and the front end portion of the feed chain 16 in a plan view. The posture changing device 5 includes a number of claws 5a that act to lock the green soybean E.

[0024] The green soybean E from the extraction conveyance device 4 is delivered to the feed chain 16 while being changed to a lying-down posture by the posture changing device 5. At that time, the claws 5a act to lock the green soybean E from the extraction conveyance device 4, so that the green soybean E is changed to a lying-down posture. Then, the green soybean E is conveyed rearward by the feed chain 16 while being sandwiched between the feed chain 16 and the guide rail 17. Then, the green soybean E being conveyed by the feed chain 16 is sandwiched between the upper first pod removal roller 18 and the lower first pod removal roller 18, and is sandwiched between the upper second pod removal roller 19 and the lower second pod removal roller 19. When the upper and lower first pod removal rollers 18 and the upper and lower second pod removal rollers 19 are rotationally driven, the pods e are removed from the branches.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the feed chain 16 includes a number of left and right plates 16a and a number of pins 16b. The pins 16b are provided across the left plate 16a and the right plate 16a. The pins 16b protrude leftward from the left plate 16a. When the protruding portions of the pins 16b scrape against the base of the edamame E, the base of the edamame E is scraped rearward.

[0026] 〔Guide member〕 As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a guide member 22 for guiding the edamame E delivered from the extraction conveyor 4 to the feed chain 16 is provided along the bottom of the second conveyor belt 11 in the delivery section P. The guide member 22 includes a first guide section 23 supported by the extraction conveyor 4, a second guide section 24 supported by the pod removal device 3, and a hinge section 25 connecting the first guide section 23 and the second guide section 24. The hinge section 25 is located at a position corresponding to the delivery section P in the longitudinal direction of the machine body. Specifically, the hinge section 25 is located rearward of the swing axis X1.

[0027] The first guide part 23 is connected to the second guide part 24 via a hinge part 25 so as to be swingable about a swing axis X2 extending along the left - right direction of the machine body. The first guide part 23 is constituted by a round bar member. The first guide part 23 is inclined upward rearward along the lower surface of the second conveyance belt 11 in a side view. In FIG. 3, the vertical interval between the second conveyance belt 11 and the first guide part 23 is indicated by S. The first guide part 23 includes a front part 23a, an intermediate part 23b, and a rear part 23c. The front part 23a extends linearly along the front - rear direction of the machine body in a plan view. The intermediate part 23b extends obliquely from the rear end part of the front part 23a so as to be positioned closer to the center C toward the rear side in a plan view. The rear part 23c extends linearly along the front - rear direction of the machine body in a plan view. The rear part 23c extends rearward from the rear end part of the intermediate part 23b. The rear part 23c is positioned on the left side with respect to the feed chain 16 (the left - hand plate 16a) and is provided in a state overlapping the protruding part of the pin 16b in a plan view.

[0028] Here, the extraction conveyance device 4 includes left - and - right support frames 26. The left - hand second conveyance belt 11 is supported by the left - hand support frame 26. The right - hand second conveyance belt 11 is supported by the right - hand support frame 26. The front end part of the first guide part 23 is supported by the left - hand support frame 26 via a support frame 27. That is, the front end part of the guide member 22 is supported by the extraction conveyance device 4. The left - hand support frame 26 includes an attachment part 26a to which the support frame 27 is attached.

[0029] The support frame 27 includes a first support portion 27a, a second support portion 27b, and a third support portion 27c. The first support portion 27a extends from the left support frame 26 toward the outer side (left side) of the aircraft body. The first support portion 27a is fixed to the attachment portion 26a. The second support portion 27b extends rearward from the left end portion of the first support portion 27a. The third support portion 27c extends from the rear end portion of the second support portion 27b toward the inner side (right side) of the aircraft body. A roller 28 for guiding the left second conveyance belt 11 is supported by the third support portion 27c. That is, the support frame 27 serves both as a member for supporting the guide member 22 and a member for supporting the roller 28.

[0030] A long hole 27d that is long in the left - right direction of the aircraft body is formed in the first support portion 27a. The front end portion of the first guide portion 23 is inserted into the long hole 27d. That is, the front end portion of the guide member 22 is supported by the first support portion 27a so as to be movable in the left - right direction of the aircraft body. A spring 29 that biases the first guide portion 23 toward the right side is provided between the first guide portion 23 and the second support portion 27b. A support shaft 30 that extends leftward from the front portion 23a is provided on the front portion 23a. The spring 29 is externally fitted to the support shaft 30. The support shaft 30 is supported by the second support portion 27b in a loosely - fitted state.

[0031] The second guide portion 24 is constituted by a round bar member. The second guide portion 24 extends linearly along the front - rear direction of the aircraft body in a plan view. The second guide portion 24 is located on the left side with respect to the feed chain 16 (the left plate 16a) and is provided in a state of overlapping the protruding portion of the pin 16b in a plan view. The second guide portion 24 is located below the guide member 21 and is provided in a state of overlapping the guide member 21 in a plan view. The second guide portion 24 includes a front portion 24a and a rear portion 24b. The front portion 24a is inclined upward to the rear along the lower surface of the second conveyance belt 11 in a side view. The rear portion 24b extends rearward from the rear end portion of the front portion 24a.

[0032] The rear end portion of the second guide portion 24 is supported by the front end portion of the support frame 20. That is, the rear end portion of the guide member 22 is supported by the shelling device 3. A support portion 31 for supporting the rear end portion of the second guide portion 24 is provided at the front end portion of the support frame 20. The support portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending along the vertical direction. A support shaft 32 extending upward from the rear end portion of the second guide portion 24 is provided at the rear end portion of the second guide portion 24. The support shaft 32 is inserted through the support portion 31 and is supported by the support portion 31 in a loosely fitted state. That is, the rear end portion of the guide member 22 is supported by the shelling device 3 in a loosely fitted state. A spring 33 that biases the second guide portion 24 downward is externally fitted to the support shaft 32.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the edamame E conveyed by the left and right second conveying belts 11 is conveyed rearward through the center C in an upright posture. Then, when the edamame E conveyed by the left and right second conveying belts 11 comes into contact with the guide member 22 (specifically, near the connection portion between the middle portion 23b and the rear portion 23c of the first guide portion 23) in an upright posture and is changed to a lying-down posture by the posture changing device 5 (see FIG. 3), the edamame E is conveyed rearward by the feed chain 16 while being sandwiched between the guide member 22 and the feed chain 16 in a lying-down posture.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, when the pulling and conveying device 4 swings up and down around the swing axis X1, following the up and down swing of the pulling and conveying device 4, the first guide portion 23 swings up and down with respect to the second guide portion 24 via the hinge portion 25. At this time, even when the pulling and conveying device 4 swings up and down around the swing axis X1, the vertical interval S between the second conveying belt 11 and the first guide portion 23 does not change. Note that the vertical interval S is not limited to the vertical interval between the second conveying belt 11 and the first guide portion 23 at the location shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. That is, the vertical interval S may be the vertical interval between the second conveying belt 11 and the first guide portion 23 at any location.

[0035] 〔Hinge portion〕 As shown in FIG. 6, the hinge portion 25 includes a boss 34, a pin 35, a bush 36, an O-ring 37, a first thrust collar 38, a second thrust collar 39, a washer 40, and a nut 41. The guide member 22 includes a first stay 42, a second stay 43, and a third stay 44 for supporting the hinge portion 25.

[0036] The boss 34 is fixed to the front end portion of the second guide portion 24. The pin 35 is provided at the rear end portion of the first guide portion 23 so as to protrude leftward from the rear end portion of the first guide portion 23. The pin 35 is inserted through the boss 34 and is prevented from coming off by the nut 41. The pin 35 is supported by the boss 34 via two bushes 36 so as to be rotatable around the swing axis X2. That is, the first guide portion 23 is supported by the boss 34 via the pin 35 so as to be swingable around the swing axis X2.

[0037] The left O-ring 37 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the left end portion of the pin 35 and the inner peripheral surface of the left end portion of the boss 34 in a state of being externally fitted to the pin 35. The right O-ring 37 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the right end portion of the pin 35 and the inner peripheral surface of the right end portion of the boss 34 in a state of being externally fitted to the pin 35. The left first thrust collar 38 and the left second thrust collar 39 are provided between the left end portion of the boss 34 and the rear end portion of the second stay 43 in a state of being externally fitted to the pin 35. The right first thrust collar 38 and the right second thrust collar 39 are provided between the right end portion of the boss 34 and the rear end portion of the first guide portion 23 in a state of being externally fitted to the pin 35. Both the first thrust collar 38 and the second thrust collar 39 are made of resin but are made of different materials from each other.

[0038] The first stay 42 is fixed to the first guide portion 23. The second stay 43 is fixed to the first stay 42 by bolts 45 and nuts 46. The left end portion of the pin 35 is supported at the rear end portion of the second stay 43. That is, the pin 35 is supported in a both-end supported manner by the first guide portion 23 and the second stay 43. The third stay 44 is fixed to the front end portion of the second guide portion 24 and the boss 34.

[0039] 〔Alternative Embodiment〕 (1) In the above embodiment, the hinge portion 25 is located at a position corresponding to the transfer portion P in the longitudinal direction of the machine body. However, the hinge portion 25 may be located at a position other than the position corresponding to the transfer portion P in the longitudinal direction of the machine body.

[0040] (2) In the above embodiment, the rear end portion of the guide member 22 is supported by the threshing device 3 in a loosely fitted state. However, the rear end portion of the guide member 22 may be supported by the threshing device 3 in a fixed state.

Industrial Applicability

[0041] The present invention can be applied to a green soybean harvester.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0042] 3 Threshing device 4 Pull-out conveying device 11 Second conveying belt (conveying belt) 16 Feed chain 22 Guide member 23 First guide portion 24 Second guide portion 25 Hinge portion 27 Support frame 28 Roller E Green soybean P Transfer portion

Claims

1. A podded soybean harvester comprising a feed chain for conveying green soybeans rearward, a hulling device for hulling the green soybeans being conveyed by the feed chain, a pulling and conveying device provided in front of the hulling device so as to be vertically swingable with respect to the hulling device, for pulling out green soybeans from a field and conveying them toward the hulling device, a guide member provided at a transfer portion of the green soybeans from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain in a state of extending along the bottom of the pulling and conveying device, for guiding the green soybeans transferred from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain. The pulling and conveying device includes a conveying belt for conveying green soybeans rearward, rollers for guiding the conveying belt, and a support frame for supporting the rollers. One end of the guide member is supported by the support frame in the pulling and conveying device, and the other end of the guide member is supported by the hulling device.

2. A podded soybean harvester comprising a feed chain for conveying green soybeans rearward, a hulling device for hulling the green soybeans being conveyed by the feed chain, a pulling and conveying device provided in front of the hulling device so as to be vertically swingable with respect to the hulling device, for pulling out green soybeans from a field and conveying them toward the hulling device, a guide member provided at a transfer portion of the green soybeans from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain in a state of extending along the bottom of the pulling and conveying device, for guiding the green soybeans transferred from the pulling and conveying device to the feed chain. One end of the guide member is supported by the pulling and conveying device, and the other end of the guide member is supported by the hulling device. The guide member has a first guide portion supported by the pulling and conveying device, a second guide portion supported by the hulling device, and a hinge portion connecting the first guide portion and the second guide portion. The podded soybean harvester is configured such that the first guide portion swings vertically with respect to the second guide portion via the hinge portion following the vertical swing of the pulling and conveying device.

3. The transfer portion is provided at a position where the conveyance end portion of the pulling and conveying device and the conveyance start portion of the feed chain overlap in the longitudinal direction of the machine body. The podded soybean harvester according to Claim 2, wherein the hinge portion is located at a position corresponding to the transfer portion in the longitudinal direction of the machine body.

4. The other end of the guide member is supported in a freely fitted state by the pod removing device, the edamame harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images