Moisture removal device

Abstract

SOLUTION: A water removing device (26) includes: a water absorbing material (38) that is disposed above a conveyor (16) for conveying crops (R) from a harvester (14) of a head-feeding combine (10) to a thresher (18) and comes in contact with the crops to absorb water (W); and a sucker (32) that sucks in the water that has been absorbed by the water absorbing material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a moisture removal device that removes moisture adhering to crops. [Background technology]

[0002] Head-feeding combine harvesters thresh harvested crops and temporarily store the grains (paddy) in a grain tank. In order to efficiently harvest grain and reduce costs, it is possible to increase the number of hours the combine operates per day. One example is to use the combine to harvest not only during the day, but also at night or early in the morning. However, harvesting at night or early in the morning can cause problems, such as the surface of the harvested crops getting wet due to dew. When the surface of the harvested crops is wet, harvest loss increases. In addition, wet harvested crops tend to stick to various parts of the combine, and the harvested crops also tend to stick to each other. This causes the harvested crop to clog various parts of the combine, significantly reducing work efficiency.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a dew removal device that removes dew from crops in a conveying section that transports the crops from a reaping section to a threshing section. This dew removal device has an upper roller, a water-absorbing roller, and a lower roller that are arranged in the conveying section. When the crops are sandwiched between the upper roller and the water-absorbing roller, the dew that adheres to the crops is absorbed by the water-absorbing roller. A lower roller is pressed against the lower peripheral surface of the water-absorbing roller. As a result, the water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller is squeezed out by the lower roller. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Jikko No. 62-11379 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the dew removal device of Patent Document 1, the water-absorbing roller and the lower roller must be located below the conveying section. This structure has the following problems. For example, the design of the conveying section must be changed from the current design. Also, it is difficult to retrofit the dew removal device below the conveying section of a current combine harvester. It is also difficult to remove the dew removal device from below the conveying section.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A moisture removal device according to one aspect of the present invention is arranged above a transport section that transports crops from the harvesting section to the threshing section of a head-feeding combine, and is equipped with a water-absorbing material that comes into contact with the crops and absorbs moisture, and a suction section that sucks up the moisture absorbed by the water-absorbing material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, since the water-absorbing material is disposed above the conveying section, the degree of freedom in arranging the water-absorbing material is increased, and no design changes to the conveying section are required. Also, according to the present invention, since the water-absorbing material is disposed above the conveying section, it is easy to attach and detach the water-absorbing material to and from the conveying section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view of a head-feeding combine harvester. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the head-feeding combine harvester. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the moisture removing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the moisture removing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the moisture removing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view of the moisture removing device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the moisture removing device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the water absorption section according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side view of the moisture removing device according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [1 Head-feeding Combine 10] Figure 1 is a left side view of the head-throttling combine harvester 10. Figure 2 is a right side view of the head-throttling combine harvester 10. The head-throttling combine harvester 10 has a traveling section 12, a reaping section 14, a transport section 16, a threshing section 18, a sorting section 20, a grain tank 22, and a grain discharge section 24.

[0011] The traveling unit 12 rotates endless tracks such as crawlers to move the head-feeding combine 10. The reaping unit 14 reaps crops R (Figure 3) in the field. The transporting unit 16 transports the crops R reap by the reaping unit 14 to the threshing unit 18 at the rear. The threshing unit 18 threshes the crops R transported by the transporting unit 16. The sorting unit 20 separates the grains from the grains removed from the stalks by the threshing unit 18 and from foreign matter (straw) mixed in with the grains. Horizontal and vertical transport augers (not shown) transport the grains sorted by the sorting unit 20 to the supply port of a grain tank 22. The grain tank 22 temporarily stores the grains. The grain discharge section 24 discharges grain discharged from the grain tank 22 into a container or the like outside the head-feeding combine harvester 10 using vertical and horizontal discharge augers (not shown). A moisture removal device 26, which will be described below, is attached to the transport section 16 of the head-feeding combine harvester 10.

[0012] [2. Moisture removal device 26 according to the first embodiment] FIG. 3 is a side view of the moisture removal device 26 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the moisture removal device 26 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the moisture removal device 26 according to the first embodiment. The moisture removal device 26 is disposed above the conveying path 16P of the conveying section 16. The moisture removal device 26 is detachable from, for example, the frame of the head-feeding combine 10. The moisture removal device 26 according to the first embodiment has a water absorption section 30, a suction section 32, and a bracket 34.

[0013] The water absorbent section 30 includes a roller 36 and a water absorbent material 38. The roller 36 is a cylindrical member having a hollow section 40 therein. A first axial end 36a of the roller 36 is closed, and a second axial end 36b of the roller 36 is open. The roller 36 has a series of a first cylindrical section 42 and a second cylindrical section 44. The first cylindrical section 42 is located on the first end 36a side of the roller 36. The first cylindrical section 42 has multiple through holes 46. Each through hole 46 penetrates from the outer periphery of the first cylindrical section 42 to the hollow section 40 on the inner periphery side. Note that instead of being a cylindrical section having multiple through holes 46, the first cylindrical section 42 may be a partially or entirely mesh-like cylindrical section. The second cylindrical section 44 is located on the second end 36b side of the roller 36. The second cylindrical section 44 is supported by a support section 58 of the bracket 34 so as to be rotatable about its axis. The water absorbent material 38 is, for example, a sponge made of viscose, synthetic resin, etc. The water absorbent material 38 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 42. The water absorbent material 38 surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 42.

[0014] The suction unit 32 has a pump 50 and a suction pipe 52. The pump 50 is, for example, a vacuum pump. One end of the suction pipe 52 is attached to the pump 50. The other end of the suction pipe 52 is attached to a support unit 58. The other end of the suction pipe 52 is provided with a suction port 54.

[0015] The bracket 34 has a support portion 58, an arm 60, and an attachment portion 62. The support portion 58 has a communication hole 64 that penetrates in the axial direction of the roller 36. One end of the communication hole 64 is an inlet 66, and the other end of the communication hole 64 is an outlet 68. The second tubular portion 44 of the roller 36 is inserted into the inlet 66. One or more bearings 70 are attached inside the communication hole 64. The one or more bearings 70 rotatably support the second tubular portion 44. Meanwhile, the outlet 68 is connected to the suction port 54 of the suction pipe 52. This forms a water passage connecting the absorbent material 38 of the roller 36 to the pump 50. One end of the arm 60 is connected to the support portion 58. The other end of the arm 60 is connected to the attachment portion 62. The attachment portion 62 is detachable from the frame of the head-feeding combine harvester 10, for example.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3 , in the conveying section 16, the water absorption unit 30 is disposed above the conveying path 16P for the crops R. The attachment unit 62 may fix the water absorption unit 30 in a fixed position above the conveying path 16P, or may support the water absorption unit 30 so that it can move up and down. When the attachment unit 62 supports the water absorption unit 30 so that it can move up and down, the water absorbent material 38 may be pressed against the crops R by the weight of the moisture removal device 26. Alternatively, the attachment unit 62 or the arm 60 may have a biasing unit, such as a spring, that biases the water absorption unit 30 toward the crops R. The attachment unit 62 or the arm 60 may have a position adjustment unit that can move the water absorption unit 30 toward the conveying path 16P or away from the conveying path 16P.

[0017] The user operates the pump 50 when the head-feeding combine harvester 10 is in operation. As shown in FIG. 3 , the crops R pass under the water absorbent material 38 as they are transported from front to rear. At this time, the water absorbent material 38 comes into contact with the crops R, and moisture W adhering to the surface of the crops R penetrates into the water absorbent material 38. Therefore, moisture W is removed from the surface of the crops R. Furthermore, the lower end surface of the water absorbent material 38 receives a backward force from the crops R that it comes into contact with. As a result, the water absorbent material 38 and the roller 36 rotate in the direction of arrow A. As the water absorbent material 38 rotates, it comes into even contact with the crops R. Therefore, moisture W penetrates the water absorbent material 38 evenly.

[0018] When a certain amount of moisture W has permeated the water absorbent material 38, the moisture W contained in the water absorbent material 38 passes through the passage holes 46 of the first tubular portion 42 and enters the hollow portion 40 at a position above the roller 36. The moisture W in the hollow portion 40 passes through the water intake port 54 and the water intake pipe 52 and is sucked into the pump 50. Note that if the suction force of the pump 50 is strong, the moisture W is sucked not only from the water absorbent material 38 above the roller 36 but also from the water absorbent material 38 at other positions.

[0019] According to the first embodiment, the water absorbent material 38 is disposed above the conveying path 16P of the conveying unit 16, which increases the degree of freedom in arranging the water absorbent material 38 and eliminates the need to change the design of the conveying unit 16. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the water absorbent material 38 is disposed above the conveying path 16P of the conveying unit 16, which makes it easy to attach the water absorbent material 38 to the conveying unit 16 and to detach the water absorbent material 38 from the conveying unit 16. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the moisture W adhering to the crops R is not blown away by wind but is absorbed by the water absorbent material 38, so the moisture W does not scatter around.

[0020] The moisture removal device 26 can remove moisture W adhering to the crop R in the conveying section 16. Therefore, the head-feeding combine 10 can be used to harvest the crop R even in situations where moisture W is likely to adhere to grains, such as early in the morning when morning dew is likely to occur or at night when night dew is likely to occur. As a result, the harvesting work can be carried out efficiently, and the cost of the harvesting work can be reduced.

[0021] [3. Moisture removal device 26 according to the second embodiment] FIG. 6 is a side view of the moisture removal device 26 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the moisture removal device 26 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the water absorption section 30 according to the second embodiment. Note that, among the components of the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The moisture removal device 26 according to the second embodiment has a water absorption section 30, a suction section 32, a bracket 34, and a dehydration section 74.

[0022] The water absorption section 30 has a roller 76 and a water absorbent material 38. The roller 76 is a cylindrical member. Bearings 78 are attached to both axial ends of the roller 76. The water absorbent material 38 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the roller 76. The water absorbent material 38 surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the roller 76.

[0023] The bracket 34 has a support part 80, an arm 60, and an attachment part 62. The support part 80 has a rotation shaft part 82. The rotation shaft part 82 is inserted into the two bearings 78 of the roller 76. The support part 80 supports the water absorption part 30 so that the water absorption part 30 can rotate around the rotation shaft part 82. The support part 80 also supports the suction part 32.

[0024] The dewatering unit 74 has a blade 84 and two connecting parts 86. The cutting edge 84a of the blade 84 has a length approximately equal to or longer than the axial length of the water-absorbing material 38. The blade 84 is arranged so that the cutting edge 84a and the outer peripheral surface (water-absorbing surface) of the water-absorbing material 38 come into contact with each other. The blade 84 is arranged upstream in the direction of transport of the crops R, and the water-absorbing material 38 and the roller 76 are arranged downstream. With this arrangement, the downwardly rotating part of the water-absorbing material 38 comes into contact with the cutting edge 84a. The water intake port 54 of the water intake pipe 52 is arranged on the upper surface of the blade 84. One of the two connecting parts 86 is arranged on one end side of the roller 76. The other of the two connecting parts 86 is arranged on the other end side of the roller 76. Each connecting part 86 connects the blade 84 to the rotating shaft part 82. Each connecting portion 86 attracts the blade 84 to the outer peripheral surface of the water absorbent material 38. As a result, the edges 84a of the blade 84 press against the outer peripheral surface of the water absorbent material 38.

[0025] As in the first embodiment, the water absorbent material 38 comes into contact with the crops R, thereby removing moisture W from the surface of the crops R. When a certain amount of moisture W has permeated the water absorbent material 38, the blades 84 squeeze out the moisture W from the water absorbent material 38. The squeezed moisture W collects on the upper surface of the blades 84, passes through the water intake port 54 and the water intake pipe 52, and is sucked into the pump 50.

[0026] The moisture removing device 26 according to the second embodiment has the same effect as the moisture removing device 26 according to the first embodiment.

[0027] [4. Moisture removal device 26 according to the third embodiment] 9 is a side view of a moisture removing device 26 according to a third embodiment. In the third embodiment, a dewatering roller 88 and a water receiving section 90 are provided as a dewatering section 74 instead of the blade 84 of the second embodiment.

[0028] The water W that permeates the water absorbent material 38 is squeezed out by the dewatering rollers 88. The squeezed water W collects in the water receiving portion 90, passes through the water intake port 54 and the water intake pipe 52, and is sucked into the pump 50.

[0029] The moisture removing device 26 according to the third embodiment has the same effects as the moisture removing device 26 according to the first and second embodiments.

[0030] [5 Other embodiments] In the first to third embodiments, the water absorbent material 38 is attached to the rollers 36, 76. This causes the water absorbent material 38 to rotate. However, the water absorbent material 38 does not have to rotate. For example, the bottom surface of the water absorbent material 38 may be in contact with the crops R, and the water suction pipe 52 may be attached to the top surface of the water absorbent material 38. In this case, however, a pump 50 with strong suction power is required.

[0031] [6 Inventions Obtained from the Embodiments] The invention that can be understood from the above embodiment will be described below.

[0032] The moisture removal device (26) according to this embodiment of the present invention is disposed above the transport section (16) that transports the crop (R) from the cutting section (14) to the threshing section (18) of the head-feeding combine (10), and is equipped with a water-absorbing material (38) that comes into contact with the crop and absorbs moisture (W), and a suction section (32) that sucks up the moisture absorbed by the water-absorbing material.

[0033] In the above aspect, the moisture removal device may include rollers (36, 76) that rotate in response to the transport of the crop by the transport unit, and the water-absorbing material may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rollers.

[0034] In the above aspect, the suction section may be connected to a hollow section (40) at the center of the water absorbent material, and may suck the moisture from the hollow section.

[0035] In the above aspect, the moisture removal device may include a dehydration section (74) that presses the absorbent surface of the absorbent material to squeeze out the moisture, and the suction section may suck the moisture squeezed out of the absorbent material by the dehydration section.

[0036] In the above aspect, the water absorbent material and the suction section may be detachable from the head-feeding combine.

[0037] In the above aspect, the moisture removing device may include a biasing section that biases the water absorbent material toward the crops.

[0038] In the above aspect, the moisture removing device may include a position adjusting unit that can move the water absorbent material in a direction toward the conveying unit and a direction away from the conveying unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10... Head-feeding combine 14... Harvesting unit 16...Transportation section 18...Threshing section 26…Moisture removal device 32…Suction part 36... Roller 38... Water-absorbent material 40...Hollow part 74...Dehydration part 76...Laura R...Crop W…Moisture

Claims

1. a water-absorbing material that is disposed above a conveying section that conveys crops from a reaping section to a threshing section of the head-feeding combine harvester and that comes into contact with the crops to absorb moisture; a suction section that sucks the moisture absorbed by the water absorbent material; a dehydration unit that presses the water absorption surface of the water absorbent material to squeeze out the water; Equipped with The suction unit is a moisture removal device that sucks the moisture squeezed out of the water absorbent material by the dehydration unit.

2. The moisture removal device according to claim 1, a roller that rotates in response to the transport of the crop by the transport unit; The water absorbing material is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the roller.

3. The moisture removal device according to claim 2, The suction section is connected to a hollow section at the center of the water absorbent material and sucks the moisture from the hollow section.

4. The moisture removal device according to claim 1, The moisture removal device, wherein the water-absorbing material and the suction section are detachable from the head-feeding combine.

5. The moisture removal device according to claim 1, A moisture removal device comprising a biasing part that biases the water absorbent material toward the crops.

6. The moisture removal device according to claim 1, The moisture removal device includes a position adjustment unit that can move the water absorbent material in a direction toward the conveying unit and a direction away from the conveying unit.

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