Leafy vegetable harvester

Abstract

To address the desire for a leaf vegetable harvester capable of storing leaf vegetables in a container with their orientation aligned and compactly constituting a conveyance part.SOLUTION: A leaf vegetable harvester includes a harvesting part 3 for harvesting single- or multiple-row leaf vegetables S from a field, a conveyance part 4 for rearward conveying the leaf vegetables S harvested by the harvesting part 3 using one conveyance path, and a placement part 5 provided below a conveyance end of the conveyance part 4 and on which a container C for storing the leaf vegetables S from the conveyance part 4 is placed. The conveyance part 4 conveys the leaf vegetables S eccentrically to one side of the placement part 5 in the horizontal direction of the machine body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a leafy vegetable harvester. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a leafy vegetable harvester described in Patent Document 1, for example, has been known as a leafy vegetable harvester. The leafy vegetable harvester described in Patent Document 1 includes a harvesting unit that harvests multiple rows of leafy vegetables from a field, a conveying unit that conveys the leafy vegetables harvested by the harvesting unit rearward, and a loading unit that is provided below the conveying terminal end of the conveying unit and on which a container that stores the leafy vegetables from the conveying unit is placed.The leafy vegetable harvester described in Patent Document 1 can store the leafy vegetables in the container with the same orientation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3645772 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the leafy vegetable harvester described in Patent Document 1, the conveying unit has a plurality of conveying paths, which results in the conveying unit becoming large in size.

[0005] In view of the above situation, there is a demand for a leafy vegetable harvester that can store leafy vegetables in a container with the same orientation and that can configure a compact conveying unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is characterized by comprising a harvesting unit that harvests one or more rows of leafy vegetables from a field, a conveying unit that conveys the leafy vegetables harvested by the harvesting unit rearward along one conveying path, and a loading unit that is provided below the conveying end of the conveying unit and on which a container that stores the leafy vegetables from the conveying unit is loaded, and the loading unit conveys the leafy vegetables by eccentrically loading them onto one side of the loading unit in the left-right direction of the machine body. The transfer end of the transfer unit is shifted to one side in the left-right direction of the machine body with respect to the transfer start end of the transfer unit. The reason is that.

[0007] According to this characteristic configuration, the conveying unit conveys leafy vegetables along a single conveying path, allowing the conveying unit to be configured compactly. Furthermore, by conveying the leafy vegetables off-center to one side of the loading unit in the left-right direction of the machine body, the leafy vegetables can be stored in the container with the same orientation. In other words, a leafy vegetable harvester can be realized that can store leafy vegetables in the container with the same orientation and that allows the conveying unit to be configured compactly. According to this characteristic configuration, the end of the conveying section is shifted to one side in the left-right direction of the machine body relative to the beginning of the conveying section, making it easier to convey leafy vegetables off-center to one side of the loading section in the left-right direction of the machine body.

[0008] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the conveying section changes its position while conveying the stems and leaves and places them into the container.

[0009] According to this characteristic configuration, the stems and leaves are changed in position while being transported by the transport unit and then placed into the container, which makes it easier to align the orientation of the stems and leaves in the container.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012] Furthermore, in the present invention, the conveying section has left and right conveying devices that form the conveying path, and the conveying devices have a first rotating body located at the conveying start end of the conveying device, a second rotating body located at the conveying end end of the conveying device, and a conveying belt wrapped around the first rotating body and the second rotating body, and it is preferable that, when viewed from the front, the rotation axis of the first rotating body extends in the vertical direction, and the rotation axis of the second rotating body is inclined toward the other side in the left-right direction of the machine body.

[0013] According to this characteristic configuration, as the leafy vegetables are conveyed by the conveying unit, their posture is gradually changed from an upright posture to a sideways posture (falling to the other side in the left-right direction of the machine body). This makes it easier to convey the leafy vegetables in a sideways posture, eccentrically positioned to one side of the loading unit in the left-right direction of the machine body.

[0014] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the transport device has a support frame that supports the first rotating body and the second rotating body.

[0015] According to this characteristic configuration, the first rotating body and the second rotating body are supported by a common support frame, which simplifies the support structure.

[0016] Furthermore, in the present invention, the conveying section has left and right conveying devices that form the conveying path, and it is preferable that of the left and right conveying devices, the conveying terminal end of the conveying device located on one side in the left-right direction of the machine body is located higher than the conveying terminal end of the conveying device located on the other side in the left-right direction of the machine body.

[0017] According to this characteristic configuration, as the leafy vegetables are conveyed by the conveying unit, their posture is gradually changed from an upright posture to a sideways posture (falling to the other side in the left-right direction of the machine body). This makes it easier to convey the leafy vegetables in a sideways posture, eccentrically positioned to one side of the loading unit in the left-right direction of the machine body.

[0018] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the conveying section conveys the stems and leaves to the placing section in a horizontally lying position.

[0019] According to this characteristic configuration, the leafy vegetables are transported to the placement section in a sideways position by the transport section, so that the stems and leaves can be stored in the container in an aligned sideways position.

[0020] Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the conveying section conveys the leafy vegetables to the placing section in a sideways position with the roots facing outward from the side of the machine body.

[0021] According to this characteristic configuration, the leafy vegetables are transported by the transport unit to the loading unit in a sideways position with their roots facing outward from the side of the machine, so that the leafy vegetables can be stored in the container in an aligned sideways position with their roots facing outward from the side of the machine. Furthermore, between leafy vegetables adjacent to each other on the left and right in the container, mud adhering to the roots of one leafy vegetable is less likely to get on the leaves of the other leafy vegetable. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the spinach harvester. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a spinach harvester. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the harvesting section and the transport section. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a front view showing a third transfer device. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a front cross-sectional view showing the conveyance start end portion of the third conveyance device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a front cross-sectional view showing the conveyance terminal end of the third conveyance device. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the operation of placing spinach in a container. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a placement section according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the direction of arrow F is the "front side of the aircraft body," the direction of arrow B is the "rear side of the aircraft body," the direction of arrow L is the "left side of the aircraft body," and the direction of arrow R is the "right side of the aircraft body."

[0024] [Overall configuration of the spinach harvester] 1 and 2 show a spinach harvester (corresponding to the "leaf vegetable harvester" according to the present invention). The spinach harvester includes a traveling body 1, a driving operation unit 2 where a driver operates the machine, a harvesting unit 3 that harvests multiple rows of spinach S (two rows in this embodiment) from a field, a conveying unit 4 that conveys the spinach S (corresponding to the "leaf vegetable" according to the present invention) harvested by the harvesting unit 3 backward, and a placing unit 5 on which a container C that stores the spinach S from the conveying unit 4 is placed.

[0025] The traveling machine body 1 includes left and right wheels 6, an electric motor M, a transmission 7 that changes the speed of the power of the electric motor M and transmits it to the left and right wheels 6, and a battery (not shown) that supplies power to the electric motor M. The driving operation unit 2 includes left and right handlebars 8 and levers for performing various operations (e.g., a clutch lever, a gear lever, an accelerator lever, etc., not shown). The left and right wheels 6, the harvesting unit 3, and the transport unit 4 are driven by the power of the electric motor M.

[0026] The loading section 5 is provided below the transfer end of the transfer section 4. The loading section 5 has a width (in the left-right direction of the machine body) that is approximately the same as the distance between the left handle 8 and the right handle 8. When the container C is placed on the loading section 5, it is positioned between the left handle 8 and the right handle 8.

[0027] [Harvesting Department] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the harvesting section 3 includes three dividers 9 that divide the spinach S in the field, cutting blades 10 that cut the spinach S in the field, two sets of left and right first conveying devices 11 that transport the spinach S cut by the cutting blades 10 rearward, and left and right rear conveying devices 12. Between the left and right first conveying devices 11 on the left side, a left-side first conveying path R1 is formed. Between the right and left first conveying devices 11 on the right side, a right-side first conveying path R1 is formed between the left-side first conveying device 11 and the right-side first conveying device 11. The first conveying device 11 includes a first conveying belt a. The first conveying belt 11a is composed of a corrugated belt.

[0028] The left row of spinach S cut by the cutting blade 10 is transported backward along the left first transport path R1 by the left and right first transport devices 11. The right row of spinach S cut by the cutting blade 10 is transported backward along the right first transport path R1 by the right and left first transport devices 11.

[0029] [Transportation section] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conveying section 4 includes left and right second conveying devices 13 and left and right third conveying devices 14 (corresponding to the "conveying devices" according to the present invention). A left second conveying path R2 is formed between the left rear conveying device 12 and the left second conveying device 13. A right second conveying path R2 is formed between the right rear conveying device 12 and the right second conveying device 13. The left second conveying path R2 and the right second conveying path R2 are configured to merge at a junction J. A third conveying path R3 (corresponding to the "conveying path" according to the present invention) is formed between the left third conveying device 14 and the right third conveying device 14.

[0030] The spinach S from the left-side first conveying path R1 is conveyed rearward along the left-side second conveying path R2 by the left-side rear conveying device 12 and the left-side second conveying device 13. The spinach S from the right-side first conveying path R1 is conveyed rearward along the right-side second conveying path R2 by the right-side rear conveying device 12 and the right-side second conveying device 13. Then, the spinach S from the left-side second conveying path R2 and the spinach S from the right-side second conveying path R2 merge at the junction J. Then, the spinach S from the junction J (two rows of spinach S) is conveyed rearward along the third conveying path R3 by the left and right third conveying devices 14. That is, the conveying unit 4 conveys the spinach S harvested by the harvesting unit 3 rearward along one third conveying path R3.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the second conveyor device 13 includes a second front pulley 15 located at the conveyance start end of the second conveyor device 13, a second rear pulley 16 located at the conveyance end end of the second conveyor device 13, and a second conveyor belt 17 wound around the second front pulley 15 and the second rear pulley 16. The second conveyor belt 17 is configured as a corrugated belt. The third conveyor device 14 includes a third front pulley 18 (corresponding to the “first rotating body” according to the present invention) located at the conveyance start end of the third conveyor device 14, a third rear pulley 19 (corresponding to the “second rotating body” according to the present invention) located at the conveyance end end of the third conveyor device 14, a third conveyor belt 20 (corresponding to the “conveyor belt” according to the present invention) wound around the third front pulley 18 and the third rear pulley 19, and a support frame 21 that supports the third front pulley 18 and the third rear pulley 19. The third conveyor belt 20 is configured as a flat belt.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer end of the left-side third conveying device 14 is offset to the left relative to the transfer start of the left-side third conveying device 14. The transfer end of the right-side third conveying device 14 is offset to the left relative to the transfer start of the right-side third conveying device 14. In other words, the transfer end of the left and right third conveying devices 14 are offset to one side (to the left in this embodiment) in the left-right direction of the machine body relative to the transfer start of the left and right third conveying devices 14. The transfer length of the left-side third conveying device 14 is longer than the transfer length of the right-side third conveying device 14, but the transfer end position of the left-side third conveying device 14 and the transfer end position of the right-side third conveying device 14 in the front-rear direction of the machine body are aligned (approximately aligned).

[0033] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, in a front view, the rotation axis Y1 of the third front pulley 18 extends in the vertical direction. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, in a front view, the rotation axis Y2 of the third rear pulley 19 is inclined to the other side in the left-right direction of the machine body (to the right in this embodiment). The left third rear pulley 19 is located higher than the right third rear pulley 19. In other words, the conveyance terminal end of the left third conveyor device 14 is located higher than the conveyance terminal end of the right third conveyor device 14.

[0034] As shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 7 , spinach S in an upright position is introduced to the conveyance start end of the third conveying path R3, and while being conveyed rearward along the third conveying path R3 by the left and right third conveying devices 14, the spinach S is changed in position to a sideways position with the roots facing left. The spinach S then falls from the conveyance end of the third conveying path R3 and is stored in the left side of the container C. That is, the conveying unit 4 conveys the spinach S in a sideways position with the roots facing outward laterally from the body (the left side in this embodiment) and off-centers it to one side of the loading unit 5 in the left-right direction of the body (the left side in this embodiment). In other words, the conveying unit 4 changes the position of the spinach S while conveying it and places it into the container C. Specifically, the conveying unit 4 changes the position of the spinach S while conveying it and places it into one side of the container C in the left-right direction of the body (the left side in this embodiment). In the container C, the spinach S is stored with its roots facing outward to the side of the container C. In other words, in the container C, the spinach S is stored with its leaves facing toward the center of the container C on the left and right.

[0035] Then, when the spinach S has accumulated up to the top of the left side of the container C, as shown in the middle diagram of Figure 7, the worker holds the container C, turns it over left and right, and places the container C back on the placement section 5. As a result, the empty part of the container C is now positioned on the left side.

[0036] 7, the spinach S is again conveyed eccentrically to the left side of the mounting section 5 by the left and right third conveying devices 14, and the spinach S is stored in the left side of the container C. In this way, the container C becomes full of spinach S.

[0037] [Another embodiment] (1) In the above embodiment, the harvesting unit 3 harvests two-row spinach. However, the harvesting unit 3 may harvest one-row or three or more-row spinach.

[0038] (2) In the above embodiment, the conveying unit 4 conveys the spinach S in a sideways position, eccentrically positioned to the left side of the placement unit 5. However, the conveying unit 4 may also convey the spinach S in a sideways position, eccentrically positioned to the right side of the placement unit 5.

[0039] (3) In the above embodiment, the transfer end portions of the left and right third conveying devices 14 are shifted to the left relative to the transfer start portions of the left and right third conveying devices 14. However, the transfer end portions of the left and right third conveying devices 14 may be shifted to the right relative to the transfer start portions of the left and right third conveying devices 14. Alternatively, the transfer end portions of the left and right third conveying devices 14 do not have to be shifted in the left-right direction of the machine body relative to the transfer start portions of the left and right third conveying devices 14. Alternatively, the left and right third conveying devices 14 may be configured so that the left and right positions of the transfer end portions of the left and right third conveying devices 14 can be changed using the transfer start portions of the left and right third conveying devices 14 as swing fulcrums.

[0040] (4) In the above embodiment, the rotation axis Y2 of the third rear pulley 19 is inclined to the right in front view. However, the rotation axis Y2 of the third rear pulley 19 may be inclined to the left in front view. Alternatively, the rotation axis Y2 of the third rear pulley 19 may extend in the up-down direction in front view.

[0041] (5) In the above embodiment, the transfer terminal end of the left-side third transfer device 14 is located higher than the transfer terminal end of the right-side third transfer device 14. However, the transfer terminal end of the left-side third transfer device 14 may be located lower than the transfer terminal end of the right-side third transfer device 14. Alternatively, the transfer terminal end of the left-side third transfer device 14 and the transfer terminal end of the right-side third transfer device 14 may be located at the same height.

[0042] (6) In the above embodiment, the conveying unit 4 conveys the spinach S to the placing unit 5 in a sideways position with the roots facing left. However, the conveying unit 4 may also convey the spinach S to the placing unit 5 in a sideways position with the roots facing right. In other words, the conveying unit 4 may convey the spinach S to the placing unit 5 in a sideways position with the roots facing inward laterally of the machine body.

[0043] (7) In the above embodiment, as shown in the middle diagram of Fig. 7, an operator holds the container C and turns it over left and right. However, as shown in Fig. 8, the container C may be turned over left and right by rotating the mounting unit 5 around a rotation axis Z1 extending along the vertical direction. In this case, the mounting unit 5 may be rotated manually by an operator, or the mounting unit 5 may be rotated by a motor (not shown).

[0044] (8) In the above embodiment, the conveying unit 4 conveys the spinach S to the placement unit 5 in a sideways position. However, the conveying unit 4 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the conveying unit 4 may convey the spinach S to the placement unit 5 in an upright position. In other words, the conveying unit 4 may convey the spinach S to the placement unit 5 in an upright position without changing its position from an upright position to a sideways position. [Industrial Applicability]

[0045] The present invention can be used not only for spinach harvesters, but also for harvesters of leafy vegetables other than spinach (for example, Japanese mustard spinach, etc.). [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 3. Harvesting Section 4. Conveyor 5. Placement section 14 Third conveying device (conveying device) 18 Third front pulley (first rotating body) 19 Third rear pulley (second rotating body) 20 Third conveyor belt (conveyor belt) 21 Support frame C Container R3 Third transport route (transport route) S Spinach (leafy vegetables) Y1: Rotation axis of the third front pulley (rotation axis of the first rotating body) Y2: Rotation axis of the third rear pulley (rotation axis of the second rotating body)

Claims

1. A harvesting unit that harvests one or more rows of leafy vegetables from the field; A conveying unit that conveys the leafy vegetables harvested by the harvesting unit backward along one conveying path; A loading section is provided below the conveying end section of the conveying section, and on which a container for accommodating leafy vegetables from the conveying section is loaded, The conveying unit conveys the leafy vegetables eccentrically to one side of the placement unit in the left-right direction of the machine body, A leafy vegetable harvester in which the conveying end of the conveying unit is shifted to one side in the left-right direction of the machine body relative to the conveying start end of the conveying unit.

2. The leafy vegetable harvester according to claim 1 , wherein the conveying unit changes its position while conveying the stems and leaves and places them into the container.

3. the conveying section has left and right conveying devices that form the conveying path, the conveying device includes a first rotating body located at a conveying start end of the conveying device, a second rotating body located at a conveying end of the conveying device, and a conveying belt wound around the first rotating body and the second rotating body, 3. A leafy vegetable harvester as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, when viewed from the front, the rotation axis of the first rotating body extends in the vertical direction, and the rotation axis of the second rotating body is inclined toward the other side in the left-right direction of the machine body.

4. The leaf vegetable harvester according to claim 3, wherein the transport device has a support frame that supports the first rotating body and the second rotating body.

5. the conveying section has left and right conveying devices that form the conveying path, A leafy vegetable harvesting machine as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveying end of the conveying device located on one side in the left-right direction of the machine body is located higher than the conveying end of the conveying device located on the other side in the left-right direction of the machine body.

6. 3. The leafy vegetable harvester according to claim 1, wherein the conveying section conveys the stems and leaves to the placing section in a lying position.

7. The leafy vegetable harvester according to claim 6, wherein the conveying section conveys the leafy vegetables to the placing section in a sideways position with roots facing outward laterally from the machine body.

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