Mulch-stripping harvester and mulch-stripping mechanism installation method

Abstract

To provide a mulch-stripping and harvesting machine capable of preventing damage to the leaf stems of leafy vegetables, stripping mulch without leaving it on ridges in spite of its simple and lightweight configuration, and at the same time harvesting leafy vegetables from the root.SOLUTION: The present invention comprises: a root cutting part 60 comprising a vertical support member 62 suspended from both left and right sides of a frame 10 and connected to a transmission means 50 to vibrate, and a root-cutting blade 63 that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots r of a crop c while moving through a ridge; and a mulch-stripping part 70a attached to both the left and right sides of the root-cutting blade, which rolls up the hem of the mulch 90 and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade, the multi-stripping part comprising: a mound part 71a which is arranged at an angle obliquely downward and forward, is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge, and softens the soil around the hem of the mulch; and a mulch guide part 73a extending obliquely upward and rearward from the mound part to roll up the hem of the mulch and lift the mulch above the root-cutting blade.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mulch peeling harvester that can peel off mulch and harvest mainly leafy vegetables at the same time, and a mulch peeling machine mounting method for manufacturing the mulch peeling harvester. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, mulch cultivation using mulch (mulch film) has been widely practiced due to its various advantages, such as suppressing weed proliferation, preventing pests, and preventing drying. However, because the bottom of the mulch covers both ends of the ridges, if harvesting is attempted with a harvester while it is in place, the mulch gets caught on the root cutting blade moving through the ridge soil and is cut. For this reason, harvesting crops by the roots requires manual labor, such as reaching down through holes in the mulch and cutting the roots with a sickle. While it has been considered to remove the mulch from the ridges in advance, this requires passing the leaves and stems through the mulch when removing it, which is particularly susceptible to damage to leafy vegetables, making this method unsuitable. On the other hand, for root vegetables, a device is disclosed in JP 11-206249 A that uses a working tool to turn up the covering soil at the left and right edges of the mulch, rolls up the mulch with a winding body, and uses a cutting and raising means to loosen and soften the soil in the furrows, making it easier to harvest the crops. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-206249 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, even if the device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used for leafy vegetables, it cannot be adopted because the crops would be damaged if they passed through the holes in the mulch. Even if the device is configured without a winding body to prevent the crops from passing through the holes in the mulch, if the mulch is turned up above the root cutting blades, which are positioned at a height suitable for leafy vegetables, the mulch is likely to be cut by the cutting members, leaving pieces of mulch in the soil. Furthermore, the cutting and raising means for loosening the soil around the bottom of the mulch is located near the bottom of the ridge, but because the soil in this area may be hard, the surrounding structure, including the cutting and raising means, must be made sturdy, which could result in increased weight and an increase in the number of parts.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a mulch peeling harvester and a method for attaching a mulch peeling machine that prevents damage to the leaves and stems of leafy vegetables, has a simple and lightweight structure, and is capable of peeling off mulch without leaving any residue on the ridges, while simultaneously harvesting leafy vegetables from the roots. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The mulch-stripping harvester of the present invention is a frame disposed at a predetermined height from the ground; Drive wheels provided on both the left and right sides; auxiliary wheels provided on at least either the front or rear of the drive wheel, on both the left and right sides; A power unit that supplies power to each unit; a transmission means for transmitting power from the power unit; A root cutting unit including vertical support members that hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame and are connected to the transmission means to vibrate, and a root cutting blade that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots of the crop while moving through the furrows; A mulch stripping unit attached to both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade, which turns up the bottom of the mulch and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade, The multi-peeling unit includes: A swelling portion that is arranged diagonally downward and forward and is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge to soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch; A mulch guide portion that extends diagonally upward and rearward from the swelling portion, turns up the bottom of the mulch, and lifts the mulch up to above the root cutting blade; The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0007] According to the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention, the mulch stripping unit is integrated with the root cutting blade and vibrates to remove both ends of the mulch from the ridges. This allows for a simple configuration while simultaneously cutting crop roots and rolling up the mulch, resulting in efficient harvesting. The mulch stripping unit also comprises a soil expansion section that softens the soil around the ridge bottom and a mulch guide section that rolls up the mulch bottom and lifts the mulch above the root cutting blade. This allows for gentle stripping of the mulch at the ridge bottom from the ridge soil, allowing for rolling up without tearing the mulch. Furthermore, the soil expansion section is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the ridge height, but the soil in this area is soft, so the load on the soil expansion section is low. This allows for a lightweight mulch stripping unit. Furthermore, the inclusion of a vertical support member creates a space between the root cutting blade and the frame. This prevents the leaves and stems of leafy vegetables from coming into contact with the mulch stripping harvester.

[0008] The mulch stripping harvester of the present invention is intended to include not only a mulch stripping harvester that can be used on its own, but also a harvester that can be connected to the rear of a tractor and used as an integral part of the tractor, for example.

[0009] A preferred example of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention is The soil expansion section and the mulch guide section are formed of rod-shaped members, and the soil expansion section and the mulch guide section are supported by a bracket attached to the root cutting blade and positioned facing forward.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention, the expanding soil section and mulch guide section are constructed of rod-shaped members, which allows the mulch stripping section to have a simpler and lighter structure and reduces the load on the harvester. In addition, by arranging the brackets facing forward, it is possible to support the area around the expanding soil section, which is prone to load as the harvester moves through the soil, thereby improving the strength of the mulch stripping section.

[0011] A preferred example of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention is A shovel section for digging up soil is provided on the upper surface of the soil expansion section, and a slider having an arc-shaped or flat cross section is provided on the upper surface of the multi-guide section.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the mulch-stripping harvester of the present invention, a shovel is provided for softening the soil in the ridges, allowing the soil to be loosened more effectively and the bottom of the mulch to be easily removed. Furthermore, a slider with an arc-shaped or flat cross section is provided on the top surface of the mulch guide, preventing the mulch from being torn even when pulled when turning it over.

[0013] A preferred example of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention is The multi-guide portion includes an inclined portion extending diagonally upward and rearward from the expanded soil portion, a horizontal portion extending horizontally from the rear end of the inclined portion, and a bent rear end portion bent downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion.

[0014] In a preferred example of the mulch-removing harvester of the present invention, a mulch guide section is formed by an inclined section extending diagonally upward and rearward from the expanded soil section, a horizontal section extending horizontally from the rear end of the inclined section, and a bent rear end section that is bent downward from the rear end of the horizontal section, thereby allowing the mulch to be guided to flow, moved, and peeled off from the furrow soil.

[0015] A preferred example of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention is A restricting protrusion is provided on the upper and inner side of the mulch guide portion to restrict the rolled up mulch from going any higher than that.

[0016] According to a preferred example of the mulch-peeling harvester of the present invention, the regulating projection is provided, so that the mulch can be prevented from covering the mulch guide portion when the mulch is being turned over.

[0017] A preferred example of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention is A plurality of mounting holes are provided in the left-right direction of the root cutting blade, and the mulch stripping part is attached with bolts to the mounting holes corresponding to the width of the ridge.

[0018] According to a preferred example of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention, a mulch stripping harvester can be provided that is equipped with a mulch stripping section whose width can be changed according to the row width.

[0019] A preferred example of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention is The expanding soil portion and the multi-guide portion are at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

[0020] In a preferred example of the mulch-removing harvester of the present invention, the expanding soil section and mulch guide section form a slope at a predetermined angle, and guide the mulch upward along that slope, thereby preventing damage to the mulch-removing section and making it easier to pull the mulch off the furrow soil.

[0021] A preferred example of the mulch stripping harvester of the present invention is The cutting blade is provided with a rear guide portion arranged diagonally upward and rearward from the root cutting blade, which lifts the mulch at the top of the ridge.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the mulch-removing harvester of the present invention, the rear guide section can lift the mulch at the top edge, making it easier to collect the mulch after harvesting the crop.

[0023] The method for attaching a multi-peel mechanism of the present invention comprises the steps of: a frame disposed at a predetermined height from the ground; Drive wheels provided on both the left and right sides; auxiliary wheels provided on at least either the front or rear of the drive wheel, on both the left and right sides; A power unit that supplies power to each unit; a transmission means for transmitting power from the power unit; A root cutting unit including vertical support members that hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame and are connected to the transmission means to vibrate, and a root cutting blade that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots of the crop while moving through the furrows; A method for retrofitting a mulch stripping mechanism to a harvester comprising: A hole drilling step of drilling a plurality of mounting holes at predetermined intervals on both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade; The mounting holes on both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade are A swelling portion that is arranged diagonally downward and forward and is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge to soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch; A mulch guide section that extends diagonally upward and rearward from the expanding soil section and lifts the mulch up to above the root cutting blade. A mulch stripping attachment process that attaches a mulch stripping section with a bolt, which strips the mulch and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade. The present invention is characterized by comprising:

[0024] A preferred example of the multi-peel mechanism mounting method of the present invention is as follows: The soil expansion section and the mulch guide section are formed of rod-shaped members, and the soil expansion section and the mulch guide section are supported by a bracket attached to the root cutting blade and positioned facing forward.

[0025] A preferred example of the multi-peel mechanism mounting method of the present invention is as follows: A shovel section for digging up soil is provided on the upper surface of the soil expansion section, and a slider having an arc-shaped or flat cross section is provided on the upper surface of the multi-guide section.

[0026] A preferred example of the multi-peel mechanism mounting method of the present invention is as follows: The multi-guide portion includes an inclined portion extending diagonally upward and rearward from the expanded soil portion, a horizontal portion extending horizontally from the rear end of the inclined portion, and a bent rear end portion bent downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion.

[0027] A preferred example of the multi-peel mechanism mounting method of the present invention is as follows: A restricting protrusion is provided on the upper and inner side of the mulch guide portion to restrict the rolled up mulch from going any higher than that.

[0028] A preferred example of the multi-peel mechanism mounting method of the present invention is as follows: The expanding soil portion and the multi-guide portion are at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

[0029] A preferred example of the multi-peel mechanism mounting method of the present invention is as follows: The method includes a rear guide mounting step of mounting a rear guide portion that is positioned diagonally upward and rearward from the root cutting blade and that lifts the mulch at the top of the ridge.

[0030] These methods for attaching a mulch stripping mechanism according to the present invention can achieve the same effects as the mulch stripping harvester described above. Note that the harvester in the method for attaching a mulch stripping mechanism according to the present invention is intended to include not only a harvester that can be used on its own, but also a harvester that is connected to the rear of a tractor and used as an integrated unit with the tractor, for example. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] As described above, the mulch-peeling harvester and mulch-peeling installation method of the present invention prevent damage to the leaves and stems of leafy vegetables, and despite its simple and lightweight structure, it is possible to peel off the mulch without leaving any residue on the ridges, while simultaneously harvesting the leafy vegetables from the roots. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a mulch stripping harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the mulch-stripping harvester shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of the root cutting section and the mulch stripping section. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of an embodiment of a multi-peeling unit. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are other views illustrating an example of an embodiment of the multi-peeling portion. [Figure 6] This is a rear view of the state in which leafy vegetables are harvested. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a side view of the state in which leafy vegetables are harvested. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the state in which the bottom of the mulch is turned up during harvesting. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view of a mulch stripping harvester according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the distance between the mulch and the root cutting blade. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the mulch stripping harvester 1 of the present invention and a mulch stripping mechanism installation method for manufacturing the mulch stripping harvester 1 will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in some of the drawings, some components are represented by dashed lines or the like for ease of viewing.

[0034] [First embodiment] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the mulch-stripping harvester 1 of this embodiment comprises a frame 10, a drive wheel 45, a first auxiliary wheel 21 and a second auxiliary wheel 31 as auxiliary wheels, a power unit 40, a transmission means 50, a root cutting unit 60, and a mulch-stripping unit 70a.

[0035] The frame 10 includes a main frame 11, a root cutting attachment 12, a drive wheel attachment 13, a first auxiliary wheel attachment 20, a second auxiliary wheel attachment 30, and a tip-over prevention unit 15. The main frame 11 forms the framework of the harvester, supports the harvester's main components, and determines the overall size and height of the harvester. The root cutting attachment 12 is a plate-shaped member suspended from the main frame 11 for attaching the root cutting unit 60. In this embodiment, it is located on both the left and right sides of the main frame 11 and behind the drive wheel attachment 13. The drive wheel attachment 13 is a member for supporting a pair of drive wheels 45. In this embodiment, it is suspended from both the left and right sides of the main frame 11 and is located slightly forward of the center of the main frame 11 in the fore-and-aft direction. In addition, a diagonal brace 14 is provided to reinforce the drive wheel attachment 13. The tip-over prevention unit 15 is provided at the front end of the main frame 11 and prevents the mulch-stripping harvester 1 from tipping forward.

[0036] The drive wheels 45 are attached to the drive wheel attachment portion 13 and are a pair of wheels that rotate with power transmitted from the power portion 40 via a belt 44, a chain, or the like, to propel the harvester.

[0037] First training wheel mounting part 20 is a member that supports first training wheel 21 and allows the position of first training wheel 21 to be adjusted, and one end 23 thereof is journaled on diagonal brace 14. Furthermore, the other end 24 is provided with first axle 22 that can be moved in and out horizontally, and first training wheel 21 is mounted at an angle to the inner end of first axle 22. When first training wheel 21 is not in use, first training wheel mounting part 20 can be rotated upward around one end 23 as an axis, and first training wheel mounting part 20 can be fixed in a position that does not get in the way (see arrow a in Figure 1).

[0038] The first training wheels 21 are wheels that assist the harvester in traveling. The position of the first training wheels 21 can be adjusted to match the height and width of the ridges 91, and they can be moved by abutting against the side of the ridges 91 (see Figure 6). This makes it possible to move the harvester along the ridges 91 without manual operation. Note that the first training wheel mounting portions 20 and the first training wheels 21 are not essential components and can be omitted.

[0039] The second training wheel mounting portion 30 is a member for supporting the second training wheel 31, and hangs down from the rear end of the main frame 11. In this embodiment, the second training wheel mounting portion 30 is made up of a cylindrical member, through which the support shaft 33 of the second training wheel 31 passes, and in which a height adjustment portion (not shown) for the second training wheel 31 is also disposed.

[0040] The second training wheels 31 are a pair of wheels attached to the second training wheel attachment parts 30 and supporting the harvester together with the drive wheels 45. In addition, the height of the second training wheels 31 can be adjusted by operating a height adjustment handle 32, which activates a height adjustment part.

[0041] The power unit 40 generates power to drive each component of the harvester and is composed of a power source 41, a transmission 42, a steering wheel 43, etc. In this embodiment, the power unit 40 is mounted on the mount 16 of the main frame 11. The power source 41 can be an engine, an electric motor, etc. The transmission 42 reduces the speed of the output from the engine crankshaft. The transmission 42 also includes a clutch or other device, allowing it to cut off power or select the destination of power transmission. The steering wheel 43 is made up of two cylindrical members that determine the direction of travel of the mulch-stripping harvester 1 and extends to near the rear end of the main frame 11. The steering wheel 43 is also provided with a brake lever, accelerator lever, etc. (not shown), which allow adjustment of the travel speed, etc.

[0042] The transmission means 50 transmits power from the power unit 40 to the root cutting unit 60 and includes a sprocket 51, a chain 52, a horizontal rotation shaft 53, an eccentric cam 54, and a rod 55. The sprocket 51 is a gear mounted on the transmission 42 and the horizontal rotation shaft 53. The chain 52 connects the two sprockets 51 and transmits power to the horizontal rotation shaft 53. The horizontal rotation shaft 53 is an axis that runs between the left and right sides of the frame 10 and distributes the power transmitted by the chain 52 to the left and right sides of the main frame 11. The eccentric cam 54 converts the rotation of the horizontal rotation shaft 53 into reciprocating motion. The rod 55 transmits the reciprocating motion from the eccentric cam 54 to the root cutting unit 60, vibrating the root cutting blade 63. The transmission means 50 is not limited to the above configuration; various configurations can be used as long as they can vibrate the root cutting blade 63.

[0043] The root cutting unit 60 cuts the roots r of the crops c while vibrating, and includes an attachment plate 61, a vertical support member 62, and a root cutting blade 63. The attachment plate 61 is a plate-like member that is roughly rectangular in side view, and its front part is rotatably supported near the lower end of the root cutting attachment unit 12. The rear part of the attachment plate 61 is connected to the rod 55. The attachment plate 61 vibrates slightly with the supported part as a fulcrum due to the reciprocating motion of the rod 55. Note that the attachment plate 61 is not an essential component, and can be omitted by configuring it integrally with the vertical support member 62.

[0044] The vertical support members 62 hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame 10 and are connected to the transmission means 50 to vibrate. In this embodiment, the vertical support members 62 are plate-shaped members attached to the sides of the mounting plate 61, and are connected to the rods 55 via the mounting plate 61, so that they vibrate together with the mounting plate 61. The vertical support members 62 and the mounting plate 61 are joined with bolts (not shown). The vertical support members 62 are provided with a plurality of bolt holes at predetermined intervals for bolt joining, and the height of the vertical support members 62 can be adjusted by using any of these bolt holes.

[0045] The root cutting blade 63 is a strip-like member that connects the lower ends of two vertical support members 62 and vibrates together with the vertical support members 62, cutting the roots r of the crops c as it moves through the ridges 91. In addition, the root cutting blade 63 is provided with a plurality of mounting holes 64 at predetermined intervals on the left and right sides for mounting the mulch stripping part 70a.

[0046] The mulch stripping unit 70a is attached to both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade 63, and turns up the bottom of the mulch 90 to move the mulch above the root cutting blade 63. As shown in FIG. 4(A), it comprises a soil expanding unit 71a, a mulch guide unit 73a, and a bracket 79a. The mulch stripping unit 70a can be attached to any of the multiple mounting holes 64 provided in the root cutting blade 63, and the mounting position is determined according to the width of the ridge 91. In this embodiment, there is no clear boundary between the soil expanding unit 71a and the mulch guide unit 73a, and the two are integrally formed from a single rod-shaped member.

[0047] The bracket 79a is a plate-like member attached to the root cutting blade 63 and positioned toward the front. It serves as a support for securing the mulch stripping unit 70a to the root cutting blade 63. In this embodiment, another plate-like member 80a is provided at the rear lower end of the bracket 79a, extending to the left and right, forming a generally inverted T shape in rear view. The bracket 79a is then secured to the top surface of the root cutting blade 63 with bolts or the like (not shown). The front of the bracket 79a serves to support the soil expansion unit 71a and the mulch guide unit 73a. However, because the bracket 79a is positioned toward the front, it primarily supports the soil expansion unit 71a. Note that the method for securing the bracket 79a to the root cutting blade 63 is not limited to the above, as long as it can be secured to the root cutting blade 63. For example, the bracket 79a can also be positioned on the underside of the root cutting blade 63.

[0048] The soil expansion section 71a is positioned at a downward and forward inclination and is inserted from the ridge shoulder 93 to a depth de (see Figures 7 and 8) less than the height h of the ridge 91 to soften the soil around the base of the mulch 90. The depth to which the soil expansion section 71a is inserted is preferably 75 to 125 mm from the top 92 of the ridge 91 or the soil surface. This is because if the insertion depth is too shallow, the soil around the base of the mulch 90 cannot be softened and the base of the mulch 90 is difficult to turn up. There is also a risk that the mulch 90 will sink under the soil expansion section 71a. On the other hand, if the insertion depth is too deep, the soil resistance acting on the soil expansion section 71a increases, making the soil expansion section 71a more susceptible to damage. In particular, if the soil expansion section 71a is inserted deeper than the height of the ridge 91, the tip of the soil expansion section 71a will be close to the uncultivated layer, increasing the risk of damage.

[0049] Furthermore, it is preferable that the position at which the soil expansion portion 71a is inserted be within 25 mm of the ridge shoulder 93 (see FIG. 8) toward the inside of the ridge 91 and within 75 mm toward the outside of the ridge 91. This is because if the insertion position is too far inside the ridge 91, the mulch 90 will be difficult to guide toward the inside of the mulch guide portion 73a, and the soil around the bottom of the mulch 90 will not be able to be softened. This increases resistance when turning up the bottom of the mulch 90, which could result in the mulch 90 tearing. Furthermore, the soil expansion portion 71a, which is located forward of the root cutting blade 63, will dig up the roots of leafy vegetables, making it difficult for the root cutting blade 63 to cut the roots. On the other hand, if the insertion position is too far to the left or right end of the ridge 91, the soil expansion portion 71a or the mulch guide portion 73a will come into contact with the mulch before the soil in the ridge 91 has been softened, which could also result in the mulch 90 tearing. There is also a risk that the mulch 90 may sink under the expanded soil portion 71a.

[0050] The mulch guide portion 73a extends diagonally upward and rearward from the expanding soil portion 71a and includes an inclined portion 75a, a horizontal portion 76a, and a bent rear end portion 77a. This mulch guide portion 73a turns up the bottom of the mulch 90 and lifts it above the root cutting blade 63, and then guides the bottom of the mulch 90 from the mulch guide portion 73a to the inside of the ridge 91. The inclined portion 75a extends diagonally upward and rearward from the expanding soil portion 71a and has the same inclination as the expanding soil portion 71a. The horizontal portion 76a extends horizontally from the rear end of the inclined portion 75a. The bent rear end portion 77a is bent downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion 76a. This mulch guide portion 73a is made of a round bar, and its upper surface has an arc-shaped cross section, forming the slider 74a.

[0051] The angle θ (see Figure 1) between the expanding soil section 71a and the mulch guide section 73a (inclined section 75a) is preferably in the range of 30 to 60 degrees relative to the horizontal, more preferably 30 to 40 degrees. This requires a certain distance d between the mulch rolled up by the mulch guide section 73a and the root cutting blade 63, as shown in Figure 10. However, when the angle θ of the mulch guide section 73a (inclined section 75a) is tilted to about 20 degrees, the average distance d measured multiple times is about 20 millimeters, which can cause the mulch 90 to come into contact with the root cutting blade 63 and be cut. When the angle θ is 30 to 40 degrees, the distance d between the mulch and the root cutting blade 63 is 140 to 150 millimeters, preventing cutting. Furthermore, when the angle θ is 50 to 70 degrees, the distance d between the mulch and the root cutting blade 63 is 100 to 110 millimeters, preventing contact between the mulch 90 and the root cutting blade 63. However, if the mulch guide portion 73a is raised to 70 degrees, the mulch 90 may get caught on the mulch guide portion 73a and tear. For these reasons, it can be said that the angle θ of the mulch guide portion 73a can be set to 30 to 60 degrees, and that a range of 30 to 40 degrees is most suitable in terms of the distance d between the mulch and the root cutting blade 63. However, when comparing 30 degrees and 40 degrees, if the depth de to which the soil expansion portion 71a is inserted into the soil is the same, 40 degrees is preferable because it has superior strength and can shorten the length L from the tip of the soil expansion portion 71a to the mulch guide portion 73a.

[0052] Furthermore, it is preferable that the strength of the mulch stripping portion 70a be weaker than the strength of the root cutting portion 60 including the root cutting blade 63. This is to prevent the mulch stripping portion 70a from breaking first when an excessive load is applied to the swelling soil portion 71a, etc., and destroying the root cutting portion 60. Furthermore, by not making the strength of the mulch stripping portion 70a too strong, it is possible to reduce the weight of the mulch stripping portion 70a.

[0053] Next, with reference to Figures 4(B) to (D), other embodiments of mulch stripping units 70b, 70c, and 70d will be described. The mulch stripping unit 70b shown in Figure 4(B) has a soil expanding unit 71b and a mulch guide unit 73b configured from square rod-shaped or square tubular members. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the soil expanding unit 71b is a flat shovel unit 72b, making it possible to more effectively expand and soften the soil in the ridges 91. Furthermore, the upper surface of the mulch guide unit 73b forms a flat slider 74b. In such cases, it is preferable to round the corners of at least the upper surface of the mulch guide unit 73b to prevent the mulch 90 from tearing.

[0054] In the mulch stripping unit 70c shown in Figure 4(C), a square-shaped member is used for the soil expansion section 71c to form a shovel section 72c, and the tip of the soil expansion section 71c is further sharpened. This reduces resistance when expanding and softening the soil. The mulch guide section 73c is made of a round bar, and a slider 74c with an arc-shaped cross section is formed on its upper surface. Furthermore, in the mulch stripping unit 70d shown in Figure 4(D), a flat plate is used for the soil expansion section 71d to form a shovel section 72d. The mulch guide section 73d is made of a round bar, and its upper surface forms a slider 74d with an arc-shaped cross section.

[0055] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5(A) and (B), restricting protrusions 78e, 78f may be provided above the mulch guides 73e, 73f and toward the inside of the ridges 91, as shown in Figures 5(A) and (B). These restricting protrusions 78e, 78f prevent the mulch 90, which has been rolled up by the inclined portion 75a, from going above the inclined portion 75a and landing on the horizontal portion 76a (see Figure 4(A)). Even if the mulch 90 lands on the horizontal portion 76a, it will not be torn directly because its upper surface forms the slider 74a and the folded rear end 77a forms a smooth curve. However, depending on the relative positions of the ridges 91 and the mulch, the bottom of the mulch 90 may remain on the ridges 91 when it lands on the horizontal portion 76a. In this case, the bottom of the mulch 90 will be positioned below the root cutting blade 63, causing the mulch 90 to be cut by the root cutting blade 63. The restricting protrusions 78e, 78f are provided to prevent this. In Fig. 5(A), the restricting protrusions 78e, 78f are semicircular in top view, and in Fig. 5(B), they are rod-shaped members 2 to 5 centimeters long that protrude horizontally inward from the mulch guide portions 73e, 73f. However, this is not limited to this, and any shape is possible as long as it can prevent the mulch 90 from rising. Furthermore, the mulch stripping portions 70e, 70f shown in Figs. 5(A) and (B) are installed on the right side of the root cutting blade 63, and on those installed on the left side, the positions of the restricting protrusions 78e, 78f are symmetrical in the left-right direction.

[0056] Returning to Figures 1 to 3, the rear guide portion 81 is disposed diagonally upward and rearward from the root cutting blade 63, and vibrates and lifts the mulch on the top 92 of the ridge 91. In this embodiment, the rear guide portion 81 is formed of a round bar, and its height is lower than that of the mulch guide portion 73a. The rear portion of the rear guide portion 81 is horizontal, preventing the mulch 90 from being torn at its edge. Furthermore, the rear guide portion 81 is attached by welding or other means to the upper surface of a band plate 82, which is attached by bolts or other means to the rear end of the root cutting blade 63. There are four rear guide portions 81, each in pairs of two. These are preferably configured to correspond to the locations where the crops c are planted, so that the crops c pass between the pairs of rear guide portions 81.

[0057] Next, with reference to Figures 6 to 8, a method of using the mulch-stripping harvester 1 of this embodiment will be described. Here, green onions are used as an example of crop c. However, crop c is not limited to green onions, and other leafy vegetables such as komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and spinach can also be used. To make the illustrations easier to understand, Figures 7 and 8 only show the configuration of the mulch-stripping harvester 1 around the root cutting unit 60, and Figure 8 omits the illustration of crop c. Furthermore, as is clear from Figures 6 and 8, before harvesting, cover soil 94 is placed on the bottom of the mulch 90 to prevent the mulch 90 from being turned over.

[0058] First, the mulch stripping harvester 1 of this embodiment is placed at the long edge of the ridge 91. Next, the root cutting blade 63 is set to a depth that will cut the roots r of the crop c in the soil of the ridge 91. At this time, it is not necessary to cut the roots r with the root cutting blade 63; depending on the conditions of the crop c at that time, the main function may be to dig up the soil around the roots. The soil swelling portion 71a is inserted into the soil of the ridge 91, but as described above, the insertion position and depth are set to a depth from the ridge shoulder 93 to a depth less than the height h of the ridge 91. The soil swelling portion 71a and mulch guide portion 73a are also positioned under the mulch 90. At this time, the bottom of the mulch 90 may be manually turned up first to guide the mulch from the mulch guide portion 73a to the inside of the pair of mulch stripping portions 70a.

[0059] Next, the accelerator lever or the like attached to the steering wheel 43 is operated to vibrate the root cutting blade 63 to cut the roots r of the crop c while moving the mulch stripping harvester 1 forward. This causes the mulch stripping section 70a to vibrate together with the root cutting blade 63, causing the soil swelling section 71a to expand and soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch 90. At the same time, the mulch guide section 73a turns up the bottom of the mulch 90, guiding the bottom to the inside of the mulch guide section 73a, and the height of the mulch 90 becomes higher than the root cutting blade 63.

[0060] At this time, the mulch 90 is vibrated by the rear guide units 81 at the portion of the mulch 90 that corresponds to the top 92 of the ridges 91, lifting it off the top 92 of the ridges 91. Furthermore, by passing the roots of the crop c between the pair of rear guide units 81, the vibrations of the rear guide units 81 can also remove soil adhering to the roots without damaging the crop c. Then, the crop c, whose roots r have been cut, falls sideways on the mulch 90 behind the mulch-stripping harvester 1. At this time, there is a space s between the top 92 of the ridges 91 and the mulch, and this space s acts as a cushion to prevent damage to the crop c. The fallen crop c can then be collected by hand.

[0061] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the mulch stripping harvester 101 will be described with reference to Figure 9. The mulch stripping harvester 101 of this embodiment includes a frame 110, drive wheels 145, second auxiliary wheels 131, a power unit 140, a transmission means 150, a root cutting unit 160, and a mulch stripping unit 170. The mulch stripping harvester 101 of this embodiment is integrated with a towing vehicle such as a tractor 2, and an operator rides in the tractor 2 and operates a handle (not shown) to change direction and travel. The drive wheels 145 and power unit 140 are those of the tractor 2.

[0062] The frame 110 includes a main frame 111, a root cutting mounting portion 112, a second auxiliary wheel mounting portion 130, and a diagonal brace 114. The configuration of each member can be understood by referring to the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. The front of the frame 110 is connected to a three-point linkage 3 of the tractor 2, and the frame 110 can be raised and lowered by the three-point linkage 3.

[0063] The second auxiliary wheel 131 is a wheel attached to the second auxiliary wheel attachment portion 130, and in this embodiment also serves as a ground contact reference wheel when the frame 110 is raised or lowered by the three-point linkage 3 of the tractor 2. The height of the second auxiliary wheel 131 is configured to be adjustable.

[0064] The transmission means 150 includes a transmission shaft 156, a horizontal rotation shaft, an eccentric cam 154, a rod 155, etc. The transmission shaft 156 is an axis aligned with the traveling direction of the tractor 2 and rotates with the output from the PTO shaft (Power Take Off, not shown) of the tractor 2. The horizontal rotation shaft is an axis extending laterally above the main frame 111 (not shown, see the horizontal rotation shaft 53 in the first embodiment), and the rotation from the transmission shaft 156 is transmitted by a 90-degree angle via a bevel gear 157, etc. The eccentric cam 154 converts the rotation of the horizontal rotation shaft into reciprocating motion. The rod 155 transmits the reciprocating motion of the eccentric cam 154 to the root cutting unit 160.

[0065] The root cutting unit 160 and the mulch stripping unit 170 have the same configuration as in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0066] Next, an embodiment of a mulch stripping mechanism installation method will be described. The mulch stripping mechanism installation method of this embodiment includes a hole drilling step, a mulch stripping installation step, and a rear guide installation step. It is assumed that there is a harvester equipped with a frame 10, drive wheels 45, auxiliary wheels 21, 31, a power unit 40, a transmission means 50, and a root cutting unit 60. This harvester is the mulch stripping harvester 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 minus the mulch stripping unit 70a and rear guide unit 81.

[0067] The hole drilling process is a process in which holes are drilled at a predetermined interval from both the left and right ends of the upper surface of the root cutting blade 63 using a drill or the like. The hole interval can be determined from the width of the ridge shoulder 93 of the ridge 91 on which the mulch stripping harvester 1 is intended to be used. This is because it is preferable to install the mulch stripping machine near each of the left and right ridge shoulders 93.

[0068] The mulch stripping attachment process is a process of attaching the mulch stripping part 70a to the root cutting blade 63. As described above, the holes in the bracket 79a of the mulch stripping part 70a are aligned with the predetermined holes drilled in the root cutting blade 63 in the hole drilling process, and the mulch stripping part 70a is fixed with bolts or the like.

[0069] The rear guide attachment process is a process of attaching the rear guide portion 81 to the root cutting blade 63. In this embodiment, the rear guide portion 81 is not attached directly to the root cutting blade 63, but is attached to the upper surface of the band plate 82 by welding or other methods. Therefore, the band plate 82 to which the rear guide portion 81 is attached can be attached to the rear end of the root cutting blade 63 by a known method such as bolting or welding. The rear guide portion 81 may also be attached directly to the root cutting blade 63. The mulch stripping mechanism attachment method of this embodiment can also be used in harvesters that are configured integrally with the tractor 2, such as the mulch stripping harvester 101 of the second embodiment described above.

[0070] As described above, with the mulch-stripping harvester 1 and the mulch-stripping mechanism installation method of this embodiment, the root cutting blade 63 cuts the roots r of the crop c, while the mulch stripping unit 70a, attached directly to the root cutting blade 63, flips up the bottom of the mulch 90. This prevents damage to the leaves and stems of leafy vegetables and, despite its simple and lightweight configuration, peels off the mulch without leaving any residue on the ridges 91, allowing the leafy vegetables to be harvested from the roots. Here, the bottom of the mulch 90 is flipped up by the mulch guide unit 73a, and the center portion is lifted by the rear guide unit 81. However, this rear guide unit 81 is configured relatively low, so the mulch 90 barely comes into contact with the leaves and stems of the crop c, preventing damage to the leaves and stems. Furthermore, by lifting and vibrating the mulch with the rear guide unit 81, soil and insects adhering to the underside of the mulch 90 can be removed, facilitating the collection of the mulch 90 after harvest.

[0071] Furthermore, the angles of the soil rod section and mulch guide section 73a, as well as the depth and position at which they are inserted into the soil of the ridges 91, are set within optimal ranges, thereby reducing the load on the mulch stripping section 70a. Furthermore, the bracket 79a is positioned forward and primarily supports the soil expansion section 71a, improving the strength of the area around the soil expansion section 71a, which is subject to the greatest load. These features allow the mulch stripping section 70a to have a lightweight and simple configuration. This also makes it possible to retrofit it to existing harvesters, making it easy to manufacture the mulch stripping harvester 1. Furthermore, it is possible to use the harvester with or without the mulch stripping section 70a.

[0072] The above-described mulch stripping harvester and mulch stripping mechanism mounting method are merely examples of the present invention, and their configurations can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1,101··Mulch stripping harvester, 2··Tractor, 3··3-point linkage, 10,110··Frame, 11,111··Main frame, 12,112··Root cutter mounting part, 13··Drive wheel mounting part, 14,114··Brace, 15··Anti-tip part, 16··Mount, 20: First training wheel mounting portion; 21: First training wheel; 22: First axle; 23: One end; 24: Other end; 30,130··Second training wheel mounting portion, 31,131··Second training wheel, 32··Height adjustment handle, 33,133··Support shaft, 40,140··Power unit, 41··Power source, 42··Transmission, 43··Steering handle, 44··Belt, 45,145··Driving wheels, 50,150··Transmission means, 51··Sprocket, 52··Chain, 53··Horizontal rotating shaft, 54··Eccentric cam, 55,155··Rod, 156··Transmission shaft, 157··Bevel gear, 60,160··Root cutting portion, 61··Mounting plate, 62··Vertical support member, 63··Root cutting blade, 64··Mounting hole, 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70e, 70f, 170·· Mulch stripping section, 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d·· Soil expansion section, 72b, 72c, 72d·· Shovel section, 73a, 73b, 73c, 73d, 73e, 73f·· Mulch guide section, 74a, 74b, 74c, 74d·· Slider, 75a, 75b , 75c, 75d··Inclined portion, 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d··Horizontal portion, 77a, 77b, 77c, 77d··Bent rear end portion, 78e, 78f··Regulating protrusion portion, 79a, 79b, 79c, 79d··Bracket, 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d··Other plate-shaped member, 81··Rear guide portion, 82··Strip plate, 90··Mulch, 91··Furrow, 92··Top edge, 93··Furrow shoulder, 94··Cover soil, c···crop, r··root,

Claims

1. a frame disposed at a predetermined height from the ground; Drive wheels provided on both the left and right sides; auxiliary wheels provided on at least either the front or rear of the drive wheel, on both the left and right sides; A power unit that supplies power to each unit; a transmission means for transmitting power from the power unit; A root cutting unit including vertical support members that hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame and are connected to the transmission means to vibrate, and a root cutting blade that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots of the crop while moving through the furrows; A mulch stripping unit attached to both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade, which turns up the bottom of the mulch and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade, The multi-peeling unit includes: A swelling portion that is arranged diagonally downward and forward and is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge to soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch; A mulch guide portion is provided which extends obliquely upward and rearward from the expanding soil portion, turns up the bottom of the mulch, and lifts the mulch up to above the root cutting blade; A mulch-stripping harvester characterized by having a shovel part for digging up soil on the upper surface of the expanding soil part, and a slider having an arc-shaped or flat cross section on the upper surface of the mulch guide part.

2. a frame disposed at a predetermined height from the ground; Drive wheels provided on both the left and right sides; auxiliary wheels provided on at least either the front or rear of the drive wheel, on both the left and right sides; A power unit that supplies power to each unit; a transmission means for transmitting power from the power unit; A root cutting unit including vertical support members that hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame and are connected to the transmission means to vibrate, and a root cutting blade that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots of the crop while moving through the furrows; A mulch stripping unit attached to both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade, which turns up the bottom of the mulch and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade, The multi-peeling unit includes: A swelling portion that is arranged diagonally downward and forward and is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge to soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch; A mulch guide portion is provided which extends obliquely upward and rearward from the expanding soil portion, turns up the bottom of the mulch, and lifts the mulch up to above the root cutting blade; A mulch-stripping harvester characterized in that the mulch guide section comprises an inclined section extending diagonally upward and rearward from the expanded soil section, a horizontal section extending horizontally from the rear end of the inclined section, and a bent rear end section bent downward from the rear end of the horizontal section.

3. a frame disposed at a predetermined height from the ground; Drive wheels provided on both the left and right sides; auxiliary wheels provided on at least either the front or rear of the drive wheel, on both the left and right sides; A power unit that supplies power to each unit; a transmission means for transmitting power from the power unit; A root cutting unit including vertical support members that hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame and are connected to the transmission means to vibrate, and a root cutting blade that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots of the crop while moving through the furrows; A mulch stripping unit attached to both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade, which turns up the bottom of the mulch and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade, The multi-peeling unit includes: A swelling portion that is arranged diagonally downward and forward and is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge to soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch; A mulch guide portion is provided which extends obliquely upward and rearward from the expanding soil portion, turns up the bottom of the mulch, and lifts the mulch up to above the root cutting blade; This mulch-peeling harvester is characterized in that it is provided with a restricting protrusion on the upper and inner side of the mulch guide portion to restrict the rolled-up mulch from going any higher than that.

4. a frame disposed at a predetermined height from the ground; Drive wheels provided on both the left and right sides; auxiliary wheels provided on at least either the front or rear of the drive wheel, on both the left and right sides; A power unit that supplies power to each unit; a transmission means for transmitting power from the power unit; A root cutting unit including vertical support members that hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame and are connected to the transmission means to vibrate, and a root cutting blade that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots of the crop while moving through the furrows; A mulch stripping unit attached to both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade, which turns up the bottom of the mulch and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade, The multi-peeling unit includes: A swelling portion that is arranged diagonally downward and forward and is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge to soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch; A mulch guide portion is provided which extends obliquely upward and rearward from the expanding soil portion, turns up the bottom of the mulch, and lifts the mulch up to above the root cutting blade; A mulch-stripping harvester characterized in that multiple mounting holes are provided in the left-right direction of the root cutting blade, and the mulch-stripping section is attached with bolts to the mounting holes corresponding to the width of the ridges.

5. a frame disposed at a predetermined height from the ground; Drive wheels provided on both the left and right sides; auxiliary wheels provided on at least either the front or rear of the drive wheel, on both the left and right sides; A power unit that supplies power to each unit; a transmission means for transmitting power from the power unit; A root cutting unit including vertical support members that hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame and are connected to the transmission means to vibrate, and a root cutting blade that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots of the crop while moving through the furrows; A mulch peeling unit attached to both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade, which turns up the bottom of the mulch and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade; A rear guide portion is provided which is arranged diagonally upward and rearward from the root cutting blade and floats the mulch at the top of the ridge, The multi-peeling unit includes: A swelling portion that is arranged diagonally downward and forward and is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge to soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch; A mulch guide portion that extends diagonally upward and rearward from the swelling portion, turns up the bottom of the mulch, and lifts the mulch up to above the root cutting blade; A mulch-stripping harvester comprising:

6. A mulch-stripping harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the soil expansion section and the mulch guide section are at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

7. a frame disposed at a predetermined height from the ground; Drive wheels provided on both the left and right sides; auxiliary wheels provided on at least either the front or rear of the drive wheel, on both the left and right sides; A power unit that supplies power to each unit; a transmission means for transmitting power from the power unit; A root cutting unit including vertical support members that hang down from both the left and right sides of the frame and are connected to the transmission means to vibrate, and a root cutting blade that connects the lower ends of the vertical support members and vibrates together with the vertical support members to cut the roots of the crop while moving through the furrows; A method for retrofitting a mulch stripping mechanism to a harvester comprising: A hole drilling step of drilling a plurality of mounting holes at predetermined intervals on both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade; The mounting holes on both the left and right sides of the root cutting blade are A swelling portion that is arranged diagonally downward and forward and is inserted from the ridge shoulder to a depth less than the height of the ridge to soften the soil around the bottom of the mulch; A mulch guide section that extends diagonally upward and rearward from the expanding soil section and lifts the mulch up to above the root cutting blade. A mulch stripping attachment process that attaches a mulch stripping section with a bolt, which strips the mulch and moves the mulch above the root cutting blade. A method for attaching a multi-peel mechanism, comprising:

8. A method for installing a mulch stripping mechanism as described in claim 7, wherein the expanding portion and the mulch guide portion are made of rod-shaped members, and the expanding portion and the mulch guide portion are supported by a bracket attached to the root cutting blade and positioned facing forward.

9. A method for installing a mulch removing mechanism according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising providing a shovel portion for digging up soil on the upper surface of the expanding soil portion, and providing a slider having an arc-shaped or flat cross section on the upper surface of the mulch guide portion.

10. A method for installing a multi-stripping mechanism as described in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the multi-guide portion comprises an inclined portion extending diagonally upward and rearward from the expanded soil portion, a horizontal portion extending horizontally from the rear end of the inclined portion, and a bent rear end portion bent downward from the rear end of the horizontal portion.

11. 11. The method for attaching a mulch peeling mechanism according to claim 7, wherein a restricting protrusion is provided on the upper and inner side of the mulch guide portion to restrict the rolled-up mulch from going any higher than that.

12. A method for attaching a mulch peeling mechanism according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the expanding portion and the mulch guide portion are at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

13. A method for installing a mulch peeling mechanism as described in any one of claims 7 to 12, including a rear guide installation step of installing a rear guide portion that is arranged diagonally upward and rearward from the root cutting blade and floats the mulch at the top of the ridge.

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