Machine for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of agricultural machinery, and concerns a machine (1) for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants cultivated on land (T) divided into beds (P) separated by aisles (C). Said machine (1) comprises: - a control cab (2) adapted to accommodate an operator; - a machine body (3); - motor means adapted to supply energy to means for resting and advancing (4) on the ground in a direction of forward movement (M); - a harvesting head (5) provided with front cutting means; - a feed belt (6) for said cut tomato plants having a longitudinal direction of extension (x); - a control unit. Said harvesting head (5) comprises: - an interface frame (7) with said machine body (3) with which said feed belt (6) is associated; - a coupler (8) arranged along said longitudinal direction of extension (x) and associable with said interface frame (7) by means of reversible connection means; - a first (9) and a second (10) harvester bar each provided with a loading belt (9a, 10a) for said plants, where said first (9) and second (10) harvester bar are associated with said coupler (8) symmetrically and transversely to said longitudinal direction of extension (x).

Description

[0001] MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY HARVESTING TWO ROWS OF TOMATO PLANTS

[0002] Technical field of application

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of agricultural machinery, and in particular concerns a machine for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants cultivated on land divided into beds separated by aisles. One row of tomatoes is cultivated on each bed.

[0004] Background art

[0005] Machines for harvesting tomatoes of known type are adapted to work in the field proceeding along a direction of forward movement, and in general terms are provided with:

[0006] - a control cab adapted to accommodate an operator;

[0007] - a machine body;

[0008] - motor means adapted to supply energy to means for resting and advancing on the ground in said direction of forward movement;

[0009] - a harvesting head provided with front cutting means, adapted to cut the tomato plants at ground level and with a feed belt for said cut tomato plants having a longitudinal direction of extension parallel to said direction of forward movement;

[0010] - a series of successive belts that determine the path of the plants and of the tomatoes, and along which various operations of shaking, selection and sorting take place, to separate the tomatoes from the cut plants and to identify only red and ripe tomatoes to be sent towards collection means (generally trailers). In machines for harvesting tomatoes of known type said harvesting head comprises a single harvester bar provided with cutting blades, where said harvester bar is a single row bar and has the same width as the feed belt, substantially equal to the width of a single grow bed of a single row of tomato plants.

[0011] The conventional single row harvester bar has the function of harvesting the tomato plants advancing in the field along the direction of forward movement of the machine above a single bed, with the means for resting and advancing that proceed in two adjacent and external aisles on opposite sides to the bed.

[0012] Machines for harvesting tomatoes that use a single row harvester bar are capable of harvesting around 80 ton / h of tomatoes.

[0013] However, for farms with large areas of land cultivated with tomatoes, conventional machines with a single row harvester bar are somewhat inefficient and have long and costly harvesting times, also difficult to coordinate with ripening and harvesting times. Moreover, long working times of the machine in the field leads to higher polluting emissions.

[0014] Presentation of the invention

[0015] The object of the invention is to overcome these limits, producing a machine for harvesting tomato plants that is efficient in the operations of cutting the tomato plants and subsequently feeding them to the next processing and sorting steps, which can simultaneously work on two adjacent beds while moving forward along the field, and hence on two rows of tomato plants, optimizing consumptions. Another object of the invention is to produce a machine for harvesting tomato plants that is versatile and has overall dimensions that fall within those permitted for road vehicles, and is also lightweight and relatively inexpensive.

[0016] These objects are achieved with a machine for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants cultivated on land divided into beds separated by aisles, comprising:

[0017] - a control cab adapted to accommodate an operator;

[0018] - a machine body;

[0019] - motor means adapted to supply energy to means for resting and advancing on the ground in a direction of forward movement;

[0020] - a harvesting head provided with front cutting means, adapted to cut the tomato plants at ground level;

[0021] - a feed belt for said cut tomato plants having a longitudinal direction of extension;

[0022] - a control unit, characterized in that said harvesting head comprises:

[0023] - an interface frame with said machine body with which said feed belt is associated;

[0024] - a coupler arranged along said longitudinal direction of extension and associable with said interface frame by means of reversible connection means;

[0025] - a first and a second harvester bar each provided with a loading belt for said tomato plants, where said first and second harvester bar are associated with said coupler symmetrically and transversely to said longitudinal direction of extension.

[0026] The machine for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants according to the invention has numerous advantages.

[0027] The harvesting head provided with two harvester bars side by side allows double the number of tomato plants to be harvested moving forward along the field and simultaneously working on two adjacent beds.

[0028] The productivity of the machine is considerably increased, with the possibility of reaching a capacity of 120 ton / h of tomatoes harvested.

[0029] The machine for harvesting two rows, by allowing practically double the number of plants to be harvested, reduces emissions per hectare and is classified as a “green” machine.

[0030] The reversible connection means of the coupler (which supports the two symmetrical harvester bars) to the interface frame makes the harvesting head easily removable and separable from the machine body, so as to separate the bulky parts that exceed the overall dimensions permitted for road vehicles from the machine. In this way, the machine can travel along roads to move from one field to another.

[0031] Furthermore, the machine is universal, with the possibility of associating both a coupler with the two symmetrical harvester bars, and optionally a conventional single row harvester bar, with the interface frame, if a single owner has parcels of land of different sizes and requires to equip the machine in different ways.

[0032] Additionally, the harvesting head with two bars is capable of harvesting all types of planting arrangements and single beds with widths ranging from 1 .2 m to 2 m.

[0033] Brief description of the drawings

[0034] These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the more detailed description set forth below, with the aid of the drawings representing a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

[0035] Fig. 1 illustrates, in an axonometric view, a machine for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants according to the invention and during use in the field;

[0036] Fig. 2 illustrates, in an axonometric view, a part of the machine of Fig. 1 ;

[0037] Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate, respectively in a top plan view and in a sectional view, the machine of Fig. 2;

[0038] Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate, in partially exploded axonometric views, a detail of the machine for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants according to the invention;

[0039] Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate, respectively in a full and partially exploded axonometric view, in a top plan view and in a sectional view along a vertical plane, a coupler component of the machine of Fig. 1 ;

[0040] Fig. 11 illustrates, in a partially exploded axonometric view, a detail of a harvesting head of the machine of Fig. 1 ;

[0041] Fig. 12 illustrates, in an axonometric view, a harvester bar of the machine of Fig. 1 ;

[0042] Figs. 13a and 13b illustrate, in an axonometric view, a detail of the machine for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants according to the invention, in two configurations of use.

[0043] Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0044] With reference to Fig. 1 , there is illustrated a machine 1 for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants cultivated on land T divided into beds P separated by aisles C.

[0045] Said machine 1 comprises:

[0046] - a driving cab 2 adapted to accommodate an operator, in which a control unit of all the functions of the machine 1 available to the operator is located;

[0047] - a machine body 3;

[0048] - thermal motor means adapted to supply energy to means for resting and advancing 4 on the ground T in a direction of forward movement M;

[0049] - a harvesting head 5 provided with front cutting means, adapted to cut the tomato plants at ground level;

[0050] - a feed belt 6 for said cut tomato plants having a longitudinal direction of extension x parallel to or coincident with said direction of forward movement M;

[0051] - a series of successive belts that determine the path taken by the plants and by the tomatoes, and along which various operations of shaking, selection and sorting take place, to separate the tomatoes from the cut plants and to identify only red and ripe tomatoes to be sent towards collection means (generally trailers).

[0052] With particular reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, there is illustrated a harvesting head 5 of a machine 1 for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants according to the invention.

[0053] Said harvesting head 5 comprises: an interface frame 7 with said machine body 3 with which said feed belt 6 is associated; a coupler 8 arranged along said longitudinal direction of extension x and associable with said interface frame 7 by means of reversible connection means; a first 9 and a second 10 harvester bar associated with said coupler 8 symmetrically and transversely to said longitudinal direction of extension x.

[0054] Said first 9 and second 10 harvester bar are each provided with:

[0055] - an independent cutting blade 9b, 10b adapted to cut the plants at ground level with fingers provided with a rotating movement system to lift the cut plants;

[0056] - a loading belt 9a, 10a for said cut tomato plants.

[0057] To facilitate understanding, Fig. 4 is without the feed belt and the loading belts of the harvester bars.

[0058] With particular reference to Figs. 5 and 6, there are illustrated the reversible connection means of said coupler 8 to said interface frame 7 that makes the bulkiest part of the harvesting head 5, comprising the harvester bars 9, 10, detachable from the machine body 3.

[0059] The interface frame 7 is fixed, by means of a central pin 42, to the machine body 3, with freedom of movement. Said interface frame can rotate about said central pin 42, and about a horizontal axis orthogonal to said central pin 42, so that its free end can be lowered or lifted with respect to the ground.

[0060] The rest of the harvesting head 5, and in particular the coupler 8 and the two symmetrical harvester bars 9, 10, are easily couplable to the machine body 3 at the time of working in the field and detachable at the time of transferring the machine 1 from one harvesting field to another, so as to make separate transport of the coupler 8 with which the harvester bars 9, 10 are associated possible, so as not to create external obstructions along the sides of the machine 1 and so that the overall dimensions of said machine remain within those permitted for road vehicles.

[0061] Said reversible connection means comprise:

[0062] - a first 11 and a second 12 hook and a first 13 and a second 14 bushing stably associated with said coupler 8;

[0063] - a first 15 and a second 16 pin stably associated with said interface frame 7 and adapted to cooperate by coupling respectively with said first 11 and second 12 hook;

[0064] - a first 17 and a second 18 seat with respective sides provided with holes 17’, 18’ adapted to respectively house said first 13 and second 14 bushing so as to make said bushings 13, 14 coaxial with said holes 17’, 18’;

[0065] - a first 19 and a second 20 cylinder each comprising a rod, adapted to reversibly and respectively engage said first 13 and second 14 bushing and the holes 17’, 18’ of said first 17 and second 18 seat.

[0066] With particular reference to Figs. 7-10, there is illustrated said coupler 8.

[0067] Said coupler 8 comprises a beam 21 transverse to said longitudinal direction of extension x and said hooks 11 , 12 and said bushings 13, 14 of said reversible connection means are arranged at the ends of said beam 21 .

[0068] Said coupler 8 comprises three points for resting on the ground: a first 22 and a second 23 smooth roller adapted to rest respectively on two adjacent beds P to be harvested, and a tyred wheel 24 adapted to rest on an aisle C arranged between said adjacent beds P.

[0069] Said coupler 8 comprises a mouldboard 25 provided with a first 25’ and a second 25” inclined wall adapted to direct said tomato plants towards the loading belts 9a, 10a respectively of said first 9 and second 10 harvester bar.

[0070] Said coupler 8 comprises an auger 26 with vertical axis provided on a vertex of said mouldboard 25 and adapted to facilitate the movement of said tomato plants towards the loading belt 9a, 10a of one of said harvester bars 9, 10.

[0071] Said coupler 8 comprises spring support means 27 for said mouldboard 25: said mouldboard 25, and the auger 26 associated therewith, are connected to the structure of the coupler 8 that advances resting on the ground by means of a coil spring 27 that absorbs the shocks caused by contact with any obstacles located in the ground.

[0072] Said coupler 8 comprises a cutting disc 28 with horizontal axis arranged along said longitudinal direction of extension x in front of said mouldboard 25 and adapted to act within the aisle C between two adjacent beds P.

[0073] Said cutting disc 28 has the function of cutting the intertwined vegetation that the machine 1 encounters while advancing along the direction of forward movement M so as to facilitate conveying of the tomato plants towards one of the harvester bars 9, 10.

[0074] Said cutting disc 28 comprises means for adjusting its position with respect to the bottom of the aisle C on which it acts; said adjustment means comprise a piston 43 adapted to sink said cutting disc 28 to a greater or lesser extent into the ground and a preload spring 44 adapted to compensate for the impact when it encounters obstacles in said ground, allowing lifting of the cutting disc 28.

[0075] With particular reference to Fig. 11 , there is illustrated the system for fixing the harvester bars 9, 10 to said coupler 8.

[0076] Advantageously, said harvesting head 5 comprises hinge connection means arranged between said coupler 8 and said first 9 and second 10 harvester bar so as to allow mutual and independent variation of the inclination of said harvester bars 9, 10 about an axis belonging to a vertical plane.

[0077] Said coupler 8 joins the two harvester bars 9, 10 while allowing them an independent “gull wing” movement: said harvester bars 9, 10 self-regulate and self-level with respect to the harvesting plane of the beds P, taking account of the presence of sunken or raised areas, as well as the non-linearity of the bottom of the aisles C in which the means for resting and advancing 4 of the machine 1 advance. Said hinge connection means comprise, for each harvester bar 9,

[0078] 10:

[0079] - a first 29 and a second 30 bushing associated with a side of said coupler 8;

[0080] - a first 31 and a second 32 bushing associated with a side of a harvester bar 9, 10;

[0081] - a pin 33 adapted to simultaneously engage said bushings 29, 30, 31 , 32.

[0082] With particular reference to Fig. 12 there is illustrated one of said harvester bars 10. As they are perfectly symmetrical, it must be understood that the description below applies to both the harvester bars.

[0083] Said harvester bar 10 comprises a roller 34 adapted to rest on a bed P and a tyred wheel 35 (Fig. 4) adapted to rest on an aisle C on the opposite side of the bed P with respect to the aisle C engaged by the tyred wheel 24 of said coupler 8.

[0084] Said harvester bar 10 comprises a mouldboard 36 provided with an inclined wall 36’ adapted to direct said tomato plants towards the respective loading belt 10a.

[0085] Said harvester bar 10 comprises an auger 37 with vertical axis provided on the vertex of said mouldboard 36 and adapted to rotate to facilitate the movement of said tomato plants towards the respective loading belt 10a.

[0086] Similarly to what has been described for the coupler 8, said harvester bar 10 also comprises spring support means 38 for the respective mouldboard 36.

[0087] At least one of the harvester bars 10 comprises a cutting disc 39 with horizontal axis arranged along said longitudinal direction of extension x in front of the respective mouldboard 36 and adapted to act in an aisle C.

[0088] Similarly to what has been described for the coupler 8, said cutting disc 39 also comprises means for adjusting its position with respect to a bottom of the aisle on which it acts, and hence a piston 43, and a preload spring 44 for lifting it when it encounters an obstacle in the ground.

[0089] With reference once again to Figs. 2-4, said harvesting head 5 comprises a first 40 and a second 41 throwing belt, arranged transverse to said longitudinal direction of extension x, adapted to convey the tomato plants respectively from the loading belts 9a, 10a of said first 9 and second 10 harvester bar towards said feed belt 6, since the total width given by the sum of the two loading belts, is greater than the width of the feed belt 6.

[0090] Therefore, said transverse throwing belts 40, 41 are useful to convey the outermost tomato plants harvested by the harvester bars 9, 10 towards the central feed belt 6 of the machine 1 .

[0091] Figs. 13a and 13b illustrate in detail one of said throwing belts 40 (which, for representational clarity, only shows the frame, without the belt that moves the tomato plants) fixed to said interface frame 7, in two possible operating positions: in the working operating position of the machine 1 (Fig. 13a) and in closed position, when the machine 1 is not operating but is being transferred by road (Fig. 13b).

[0092] As said throwing belts 40, 41 are perfectly symmetrical, it must be understood that the description below referring to the throwing belt 40 applies to both throwing belts.

[0093] Said harvesting head 5 comprises first hinge connection means arranged between said interface frame 7 and said first throwing belt 40, adapted to allow the rotation of said throwing belt 40 to take it from an open operating position (Fig. 13a) to a closed idle position along the sides of said interface frame 7 (Fig. 13b).

[0094] Said first hinge connection means thus allow the throwing belts to close on the sides of the interface frame, in a vertical position so as not to create external obstructions while transferring the machine from one field to another on the road.

[0095] Said first hinge connection means comprise two lateral hinges 45 around which the throwing belt 40 rotates with respect to the interface frame 7, and a drive cylinder 46: by varying the length of said drive cylinder 46 it is possible to vary the range of the angle of the throwing belt 40, from a value 0° in which the belt is operating (Fig. 13a) and a value 90° in which the belt is folded along the side (Fig. 13b).

[0096] Said harvesting head 5 comprises second hinge connection means arranged between said interface frame 7 and said first throwing belt 40, adapted to allow said throwing belt 40 to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof to vary its inclination with respect to said axis, so as to modify the position on which its working plane lies, to ensure continuity of travel for said tomato plants coming from the respective loading belt 9a.

[0097] In fact, it is important that the point in which the tomato plants abandon the loading belts 9a, 10a of the harvester bars is substantially at the same height as the point in which the throwing belts 40, 41 receive them.

[0098] Said second hinge connection means comprise a pin 47 about which the operators, after having slackened suitable fixing screws, can orient the throwing belt 40.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Machine (1 ) for simultaneously harvesting two rows of tomato plants cultivated on land (T) divided into beds (P) separated by aisles (C), comprising:- a control cab (2) adapted to accommodate an operator;- a machine body (3);- motor means adapted to supply energy to means for resting and advancing (4) on the ground in a direction of forward movement (M);- a harvesting head (5) provided with front cutting means, adapted to cut the tomato plants at ground level;- a feed belt (6) for said cut tomato plants having a longitudinal direction of extension (x);- a control unit, characterized in that said harvesting head (5) comprises:- an interface frame (7) with said machine body (3) with which said feed belt (6) is associated;- a coupler (8) arranged along said longitudinal direction of extension (x) and associable with said interface frame (7) by means of reversible connection means;- a first (9) and a second (10) harvester bar each provided with a loading belt (9a, 10a) for said tomato plants, where said first (9) and second (10) harvester bar are associated with said coupler (8) symmetrically and transversely to said longitudinal direction of extension (x).2) Machine (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said reversible connection means comprise:- a first (11 ) and a second (12) hook and a first (13) and a second (14) bushing stably associated with said coupler (8);- a first (15) and a second (16) pin stably associated with said interface frame (7) and adapted to cooperate by coupling respectively with said first (11 ) and second (12) hook;- a first (17) and a second (18) seat with respective sides provided with holes (17’, 18’) adapted to respectively house said first (13) and second (14) bushing so as to make said bushings (13, 14) coaxial with said holes (17’, 18’);- a first (19) and a second (20) cylinder each comprising a rod, adapted to reversibly and respectively engage said first (13) and second (14) bushing and the holes (17’, 18’) of said first (17) and second (18) seat.3) Machine (1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that said coupler (8) comprises a beam (21 ) transverse to said longitudinal direction of extension (x) and said hooks (11 , 12) and said bushings (13, 14) are arranged at the ends of said beam (21 ).4) Machine (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said coupler (8) comprises a first (22) and a second (23) roller adapted to rest respectively on two adjacent beds (P), and a tyred wheel (24) adapted to rest on an aisle (C) arranged between said adjacent beds (P).5) Machine (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said coupler(8) comprises a mouldboard (25) provided with a first (25’) and a second (25”) inclined wall adapted to direct said tomato plants towards the loading belts (9a, 10a) respectively of said first (9) and second (10) harvester bar.6) Machine (1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that said coupler (8) comprises an auger (26) with vertical axis provided on a vertex of said mouldboard (25) and adapted to facilitate the movement of said tomato plants towards the loading belt (9a, 10a) of one of said harvester bars (9, 10).7) Machine (1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that said coupler (8) comprises spring support means (27) for said mouldboard (25).8) Machine (1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that said coupler (8) comprises a cutting disc (28) with horizontal axis arranged along said longitudinal direction of extension (x) in front of said mouldboard (25) and adapted to act within the aisle (C) between two adjacent beds (P).9) Machine (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said harvesting head (5) comprises connection hinge means arranged between said coupler (8) and said first (9) and second (10) harvester bar so as to allow variation, mutual and independent, of the inclination of said harvester bars (9, 10) about an axis belonging to a vertical plane.10) Machine (1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that said connection hinge means comprise, for each harvester bar (9, 10):- a first (29) and a second (30) bushing associated with one side ofsaid coupler (8);- a first (31 ) and a second (32) bushing associated with one side of a harvester bar (9, 10);- a pin (33) adapted to simultaneously engage said bushings (29, 30, 31 , 32).11 ) Machine (1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that each harvester bar (9, 10) comprises a roller (34) adapted to rest on a bed (P) and a tyred wheel (35) adapted to rest on an aisle (C) on the opposite side of the bed (P) with respect to the aisle (C) occupied by the tyred wheel (24) of said coupler (8).12) Machine (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that each harvester bar (9, 10) comprises a mouldboard (36) provided with an inclined wall (36’) adapted to direct said tomato plants towards the respective loading belt (9a, 10a).13) Machine (1 ) according to claim 12, characterized in that each harvester bar (9, 10) comprises an auger (37) with a vertical axis provided on the vertex of said mouldboard (36) and adapted to rotate to facilitate the movement of said tomato plants towards the respective loading belt (9a, 10a).14) Machine (1 ) according to claim 12, characterized in that each harvester bar (9, 10) comprises spring support means (38) for said mouldboard (36).15) Machine (1 ) according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one harvester bar (9, 10) comprises a cutting disc (39) with a horizontal axis arranged along said longitudinal direction ofextension (x) in front of the respective mouldboard (36) and adapted to act in an aisle (C).16) Machine (1 ) according to claim 8 or 15, characterized in that said cutting discs (28, 39) comprise means for adjusting their position with respect to a bottom of the respective aisle (C) on which they act.17) Machine (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said harvesting head (5) comprises a first (40) and a second (41 ) throwing belt, arranged transverse to said longitudinal direction of extension (x), adapted to convey the tomato plants respectively from the loading belts (9a, 10a) of said first (9) and second (10) harvester bar towards said feed belt (6).18) Machine (1 ) according to claim 17, characterized in that said harvesting head (5) comprises first hinge connection means (45) arranged between said interface frame (7) and said first (40) and second (41 ) throwing belt, adapted to allow the rotation of said throwing belts (40, 41 ) to take them from an open operating position to a closed idle position along the sides of said interface frame (7), by means of a respective drive cylinder (46).19) Machine (1 ) according to claim 17, characterized in that said harvesting head (5) comprises second hinge connection means (47) arranged between said interface frame (7) and said first (40) and second (41 ) throwing belt, adapted to allow the rotation of said throwing belts (40, 41 ) about a respective longitudinal axis to vary their inclination with respect to said axis.

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