JP7486369B2 - combine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to combine harvesters, and more specifically to combine harvesters with a large number of cutting rows, such as eight rows.

Combine harvesters with a large number of cutting rows, such as eight-row harvesters, have a large cutting section that is wider than the regulated width for traveling on roads. For example, when they are loaded onto a transport vehicle for transport, they cannot be driven on the road as is.

In the past, the stalk transport device located at one end of the harvesting section in the cutting width direction, the support frame that supports them, and the transmission mechanism were constructed as a unit that could be easily attached and detached. When loading the harvester onto a transport vehicle, these unit-like assemblies were removed, and the long cutting device in the cutting width direction was removed, making it possible to make the width narrower than the width in normal use (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-85550 A

The above-mentioned conventional configuration can cut eight rows of planted stalks at a time during harvesting work, improving work efficiency. However, when loading the combine onto a transport vehicle for road travel after work is completed, it is necessary to remove the large cutting device and the unit-like assembly, which is time-consuming work. Furthermore, each removed device must be stored separately from the combine body, making management of the removed devices cumbersome.

Moreover, when returning to the normal operating state to perform harvesting work again, the removed unit assembly must be attached, which takes time to align, making the installation work cumbersome. In particular, when removing the unit assembly, the horizontal transmission shaft in the transmission mechanism is separated, and then when the transmission shaft is connected to return to the normal operating state, if the shaft core is misaligned due to, for example, mechanical rattle, power transmission may not be performed properly.

Therefore, there was a need for a combine harvester that could increase the number of cutting rows during harvesting work, while allowing the width to be changed without any troublesome effort, and that could also transmit power smoothly under normal use conditions.

The characteristic configuration of the combine harvester according to the present invention is that the front part of the machine body is provided with a cutting section that is divided into one side divided cutting section and the other side divided cutting section at a midpoint in the cutting width direction, and the one side divided cutting section can be changed in position relative to the other side divided cutting section to switch to a stored state in which its width is shorter than its width in normal use, and the cutting section is provided with a plurality of lifting devices corresponding to the number of cutting rows, a cutting device that cuts the base of the planted culms to be cut, and a transport device that transports the cut culms toward the rear of the machine body, and the plurality of lifting devices, the cutting device, the transport device, and The frame that supports the one-side divided cutting section is divided at the dividing boundary between the one-side divided cutting section and the other-side divided cutting section, and the one-side divided cutting section is configured so that the lifting device belonging to the one-side divided cutting section, a part of the cutting device belonging to the one-side divided cutting section, a part of the transport device belonging to the one-side divided cutting section, and a part of the frame belonging to the one-side divided cutting section change position together, and the cutting section is configured so that, when in the stored state, the front of the one-side divided cutting section faces the front of the other-side divided cutting section.

According to the present invention, the divided cutting unit on one side can be switched between a normal use state and a stored state by changing its position relative to the divided cutting unit on the other side. Even if the number of cutting rows is increased to increase work capacity, by switching to the stored state, the width can be narrower than the width in the normal use state and loaded onto a transport vehicle. In this way, the divided cutting unit on one side is not separated from the divided cutting unit on the other side, but its position is changed, so when switching the cutting unit to the stored state, there is no need to separate it from the combine body and manage the parts.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a vertically oriented pivot shaft is provided between the one-side divided cutting section and the other-side divided cutting section in the cutting width direction, and the one-side divided cutting section pivots about the pivot shaft relative to the other-side divided cutting section, so that the cutting section can be switched between the normal use state and the stored state.

With this configuration, the one-side divided cutting section rotates around a pivot shaft in a vertical position relative to the other-side divided cutting section, allowing for compact storage without protruding significantly in the vertical direction. For example, it is possible to configure the one-side divided cutting section to rotate around a horizontal shaft core to switch to a stored state, but with this configuration there is a risk that it will protrude significantly upward, requiring a large storage space in the vertical direction. However, with this configuration, there is no such disadvantage and compact storage is possible.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the cutting section is provided with a power transmission shaft that is divided into one side shaft portion on the one side divided cutting section side and the other side shaft portion on the other side divided cutting section side at a midway position in the cutting width direction, and that in the normal use state, the one side shaft portion and the other side shaft portion are linked together in a straight line via a shaft connecting portion, and that in the stored state, is separated into the one side shaft portion and the other side shaft portion, and that a guide mechanism is provided that guides the one side shaft portion to a proper connection state in which it is properly connected to the other side shaft portion when the cutting section is switched from the stored state to the normal use state.

A power transmission shaft extending in the cutting width direction across the one-side divided cutting part and the other-side divided cutting part is divided into a one-side shaft part corresponding to the one-side divided cutting part and an other-side shaft part corresponding to the other-side divided cutting part. When the cutting part is switched to the stored state, the power transmission shaft separates into the one-side shaft part and the other-side shaft part, and when the cutting part is switched to the normal use state, the power transmission shaft is linked and connected in a state where the separated one-side shaft part and the other-side shaft part are connected in a straight line.
When the cutting unit is switched from the stored state to the normal use state, the guide mechanism guides the one side shaft portion and the other side shaft portion of the power transmission shaft to a proper connection state, so that the power transmission shaft can transmit power satisfactorily in the normal use state.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the cutting device is provided on the rear side of the machine body relative to the lifting device, and the guide mechanism is provided on the rear side of the machine body relative to the cutting device.

With this configuration, the guide mechanism is located further to the rear of the machine than the cutting device, which is located to the rear of the lifting device, so the guide mechanism is positioned further away from the rotation axis. As a result, the guide mechanism can provide smoother guidance.

In the present invention, a vertically oriented pivot shaft is provided between the one-side divided cutting section and the other-side divided cutting section in the cutting width direction, the guide mechanism is provided with a tubular member provided on one of the one-side divided cutting section and the other-side divided cutting section, and a shaft member provided on the other of the one-side divided cutting section and the other-side divided cutting section, the tubular member and the shaft member are configured to guide the one-side shaft member to the proper connection state by fitting the shaft member into the tubular member when the cutting section switches from the stored state to the normal use state, and the shaft member and the tubular member are preferably arranged to extend along a tangent to an arc-shaped trajectory centered on the pivot shaft when the cutting section is in the normal use state.

According to this configuration, when the cutting unit switches from the stored state to the normal use state, the shaft member provided on one of the one-side divided cutting unit and the other-side divided cutting unit fits into the tubular member provided on the other, thereby guiding it to the proper connection state. Furthermore, since the shaft member and the tubular member are arranged to extend along the tangent direction of the arc-shaped trajectory centered on the pivot shaft when the cutting unit is in the normal use state, the shaft member fits into the tubular member in a state in which it extends along the tangent direction of the arc-shaped trajectory centered on the pivot shaft. As a result, the shaft member fits smoothly into the tubular member without any strain, and the guiding function can be satisfactorily performed.

In the present invention, the cutting section is provided with a horizontal frame which is part of the frame and extends across almost the entire width in the cutting width direction, and the horizontal frame is divided into a one-side frame body and an other-side frame body along the width direction at the boundary between the one-side divided cutting section and the other-side divided cutting section, and is configured so that the one-side frame body and the other-side frame body are separated in the stored state and are connected in the normal use state, and it is preferable that the guide mechanism is provided at the connection point between the one-side frame body and the other-side frame body.

With this configuration, as the position of the one-side divided cutting section changes, the horizontal frame separates into the one-side frame body and the other-side frame body, or the two are connected together. When the one-side divided cutting section changes position from the stored state to the normal use state, it is guided to the correct connection state by a guide mechanism provided at the connection point between the one-side frame body and the other-side frame body.

As a result, by using a highly rigid horizontal frame, it is possible to effortlessly align the large-sized equipment, the divided cutting unit on one side, with the divided cutting unit on the other side.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the horizontal frame is provided below the cutting unit and positioned toward the rear of the lifting device, and that the cutting device is supported by the horizontal frame.

According to this configuration, the horizontal frame is provided on the rear side of the lifting device, below the cutting section, so that it is located away from the axis of the pivot shaft, which is the pivot shaft of the one-side divided cutting section. The guide mechanism is provided on the horizontal frame, so that it can smoothly and effortlessly guide the one-side divided cutting section at a location away from the axis when it exerts its guiding function as it rotates from the stored state to the normal use state.

The cutting device is supported on the horizontal frame, and like the horizontal frame, the cutting device is divided into one side divided cutting section and the other side divided cutting section. When the device is returned to its normal operating state, the one side frame body and the other side frame body are precisely positioned by the guide mechanism, so that the cutting devices on both sides of the divided section are well aligned. As a result, the cutting marks on the planted culms cut by the cutting device are neat and have few steps.

FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the reaping unit in a normal use state. FIG. 4 is a side view of the reaping unit in a folded state. FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view of the conveying device in normal use. FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view of the carrier device in a folded state. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the transmission structure of the cutting unit. FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view of the raking portion and the cutting device. FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional front view of the cutting device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a split support frame body on the folding side. FIG. 4 is a side view of the divided support frame body on the folding side. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a split support frame body on the folding side. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another divided support frame body. FIG. 11 is a side view of another divided support frame body. FIG. FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the left junction conveying section and a power transmission mechanism. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of a power transmission mechanism. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the attached state of the winding prevention cover. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the guide mechanism in a separated state. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway rear view of the guide mechanism. FIG. 13 is a rear view showing the separated state of the raising drive shaft. FIG. 13 is a rear view showing the connection state of the raising drive shaft. FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional front view showing a divided state of the power transmission shaft. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional front view showing a connection state of the power transmission shaft.

The following describes an embodiment of a combine harvester according to the present invention with reference to the drawings.

〔overall structure〕
1 and 2, the combine harvester according to the present invention includes a traveling body 1 and a reaping unit 2 for reaping eight rows of planted culms. The reaping unit 2 is connected to the traveling body 1 so as to be able to swing up and down about a horizontal axis P1, and is provided so as to be able to be driven up and down by a lift cylinder 3.

In this embodiment, when defining the fore-and-aft direction of the machine body, the side on which the cutting unit 2 is provided in Figures 1 and 2 is defined as the front side of the machine body, and the opposite side is defined as the rear side of the machine body. When defining the left-right direction of the machine body, when traveling forward with the front of the machine body in front, the right side is defined as the right side of the machine body and the left side is defined as the left side of the machine body when viewed in the direction of travel. Therefore, the width direction of the machine body corresponds to the left-and-right direction of the machine body.

The traveling machine body 1 is provided with a pair of left and right crawler traveling devices 4, and a driving section 5 is provided on the right side (one side in the width direction) of the front part of the machine body, and behind that, a threshing device 6 that threshes the stalks harvested by the reaping section 2, and a grain tank 7 that stores the grains obtained by the threshing process, arranged in a line in the lateral direction of the machine body. The driving section 5 is provided and covered by a cabin 5a.
Although not shown, the threshing device 6 clamps and transports the base of the harvested stalks transported from the harvesting section 2 with a threshing feed chain 8, threshing the tips inside the threshing chamber and separating the grains from dust in a sorting section provided at the bottom of the threshing chamber. The grains are stored in a grain tank 7, and the dust is discharged outside the machine. The grains stored in the grain tank 7 can be discharged to the outside by a discharge device 7A. After threshing, the straw is shredded by a shredding device 9 and then discharged outside the machine.

The harvesting unit 2 is equipped with multiple (9) weed-dividing tools 10 at the front end that guide the planted culms of the rows to be harvested, and at the rear of the tools are multiple (8) lifting devices 11 corresponding to the number of rows to be harvested, cutting devices 12 that cut the bases of the planted culms to be harvested, and a vertical transport device 13 that transports the harvested culms, which are in a vertical position, gradually to a sideways position while transporting them toward the rear of the machine.

Of the nine weed splitting tools 10, the two that are located on the outermost sides of the machine split the planted culms into those to be harvested and those not to be harvested, introduce the culms to be harvested into the raising path adjacent to the weed splitting tool 10, and guide the non-target culms to the outside of the raising path. The other weed splitting tools 10 split the culms to be planted in the two planting rows to both sides of the weed splitting tool 10 and introduce them into the raising paths on both sides of the weed splitting tool 10.

The cutting section 2 protrudes to the left side more than the crawler travelling device 4 on the left side (uncut side), so cutting work can be carried out smoothly without the risk of the crawler travelling device 4 trampling down the uncut stalks (see Figures 2 and 6).

[Raising device]
As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the lifting device 11 is provided in an upright position with its lower end positioned toward the front of the machine body and its upper end positioned toward the rear of the machine body. As shown in Figure 9, the lifting device 11 is provided with an endless rotating chain 18 wound around the driving sprocket 15, tensioning sprocket 16, and driven sprocket 17 located on the upper side inside a lifting case 14 that also serves as a frame, and the endless rotating chain 18 is provided with a plurality of lifting claws 19 spaced at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. The lifting claws 19 are supported by the endless rotating chain 18 so that they can be changed between an upright position and a lying position.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a lifting drive shaft 20 is provided that extends in the left-right direction across the tops of the eight lifting devices 11. Power from this lifting drive shaft 20 is transmitted to the drive sprocket 15 via a gear-linked intermediate transmission shaft 22 provided in an intermediate transmission case 21. The lifting drive shaft 20 has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape and is configured to transmit power to the interlocking gear section in a square-fitted state.

The lifting device 11 has a lifting action path H1 along which the lifting claw 19 moves when it protrudes sideways, and a non-action return path H2 along which the lifting claw 19 moves when it is retracted. In other words, one of the vertical movement paths on either the left or right side of the endless rotating chain 18 is set as the lifting action path H1, and the opposite side is set as the non-action return path H2. Although not shown, the lifting action path H1 is provided with a guide plate at the point where the endless rotating chain 18 passes through to guide the lifting claw 19 to rise.

The multiple lifting devices 11 are arranged side by side with the lifting action paths H1 adjacent to each other and the non-action return paths H2 adjacent to each other. The rotation direction of each lifting device 11 is set so that the lifting claw 19 moves upward in the lifting action path H1. In other words, the rotation directions of the endless rotating chain 18 of the lifting devices 11 that are in contact with each other are set to be opposite to each other.

In the lifting device 11 configured in this way, the lifting claws 19 protruding sideways move upward along the lifting action path H1 while combing the stalks, and when they reach the end of the upward movement, they come off the stalk and move down the non-working return path H2 of the lifting case 14, returning to the lifting action path H1. In this way, each lifting device 11 lifts and processes the planted stalks introduced into the lifting path with the lifting claws 19 that move upward.

[Cutting device]
The cutting device 12 is formed long and wide across the entire width in the left-right direction (corresponding to the cutting width direction) so as to act on the planted stalks of all the rows to be cut (8 rows), and is composed of a clipper-type cutting blade of a well-known structure. The cutting device 12 is divided into a left cutting section 12A that acts on the two left rows of the eight rows to be cut, and a right cutting section 12B that acts on the six right rows.

The right cut portion 12B will now be described.
10, the right cutting section 12B includes two sets of clipper-type cutting blades 25 separated into two and arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and left and right cutting blade drive mechanisms 26 for respectively driving the two sets of cutting blades 25. Each of the left and right cutting blades 25 includes a fixed blade 27 having a large number of teeth 27a arranged side by side in the left-right direction, a movable blade 28 having a large number of teeth 28a arranged side by side in a state of sliding contact with the upper side of the fixed blade 27, a receiving base 29 for receiving and supporting the fixed blade 27, and a plurality of knife clips 30 for preventing the movable blade 28 from floating up.

As shown in FIG. 10, a movable blade operating body 31 is provided near the outside of each of the left and right movable blades 28, and the movable blade 28 is configured to reciprocate left and right along the width direction of the machine body relative to the fixed blade 27 by driving the blade driving mechanism 26 that acts on the movable blade operating body 31.

The movable blade operating body 31 has an engagement groove 32 that is U-shaped in plan view. The blade drive mechanism 26 has an arm 34 with an operating roller 33 at one end that engages with the engagement groove 32 of the movable blade operating body 31, an interlocking rod 35 connected at one end to the other end of the arm 34, and a drive rotor 36 that functions as a crank arm connected to the other end of the interlocking rod 35. The rotational driving force of the drive rotor 36 is converted into reciprocating power to drive the movable blade 28 back and forth to the left and right.

The movable blade 28 is driven to slide back and forth in the left and right direction, and the movable blade 28 and the fixed blade 27 work together to cut the base of the planted culm. The movable blades 28 of the cutting blades 25 on both the left and right sides are configured to slide in opposite directions to each other, minimizing vibrations that accompany the sliding operation of the movable blades 28.

As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the left and right cutting blades 25 on both sides are provided with upper fixed blades 37 located above the left and right movable blades 28 at the butting portions in the middle between the left and right sides. In this way, the fixed blades 37 are located on the upper side at the butting portions, preventing dust from getting caught between the fixed blades 37 and the movable blades 28 at the butting portions. The upper fixed blades 37 are provided separately for each of the left and right cutting blades 25.

The left cut portion 12A will now be described.
As shown in Fig. 10, the left cutting unit 12A is equipped with a clipper-type cutting blade 38 having a configuration similar to that of the cutting blade 25 in the right cutting unit 12B, and a blade drive mechanism 39 (an example of another power transmission unit) that drives the cutting blade 38. The cutting blade 38 is the same as the cutting blade 25 in the right cutting unit 12B except for the number of cutting rows, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The cutting blade drive mechanism 39 is also the same as the cutting blade drive mechanism 26 in the right cutting unit 12B, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In this way, the left cutting unit 12A and the right cutting unit 12B are equipped with respective blade drive mechanisms 26, 39.

At the butt joint between the blade 25 located on the left side of the right cutting section 12B and the blade 38 of the left cutting section 12A, an upper fixed blade 37 is provided that is located above the movable blade 28, similar to the butt joint at the right cutting section 12B. This upper fixed blade 37 is provided separately for the left cutting blade 25 of the right cutting section 12B and the blade 38 of the left cutting section 12A. The movable blade 28 of the blade 38 of the left cutting section 12A is configured to slide in the opposite direction to the sliding movement of the movable blade 28 of the left cutting blade 25 of the right cutting section 12B.

The left-side cutting section 12A and the right-side cutting section 12B each have a movable blade 28, a fixed blade 27, and a receiving base 29 that are formed separately and are arranged in close proximity to each other when in abutted condition. In a stored condition (folded condition) described below, they are arranged so that they can be separated from each other.

[Vertical conveying device]
As shown in Figures 4 and 6, the vertical conveying device 13 includes a plurality of pick-up sections 40 that gather together the harvested culms in groups of two and pick them up rearward, a first intermediate conveying section 41 that conveys the first and second harvested culms from the right side to the joining point on the left rear side, a second intermediate conveying section 42 that conveys the third and fourth harvested culms from the right side to the joining point on the rear side, a third intermediate conveying section 43 that conveys the fifth and sixth harvested culms from the right side to the joining point, and a fourth intermediate conveying section 44 that conveys the seventh and eighth harvested culms from the right side to the joining point. That is, it is equipped with a fourth intermediate conveying section 44 which transports the two rows of harvested stumps at the left end rearward, a left junction conveying section 45 which is a stump conveying device of the present invention which takes over the harvested stumps transported by the fourth intermediate conveying section 44 and transports them to the junction point, a supply conveying section 46 which transports the eight rows of harvested stumps that have joined at the junction point to the starting end of the threshing feed chain 8, and a first tip retaining and conveying device 47 which acts on the tip side of the harvested stumps transported by the first intermediate conveying section 41 and the harvested stumps that have joined at the junction point to retain and guide the tip side.

As shown in Figures 6 and 11, the scraping section 40 is provided with a lower scraping device 50 consisting of a pair of rotary packers 48, 49 (scraping rotors having an approximately star-shaped outer shape) for scraping in stalks that are positioned side by side in the left-right direction of the machine body near the top of the cutting device 12 and rotate in mesh with each other, and an upper scraping device 52 consisting of a pair of endless rotating belts with protrusions positioned above the lower scraping device 50. Four such scraping sections 40 are provided, lined up in the left-right direction (cutting width direction).

The lower scraping device 50 scrapes the base side of two rows of harvested stalks that have been cut by the cutting device 12 between a pair of packers 48, 49 and sends them out from between the packers toward the rear of the machine. In this lower scraping device 50, one of the pair of packers 48, 49, packer 48, is configured as a drive side packer to which power is transmitted, and the other packer 49 is configured as a driven side packer that meshes with the drive side packer 48 and drives it.

The pair of endless rotating belts 51 in the upper scraping device 52 are configured to rotate when power is transmitted from the left and right packers 48, 49, respectively, and scrape in the base sides of two rows of harvested stalks and send them out the rear by engaging and transporting them.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lower scraping device 50 located at the right end and the third lower scraping device 50 from the right are positioned at a high position, while the second lower scraping device 50 from the right and the lower scraping device 50 located at the left end are positioned at a low position.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first intermediate conveying section 41 is composed of a first stalk base clamping and conveying device 53 that clamps the stalk bases of two harvested stalks raked in by the rightmost raking section 40 and conveys them toward the left rear, and the front half of the first ear tip retaining and conveying device 47.

The first stalk base gripping and transporting device 53 is equipped with an endless rotating chain wound around multiple sprockets. Although not shown, a gripping rail is provided opposite the endless rotating chain, and the endless rotating chain and gripping rail grip the stalk base and transport it to the junction.

The first tip locking and transporting device 47 is equipped with an endless rotating chain 57 with locking protrusions wound around multiple sprockets, and a tip guide plate 58 (see Figure 4) that guides the tips of the harvested culms while placing them on it. The endless rotating chain 57 is equipped with locking protrusions 59 spaced at a predetermined pitch, and is configured to lock the tips of the harvested culms as the endless rotating chain 57 rotates, and transport the tips of the harvested culms to the left rear while placing and guiding them on the tip guide plate 58. The rear half of this first tip locking and transporting device 47 is configured to lock and transport the tips of the eight rows of harvested culms that are joined at the joining point.

The second intermediate conveying section 42 is equipped with a second intermediate stalk base clamping and conveying device 61 that clamps the stalk bases of the two rows of harvested culms shoveled in by the second shoveling section 40 from the right end and conveys them toward the junction at the rear, and a second intermediate tip retaining and conveying device 62 that retains and conveys the tip sides of the two rows of harvested culms and conveys them toward the rear.

The second intermediate stalk clamping and transporting device 61 is equipped with an endless rotating chain wound around multiple sprockets. Although not shown, a clamping rail is provided opposite the endless rotating chain, and the endless rotating chain and the clamping rail clamp the stalk at the base and transport it to the junction.

The second intermediate tip retaining and transporting device 62 is equipped with an endless rotating chain with a retaining protrusion wound around multiple sprockets. As the endless rotating chain rotates, it retains the tip side of the harvested stalks while transporting them to the joining point at the rear.

The third intermediate conveying section 43 is equipped with a third intermediate stalk clamping and conveying device 67 that clamps the stalks of the two rows of harvested culms shoveled in by the third shoveling section 40 from the right end and conveys them toward the junction at the rear, and a third intermediate tip retaining and conveying device 68 that retains and conveys the tip side of the two rows of harvested culms and conveys them toward the rear.

The third intermediate stalk base clamping and transporting device 67 is equipped with an endless rotating chain wound around multiple sprockets. Although not shown, a clamping rail is provided opposite the endless rotating chain, and the endless rotating chain and the clamping rail clamp the stalk base and transport it to the junction.

The third intermediate tip retaining and transporting device 68 is equipped with an endless rotating chain with a retaining protrusion wound around multiple sprockets. As the endless rotating chain rotates, it retains the tip side of the harvested stalks while transporting them to the joining point at the rear.

The fourth intermediate conveying section 44 is equipped with a fourth intermediate stalk clamping and conveying device 74 that clamps the stalks of the two rows of harvested culms shoveled in by the leftmost shoveling section 40 and conveys them toward the rear, and a fourth intermediate tip retaining and conveying device 75 that retains and conveys the tip side of the two rows of harvested culms and conveys them toward the rear.

The fourth intermediate stalk clamping and transporting device 74 is equipped with an endless rotating chain wound around multiple sprockets. Although not shown, a clamping rail is provided opposite the endless rotating chain, and the endless rotating chain and the clamping rail clamp the stalk at the base and transport it backwards.

The fourth intermediate tip retaining and transporting device 75 is equipped with an endless rotating chain with a retaining protrusion wound around multiple sprockets. As the endless rotating chain rotates, it retains the tip side of the harvested stalks and transports them to the joining point at the rear.

The left-side merging conveying section 45 is equipped with a left-side merging base clamping conveying device 77 that takes over the harvested culms conveyed by the fourth intermediate conveying section 44 and conveys them toward the rear merging point while clamping the base, and a left-side merging tip retaining conveying device 78 that retains and conveys the tip side of the harvested culms toward the rear. This left-side merging conveying section 45 merges the harvested culms conveyed by the third intermediate conveying section 43 during the conveying process. The harvested culms conveyed by the fourth intermediate conveying section 44 and the harvested culms conveyed by the third intermediate conveying section 43 are conveyed to the merging point where they merge with the harvested culms conveyed by the first intermediate conveying section 41 and the second intermediate conveying section 42. As a result, the left-side merging conveying section 45 is configured as a large conveying section with a long conveying path.

As shown in FIG. 21, the left-side junction base clamping and transporting device 77 is equipped with a base-side drive sprocket 77A as the base-side drive wheel, three driven sprockets 77B as the other guide wheels, and a base-side endless rotating chain 77C as the base-side endless rotating belt wound around them. Although not shown, a clamping rail is provided opposite the base-side endless rotating chain 81, and the base-side endless rotating chain 81 and the clamping rail clamp the base of the harvested stalk and transport it to the junction.

As shown in FIG. 21, the left-side merging tip retaining and transporting device 78 is equipped with a tip-side driving sprocket 78A as the tip-side driving wheel, two driven sprockets 78B as the other guide wheels, and a tip-side endless rotating chain 78C with a retaining protrusion as the tip-side endless rotating band wound around them. The tip-side endless rotating chain 78C rotates to retain the tip side of the harvested stalks while transporting them to the merging point on the rear side.

The harvested stalks transported by the first intermediate conveying section 41, the second intermediate conveying section 42, the third intermediate conveying section 43, and the left junction conveying section 45 as described above are merged at the junction point and then transported rearward by the supply conveying section 46.

As shown in FIG. 6, the supply and conveying section 46 includes a handling depth conveying device 84 that clamps the base of the harvested stalks that meet at the confluence and conveys them toward the threshing feed chain 8, and a transfer supply device 85 that delivers the harvested stalks from the handling depth conveying device 84 to the starting end of the threshing feed chain 8. Both the handling depth conveying device 84 and the transfer supply device 85 include an endless rotating chain wound around multiple sprockets. Although not shown, a clamping rail is provided opposite the endless rotating chain, and the endless rotating chain and the clamping rail clamp the base of the harvested stalks and convey them.

Although not shown in the figure, the threshing depth conveying device 84 is supported so that it can swing freely around the conveying start side as a fulcrum and the conveying end side moves in the culm length direction, and is configured so that the position of the harvested stalks inherited from the junction can be changed in the culm length direction (up and down) to change and adjust the penetration depth into the threshing device 6.

Next, the frame structure of the reaping unit 2 will be described.
As shown in Fig. 19, the reaping unit 2 is supported as a whole by a support frame F, and as shown in Fig. 4, is supported by a support base 90 on the machine body side so as to be able to swing freely about a horizontal axis P1. The support frame F is configured by integrally connecting a plurality of frames as described below.

As shown in FIG. 4, a cylindrical support frame 91 is provided to support the entire reaping unit 2 so that it can be raised and lowered. This support frame 91 has a horizontal pivot part 92 (see FIG. 19) provided at the base end of the upper rear part, which is supported by a support base 90 on the machine body side so that it can rotate freely around a horizontal axis P1. The support frame 91 extends from the support base 90 toward the front and downward of the machine body.

As shown in FIG. 19, a cylindrical rear horizontal frame 93 extending in the left-right direction, i.e., the mowing width direction, is connected to the front end of the support frame 91. Grass dividing frames 94 on both the left and right sides are connected to both ends of the rear horizontal frame 93 in the width direction of the machine body, extending toward the front of the machine body. A square cylindrical middle horizontal frame 95 (an example of a horizontal frame) extending in the width direction of the machine body is connected in a state where it is spanned between the front and rear middle parts of these grass dividing frames 94 at both the left and right ends. The cutting device 12 is supported by this middle horizontal frame 95.

A number of grass dividing frames 94 are provided at intervals between the grass dividing frames 94 at both the left and right ends, and the rear ends of the middle grass dividing frames 94 are connected to the middle horizontal frame 95 and are cantilevered toward the front of the machine. There are nine grass dividing frames 94 in total, and the front end of each grass dividing frame 94 is equipped with a grass dividing tool 10.

As shown in Figures 4 and 19, a cylindrical left vertical frame 96 extends upward from the left end of the rear horizontal frame 93. A rod-shaped right vertical frame 97 extends upward from the right end of the rear horizontal frame 93. An upper horizontal frame 98 is connected between the upper end of the left vertical frame 96 and the upper end of the right vertical frame 97. This upper horizontal frame 98 extends in the left-right direction between the upper ends of the eight lifting devices 11 and is connected to the upper ends of each lifting device 11.

The upper side of each of the eight lifting devices 11 is connected to the upper horizontal frame 98, and the lower side is connected to the grass dividing frame 94. Therefore, when connected, each lifting device 11 functions as a frame member connecting the upper horizontal frame 98 and the grass dividing frame 94.

Although not described in detail, each lifting device 11 is supported integrally with the intermediate transmission case 21 so as to be rotatable relative to the upper horizontal frame 98 about a horizontal axis. When the connection to the grass dividing frame 94 is released, the entire lifting device 11 can be rotated about the horizontal axis to widely open the front of the cutting section 2.

When the lifting device 11 is swung open, a load is applied to the upper horizontal frame 98, so to ensure rigidity, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, multiple vertical auxiliary connecting rods 100 are provided to connect the upper horizontal frame 98 and the grass dividing frame 94. In addition, an upper bypass frame 101 is provided to connect the upper end of the support frame 91 and the horizontal middle part of the upper horizontal frame 98 in a state of bypassing above the vertical conveying device 13.

The support frame F is formed by connecting the multiple types of frames as described above, which support the entire cutting unit 2. In this support frame F, the grass-dividing frames 94 located at both ends of the width of the machine body, the left and right vertical frames 96, 97, and the lifting devices 11 located at both ends of the width of the machine body are arranged in a roughly triangular shape when viewed from the side of the machine body, and are connected together. As a result, a strong support structure is formed at both ends of the width of the machine body.

[Transmission structure]
Next, the transmission structure for the cutting unit 2 will be described.
As shown in Fig. 4, the power output from an engine (not shown) is changed in speed by a continuously variable transmission 102 for harvesting, and then transmitted to a lateral transmission shaft 103 provided inside the pivot part 92 (see Fig. 19) of the support frame 91. Then, as shown in Fig. 8, the power is transmitted from the lateral transmission shaft 103 via an input shaft 104 extending in the front-rear direction provided inside the support frame 91.

The power after the above-mentioned gear shift is transmitted from the input shaft 104 facing forward and backward to a power transmission shaft 105 facing horizontally provided inside the rear horizontal frame 93. This power transmission shaft 105 is provided in a state in which it extends across substantially the entire width of the cutting section 2 in the cutting width direction. Power is transmitted to the two sets of cutting blades 25 of the right cutting section 12B of the cutting device 12 and the set of cutting blades 38 of the left cutting section 12A via branching sections 106 provided on both side ends and the middle part in the left-right direction of the power transmission shaft 105.

Furthermore, power is transmitted from a branching point 107 midway along the power transmission shaft 105 to the left-side junction conveying section 45, and from a branching point 108 provided on the left side of the power transmission shaft 105 to a vertical transmission shaft 109 provided inside the left-side vertical frame 96 as a vertical relay shaft, from which power is transmitted to each of the eight lifting devices 11, the fourth intermediate conveying section 44, and the leftmost scraping section 40.

Next, the drive structure of the left junction transport section 45 will be described.
As shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 21, in the left-side merging transport section 45, the base-side drive sprocket 77A of the left-side merging base clamping transport device 77 and the tip-side drive sprocket 78A of the left-side merging tip locking transport device 78 are arranged to be located at different positions when viewed in the direction along the rotation axis of the base-side drive sprocket 77A.

To explain further, as shown in Figure 21, the left-side junction plant base clamping and transporting device 77 is equipped with one driven sprocket 77B located on the upstream transport side and two driven sprockets 77B located on the downstream transport side spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction, for a total of three driven sprockets 77B arranged in a roughly triangular shape in a plan view, and the plant base side endless rotating chain 77C is wound around them. In addition, one drive sprocket 77A is provided to engage the tensioned point spanning the driven sprocket 77B on the upstream transport side and the rear driven sprocket on the downstream transport side.

The endless rotating chain 77C at the base side is tensioned by the driven sprocket 77B on the upstream side of the transport and the front driven sprocket 77B on the downstream side of the transport, forming a transport path that clamps and transports the harvested stalks. The drive sprocket 77A meshes with and is linked to the middle part of the return path that does not transport the harvested stalks. On both sides of the drive sprocket 77A, a pair of guide sprockets 77D are provided to increase the winding length of the drive sprocket 77A.

As shown in FIG. 21, the left-side merging tip retaining and transporting device 78 has one driven sprocket 78B located on the upstream transport side, and one driven sprocket 78B and a driving sprocket 78A located on the downstream transport side spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction, with the tip-side endless rotating chain 78C wound around a total of three sprockets 78A, 78B arranged in a roughly triangular shape in a plan view.

The left-side junction tip retaining and conveying device 78 has a conveying path Q1 for retaining and conveying the harvested stalks at a location stretched by the sprocket 78B on the upstream side of the conveying path and the sprocket 78B located at the front side of the downstream side of the conveying path. A return path Q2 is formed at a location stretched by the sprocket 78B on the upstream side of the conveying path and the drive sprocket 78A located at the rear side of the downstream end of the conveying path, which returns to the start end of the conveying path after the retaining and conveying of the harvested stalks is completed.

As shown in Figures 22 and 23, the left-side merging tip locking and transport device 78 is equipped with a plate-shaped transport support 78D consisting of a plate body having a substantially triangular shape in a plan view, and the driving sprocket 78A and two driven sprockets 78B are each supported rotatably by the transport support 78D. The tip-side endless rotating chain 78C is provided on the upper surface side of the transport support 78D.

A relay power transmission mechanism 130 is provided between the base side drive sprocket 77A and the tip side drive sprocket 78A, and transmits power between the base side drive sprocket 77A and the tip side drive sprocket 78A.

As shown in FIG. 21, the power transmission mechanism 130 includes an intermediate drive sprocket 132 as a drive-side rotating body that rotates about the same axis as the drive shaft 131 that drives the base-side drive sprocket 77A, an intermediate driven sprocket 134 as a driven-side rotating body that rotates about the same axis as the drive shaft 133 that drives the tip-side drive sprocket 78A, and an intermediate endless rotating chain 135 as an endless rotating belt wound around the intermediate drive sprocket 132 and the intermediate driven sprocket 134.

The power transmission mechanism 130 is supported on the underside of the transport support 78D. That is, as shown in FIG. 22, the drive shaft 131 that drives the base-side drive sprocket 77A extends upward from a branch 107 midway along the power transmission shaft 105, and the base-side drive sprocket 77A is fitted onto it. The drive shaft 131 extends upward until it reaches the underside of the transport support 78D, and its upper end is supported rotatably on the transport support 78D. The relay drive sprocket 132 is attached to this drive shaft 131.

As shown in FIG. 22, the drive shaft 133 supporting the tip side drive sprocket 78A passes through the transport support 78D and extends to the underside of the transport support 78D. The relay driven sprocket 134 is attached to the protruding portion of the drive shaft 133 below the transport support 78D. An relay endless rotating chain 135 is wound and tensioned between the relay drive sprocket 132 and the relay driven sprocket 134 on the underside of the transport support 78D. A leaf spring type tightener 136 is provided to apply tension to the relay endless rotating chain 135. One end of the tightener 136 is supported by a fixed pin 136a on the underside of the transport support 78D, and the other end is provided in contact with a receiving body 136b.

As shown in FIG. 21, the power transmission mechanism 130 is provided at a location corresponding to the return path Q2 in the left-side merging tip retaining and conveying device 78.

A winding prevention cover 140 is provided to cover the power transmission mechanism 130 from below.
24, the winding prevention cover 140 has a rear portion that covers the conveyance end side where the intermediate driven sprocket 134 of the power transmission mechanism 130 is provided and is formed with a generally U-shaped cross section. Meanwhile, the front portion that covers the conveyance start end side where the intermediate driving sprocket 132 is provided and is formed with a generally L-shaped cross section.

To explain further, the left-side merging tip retaining transport device 78 has its transport start end located on the lower front side and its transport end end located on the upper rear side, and is installed in a rear-upward tilted position. Therefore, since the rear side of the winding prevention cover 140 is in a high position, in order to prevent straw chips and the like from falling on it, it is formed with an approximately U-shaped cross section to widely cover the area facing outward.

The front part of the anti-winding cover 140 has a wide left side surface 141 that covers almost the entire outer left side of the power transmission mechanism 130, and a narrow lower surface 142 that covers the outer side of the relay endless rotating chain 135 from below, forming a roughly L-shaped cross section. The right side is left wide open to allow for maintenance of the tightener 136, and to allow any dust that may have entered to be easily discharged downward.

The winding prevention cover 140 is fixed to the underside of the transport support 78D at multiple points by bolt connections. As shown in FIG. 24, a U-shaped notch 143 is formed on the right side (innermost side) of the rear part of the winding prevention cover 140. A bracket 144 is integrally connected to the transport support 78D at a location corresponding to the notch 143, and a bolt 146 is attached to this bracket 144 in advance. The winding prevention cover 140 can be attached from the lower side so that the bolt 146 fits into the notch 143, and the bolt 146 can be tightened from the outside.

Bolts 148 are pre-attached to the front and rear end locations of the left side surface 141 of the anti-winding cover 140. A bracket 149 is integrally connected to the location of the transport support 78D that corresponds to the bolt 148, and a U-shaped notch 150 is formed in this bracket 149. The anti-winding cover 140 can be attached from below so that the pre-attached bolt 148 fits into the notch 150, and the bolt 148 can be tightened from the outside.

That is, the anti-winding cover 140 can be attached to the conveying support 78D from below so that the bolts 146, 148 enter the notches 143, 150 at the three connection points, and then fixed to the conveying support 78D by tightening the bolts 146, 148.

As shown in FIG. 8, the power is branched off midway up or down from the vertical transmission shaft 109, and is transmitted to the fourth intermediate conveying section 44, from which it is transmitted to the leftmost (fourth from the right) scraping section 40.

A horizontal lifting drive shaft 20 is provided that spans the entire width of the upper horizontal frame 98 in the left-right direction and connects the tops of the lifting devices 11. Then, power from a vertical transmission shaft 109 is changed in speed by a gear-shift type lifting speed change mechanism 110 and then transmitted to the lifting drive shaft 20. Power is transmitted from the lifting drive shaft 20 to each of the eight lifting devices 11.

Although not described in detail, the pull-up speed change mechanism 110 is configured to be able to change the speed between three stages, low, medium, and high, by operating the operating shaft 110A, which can be slid up and down. A speed change operating tool (not shown) provided in a position close to the driver's unit 5 is linked to the operating shaft 110A via a link mechanism 111. As shown in FIG. 29, the link mechanism 111 includes a roughly L-shaped swing link 111A supported at the bottom of the transmission case 110B of the pull-up speed change mechanism 110 so as to be rotatable around the front-rear axis P2, and a push-pull rod 111B that links the upper end of the swing link 111A to the speed change operating tool.

As shown in FIG. 8, power is transmitted from the transmission middle part of the input shaft 104 to each of the three sets of scraping sections 40, the first intermediate conveying section 41, the second intermediate conveying section 42, the third intermediate conveying section 43, and the supply conveying section 46 located on the right side. Power is transmitted from the horizontal transmission shaft 103 to the endless rotating chain 57 in the first tip retaining conveying device 47.

The power is branched and transmitted to the first branch transmission shaft 113 at the first branch section 112 provided in the middle of the transmission of the input shaft 104, and the power is transmitted from the first branch transmission shaft 113 to the second intermediate stock base clamping and conveying device 61 and the second intermediate tip retaining and conveying device 62 in the second intermediate conveying section 42. The power of the second intermediate stock base clamping and conveying device 61 is then transmitted to the second raking section 40 from the right.

Power is branched from the middle of the first branch transmission shaft 113 to the second branch transmission shaft 114, and power is transmitted from the second branch transmission shaft 114 to the third intermediate stock base clamping and transporting device 67 and the third intermediate tip retaining and transporting device 68 in the third intermediate transport section 43. The power of the third intermediate stock base clamping and transporting device 67 is then transmitted to the third raking section 40 from the right end.

The power is branched to a third branch transmission shaft 118 and a fourth branch transmission shaft 119 at a second branch section 117 provided in the middle of the transmission of the input shaft 104, and the power is transmitted from the third branch transmission shaft 118 to the first stock base clamping and conveying device 53 in the first intermediate conveying section 41, and the power of the first stock base clamping and conveying device 53 is transmitted to the rightmost scraping section 40. The power is transmitted from the fourth branch transmission shaft 119 to the handling depth conveying device 84.

[Divided structure of the reaping section]
The cutting section 2 is divided into one side divided cutting section 2A and the other side divided cutting section 2B at a midpoint in the cutting width direction, and the one side divided cutting section 2A is configured to be able to change its position relative to the other side divided cutting section 2B and switch to a stored state in which its width is shorter than its width in normal use.

That is, the portion corresponding to the two rows on the left side constitutes the one-side divided cutting section 2A, and the portion corresponding to the six rows on the right side constitutes the other-side divided cutting section 2B, and the one-side divided cutting section 2A is supported so as to be freely rotatable about the vertical axis X in a state in which it is lined up in a row in the left-right direction relative to the other-side divided cutting section 2B (see Figures 1 to 4 and 6) (corresponding to the normal use state), and in a state in which it is stored folded over with the front of the one-side divided cutting section 2A facing the front of the other-side divided cutting section 2B (see Figures 5 and 7) (corresponding to the stored state).

That is, in the cutting width direction, a vertically oriented pivot shaft (support pin) is provided between the divided cutting section 2A on one side and the divided cutting section 2B on the other side, as described below, and the divided cutting section 2A on one side pivots around the vertical axis X of the pivot shaft relative to the divided cutting section 2B on the other side, switching the cutting section 2 between a normal use state and a stored state.

To explain further, the reaping unit 2 is configured so that the lifting device 11, the cutting device 12, and the vertical transport device 13 can be folded together around the vertical axis X. A rotation axis X is provided between the sixth and seventh lifting devices 11 from the right end.

The sixth and seventh lifting devices 11 from the right end are adjacent to each other with their non-active return paths H2 close to each other, so when they are folded by rotating them around the axis X set between them, they can be stored smoothly without interference between the lifting claws 19.

The left cutting section 12A and the right cutting section 12B each have a separate movable blade 28, a separate fixed blade 27, and a separate receiving base 29, which are configured to be separable.

The vertical conveying device 13 is equipped with a one-side conveying section 13A corresponding to the one-side divided reaping section 2A, and an other-side conveying section 13B corresponding to the other-side divided reaping section 2B. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the fourth intermediate conveying section 44 and the leftmost raking section 40 correspond to the one-side conveying section 13A, and the other conveying devices, that is, the left merging conveying section 45, the three sets of raking sections 40 located on the right side, the first intermediate conveying section 41, the second intermediate conveying section 42, the third intermediate conveying section 43, and the supply conveying section 46, each correspond to the other-side conveying section 13B.

As shown in FIG. 6, the two left rows of harvested stalks are raked in by the leftmost raking section 40 and transported rearward by the fourth intermediate conveying section 44, and then transported to the receiving position by the left junction conveying section 45, and then transported toward the junction by the left junction conveying section 45. Therefore, the one-side conveying section 13A (the fourth intermediate conveying section 44 and the leftmost raking section 40) is configured to independently transport the harvested stalks to the position (receiving position) where they are transported by the other-side conveying section 13B.

As shown in Figures 4 and 6, in the normal use state, the fourth intermediate plant base clamping and conveying device 74 in the fourth intermediate conveying section 44 is arranged to be indented below the left junction plant base clamping and conveying device 77 in the left junction conveying section 45 so as to overlap partially in the vertical direction. Also, the fourth intermediate tip retaining and conveying device in the fourth intermediate conveying section 44 is arranged to be indented below the left junction tip retaining and conveying device 78 in the left junction conveying section 45 so as to overlap partially in the vertical direction.

The rear horizontal frame 93 is divided into left and right halves at the boundary that corresponds to the separation point between the one-side divided cutting section 2A and the other-side divided cutting section 2B, and these are separably flange-connected. In the stored state, the left and right halves are separated, but in the normal use state, they are configured to be connected together.

The intermediate horizontal frame 95 is divided into a one-side frame body 95A and an other-side frame body 95B along the cutting width direction at the boundary portion corresponding to the separation point between the one-side divided cutting section 2A and the other-side divided cutting section 2B. The one-side frame body 95A and the other-side frame body 95B are separated in the stored state, and are connected to each other in the normal use state.

As described above, the support frame F of the cutting unit 2 is arranged at both ends of the width of the machine body with the grass dividing frame 94, the vertical frames 96, 97 and the lifting device 11 arranged in a roughly triangular shape when viewed from the side of the machine body, and a strong support structure is formed by connecting them. As a result, even if the support frame F is separated at the separation points described above, a strong frame structure is formed in each of the divided cutting unit 2A on one side and the divided cutting unit 2B on the other side, and the configuration has support strength. The support frame F corresponds to a frame that supports multiple lifting devices 11, cutting devices 12 and vertical conveying devices 13.

The split support frame FA on one side of the support frame F of the cutting section 2, which corresponds to the split cutting section 2A on one side, and the split support frame FB on the other side, which corresponds to the other cutting section split, are connected to each other so as to be freely rotatable about an axis X that is parallel to the inclined surface of the lifting device 11 and is set forward of the lifting device 11.

As shown in Figures 14 to 19, each of the divided support frame body FA on one side and the divided support frame body FB on the other side is provided with connecting frames 121, 122 near the division point that extend vertically between the upper horizontal frame 98 and the grass dividing frame 94.

To explain further, as shown in Figures 17 and 18, the connecting frame 121 on the other side of the divided support frame FB extends in the vertical direction and is connected to the divided portion of the upper horizontal frame 98 and the seventh grass frame 94 from the right end. This connecting frame 121 is formed in a rectangular tube shape, and is formed approximately L-shaped in side view. The upper side portion of the connecting frame 121 is formed in an upright position with a rear-upward inclination that is approximately parallel to the front surface of the lifting case 14 of the lifting device 11 in side view.

As shown in Figures 14, 15, and 16, the connecting frame 122 of one of the split support frames FA extends vertically and is connected to the split portion of the upper horizontal frame 98 and to a front-rear support rod 123 extending forward from the rear horizontal frame 93. The front end of the front-rear support rod 123 is connected to the upper horizontal frame 98 by a vertical auxiliary connecting rod 124. Therefore, the front-rear support rod 123 corresponds to the front-rear frame, and the vertical auxiliary connecting rod 124 reinforces the support strength of the connecting frame 122.

The connecting frame 122 provided on one side of the split support frame FA is also formed in a rectangular tube shape, similar to the connecting frame 121 on the other side of the split support frame, and is formed in a roughly L-shape when viewed from the side. The upper part is formed in an upright position with a rearward upward inclination that is roughly parallel to the front surface of the lifting case 14 of the lifting device 11 when viewed from the side.

Each of the connecting frames 121, 122 is fitted with a pivot support part that supports the divided support frame FA on one side so that it can rotate freely around the axis X relative to the divided support frame FB on the other side. The pivot support part is provided in a state where it protrudes forward of the aircraft body from the lifting device 11. In other words, the axis X is set parallel to the inclined surface of the lifting device 11 and forward of the aircraft body from the lifting device 11.

As shown in Figures 17, 18, and 20, the connecting frame 121 of the split support frame on the other side has two support pins 126 fixed by brackets 125 at two positions spaced apart vertically, and these support pins 126 face upward as pivot shafts. The brackets 125 and the support pins 126 form a pivot support section. As shown in Figures 14, 16, and 20, the connecting frame 122 of the split support frame FA on one side has an engagement member 128 that is L-shaped in side view and has engagement holes 127 into which the upper and lower support pins 126 fit. The engagement member 128 forms a pivot support section. Therefore, the support pin 126 as a pivot shaft is provided on the aircraft body forward of the lifting device 11, extending vertically along the front surface of the lifting device 11.

When the support pin 126 is engaged with the engagement hole 127 of the engagement member 128, the engagement member 128 is received and supported by the bracket 125, so that the split support frame FA on the other side is supported so as to be freely rotatable around the axis X of the support pin 126.

As shown in Figures 5 and 7, in the stored state, the front of the divided cutting section 2A on one side and the front of the divided cutting section 2B on the other side are folded over and face each other. In this case, the grass dividing tool 10 of the divided cutting section 2A on one side is removed to avoid interference with the grass dividing tool 10 on the other side of the divided cutting section 2B on the other side.

As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the grass dividing frame 94 provided on one side of the divided cutting section 2A and the grass dividing frame 94 provided on the other side of the divided cutting section 2B are arranged so that, in the stored state, they are misaligned in the cutting width direction in a plan view and overlap in a side view.

Next, the divided structure of the transmission shaft will be described.
The power transmission shaft 105 provided inside the rear horizontal frame 93 is split at a midpoint in the cutting width direction into one side shaft portion 105A on the one side divided cutting section 2A side and the other side shaft portion 105B on the other side divided cutting section 2B side. In the normal use state, the one side shaft portion 105A and the other side shaft portion 105B are interlockingly connected in a straight line via a meshing clutch 105C as a shaft connecting portion, and in the stored state, the one side shaft portion 105A and the other side shaft portion 105B are separated.

As shown in Figures 30 and 31, the rear horizontal frame 93 is divided into one side frame part 93A and the other side frame part 93B at the boundary part corresponding to the separation point of the one side divided cutting part 2A and the other side divided cutting part 2B, and each frame part 93A, 93B is flange-connected along the axial direction. The flange part 170 of the one side frame part 93A is formed with a protrusion part 172 that protrudes in a ring shape from the joint surface 171, and the flange part 173 of the other side frame part 93B is formed with a recessed groove 175 that recesses from the joint surface 174 along the circumferential direction so that the protrusion part 172 fits into it. In the joined state, the protrusion part 172 and the recessed groove 175 fit into each other to perform radial positioning.

At the connection and separation point of the one-side shaft portion 105A and the other-side shaft portion 105B in the power transmission shaft 105, meshing claws 176, 177 that can mesh with each other and rotate in conjunction with each other are formed on the shaft ends. The meshing claws 176 of the other-side shaft portion 105B protrude outward along the axis from the joint surface 174 of the flange portion 173 of the other-side frame portion 93B. The meshing claws 177 of the one-side shaft portion 105A are recessed inward in the axis direction from the protruding end of the protruding portion 172. With this configuration, the meshing claws 177 of the one-side shaft portion 105A do not protrude outward in the one-side divided cutting portion 2A, which moves significantly as the position is changed, and damage due to contact with external objects is avoided.

When the one side frame portion 93A and the other side frame portion 93B are connected with bolts by abutting the joint surfaces 171, 174 of the flange portions 170, 173 against each other, the interlocking claws 176 of the one side shaft portion 105A and the interlocking claws 177 of the other side shaft portion 105B interlock with each other to form an interlocking state.
When the flange connection between the one-side frame portion and the other-side frame portion is released, the one-side shaft portion 105A and the other-side shaft portion 105B are separated.

As shown in Figures 27 and 28, the lifting drive shaft 20 is divided into one side shaft portion 20A and the other side shaft portion 20B at the corresponding location of the division of the one side divided cutting portion 2A and the other side divided cutting portion 2B, like the power transmission shaft 105. The one side shaft portion 20A and the other side shaft portion 20B are configured to be freely connected and separated via a transmission cylinder 20C having a hexagonal cross-sectional hole that is fitted over them. The transmission cylinder 2C is fitted and supported so that it can be slid along the axial direction. In the stored state, the transmission cylinder 20C is removed from either the left or right shaft portion 20A, 20B, and in the normal use state, the transmission cylinder 20C is slid in the axial direction to switch to an interlocking state in which it fits both the left and right shaft portions 20A, 20B, and the position in the axial direction is fixed by the anti-detachment pin 20D.

Therefore, when the one-side divided cutting section 2A is switched from the normal use state to the stored state, the power transmission shaft 105 and the lifting drive shaft 20 can be separated. When switched from the stored state to the normal use state, the power transmission shaft 105 is switched to an interlocking state by the meshing clutch 105C as the separated one-side shaft portion 105A and the other-side shaft portion 105B approach each other. The lifting drive shaft 20 can be switched to an interlocking state by the transmission cylinder 151.

[Guide mechanism]
A guide mechanism 160 is provided for guiding the one-side shaft portion 105A and the other-side shaft portion 105B of the power transmission shaft 105 to a proper connection state when the one-side divided cutting unit 2A is switched from the stored state to the normal use state. The guide mechanism 160 is provided on the rear side of the machine body of the lifting device 11 and on the rear side of the machine body of the cutting device 12. Specifically, the guide mechanism 160 is provided at a connection point between the one-side frame body 95A and the other-side frame body 95B of the intermediate horizontal frame 95.

As a result, the guide mechanism 160 is positioned away from the axis X of the one-side divided cutting section 2A, so that when it performs its guiding function as it rotates, it can guide along a gentle arc-shaped path, making it possible to provide smooth, effortless guidance.

25 and 26, the guide mechanism 160 includes a cylindrical boss member 161 as a tubular member provided on the other frame body 95B, and a positioning pin 162 as an axis member provided on the one frame body 95A, and is configured so that the positioning pin 162 fits into the boss member 161 to guide when switching from the stored state to the normal use state. The positioning pin 162 is integrally connected to the front side of the one frame body 95A by welding. When the positioning pin 162 is in a connected state where it fits into the boss member 161, the positioning pin 162 is arranged so that the positioning pin 162 extends in the tangent direction of a circular arc trajectory centered on the axis X (see FIG. 5) of the support pin 126 as a pivot shaft, i.e., along the width direction of the aircraft.

As shown in FIG. 25, the positioning pin 162 is made of a round bar member and is provided so as to protrude from the end face corresponding to the connection point on the one-side frame body 95A towards the other-side frame body 95B. The protruding end 162a is formed into a tapered surface so that the diameter gradually decreases toward the tip. On the other hand, the boss member 161 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is integrally connected to the front side surface of the other-side frame body 95B, and is provided so as to be located on the same axis as the axis of the positioning pin 162 in the connected state.

The outer diameter of the large diameter portion 162b of the positioning pin 162 and the inner diameter of the boss member 161 are set so that they fit together with little rattle. When the positioning pin 162 fits into the boss member 161, even if the positioning pin 162 and the boss member 161 are slightly misaligned in the radial direction due to mechanical rattle, the tapered surface of the protruding end portion 162a contacts the boss member 161 and is guided so that the large diameter portion 162b of the positioning pin 162 and the boss member 161 gradually fit together. When the large diameter portion 162b of the positioning pin 162 and the boss member 161 fit together, the one side shaft portion 105A and the other side shaft portion 105B of the power transmission shaft 105 are set to be in a proper connection state. As a result, when the one-side shaft portion 105A and the other-side shaft portion 105B approach each other and are switched to an interlocking state by the mesh clutch 105C, the rotational axes of the one-side shaft portion 105A and the other-side shaft portion 105B are approximately aligned, resulting in a good rotational drive state.

The guide mechanism 160 guides the one-side divided cutting section 2A to be properly aligned and switched to the normal use state, and the one-side frame body 95A and the other-side frame body 95B are integrally connected to each other. As shown in Figures 25 and 26, a connecting plate 163 is welded to the underside of the one-side frame body 95A, and the connecting plate 163 is extended so as to protrude along the lower side of the other-side frame body 95B. The extending portion of the connecting plate 163 has two insertion holes 164 that pass through in the vertical direction. In addition, a cylindrical body 165 is welded to the other-side frame body 95B in a state that penetrates in the vertical direction. Two bolts 166 are attached from the underside of the connecting plate 163 through the insertion holes 164 and the inside of the cylindrical body 165, and the cylindrical body 165 is tightened and fixed with a nut 167 from the upper side, so that the one-side frame body 95A and the other-side frame body 95B are integrally connected to each other.

[Another embodiment]
(1) In the above embodiment, the guide mechanism 160 is configured to include a positioning pin 162 (shaft member) welded to the front side surface of the one-side frame body 95A, and a boss member 161 (cylindrical member) welded to the front side surface of the other-side frame body 95B. However, instead of this configuration, a configuration may be used in which an end of either the one-side frame body 95A or the other-side frame body 95B is provided with a large guide engagement protrusion that directly fits into and engages with the open end of the other frame body.

(2) In the above embodiment, the one-side divided cutting section 2A is configured to be supported so as to be rotatable around the vertical axis X located on the front side of the machine body of the lifting device 11. However, instead of this configuration, the one-side divided cutting section 2A may be configured to be rotatable around a horizontal axis to be switchable between a stored state and a normal use state.

(3) In the above embodiment, when in the stored state, the grass dividing tool 10 of one side of the divided cutting section 2A is removed to avoid interference with other grass dividing tools 10. However, instead of this configuration, the following configuration may be used.
By increasing the amount of positional shift in the mowing width direction between the grass dividing frame 94 provided on one side of the divided cutting unit 2A and the grass dividing frame 94 provided on the other side of the divided cutting unit 2B in the folded state, it may be possible to switch to the stored state without removing the grass dividing tool 10 of one side of the divided cutting unit 2A.

(4) In the above embodiment, the middle lower suction device 50 among the three sets of lower suction devices 50 located on the right side is positioned at a lower level than the other lower suction devices 50. However, instead of this configuration, the three sets of lower suction devices 50 located on the right side may be configured so that each packer 48, 49 is positioned at the same vertical height.

(5) In the above embodiment, in the eight-row combine harvester, the left two rows of the cutting section 2 are configured as one-side divided cutting section 2A, but this configuration is not limited to this, and the one-side divided cutting section 2A may be configured as one row or three or more rows, rather than being limited to two rows.

(6) In the above embodiment, an 8-row combine harvester was shown, but a 7-row or 9-row combine harvester may also be used, and the number of harvesting rows is not limited to 8.

The present invention can be applied to combine harvesters with a large number of cutting rows, such as eight-row harvesters.

2 Reaping unit 2A One-side divided reaping unit 2B Other-side divided reaping unit 11 Raising device 12 Cutting device 13 Vertical conveying device (conveying device)
95 Horizontal frame 95A One side frame body 95B Other side frame body 105 Power transmission shaft 105A One side shaft portion 105B Other side shaft portion 105C Shaft connecting portion 126 Rotating support shaft 160 Guide mechanism 161 Cylinder member 162 Shaft member F Support frame body (frame)

Claims (7)

A cutting section is provided at the front of the machine body, the cutting section being divided into a one-side divided cutting section and an other-side divided cutting section at a middle position in the cutting width direction, and the one-side divided cutting section can be changed in position relative to the other-side divided cutting section to switch to a stored state in which its width is shorter than its width in a normal use state;
The reaping unit is provided with a plurality of raising devices corresponding to the number of reaping rows, a cutting device for cutting the base of the planted culm to be reaped, and a conveying device for conveying the reaped culm toward the rear of the machine body.
The plurality of lifting devices, the cutting devices, the transporting devices, and the frame supporting them are divided at a dividing boundary between the one-side divided cutting unit and the other-side divided cutting unit, and the one-side divided cutting unit is configured such that the lifting devices belonging to the one-side divided cutting unit, a portion of the cutting devices belonging to the one-side divided cutting unit, a portion of the transporting devices belonging to the one-side divided cutting unit, and a portion of the frame belonging to the one-side divided cutting unit change position integrally,
A combine harvester in which the cutting sections are configured such that, in the stored state, a front surface of the one-side divided cutting section faces a front surface of the other-side divided cutting section. The combine harvester according to claim 1, wherein a vertically oriented pivot shaft is provided between the one-side divided cutting section and the other-side divided cutting section in the cutting width direction, and the one-side divided cutting section pivots about the pivot shaft relative to the other-side divided cutting section, switching the cutting section between the normal use state and the stored state. a power transmission shaft which is divided into a one-side shaft portion on the one-side divided cutting portion side and a second-side shaft portion on the other-side divided cutting portion side at a midpoint in the cutting width direction of the cutting portion, and which is linked and connected in a state in which the one-side shaft portion and the other-side shaft portion are connected in a straight line via a shaft connecting portion in the normal use state, and which is separated into the one-side shaft portion and the other-side shaft portion in the stored state;
The combine harvester according to claim 1, further comprising a guide mechanism that guides the one side shaft portion to a proper connection state in which the one side shaft portion is properly connected to the other side shaft portion when the cutting unit is switched from the stored state to the normal use state. The combine harvester according to claim 3, wherein the cutting device is provided on the rear side of the machine body relative to the lifting device, and the guide mechanism is provided on the rear side of the machine body relative to the cutting device. In the cutting width direction, a vertically oriented pivot shaft is provided between the one-side divided cutting part and the other-side divided cutting part,
The guide mechanism includes a tubular member provided on one of the one-side divided cutting portion and the other-side divided cutting portion, and a shaft member provided on the other of the one-side divided cutting portion and the other-side divided cutting portion,
The tubular member and the shaft member are configured such that, when the cutting unit is switched from the stored state to the normal use state, the shaft member fits into the tubular member to guide the one-side shaft portion to the proper connection state,
The combine harvester according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the shaft member and the tubular member are arranged to extend along a tangent direction of an arc-shaped trajectory centered on the pivot shaft when the cutting part is in the normal use state. The cutting section is provided with a lateral frame that is a part of the frame and extends across substantially the entire width in the cutting width direction,
the horizontal frame is divided into a one-side frame body and an other-side frame body along the mowing width direction at a boundary between the one-side divided mowing section and the other-side divided mowing section, and is configured such that the one-side frame body and the other-side frame body are separated in the stored state and the one-side frame body and the other-side frame body are connected in the normal use state,
The combine harvester according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the guide mechanism is provided at a connection portion between the one-side frame body and the other-side frame body. The lateral frame is provided under the cutting unit and positioned on the rear side of the lifting device,
7. The combine of claim 6, wherein the cutting device is supported on the transverse frame.

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