JP7615802B2 - Root vegetable harvester - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a root vegetable harvester that collects crops from a field and stores them in a storage member such as a flexi-con bag.

Conventionally, there is a root vegetable harvester that uses a pulling and conveying device to pull out and convey root vegetables from a field, and stores the root vegetables in a flexi-container bag attached to the conveying end of a sorting and conveying device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-115069 A

However, because the FIBC bags full of root vegetables are lowered into the field toward the rear of the machine, when the machine is rotated to harvest the crops in the adjacent row, the FIBC bags lowered into the field are located right to the side of the moving machine. If the FIBC bags tilt or the machine meanders slightly, there is a risk that the FIBC bags may come into contact with the machine and break, causing the root vegetables to scatter across the field and making it impossible to carry out proper harvesting work.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a root vegetable harvester that prevents the machine body from coming into contact with storage members such as flexi-con bags that are lowered into the field.

The first aspect of the present invention is
The root vegetable harvesting machine is equipped with a traveling section (A) for traveling the machine body, a steering section (B), a harvesting section (C) for harvesting root vegetables from a farm field, a sorting and conveying section (D) for conveying the root vegetables harvested by the harvesting section (C), and a storage section (E) for storing the root vegetables conveyed by the sorting and conveying section (D), and is provided with a loading platform (26) that moves to take two states: a state in which a storage member (22) is placed in the storage section (E) to store the root vegetables conveyed from the harvesting section (C), and a state in which the bottom of the storage member (22) is opened so that the storage member (22) can be lowered into the farm field below, and a moving device (24) is provided that suspends the storage member (22) and lowers it into the farm field on the left-right side of the machine body and moves the loading platform (26) to lower the storage member (22) into the farm field with the bottom open;
A pilot's seat (8) and a control panel (9) are provided at the front of the aircraft,
The sorting and conveying section (D) is provided with a movable conveyor (21b) whose end on the storage section (E) side moves up and down, and an auxiliary work seat (23) on which an auxiliary worker sits is provided behind the movable conveyor (21b);
This root vegetable harvester is characterized in that a platform movement switch for moving the platform (26) is provided near the operation panel (9) and the auxiliary work seat (23), and a single cross-directional operation lever (27) for operating the moving device (24) and the movable transport conveyor (21b) is provided at the end of the operation panel (9) on the storage section (E) side.
The second aspect of the present invention is
This is a first root vegetable harvester of the present invention, characterized in that the mounting platform (26) is configured to be freely movable between a position for mounting and supporting the storage member (22) suspended from the hanging hanger (25) of the moving device (24) and a position where, by opening up the lower part of the bottom surface of the storage member (22) suspended from the hanging hanger (25) and lowering the hanging hanger (25), the storage member (22) can be lowered directly into the field without moving left and right or front and back.
The third aspect of the present invention is
This is a root vegetable harvester according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, characterized in that the platform (26) is moved to the rear of the machine body to open the lower part of the bottom surface of the storage member (22) suspended from the hanging hanger (25).
The fourth aspect of the present invention is
a moving mechanism (26b) for moving the mounting table (26);
The moving mechanism (26b) is composed of a drive screw shaft (41) rotatably mounted on a front and rear support arm (40, 40) whose base is fixed to the right end of the machine frame (1), a slide tube (42) provided with an engaging piece that is slidably fitted to the drive screw shaft (41) in the axial direction and engages with the spiral groove of the drive screw shaft (41), a fixed body (43) that fixes the slide tube (42) to the inner end of the flat plate (26a), a transmission case (44) that transmits a rotational driving force to the drive screw shaft (41), and an electric motor (45) whose base is fixed to the transmission case (44) and faces inward of the machine body.
This is a root vegetable harvester of any of the first to third present inventions, characterized in that the driving spiral shaft (41) is driven in forward and reverse directions via an electric motor (45) by a platform movement switch, causing a flat plate (26a) of the platform (26) that supports the storage member (22) to slide toward the rear of the body to an open state in which the lower bottom surface of the flexi-con bag (22) is opened, or to slide toward the front of the body to a state in which the bottom of the flexi-con bag (22) hung from the hanging hanger (25) is supported.
A first invention related to the present invention is a root vegetable harvester equipped with a traveling section A for driving the body of the machine, a steering section B, a harvesting section C for harvesting root vegetables from a field, and a storage section E for storing the harvested root vegetables, in which a loading platform 26 is provided that is displaced between a state in which a storage member 22 is placed in storage section E to store root vegetables transported from the harvesting section C and a state in which the lower part of the storage member 22 is opened so that the storage member 22 can be lowered into the field below, and a moving device 24 is provided that suspends the storage member 22 and lowers it into the field outside the left-right direction of the machine body, and that displaces the loading platform 26 to lower the storage member 22 into the field with the lower part opened.

According to the first invention related to the present invention , a mounting platform 26 is provided which can be displaced between a state in which the storage member 22 is placed in the storage section E to store root vegetables transported from the harvesting section C, and a state in which the lower part of the storage member 22 is opened so that the storage member 22 can be lowered into the field below, and a moving device 24 is provided which hoists the storage member 22 and lowers it into the field outside the left-right direction of the body of the machine, and where the mounting platform 26 is displaced to lower the storage member 22 into the field with the lower part opened. Therefore, the storage member 22 placed on the mounting platform 26 can be lifted by the moving device 24 and lowered into the field at a position outside the left-right direction of the body of the machine, and even if the storage member 22 lowered into the field tilts or the machine body meanders slightly, it is possible to prevent the storage member 22 from coming into contact with the body of the machine, and good and appropriate harvesting work can be carried out.

In addition, when the storage member 22 cannot be lowered to the side of the machine body due to obstacles such as ridges or walls on the side of the ridges at the edge of the field, the storage member 22 can be suspended by the moving device 24 and, with the mounting platform 26 displaced to a position that opens up the bottom of the storage member 22, the storage member 22 can be lowered into the field with the bottom open.

The second invention related to the present invention is a root vegetable harvester of the first invention related to the present invention , in which the mounting platform 26 is configured to be freely moved between a position for mounting and supporting the storage member 22 hung from the hanging hanger 25 of the moving device 24, and a position where the lower part of the bottom surface of the storage member 22 hung from the hanging hanger 25 is opened and the hanging hanger 25 is lowered so that the storage member 22 can be lowered directly into the field without moving left and right or front and back.

A third invention related to the present invention is a root vegetable harvester of the first or second invention related to the present invention , in which the loading platform 26 is moved to the rear of the machine body to open the lower part of the bottom surface of the storage member 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25.

A fourth invention related to the present invention is a root vegetable harvester of any of the first to third inventions related to the present invention, in which the mounting platform 26 moves a flat plate 26a that supports the storage member 22 toward the rear of the body by a moving mechanism 26b provided on the body frame 1 .

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a root vegetable harvester according to the fourth aspect of the present invention , in which the moving mechanism is a rotation actuator 53.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carrot harvester according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view for explaining the operation of the carrot harvester. FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining the operation of a main part of the carrot harvester. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the operation of a main part of the second embodiment of the carrot harvester. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the operation of a main part of the carrot harvester according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an enlarged rear view illustrating the operation of a main part of the carrot harvester according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the operation of a main part of the carrot harvester according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view illustrating the fourth embodiment of the carrot harvester for explaining the operation of a main part of the carrot harvester.

We will explain a carrot harvester, which is a type of root vegetable harvester, as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, forward and backward directions and left and right directions are referred to based on the forward direction of the machine body.

<Overall composition>
The carrot harvester is composed of a traveling section A that drives the machine, a control section B on which the operator sits, a harvesting section C that pulls out carrots from the field on one side of the machine body and transports them to the upper rear of the machine body, a sorting and transporting section D that takes over carrots from the harvesting section C and transports them to the rear of the machine body in a stem and leaf cutting section where the stems and leaves are cut, a sorting and transporting section D that receives carrots that fall from the stem and leaf cutting section and processes the stems and leaves remaining on the carrots in a remaining leaf processing section, a sorting and transporting section D that takes over carrots from the remaining leaf processing section and transports them from one side of the machine body to the other side of the machine body where an assistant operator sorts the carrots during transport, and a storage section E that places storage members for the carrots discharged from the sorting and transporting section D.

<Running Part A>
Left and right crawlers 6L, 6R are formed by winding left and right belts 5, 5 around left and right driving sprockets 2, 2 on the front side of the machine body and left and right driven wheels 3, 3 on the rear side of the machine body below the machine body frame 1, and a plurality of wheels 4 attached between the left and right driving sprockets 2, 2 and the left and right driven wheels 3, 3. The left and right driving sprockets 2, 2 of the left and right crawlers 6L, 6R are attached to left and right drive shafts extending to both the left and right sides from a transmission case to which the engine power is transmitted, and the left and right crawlers 6L, 6R are attached to the machine body frame 1 with a certain left-right gap between them.

<Control Unit B>
A control frame 7 is attached to the upper right side of the machine frame 1, and a control seat 8 is attached to the control frame 7, and a control panel 9 is attached to the front of the machine. A speed change lever 10 for switching between forward and reverse movement and the traveling speed of the machine is attached to the control panel 9, and a lift control lever 11 for turning the machine left and right and for controlling the working height of the harvesting section C is also attached.

The control section B is formed by attaching a radiator cover 12, which protects the radiator (not shown) that cools the engine and takes in cooling air, to the other left or right side of the control section frame 7 (right side of the aircraft).

The above configuration allows for the provision of control members such as the gear shift control lever 10 and the lift control lever 11 that can perform multiple operations with a single lever, making it easier to control the aircraft and reducing the workload of the pilot.

<Harvesting Section C>
Left and right driven pulleys 14a, 14a are rotatably attached to the front sides of the left and right pulling-out frames 13, 13, and left and right driving pulleys 14b, 14b are attached to the rear sides of the machine, and left and right clamping conveyor belts 15, 15 for pulling carrots and transporting them to the rear of the machine are wound around the left and right driven pulleys 14a, 14a and the left and right driving pulleys 14b, 14b. The left and right clamping conveyor belts 15, 15 are tensioned by a plurality of tension rollers 16, and the inside surfaces of the left and right clamping conveyor belts 15, 15 are pressed against each other to form a carrot pulling and transporting path R. A rotating frame is attached above the machine frame 1 so as to be vertically rotatable about left and right horizontal axes as rotation fulcrums, and a transmission case for transmitting driving force to the left and right driving pulleys 14b, 14b is attached to the rear end of the rotating frame so as to be vertically rotatable about the rotation fulcrum. The machine frame 1 and the rotary frame are connected by a lifting cylinder, and the lifting cylinder is attached so as to be operable by the control section B to constitute a drawing and conveying device 17.

In addition, a vertical lifting device 18 that lifts the stems and leaves of carrots is provided in front of the pulling and conveying device 17, a horizontal lifting device 19 that scoops up the stems and leaves lifted by the vertical lifting device 18, a grass-splitting rod 20 provided in front of the horizontal lifting device 19, a rotatable gauge wheel that prevents the pulling and conveying device 17 from descending too far, and a left-right vibrating soiler S that vibrates back and forth with the driving force of the engine to loosen the soil on the left and right of the carrots buried in the soil.

A tail cutting device that cuts off the roots of carrots being transported by the pulling and conveying device 17 is installed below the pulling and conveying passage R, forming the harvesting section C.

With the above configuration, by providing a horizontal pulling device 19 with a grass-dividing rod 20 on the front side of the machine body and a vertical pulling device 18, harvesting work can be done while raking up the stems and leaves of carrots that have fallen in the field. Since the visibility of the carrots to be harvested is improved, it is easier to align the pulling position, and the amount of crop left behind is reduced, improving work efficiency.

In addition, it prevents carrots from being damaged by contact with the left-right vibrating soy grinder S, etc., improving the commercial value of carrots.

The machine frame 1 and a rotating frame that can rotate up and down around the left and right horizontal axes are connected by a lifting cylinder, and the lifting cylinder is extended and retracted by operating the lifting lever 11 on the steering unit B. This allows the vertical height of the entire harvesting unit C to be adjusted by operating the lifting lever 11, so that the position of the starting end of the harvesting unit C for pulling out and conveying can be adjusted up and down and the position of the starting end of the pulling out and conveying can be adjusted to match the appropriate pulling height of the carrots growing in the field, preventing any carrots from being left behind and improving work efficiency.

In addition, if the harvesting section C is raised when turning, the lower end of the harvesting section C is less likely to come into contact with the field, making the turning operation smoother and improving work efficiency.

<Sorting and conveying section D>
The sorting and conveying device 21 for sorting work in the sorting and conveying section D is arranged in the left-right direction of the machine body from the rear lower part of the pulling and conveying device 17 in the harvesting section C toward the storage section E where the flexi-con bags 22 serving as storage members for storing carrots are located, and is composed of a chain conveyor with bars at regular intervals that rotates by the driving force from the engine. The carrots conveyed by the pulling and conveying device 17 with their stems and leaves clamped are cut at the stem and leaf cutting section at their lower ends (slightly above the heads of the carrots) and the carrots fall downward, but the remaining leaf processing section receives the fallen carrots and processes the stems and leaves remaining on the carrots before conveying them to the sorting and conveying section D. The sorting and conveying device 21 in the sorting and conveying section D conveys the carrots from their left ends to the right (storage section E).

The sorting and conveying device 21 is also composed of a horizontal conveying conveyor 21a that is installed horizontally on the right side of the machine body from the rear lower part of the extraction and conveying device 17 in the harvesting section C, and a movable conveying conveyor 21b that takes over the harvested crops from the right end of the horizontal conveying conveyor 21a and conveys them diagonally upward and to the upper right to the storage section E.

The movable transport conveyor 21b has its left end, which takes over the harvested crops from the right end of the horizontal transport conveyor 21a, supported by a pivot shaft so that it can rotate freely. The right end side on the storage section E side moves up and down by the extension and contraction action of the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c, allowing the inclination angle to be changed.

An auxiliary work seat 23 is provided on the rear side of the movable transport conveyor 21b, and a worker seated on the auxiliary work seat 23 removes non-marketable carrots (small carrots or carrots with irregular shapes) from the carrots sent by the movable transport conveyor 21b, and sends only carrots with appropriate market value to the storage section E.

The worker seated on the auxiliary work seat 23 can use the foot-operated up and down switches to extend and retract the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c, causing the right end of the movable transport conveyor 21b to move up and down.

<Storage section E>
The storage section E is located to the right of the sorting and conveying device 21, and is composed of a hanging hanger 25 that moves up and down and left and right by an operating arm 24 as a moving device provided at the right end of the movable conveyor 21b of the sorting and conveying device 21, and a loading platform 26 on which the flexi-con bag 22 hung from the hanging hanger 25 is placed.

The movable transport conveyor 21b is installed diagonally upward from the base at the left end to the upper right end. That is, it rotates with the driving force from the engine to transport the carrots diagonally upward and releases them downward from the upper end. The base of the movable transport conveyor 21b is installed so that it can rotate freely on a pivot shaft, and the piston tip of the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c, whose base is pivoted to the machine frame 1, is connected to its middle part.

That is, while the operator seated on the auxiliary work seat 23 presses on the up switch, the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c extends and rotates around the pivot shaft to rise, and while the operator presses on the down switch, the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c contracts and rotates around the pivot shaft to fall. Also, when the operator descends into the field and operates the cross-directional operation lever 27 provided on the right end of the operation panel 9 (described later) to the right while facing the rear of the machine, the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c extends and rotates around the pivot shaft to rise, and when the operator operates it to the left, the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c contracts and rotates around the pivot shaft to fall.

The hanging hanger 25 moves up and down and left and right by the operating arm 24 attached to the right end of the movable transport conveyor 21b.

The operating arm 24 is composed of a base arm 24a whose base is pivoted to the right end of the movable transport conveyor 21b so that it can rotate counterclockwise when viewed from behind, but stops rotating clockwise at a predetermined position, and whose tip is extended toward the upper right outside of the machine body, a rotating arm 24b pivoted to the tip of the base arm 24a so that it can rotate freely, and a rotating electric cylinder 24c that serves as a rotating actuator and is disposed between the base arm 24a and the rotating arm 24b.

The hanging hanger 25 is attached to the tip of the rotating arm 24b. Above the mounting table 26, the four hooks 25a of the hanging hanger 25 are hooked onto the locking holes in the upper edge of the FIBC bag 22 to support the FIBC bag 22 in a suspended state.

A cross-directional operation lever 27 is provided at the right end of the operation panel 9. When the operator descends into the field and faces the rear of the machine, operating it to the right will extend the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c and cause the movable transport conveyor 21b to rotate around the pivot shaft and rise; operating it to the left will cause the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c to contract and cause the movable transport conveyor 21b to rotate around the pivot shaft and fall; operating it towards the rear of the machine will cause the pivoting electric cylinder 24c to extend and cause the pivoting arm 24b to rotate around the pivot shaft and open outward to the right; operating it towards the front of the machine will cause the pivoting electric cylinder 24c to contract and cause the pivoting arm 24b to rotate around the pivot shaft and close inside the machine to the left.

When operating this cross-directional operation lever 27, if the movable transport conveyor 21b is not in the uppermost position, operating the cross-directional operation lever 27 toward the rear of the machine will not operate the electric rotating cylinder 24c, and the rotating arm 24b will not rotate around the pivot shaft to open to the right outside. In other words, only when the movable transport conveyor 21b is in the uppermost position can the cross-directional operation lever 27 be operated toward the rear of the machine to operate the electric rotating cylinder 24c and rotate the rotating arm 24b around the pivot shaft to open to the right outside.

A load sensor 28 is also provided on the platform 26, and only when the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is lifted and the bottom of the FIBC bag 22 separates from the platform 26 (only when the load sensor 28 no longer detects the FIBC bag 22), the cross-directional control lever 27 is operated toward the rear of the machine to activate the electric rotating cylinder 24c, causing the rotating arm 24b to rotate around the pivot shaft and open outward to the right.

In addition, a photosensor 29 is provided at the right outer end of the loading platform 26 to detect the presence of an object above. When the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is lifted and the rotating arm 24b rotates about the pivot shaft by the operation of the rotating electric cylinder 24c to open to the right outer side and move to the right outer side of the machine body, if it is not detected that the FIBC bag 22 is not above the right outer end of the loading platform 26 (the FIBC bag 22 has moved to the right outer side beyond the right outer end of the loading platform 26), even if the cross-directional operation lever 27 is operated to the left to rotate the movable transport conveyor 21b about the pivot shaft and lower it, the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c will not operate and the movable transport conveyor 21b will not move downward. Therefore, when the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is lowered into the field, it is possible to avoid the FIBC bag 22 accidentally coming into contact with the right outer end of the loading platform 26.

In addition, a hook opening/closing switch 30 is provided at the upper end of the cross-directional operating lever 27 to open and close the four hooks 25a of the hanging hanger 25.

When the hook opening/closing switch 30 is pressed once, it activates the electromagnetic solenoid 31 provided at the pivot point of each hook 25a to close each hook 25a, and when pressed again, it activates the electromagnetic solenoid 31 to open each hook 25a. Note that when opening each hook 25a, in order to prevent erroneous operation, if the hook opening/closing switch 30 is not pressed for 0.5 seconds or more, the electromagnetic solenoid 31 will not activate and each hook 25a will not open.

In addition, if a string hook for fastening the string of the flexi-con bag 22 is provided at the upper end of the movable transport conveyor 21b, the string hook is opened and closed in the same manner using the hook opening/closing switch 30.

A red rotating light 33, which is an example of a warning light used as a notification means, is provided at the highest position of the operating arm 24, i.e., at the top of the tip of the base arm 24a.

The red rotating light 33 turns on and rotates when the load sensor 28 on the mounting base 26 detects that the FIBC bag 22 hanging from the hanging hanger 25 has been lifted and the bottom of the FIBC bag 22 has left the mounting base 26, and when the rotating arm 24b pivoted to the tip of the base arm 24a of the operating arm 24 starts to open outward to the right by the electric rotating cylinder 24c, notifying the surroundings that the operating arm 24 is operating and lowering the FIBC bag 22 into the field. A potentiometer 34 is provided at the base of the rotating arm 24b pivoted to the tip of the base arm 24a, and detects that the rotating arm 24b starts to open outward to the right by the electric rotating cylinder 24c.

In addition, if a horn is sounded to warn the driver when the red rotating light 33 starts rotating, it will be even safer. The sound of the horn is an intermittent sound that is different from the sound of a reversing buzzer or a warning sound sounded by the driver.

Therefore, when the operating arm 24 is operated to lower the FIBC bag 22 into the field, the red rotating light 33 rotates and lights up at the highest position of the operating arm 24, making it easy to see even in the evening and providing an accurate warning to those around.

Now, we will explain the configuration of the mounting table 26 in detail.

The loading platform 26 is composed of a flat plate 26a on which the FIBC bag 22 is placed and supported, and a movement mechanism 26b that moves the flat plate 26a in the fore-aft direction of the machine body to switch between a state in which the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is placed and supported, and an open state in which the lower part of the bottom surface of the FIBC bag 22 is open.

The moving mechanism 26b is composed of a drive spiral shaft 41 rotatably mounted on front and rear support arms 40, 40 whose bases are fixed to the right end of the machine frame 1, a slide tube 42 that is fitted axially to the drive spiral shaft 41 and has an engaging piece that engages with the spiral groove of the drive spiral shaft 41, a fixed body 43 that fixes the slide tube 42 to the inner end of the flat plate 26a, a transmission case 44 that transmits the rotational driving force to the drive spiral shaft 41, and an electric motor 45 whose base is fixed to the transmission case 44 and faces inward of the machine body.

A drive gear provided on the drive shaft of the electric motor 45 and a driven gear provided on the drive spiral shaft 41 are built into the transmission case 44, and the drive spiral shaft 41 is driven forward and backward via the drive gear and driven gear in the transmission case 44 when the electric motor 45 is driven forward and backward.

The electric motor 45 is driven in forward and reverse directions by a platform movement switch located near the control panel 9 and the auxiliary work seat 23.

When the electric motor 45 is driven in the forward direction by the platform movement switch, the drive spiral shaft 41 is driven in the forward direction, and the slide tube 42, which has an engaging element that engages with the spiral groove of the drive spiral shaft 41, slides toward the front of the machine body, causing the flat plate 26a to slide toward the front of the machine body and support the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25.

When the electric motor 45 is driven in reverse by the platform movement switch, the drive spiral shaft 41 is driven in reverse, and the slide tube 42, which has an engaging element that engages with the spiral groove of the drive spiral shaft 41, slides toward the rear of the machine body, causing the flat plate 26a to slide toward the rear of the machine body, opening up the lower bottom surface of the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25, and by lowering the hanging hanger 25, the FIBC bag 22 can be lowered directly into the field without moving left and right or front and rear.

<Carrot harvesting work>
First, the electric motor 45 is driven in the forward direction by the platform movement switch, which drives the drive spiral shaft 41 in the forward direction and slides the flat plate 26a of the platform 26 toward the front of the machine body, so that the bottom of the flexi-con bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is placed and supported.

Then, operate the cross-directional control lever 27 to bring the movable transport conveyor 21b to its lowest position with the pivot arm 24b closed inside the left machine body.

The FIBC bag 22 is hung by hooking the locking holes at the upper edge of the FIBC bag 22 onto each of the hooks 25a of the hanging hanger 25, and the hook opening/closing switch 30 of the cross-directional operating lever 27 is pressed to close each of the hooks 25a, so that the bottom of the FIBC bag 22 is supported on the mounting table 26.

Then, the operator seated in the driver's seat 8 advances the carrot harvester, aligning the front end of the extraction transport path R of the extraction transport device 17 of the harvesting section C with the carrot rows in the field, then operates the lifting operation lever 11 to lower the harvesting section C, and turns on the digging clutch to drive each section and move forward. Then, the weeding rod 20, vertical lifting device 18, and horizontal lifting device 19 rake up the carrot stems and leaves, and the carrot stems and leaves are clamped on the extraction transport path R of the extraction transport device 17, the left and right vibrating soiler S loosens the soil to the sides and below the carrots, and the carrots are clamped and pulled out by the extraction transport device 17 and transported upward and rearward.

Then, the carrots that have been conveyed by the pulling and conveying device 17 with their stems and leaves clamped are cut at the stem and leaf cutting section at their lower ends (slightly above the top of the carrot) and the carrots fall downward. The carrots that fall are received by the remaining leaf processing section, which processes the remaining stems and leaves on the carrots and conveys them to the sorting and conveying section D. The carrots are then conveyed from their left end to the right (storage section E) by the movable conveyor 21b of the sorting and conveying section D.

Then, a worker seated on the auxiliary work seat 23 at the rear of the movable transport conveyor 21b removes non-marketable carrots (small carrots or carrots with irregular shapes) from the carrots being transported by the movable transport conveyor 21b, and only the carrots with marketable value are sent to the storage section E.

The carrots sent to the right end by the movable transport conveyor 21b drop into and are stored in the flexible container bags 22 hung from the hooks 25a of the hanging hangers 25 at the right end of the movable transport conveyor 21b.

As the amount of carrots stored in the flexi-con bag 22 increases, the worker seated on the auxiliary work seat 23 presses the lift switch to extend the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c, causing the movable transport conveyor 21b to rotate around the pivot shaft and gradually rise.

Then, the movable transport conveyor 21b rotates about the pivot shaft and rises until the flexi-con bag 22 is filled with carrots, and the operator stops driving the machine and stops it.

The operator seated in the auxiliary work seat 23 leaves the auxiliary work seat 23, descends to the field, stands near the right end of the control panel 9, and operates the cross-directional control lever 27 while facing toward the rear of the machine.

First, the cross-directional control lever 27 is moved to the right to extend the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c, raising the movable transport conveyor 21b to its highest position and lifting the FIBC bag 22 above the platform 26.

Then, the cross-directional control lever 27 is operated toward the rear of the machine to extend the electric rotating cylinder 24c, rotate the rotating arm 24b around the pivot shaft, and open it to the right outside, moving the FIBC bag 22 to the right outside of the loading platform 26.

Then, the cross-directional control lever 27 is operated to the left to retract the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c and lower the movable transport conveyor 21b to its lowest position, thereby lowering the flexi-con bag 22 into the field.

Then, the hook opening/closing switch 30 of the cross-directional operation lever 27 is pressed to open each hook 25a, and each hook 25a of the hanging hanger 25 is released from the locking hole at the upper end edge of the FIBC bag 22. The cross-directional operation lever 27 is operated to return the movable transport conveyor 21b to the lowest position with the first rotating arm 24b closed inside the left machine body, and the locking holes at the upper end edge of the empty FIBC bag 22 are hooked onto each hook 25a of the hanging hanger 25 to hang the FIBC bag 22 so that the bottom of the FIBC bag 22 is supported on the mounting platform 26. Then, the operator sits on the auxiliary work seat 23. Then, each part is driven to move the machine forward and the harvesting work is resumed.

The hanging hanger 25 therefore moves up and down and left and right by the operating arm 24 attached to the right end of the movable transport conveyor 21b, so that the flexi-con bag 22 placed on the platform 26 while suspended from the hanging hanger 25 can be lifted above the platform 26 by the operating arm 24 and lowered into the field at a position on the right outer side of the platform 26. Even if the flexi-con bag 22 lowered into the field tilts or the machine meanders slightly, the flexi-con bag 22 can be prevented from coming into contact with the machine, and good and proper harvesting work can be carried out.

If there is an obstacle such as a ridge or wall on the side of the ridge at the edge of the field and the FIBC bag 22 cannot be lowered to the side of the machine body, the cross-directional control lever 27 is operated to the right to extend the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c and raise the movable transport conveyor 21b to its highest position, thereby lifting the FIBC bag 22 above the flat plate 26a of the loading platform 26.

Then, the electric motor 45 is driven in the reverse direction by the platform movement switch, which drives the drive spiral shaft 41 in the reverse direction and moves the flat plate 26a of the platform 26 toward the rear of the machine, opening the lower part of the bottom surface of the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25.

Then, the cross-directional control lever 27 is operated to the left to retract the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c and lower the movable transport conveyor 21b to its lowest position, thereby lowering the flexi-con bag 22 into the field.

Then, press the hook open/close switch 30 of the cross-directional operating lever 27 to open each hook 25a and release each hook 25a of the hanging hanger 25 from the locking hole at the upper edge of the FIBC bag 22.

In summary, when there is an obstacle such as a ridge or wall on the side of the ridge at the edge of the field and the FIBC bag 22 cannot be lowered to the side of the machine, the electric motor 45 is driven in reverse by the platform movement switch, the drive spiral shaft 41 is driven in reverse, the flat plate 26a of the platform 26 is moved to the rear of the machine, and the lower part of the bottom surface of the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is opened, so that the FIBC bag 22 can be lowered directly into the field without moving left and right or front and rear.

In addition, when the operating arm 24 is operated to lower the FIBC bag 22 into the field, the red rotating light 33 rotates and lights up at the highest position of the operating arm 24, so it is visible even in the evening and can accurately alert those around, ensuring safety.

Other Embodiments
(1) FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the mounting table 26.

That is, the base of the pivoting support arm 50 is fixed to the rear position of the right end of the aircraft frame 1, and the pivot shaft 51 provided at the tip of the pivoting support arm 50 pivots freely to support the rear end of the frame 26a' fixed to the inner end of the flat plate 26a.

The base of a rotating electric cylinder 53 serving as a movement mechanism is pivoted to the tip of a cylinder support arm 52 whose base is fixed to the rear end of the machine frame 1, and the piston tip of the rotating electric cylinder 53 is connected to a connecting arm 54 protruding from the pivot part at the rear end of the frame 26a'.

The electric rotating cylinder 53 is extended and retracted by the platform movement switch located near the control panel 9 and the auxiliary work seat 23.

Therefore, by operating the platform movement switch, the flat plate 26a of the platform 26 can be changed to a loading position (solid line position) where the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is loaded and supported, and a rearward rotation position (imaginary line position) where the lower bottom surface of the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is opened.

(2) Figures 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the mounting table 26.

That is, the loading platform 26 has a concave shape in the center so that the FIBC bag 22 can be loaded even in a small loading area, and is provided with engagement protrusions 62, 62 that engage with guide grooves 61, 61 of front and rear guides 60F, 60R provided at the rear right side of the machine frame 1 and slide left and right along the guide grooves 61, 61. In addition, a gripping portion 63 is provided at the right end of the loading platform 26.

In addition, a protrusion 64 is provided on the inner bottom surface of the mounting platform 26. When the mounting platform 26 is pulled outward to the right to place the FIBC bag 22 on it, the protrusion 64 comes into contact with the side surface of the right end of the machine frame 1, preventing the mounting platform 26 from moving inwardly inside the machine.

When the platform 26 is pulled out to the right and ready to place the flexi-con bag 22, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to store the platform 26 inside the machine by lifting it upwards by holding the gripping portion 63, which causes the platform 26 to rotate upwards around the engaging protrusions 62, 62 so that the protrusions 64 are positioned higher than the machine frame 1, and by pushing the platform 26 into the machine while still holding the gripping portion 63, the engaging protrusions 62, 62 slide along the guide grooves 61, 61, allowing the platform 26 to be stored inside the machine.

In addition, a space 64 is provided between the front and rear guides 60F, 60R, and during harvesting work when the loading platform 26 is pulled outward to the right and the flexi-con bag 22 is placed on it, any debris or other debris falling from the upper movable transport conveyor 21b falls onto the running section A.

The platform 26 can therefore be pulled out to the right by the gripping portion 63 to support the flexi-con bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25, or it can be stored inside the machine to open the bottom of the flexi-con bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25.

(3) Figures 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the mounting table 26.

That is, the mounting base 26 is composed of a mounting frame 70, which is made of a round iron rod with a gripping portion 70a raised upward on the outer right side and sliding portions 70b, 70b formed on the front and rear, and front and rear pipe members 71, 71 fixed to the rear of the right end of the machine frame 1 and with the sliding portions 70b, 70b inwardly slidable to the left and right.

In addition, a notched hole 72 is formed in the pipe material 71, and an engagement piece 74 is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 73 on the slide portion 70b and is biased by a coil spring 75 so as to protrude outward.

That is, when the loading frame 70 is pulled out to the right and outward to place the FIBC bag 22 on it, the engaging piece 74 engages with the notched hole 72 of the pipe material 71 by the biasing force of the coil spring 75, and holds the FIBC bag 22 in the loaded state. To store the loading frame 70 inside the aircraft from the state in which the FIBC bag 22 is loaded after being pulled out to the right and outward, the engaging piece 74 is pushed in by hand against the biasing force of the coil spring 75, and the sliding parts 70b, 70b are slid into the front and rear pipe materials 71, 71.

The mounting frame 70 of the mounting platform 26 can therefore be pulled outward to the right by holding the gripping portion 70a to support the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25, or it can be stored inside the machine to open the lower bottom surface of the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25.

1 Machine frame 22 Storage member (flexible container bag)
24 Moving device (operating arm)
25 Hanging hanger 26 Placement platform 26a Flat plate 26b Movement mechanism 53 Rotation actuator A Travel section B Steering section C Harvesting section E Storage section

Claims (4)

The root vegetable harvesting machine is equipped with a traveling section (A) for traveling the machine body, a steering section (B), a harvesting section (C) for harvesting root vegetables from a farm field, a sorting and conveying section (D) for conveying the root vegetables harvested by the harvesting section (C ), and a storage section (E) for storing the root vegetables conveyed by the sorting and conveying section (D), and is provided with a loading platform (26) that moves to take two states: a state in which a storage member (22) is placed in the storage section (E) to store the root vegetables conveyed from the harvesting section (C) , and a state in which the bottom of the storage member (22) is opened so that the storage member (22) can be lowered into the farm field below, and a moving device (24) is provided that suspends the storage member (22) and lowers it into the farm field on the left-right side of the machine body and moves the loading platform (26) to lower the storage member (22) into the farm field with the bottom open ;
A pilot's seat (8) and a control panel (9) are provided at the front of the aircraft,
The sorting and conveying section (D) is provided with a movable conveyor (21b) whose end on the storage section (E) side moves up and down, and an auxiliary work seat (23) on which an auxiliary worker sits is provided behind the movable conveyor (21b);
This root vegetable harvester is characterized in that a platform movement switch for moving the platform (26) is provided near the operation panel (9) and the auxiliary work seat (23), and a single cross-directional operation lever (27) for operating the moving device (24) and the movable transport conveyor (21b) is provided at the end of the operation panel (9) on the storage section (E) side . The root vegetable harvester according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting platform (26) is configured to be freely movable between a position for mounting and supporting the storage member (22) suspended from the hanging hanger (25) of the moving device (24) and a position where the lower part of the bottom surface of the storage member (22) suspended from the hanging hanger (25) is opened and the hanging hanger (25) is lowered so that the storage member (22) can be lowered directly into the field without moving left and right or forward and backward. 3. A root vegetable harvester according to claim 1 , wherein the platform (26) is moved toward the rear of the machine body to open a lower portion of the bottom surface of the storage member (22) suspended from the suspension hanger (25). a moving mechanism (26b) for moving the mounting table (26);
The moving mechanism (26b) is composed of a drive screw shaft (41) rotatably mounted on a front and rear support arm (40, 40) whose base is fixed to the right end of the machine frame (1), a slide tube (42) provided with an engaging piece that is slidably fitted to the drive screw shaft (41) in the axial direction and engages with the spiral groove of the drive screw shaft (41), a fixed body (43) that fixes the slide tube (42) to the inner end of the flat plate (26a), a transmission case (44) that transmits a rotational driving force to the drive screw shaft (41), and an electric motor (45) whose base is fixed to the transmission case (44) and faces inward of the machine body.
4. The root vegetable harvester according to claim 1, wherein the driving spiral shaft (41) is driven in forward and reverse directions via an electric motor (45) by a platform movement switch, so that a flat plate (26a) of the platform (26) that supports the storage member (22) is slid toward the rear of the body to an open state in which the lower part of the bottom of the flexi-con bag (22) is opened, or slid toward the front of the body to a state in which the bottom of the flexi-con bag (22) hung from the hanging hanger (25) is supported on the platform .