JP7615804B2 - 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 extracts and transports root vegetables from a field using a pulling and transporting device, and stores the root vegetables in a flexible container bag provided at the end of the transport path of a sorting and transporting device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-115069 A

However, because the FIBC bags filled with 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 next to 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 harvester 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, and a storage section (E) for storing the harvested root vegetables, and the storage section (E) is provided with a loading platform (26) composed of a plurality of platforms (52, 55) that rotates to take two states: a state in which a storage member (22) is loaded so as to store the root vegetables transported from the harvesting section (C) in the storage section (E), and a storage state in which the lower part of the storage member (22) is opened so that the storage member (22) can be lowered into the farm field below;
a moving device (24) is provided which suspends the storage member (22) and lowers it onto a field on the left-right outer side of the machine body, and which rotates a mounting platform (26) to a stored state, thereby lowering the storage member (22) onto the field in which the lower part of the storage member (22) is opened;
This root vegetable harvester is characterized in that the mounting table (26) comprises a base table (52) inside the machine body whose inside is pivotally supported on the machine body so as to be rotatable, and a front table (55) outside the machine body whose inside is pivotally supported on the outer end of the base table (52) so as to be rotatable.
The second aspect of the present invention is
This is a root vegetable harvester of the first invention, characterized in that the tip of an actuator (57), the base of which is supported inside the machine body, is connected to the bottom surface of the front base (55), the actuator (57) is positioned higher than the pivot parts (51F, 51R) on the inside of the base base (52) and lower than the pivot parts (54F, 54R) on the inside of the front base (55), and the connection part between the tip of the actuator (57) and the bottom surface of the front base (55) is located lower than the pivot parts (54F, 54R) on the inside of the front base (55).
The third aspect of the present invention is
This is a root vegetable harvester according to the second invention, characterized in that a notch (52a) into which the actuator (57) fits is provided on the inside of the base platform (52).
The fourth aspect of the present invention is
This is a root vegetable harvester according to the second or third invention, characterized in that the length (L2) of the front side table (55) is longer than the length (L1) of the base side table (52).
A first invention related to the present invention is a root vegetable harvester equipped with a traveling section A for driving the body, 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 mounting platform 26 for a plurality of platforms 52, 55 is provided which 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 stored 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 suspends the storage member 22 and lowers it into the field outside the left and right of the body, and where the mounting platform 26 is displaced into the stored state and the lower part of the storage member 22 is opened.

According to the present invention, even if the storage member 22 lowered into the field tilts or the machine body meanders slightly, the storage member 22 can be prevented from coming into contact with the machine body, and good and appropriate harvesting work can be performed. Furthermore, 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 sides of the ridges at the edge of the field, the storage member 22 can be suspended by the moving device 24, and the mounting table 26 consisting of multiple platforms 52, 55 can be placed in a stored state with the lower part of the storage member 22 open, and the storage member 22 can be lowered into the field with the lower part open. Furthermore, since the mounting table 26 is placed in a stored state with the multiple platforms 52, 55, it can be stored compactly.
According to a first invention related to the present invention , there is provided a mounting platform 26 consisting of a plurality of platforms 52, 55 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 stored 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 which displaces the mounting platform 26 into the stored state 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 meanders slightly, it is possible to avoid the storage member 22 coming into contact with the body of the machine, and good and appropriate harvesting work can be performed.

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 the loading platform 26 consisting of multiple platforms 52, 55 can be placed in a stored state that opens the bottom of the storage member 22, and the storage member 22 can be lowered into the field with the bottom open.

The mounting table 26 can store multiple tables 52 and 55, allowing for compact storage.

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 consists of a base platform 52 inside the body of the machine, the inner side of which is pivoted so as to be freely rotatable on the body, and a front platform 55 on the outside of the body, the inner side of which is pivoted so as to be freely rotatable on the outer end of the base platform 52 .

A third invention related to the present invention is a root vegetable harvester of the second invention related to the present invention, in which the tip of an actuator 57, the base of which is supported inside the machine body, is connected to the bottom surface of the front base 55, and the actuator 57 is positioned at a higher position than the pivot parts 51F, 51R on the inside of the base base 52 and lower than the pivot parts 54F, 54R on the inside of the front base 55, and the connection part between the tip of the actuator 57 and the bottom surface of the front base 55 is located at a lower position than the pivot parts 54F, 54R on the inside of the front base 55.

A fourth invention related to the present invention is the root vegetable harvester of the third invention related to the present invention , in which a notch 52a into which the actuator 57 fits is provided on the inside of the base side platform 52.

A fifth invention related to the present invention is a root vegetable harvester of any of the second to fourth inventions related to the present invention , in which the length L2 of the front side table 55 is longer than the length L1 of the base side table 52.

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. FIG.

A carrot harvester, which is a type of root vegetable harvester, will be described as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. In the following, forward and backward directions and left and right directions will be 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 travel and the traveling speed of the machine, and a lift control lever 11 for turning the machine left and right and for controlling the working height of the harvesting section C are attached to the control panel 9, as well as a cross-directional control lever 27 described later.

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 are rotatably attached to the front sides of the left and right pulling frames 13, 13, and left and right driving pulleys are attached to the rear sides of the machine, and left and right clamping conveyor belts for pulling out carrots and transporting them to the rear of the machine are wound between the left and right driven pulleys and the left and right driving pulleys, and the left and right clamping conveyor belts are tensioned by a plurality of tension rollers so that the inside surfaces of the left and right clamping conveyor belts 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 rotatable in the vertical direction about left and right horizontal shafts as rotation fulcrums, and a transmission case for transmitting driving force to the left and right driving pulleys is attached to the rear end of the rotating frame so as to be rotatable up and down about the rotation fulcrum. The machine frame 1 and the rotating frame are connected by a lifting cylinder, and the lifting cylinder is attached so as to be operable by the control unit B to form the pulling and transporting 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 can be adjusted up and down, and the position of the starting end of the pulling out 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 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 control lever 27 and a mode switching dial 40 are provided on the right end of the control panel 9.

Setting the mode switch dial 40 to "1" position switches to manual mode, and setting it to "2" switches to automatic mode.

When the manual or automatic mode is selected, the control device located below the operation panel 9 operates the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c and electric cylinder 57 using the cross-directional operation lever 27 and the platform operation switch 58, as described below.

The automatic mode in position "2" will be explained later in the carrot harvesting section, but here we will explain the manual mode in position "1".

When the mode switch dial 40 is set to the "1" position in manual mode, the operator descends into the field and faces the rear of the machine. When the operator operates the cross-directional control lever 27 to the right, the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c extends and the movable transport conveyor 21b rotates around the pivot shaft to rise, when the operator operates the lever to the left, the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c contracts and the movable transport conveyor 21b rotates around the pivot shaft to lower, when the lever is operated toward the rear of the machine, the rotating electric cylinder 24c extends and the rotating arm 24b rotates around the pivot shaft to open outward to the right, when the lever is operated toward the front of the machine, the rotating electric cylinder 24c contracts and the rotating arm 24b rotates around the pivot shaft to 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 drawstring hook 32 for engaging the drawstring 22a of the flexi-con bag 22 is provided at the upper end of the movable transport conveyor 21b, the drawstring hook 32 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.

Next, the configuration of the mounting table 26 will be described in detail.

The mounting platform 26 is composed of a base platform 52 inside the machine body, the inner side of which is pivotally supported by front and rear base pivot shafts 51F, 51R as pivot parts on front and rear support arms 50F, 50R provided on the machine body frame 1, and a front platform 55 on the outer side of the machine body, the inner side of which is pivotally supported by front and rear pivot receiving arms 53F, 53R provided at the outer end of the base platform 52, the inner side of which is pivotally supported by front and rear front pivot shafts 54F, 54R as pivot parts.

Piston connecting arms 56, 56 are provided at the center of the bottom surface of the front base 55, and connect the tip of the piston 57b of an electric cylinder 57, which acts as an actuator and has its base pivoted 57a to the machine frame 1 inside the machine.

The position of the pivot 57a at the base of the electric cylinder 57 is higher than the front and rear base pivot shafts 51F, 51R of the base base 52. The front and rear front pivot shafts 54F, 54R on the inside of the front base 55 are higher than the position where the tip of the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is connected to the piston connecting arms 56, 56 provided in the center of the bottom surface of the front base 55.

A notch 52a is formed in the center of the inside of the base stand 52 into which the electric cylinder 57 fits.

That is, the electric cylinder 57 is disposed in such a position that its base extends obliquely downward from inside the machine body at a position higher than the front and rear base pivot shafts 51F, 51R of the base base 52 through the notch 52a of the base base 52 to below the bottom surface of the front base 55.

The electric cylinder 57 is extended and retracted by a platform operation switch 58 provided on the control panel 9.

When the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is extended by operating the loading platform operation switch 58, the base platform 52 and the front platform 55 of the loading platform 26 become horizontal and on the same plane, and support the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 on their upper surfaces.

When the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is contracted by operating the loading platform operation switch 58, the electric cylinder 57 is positioned higher than the front and rear base pivot shafts 51F, 51R and lower than the front and rear front pivot shafts 54F, 54R, so that the outer end of the base platform 52 and the inner end of the front platform 55 move upward and rotate so that the front and rear front pivot shafts 54F, 54R move upward, the base platform 52 assumes an upward facing position and the front platform 55 assumes a downward facing position, resulting in a folded and stored state. This opens 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.

When the base table 52 and the front table 55 of the mounting table 26 are placed horizontally on the same plane, a gap 59 is provided between the outer end of the base table 52 and the inner end of the front table 55, so that even if harvested waste or debris falls from above, it can easily fall through the gap 59 into the field below.

The outer end top surface of the front platform 55 is curved in an arc 60, which prevents the FIBC bag 22 from getting caught on the loading platform 26 when lowering the FIBC bag 22 outward to the right.

The base table 52 faces upward, and the front table 55 faces downward, resulting in a low, folded, stored state. This, combined with the front table 55 facing downward when changing from a horizontal state to a stored state, prevents the loading table 26 from getting caught on the FIBC bag 22. Also, because the storage state is low in height, when the movable transport conveyor 21b is lowered to lower the hanging hanger 25 and lower the FIBC bag 22 directly into the field, the movable transport conveyor 21b does not interfere with the loading table 26 in the stored state, and the FIBC bag 22 can be lowered directly into the field.

In addition, the length L2 of the front side table 55 is longer than the length L1 of the base side table 52, so that when the mounting table 26 is stored, the height is low and the machine can be stored compactly, making it easy to drive on the road, transport the machine on a truck, and store it in a barn, etc.

When the base table 52 and the front table 55 of the mounting table 26 are placed horizontally on the same plane, the bottom surface of the base table 52 is supported by a stopper fixed to the machine frame 1, so that the horizontal state of the mounting table 26 can be maintained with less load on the electric cylinder 57.

In addition, it is advisable to provide stoppers at the outer end of the base table 52 and the inner end of the tip table 55 to prevent the outer end of the base table 52 and the inner end of the tip table 55 from becoming concave when the base table 52 and the tip table 55 are horizontally aligned on the same plane.

In addition, if the electric cylinder 57 is a hydraulic cylinder and a relief valve is provided in the oil passage that contracts the hydraulic cylinder, and the relief valve is configured to operate and not expand or contract when the FIBC bag 22 is placed on the mounting table 26, the mounting table 26 will not be in a stored state when the FIBC bag 22 is placed on it, and it is possible to avoid impeding work due to incorrect operation.

In addition, if the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c is a hydraulic cylinder, and the movable transport conveyor 21b is rotated around the pivot shaft by contracting it to lower the FIBC bag 22 onto the field, an oil line on/off valve can be provided in the contracted oil line to repeatedly lower and stop the FIBC bag 22 so that the FIBC bag 22 is gradually lowered onto the field, reducing the impact when the FIBC bag 22 is lowered onto the field and preventing damage to the FIBC bag 22. Furthermore, if the oil line switching valve of the hydraulic cylinder is a proportional control valve and the amount of oil supplied is variable according to the amount of tilting of the cross-directional operation lever 27, the vertical operation speed of the movable transport conveyor 21b can be freely changed at the operator's discretion, improving workability.

In addition, when the movable transport conveyor 21b is moved up and down by operating the cross-directional control lever 27, the red rotating light 33 can be turned on and off, or an alarm device such as a buzzer, audio alarm, or lamp can be activated to alert those in the vicinity, ensuring safety.

Even if the cross-directional operation lever 27 is being operated, if the worker seated on the auxiliary work seat 23 operates the foot-operated up switch, down switch, and stop switch, the electric cylinder 21c for vertical movement is operated and stopped with priority, and the right end side of the movable transport conveyor 21b is moved up and down and stopped.

The mode switching dial 40 may also be a push switch that switches between manual mode and automatic mode each time it is pressed.

In addition, if an indicator lamp or monitor is provided on the operation panel 9 so that it is possible to immediately see whether the mode switching dial 40 is set to manual mode or automatic mode, erroneous operation can be prevented, making the operation safer and easier to operate.

In addition, by providing lamps at the moving parts such as the movable transport conveyor 21b, the rotating arm 24b, and the mounting table 26, and turning the lamps on when each part is operating, it is possible to immediately tell which part is operating, which is safe.

In addition, if an operation box equipped with the platform activation switch 58, cross-directional operation lever 27, and mode switching dial 40 is removably mounted on the operation panel 9, and the operations of the platform activation switch 58, cross-directional operation lever 27, and mode switching dial 40 are transmitted by communication to a control device mounted below the operation panel 9, the operation box equipped with the cross-directional operation lever 27 and mode switching dial 40 can be used as a remote control, allowing the operator to operate the device from anywhere on the aircraft, making it safe and easy to work with.

<Carrot harvesting work>
First, the mode switching dial 40 on the operation panel 9 is set to the manual mode at the “1” position, and the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is extended by operating the platform operation switch 58, so that the base platform 52 and front platform 55 of the platform 26 are brought into a horizontal position on the same plane and ready to receive the bottom of the flexi-con bag 22 hung from the hanging hanger 25.

Then, operate the cross-directional control lever 27 to bring the movable transport conveyor 21b to its initial lowered 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 contract the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c and lower the movable transfer conveyor 21b to its lowest position, thereby lowering the flexible container 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, thereby disengaging each hook 25a of the hanging hanger 25 from the locking hole at the upper edge of the FIBC bag 22, and the cross-directional operation lever 27 is operated to return the movable transport conveyor 21b to its initial lowered position with the first rotating arm 24b closed inside the left machine body, and the locking holes at the upper 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, and then the operator sits on the auxiliary work seat 23. Then, each section 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, 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 loading platform 26.

Then, the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is contracted by operating the loading platform operation switch 58, so that the base platform 52 and the front platform 55 of the loading platform 26 are stored, and the lower part of the bottom of the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is opened.

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 the FIBC bag 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 piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is contracted by operating the platform operation switch 58, the base platform 52 and front platform 55 of the platform 26 are put into a stored state, and the lower part of the bottom of the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25 is opened, allowing the FIBC bag 22 to be lowered directly into the field without moving left and right or front and back.

In addition, when the mode switching dial 40 is set to the "2" position, which is the automatic mode, the base table 52 and front table 55 of the mounting table 26 can be switched between a horizontal state on the same plane and a stored state automatically by operating the cross-directional operation lever 27, without operating the mounting table operation switch 58.

That is, when the mode switching dial 40 is set to the "2" position, which is the automatic mode, the cross-directional operation lever 27 is operated to the right, and the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c is extended, causing the movable transport conveyor 21b to rise to the highest position, while the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is contracted, causing the base side table 52 and the front side table 55 of the loading platform 26 to be stored. Then, the cross-directional operation lever 27 is operated to the left, causing the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c to be contracted, causing the movable transport conveyor 21b to fall to the lowest position, and the FIBC bag 22 is lowered to the field. Next, the cross-directional operation lever 27 is operated to the right, causing the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c to be extended, causing the movable transport conveyor 21b to rise to the initial lowered position, while at the same time causing the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 to be extended, causing the base side table 52 and the front side table 55 of the loading platform 26 to be in a horizontal state on the same plane.

Therefore, the cross-directional control lever 27 is operated 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 mounting table 26, and at the same time, the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is contracted to store the base table 52 and the front table 55 of the mounting table 26, opening the bottom of the FIBC bag 22 suspended from the hanging hanger 25. Then, the cross-directional control lever 27 is operated to the left to contract the vertical movement electric cylinder 21c, lowering the movable transport conveyor 21b to its lowest position and lowering the FIBC bag 22 into the field. Then, 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 initial lowered position, and at the same time, the piston 57b of the electric cylinder 57 is extended to bring the base table 52 and the front table 55 of the mounting table 26 into a horizontal state on the same plane. The empty FIBC bag 22 is hung by hooking the locking holes on the upper edge of the bag 22 onto each of the hooks 25a of the hanging hanger 25, and the bottom of the FIBC bag 22 is supported on the mounting table 26. The operator then sits on the auxiliary work seat 23. Then, the various parts are driven to move the machine forward and resume harvesting work.

On the other hand, 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.

22 Storage member (flexible container bag)
24 Moving device (operating arm)
26 Placement table 51F Pivot part (front base side pivot axis)
51R Pivot (posterior base pivot)
52 units (base unit)
52a Notch 54F Pivot (front side pivot)
54R Pivot (posterior side pivot)
55 units (front unit)
57 Actuator (electric cylinder)
A: Traveling section B: Control section C: Harvesting section E: Storage section L1: Length of base side table 52 L2: Length of front side table 55

Claims (4)

The root vegetable harvester 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, and a storage section (E) for storing the harvested root vegetables, and the storage section (E) is provided with a loading platform (26) composed of a plurality of platforms (52, 55) that rotates to take two states: a state in which a storage member (22) is loaded so as to store the root vegetables transported from the harvesting section (C) in the storage section (E) , and a storage state in which the lower part of the storage member (22) is opened so that the storage member (22) can be lowered into the farm field below;
a moving device (24) is provided which suspends the storage member ( 22) and lowers it onto a field on the left-right outer side of the machine body, and which rotates a mounting platform (26) to a stored state , thereby lowering the storage member (22) onto the field in which the lower part of the storage member (22) is opened ;
This root vegetable harvester is characterized in that the mounting table (26) comprises a base table (52) inside the machine body whose inside is pivotally supported on the machine body so as to be rotatable, and a front table (55) outside the machine body whose inside is pivotally supported on the outer end of the base table (52) so as to be rotatable . 2. A root vegetable harvester as described in claim 1, characterized in that the tip of an actuator (57) whose base is supported inside the machine body is connected to the bottom surface of the front base (55), the actuator (57) is positioned at a position higher than the pivot parts (51F, 51R) on the inside of the base base (52) and lower than the pivot parts (54F, 54R) on the inside of the front base (55), and the connection part between the tip of the actuator ( 57 ) and the bottom surface of the front base (55) is located at a position lower than the pivot parts (54F, 54R) on the inside of the front base (55). 3. A root vegetable harvester according to claim 2 , wherein a notch (52a) into which the actuator (57) fits is provided on the inside of the base side table (52). 4. A root vegetable harvester according to claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the length (L2) of the front side table (55) is longer than the length (L1) of the base side table (52).