JP7702026B2 - Harvesting Machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a harvester.

Conventionally, harvesters that harvest crops grown in fields are known. For example, JP 2017-175997 A discloses a crop picking and harvesting machine that includes a lifting and conveying device arranged in a rear-upward tilted position, a picking and conveying device, and a crop storage section. The picking and conveying device conveys crops rearward and upward. The picking and conveying device has multiple conveying bars on which crops are placed and conveyed. The multiple conveying bars are arranged at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction. The conveying bars function as crosspieces that prevent the crops from falling.

JP 2017-175997 A

When harvesting relatively heavy crops such as pumpkins with the harvester described in JP 2017-175997 A, the height of the conveyor bars (crosspieces) from the conveyor belt must be increased to prevent the crops from falling during transport. As the crosspieces become taller and the crosspieces support relatively heavy crops, the conveyor belt that supports the crosspieces is required to have greater strength (rigidity). This makes it unavoidable to make the conveyor belt larger (thicker, etc.).

The objective of the present invention is to provide a harvester that can transport relatively heavy crops while avoiding the need for a large conveyor belt.

A harvester according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a transport section that transports crops grown in a field toward a storage section capable of storing the crops, the transport section having a transport conveyor that transports the crops while supporting them from below, and a rod conveyor that transports the crop together with the transport conveyor while supporting the crop from behind the crop in the transport direction of the transport conveyor, the transport conveyor having a transport side upstream roller arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction, a transport side downstream roller arranged downstream of the transport side upstream roller in the transport direction and above the transport side upstream roller, and a conveyor that is wound around the transport side upstream roller and the transport side downstream roller. A conveyor belt is provided, and the rod conveyor has a rod-side upstream roller arranged upstream in the conveying direction, a rod-side downstream roller arranged downstream of the rod-side upstream roller in the conveying direction and above the rod-side upstream roller, a rod belt stretched around the rod-side upstream roller and the rod-side downstream roller, and a plurality of rods held by the rod belt, each of which is spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction, and the distance between each of the rods is set to a size that allows the crops to pass through, and each of the rods supports the crops on the conveyor belt from behind in the conveying direction.

This invention makes it possible to provide a harvester that can transport relatively heavy crops while avoiding the need for a large conveyor belt.

1 is a perspective view of a harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a pickup unit. FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a pickup unit. FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the positional relationship between the pickup conveyor and the rod conveyor. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the conveying section at an angle different from that shown in FIG. 5 . FIG. 13 is a side view for explaining the positional relationship between the rod, the transport conveyor, and the cross conveyor.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings referred to below, the same or equivalent components are given the same numbers.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a harvester according to one embodiment of the present invention. This harvester 1 is a machine that harvests relatively heavy crops (such as pumpkins) while traveling through a farm field F.

As shown in FIG. 1, the harvester 1 includes a traveling machine 100, a machine frame 200, a pickup section 300, and a transport section 400.

The traveling machine 100 is composed of a pair of left and right crawlers capable of traveling in the field F.

The machine frame 200 is mounted on the traveling machine 100. The machine frame 200 is provided with a driver's seat 210 and a storage section 230. The driver's seat 210 is located at the front right side of the machine frame 200 when facing the direction of travel of the harvester 1. A work platform is located behind the driver's seat 210. The storage section 230 is provided at the rear of the machine frame 200. The storage section 230 is capable of storing crops 10 (see Figure 7). The machine frame 200 is also equipped with an engine, a fuel tank, etc.

The pickup section 300 is provided in front of the machine frame 200. The pickup section 300 picks up the crop 10 from the field F and sends the crop to the transport section 400. In this embodiment, the pickup section 300 sends the picked up crop 10 rearward. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pickup section 300 has a pickup conveyor 310 and a clamping section 320.

The pickup conveyor 310 supports the crop 10 from below and transports it toward the transport section 400. The pickup conveyor 310 has a first roller 311, a second roller 312 arranged behind the first roller 311, and a pickup belt 313 that is wound around the first roller 311 and the second roller 312. As shown in FIG. 3, the second roller 312 is arranged behind and above the first roller 311.

The clamping unit 320 clamps the crop 10 from both sides and sends it to the transport unit 400 together with the pickup conveyor 310. The clamping unit 320 has a number of guide rollers 321 and a clamping belt 322 that is wound around the guide rollers 321. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the clamping unit 320 protrudes forward from the pickup conveyor 310.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pickup conveyor 310 and the clamping unit 320 are inclined so as to gradually move away from the field F as they approach the transport unit 400.

The conveying section 400 conveys the crop 10 cultivated in the field F toward the storage section 230. The conveying section 400 is disposed behind the pick-up section 300. In other words, the conveying section 400 conveys the crop 10 received from the pick-up section 300 toward the storage section 230. The conveying section 400 has a conveying conveyor 410, a rod conveyor 420, a cross conveyor 430, another cross conveyor 440, a roller 451, and another roller 452.

The transport conveyor 410 transports the crop 10 while supporting it from below. The transport conveyor 410 has a transport-side upstream roller 411, a transport-side downstream roller 412, and a transport belt 413.

The upstream transport roller 411 is disposed upstream in the transport direction of the crop 10 (backward in this embodiment). As shown in FIG. 7, the upstream transport roller 411 is disposed behind and below the second roller 312.

The transport side downstream roller 412 is disposed downstream (rear) of the transport side upstream roller 411 in the transport direction and above the transport side upstream roller 411.

The conveyor belt 413 (see FIG. 4) is looped around the conveyor-side upstream roller 411 and the conveyor-side downstream roller 412. Note that the conveyor belt 413 is not shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 to FIG. 7.

The rod conveyor 420 supports the crop 10 from behind the crop 10 in the transport direction of the transport conveyor 410 and transports the crop 10 together with the transport conveyor 410. The rod conveyor 420 has a rod-side upstream roller 421, a rod-side downstream roller 422, a rod belt 423, and a number of rods 424.

The rod side upstream roller 421 is disposed upstream in the conveying direction. The rod side upstream roller 421 is disposed near the conveying side upstream roller 411. The diameter of the rod side upstream roller 421 is larger than the diameter of the conveying side upstream roller 411.

The rod-side downstream roller 422 is disposed downstream of the rod-side upstream roller 421 in the conveying direction and above the rod-side upstream roller 421.

The rod belt 423 is looped around the rod side upstream roller 421 and the rod side downstream roller 422.

The multiple rods 424 are spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction and are held by the rod belt 423. The distance between each rod 424 is set to a size that allows the crops 10 to pass through. Each rod 424 supports the crops 10 on the conveying belt 413 from behind in the conveying direction. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, each rod 424 has a support shaft 424a fixed to the rod belt 423 and an elastic body 424b bonded to the support shaft 424a.

Now, with reference to Figure 4, we will explain the positional relationship between the conveying side upstream roller 411 and the rod side upstream roller 421.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation axis A2 of the rod-side upstream roller 421 is spaced from the rotation axis A1 of the transport-side upstream roller 411. More specifically, the rotation axis A1 of the transport-side upstream roller 411 is disposed above the lower end of the movement trajectory of the rod belt 423 and below the rotation axis A2 of the rod-side upstream roller 421. In other words, on the upstream side of the transport conveyor 410, the distance between the part of the transport belt 413 moving in a direction away from the transport-side upstream roller 411 and the part of the rod belt 423 moving in a direction away from the rod-side upstream roller 421 is greater than the distance between the part of the transport belt 413 moving in a direction approaching the transport-side upstream roller 411 and the part of the rod belt 423 moving in a direction approaching the rod-side upstream roller 421.

As shown in FIG. 4, the movement trajectory 424T of the rod 424 has an upstream arc portion T1 that runs along the rod-side upstream roller 421, and an upper straight portion T2 that is located above the conveyor belt 413 and extends in a straight line from the upstream arc portion T1 toward the downstream side in the movement direction of the rod 424. The downstream end 313R of the pickup belt 313 is spaced apart from the movement trajectory 424T of the rod 424, and is located above the boundary portion T3 between the upstream arc portion T1, the upper straight portion T2, and the outer edge of the movement trajectory 424T.

The cross conveyor 430 is disposed downstream of the transport conveyor 410 in the transport direction. The cross conveyor 430 transports the crops 10 received from the transport conveyor 410 in a direction intersecting the transport direction (in this embodiment, perpendicular to the transport direction). As shown in FIG. 7, the cross conveyor 430 is disposed at a lower position than the downstream end 410R of the transport conveyor 410.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the upstream portion of the cross conveyor 430 is disposed between the conveying side downstream roller 412 and the rod side downstream roller 422, and below the rod belt 423. In other words, the rod belt 423 passes above the cross conveyor 430.

As shown in FIG. 7, the rod belt 423 is looped around the rod-side upstream roller 421 and the rod-side downstream roller 422 so that an area AR is formed in which the distance H between the rod 424 and the transport conveyor 410 or the cross conveyor 430 in the vertical direction is equal to or greater than the size of the crop 10.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, an inclined plate 435 is provided between the transport conveyor 410 and the cross conveyor 430. The inclined plate 435 has a shape that gradually slopes downward from the downstream end 410R of the transport conveyor 410 toward the upstream portion of the cross conveyor 430.

The other cross conveyor 440 is disposed downstream of the cross conveyor 430 in the conveying direction of the cross conveyor 430 (to the right in this embodiment). The other cross conveyor 440 conveys the crop 10 received from the cross conveyor 430 in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the cross conveyor 430 (in this embodiment, a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction). The other cross conveyor 440 conveys the crop 10 toward the storage section 230. The other cross conveyor 440 is adjacent to the work table 220. Therefore, a worker on the work table 220 can work on the crop 10 being conveyed on the other cross conveyor 440.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the roller 451 is provided at the corner between the transport conveyor 410 and the cross conveyor 430. The roller 451 rotates while contacting the crops 10 moving from the transport conveyor 410 to the cross conveyor 430.

The other roller 452 is provided at the corner between the cross conveyor 430 and the other cross conveyor 440, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The other roller 452 rotates while contacting the crops 10 moving from the cross conveyor 430 to the other cross conveyor 440.

Next, we will explain how the harvester 1 harvests the crop 10. First, the pickup unit 300 picks up the crop 10 cultivated in the field F and sends the crop 10 toward the transport unit 400.

The crop 10 then falls from the rear end of the pickup conveyor 310 onto the conveyor belt 413. In this embodiment, the downstream end 313R of the pickup belt 313 is spaced from the movement trajectory 424T of the rod 424 and is located above the boundary T3 at the outer edge of the movement trajectory 424T, so that the crop 10 moving from the pickup conveyor 310 toward the conveyor belt 413 is prevented from being pushed back by the rod 424. In addition, the central axis of rotation A1 of the conveyor side upstream roller 411 is positioned below the central axis of rotation A2 of the rod side upstream roller 421, so that the conveyor belt 413 can receive the crop 10 more reliably.

The transport conveyor 410 and the rod conveyor 420 transport the crop 10 received from the transport belt 413 backward and send it to the cross conveyor 430. In this embodiment, the rod belt 423 is looped around the rod side upstream roller 421 and the rod side downstream roller 422 so as to form an area AR, so that the crop is transferred from the transport conveyor 410 to the cross conveyor 430 in the area AR, while the vines of the crop 10 are transported downstream (rear) of the rod conveyor 420 by the rod 424 in the area AR. Therefore, the crop 10 and the vines are effectively separated in the area AR.

In addition, rollers 451 are provided at the corners between the transport conveyor 410 and the cross conveyor 430, preventing the crops 10 from becoming stuck at these corners.

The cross conveyor 430 sends the crops 10 received from the transport conveyor 410 toward the other cross conveyor 440. Another roller 452 is provided at the corner between the cross conveyor 430 and the other cross conveyor 440, preventing the crops 10 from being stuck at this corner.

The other cross conveyor 440 sends the crop 10 received from the cross conveyor 430 toward the storage section 230. Any vines or other parts that were not removed in the area AR are removed by a worker working on the work table 220 while the crop 10 is being transported on the other cross conveyor 440.

As described above, in the harvester 1 of this embodiment, the crop 10 is supported by rods 424 that are constructed separately from the conveyor belt 413, making it possible to transport relatively heavy crops 10 while avoiding the need to make the conveyor belt larger.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are specific examples of the following aspects:

The harvester according to one aspect of the above embodiment is equipped with a transport unit that transports crops grown in a field toward a storage unit capable of storing the crops, and the transport unit has a transport conveyor that transports the crop while supporting it from below, and a rod conveyor that transports the crop together with the transport conveyor while supporting the crop from behind the crop in the transport direction of the transport conveyor, and the transport conveyor has a transport side upstream roller arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction, a transport side downstream roller arranged downstream of the transport side upstream roller in the transport direction and above the transport side upstream roller, and a conveyor that is passed around the transport side upstream roller and the transport side downstream roller. The rod conveyor has a rod-side upstream roller arranged upstream in the conveying direction, a rod-side downstream roller arranged downstream of the rod-side upstream roller in the conveying direction and above the rod-side upstream roller, a rod belt wound around the rod-side upstream roller and the rod-side downstream roller, and a plurality of rods held by the rod belt, each of which is arranged at intervals in the conveying direction, and the distance between each of the rods is set to a size that allows the crops to pass through, and each of the rods supports the crops on the conveying belt from behind in the conveying direction.

In this harvester, the crops are supported by rods that are separate from the conveyor belt, making it possible to transport relatively heavy crops without increasing the size of the conveyor belt.

It is also preferable that the central axis of rotation of the upstream roller on the conveying side is located above the lower end of the trajectory of the rod belt and below the central axis of rotation of the upstream roller on the rod side.

In this way, the upstream end of the conveyor belt is closer to the field without the trajectory of the rod conveyor approaching the field, ensuring the distance between the rod and the conveyor belt on the upstream side in the conveying direction. This ensures the receiving depth of the crops on the upstream side of the conveyor belt.

The conveying section is preferably further provided with a cross conveyor that is disposed downstream of the conveying conveyor in the conveying direction and conveys the crop received from the conveying conveyor in a direction intersecting the conveying direction, and the rod belt passes above the cross conveyor and is looped around the rod-side upstream roller and the rod-side downstream roller so as to form an area in which the distance between the rod and the conveying conveyor or the cross conveyor in the vertical direction is equal to or greater than the size of the crop.

In this embodiment, the crop is transferred from the transport conveyor to the cross conveyor, while the vines of the crop are transported by the rods in the area downstream of the rod conveyor, effectively separating the crop from the vines.

It is also preferable that the conveying section further includes a roller that is provided at the corner between the conveying conveyor and the cross conveyor and rotates while in contact with the crop moving from the conveying conveyor to the cross conveyor.

This prevents crops from getting stuck at the corners between the transport conveyor and the cross conveyor.

It is also preferable that the conveying section further comprises another cross conveyor that is disposed downstream of the cross conveyor in the conveying direction of the cross conveyor and conveys the crops received from the cross conveyor in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the cross conveyor, and another roller that is provided at the corner between the cross conveyor and the other cross conveyor and rotates while contacting the crops moving from the cross conveyor to the other cross conveyor.

This prevents crops from getting stuck at the corners of one cross conveyor and another.

The system further includes a pickup section that is provided upstream of the transport section in the transport direction and picks up the crop from the field and sends the crop to the transport section, and the pickup section has a pickup conveyor that supports the crop from below while transporting it toward the transport section, and a clamping section that clamps the crop from both sides while sending it to the transport section together with the pickup conveyor, and it is preferable that the pickup conveyor and the clamping section are inclined so as to gradually move away from the field as they approach the transport conveyor.

In this case, the movement trajectory of the rod has an upstream arc portion along the rod-side upstream roller, and an upper straight portion located above the conveyor belt and extending in a straight line from the upstream arc portion toward the downstream side in the movement direction of the rod, and it is preferable that the downstream end of the pickup conveyor is spaced apart from the movement trajectory of the rod and is located above the boundary between the upstream arc portion and the upper straight portion on the outer edge of the movement trajectory of the rod.

This prevents the rods from pushing back the crops sent from the pickup conveyor to the transport belt.

It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the description of the embodiments above, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

1 Harvester, 10 Crop, 100 Traveling machine, 200 Machine frame, 210 Driver's seat, 220 Work platform, 230 Storage section, 300 Pickup section, 310 Pickup conveyor, 320 Clamping section, 400 Conveying section, 410 Conveying conveyor, 411 Conveying side upstream roller, 412 Conveying side downstream roller, 413 Conveying belt, 420 Rod conveyor, 421 Rod side upstream roller, 422 Rod side downstream roller, 423 Rod belt, 424T Movement trajectory, 424 Rod, 430 Cross conveyor, 435 Inclined plate, 440 Other cross conveyor, 451 Roller, 452 Other roller, AR Area, T1 Upstream arc section, T2 Upper straight section.

Claims (3)

A conveying unit is provided to convey crops cultivated in a farm field to a storage unit capable of storing the crops,
The conveying unit is
a conveyor that conveys the crop while supporting it from below;
a rod conveyor that supports the crop from behind the crop in the conveying direction of the conveyor and conveys the crop together with the conveyor,
The transport conveyor is
a conveying-side upstream roller disposed on the upstream side in the conveying direction;
a downstream roller disposed downstream of the upstream roller in the conveying direction and above the upstream roller;
a conveyor belt wound around the conveyor-side upstream roller and the conveyor-side downstream roller,
The rod conveyor is
a rod-side upstream roller disposed on the upstream side in the conveying direction;
a rod-side downstream roller disposed downstream of the rod-side upstream roller in the conveying direction and above the rod-side upstream roller;
a rod belt wound around the rod side upstream roller and the rod side downstream roller;
a plurality of rods each spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction and held by the rod belt;
a distance between each of the rods is set to a value that allows the passage of the crops;
Each rod supports the crop on the conveyor belt from behind in the conveying direction,
a rotation direction of the rod-side upstream roller and the rod-side downstream roller is the same as a rotation direction of the conveying-side upstream roller and the conveying-side downstream roller,
A harvester, wherein a rotation center axis of the transport-side upstream roller is disposed above a lower end of a trajectory of the rod belt and below a rotation center axis of the rod-side upstream roller. A pickup unit is provided upstream of the conveying unit in the conveying direction, and the pickup unit picks up the crop from the field and sends the crop to the conveying unit.
The pickup unit includes:
a pickup conveyor that supports the crop from below and transports the crop toward the transport section;
a clamping unit that clamps the crop from both sides and sends it to the conveying unit together with the pickup conveyor,
The harvester according to claim 1 , wherein the pickup conveyor and the clamping unit are inclined so as to be gradually moved away from the field as they approach the transport conveyor. The movement trajectory of the rod is
an upstream arc portion along the rod-side upstream roller;
an upper straight portion located above the conveyor belt and extending in a straight line from the upstream arc portion toward a downstream side in the moving direction of the rod,
A harvester as described in claim 2, wherein the downstream end of the pickup conveyor is spaced from the movement trajectory of the rod and is located above the boundary portion between the upstream arc portion and the upper straight portion of the outer edge of the movement trajectory of the rod.

Images