BE1027410B1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PICKING TEXTILE HEMP - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for plucking textile hemp, the method comprising mowing the hemp and wherein the cut stems are held between crossed conveyor belts and then rotated 90 ° from vertical to horizontal, taken over one or more times by other belts , to be placed in parallel swaths on the field.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PICKING TEXTILE HEMP

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an apparatus and method for picking textile hemp.

STATE OF THE ART Hemp is a plant that is grown for fiber yield. Fiber is extracted from the stems. However, the seeds can also be further used for industrial applications. Traditional harvesting techniques where hemp is cut and bundled into individual sheaves are very labor intensive. In addition, hemp plants can grow to great lengths. Lengths of two, up to four meters and longer are no exception. Hemp bundled into such long sheaves is unmanageable. The sheaves risk breaking / folding, with the result that they cannot be processed at a later stage.

Hemp is therefore usually cut from the stem and then chopped. The chop is placed in swaths for further drying and rotting. The dried swaths are then collected by machine and further processed. Such methods are very efficient and not very labor-intensive. A major drawback, however, is that the fibers are greatly shortened to only a few centimeters. Another possible drawback is the loss of seeds. More advanced techniques and machines for harvesting textile hemp are known in the art: EP 0 941 649, for example, describes the mowing of upright hemp. Different plant parts (e.g. the leaf-free bottom posts, the top posts with leaves, and the buds with seeds) are kept separate. These plant parts are separately dumped into a disorderly swath. An advantage is that such swaths are slightly lighter. The drying is therefore slightly better. DE 100 42 867 describes a similar method in which the hemp is cut via sets of two cutting discs each, at different heights.

WO 2001 039 590 further describes a machine for harvesting hemp. The hemp is cut upright using cutting knives in the front. The cut hemp is clamped and transported in the direction of travel. This is how the hemp ends up on a transverse needle conveyor. This guides the hemp in a transverse direction along two circular saws. The hemp is therefore sawn into three pieces. Lower log sections and upper log sections are rotated via slides and placed transversely to the direction of travel. Buds are transported via a conveyor belt. For example, they are poured on top of the laid log parts for better drying.

As a disadvantage, the known techniques and machines do not sufficiently meet the above problems. Often they are also very complex, which makes them subject to machine failure.

In order to make it possible to obtain long fiber (> 500 mm) in the later processing process, it is necessary to adjust the harvesting method. Currently, hemp is harvested with either a chopper, whereby the stems are shortened and placed randomly oriented in swaths on the field, or with a mowing machine, but still insufficiently parallelized for mechanical and automated further processing. Apart from the above, there are also machines known for the harvest of fiber flax. DE 197 44 988, for example, describes a machine in which the flax is pulled, rotated through 90 °, and then deposited back into a swath. EP 3 272 202 also shows a self-propelled machine for the harvesting of fiber flax. Fiber flax is generally drawn for maximum yield of fiber-containing material. Namely, the fibers continue into the root parts. Fiber flax is also a fairly short crop, with a maximum length of 1m to 1m20.

The object of the invention is an improved method and / or device for harvesting textile hemp. An attempt is made to solve one or more of the above problems. In particular, a maximum performance is aimed for, with a maximum quality (e.g. length) of the fibers obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method according to claim 1, and an apparatus according to claim 14, for harvesting textile hemp.

An important advantage is that the hemp is cut from stem, optionally at different heights, and that the stem parts are laid out parallel to each other in an orderly swath. This is beneficial for drying, rotting, and further processing.

Preferably the hemp is mowed in vertical position (claim 4) and approximately simultaneously (claim 5) at different levels. Optionally, the hemp is mowed by means of several horizontal cutter bars at corresponding cutting heights. Optionally, it concerns double knife bars.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of a device according to the present invention.

Figures 2A-B illustrate, schematically, the mowing of hemp and the laying down of two swaths, according to two possible embodiments.

Figure 3 shows a top view of a mechanism with crossed conveyor belts for engaging and holding the cut stem portions in parallel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention relates to an apparatus and method for harvesting textile hemp.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the invention. For a better assessment of the description of the invention, the following terms are explicitly explained.

“A”, “the” and “the” throughout this document refer to both the singular and the plural unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. For example, “a segment” means one or more than one segment.

The terms “comprise”, “comprising”, “consisting of”, “consisting of”, “incorporating”, “containing”, “containing”, “comprising”, “comprising”, “containing”, “containing” are synonyms. and are inclusive or open terms that indicate the presence of what follows, and that do not exclude or impede the presence of other components, features, elements, members, steps known from or described in the art. The term “swath” can refer to a strip of crops that is returned to the place of harvest when harvested (eg in the field). Crops are, for example, placed in swaths to allow the crops to dry and / or retting.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for harvesting textile hemp, which method comprises mowing the hemp, wherein cut hemp stems are rotated about 90 ° from vertical to horizontal, and wherein the hemp stems are laid substantially transversely and mutually parallel in at least one swath. Preferably, it is a swath with cut / mowed, parallelized hemp stems.

An important advantage of the transverse arrangement in swaths is that natural processes such as drying and rotation take place very efficiently. By the way, “Roting” means that part of the pectin in the stems is broken down, and that the actual fibers can be separated for part from the lignified parts. This is also advantageous for further operations such as turning and picking up the swaths. These operations can now be performed partly in the same way as for flax (albeit with the necessary adjustments to the machines).

An important difference, however, is that flax is traditionally not cut from stem, but rather pulled. In this way, the fibers can also be recovered that extend into the root parts. Flax is also a much shorter crop. Typically swaths from long hemp stems would be difficult to handle, especially when using traditional flax machines (for turning, picking up,…). Because flax is “pulled”, the beak of a flax harvester is usually very heavy. The belts must, among other things, be able to pull the flax out of the ground. Any belts mentioned below for the transport of cut hemp stems are preferably made lighter. It is more about guide belts, instead of pull belts.

Hemp can grow very tall. At the same time, a swath should preferably be narrow enough so that it can be easily turned and picked up. Long stems in wide swaths run the risk of becoming knotted and crumpled. This reduces the quality. Most preferably, the swaths have an individual width which is at most about 1m to 1m20. This makes it possible to turn and / or pick up the swaths with machines, similar to the machines that are already used for flax harvesting. The further processing into a hemp fiber can then also be carried out with largely similar machines, which is an enormous advantage.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the mowing takes place at one or more levels. In a further or alternative embodiment, the hemp is mowed on at least two levels, to form lower and upper stem parts. This leads to shorter stem parts that are more manageable. According to a non-limiting embodiment, at least two cutter bars are provided for this purpose, at two cutting heights, and optionally also a further cutter bar for topping (see below). Preferably, the different cutting heights can be set individually.

In a further or alternative embodiment the hemp is mowed in a vertical position, at said levels. In a further or alternative embodiment, the hemp is cut approximately simultaneously on both levels. It is therefore a simple and efficient technique. The device can hereby also be of compact design.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the upper stem parts are optionally stripped of corresponding plant tips. It is also possible to collect the plant tops separately. Thus, the upper stem parts may or may not also include the plant tops. These plant tops are rich in CBD. It is thus advantageous that they can be processed separately for medical and paramedical applications. As stated above, an additional cutter bar is optionally provided for this purpose.

Optionally, one or more cutter bars are available at the top to cut off the tops of the hemp so that the top stem parts are even in length. At least two cutter bars are provided at the bottom of the device to cut the hemp in half lengthwise.

Incidentally, mowing can take place just before the engagement of the stem parts between the belts, approximately simultaneously, or just afterwards. The invention is not limited to this. Mowing can be done, for example, via a double knife bar, or via one or more rotary knives. The invention is not limited to any of these.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the bottom and top stem parts have substantially the same length. Preferably, therefore, there are no shorter and longer stem parts. Stem parts within one swath therefore have approximately the same width. That is to say, it is not the nature of the plant parts (eg leaf-free bottom posts on the one hand and top posts with leaves on the other) that determines where the hemp is cut, as in EP 0 941 649. Rather, it is a largely uniform, and maximized length of the tree. stems within a swath and between the swaths themselves (regardless of how the swaths are formed). A uniform length facilitates further operations such as turning, picking up and subsequent fiber processing. Furthermore, it is important that this uniform length is as great as possible for maximum fiber length. However, the stem parts should not be too long, so that they are still manageable. These considerations are taken into account when determining whether to cut hemp stems into one, two, or more (eg, three, four, five.) Stem sections. Preferably, the maximum length of the stem parts is provided to be about 80 cm to 140 cm, most preferably 100 cm to 120 cm.

If mowing is done at more than two levels, for example at three levels, preferably all stem parts (lower, upper, intermediate) have substantially the same length.

In a further or alternative embodiment the lower and upper stem parts are deposited per working pass in one or more adjacent swaths. For example, in at least two adjacent swaths.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the lower stem parts are deposited in a first swath, wherein upper stem parts are deposited in an adjacent swath. In general, the vertical stems can be divided into two or more stem parts, which are combined in a swath per level and which are placed back in the same number of swaths.

In a further or alternative embodiment, per working pass, the stem parts (e.g. the bottom and the top stem parts) of a first sub-strip are placed in a first swath, wherein the stem parts of an adjacent sub-strip are placed in an adjacent swath. A “working pass” should be understood as the total strip that is mowed and deposited in swaths at each pass of the device / machine. This strip is divided into different sub-strips. Reference is made to the non-limiting embodiment of FIG. 2A.

In a further or alternative embodiment the lower and upper stem parts are combined per working pass to form an at least two-layer swath. In a further or alternative embodiment, said stem parts have a length that is less than 1m50, preferably less than 1m40, more preferably less than 1m30, more preferably less than 1m20.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the stem parts are held at each level between crossed conveyor belts and / or conveyor chains to then be rotated 90 ° from vertical to horizontal, the stem parts being optionally taken over one or more times by other belts, belts and / or chains, and laid out in parallel swaths on the field.

Preferably, this involves a net rotation of approximately 90 °. The deposited stem parts lie mainly transverse to the direction of travel.

In summary, the method according to the first aspect may comprise the following steps: - Hemp is cut in one or more layers (such as two layers), the stems are held between crossed conveyor belts to rotate 90 ° from vertical to horizontal, optionally one or more times taken over by other oars and placed in parallel swaths on the field.

- The machine (for carrying out the method) can be a self-propelled machine or a towed or mounted machine.

- An extra cutter bar can optionally be used to cut the tops of long hemp. These can fall freely or be collected and disposed of.

- It is not necessary but desirable that all cutter bars are height adjustable, in order to adjust the cutting height as well as the length of the cut hemp as desired. One or more cutter bars are preferably adjustable in height. However, that is not necessarily the case.

- Width of the machine can be designed for one or more swath widths, whereby in the concept of the machine you can choose to form one swath from one horizontal layer of the row width, but also to form a swath of both layers of a shared row width.

The machine can further contain additional functions, such as collecting flowers, seeds or leaves, crushing stems (to facilitate rotting), sliding tables to adjust the swath position, ... In a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for harvesting textile hemp, the device comprising: - at least one horizontal cutting device, configured to cut hemp at a predetermined height, and - crossed conveyor belts and / or conveyor chains to clamp and turn cut hemp stems in parallel, from vertical to horizontal, which device is further adapted for placing the hemp stems substantially transversely and mutually parallel in at least one swath.

Optionally, the device is specially adapted to perform the method according to the first aspect of the invention. The same features and benefits can thus be retaken.

A suitable mowing tool is, for example, a double cutter bar. However, the invention is not limited to this.

In a further or alternative embodiment, the device further comprises at least two horizontal mowing means arranged substantially one above the other, and further belts, belts and / or chains for turning the cut stem parts transversely, for forming a swath.

The advantage of the invention is that the device and method comprise both elements of mowing (grasses, cereals, ...), and of harvesting flax in parallel swaths.

The combination of mowing (flax is pulled out) and conveyor belts to clamp and thus keep the stems parallel (which in turn is done with flax) is new and not known in the prior art. The application is also completely new for hemp. It is also not known combining with cutting in two immediately in the field when harvesting.

As with flax, when harvesting, the stems should be windrowed with parallel stems.

In this way, it can be turned on the field afterwards to optimize the rotation process and be rolled up in parallel to be debossed later in a scutching machine (separation of fibers and woody fraction).

The hemp plant grows to more than 2 m high, so it is recommended to cut the stems in two during harvesting (max. + 1200 mm) to allow scutching according to current working methods.

Apart from the above, the invention can still be described by means of the following, non-limiting embodiments:

A method for harvesting textile hemp, the method comprising mowing the hemp and wherein the cut stems are optionally held between crossed conveyor belts to then rotate 90 ° from vertical from horizontal, optionally taken over one or more times by other belts , and laid out in parallel swaths on the field.

2. Method according to embodiment 1, wherein the mowing is done at one or more levels.

3. Method according to embodiment 2, wherein at each level the stems are held between crossed conveyor belts to then rotate 90 ° from vertical to horizontal, taken over one or more times by other belts, and laid out in parallel swaths on the field.

4, A textile hemp plucking device comprising crossed conveyor belts for clamping hemp in parallel and optionally one or more cutter bars.

Optionally, the embodiments given herein can be further used in combination with one or more of the further or alternative features, as listed throughout the above description.

In what follows, the invention is described by way of example non-limiting figures illustrating the invention, and which are not intended or should be construed to limit the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a device 1 for harvesting textile hemp 9. The device 1 comprises at least two horizontal cutter bars 8, for mowing the hemp 9 at two corresponding cutting heights 14. The hemp 9 is cut upright, approximately simultaneously on both levels 14. Lower stem parts 11 and upper stem parts 12 are thereby obtained.

A hemp stubble 10 remains on the field.

Optionally, the top stem parts 12 are capped, by means of a further cutter bar 8 "at top height 14". This makes it possible to process any plant tops 13 of the hemp 9 separately.

Furthermore, the device 1 is also provided per level with crossed conveyor belts 2 in order to grip and clamp the cut hemp stems 11, 12 (or stem parts 11, 12 - depending on the number of levels) in parallel, and to clamp them from vertical 5 to horizontal 6. (= transverse to the figure), precisely by means said intersection 18. Conveyor belts and tables 7 will then be used to guide cut and cut hemp 9 to the bottom 3 to be laid in preferably parallel swaths 15.

As mentioned, one or more cutter bars 8 "are optionally available at the top to cut off the tops 13 of the hemp 9, so that the top row would be uniform in length.

In general, the lower stem parts 11 and the upper stem parts 12 (with or without plant tip 13) preferably have substantially the same length.

At the bottom of the device, at least two cutter bars 8 are present to cut the hemp 9 in half lengthwise.

As can be seen in the figure, the lower stem parts 11 and the upper stem parts 12 are combined to form a two-layer swath 15. Per working pass (not shown) there may be several such swaths 15, mutually adjacent.

Reference is made to Figures 2A-B.

The whole as shown in figure 1 can also form part of a self-propelled or towed unit, on which additional functional elements can be located.

Figures 2A-B illustrate, schematically, the mowing of hemp 9 and the laying down of two swaths 15, according to two possible embodiments.

The hemp 9 is cut at two different cutting heights 14, to form lower and upper stem parts 11, 12. This is each time shown schematically in the front views, top Fig. 2A-B.

Subsequently, the cut stem parts 11, 12 are combined in the manner described below into swaths 15, 15 ”. This is shown schematically in the top views, at the bottom of Fig. 2A-B.

The stem parts 11, 12 extend horizontally 6 transversely in the swaths 15, 15 ”. In fig. 2A, the working aisle 16 is divided into two adjacent sub-strips 17, 177. Lower and upper stem parts 11, 12 of the left sub-strip 17 are placed on top of each other, and thus combined into a left swath 15. Lower and upper stem parts 11, 12 of the right sub-strip 17 'are also placed on top of each other and combined to form a right swath 15 ”. Optionally, this corresponds to the situation shown in Fig. 1. Both windrows 15, 15 ”basically consist of two layers.

In fig. 2B, the upper stem parts 12 are combined per working pass 16 to form a left swath 15. The lower stalk parts are combined per working pass 16 to form a right swath 15 ". Optionally, the device 1 provides (sliding) tables for this purpose, which can adjust the position of a swath 15, 15 Both swaths 15, 15 "are in principle one-layer. Cutting long stems of hemp 9 into at least two stem parts 11, 12 has the important advantage that shorter, and thus more manageable and / or scrollable lengths can be used. This is advantageous for drying and retting, among other things. It is also advantageous for further operations such as turning and / or picking up the swaths 15, 15 ". Optionally, the width of a working aisle 16 approximately corresponds to the added height of the lower and upper stem parts 11, 12, or the working aisle is 16 slightly wider, which gives enough space to place the swaths 15, 15 ". Figure 3 shows a top view of a possible mechanism with crossed conveyor belts 2 for parallel engagement and retention of the cut stem parts. The conveyor belts 2 are shown on the left; on the right they were omitted. The mechanism further provides a plurality of roller bodies 20 for guiding the belts 2. At the front, the cut stem parts are vertically engaged between a roller body 20 and a belt 2. Further on, two such belts 2, 2 "are brought against each other. The stem parts are held clamped between them and transported further. Still further on, two pairs of such belts 2, 2 "are brought together. An entire sub-strip 17 of the working pass 16 is combined here. During this transport, the stem parts are mainly kept vertical and mutually parallel. Finally, the straps 2 form another junction 18 (shown at the top). The hemp stems are rotated approximately 90 °, from vertical to horizontal. Preferably, such mechanisms are provided per level in order to engage the mowed stem parts per level and to combine them into swaths. The numbered elements in the figures are:

1. Furnishing

2. Conveyor belts / chains

3. Soil

4. Stem part

5. Vertical

6. Horizontal

7. Conveyor belt or transport table

8. Cutter bar 9, Hemp

10. Hemp stubble

11. Lower stem part

12. Upper stem part

13. Plant top

14. Cutting height

15. Swath

16. Course of work

17. Sub lane

18. Crossing

19. Conveyor belt

20. Roll body

Claims (13)

CONCLUSIONS A method for harvesting textile hemp (9), the method comprising mowing the hemp (9), wherein the cut hemp stems (11, 12) are rotated about 90 ° from vertical (5) to horizontal (6), wherein the hemp is mowed on at least two levels, to form lower and upper stem parts and whereby the hemp stems (11, 12) are laid down substantially transversely and mutually parallel in at least one swath (15). The method of claim 1, wherein the hemp is cut in a vertical position, at said levels. A method according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the hemp is cut approximately simultaneously on both levels. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the upper stem parts are optionally stripped of corresponding plant tips. A method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the lower and upper stem parts have substantially the same length. 6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lower and upper stem parts are deposited per working pass in at least two adjacent swaths. A method according to claim 6, wherein lower stem parts are deposited in a first swath, and wherein upper stem parts are deposited in an adjacent swath. 8. A method according to claim 6, wherein per pass the stem parts of a first sub-strip are laid down in a first swath, and wherein the stem parts of an adjacent sub-strip are laid down in an adjacent swath. 9. A method according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the lower and upper stem parts are combined per working pass to form an at least two-layer swath. 10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-9, wherein said 40 stem parts have a length that is less than 1.50 m. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at each level the stem parts are held between crossed conveyor belts and / or conveyor chains to be subsequently rotated 90 ° from vertical to horizontal, the stem parts being optionally taken over one or more times by other belts, belts and / or chains, and laid out in parallel swaths on the field. A device (1) for harvesting textile hemp (9), the device (9) comprising: - at least two horizontal mowing means (8), configured to cut hemp (9) at at least two predetermined heights (14) , and - crossed conveyor belts and / or conveyor chains (2) to clamp and rotate cut hemp stems (11, 12) in parallel, from vertical (5) to horizontal (6), which device (1) is further adapted to to lay the hemp stems (11, 12) mainly transversely and mutually parallel in at least one swath (15). The device of claim 12, which device is configured to perform the method of any of claims 1-11.