ES2398311B1 - SELF-PROPELLED MACHINE FOR COLLECTION, CLASSIFICATION AND PACKING OF ONIONS. - Google Patents

Abstract

Self-propelled machine for collecting, sorting and packing onions. # The machine is made up of a chassis (1) that in its front part includes oscillating arms (5) that extend into a few second arms (12), equipped with starter blades (16) of the onions, as well as means of collecting and dragging up those onions, with the collaboration of a second band (6), towards a platform or drag band (23) of the onions until reaching a hopper (26), being that platform or drag band (23) located in the upper part of the chassis, while the hopper (26), with an opening and closing hatch (27), ends in front of a support (28) in which a packaging container of clean onions is placed.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a self-propelled machine with one or more heads for the collection, classification and packaging of onions, whose obvious purpose is to collect and / or tear the onions off the ground, as well as to clean and classify them and their subsequent packaging, all automatically and controlled. The machine is self-propelled, although it can also perform its function dragged by a tractor vehicle.

Although the machine is preferentially and mainly for the collection of onions, its application in the collection of other types of products, such as potatoes, fruits and the like that are on the ground, is not ruled out.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The collection of certain buried products, such as onions, is traditionally done manually, which means, in addition to physical efforts for operators, very high labor costs and very low performance due to the slowness of manual collection. The long periods required by manual collection operations must also be taken into account, which can pose serious problems if weather conditions turn against them during these long periods of time.

To solve this problem, machines have been conceived with characteristics that allow the collection to be carried out directly, thereby eliminating manual labor.

Known machines are based on collecting products from the ground, whether onions or others, mixed with stones, leaves and other impurities, so that the stones and earth fall by gravity, separating from the product that will follow its handling path. The fall by gravity of earth and stones can lead to jams in pinions, gears and chains, which are part of the machine mechanism. In addition, because all the components involved in the handling are metallic, the rubbing of the products with metallic material tends to cause deterioration of the products themselves, which implies a significant loss of these products and consequently a decrease in the performance of the product .

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The machine of the invention has been designed to solve the above-mentioned problem, presenting the characteristic of being propelled, without ruling out that it can be dragged by a traction vehicle. Said machine of the invention is intended to collect any type of product, be they tubers, fruit and vegetable or other, although throughout the present description it will be exposed as for the collection, cleaning and packaging of onions.

Specifically, the machine that is recommended is constituted to

from a chassis or rack in which a post is established

driving for an operator, presenting front arms

oscillators operable by hydraulic cylinders to carry out the tilting movements of ascent / descent thereof.

These arms are provided with means for raising / lowering them as well as supports with support wheels on the ground, these supports being adjustable to allow controlling the comb or "pikut" associated therewith.

In that part of the machine, start-up and lifting means of the products previously collected from the ground are mounted, whose means are constituted by an axis of square section and rollers slightly separated from each other to allow the stones, earth and similar materials, such that said rollers rotate in the opposite direction to the advance of the machine, the rollers being referred to and the other elements that will be described later and which may come into contact with the products or onions, materialized or provided with a coating Based on PVC, nylon, plastic or similar, to avoid deterioration of products or onions.

Parallel to such rolls and superimposed on top, rubber combs or similar material are provided, provided in the links of a chain driven by suitable sprockets, those combs being provided to assist in the upward drag of the onions through of the rollers. As is evident, to get the combs to act on the retention of onions, that is to prevent them

slide down on the drag wheels, the combs must rotate in the opposite direction to said rollers.

5

Said components corresponding to the drag rollers and combs are driven by the same drive system, mounted on the oscillating arms referred to first.

ID 15 20

In the upper part of the chassis of the machine, behind the driving position, a platform is provided consisting of a band arranged between two rotating rollers, one of which incorporates a driving drive device for the movement of the belt, which receives the products from the rollers and combs referred to previously and provided in the previous part of the machine, the products or onions being transported by the said band or platform until reaching the packaging container, prior to manual cleaning or by sieving The materials that constitute impurities. Before reaching the packaging container, the onions or products are deposited by the band on a hopper, for dragging by rollers. The support for the packaging container is movable laterally and even upwards and downwards.

25

In a variant embodiment, the means of dragging, handling, cleaning and packaging of the products or onions are constituted from a lifting band that ends in a sieve as an endless belt that runs in the longitudinal direction of advance of the machine, being located above said screen an element for the preparation of branches, weeds and a transverse comb.

30

The aforementioned sieve has the mission of carrying out a first cleaning of the waste and / or waste mixed with the onions, of

in such a way that this screen moves in the same direction as the advance of the machine and is constituted by transversal rollers with small separation between them for the passage and fall of certain impurities, such as stones, small branches, earth, etc.

The products or onions access from that screen to an endless band of variable speed and adjustable in height and inclination, when mounted on some supports with manually operated elements, constituted by handles that allow the commented endless belt to descend to the desired height .

In addition to said endless band, a battery of fans or turbine that drives air into a second band is provided

or endless belt located under a series of cutting elements or blades, all in such a way that the turbine fans position the stems or tails of the onions up so that the cutting elements located below produce the sectioning of those stems or tails and their fall by gravity, passing the already clean onions to the corresponding platform or conveyor belt that transports them to the corresponding hopper, from which they fall to the packaging container, located on a movable conveyor belt.

or heavy waste.

The two endless bands referred to above are adjustable in separation to allow the fall by gravity of stones and other impurities

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that will then be made and in order to help a better understanding of the

Characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization thereof, is attached as an integral part of said description, a set of drawings where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure l.-Shows a schematic representation according to

side elevation of the machine object of the invention.

Figure 2. Shows a schematic plan view of a

detail corresponding to the onion classification platform,

platform that is located at the top of the chassis corresponding to

machine.

Figure 3.- Shows a representation corresponding to an exploding perspective of the different elements involved in the manipulation of onions for cleaning and packaging, all carried out according to an alternative embodiment to that represented schematically in Figure 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The machine of the invention, as shown in Figure 1, is constituted from a chassis (1) with a cover (2) and a driving position (3) located in correspondence with the front part, going

mounted on the chassis (1) a combustion engine with pump equipment

hydraulics and hydrostatic system (4) to carry out the drive or

motor of the different components that participate in the machine.

At the front of the chassis (1), some arms are provided

oscillating (5) with a band (6) mounted between a pair of rollers (7 and

8), the corresponding drive motor being provided in the latter

5

of the band itself (6), which has ribs (9).

The oscillating arms (5) are supported through an axis (10)

in which they swing, and supported by hydraulic cylinders (11)

through which the ascent / descent movements of

ID

such swinging arms (5).

In the front and at an angle with those arms

oscillating (5), some second arms (12) related to

manual drive means (13), linked to a wheel of

fifteen

support (14), to carry out the movements of ascent / descent of the

same.

These arms (12) constitute a support for a table of

rollers (15) that are responsible for dragging onions upwards

twenty

torn from the ground or that were located on the ground, prior

torn off by means of blades (16) established in the previous part, with

the particularity that these rollers (15) are slightly separated between

Yes, all of them parallel in the transverse direction of the machine,

to allow the fall by gravity of sand and stones, so that by

25

combs (17) are provided on such a roller table (15)

mounted on a second band (19), adjustable in height and therefore in

separation with respect to the roller belt (15), by means of a handle

manually operated (18), with the particularity that the commented

band (19) of the combs (17) is driven by a motor (20), through

30

an appropriate transmission such as an endless belt (22) or the like,

that with some pinions (21) carry out the dragging and displacement of said tape or the like (22) for the simultaneous activation of both the band (19) of the combs (17) and roller table (15).

In this way, the onions or products collected from the ground are picked up by the roller table (22) and dragged upwards, collaborating in this the opposite direction of the comb band (17), reaching the band (6) of the appendages (9), so that the onions access a platform or band (23) located at the top of the chassis or frame (1) of the machine, the band (23) constituting that platform mounted between a pair of rollers (24), also driven by any suitable drive system, so that that platform or conveyor belt (23) is supported by stringers (25).

In this band or platform of drag (23) another cleaning of the onions takes place, reaching these a hopper (26) equipped with a trapdoor (27) that in position of opening allows to carry out the fall of the onions towards a support ( 28) for a container for packing the onions, while if said trapdoor is closed (27) the onions from the platform or drag band (23) are retained in the hopper (26). The support (28) is movable both laterally and vertically, that is, ascending / descending.

The passage from the belt or drag platform (23) to the hopper

(26) is carried out by means of a series of rollers (29), in which it is produced

another cleaning of the onions, and where appropriate the products that are being handled in the machine.

The commented drag band or platform (23) is supported

by the aforementioned stringers (25), as well as between the rollers (24), some adjustable arms (30) participating in the system, as shown in Figure 2, intended to proceed by the operators to the

classification or removal of materials and dirt objects, such as

branches and the like, giving free way to onions that will be manually moved to the central area for passage to the hopper (26).

As is evident, the hopper (26) with its trapdoor (27) will allow the onions to be retained while changing the container in the support (28), the latter being associated with a device or hydraulic system (31) for tilting it.

The operation of the aforementioned machine is simple and, as has been said, it will occur, in the case of being buried the onions in the ground, with the starting by means of the blades (16), and in case the product is already located on the ground, with the collection by roller table (15) that, through the band (6) of appendages (9), drags them until reaching the transponder band or drag platform (23), from which already through the roller system (29) they reach the hopper (26) from which the onions fall to a container previously placed in the support

(28).

The oscillating arms (15) and of course the arms (12) as an extension of those, are adjustable in height to establish the depth of the blades (16) on the ground, and thus adapt to the greater or lesser depth of the onions in its concealment or semi-buried in the ground, with the particularity that the ascent of the commented arms is established from the wheel (14) that rests on the ground itself, by means of the manual operation of the handle or lever in which they materialize the means (13) for lifting the wheel support

(14).

5

The machine is self-propelled and it is possible to adjust its speed according to the corresponding operational needs and situations, being able to have two systems as described, that is, with two equal work fronts, one next to the other

ID 15

In a variant embodiment shown in Figure 3, the onions are dragged by the roller table (15) Or by means of a belt (32), which leads to a sieve (33) formed by transverse elements separated from each other, which they are supported by two side chains (34) that run between guide pinions (35), so that the onions run in the direction of advance and therefore of rotation of the band that establishes the sieve (33), with the collaboration of an endless band (36) carrying flexible elements like combs (37), similar to the combs (17) provided in the band (19), for the same purpose and represented in Figure 1. That endless band (36) of combs (37) is arranged transversely but inclined, as seen in Figure 3.

20 25

Among the transverse elements that constitute the sieve band (33) impurities such as stones, small branches, earth, etc. fall, the onions accessing an endless band (38) located below and mounted on operable supports (39) in ascent and descent by means of a handle, handle or similar (40) of manual actuation, thus regulating the height to a greater or lesser extent of that endless band (38), this being of variable speed and adjustable in height, as just exposed.

30

from Lateral to that endless band (38), a battery of fans (41) is provided to propel air, with a certain

tilt, towards another endless band (42) then above

of which a support (43) is provided for a plurality of elements

cutters or blades (44). The bands (38) and (42) are adjustable in their

separation to allow the fall of stones and heavy waste. In that

5

zone incorporates a turbine (50) for blowing and pushing the onions towards

the cutting elements or blades (44), for the sectioning of the tails.

Logically, stones, impurities and other elements (45)

foreign to onions themselves, fall by gravity, among those commented

the

endless bands, cleanly accessing the onions to a roller band (46),

with the same function as the transport band or platform (23) located

superiorly in the chassis (1) of the machine. so that through that

roller belt (46), the onions reach the hopper (47), which replaces

logically to the hopper (26) referred to in Figure 1, and from whose hopper (47)

fifteen

clean onions fall into a container (48) for packaging and subsequent

storage or transport, by another roller belt (49), until

desired location, this roller band (49) being movable both

laterally as in the sense of ascent / descent.

twenty

The machine will be driven by an operator. although they should

there are two more operators for container handling jobs, of

selection of onions, etc., being able to complement with a trailer

dragged for loading and transporting full containers.

Claims (2)

1st. - Self-propelled machine for collection, classification and

packaging of onions, which being provided preferentially and fundamentally

5

for the start-up of buried onions or to collect them

or other fruit and vegetable products, from the ground, taking place

a drag, cleaning and subsequent packaging of onions or products of

concerned, the machine being able to advance self-propelled or by

drag by a traction vehicle, it is characterized because it constitutes

ID

from a chassis (1) with wheels, equipped with a driving position (3) and

in its front part oscillating arms (5) with the possibility of tilting

up / down, with height adjustment means,

said oscillating arms (5) being extended in a few second arms (12)

knife carriers (16) for starting onions, as well as means

fifteen

by dragging said onions from the ground itself, in

combination with an endless band (19) with flexible combs (17) located

superiorly and with the possibility of height adjustment with respect to

drag and lift means; having planned after

said means and in correspondence with the upper part of the chassis (1),

twenty

a drag platform (23), in which the cleaning of

materials such as branches and the like, counting after

said drag platform (23) with a hopper (26) in which they are

deposited onions, from which they are packaged in a container

located on a tilting support (28), with the possibility of displacement

25

both lateral and vertical.

23 ._ Self-propelled machine for collection, classification and

Onion packaging, characterized in that the swinging arms (5), together

with the arms (12) in which those are prolonged, they are supported on a

30

support with wheel (14) adjustable in height, by manual operation

through a lever, handle or similar (13). 3rd ._ Self-propelled machine for collecting, sorting and packing onions, according to previous claims, characterized in that the oscillating arms (5) incorporate an endless band (6) with appendages (9), operable by a motor (8), being that band (6) mounted between the second arms (12) extension of the oscillating arms (5) and the drag platform itself (23) located superiorly in the chassis (1). 4th. - Self-propelled machine for harvesting, sorting and packaging of onions, according to previous claims, characterized in that the drag and lift means provided in the second arms (12), are constituted by a table of transverse rollers (15), with slight separation between them , to allow gravity and earth to fall by gravity, the corresponding endless band (19) of flexible combs (17), provided with a turning movement opposite to that of the roller band (15); with the particularity that both the band (22), the roller table (15) as the band (19) for combs (17) are operated by a single motor element consisting of a motor (20). 5th ._ Self-propelled machine for collecting, sorting and packing onions, according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of dragging and lifting the products from the ground, are constituted by a band (32) that unloads in a sieve (33) of transverse elements separated from each other, mounted between a pair of side chains (34), driven by pinions (35), one of which, at least, is related to a driving element, such as a motor or the like; with the particularity that above said sieve (33) a band (36) of flexible combs (37), adjustable in height and of rotation opposite to the advance of the sieve (33), is provided.

6th ._ Self-propelled machine for collection, classification and

packaging of onions, according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that

continuation of the screen (33) of transverse elements, a

5

endless band (38) of variable speed and height adjustable by means of

a manually operated handle (40) mounted on corresponding

supports (39) set laterally for that endless band (38);

a turbine (50) having been provided following such endless band (38)

to provide air to the onions and get the correct positioning of

the

these on a second endless band (42), above which they have

provided cutter elements or blades (44) for the sectioning of

the corresponding stems or tails of onions.

7 ". Self-propelled machine for collection, sorting and

fifteen

packaging of onions, according to claims 1.5 and 6, characterized in that

following the endless band (42) in which the sectioning takes place or

cutting the stems or tails of the onions, a platform of

rollers (46) for dragging clean onions to the corresponding

hopper (47), from which clean onions access a container of

twenty

packaging (48), located on a movable conveyor belt (48)

both laterally and vertically ascending and descending.

8 ". Self-propelled machine for collection, sorting and

onion packing according to previous claims, characterized

25

because it includes two equal work fronts, one ally of the other.