FR2537826A1 - Machine for harvesting plants in rows - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a machine for harvesting plants in rows, of the type of machines comprising a mobile chassis 1 on which is disposed at least one uprooting lifting device 3 comprising at least two endless belts 11 rotating in an inclined longitudinal plane and in contact with each other in order to grip the stems of the plants and to uproot them. The machine is essentially characterised in that the uprooting device 3 is fitted with means 3A capable of superimposing, on the movement of the parts of the belts in contact with each other, a cyclic movement with respect to the chassis 1 of the machine in order to ensure the release of the earth adhering to the uprooted plants.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for harvesting plants in a row.

There are known machines for harvesting plants in a row comprising a movable frame to which is fixed at least one ploughshare and on which is mounted a device for lifting plants by traction on their stem.

Generally, this device is mainly constituted by two endless bands rotating in a longitudinal plane inclined towards the row of plants.

The bands are in contact with each other along a portion of their length to pinch the stem of the plants and the parts of the bands in contact with each other are moved in the same backward movement. the machine for on the one hand, dig up the plants and on the other hand, drive them towards the back of the machine.

To ensure the release of the soil stuck on the plants, this kind of machine is equipped with shaking devices arranged under the endless bands, on either side of the plants and alternately striking them.

The main drawback of this kind of device lies in the fact that the shaking is carried out by repeated impacts on the stems and / or the roots and / or the plants.

 This often results in either a risk of breakage of the stems or a risk of deterioration of the roots and / or plants.

In both cases, the use of such shaking devices leads to a significant loss of harvest.

The present invention has the essential rut of overcoming the aforementioned drawback by using a machine of the aforementioned kind, capable of ensuring the release of the soil stuck on the uprooted plants without hitting them.

To this end, the machine according to the present invention of the type of those comprising a movable frame to which is attached a ploughshare and on which is mounted a device for lifting plants by pulling on their rod comprising two endless bands rotating in a longitudinal plane inclined towards the row of plants, and in contact with each other to pinch the stems of the plants and dig up the said plants, is essentially characterized in that the lifting device is equipped with means capable of superimposing on the rotary movement of the parts of the bands in contact with each other in a cyclic movement relative to the chassis of the machine so as to ensure the release of the soil bonded to the plants without the use of annexed shaking devices, arranged under the device uprooting.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the uprooting device is equipped with members for holding the uprooted plants arranged on either side thereof under the endless bands so that the said plants are animated according to substantially their entire length in the same cyclic movement.

As can be understood, the release of the soil bonded to the plants is effected without shock and the said plants are maintained along their entire length, which makes it possible to reduce crop losses significantly.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the lifting device is driven in a cyclic movement back and forth transversely to the direction of advance of the machine.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the plant uprooting device is divided into two zones1 a gripping and uprooting area for the plants fixed relative to the chassis of the machine and a shaking area for plants movable relative to to the machine frame following the cyclic movement.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent on reading the description of a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which - the figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine, - Figure 2 is a side view of the machine, - Figure 3 is a side view of the lifting device, - Figures 4 and 5 are top views of the lifting device
showing the detail thereof, - Figure 6 is a sectional view of the lifting device, - Figure 7 is a detailed view of the lifting device.

As shown, the machine according to the invention for harvesting plants in a row comprises a movable frame 1 to which is fixed at least one ploughshare 2 and on which is mounted at least one device 3 for lifting plants by pulling on their stem .

This device extends over the chassis along a longitudinal plane inclined towards the row of plants and may include at its rear end a bundling device 4 known per se.

The chassis 1 of rectangular shape is constituted by the assembly of parallel beams 5 and cross members 6 front and rear and a front beam 6A.

The chassis is equipped with a device 7 for attachment to the three rear points of a tractor vehicle and at least two front rolling members 9 each mounted on a telescopic leg 10 so as to adjust the height of the gripping means of the lifting device from the ground.

At least one mobile workstation 8 is articulated behind the chassis and is mounted on a rolling member.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the machine is equipped with a chassis dimensioned so as to receive four tearing devices 3 but it goes without saying that the chassis of the machine can be dimensioned so as to receive more of four devices 3 or on the contrary less than four.

Each device 3 is mounted on the machine chassis above the share.

This ploughshare during the advancement of the machine engages under the roots of the plants to pre-dig them up.

The plants are subsequently sucked up by the device 3 and are dug up by it.

Each device 3 comprises a frame 3A on which are mounted at least two endless bands 11 rotating along the abovementioned longitudinal plane in contact with one another, along at least a portion of their length to pinch the stem of the plants and drive these to the booting device.

The frame 1 is constituted by two parallel beams 12 inclined along the above-mentioned longitudinal plane and by two arches 13 and 14 for suspension from the chassis of the machine.

The frame 3A is also provided with two parallel arms 12A fixed to the front arch 14 parallel to the side members 12.

At the end, these arms are equipped with means for moving the earth away from the trajectory, means for guiding the stems of the plants towards the strips and means for introducing the said stems between the endless strips.

To adjust the position of these means relative to the ground and also to adjust the inclination of the device 3 relative to the ground, the frame 3A is mounted articulated to the chassis 1 along an axis AA '- horizontal and transverse to the direction of travel. of the machine and comprises at least one extensible member 15 making it possible to raise or lower the frame by rotation around said axis AA '.

 Preferably, the frame 3A is articulated by its rear hoop 13 to two uprights 16 of the chassis of the machine.

The member 15 is mounted on the front hoop 14 and bears on the front cross member 6 of the casings.

This member is designed so as to allow the lifting of the lifting device 3 under the action of the relief of the ground on the front end of the frame.

Preferably, this member is constituted by a threaded rod, engaged in an orifice of the arch 14, one end of which receives an operating handle and the other of which bears on the front cross member 6 of the chassis 1.

The frame of the device 3 is held laterally by two side members 12 of the chassis 1.

In parallel, the longitudinal members 12 of the lifting device 3 are mounted the endless belts 11.

The strips 11 each extend substantially along the entire length of the frame 3A of the device 3.

Each strip is carried by two end pulleys, a front pulley 19 and a rear pulley 20.

The pulley 19 is mounted to rotate freely on an axis integral with one of the arms 12A and the rear pulley is fixed on a shaft driven in rotation by a propulsion unit carried by two arms integral with the rear hoop 13.

Preferably, the machine is equipped with four endless belts superimposed two by two one on the other and arranged two by two along the same plane.

According to this embodiment, the pulleys 19 and 20 are provided with two grooves for simultaneously receiving two endless belts.

The strips are kept in contact with each other from the front end of the frame 3A to its rear end, by regularly distributed pressure rollers 22.

The device 3 is equipped with means capable of superimposing on the movement of the parts of the strips in contact with each other a cyclic movement relative to the chassis 1 and to the frame 3A so as to ensure the release of the earth bonded to the plants uprooted.

As can be understood, the shaking of the plants is carried out without shock, which reduces the risk of breakage of their stem.

To further reduce this risk of breakage, the device 3 also includes members for retaining the uprooted plants.

These organs are arranged under the bands on either side of the plants so that said plants are animated along substantially their entire length by the same cyclic movement.

Preferably, the movement of the parts of the strips in contact with each other is a cyclic movement back and forth transversely to the advancement of the machine.

According to the preferred embodiment, this movement is a pendulum movement, that is to say an alternating circular movement, but it goes without saying that the device 3 may be equipped with means capable of imparting to the bands an alternating rectilinear movement superimposed on the rotational movement thereof.

Preferably, the lifting device 3 is divided into two zones in the extension of one another, a zone 17 for gripping and lifting plants fixed relative to the chassis 1 of the machine and a zone 18 for shaking of the plants mobile relative to the frame of the machine according to the cyclic movement.

The gripping area 17 is defined by the front part of the lifting device 3, that is to say the part comprising the means for guiding the stems of the plants towards the endless bands and the means for introducing said stems between the say bands.

The zone 18 is defined by the part of the device 3 located between the zone 17 and the optional bundling device 4 and receives the means capable of superimposing on the movement of the parts of the bands in contact with each other the cyclic movement such as previously defined.

To this end, the rollers 22 of the zone 18 are mounted on the means capable of imparting the cyclic movement to the bands.

These means are constituted by a balance 21 carrying the pressure rollers of the zone 18 and by motor actuating members of said balance.

The pendulum 21 is mounted on the frame 3A between the arches 13 and 14 and is articulated to this frame along an axis parallel to the inclined longitudinal plane.

The balance 21 is constituted by two parallel beams 23 inclined along the longitudinal plane, joined at the end by two arches 24 and 25 mounted, articulated respectively to the arch 14 and to the arch 13 of the frame 3A.

The longitudinal members 23 of the balance 21 receive the axes of the rollers 22.

These axes are linked to these beams by all methods and means known to those skilled in the art.

in hoops 24 or 25 preferably the rear hoop 25 cooperates with the actuating members of the pendulum.

These means according to the preferred embodiment are constituted by a drive member comprising a rotary output shaft, by a crank pin 27 wedged on said shaft and by a link 28 articulated respectively to said crank pin and to the arch 25 of the balance 21.

These means are also designed so as to allow the variation in the amplitude of the movement of the balance and consequently the amplitude of the movement of the parts of the bands in contact with each other.

For example, these means are designed so as to allow a variation in the eccentricity of the crank pin 27 relative to the shaft of the drive member 26 or are designed so as to allow a modification of the articulation point of the link 28 at headband 25.

The frequency of movement of the balance and the bands depends on the speed of rotation of the output shaft of the drive member 26.

As can be understood, the parts of the strips in contact with each other in the zone 17, that is to say the tearing zone of the device 3 are fixed transversely while in the shaking zone these are transversely movable.

To ensure the motility of the parts of the bands in contact with each other in the zone 18 relative to the parts of the bands in contact with each other in the zone 17, the value of the tension of said bands is reduced to that necessary to ensure non-slip contact with the driving pulleys 20.

To adjust the tension of the bands, the oras 12A of the frame 3A on which the front pulleys 19 are mounted are telescopic.

The value of the tension of the belts condition the pinching force of the rods, the rollers 22 are arranged so as to increase this pinching force without increasing the tension of the bands.

To this end, the pressure rollers 22 are interposed with respect to each other and force the parts of the strips in contact with each other to follow a winding path from the front of the zone 17 to the rear of the zone 18 .

The means for holding the stems of the plants consist of two tubular elements 29 each held on a beam 23 of the balance 21 by lugs 30.

Advantageously, each tubular element is curved at its lower end so as to form with the other element a flared opening to facilitate the introduction of the stems of the plants.

At the front end, the frame 3A is equipped with means 38 for spreading the earth in clods from the trajectory of the strips, with means 3C for guiding the stems of the plants towards the strips and with 3D means for introducing the stems of the plants between the strips.

The means for spreading the earth in clods from the path of the strips are each fixed at the end of an arm 12 of the frame.

These means are arranged on either side of the row of plants and each consist of a metal plate cut into a point towards the ground and having a curve to partially surround one of the pulleys before 19.

 The means 38 for guiding the stems of the plants towards the strips each consist of a elongated element welded by one of its ends to the plate and inclined so as to guide the stems of the plants towards the strips.

In addition, these elongated elements are inclined so as to allow the straightening of the stems of the plants.

We can see more particularly in Figures 3 and 6 that these four elements are mounted two by two on the same means 3B and that these two elements are mounted one above the other on this same means and that 'they are inclined upwards, from their point of attachment to this means, at their free end.

These two elements projected on a horizontal plane (FIG. 5) are parallel to each other, and both directed towards the axis of symmetry of the device 3.

Projected on a vertical plane (Figure 3), the two elements are unevenly inclined, the upper element being more inclined than the lower element.

Behind elongated elements are mounted the 3D means for snapping up the stems of the plants and introducing them between the strips.

These means are each fixed to a front pulley 19 and are constituted by two rotating discs provided with radial fingers 31 made of a flexible and elastic material.

These two discs are arranged so that the radial fingers of one mesh with the radial fingers of the other.

A ploughshare 2 is placed under each lifting device.

Each ploughshare is made up of a vertical metal plate roughly matching the outline of a rhombus.

Each share is fixed by two of its vertices respectively to the rear cross member 6 of the chassis and to a transverse beam 32 integral with said chassis.

Each share is provided with a sliding pad 33 and a retractable tip 34 capable of folding under it when it encounters an obstacle.

According to the preferred embodiment, the point is carried by a yoke 35 articulated to the share by any known means and fixed in rotation to the latter by a safety pin 36.

 This pin under the importance of the forces collected by the tip is likely to break and release the said tip.

Preferably, the engine members of the machine receive their power from a pressurized hydraulic circuit.

This circuit is equipped in particular with a pump actuated by the PTO of the towing vehicle by any means known to those skilled in the art.

Preferably, the front beam 6A of the chassis of the machine is formed in a sealed box to constitute an oil reservoir.

The machine as described allows plants to be harvested in rows with very little loss.

it goes without saying that the machine according to the invention can receive all arrangements and all variants without departing from the scope of this patent.

Claims (1)

R1 / Machine for harvesting plants in a row with a frame  mobile (1) to which is attached at least one ploughshare (2) and on which is  mounted a device (3) for lifting plants by traction on  their rod, consisting of at least two endless bands (11) rota  tives in a longitudinal plane inclined towards the row of plants and  in contact with each other to pinch the stems of the plants  characterized in that the lifting device 3 is equipped with  means capable of superimposing on the movement of one of the parts of the ban  of in contact with each other a cyclical movement in rap  port to the machine chassis to ensure clearance of  the earth stuck on the uprooted plants. R2 / Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the available  harvesting device (3) is fitted with plant holding devices  torn off, arranged under the strips on either side of the plants  so that the said plants are animated according to appreciably  their entire length in the same cyclic movement. R3 / Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the slack  cyclic change of the parts of the strips in contact with each other  is a back and forth movement transverse to the direction of travel  of the machine. R4 / Machine according to claims 1 and 3 characterized in that the  cyclic back and forth movement is a pendulum movement  around an axis parallel to the above-mentioned longitudinal plane. R5 / Machine according to claims 1 and 3 characterized in that the  cyclic movement of the parts of the strips in contact with one  the other is an alternative rectilinear movement. R6 / Machine according to claim 1 comprising a rear device  raking (3) with at least two endless rotating belts (11) and  in contact with each other by sensitive pressure rollers  ment along the entire length of said device characterized in  what the device (3) and is divided into two areas, one area  fixed (17) relative to the chassis (1), and a movable area (15) by  relative to the chassis, said fixed area (17) carrying the means (38)  to spread the means (3C) to guide the stems of the plants towards  the strips and the means (3D) to introduce the stems of the plants  between the strips and said mobile area (15) receiving the means  suitable for superimposing the movement of the parts of the strips in contact  with each other, the cyclical movement.  R7 / Machine according to claims 1, 4 and 6 characterized in that  the means for superimposing on the movement of the parts of the bands a  cyclic movement are constituted by a balance (21) provided with  pressure rollers (22) of the area (18) and by drive members  actuation of said pendulum.  R8 / Machine according to claims 2, 6 and 7 characterized in that  the holding means consist of two longilig elements  nes (29) of circular cross section comprising tabs  (30) for attachment to the beam of the balance.  R9 / Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the coulter  has a retractable tip (34) capable of folding  under it when it encounters an obstacle.  R10 / Machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the ploughshare (2)  consists of a vertical wall which substantially follows the  shape of a rhombus and is fixed by two of its angles to cross it  is rear (6) of the machine chassis and a beam (32) of the  said chassis., R11 / Machine according to claims 9 and 10 characterized in that the  point (34) of the share is mounted on a yoke (35) articulated to the share  and fixed in rotation thereto by a safety pin (36)  likely to break and release said point.  R12 / Machine according to claim 1, the drive members of which receive  wind their power from a hydraulic circuit under pressure charac  characterized in that the front beam (6A) of the chassis (1) is conformed  mée in box to constitute oil tank. R13 / Machine according to claims 1 and 6 characterized in that the  fixed area of the device (3) is equipped with means (3B) to shield  ter clods of earth from the path of the strips, means  (3C) to lead the plant stems to the strips and  means (3D) for introducing said rods between the strips;