FR2779904A1 - Procedure and machine for harvesting hanging crops - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure for the harvesting of hanging crops, involves the direct cutting of the plant, by a series of cutting discs (1), followed by the driving of the plant material from the area adjacent to the cutting zone into a rear zone by means of a pair of corrugated belts (2).

Description

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  HARVESTING PLANT HARVESTING PROCESS,

  IN PARTICULAR BEANS, AND DEVICE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE PROCESS.

  The present invention relates to the field of agriculture, and more particularly to the harvesting of

  drooping plants, especially beans.

  The invention relates in particular to a method of harvesting plants with drooping habit, in particular the bean

  seeds, and the corresponding device.

  It is known that the traditional method of harvesting bean seeds is based on uprooting and

drying by swathing.

  However, the use of this process can prove to be deficient and lead to significant reductions in yield, or even a loss of the crop, if the

  weather conditions are unfavorable.

  In fact, during the swathing, the plants will rest on the ground. If it rains during this stage, the plants will undergo a deterioration seriously affecting the quality of the harvest.The morphology of the drooping plant does not lend itself to a harvest by direct cut, like that used for cereals for example , because the use of cutting mechanisms of the state of the art would cause mechanical trauma to the plant (section and crushing of the pods in particular). Indeed, the alternative and rigid cut compared to the ground makes any idea of transposition difficult.

  from this technique to the bean harvest.

  In addition, the transport chains, in particular metal, of plant material conventionally used would also have caused trauma to the plant and led in particular to the accidental opening of the pods (threshing) and therefore to a premature release of the grains and

their loss by falling to the ground.

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  The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of systems for harvesting plants with falling back from the state of the art, to allow mechanization of the harvest guaranteeing a yield and a quality of the harvest. The Applicant has discovered that a direct cutting process could be used if it met certain conditions, in particular a low height cut combined with the use of rubberized transport chains forming undulations, these undulations disappearing at the time of first contact with the plant material (or plant product) to be harvested (cutting step). This new use makes it possible to proceed to a harvest with results quite

satisfactory.

  The invention also extends to the use of this method for the harvesting of other port plants.

  drooping like soy or lentil.

  The process is based on the use of a direct cutting device associating a cutting system by discs shearing the base of the plant at a very short distance from the ground coupled with a system of transport by chains in an elastically deformable material, in particular rubberized chains forming undulations and allowing the gripping of the plant material and its

  transfer to a conveyor screw.

  The invention relates in its most general sense to a process for harvesting plants with drooping habit, in particular beans, consisting in carrying out a direct cutting of the plant and in carrying the plant material from an area close to the cutting area up to '' to an area behind the cutting area using a strip

  corrugated in an elastically deformable material.

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  According to an advantageous variant, the cutting step is directly preceded by an application of defoliant. The invention also relates to a device for harvesting plants with a drooping habit, in particular beans, characterized in that it consists of a cutting head having means for cutting the stem of the plants close to the ground, and means for transporting the cut plant material, extending from the means of

  cut towards the back of the device.

  According to a preferred variant, the means of transport extend above the cutting means in order to ensure the entrainment of the plant material at the time

of the cup.

  Advantageously, the cutting means are

  consisting of at least two self-sharpening discs.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the means of transport are constituted by rubberized chains. Advantageously, the rubberized chains form undulations during the transport process, these undulations however erasing at the time of cutting, on the one hand, and of the release of the plant material towards the

conveyor screw, on the other hand.

  According to another variant, the means of transport consist of rubberized chains forming undulations, two juxtaposed chains cooperating in one another to advance the vegetation towards

the back of the device.

  The present invention relates in particular to a bean harvesting device, arranged in rows at determined spacing, in order to equip agricultural machines. The device according to the invention can be associated with the chassis of a drawn or self-propelled machine

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  The elements are preferably independent of each other as well as each of them

relative to the ground.

  The invention will be better understood on reading

  the following description, showing examples of

  non-limiting embodiment o: - Figure 1 shows a side sectional view of the harvesting device - Figure 2 shows a front sectional view of the cutting system - Figure 3 shows a top sectional view of the harvesting device comprising several

harvest units.

  - Figure 4 shows a top sectional view of the device and the detail of the undulations

  formed by the rubberized chain.

  - Figure 5 shows a sectional view

  side of the drive system.

  The cutting device according to the invention is mounted on a self-propelled chassis not shown in the appended figures, because such chassis are known for

other agricultural machinery.

  Figure 1 shows a side sectional view of the harvesting device according to the invention. The harvesting device has a sub-frame (10) towed or mounted on a frame. The harvesting device is advantageously lightened by a suspension system (11) which avoids excessive ground pressure which could cause, for example, a stalling of the gauge wheel. A spring (11) and a connecting rod, ensure the orientation of this sub-frame (10) in order to adjust the cutting height

and avoids sinking.

  This sub-frame (10) supports a cutting system formed by a plurality of discs (1) defining a transverse cutting line. The discs (1) are driven

2779904

  by axes (12) substantially perpendicular to the sub-

  chassis (10). At the front of the discs (1) are provided spouts (5) to guide the plants on feet towards the system

cutting.

  The subframe (10) also supports rubberized chains (2) forming undulations (as shown in Fig. 4). These rubberized chains (10) form a loop extending from the axis (12) of the cutting discs (1) to the rear of the subframe (10). They allow the transfer of plant material sheared by the

  cutting system, up to a conveyor screw (3).

  Wheels (13) are provided at the front of the sub

chassis (10).

  The cutting system used can be a system of self-sharpening discs as described in the

application FR 2549685.

  Figure 2 shows a detailed front view of the cutting system. The cutting system is for example constituted by two cutting discs (7) per row which are driven for example by the pinions (8). These counter-rotating pinions (8) also drive the transport chains (14, 14 ') and (15, 15'), arranged side by side. These transport chains are fitted with pleated rubber liners (16, 16 ', 17, 17') which fit into each other. The cutting discs are kept in frictional contact with each other, either by simple gravity, or by other means, such as springs, their cutting edges partially overlapping. The speed of the cutting discs can be adjustable but according to the invention a slow speed is sufficient which can

  improve the quality of the plant material harvested.

  The cutting discs are circular and can be smooth, serrated or wavy, preferably serrated or wavy. These are for example Claas discs

reference 9903150.

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  Figure 3 shows a top view of the

  system for cutting and transporting plant material.

  The harvesting device can contain several harvesting units which can be driven simultaneously or separately (for example disengageable). The harvesting device shown is intended for cutting, collecting and transporting plants with drooping habit, for example beans. It can include several transport channels (4) which are limited, at their beginning, by lifting spouts (5) which raise and collect the plant material and transport it in front of a transverse conveyor screw (3). Each channel is traversed by the undulations

  (6) rubberized corresponding transport members.

  These undulations can have a depth of 5 to 10 centimeters, and a pitch of 10 to 30 centimeters. Two consecutive rubber bands cooperate with each other and reserve a space for rest of a few centimeters, for example from 2 to 10 centimeters. The rubberized chains (2) are synchronized in pairs and each driven so as to make a closed course on themselves. In particular, they have the particularity of never being in contact (as shown in Fig. 4). Each transport channel (4) is associated, in the collection area, with a cutting mechanism allowing the standing plants to be separated from their root parts. The cutting discs (7) are fixedly connected in rotation to the pinion shafts and are driven for example by means of the rubberized conveyor chains (2). The conveyor chains are themselves driven by independent angular references, themselves driven and articulated around a transverse axis (as shown in Fig.). They can however be driven by other independent means, for example by hydraulic motors. The plant material transport system is made up of wavy rubberized chains which

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  define several transport channels and which are limited at the beginning by lifting spout systems (5) and at the end by the conveyor screw (3). The rubberized chains (2) by their undulations (6) therefore form folds which have the particularity of being erased when the plant is cut thanks to a greater winding radius of the rubber band compared to the winding radius of the chain with invariable steps on the idler sprockets (as shown in Fig. 4). The

  chains are each driven by 2 sprockets.

  The corrugations are also erased at the level of the conveyor screw which allows a more

easy plant material.

  The bands do not touch and advance at the same speed which avoids the threshing phenomenon. The distance between the conveyor screw (3) and the end of the plant material transport systems is adapted in order to prevent backflow of the plants in contact with the screw. Surprisingly, this backflow is considerably reduced if the distance between the screw

  conveying and the transport system is weak.

  The conveying speed can be adjustable.

  Advantageously, the casing protecting the upper part of the conveyor belts has rounded angles in order to avoid the attachment of plant material and

  to facilitate its transfer to the conveyor screw.

  The transport channels can possibly be limited or partially limited downwards by bottoms but the quality of the treatment of the plant material harvested according to the invention can however make it possible to dispense with it. The total or partial absence of funds (open or semi-open funds) thus avoids the intrusion of stones into the harvesting device, these stones can

  cause significant damage to mechanical equipment.

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  The invention also extends to the use of a device as described above which is combined with a system of lifting spouts (5). These advantageously have hollowed-out walls, which significantly eliminates the entrainment of

stones or earth.

  The height of these guides is adjustable.

  The spout is preferably made of steel.

  It is rigid but the angle formed with respect to the ground is preferably adjustable according to the slope or the state of the ground. The device is advantageously lightened by a suspension system (11), which avoids excessive pressure on the ground which could cause for example a

bogged down on the gauge wheel.

  Suspension system can be locked

for possible transport.

  Advantageously, the direct cutting process is preceded by a step of drying the plant on the base, for example by using a defoliant. Despite the fact that this treatment was not recommended a priori for obtaining bean seeds because of its toxicity and the risk of loss of germination power of the harvested material, the use of a defoliant was

  particularly advantageous because well tolerated by the plant.

  It also made it possible to standardize the maturation stage.

  plant material before harvest.

  Harvest protocol in direct cut of the bean associated with the use of a defoliant: The plots must be free of stones and very flat, passage of the roller after sowing, do not hoe. Sowing must be done with a

  number of rows equal to the picker (7 rows in this case).

  Studies can precede harvest:

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  1) Classification of plots for the organization of sites, so as to establish a calendar of precociousness. This operation is to be determined with regard to the production period, it can for example be done in mid August, 3 weeks before harvest. 2) Study of the bean stage at the time of application of the defoliant: the latest grains must be colored and have reached their physiological maturity. Application of defoliant Use of REGLONE (active ingredient DIQUAT at g / l), product used on other species in seed production. It has been found that this active ingredient has no negative effect on the germination capacity of the seed. A significant improvement has even been noted. Other active ingredients can also

be used.

  Treat at 4 1 / ha of commercial product in 400 1 of water at high temperature preferably. The technique 2 cross passages at _ dose, gives a defoliating result

more homogeneous.

  Threshing Threshing takes place approximately 8 to 10 days after

defoliating.

  Reference stage: the plants must be dry and have lost all their leaves. The humidity of the grain must be between 15 and 20%. In the case of a grain humidity of less than 15% and in the absence of rain, practice night irrigation of 20 to 25 mm to moisten the seeds and thus favor a rise in the humidity rate to 18%. Wait approximately 3 days after irrigation before threshing. Equipment used, Axial Flow Case IH thresher. The threshing system is very soft and does not affect the grain quality (FG). This type of machine is used for harvesting other crops

vegetable seeds holder.

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Claims (9)

  1 - Method for harvesting plants with a drooping habit, in particular beans, characterized in that a direct cutting of the plant is carried out and in that the plant material is drawn from an area close to the cutting area to an area behind the area   cutting using two wavy strips.   2 - Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the cutting step is directly   preceded by a defoliating application.   3 - Device for harvesting plants with a drooping habit, in particular beans, characterized in that it consists of a harvesting head having means for cutting the stem of the plants close to the ground, and means for transporting the cut vegetable material, extending from the cutting means towards the rear of the device. 4 - Device for harvesting plants with drooping habit, in particular beans, according to claim 3 characterized in that the transport means extend above the cutting means in order to ensure the entrainment of the plant material to the moment of the cup.   5 - Device for harvesting plants with drooping habit, in particular beans, according to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that the means for   cutting consist of at least two self-cutting discs   sharpeners. 6 - Device for harvesting plants with drooping habit, in particular beans, according to at least one   claims 3 to 5 characterized in that the means   of transport are constituted by rubberized chains wavy (2). 12 2779904   7 - Device for harvesting plants with drooping habit, in particular beans, according to at least one   claims 3 to 6 characterized in that the chains   corrugated rubberized (2) form corrugations (6) during the transport process, these corrugations however erasing at the time of cutting, on the one hand, and the release of the plant material towards the screw conveying, on the other hand.   8 - Device for harvesting plants with drooping habit, in particular beans, according to claim 6 or 7 characterized in that the means of transport consist of rubber chains (2) forming undulations, two juxtaposed chains cooperating one with each other to advance vegetation towards the back of the device.   9 - Agricultural machine comprising a self-propelled chassis and a system for harvesting plants with drooping habit, in particular beans, characterized in that the harvesting system is constituted by a device   according to at least one of claims 3 to 8.