GB2059899A

GB2059899A - Crop conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2059899A
Application number: GB7933216A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bamfords Ltd
Current assignee: Bamfords Ltd
Priority date: 1979-09-25
Filing date: 1979-09-25
Publication date: 1981-04-29
Also published as: EP0026003A1

Description

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GB2059899A

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SPECIFICATION Crop feed conveyor

5 This invention relates to crop feed conveyors and has been developed primarily for pick-up balers wherein crop is picked up as the baler is advanced and then transferred by a feeder conveyor to a baling chamber. However, it is 10 to be understood that the crop feed conveyor in accordance with the invention may be used in agricultural machines other than pick-up balers.

Crop feed conveyors of the kind to which 15 the invention is applicable include a supporting table onto which the crop is delivered and * one or more sets of tines disposed above said table and arranged for reciprocatory movement in such a manner as to propel crop 20 lengthwise along the table towards a discharge point. Such crop feed conveyors are hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified.

The motion of the tines is commonly of an 25 orbital nature so that the tines move downwardly and forwardly into the crop on the table thereby advancing the crop in the desired direction, thereafter the tines move upwardly (desirably whilst still moving forwardly) 30 so as to disengage from the crop, and finally whilst raised above the crop the tines move rearwardly to return to the starting position.

Depending on the length of the table, there may be two or more sets of such tines spaced 35 along the length of the table.

Due to the variable nature and condition of crops which require to be conveyed, the efficiency of such a system is very variable, and it is an object of the present invention to pro-40 vide a crop feed conveyor with provision for adjustment of the conveying mechanism to compensate for such variations.

According to the invention we provide a crop feed conveyor of the kind specified 45 wherein one or more additional tines are provided on one or more of the sets of tines,

each such additional tine being adjustable or fixed relative to the tines of the set on which it is provided.

Y 50 The tines of each set, (hereinafter for convenience called "set tines") are normally arranged in a fixed relation to each other and there may be two, three or more such tines in each set fixedly mounted on, or formed inte-55 grally with, a common tine carrier. One or more of the set tines may have provision for mounting thereon one or more of said additional tines, and the or each additional tine is preferably adjustable relative thereto in vari-60 ous modes, but alternatively there may be a single fixed position and orientation for the or each additional tine.

For example, in the preferred case where the additional tines are adjustable, the addi-65 tional tine may be attached to the set tine at any one of a plurality of positions along the length of the latter or at a steplessly adjustable position. The additional tine may be angularly adjustable relative to the length of the set 70 tine. Further, the additional tine may be adjustable along its own length. Each additional tine may be capable of adjustment in at least two of such modes, and preferably in all three.

75 The additional tine may also be adjustable transversely of the set tines, for example by means of interchangeable spacers.

Whilst each such additional tine is conveniently attached directly to one of the set tines, 80 it may alternatively be attached to the tine carrier or other part which carries the set tines, and preferably the additional tine is releasably secured so as to be capable of being removed entirely when not required. 85 The additional tines and/or the set tines may be either rigid or resilient, and may be either rigidly or resiliently mounted. Further, whilst the set tines may not normally be adjustable relative to each other or to the 90 carrier or the like on which they are mounted, one or more of the set tines may be adjustable in this manner.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to one embodi-95 ment as illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing.

In the illustrated embodiment, crop (not shown) is to be conveyed over a table 10 in the direction indicated by arrows 'A'. For this 100 purpose, and in accordance with the prior art, a set of tines indicated generally at 12 is provided. The set 12 includes a carrier 14 and a number of spaced, parallel, rigid tines arranged in a common plane transverse to the 105 feed direction, one of the tines being indicated at 16. The set of tines 12 is driven by a mechanism which is well known in the art in such a manner that the tips of the tines follow an orbital path as indicated by line 1 8, travel-110 ling in the direction indicated by arrow 'B'. Crop lying on the table 1 0 is thus engaged as the tine 1 6 descends from the position shown, and advanced in the direction of the arrows 'A' until upward movement of the tine 115 16 subsequently disengages it from the crop for rearward, return movement.

Depending on the length of the table 10, one or more further sets of such tines may be provided, and part of the oribital path of the 1 20 tip of one of the tines of an adjacent set is indicated by line 20.

In accordance with the present invention, at least tine 1 6 of the set 1 2 is provided with an additional, adjustable tine 22. For this pur-1 25 pose, the tine 1 6 is provided with a longitudinal slot 24 which receives a bolt 26 whereby the adjustable tine 22 may be secured to the tine 16 in a range of positions of longitudinal adjustment as indicated by the arrow 'C'. One 1 30 method for securing the adjustable tine 22 in

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position is to employ a serrated washer 28. This also enables the position of the tine 22 to be adjusted angularly, as indicated by arrow 'D', relative to tine 16. Additionally, the 5 adjustable tine 22 comprises two overlapping parts secured together by means of bolts passing through aligned holes, and such holes are arranged in a row 30 whereby the degree of overlap between the two parts may be 10 adjusted in the direction indicated by arrow E.

Thus, in the position of adjustment illustrated, the tip of the additional tine 22 follows an orbital motion indicated by line 32, moving in the direction of arrow 'F'. As can be 1 5 seen, this effectively supplements the motion of the tine 1 6. By adjustment of the setting of tine 22, the relation between its orbital path and that of the tine 1 6 may be varied, and lines 34 and 36 indicate parts of alternative 20 orbits which may readily be established for the tine 22 relative to the tine 1 6.

The set of tines 1 2 may be provided with a single additional tine 22, or some of all of the tines in the set may be so provided. Where a 25 set of tines is provided with more than one additional tine, it will be understood that the position of adjustment of each additional tine relative to the set may be different.

Whilst only one such additional tine 22 is 30 illustrated as being carried by tine 16, it will be appreciated that it would be possible, if desired, to secure two such additional tines 22 by means of the same bolt 26.

Additionally, it would be possible to space 35 the tine 22 laterally from the tine 16 by means of appropriate spacers so as to provide a still further mode of adjustment.

Whilst the additional tine 22 is shown as being attached directly to the tine 16, it will 40 be appreciated that provision could alternatively be made for securing such additional tine directly to the tine carrier 14, rather than to one of the tines 16 carried thereby. Again, whilst the tine 1 6 is shown as having a fixed 45 relation to the tine carrier 14, it will be appreciated that the tine 16 itself could be adjustably mounted on the tine carrier 14.

Whilst the illustrated additional tine 22 is adjustably positioned on the tine 16, it would 50 alternatively be possible to employ an additional tine which can have only one position relation to the set tine to which it is attached, adaptability then being obtained by varying the number of additional tines in use and/or 55 the set tines to which they are secured.

Preferably, where several such sets of tines are provided at spaced positions along the length of the table 10, each set of tines is equipped with one or more additional tines. 60 Thus, for example, the tine following the orbit indicated at 20 may, in a similar manner to that illustrated, carry its own additional tine set to follow an adjustable orbit which may be as indicated at 38.

65 In this way, the action of the crop feed conveyor may be varied to suit differing conditions of crop.

Claims

70 1. A crop feed conveyor of the kind including a supporting table onto which the crop is delivered and a set of primary tines disposed above said table and arranged for reciprocatory movement in such a manner as 75 to propel crop lengthwise along the table towards a discharge point, wherein one or more auxiliary tines are provided on the set of primary tines, the or each auxiliary tine being disposed relative to the primary tines in a 80 position in which the tip thereof is spaced from the tips of the primary tines in the direction of movement of the tines.

2. A crop feed conveyor according to Claim 1 wherein a plurality of such auxiliary 85 tines are provided on the set of primary tines.

4. A crop feed conveyor according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the or each auxiliary tine is secured directly to a tine carrier on which the primary tines are carried. 90 5. A crop feed conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each auxiliary tine is detachably mounted on the set of primary tines.

6. A crop feed conveyor according to any 95 one of the preceding claims wherein the or each auxiliary tine is mounted in such a manner as to be adjustable in position relative to the primary tines.

7. A crop feed conveyor according to

100 claim 6 wherein the or each auxiliary tine is angularly adjustable relative to the primary tines.

8. A crop feed conveyor according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the or each

105 auxiliary tine is adjustable in position longitudinally relative to the primary tines.

9. A crop feed conveyor according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the or each auxiliary tine is adjustable along its own

110 length.

10. A crop feed conveyor according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the or each auxiliary tine is adjustable transversely relative to the primary tines.

115 11. A crop feed conveyor according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the or each auxiliary tine is secured to the set of primary tines in fixed position relative thereto.

12. A crop feed conveyor according to

120 any one of the preceding claims wherein the orbital path of travel of the tip of the or each auxiliary tine is offset from the orbital path of travel of the tips of its associated primary tines in a direction heightwise of the table.

125 1 3. A crop feed conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the oribital path of travel of the tip of the or each auxiliary tine is offset from the orbital path of travel of the tips of its associated primary

130 tines in a direction lengthwise of the table.

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14. A crop feed conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of sets of primary tines spaced lengthwise of the table each set being dis-

5 posed above said table and each being arranged for reciprocatory motion in such manner as to propel crop lengthwise along the table towards the discharge point, one or more such auxiliary tines being provided on 10 each of said said sets of primary tines.

15. A crop feed conveyor constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd.—1981.

Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings,

London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.