GB2106467A

GB2106467A - Device for cleaning and transporting bulbous, root and tuberous crops.

Info

Publication number: GB2106467A
Application number: GB08224201A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonge Johannes De
Original assignee: JONGE MASCHF BV
Current assignee: JONGE MASCHF BV
Priority date: 1981-08-24
Filing date: 1982-08-23
Publication date: 1983-04-13
Also published as: GB2106467B; DE3231324A1; NL8103928A; FR2511575A1

Abstract

A device for cleaning and transporting bulbous, root and tuberous crops comprising a driven roller track, in which the spaces between the successive rollers are adjustable and the rollers are resiliently mounted to deflect temporarily if an object falls between them. The rollers are carried by frame members 10-14 which can be adjusted by means of a lazy-tongs 8, 9 to vary the spacing of the rollers, the members 10-14 being connected to the tongs 8, 9 by way of springs to permit the rollers to deflect. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for cleaning and transporting bulbous, root and tuberous crops The invention relates to a device to cleaning and transporting bulbous, root and tuberous crops comprising a driven roller track for transporting the produce in the rolling state, in which the spaces between the successive rollers are adjustable. Such a generally known device is usually coupled with a lifting device, for example, a potato or beet harvester. Said device serves on the one hand to transport the lifted products by means of the lifter, for example, to a delivery device and on the other hand to clean the produce from soil carried along and sticking to them during transport.The roller track serving as a conveyor owes its cleaning effect on the one hand to the gaps between the rollers operating as a sieve and on the other hand to the rolling contact between the products and the rollers which may be profiled at the surface. The distance between the rollers is usually adjustable so that the size of the lumps, stones and small products passing through the roller track operating as a sieve can be determined at will. For adjusting the spaces between the rollers lazy-tongs, rod systems and the like may be employed.

In such devices a problem is caused by the hard objects carried along with the products on the roller track, for example, stones and in particular stones of a size just exceeding the adjusted space between the rollers. If such a stone gets in between two consecutive rollers, there is great risk of damage of the rollers themselves and also of the device driving the rollers. This risk is particularly serious on stony fields.

The invention has for its object to provide a solution for said problem. According to the invention this is achieved in that consecutive rollers are arranged so as to be relatively deflectable independently of the further rollers whilst enlarging their relative distance.

Owing to the steps embodying the invention consecutive rollers can relatively deflect, when encountering an obstacle, independently of the other rollers. After deflection the rollers regain their intial positions. The possibility of selectively adjusting the space between all rollers is maintained. In every adjusted position consecutive rollers can relatively deflect. The driving is continued so that the overall transport is not interrupted. Consecutive rollers are preferably subjected to bias tensions directed towards one another so that after deflection the rollers will again be spaced apart by the desired distance.

In one embodiment the rollers may be connected with a setting member determining the distance between consecutive rollers by means of styles pivotally connected at one end. When an obstacle, for example, a stone is met, the rollers are capable of deflecting against the bias tension because they are pivotally connected. The connection between each style and the setting member can be established by an angle-section iron connected with the setting member, a cranking piece connected with the style and a helical spring-screw bolt joint. In order to prevent a roller from deflecting to an extent such that it would contact a further roller of the row, a stop member is provided between consecutive styles for limiting the deflection of consecutive rollers.In the event of contact with the stop member the next style and the roller concerned are also displaced so that the rollers are prevented by striking one another.

The setting member may be formed by lazytongs.

The invention will be described more fully with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device embodying the invention used in a lifting machine, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 shows a detail in the direction of the arrow IV in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a plan view of part of an alternative embodiment and Fig. 6 is a perspective view in the direction of the arrow Vl in Fig. 5.

The device embodying the invention comprises a frame formed by vertical and horizontal beams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. In the frame lazy-tongs 8, 9 are arranged on each side as setting members for the transport rollers. In the frame are furthermore pivotally arranged styles such as the styles 1 0, 11, 12, 13 and 14. At the other ends the styles 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are each carrying a transport roller; the rollers 1 5, 16, 17 and 1 8 are shown. By fastening means the roller track is pivotally connected with the further device at or near the rotary shaft of the first roller 23.Since the rollers are journalled in the freely movable parts of the styles, the roller 1 7 can deflect with respect to the next roller 1 8. Each style is connected with a tip of the lazy-tongs, for example, 9 by means of an angle-section iron, for example, 1 9 arranged on a fulcrum of the tongs, of a cranking piece, for example, 20 connected with the style and of a coupling formed by a screw bolt 21, the helical spring 22 and a nut 24 fitting to the bolt 21. By the connection formed by the elements 21,22 and 24 the rollers are held in the desired position and after deflection due, for example, to a stone being jammed between consecutive rollers they will be moved into the intial positions by the spring force of the helical spring 22.The stop member 27 gets into contact with the style before successive rollers come into contact with one another. The rollers are driven by a sprocket, for example, 25 arranged on each roller and an endless chain, for example, 26. The chain is driven from the driving casing 28. The chain is held in a taut state by the stretching roller 30. The lazytongs are adjusted by means of the setting device 32. If a stone gets in between consecutive rollers, the rollers will deflect against the pressure of the helical spring 22.

Referring to Fig. 1, the device 33 embodying the invention is coupled with a conveyor 34, which forms part of a lifting device. When the harvested products leave the device 33, they are conducted away via the conveyor 35.

Figs. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment in which the successive rollers are driven by means of a driven, endless chain 40, which rolls along the gear wheels 41, 42 driving the rollers.

The gear wheel 43 is driven. The rollers 44, 45 and 46 are each journalled in a style 47, 48 and 49 respectively. Consecutive rollers can relatively deflect against the force of the springs 50 and 51.

The styles 47, 48 and 49 are slidably journalled on the guide rods 52 and 53.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning and transporting bulbous, root and tuberous crops comprising a driven roller track for transporting the produce in the rolling state, the space between consecutive rollers being adjustable, characterized in that consecutive rollers are arranged so as to be relatively deflectable, independently of the further rollers, whilst enlarging their relative distance.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that consecutive rollers are subjected to bias tensions directed towards one another.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the rollers are connected by means of styles pivotable at one end with a setting member determining the relative distance between consecutive rollers.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the connection between each style and the setting member is formed by an angle-section iron connected with the setting member, a cranking piece connected with the style and a helical spring-screw bolt connection.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 characterized in that between consecutive styles a stop member is arranged to limit the deflection of consecutive rollers.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 characterized in that the setting member is formed by lazy-tongs.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 to 4 or Figs. 1 to 4 as modified by Figs 5 and 6.