GB2191926A

GB2191926A - A belt-type lifter apparatus for lifting potatoes

Info

Publication number: GB2191926A
Application number: GB08714622A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erling Royneberg
Original assignee: Underhaug AS
Current assignee: Underhaug AS
Priority date: 1986-06-24
Filing date: 1987-06-23
Publication date: 1987-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-23
Also published as: GB2191926B; GB8714622D0; DE3720716C2; NO158981C; DE3720716A1; NL8701429A; NO862542L; NO862542D0; NL190433B; FR2600484B1; NO158981B; FR2600484A1; NL190433C

Description

1

SPECIFICATION

A belt-type lifter apparatus for lifting potatoes This invention relates to a belt-type lifter apparatus for lifting potatoes, the apparatus having a tilting frame carrying the front portion of an open web belt which is inclined upwards and backwards, with digging shares, running disks, and rollers being provided in front of said belt, and with said tilting frame being mounted on a machine frame fortilting about a transverse horizontal axis and fortilting about a longitudinal axis extending in the driving direction of th a potato 1 ifte r.

The purpose of providing the tilting frame in such a mannerthat it mayturn ortilt abouttwo axes is to ensure a fixed depth of the digging shares in relation to the row of potatoes via rollerswhich may be hour- glass shaped and,thus, to preventthern from being influended by a torque of the machineframe, e.g. when the machine frame is levelled on a ground that slopes laterally.

From DT-2259205 B2, e.g. a two-row belt-type lifter apparatus for lifting potatoes is known, the tilting frame of which can turn about atransverse horizontal axis as well as being mounted on the machine frame forturning about an axis which extends substantially in parallel with the driving direction. A disadvantage of such a potato lifterwith a tilting frame being able to turn about a longitudinal axis in parallel with the driving direction isthat lateral forces will be introduced during potato lifting to apply a torque to the tilting frame. Such lateral forces are introduced via the rolling knives rolling in the soil.Thetilting framewill warp ortwist because it is mounted forturning about a longitudinal axis in parallel withthe driving directHon and,thus,the shares running in the soil and directing the potatoes ontothe openweb beltwill run at an undesired depth. Another disadvantage which is not especially conspicuous isthatthe lower portion of 105 the open web beltwill move laterally. Such lateral movement is undesirable, and it is necessaryto ensure forced guidance of the open web belt. In view of these problemsthe present invention aimsto eliminatethe cause of the lateral movement of the 110 open web belt, i.e. thetorque appliedto thetilting frame.

According tothe present invention there is provided a belt-type apparatusfor lifting potatoes orother root crops, comprising a tilting frame which carries the front orforward portion of an open web beltwhich extends rearwardly and upwardly, lifting shares, rolling disks and rollers located in front of said belt, with said tilting frame being mounted in a machine frameforturning movement about a horizontal cross axis and forturning movement about a longitudinal axis extending in the driving direction of said lifter apparatus, said longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to the direction of motion of the conveying run of the web belt and intersecting the line of action of transverse forces acting on the tilting frame substantially in the same plane.

With the tilting frame mounted or suspended in this mannerthe torque inducing influence of the lateral forces on the depth of the shares, and the lateral GB 2 191926 A 1 movementofthe lowerportion of theweb belt induced bytorque in connection with thetilting frame are substantially eliminated.

In an embodiment of the invention the rear ends (in the driving direction) of the longitudinal limb members of the tilting f rame are mounted on the machine frame by the aid of crank orturning member in the plane of the open web belt. To achieve an advantageous movement one longitudinal member may additionally be mounted on the machineframe by the aid of a second crank orturning member extending in the opposite direction of the first mentioned member. This second crank member is preferably pivotally joined with the longitudinal member in the same fulcrum as the first mentioned member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the singlefigure is a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment of a belt-type lifter apparatus for lifting potatoes according to the present invention.

The shown potato lifter apparatus is a belt-type lifter apparatus, comprising a machineframe 1 with a front ortow bar 2 for connecting itto a tractor.

The machine f rame 1 is mounted on wheels 3 and 4 at its rear end.

A U-shaped tilting frame 5 is at its front end supported on the soil, i.e. the rows of potatoes 6,7, via two rollers 8,9 which are hour-glass shaped. Addi- tionally,the tilting frame 5 carriesfour rolling knives 10, 11, 12 and 13. The rear ends of longitudinal arms of the U-shaped tilting frame 5 pivotally mounted on a transverse connecting rod 16. At 28 on one side of the potato lifterthe connecting rod 16 is bentto form a crank member 17 which is pivotally mounted in machine frame 1 at 18. At 29 on the other side of the potato lifterthe connecting rod 16 is provided with a crank member 19 which is provided with a roller 20 which is supported on machine frame 1. In orderto achieve an advantageous movement a turning member 26 extending in the opposite direction to the crank member 19 is provided and is pivotally mounted in machineframe 1, i. e. in a member 27 depending from the machine frame 1.

An open web belt 21 ru ns over a roller 22 which is mounted on machine frame 1 in a manner now shown in detail. The open web belt 21 also runs over a supporting roller 23 and a front guide roller 24. The last mentioned rollers 23,24 are mounted on the tilting frame 5 in a manner not shown in detail.

Itwill appearfrom the figurethatthe pivotal mountings 18,20 respectively, of crank members 17, 19 in machine frame 1 are situated respectively below and abovethe machine f rame 1, but in a plane parallel with the upper conveying run of the open web belt 21. Thus, transversal connecting rod 16 is situated below the conveying run of the open web belt 21 to form the desired transverse axis which permitsthe swinging movement up and down of tilting frame 5. The special mounting by the aid of crank members 17,19 and 26 permits the tilting frame 5 to turn about an inclined longitudinal axis 25 which has, at least approximately, the same angle as the conveying run of the open web belt 21 and intersectsthe line of action of the lateral force 30 influencing the roller knives 10-13 in area 31.

1 9 By inclining the longitudinal axis 25 in this manner in a longitudinal and vertical plane the problems occurring when lateral forces influence the knives 10, 11, 12 and 13 rolling in a longitudinal direction, are 5 solved in a surprisingly simple manner.

Rwill be appreciated thatthe apparatus can be used for liffling other root crops in addition to potatoes.

]twiii be appreciated thatthe apparatus can be used for lifting other root crops in addition to potatoes.

Claims

1. A belt-type apparatus for lifting potatoes or other root crops, comprising a tilting frame which carries the front or forward portion of an open web beltwhich extends rearwardly and upwardly, lifting shares, rolling disks and rollers located in front of said belt, with said tilting frame being mounted in a machine frame for turning movement about a horizonta 1 cross axis and for turning movement about a longitudinal axis extending in the driving direction of said potato lifter apparatus, said longitudinal axis being substantially parallel to the direction of motion of the conveying run of theweb belt and intersecting the line of action of transverse forces actong on the tilting frame substantially in the same plane.

2. A belt-type apparatus for lifting potatoes as claimed in claim 1, in which the rear ends of longitudinal limbs of said tilting frame are mounte. J11 said machine frame by a crank, and turning memba,. which are at an angle to the longitudinal direction corresponding to the web belt.

3. A belt-type lifter apparatus for lifting potatoe.,, as claimed in claim 2, in which one longitudinal limb is, additionally, mounted on the machineframe by a second turning member directed in the opposite direction of the first mentioned crank.

4. A belt-type lifter apparatus for lifting potatoes as claimed in claim 2 orciainn 3, in which the crank member of said one longitudinal limb is mounted gr the machine frame by the aid of a rollerthat is provided on said frame.

5. A belt-type lifter apparatus for lifting potatoes, substantially as hereinbefore described with referenceto and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Tweeddale Press Group, 8991685, 12187 18996. Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

GB 2 191926 A 2