GB2198661A

GB2198661A - A separating device in a root vegetable harvester

Info

Publication number: GB2198661A
Application number: GB08723344A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erling Royneberg
Original assignee: Underhaug AS
Current assignee: Underhaug AS
Priority date: 1986-10-06
Filing date: 1987-10-05
Publication date: 1988-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2007-10-05
Also published as: GB2198661B; DE3733675A1; FR2604596B1; GB8723344D0; NL8702376A; FR2604596A1

Description

i r.

4 m 1 2198661 1 A SEPARATING DEVICE IN A ROOT VEGETABLE HARVESTER - The invention relates to a separating device in a root vegetable harvester to separate root vegetables from stones and soil.

Such a separating device may comprise a conveyor belt to convey haulm, lumps of soil and stones, by pulling means such as flexible fingers forming a finger area on the working surface of the conveyor belt, and removing means provided across the working run of the belt close to its discharge end. In operation, the separating device can separate the potatoes from stones, lumps of soil, and haulm present with loose soil lifted up by the share of a potato harvester.

The conveyor belt is commonly an endless, rotating belt with flexible resilient fingers'on its surface forming a finger area. When potatoes are charged onto the belt mixed with st ones and lumps of soil, the comparatively heavy stones and lumps of soil will sink relatively deeply into the finger area, whereas the relatively more lightweight potatoes will sink down into the finger area only to a negligible extent. A stripper means is provided above the working run of the belt adjacent to its discharge end, the stripper means stripping the potatoes to one side of the belt and allowing stones and lumps of soil to be conveyed by the belt below the stripper means and discharged at the discharge end of the belt.

In one previously proposed construction, the stripper means comprises a rotating wiper shaft which extends across the width of the belt and wipes the potatoes off laterally, whereas stones and lumps of earth depressed into the finger area pass below the wiper shaft. The result that is achieved by this construction device is not satisfactory in the case of large amounts of potatoes, since the potatoes are pressed into a broad mass towards one side of the belt and tend to take along with them stones and lumps of soil present at that side. Even with high speed rotating wiping shafts this disadvantage is observed.

It has been proposed to use a stripper means comprising a carrier extending obliquely relative to the belt path with flexible contact elements extending from the carrier a distance above the conveying run of the belt.

1 2 An entire stripping unit can be moved as a unit in a plane in parallel with the conveying run of the belt path with flexible contact elements extending from the carrier to a distance above the conveying run of the belt. The entire stripping unit can be moved as a unit in a plane in parallel with the conveying run of the belt. With such stripper means the potatoes are also conveyed outwards to the side of the belt.

Lateral displacement of potatoes appears to cause capacity problems.

According to the invention there is provided a separating device in a root vegetable harvester to separate root vegetables from stones and soil, the device comprising a conveyor belt having means on its surface for entraining haulm, stones, lumps of soil and root vegetables, and receiver means extending across the working run of the conveyor belt close to the discharge end thereof and in the form of a slender roller member over which the root vegetables are discharged.

When a conveyed mixture of stones, lumps of soil, haulm residues, and potatoes arrives at such a roller member it has been surprisingly found that the potatoes will pile up and pass over the top of the roller member, whereas stones, haulm, and lumps of soil will pass below the roller member.

By means of the roller member, a horizontal separation of lumps of soil, haulm, and stones from"potatoes can be achieved. Lumps of soil, haulm and stones are "pressed" down, whereas the potatoes are "lifted" or migrate upwards, pass across the roller member and, for example, pass onto a forwarding conveyor. Capacity can be increased because separation occurs in the direction of conveyance with utilization of the entire, or a considerable portion of, the band width.

The roller member can rotate in either direction, but the best effect is achieved when the roller member rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of pulleys of the belt, i.e. the peripheral movement is in the same direction in the nip between the discharge end of the belt, and the slender roller member.

The roller member is, preferably, adjustably mounted in relation to the conveyor belt, so that the distance between the belt and the roller member can be adjusted according to the requirements. The flexible entraining means may, if desired, touch the roller member. The distance can be adjusted to suit the actual conditions in the field with the roller member advantageously being provided at such a distance from the finger

1 1 1.

4 3 belt that loss of small potatoes with lumps of soil and stones will not be too great.

The roller member may be arranged obliquely in relation to a breaking-up roller adjacent to the conveyor belt, as seen vertically on the plane formed by finger crowns. Preferably, however, the roller member is placed so as to run in parallel with the breaking-up roller, ensuring that the potatoes are conveyed along in the direction of movement of the belt. An oblique position may provide a certain axial effect of conveyance, which may be desirable, e.g. to remove remaining haulm, more readily.

The surface of the roller member can be provided with a, preferably helical, bead or rib which may be broken. Such a helical bead or rib is, preferably formed by a helically wound thread mounted on a smooth roller.

The bead/rib can provide a conveying effect in the axial direction of the roller member which can be advantageous, especially as regards removal of slightly more difficult remaining haulm.

The separating device is preferably supplemented by a conveyor belt provided in the projection of the belt to receive potatoes stripped by the roller member.

As mentioned, the roller member can rotate in one of two directions.

In an advantageous embodiment including a roller member that is rotatable in the direction of conveyance of the belt, a conveyor belt extending in the projection of the direction of conveyance, is placed around the roller member.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of a belt with associated receiver means of one embodiment of a separating device according the the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a separating device according to the invention; Figure 3 is a side view of a third embodiment of a separating device according to the invention; and Figure 4 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a separating device according.to the invention.

In Figure 1 an endless rotating conveyor belt 1 is shown with flexible resilient fingers 2 on its surface forming a finger area. The belt extends over return and drive pulleys 3 and 4.

4 At one end of the belt a small diameter roller 5 is provided to extend transversely across the belt and to rotate in a direction opposite to that in which the pulleys 3 and 4 rotate.

On the side of roller 5 remote from the belt a receiver plate 6 is provided adjacent the roller 5. The receiver plate 6 extends down to a transversal conveyor belt 7.

In Figure 1 it is indicated how potatoes 8 pile up in fron of the roller 5, climb over it and fall down onto the receiver plate 6. Soil and stones 9 pass below the roller 5 and are discharged downwardly at the end of the belt 1. Residual haulm is also carried on by the belt.

The embodiment of Figure 2 is similar to that shown in Figure 1. Thus, there is the belt 1 with the flexible resilient fingers 2. Potatoes, lumps of soil, remaining haulm, and stones are supplied to the conveying area of the belt from a conveyor belt 10, and are conveyed by the belt 1 towards the discharge end of the belt 1, adjacent to the pulley 3. At the discharge end the rotatable roller 5 is provided as in Figure 1. On the side of roller 5 facing away from the belt 1 a receiver plate 61 is provided. The receiver plate 61 acts in the same manner as the receiver plate 6 in Figure 1, but is somewhat differently shaped. The receiver plate 6' guides the potatoes 8 onto a conveyor belt 11 operating in a projection of the belt 1. Lumps of soil and stones, and residual haulm 9 pass below the roller 5 and fall down onto a transveral conveyor belt 7' similar to the transversal belt 7' indicated in Figure 1 but used in this embodiment for carrying away stones and soil rather than potatoes.

In the embodiment of Figure 3 the same reference numbers are used to indicate the components that are similar to those shown in Figure 1, the receiver plate 6, and the transversal conveyor 7 are however omitted. Instead, a conveyor belt 12, extending as a projection of the belt 1, extends around the roller 5. The conveyor belt 12 also extends around guiding/return rollers 13, 14. The roller 5, in this case, rotates in the same direction as the pulleys 3, 4. The potatoes 8 piling up in front of the roller 5 will climb onto the belt 12 passing around the roller 5 and be carried away by the conveyor belt 12. Lumps of soil, remaining haulm, and stones 9 will pass below the roller 5 and fall down at the discharge end of the belt 1.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 is in principle, constructed in the same manner as those of Figures 1 and 2, but the roller 5 is here provided 1 t with a helical bead or rib 15, for example, a helically wound thread that is threaded onto the smooth roller 5. The roller 5 may pbviously be shaped with an integrated bead/rib, if desired.

The distance between the roller 5 and the belt 1 is adjusted to suit the prevailing conditions. This may be done by means, not shown, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The velocity of the roller 5-may be determined in accordance with requirements, but the preferred speed is approximately the same as that of the pulley 3.

Whilst the invention is described above in connection with potato harvesting it is, however, not limited to this special utilisation and may be used for other root vegetables.

t t- 6

Claims

1. A separating device in a root vegetable harvester to separate root vegetables from stones and soil, the device comprising a conveyor belt having means on its surface for entraining haulm, stones, lumps of soil and root vegetables, and receiver means extending across the working run of the conveyor belt close to the discharge end thereof and in the form of a slender roller member over which the root vegetables are discharged.

2. A separating device according to claim 1, in which the roller member rotates in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of pulleys of the conveyor belt.

3. A separating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the spacing of the roller member from the conveyor belt is adjustable.

4. A separating device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the surface of the roller member is provided with a bead or rib.

5. A separating device according to claim 4, in which the bead or rib is helical.

6. A separating device according to claim 5, in which the roller member is smooth and the helical bead or rib is formed by a helical thread provided thereon.

7. A separating device according to any one of the preceding claims, including a further conveyor belt extending as a projection of the conveyor belt and to receive root vegetables stripped from the conveyor belt by the roller member.

8. A separating device according to claim 1, in which the roller member rotates in the same direction of rotation as pulleys of the conveyor belt and a conveyor belt extends as a projection of the conveyor belt and around the roller member.

7 j

9. A separating device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the means on the surface of the conveyor belt comprise resilient fingers defining a finger area.

10. A separating device in a root vegetable harvester to separate root vegetables from stones and soil substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 Published 1988 ?.'. The Patent Office, State House, 56/71 High Holborn, London WClR 4TP. Further cupies may be obtained from The Patent office, Wes Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 SRI). PrLytted Iky Multiplex teclr)lques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1187.