GB2215972A

GB2215972A - Root crop cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2215972A
Application number: GB8903985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Alfred Garford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-23
Filing date: 1989-02-22
Publication date: 1989-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-22
Also published as: GB2215972B; GB8903985D0; GB8804100D0

Abstract

A sugar beet harvester comprises beet cleaning apparatus forming a main stage in tho root cleaning process of the harvester. The root cleaning action is performed by pairs of contra-rotating cleaning rollers 20 over which the crop passes in the course of passage from the lifting wheels to the elevator and tank. The feed direction may be axially or tangentially of the rollers. In the latter case, a chain and slat conveyor may be positioned above the rollers to promote feeding. Helical flights provided on the rollers assist in pulling harvested crop over the rollers. Alternate rollers are laterally movable against a resilient bias to permit stones and the like to pass between the nip. <IMAGE>

Description

ROOT CROP CLEANING APPARATUS This invention relates to root crop cleaning apparatus. An example of the application of the invention is to sugar beet harvesters. The invention may be applicable to other root crop harvesters.

Root crop harvesters, particularly sugar beet harvesters, require an effective means for removing earth lifted from the ground with the root crop. Prior proposals in this regard include rod link chain type conveyors of open structure which transport the root crop and enable earth to be dislodged and allowed to fall back to the ground.

However, the efficiency of such prior root crop cleaning apparatus is somewhat limited and improvements are desirable particularly, but not exclusively, in relation to the harvesting of sugar beet.

An object of the present invention is to provide improvements in relation to root crop cleaning apparatus, particularly with regard to one or more of the matters discussed above, or generally.

According to the invention there is provided root crop cleaning apparatus, and a root crop harvester as defined in the accompanying claims.

In a preferred embodiment, in the form of a sugar beet harvester, ther root crop cleaning apparatus is located between crop digging means and a crop elevator. The latter may discharge to a storage tank or to a trailer alongside the harvester. Feeding the crop cleaning means, between the crop digging means may be a chain type elevator and/or crop transport rollers rotating in a common feed direction.

In the preferred embodiment, the crop cleaning rollers are of generally cylindrical form arranged side-by-side.

Drive means is arranged to rotate them in in-running pairs, thereby forming a discharge aperture for unwanted material.

Spiral feed elements may be provided on the roLLers. Sugar beet are larger than the discharge slot between the rollers and pass over the rollers to their discharge end.

Preferably, the spacing between the rollers may be varied to allow variation in the size of the discharge aperture for varying crop and soil conditions. The rollers may be spring-loaded to alLow for the discharge of stones or other hard objections. Restriction means may be provided above the rollers to extend the time interval during which crop material is retained on the roLlers and subjected to their cleaning action.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 shows, diagrammatically, a side elevation view of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig 2 shows, likewise diagrammatically, a plan view on arrow II in Fig 1 of the apparatus of Fig 1; Fig 3 shows a plan view of the cleaning rollers of Fig 2 with the helical flights thereon shown less diagrammatically; Fig 4 shows an end elevation view on arrow IV in Fig 3 of the rollers of Fig 3; Figs 5 and 6 show end elevation views of roller assemblies, corresponding to that of Fig 4, but illustrating two further embodiments; Fig 7 shows a side elevation view, similar to that of Fig 1, of a second embodiment; and Fig 8 shows a plan view of the apparatus of Fig 7 with a storage tank, an over Lying chain and slat conveyor and a paddle roller removed, for purposes of illustration.

As shown in Figs 1 and 2, a sugar beet harvester 10 which travels in a harvesting direction F comprises a topping wheel 12 followed by crop digging wheels 14 having an associated paddle wheel 16 followed by a chain elevator assembly 18, and crop cleaning rollers 20 leading to a discharge elevator 22 from which the crop 24 may be discharged to a storage tank, not shown. The harvester 10 is trailed from a tractor in the usual way and mounted on ground wheels 26.

As shown in Fig 2, harvester 10 is a two-row machine, for harvesting two rows of beet simultaneously. Fig 2 shows rotary top cutters 28 (not shown in Fig 1) preceding the topping wheels 12 for each row of crop. It is to be understood that a wide variety of topping apparatus may be employed for the purposes of the present invention.

It will be noted that Fig 2, though a plan view, omits certain structures for reasons of clarity. Thus, paddle wheels 16 are not shown in Fig 2, nor is the upper conveyor 30, of two conveyors 30, 32 forming the conveyor means 18 for feeding the beet 24 from the digging wheels 14 to the crop cleaning rollers 20. Each of the conveyors 30, 32 comprises end rollers 34, 36 having trained round them an end less chain conveyor comprising transverse Links or rods 38 seen in Fig 2, and fed by a feed roller 35. The conveyors are driven in the directions indicated in Fig 1 by the arrows therein. The open structure of the conveyor means 18 enables significant amounts of earth to fall to the ground during the conveying action, as indicated in Fig 1.

Turning now to the construction and arrangement of the cleaning rollers 20, it will be noted that the details of these are best shown in Figs 2, 3 and 4, with two modifications illustrated in Figs 5 and 6.

The cleaning rollers 20 are arranged in three contrarotating in-running pairs 38 and 40, 42 and 44, and 46 and 48. In addition, a seventh rooler, 50, is provided which rotates in the same sense as roller 48. The drive for the rollers, and all other driven mechanism on harvester 10 is derived from the tractor power take-off system.

The cleaning rollers 38 to 50 have helical flights, shown more clearly in Fig 3, and disposed in the directions shown. The directions of rotation of the rollers are likewise indicated in the drawings. Alternate ones of the rollers, namely rollers 38, 42, 46 and 50 are fixed re lat i ve to the frame (not shown) of the harvester. The other rollers, namely rollers 40, 44 and 48 are mounted so as to be laterally movable re lat i ve to the f i xed rollers, being resiliently-biased towards a normal operating position in which they are spaced as shown from the other roller with which they cooperate, but are movable away therefrom, against the action of the resilient means, to permit stones and the like to pass through the nip.

The fixed mounting of the rollers 38, 42, 46 and 50 is indicated at 52 in Fig 2, while the flights on the rollers are indicated at 54 thereon and in Fig 3. The nips between the rollers are indicated by reference numeral 56.

As shown in Fig 4, the rollers not only define three in-running nips 56, but are also arranged in groups of three defining troughs or valleys 58, 60 and 62, each trough being defined by two upper rollers and a Lower roller, whereby the beet tend to be located in these three troughs while they are cleaned and conveyed, which enhances the cleaning action.

To retain the beet on the cleaning rollers there are provided horizontal retaining bars 64 at each side of the cleaning assembly.

In use, beet are topped and lifted and conveyed onto cleaning rollers 20.

On cleaning rollers 20, the beets are conveyed in the conveying direction C by virtue of the rotation of the rollers and their helical flights 54. As the beet are conveyed, the flights agitate them and cause earth and other foreign matter to be dislodged and actively discharged through the nips 56 while the beets simply pass along over the tops of the rollers, being much too large to pass between them. Lateral discharge of the beets is avoided by the bars 64.

Figs 5 and 6 illustrate modified roller arrangements.

I r Fig 5 there are provided four p a i r s of in-running rollers defining nips 66, the rollers being disposed with their axes in a single plane. In Fig 6, again eight rollers are provided defining four nips 68, but arranged with two "valleys" or "troughs" 70 in which each trough is defined by two upper and two lower rollers. Otherwise, these embodiments are aranged as described above.

In the embodiments of Figs 7 and 8, parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and will be described no further.

In place of the conveyor means 18 there is provided a series of rollers forming a conveyor 72. The first roller, 35, corresponds to the transfer roller 35 in the first embodiment. The remaining rollers 74, 76 and 78 rotate in the same direction, as indicated, and all rollers carry flights 80, which are helical in form and are disposed, as shown, to centralise the in-fed crop material from the four rows of crops being harvested. The roller 35 in the Fig 1 embodiment may be plain, or may have the flights 80. Due to the separation of the rollers of conveyor 72, some degree of cleaning occurs, as indicated in Fig 7.

From conveyor 72, the beet 24 are transferred to a short chain elevator 82 which is similar in structure and arrangement to the conveyor 32 of Fig 1, and no further description thereof is therefore deemed necessary.

From conveyor 82, the beet 24 are transferred onto cleaning rollers 84 to 94 arranged in contra-rotating inrunning pairs defining nips 96. The drive and mounting arrangements of these rollers may be substantially the same as in the preceding embodiment, namely alternately fixed and movable mountings. It will be noted that no flights are shown in Fig 8. It may be desirable to provide agitating elements on the rollers, for example in the form of rods, but these do not need to be helically disposed since the axial feeding function is not required in this embodiment.

Not shown in Fig 8, for reasons of i II ust ration, is a top feed conveyor 98, positioned above the cleaning rollers 84 to 94 and defining therewith a passageway or tunnel 100 through which the beet 24 pass. Conveyor 98 comprises rollers 102, 204 and 106, at least one of which is driven, around which is trained an endless conveyor element 108 carrying transverse bars 110 constituting feed elements.

It will be noted that the relative dispositions of the rollers 84 to 94 as seen in Fig 7 is such that the beet pass at a significant upward inclination through tunnel 100 while passing over the nips 96. For this purpose, the top feed conveyor 98 provides an important feeding function.

From the cleaning rollers 84 to 94, the beet pass to elevator 22 which deposits them on a thrower 112 which deposits them in a tank 114, as shown.

In use, cleaning rollers m84 to 94 provide a cleaning function very analogous to that of the first embodiment.

The beet are constrained to pass through tunnel 100 while travelling across the nips 96, and this provides a very positive cleaning action.

Interestingly, the above embodiments provide an important step forward in the art of root crop cleaning, particularly for sugar beet. The harvester 10 is provided with a full width conveyor for the beet which performs an important cleaning function, being a major one of only a few such cleaning processes in the harvester. The several in-running nips exert a cleaning action either in the parallel arrangement of the embodiment of Figs 1 to 6 or the series arrangement of Figs 7 and 8.

Claims

1 Root crop cleaning apparatus comprising : (a) at least one pair of crop cleaning rollers; (b) drive means for said rollers; (c) means for passing harvested crop over said crop cleaning rollers; characterised in that (d) said drive means for said crop cleaning rolLers is arranged to contra-rotate same inwards to form an inrunning nip into which undesirable matter is drawn and discharged therebetween in-use, while the roots themselves pass over said rollers.

2 Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised by at least two pairs of said crop cleaning rollers arranged in two in-running pairs.

3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the direction of crop feed is lengthwise of said rollers.

4 Apparatus according to claim 3 characterised in that said means for passing harvested crop over said crop cleaning rollers comprises crop feed formations provided on said rollers.

5 Apparatus according to claim 4 characterised in that said crop feed formations are helical in form.

6 Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the crop feed direction is transverse of said rollers.

7 Apparatus according to claim 6 characterised in that said means for passing harvested crop over said crop cleaning rollers comprises a conveyor positioned over said rollers and defining therewith a feed channel for the root crop.

8 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that alternate ones of said crop cleaning rollers are fixed and alternate ones are positionadjustable.

9 Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that said posi t ion-adj unstable r o lers Are rest l I i en t I y deflectible from their normal in-use position to allow stones and the like to pass therebetween.

10 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said root crop cleaning apparatus is provided in a root crop harvester and receives crop after same has been subjected to at least one prior cleaning stage.

11 A root crop harvester according to claim 10 characterised in that said root crop cleaning apparatus discharges the root crop to crop storage apparatus.

12 A root crop harvester according to claim 11 characterised in that an elevator is provided to take said crop to said storage apparatus.

13 Root crop cleaning apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figs 1 to 4, 5 or 6, or Figs 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

14 A root crop harvester comprising root crop cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and 13.

15 A root crop harvester substantially as described herein with reference to Figs 1 to 4, 5 or 6 or Figs 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

16 A beet harvester comprising root crop cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that said crop cleaning rollers provide one main crop cleaning stage during the passage of beet from lifting and/or digging means to crop discharge or tank-loading means.

17 A harvester according to claim 16 characterised in that said crop cleaning rollers are disposed so that the crop is simultaneously elevated while it is cleaned.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

18 Root crop cleaning apparatus comprising : (a) at least one pair of crop cleaning rollers; (b) drive means for said rollers; (c) means for passing harvested crop over said crop cleaning rollers; and (d) said drive means for said crop cleaning rollers is arranged to contra-rotate same inwards to form an inrunning nip into which undesirable matter is drawn and discharged therebetween in-use, while the roots themselves pass over said rollers; characterised in that (e) at least three of said crop cleaning rollers being provided and disposed with at least two upper rollers and at least one lower roller whereby a trough or valley is defined therebetween in which roots tend to be located during cleaning.

19 Apparatus according to claim 18 characterised in that at least five of said cleaning rollers are provided forming two groups of three, each group of three defining a trough or valley therebetween.

20 Apparatus according to claim 19 characterised in that more than two groups of three crop cleaning rollers are provided, each groupd defining a trough or valley therebetween.

21 Apparatus according to claim 18 characterised in that at least four of said crop cleaning rollers are provided, said rollers being disposed with two upper rollers and two lower rollers therebetween, defining a single trough or valley between the two upper rollers, in which trough or valley said roots tend to be located during cleaning.

22 Apparatus according to claim 21 characterised in that said four rollers are rotated in directions such as to produce two in-running nips in said trough or valley.

23 Apparatus according to claim 21 or claim 22 characterised in that the number of said crop cleaning rollers is such that at least two of said troughs or valleys are defined between said rollers.

24 Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 23 characterised by lateral crop confining means extending lengthwise of said crop cleaning rollers at each lateral side of said apparatus.

25 Apparatus according to claim 24 characterised in that said lateral crop confining means is provided above the laterally outermost roller at each side of said apparatus, both of said laterally outermost rollers at each side of said apparatus being adapted to be rotated in a direction so as to move crop contacting same in a laterally inward direction.

26 Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 25 characterised in that the direction of crop feed is lengthwise of said rollers.

27 Apparatus according to claim 26 characterised in that said means for passing harvested crop over said crop cleaning rollers comprises crop feed formations provided on said rollers.

28 Apparatus according to claim 27 characterised in that said crop feed formations are helical in form.

29 Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 28 characterised in that alternate ones of said crop cleaning rollers are fixed and alternate ones are position adjustable.

30 Apparatus according to claim 29 characterised in that said position-adjustable rollers are resiliently deflectible from their normal in-use position to allow stones and the like to pass therebetween.

31 Apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 30 characterised in that said root crop cleaning apparatus is provided in a root crop harvester and receives crop after same has been subjected to at least one prior cleaning stage.

32 A root crop harvester according to claim 31 characterised in that said root crop cleaning apparatus discharges the root crop to crop storage apparatus.

33 A root crop harvester according to claim 32 characterised in that an elevator is provided to take said crop to said storage apparatus.

34 Root crop cleaning apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to Figs 1 to 4, 5 or 6, or Figs 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

35 A root crop harvester comprising root crop cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 30 and 34.

36 A root crop harvester substantially as described herein with reference to Figs 1 to 4, 5 or 6 or Figs 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

37 A beet harvester comprising root crop cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 18 to 30 characterised in that said crop cleaning rollers provide one main crop cleaning stage during the passage of beet from lifting and/or digging means to crop discharge or tank-loading means.