GB2259689A

GB2259689A - Crop harvesting

Info

Publication number: GB2259689A
Application number: GB9218825A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melvyn Burrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-08-24
Filing date: 1992-08-24
Publication date: 1993-03-24
Also published as: GB9218825D0; GB9118301D0

Abstract

Method and apparatus for assisting in field working operations such as the harvesting of row crops by manual means. Tractor-mounted booms (14, 16) support inward and outward roller conveyors (28, 30) suitably inclined whereby gravity-feed of filled and unfilled boxes can be achieved. Fixed shelves (36) enable boxes to be conveniently located for field workers. A central loading/unloading area accommodates one or more operatives and a storage location for pallets of filled and unfilled boxes at the inboard ends of the conveyors. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTING IN FIELD WORKING OPERATIONS This invention relates to a method and mobile apparatus for assisting in field working operations. As an example of such operations, there is the harvesting, manually, of such crops as brussel sprouts, other brassicas, and indeed the invention is even applicable to the harvesting of flowers for example.

Previous proposals in relation to field working operations of the above kind include the provision of apparatus in which field workers place harvested crop onto powered conveyors which carry the individual crop items to a central collection point. Proposals have also been made for the provision of a simple mobile box support system whereby boxes or containers for harvested crop or the like are carried at some reasonably close proximity to field workers in order to relieve the workers of the need to carry and move the boxes as they progress along, for example, a crop row.

Nevertheless, such apparatus still raises the requirement for the field workers to manually carry the boxes, once filled, to a suitable central collection point.

We have identified a requirement for improvements in relation to methods and apparatus applicable to field working operations in which boxes or other containers are employed, for example to contain harvested crop, flowers or the like, in which improvements are provided in relation to the means for dealing with the box or container once full or partially full, and/or improvements generally in relation to such methods and apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided a method and apparatus for use in assisting field working operations, as defined in the accompanying claims.

In a preferred embodiment such a method and mobile apparatus comprises a boom to extend generally laterally with respect to the forward travel direction of the apparatus. For example, the boom may extend laterally across several crop rows in use.

The method and apparatus provides for supporting and conveying means associated with the boom for boxes or other containers for use in relation to the field working operations. By providing support means for the boxes, field workers can progressively fill same as the apparatus progresses lengthwise of crop rows. By providing conveying means for the boxes or other containers, lateral conveying of filled boxes can be effected whereby same are carried to a central collection location without the need for the field worker to interrupt crop harvesting or other operations.

In the preferred embodiment, gravity drive means is provided for the conveyor by disposing the conveyor at a suitable inclination. In this embodiment, both laterally inward and laterally outward roller-type conveyor means are employed and both roller conveyors are suitably inclined whereby both inward and outward conveying of the boxes is achieved merely by the effect of gravity. The roller conveyors are disposed one above the other thereby minimising space requirements of the apparatus.

In addition, fixed support means for the boxes is provided in the form of a shelf, adjacent to the conveyors, whereby empty boxes from one conveyor can be placed on the shelf during field working operations, and can then be transferred to the inwardly inclined roller conveyor after filling.

In the preferred embodiment the apparatus is provided in the form of an assembly for mounting on the three-point hitch of the agricultural tractor. Two booms are provided, each extending laterally of the tractor in use. Between the two booms there is provided a central loading/unloading area in which one or more operatives can stand and transfer boxes from a supply, delivered for example on a pallet, to one of the conveyors, and likewise can transfer filled boxes from the other conveyor onto a stack for subsequent removal by poweroperated box-handling or pallet-handling equipment.

The apparatus can be provided with means whereby the booms are raised or folded fore-aft for transport to minimise the lateral width of the apparatus during road transport.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 shows a plan view of the apparatus; and Fig 2 shows, somewhat diagrammatically, a rear view of the apparatus of Fig 1, the direction of viewing being indicated in Fig 1 by arrow II, and Fig 2 including an indication of the rear wheels of an associated tractor in association with the general deposition of an upper and a lower associated conveyor, but not including a showing of the shelf support means for the boxes.

As shown in the drawings, apparatus 10 for mounting on a tractor 12, on the 3-point hitch thereof (not shown) comprises booms 14 and 16 extending laterally with respect to the direction F of normal forward movement of the apparatus.

In Fig 2 there is shown in relation to tractor 12 merely the driven rear wheels 18 thereof and the associated back axle 20.

As shown in Fig 1, there is provided between booms 14, 16 a central platform 22 in the form of a flat rectangle, and which provides a pallet/box loading and unloading area at the inner end of each boom.

Associated with platform 22 are two sub-platforms 24 and 26 located laterally outwardly of the main platform and forwardly of the respective booms 14 and 16. These subplatforms are to enable the operatives to more easily load and unload the booms 14 and 16.

Booms 14 and 16 are substantially identical in structure, apart from one being right-handed and the other being lefthanded, and therefore only one of these will be described.

Thus, boom 14 comprises upper and lower roller conveyors 28 and 30 respectively, which serve to carry boxes or cartons (not shown) respectively laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly of the apparatus 10. Each of the roller conveyors comprises an assembly of generally parallel rollers 32 disposed with their axes extending generally in direction F and mounted on a support structure 34 for rotation so as to enable boxes or cartons to freely pass over the rollers, under the action of gravity, in the laterally outward and laterally inward directions. Stop means 36 ensures that the boxes do not over-run at the outer end of the booms.

Roller conveyors 28 and 30 are disposed one above the other, as shown in Fig 1, with a vertical spacing, even at their relatively-closely-spaced outboard ends sufficient to enable a box to be located between them.

Support means in the form of shelves 38, 40 are provided at the rear side of booms 14, 16 to enable the boxes or cartons to be placed thereon for filling purposes, as field operations progress.

In use, the sequence of operations is as follows.

The apparatus 10 is mounted on tractor 12 and driven out into a suitable field containing a row crop, the booms 14, 16 are unfolded and extend laterally across the crop rows. The tractor wheels are located between the rows. The tractor and apparatus pass lengthwise of the rows in direction F. Field workers stand between the rows on the rear side of the apparatus 10, just rearwardly of shelves 38 and 40.

The apparatus arrives with, or has delivered to it, two pallets each carrying a stack of empty boxes or cartons.

These pallets are placed in the locations indicated by numerals 42, 44. Then, one or more operatives standing on the forward portion of platform 22, ie portion 46, which is in the form of a walkway can man-handle empty boxes or cartons from each stack onto the upper roller conveyor 28. The boxes roll lengthwise of the conveyor and outwards.

Field workers remove the empty boxes from the upper roller conveyor 28, and place them on the shelves 38 and 40 and commence field working by, for example, filling the boxes with vegetables or flowers.

When a particular box is sufficiently full, the field worker lifts it from its shelf 38 and 40 and places it on the lower roller conveyor 30, whereby it rolls under gravity laterally inwards towards platform 22 where it is removed by the operative standing on sub-platform 24 or 26 and placed in a stack on the pallet 42 or 44 ready for eventual removal by, for example, a fork-lift truck.

The above sequence of operations is repeated throughout the field operations. When work is complete for a day, the booms 14 and 16 are re-folded for transport purposes.

Interestingly, the above embodiment provides a method and apparatus in which field workers are provided with a constant supply of empty boxes or cartons. These are located ready-tohand. Each box can be placed on a convenient support, in the form of a shelf where it is carried just infront of the worker as the tractor progresses lengthwise of the field at a speed convenient for the workers' progress. Thus, the worker has only to place the harvested crop or other material directly into the carton, and does not have to carry or move the carton until it is full. Then, the carton is merely moved from the shelf onto the lower conveyor, and it moves inwards, under its own weight, to the central loading/unloading area where it is easily handled and placed in a stack for power handling.

In this way, the handling of a harvested crop, for example, is greatly facilitated. The field workers have a minimum of interruption of their working operations, while nevertheless being effectively provided with a supply of empty boxes and means for taking filled boxes to a central disposal location.

Amongst other modifications which could be made in the above embodiment while remaining within the scope of the invention are the provision of modified conveyor arrangements whereby the cartons or containers are carried on power driven conveyors which may be continuously or intermittently driven.

In such a case it might not be necessary to provide a separate shelf or support for the boxes while they are filled.

While the apparatus has been described in its simple form as a tractor-mounted assembly, it would of course be perfectly possible to provide a self-propelled assembly.

The inward and outward conveyors need not be located one above the other, though where this is done the apparatus becomes relatively compact.

The method and apparatus would be applied to fieldplacement of articles eg planting a specialist crop.

There is now described a modification which is also applicable to field working operations such as crop harvesting and related field operations.

In this modification there is provided a mobile working area, such as the flat bed of a standard agricultural trailer of the kind used in field work. There is provided on the working surface of the trailer turntable means suitable to receive a supply of boxes, cartons or other containers, for example on a pallet.

In this way, a stack or assembly of cartons or boxes for receiving harvested crop can be placed on the turntable and readily manipulated for box or carton-filling purposes.

For example, the trailer can be provided with conveyor means whereby crop harvested by field workers is conveyed inwardly to the trailer or the like for loading into the cartons or boxes. The provision of turntable means for the cartons or boxes enable these to be much more readily manipulated so that those cartons or boxes on one side of the turntable can be filled first, and then the turntable and its load can be rotated to bring the cartons or boxes from the other side into position for filling.

In the above embodiment, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, turntable means is provided in each of the locations indicated by numerals 42, 44 in order to receive pallets carrying stacks of empty boxes or cartons.

Thus, in general terms, the concept of this invention is that of providing turntable means for cartons, boxes or the like to enable same to be more readily loaded (or indeed unloaded for certain operations) in a field working environment, for example on an agricultural or horticultural trailer. In the above embodiment the turntables enable the columns of cartons, boxes or containers to be loaded onto the turntables from the rear side of the implement, and to be manually handled from the other side. When one column of boxes has been dealt with, the turntable can be readily swung round for processing of the other column or columns.

In this way, there has been provided means enabling a more efficient and convenient loading of boxes during field working operations, the loading being conveniently carried out from one side only of a stack of cartons or boxes, which is the usual situation in field harvesting operations where the harvesting work progresses steadily into the crop with the unharvested crop constantly on one side of the machine and the harvested crop on the other. Portion 46 of platform 22 constitutes a working area from which the operative has ready access to the boxes on the turntables and the incoming and outgoing conveyors.

Claims

1 Mobile apparatus for assisting in field working operations comprising a) a boom to extend generally laterally with respect to the forward travel direction of the apparatus; characterised by b) support and conveying means on said boom for boxes or containers to permit filling of said boxes or containers and conveying of same lengthwise of said boom.

2 Mobile apparatus for assisting in field working operations comprising a boom having support and conveying means permitting conveying of boxes or containers lengthwise of the boom.

3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised by said conveying means being inclined to permit conveying under the action of gravity.

4 Apparatus according to claim 3 characterised by said conveying means comprising portions inclined in opposite directions to permit gravity conveying both inwardly and outwardly of said boom.

5 Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that said conveyor means are located one above the other.

6 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by two of said booms and a central loading/unloading area located between the booms.

7 Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by shelf means located on said boom or booms to support said boxes during field working operations.

8 A method of carrying out field working operations comprising conveying boxes for materials produced by or required in said field working operations, said boxes or containers being conveyed lengthwise of boom means.

9 A method according to claim 8 characterised by feeding said boxes or containers lengthwise of said boom under the action of gravity.

10 A method according to claim 8 or claim 9 characterised by the step of conveying said boxes or containers lengthwise of said boom in opposite directions under the action of gravity.

11 A method according to any one of the preceding claims characterised by the step of locating said boxes or containers on a fixed support while filling same during field working operations.

12 A method for carrying out field working operations substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13 Apparatus for assisting in field working operations substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14 Mobile apparatus for assisting in field working operations comprising a) a working area in which to perform material handling operations on crop material; b) an area to receive a supply of boxes, cartons, or containers for said.cropmaterial adjacent said working area; c) conveyor means having at least a portion adjacent said working area to convey said boxes, cartons or containers lengthwise of the conveyor means; characterised by d) turntable means provided in said area to receive said supply, adapted to receive said supply and adapted like wise to enable said supply to be readily turned about the axis of the turntable whereby said supply can itself be turned to facilitate the placement of said boxes, cartons or containers on said tuntable means from said conveyor means or vice versa.

15 Apparatus according to claim 14 characterised by said turntable means being positioned at a location at one side of said working area and being accessible on its one side by loading apparatus external to said mobile apparatus, and on its other side being accessible from said working area.

16 Apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 15 characterised by a) said mobile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13; and b) said conveyor means comprising said support and conveying means on said boom.

17 A method of using apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16 characterised by placing said supply of boxes, cartons or containers on said turntable means in the form of at least two columns of said boxes or cartons or containers, one column being adjacent said working area and one remote therefrom, the method being further characterised by the step of turning said turntable means between the steps of performing said material handling operations on the boxes or cartons or containers of said one column and on those of the other column.