GB408250A - Improvements in and relating to cane harvesting machines - Google Patents

Abstract

408,250. Harvesting and cutting up sugar cane. FALKINER, R. S., 103, William Street, Melbourne, Australia. Oct. 4, 1932, No. 27576. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Oct. 7, 1932.] [Classes 5 (i) and 6 (iii).] In a machine for harvesting sugar cane of the type described in Specification 345,950 in which the cane is cut, conveyed to chopping mechanism, the trash separated and the cane discharged, the cane is passed to he chopping mechanism by two co-operating conveyers, one above the other, forming jaws for the reception of the cane ; the upper conveyer is so mounted that it can be moved relatively to the lower by the cane itself. The cane is cut by rotary ground knives 3 and is then passed by pick-up fingers 15 to the two conveyers 42, 43. The conveyers are toothed of the continuous belt type and are generally triangular in shape, the lower conveyer 42 being secured to the main frame 2 and the upper conveyer 43 being mounted for vertical displacement. The working faces 42<a>, 43<a>, of the conveyer are parallel but forward working faces 42b, 43b, converge forming jaws into which the cane enters. The frame 44 of the upper conveyer is pivoted at its forward end to a radius rod 46, its rear end being provided with a stop 45 that rests freely on a seat 45<a> on the frame 2 and is free to be lifted by the cane, a stop being provided to limit such lifting. The front end of the frame normally rests on a bracket and the forward end of the radius rod is free to lift under the pressure of the cane until a stop 50 is engaged. The radius rod may also be lifted by a lever operated ratchet device 48 connected thereto by a cable 47 when it is desired to clear a tangled mass of cane from the conveyers ; the limiting stop 50 is moved out of action to permit this operation. The pick-up fingers 15 are carried in an auxiliary frame 33 that can be adjusted vertically and are pivoted to rotary members 22. Each finger has a tail 24 carrying a roller 25 engaging a stationary cam surface 26 to extend the finger into the cane engaging position. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also the trash separating apparatus described in Specification 408,252 and also (i) chopping mechanism consisting of a rotary knife 57, Figs. 5, 6 (Cancelled), cooperating with a rotating chopping block 64 formed with slots 65, cut helically to permit the passage of the blades of the knife these blades also being set helically or flared to allow for the forward movement of the canes ; the block is shaped to take the canes and is provided with recessed portions 67 for the entrance of cleaning teeth 70 ; in a modification the chopping block is replaced by a ratchet toothed drum the teeth being arranged in discs between which the cleaning teeth on a dead-plate pass and in a further modification two toothed cylinders are provided to support the cane, the knife cutting between the cylinders : (ii) lifting members for the crop as described with reference to the gathering tines 15 are provided ; the gathering tines may be replaced by gathering chains : (iii) disc coulters or rotary saws may be provided to separate the crop : (iv) the front portion of the machine is pivoted and may be raised for transport by a pneumatic hoist that is driven by the motor driving the endless chain tracks supporting the machine. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.