GB546328A - Improved potato harvesting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

546,328. Harvesting potatoes. KING, J. Nov. 21, 1941, No. 14997. [Class 6 (iii)] [Also in Groups II and XXX] A potato-harvesting machine comprises a spade 15 adapted to scoop a complete drill into a receptacle 16 between frame plates 1, 2, an elevator consisting of a pair of chains 19 carrying curved slats 20 and running over sprockets 21, 22, or a band with outwardly-extending tines, for conveying the contents of receptacle 16 over an inclined earth screen 18 and depositing the residue of the screen upon a reciprocating riddle 24, which separates the haulms and deposits them at the side while allowing the potatoes and any remaining earth and stones to fall upon a sorting conveyer 28 having spaced laths 29, preferably of triangular section, adapted to retain the larger potatoes and deliver them through a hopper 35 into sacks 34 and allow the smaller potatoes &c. to pass through to a hopper 39 for delivery to an auxiliary screen 40, adapted to deliver medium-sized potatoes, suitable for seed, to a trough 41 and deposit the very small potatoes &c. on the ground by way of a chute 42.. The shaft 46 of the elevator driving sprockets 21 is driven by a belt 45 from a shaft 43, adapted to be coupled to the driving shaft of the tractor, or with the axle of a horse-drawn machine, the crank shaft 25 of the riddle 24 being driven by a belt 48, and the shaft 57 of the conveyer driving sprockets 31 by a belt 51 and bevel gearing, from the shaft 46. Chain and sprocket drives may replace the belts and pulleys. The riddle 24 may be pivoted to a link 27 or may be pivoted to the plate 26 and operated by a cam. A rotary fork may be provided above the riddle. The hopper 35 is provided with a pivoted flap operated by a handle 38 for directing potatoes into one sack or another. Attendants may ride on the platform 36 to fill sacks and pick out stones caught in the conveyer. The draw-bar 3 may be articulated at 58 for adjusting the depth of entry of the spade in the ground and may be adjustable transversely of the frame. In the tractor-drawn machine shown, the axle 4a of the wheels 4 is journalled in pivoted arms 5 connected by links 7 to crank arms 8 of a shaft 9 operable by a lever 11 for raising and lowering the frame.