GB608798A - Improvements in or relating to reaping machines - Google Patents

Abstract

608,798. Flax harvesters. BOWKER, J. A. March 1, 1946, No. 6343. [Class 6(iii)] A flax harvester comprises a travelling frame having a plurality of spaced grippers which move in an endless path extending longitudinally of the frame and which can be projected and retracted transversely to the frame when in the lower run of said endless path and to perform a gripping action intermediate of said projecting and retracting movements whereby to grip the stalks to be reaped. One of each pair of grippers may move towards the other. In the construction shown, an independent engine on the chassis drives a conveyer 16 on the individual plates 15 of which are mounted the gripper elements. In addition two systems of chains 24, 26 and their associated spades 25, 27 are also driven by the engine, but in opposite directions to each other. Each plate of the conveyer has a pair of transverse guides 35, 36 the latter having inclined branches 37 towards the guide 35. The pairs of gripper elements 38, 39 move along these guides by means of slides 40, 41 having pins 40a 42 engaging with said guides. Each gripper element has upward projections or pins 52, 53 with which the spades engage and thereby move said elements transversely as the conveyer moves them longitudinally of the chassis. The element 38 is to the right of the element 39 on each plate as seen in Fig.4 , and therefore the pin 53c will be carried down to a greater extent than pin 52c, whereby pin 52c does not, but 53c does, engage with an inclined face 60 of an abutment slidable in a guide against a spring. Engagement with said face causes each pin 42 on the slide 41 to move along the inclined portion 37 of the guide 36 and thereby approach the gripper element 38 of the same plate. A guide rail 65 maintains the elements in proximity for a short time. The return of the element 39 away from element 38 is effected by an inclined plate 80 approximately parallel to the face 60, said plate being operated through a lever system by a cam in timed relation with the conveyer so that when each pin of each element 39 reaches the position of 53d the plate 80 moves it in the direction necessary to withdraw pin 42 from the inclined portion 37 of the guide 36. The gripper elements are retracted when their pins 51, 53 are engaged by spades 27 on chains 26. To retain them in the retracted position whilst they move along the upper run of the conveyer a guide 29 (see Fig. 2) has channels to receive the pins 51, 53. A clamping device for holding together the free ends of approached gripper elements comprises a spring actuated lever system, Fig. 8 (not shown). A vertical dividing frame transverse of one side of the chassis is secured thereto by tubes one of which acts as a pressure element to apply pressure on the stalks near the ground after they have been gripped.