JP2010259398A - Leaf vegetable harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems that when harvesting only the leaf parts by cutting the stem parts of the leaf vegetables cultivated on a ridge, each leaf part is not harvested well because each of the leaf parts is unstabilized when the stem parts are cut, and the cutting heights of the leaf vegetables in the ridge width direction are different when the upper surface of the ridge is bent. <P>SOLUTION: The leaf vegetable harvester is obtained by installing the cutting blade 31 capable of cutting each stem part of each leaf vegetable in the right and left cultivated on the ridge A at the front end position, a conveyor belt 41 for conveying each of the leaf parts cut by the cutting blade 31 by allowing the leaf parts to be put thereon, and a bringing up device 5 for bringing up each of the leaf parts cut by the cutting blade 31 at the front end part of the conveyor belt, in a machine frame 2 installed in a traveling apparatus 1. A cutting blade in a thin plate shape, capable of being bent into a bent shape in the cutting blade length direction is used as the cutting blade 31 to enable the stem part of each of the leaf vegetables positioned at the right and left of the ridge to be cut at the uniform height even if the upper surface of the ridge is bent by bending the cutting blade 31 in a shape according to the bent shape of the upper surface Aa of the ridge by cutting blade-bending means 36. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a leaf vegetable harvesting machine for harvesting leafy vegetables such as spinach, and particularly to harvesting only leaf parts of leafy vegetables.

  Traditionally, spinach harvesting has been done by manually pulling out the roots one at a time, but such a manual harvesting operation is unnatural for a long time (an attitude in which the waist and legs are bent). As a result, the work was physically demanding and the work efficiency was very poor.

  On the other hand, a leaf vegetable harvesting machine as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-308353 (Patent Document 1) has been known, and this known leaf vegetable harvesting machine is self-propelled. A root cutting blade is used to cut the roots of leaf vegetables one by one, and the root cut leafy vegetables can be extracted from the field and transported and collected.

  However, with this known leaf vegetable harvesting machine, leaf vegetables can be harvested while the harvesting machine is self-propelled (the body is less fatigued), but a root cutting blade (cuts the root by diving into the surface layer in the ground) However, the roots of leafy vegetables could only be cut one by one, so the harvesting efficiency was poor. In addition, since the root cutting blade travels in the ground, it is difficult to make it for a relatively short period of time, and there is a problem that the durability of the blade is poor.

  By the way, leafy vegetables such as spinach make the leaves edible, and in particular, when used for processing, only the leaves need to be harvested. In that case, it is only necessary to cut the stem part exposed from the farm scene (each leaf part falls apart) and harvest only each leaf part.

  As described above, the applicant has already filed a patent application for Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-324539 (Patent Document 2) as a leaf vegetable harvesting machine capable of harvesting only leaf portions of leaf vegetables.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, this already-registered leaf vegetable harvesting machine is provided with a body frame 2 including left and right support columns 21 and 21 and left and right side plates 22 and 22 on a traveling device 1. A cutting blade 31 for cutting the stem portion Yb of the leaf vegetable Y cultivated on the field at a position slightly spaced from the field scene (the upper surface Aa) is provided at the front end position of each of the two side plates 22, 22. Each leaf portion immediately after being cut by the cutting blade 31 is provided at the front end of the conveyor belt 41 by placing each leaf portion Ya cut by the cutting blade 31 between 22 and 22 and transporting it to the rear side of the machine body frame. A brush roll 51 for scooping up the leaf part that scoops up Ya onto the front end of the conveyor belt is provided.

  In this already-filed leaf vegetable harvesting machine, the left and right side plates 22, 22, the cutting blade 31, the conveyor belt 41, and the brush roll 51 constitute a harvesting unit U. The harvesting unit U is pivotally supported by a left and right support shafts 21 and 21 so as to be swingable up and down with respect to the left and right columns 21 and 21 behind the center of gravity, and the front side of the harvesting unit U is moved down by its own weight. It is installed as follows.

  A height adjusting device for positioning the height of the cutting blade 31 of the harvesting unit U at a position slightly separated (for example, about 1 to 2 cm) from the upper surface Aa at the position closer to the front of the left and right side plates 22 and 22. 107 is provided.

  The height adjusting device 107 used in the leaf vegetable harvesting machine shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is a row of leaf vegetables Y, Y... A plurality of ground plates 171, 171... That are grounded on the upper surfaces of the side portions can be moved up and down by a handle type lifting device 170.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 13, leafy vegetables Y such as spinach are planted in a plurality of strips (for example, 5 to 6 strips) at a predetermined interval on the left and right of one pod A, but are exposed from the field scene (top of the pod). When cutting the leaf vegetable stem Yb, the leaf blades Y, Y,... Can be cut at the same time because the cutting blade 31 is not burdened so much.

  In the leaf vegetable harvester shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the cutting blade 31 is brought close to the heel surface Aa while the left and right crawlers 11, 11 of the traveling device 1 straddle the heel A, and the cutting blade When the traveling device 1 (left and right crawlers 11, 11) is advanced while operating the conveyor belt 31, the conveyor belt 41, and the brush roll 51, a plurality of leafy vegetables Y, Y,. Each leaf portion Yab is cut at the same time, and each leaf portion Ya (separated) immediately after the cutting is scraped up on the front end portion of the conveyor belt 41 with a brush roll 51, and each leaf portion Ya is conveyed to the conveyor. It can be conveyed to the rear end side of the machine body frame 2 by the belt 41 (each leaf portion Ya can be sequentially accommodated in the collection container 18 from the end portion of the conveyor belt 41). Therefore, by using this already-registered leaf vegetable harvester, leaf vegetables cultivated on the straw can be harvested lightly and efficiently.

  By the way, the cutting blade 31 used in the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of this application is linear over the entire length in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. 13, and the grounding surfaces of the grounding plates 171, 171,. It is installed parallel to the line connecting the two. And in order to harvest the leafy vegetables Y cultivated on the cocoon A, the range of the cocoon width W is sequentially cut simultaneously with the cutting blade 31 facing the cocoon top surface Aa in the cocoon width direction. In that case, if the cutting blade 31 is parallel to the heel surface Aa in the cocoon width direction, all the stems Yb, Yb,. Each can be cut at the same height (the leaves above the stem are not cut), and the leaves Ya, Ya,... Can be harvested with good yield.

  On the other hand, the upper surface Aa of the cocoon A cultivating leafy vegetables Y such as spinach, for example, in order to improve drainage during rain (to make it easy for rainwater to flow down from the upper surface Aa), FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the heel upper surface Aa may be formed in a convex curved shape in the heel width direction. As shown in FIG. 14, in the ridge A in which the ridge upper surface Aa is curved in a convex shape, when the cutting blade 31 is linear to the left and right, the position closer to the center (high position) and the position closer to both left and right ends (lower) on the ridge upper surface Aa. The position (separation distance) from the cutting blade 31 differs from the position), and as a result, the stem portion Yb of the leaf vegetable Y can be cut at a normal height at a position closer to the center of the upper surface of the culm, but both left and right end portions of the upper surface of the culm At the offset position, the leaf portion Ya above the stem portion Yb is cut. Incidentally, the ridge width W (FIG. 13) for spinach cultivation is often about 90 to 110 cm, and the curvature radius of the curved surface (FIG. 14) of the ridge upper surface Aa is 350 cm, for example, with the ridge width W being 100 cm. The height of the left and right ends of the top surface of the culm is about 3-4 cm lower than the central part of the top surface of the culm, and the length of the leaf part Ya harvested in each leaf vegetable Y located on the left and right is different. (Each leaf vegetable Y near the left and right ends is cut at the height of the leaf portion Ya above the stem portion Yb).

JP-A-9-308353 Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-324539

  As shown in FIG. 14, the cocoon A cultivating the leaf vegetable Y as described above may have the ridge upper surface Aa curved in a convex shape, but the leaves shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 (already filed). In the vegetable harvesting machine, depending on the state of the pod A (for example, FIG. 14), the cutting height of the leaf vegetable Y is different between the central portion and the left and right end portions of the pod (the stalk is closer to the left and right end portions of the pod). The leaf portion below the cutting height remains on the cocoon even though it is a good part to be harvested (the yield is reduced). ).

  Therefore, in the present invention, in leaf vegetables such as spinach, each leaf portion can be automatically harvested even if it is cut at the stem portion (each leaf portion falls apart), Depending on the shape (horizontal or curved), the shape of the cutting blade (horizontal or curved) can be adjusted so that the height of the leaf vegetable can be made uniform regardless of the shape of the top surface (each leaf on the left and right The purpose of the present invention is to provide a leaf vegetable harvesting machine that can cut the stalks of rape at the same height.

  The present invention has the following configuration as means for solving the above problems. The present invention is directed to a leaf vegetable harvesting machine suitable for harvesting leaf vegetables in which each leaf portion is separated by a stem portion, such as spinach.

  The leaf vegetable harvesting machine of the present invention is provided with a body frame on a traveling device, and the body frame has a predetermined length capable of simultaneously cutting the stems of left and right multiple strains of leaf vegetables grown in a straw at the front end position thereof. A cutting blade having a thickness, a conveyor belt carrying each leaf portion cut by the cutting blade and transporting it to the rear side of the machine frame, and a loading device for placing each leaf portion Ya cut by the cutting blade on the front end portion of the conveyor belt Are provided.

  In addition, each dimension illustrated below is for making it easy to understand the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of this application, and it does not specifically limit each, It can change a design freely in the range which satisfy | fills a requirement.

  The leaf vegetable harvesting machine of the present application can be self-propelled by a traveling device, but a motor or an engine can be used as a driving source of the traveling device. Moreover, a wheel and a crawler (each with a left-right pair) can be used for a traveling part. The distance between the left and right traveling parts (wheels and crawlers) is such that the distance between the traveling parts (wheels for spinach cultivation is often about 90 to 110 cm) (for example, 120 to 140 cm), It runs on each groove on the left and right sides of the heel. In addition, the traveling speed at the time of the harvesting operation by this traveling device can be freely adjusted in a range from a low speed to, for example, about 60 m / min (in particular, a traveling speed of about 20 m to 40 m / min can be operated in a stable state).

  The machine frame constitutes the skeleton of the leaf vegetable harvester, and a frame in which two side plates, which are long on the left and right sides of the left and right columns, are pivotably supported. A steering handle is provided on the body frame (support).

  The left and right side plates of the machine frame serve as mounting bases for cutting blades (reaping devices), conveyor belts (conveying devices), brush rolls (lifting devices), and the like. The left and right side plates, the cutting blades, the conveyor belt, and the lifting device constitute a harvesting unit.

  As the cutting blade, one having an upper blade and a lower blade in which a large number of protruding blade edges are arranged on the left and right can be used. Further, it is preferable that the cutting blade has a left-right length that is approximately the same as or slightly longer than the ridge width (about 90 to 110 cm). This cutting blade is attached to the lower surface of the front end portion of the left and right side plates of the body frame in a left-right orientation. Further, the cutting blade is positioned at a position slightly separated (for example, about 1 to 2 cm) from the upper surface of the heel by adjusting the height of the front end portions of the left and right side plates with a height adjusting device including a grounding member. And this cutting blade can shear the stem part of a leaf vegetable by vibrating (sliding) an upper blade and a lower blade mutually in the left-right reverse direction with a motor.

  The conveyor belt preferably has a width that is slightly wider than the ridge width. For example, if the ridge width is about 90 to 110 cm, the width of the conveyor belt may be about 100 to 120 cm. In addition, this conveyor belt is installed in an inclined posture with a low front and rear height, but the front end of the conveyor belt is slightly retracted (for example, about 2 to 3 cm) from the front end of the cutting blade and as far as possible to the cutting blade. It is good to make it fall to the position which adjoins closely (it becomes easy to ride the cut leaf part on the front-end part of a conveyor belt). This conveyor belt is driven by a motor so that the upper surface side travels backward. The conveyor belt is driven at a speed slightly faster than the traveling speed of the harvester (for example, about 5 to 10% faster). A leaf collection container is installed below the rear end of the conveyor belt.

  For example, a relatively large diameter brush roll can be employed as the loading device. In the case where a brush roll is adopted as the lifting device, the brush roll having an outer diameter of about 40 to 50 cm and approximately the same length as the conveyor belt width (about 100 to 120 cm) can be used.

  The brush used for this brush roll is preferably a soft brush (one that does not damage the leaf part when the leaf part is scraped up). Moreover, this brush roll is installed so that the lowermost surface may be reasonably close to (or contact with) the upper surface of the front end portion of the conveyor belt. The brush roll is rotated by a motor so that the lower surface of the brush roll moves backward. The driving speed of the brush roll is set so that its peripheral speed is slightly faster than the conveying speed of the conveyor belt. The motor for driving the brush roll can be shared by the motor for the conveyor belt, but a motor different from the motor for the conveyor belt may be used. In addition, if the lifting device used for the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of this application can mount the leaf part just after cutting on the front end part of the conveyor belt, an appropriate device (for example, air suction) may be used instead of the brush roll. Formula).

  The harvesting unit is installed on the rear side of the center of gravity with respect to the left and right columns with a horizontal axis, and the front side of the harvesting unit is moved down by its own weight around the horizontal axis. Yes.

  In addition, a grounding member is provided at a position closer to the front part of each of the left and right side plates for grounding in a predetermined length range in the width direction on the upper surface of the rod and holding the cutting blade at a position close to the upper surface of the rod. This grounding member constitutes a part of the height adjusting device and can be moved up and down by an operating device (elevating device). As this grounding member, for example, a member in which two short rollers having a predetermined interval on the left and right are connected by a common shaft can be used.

  And this grounding member adjusts the height by the operating device (elevating device) at the lower position near the front of the harvesting unit, so that the cutting blade is close to the upper surface of the cocoon (position about 1 to 2 cm away from the upper surface of the cocoon) ) Can be positioned.

  By the way, in straw cultivation, for example, in order to improve drainage during rain, the top surface of the straw may be curved in a convex shape in the width direction of the straw. In this case, the central part of the upper surface of the cocoon is high and the left and right ends of the upper surface of the cocoon are low, and the heights of the stem parts of the left and right leafy vegetables cultivated in the cocoon width direction are different. When the upper surface of the ridge is curved in the ridge width direction, if the cutting blade remains in a straight state, the position closer to the center (high position) and the position closer to the left and right ends (lower position) on the upper surface of the ridge The spacing (separation distance) from the cutting blade is different, and as a result, the stems of leafy vegetables can be cut at a normal height at a position near the center of the upper surface of the cocoon, but above the stems at positions near the left and right ends of the upper surface of the cocoon. The leaves will be cut off.

  Therefore, in the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of the present application, a thin blade that can be bent in the cutting blade length direction is used as the cutting blade, and the cutting blade is bent by the cutting blade bending means. It can be bent into a shape according to the shape.

  The cutting blade has an upper blade and a lower blade, and both the blades are thin and flexible. This cutting blade (upper blade and lower blade) can slide within a predetermined small range in the cutting blade length direction on another narrow thin plate-like (long and flexible on the left and right) mounting base. It is attached in a state, and the cutting blade can be made to follow (can be curved) by bending the mounting base in a curved shape by the cutting blade bending means.

  As the cutting blade deflecting means, three supports are provided at two positions at the left and right ends of the cutting blade and at one position at the central portion of the cutting blade on the lower surface of the front end of the body frame (the lower surface of the front end between the left and right side plates). While supporting with a member, the thing using a height adjustment screw can be employ | adopted for the two support members of at least one center part or two right-and-left both ends among the three support members. The three support members indirectly support the cutting blade by supporting the mounting base of the cutting blade.

  In the cutting blade bending means, the height adjustment screw can displace the support portion of the cutting blade up and down, and the support members other than the height adjustment screw only support the cutting blade in a fixed position. Good. The above three support members may all be operated using height adjustment screws, and appropriate height adjustment screws (one at the center or two at the left and right ends) may be operated. .

  And this cutting blade deflecting means uses the height adjustment screw for the support member in the center portion, and the support portion (center portion) of the cutting blade (mounting base) is moved by the height adjustment screw in the center portion. By displacing up and down, the cutting blade (mounting table) can be bent in the length direction with both ends of the cutting blade (mounting table) as fulcrums, while the two support members at the left and right end portions are In the case of using a height adjustment screw, the center portion of the cutting blade (mounting base) is displaced by vertically displacing each support portion (left and right end portions) of the cutting blade (mounting base) with the height adjusting screws. The cutting blade (mounting base) can be bent in the length direction with fulcrum as a fulcrum. In addition, the cutting blade can vibrate (slide) the upper blade and the lower blade in the left and right directions while being curved in the length direction.

  Thus, if the cutting blade can be bent in a curved shape by the cutting blade bending means, the cutting blade is brought close to the top surface of the heel when the heel surface is curved in the heel width direction as described above. The curved position can be curved along the curved shape of the upper surface of the heel. When the upper surface of the ridge is horizontal in the ridge width direction, the cutting blade can also be adjusted to a horizontal posture by the cutting blade deflecting means.

  In order to harvest leafy vegetables on the ridge with the leafy vegetable harvesting machine of the present application, each traveling part of the traveling device is installed across the ridge, and the shape of the ridge width direction on the ridge top surface (horizontal plane or curved surface) Accordingly, the cutting blade is adjusted to a predetermined shape (horizontal posture or curved posture) by the cutting blade deflecting means, and the cutting blade is slightly separated (for example, about 1 to 2 cm) from the upper surface of the ridge by the height adjusting device. Adjust as follows. In this state, the cutting blade maintains a uniform interval over the entire length in the heel width direction with respect to the heel surface.

  And when this harvesting machine is run forward while driving the cutting blade, the conveyor belt, and the lifting device (brush roll), each cutting blade at the front end of the harvesting unit is in the same position in the cocoon width direction. The stems of leafy vegetables are cut simultaneously and sequentially. At this time, the cutting blade moves forward in a posture that is maintained at a uniform interval over the entire length in the cocoon width direction with respect to the upper surface of the cocoon, so that the stems of each leaf vegetable are cut at the same height position.

  When the leaf portion of each leaf vegetable is cut, each leaf portion is separated apart (becomes unstable). At this time, the conveyor belt is driven in a driving state and the loading device (brush roll) is By being driven in the scraping direction, each separated leaf immediately comes into contact with the front end of the conveyor belt (rotating in the scraping direction) and on the conveyor belt front end by a lifting device (brush roll) Can be lifted up. Therefore, most of the cut leaves are smoothly raked up on the front end of the conveyor belt, and then sequentially fed back on the conveyor belt to fall and accommodate in the collection container below the conveyor belt rear end. Is done. In addition, although a part (especially small leaf) of each cut leaf part may remain on the field without being placed on the conveyor belt, the remaining amount that cannot be harvested is very small.

  Thus, when the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of the present application is used, each leaf vegetable (only the leaf portion) on the straw can be cut at the traveling speed by the traveling device. In addition, the shape of the cutting blade (horizontal posture or curved posture) can be adjusted by the cutting blade deflecting means according to the shape of the upper surface (horizontal surface or curved surface). It becomes constant. In addition, the leaf part harvested with this leaf vegetable harvesting machine is suitable for use mainly for processing (mixture).

  The leaf vegetable harvesting machine of the present application has the following effects.

  (1) Using this leaf vegetable harvesting machine, the leaves of leaf vegetables (eg, spinach) cultivated in straw can be harvested while the worker is standing, and the degree of fatigue is significantly greater than with manual harvesting operations. Can be reduced.

  (2) The leafy vegetables (leaves) can be harvested at the running speed of the running device (up to about 60m / min is possible, but about 20m / min to 40m / min can be operated in a stable state). It can be dramatically shortened.

  (3) Since the cutting blade cuts the stem part exposed on the ground, it can cut the left and right wide range at a time, and the leafy vegetables (leaf part) with a wide area by the progress per time Can be harvested.

  (4) Each leaf part immediately after cutting the stem part of leafy vegetables is disjointed and unstable, but each leaf part immediately after cutting the stem part is placed on the front end of the conveyor belt with a lifting device (brush roll) Thus, even when only the leaf portion is harvested, each leaf portion can be efficiently harvested (a harvesting operation with a good yield can be performed).

  (5) Since the shape of the cutting blade can be adjusted by the cutting blade deflecting means according to the shape of the heel surface (whether the heel width direction is horizontal or curved), even if the ridge surface is curved, The cutting blade can be bent in a curved shape. Therefore, even if it is a leafy vegetable cultivated on a curved surface, the cutting height of the stem part of each leafy vegetable can be made constant (the leaf part to be harvested above the stem part is not cut). The leaves on the ridges are almost gone and the yield is increased.

  (6) Since only the leaf parts of leafy vegetables can be harvested, when the leaves are used for processing (for example, a mixture), root cutting work is no longer required like rooted leafy vegetables, and subsequent processing steps are not required. It will be easy.

It is a side view of the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of an example of the present application. It is a top view of FIG. It is a left view of FIG. It is function explanatory drawing at the time of harvesting in the leaf vegetable harvester of FIG. It is a perspective view of the cutting blade vicinity in the leaf vegetable harvester of FIG. It is VI-VI expanded sectional drawing of FIG. It is a VII-VII expanded sectional view of Drawing 5. FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a part (scraping device part) of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a part (scraping device part) of FIG. 2. It is a cutting blade adjustment explanatory drawing in case the upper surface of the ridge is curving at the time of the cutting operation by the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of FIG. It is a side view at the time of applying the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of FIG. 1 to the harvest of the leaf vegetable cultivated on flat ground. It is a side view of the leaf vegetable harvester concerning the application (patent document 2) of the present applicant. FIG. 13 is a left side view of FIG. 12. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a state where the upper surface of the culm is curved at the time of cutting with the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of FIG. 12.

  The leaf vegetable harvesting machine of the embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. FIGS. 1 to 10 show a use example in the case of harvesting leaf vegetables (spinach) Y cultivated on the straw A. FIG. 11 shows a usage example in the case of harvesting leafy vegetables (spinach) Y that is cultivated on a flat ground.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the following description, front and rear are front and rear in the traveling direction of the leaf vegetable harvesting machine, and left and right are left and right as viewed from the front side in the traveling direction. Moreover, each dimension illustrated below is for making it easy to understand the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of the present application, and is not particularly limited, and can be freely changed in design as long as the requirements are satisfied.

  The leaf vegetable harvesting machine shown in FIGS. 1-9 is each leaf part Ya of the traveling device 1, the body frame 2 installed on this traveling device 1, and the leaf vegetable (spinach) Y cultivated in the cocoon A. A cutting device 3 for cutting the cut leaf portions Ya, a transport device 4 for feeding the cut leaf portions Ya, and a lifting device 5 for placing the cut leaf portions Ya on the conveyor belt front end 41a of the transport device. As described later, the left and right side surfaces Ab and Ab of the heel A have a basic configuration of a pair of left and right rake devices 6 and 6 that rake down each hanging leaf Yc hanging on the heel A.

  The traveling device 1 causes the leaf vegetable harvester to self-propel, and in this embodiment, a pair of left and right crawlers 11 are used for the traveling unit. The distance between the left and right crawlers 11 and 11 is set so as to be able to travel on both side ridges B and B across the ridge A in the field, as shown in FIGS. In addition, the ridge width W for spinach cultivation is generally about 90 to 110 cm, and in this embodiment, the ridge width W is assumed to be 100 cm. In that case (when the heel width W is 100 cm), it is appropriate to set the inner width interval between the left and right crawlers 11, 11 to about 130 cm, for example, about 30 cm wider than the heel width W. In other embodiments, front and rear, left and right wheels (four wheels) can be used as the traveling unit of the traveling device 1 instead of the crawler.

  The body frame 2 includes a pair of left and right support columns 21 and 21 and a pair of left and right side plates 22 and 22 pivotally supported so as to be tiltable up and down with respect to the support columns 21 and 21.

  The left and right struts 21 and 21 are arranged with a slightly larger interval than the collar width W. The lower ends of the columns 21 and 21 are supported by the shafts 12 and 12 of the drive wheels 11a and 11a of the crawlers 11 and 11, respectively. In this embodiment, the columns 21 and 21 are installed in a slightly forward tilted posture as shown in FIG.

  The leaf vegetable harvesting machine is equipped with a battery 10 serving as a power source for various driving sources (motors). In addition, a stand 17 for placing the collection container 18 is provided at the rear of the leaf vegetable harvesting machine. Further, a steering handle 9 is attached to the right rear portion of the leaf vegetable harvesting machine. The battery 10, the cradle 17, and the handle 9 are each attached to the column 21.

  A motor 13 serving as a power source of the traveling device 1 is installed on the upper side of the right column 21. The power from the motor 13 drives the drive wheels 11a and 11a of the crawlers 11 and 11 via a power transmission member 14 including pulleys (or sprockets) and belts (or chains). . The traveling speed during the harvesting operation by the traveling device 1 can be freely adjusted in a range from a low speed to, for example, about 60 m / min (in particular, a traveling speed of about 20 m / min to 40 m / min can be operated in a stable state). In another embodiment, the engine can be used as a driving source of the traveling device 1.

  Cover bodies 15 and 15 that cover a part of the power transmission member 14 are provided on the outer sides of the respective crawlers 11 and 11 in a posture parallel to the respective columns 21 and 21. Each of the cover bodies 15 and 15 also has a function as a reinforcing member for both the columns 21 and 21.

  The left and right side plates 22, 22 of the body frame 2 are relatively narrow and have a considerable length in the front and rear (for example, the total length is about 120 to 130 cm). The side plates 22 and 22 are respectively attached with a reaping device 3, a conveying device 4, a lifting device 5, a scraping device 6, 6 and a height adjusting device 7, which will be described later. 4, 5, 6, 7) and the side plates 22, 22 constitute a harvesting unit U.

  Although the detailed configuration of the harvesting unit U will be described later, the harvesting unit U is configured such that the left and right side plates 22 and 22 located at the rear side from the center of gravity position of the entire harvesting unit U are positioned at the intermediate height positions of the left and right columns 21 and 21. It is pivotally supported by a single shaft 24. Therefore, the harvesting unit U is swingable up and down around the shaft 24, and in the natural state, the front side of the harvesting unit U tilts downward about the shaft 24 due to its own weight. It is like that. In the following description, the shaft 24 that pivotally supports the harvesting unit U in a vertically swingable manner may be referred to as a vertically swinging shaft.

  The side plates 22 and 22 of the harvesting unit U have a slightly larger interval (inner surface interval of about 115 cm, for example) than the interval (100 cm) of the ridge width W. A conveyor belt 41 of the conveying device 4 is installed across the entire length of the side plate 22 between the side plates 22 and 22. The conveyor belt 41 has a wide width (for example, 110 cm width) that is slightly narrower than the distance between the side plates 22 and 22. The conveyor belt 41 is driven by a motor 42 attached to the left side plate 22 so that the upper surface travels backward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4). The conveyance speed of the conveyor belt 41 is set to be slightly faster (for example, about 5 to 10% faster) than the traveling speed of the traveling device 1.

  The cutting device 3 is configured to drive the cutting blade 31 with a motor 32. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the cutting blade 31 has an upper blade (reference numeral 31a in FIGS. 5 to 7) and a lower blade (reference numeral 31b in FIGS. Are used. The cutting blade 31 has a left and right length (for example, 110 cm) slightly longer than the ridge width W (100 cm).

  The cutting blade 31 is attached so that the blade edge protrudes slightly from the front end portion 41a of the conveyor belt 41 (for example, about 2 to 3 cm). The cutting blade 31 can shear the stem portion Yb of the leaf vegetable Y by causing the motor 32 to vibrate the upper blade and the lower blade in the left and right directions at high speed (for example, 1000 to 2000 times / min). It has become.

  By the way, in straw cultivation, for example, the straw upper surface Aa may be formed in a convex curved shape in the straw width direction in order to improve drainage during rain (for example, the straw upper face Aa in FIG. 10). In this case, the central part of the upper surface of the cocoon is high and the left and right ends of the upper surface of the cocoon are low, and the heights of the respective stem parts Yb of the left and right leafy vegetables Y, Y,. And when the heel surface Aa is curved in the heel width direction, if the cutting blade 31 remains in a straight state as shown in FIG. 3, the center side position (high position) and the left and right end portions of the heel surface Aa The distance (separation distance) from the cutting blade 31 is different from the close position (low position). As a result, the stem Yb of the leafy vegetables Y can be cut at a normal height at the position close to the center of the reed upper surface, but the reed upper surface At the positions near the left and right ends, the leaf portion Ya above the stem portion Yb is cut.

  Therefore, in the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of the present application, when the ridge upper surface Aa is curved in the ridge width direction, the cutting blade 31 is bent into a shape corresponding to the curved shape of the ridge upper surface Aa by the following configuration. It can be operated.

  First, the upper blade 31a and the lower blade 31b of the cutting blade 31 are thin plates that can be bent in a curved shape in the cutting blade length direction (see FIG. 10). Further, the cutting blade 31 (upper blade 31a and lower blade 31b) is, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, provided from a horizontal member 25 installed between the lower surfaces of the front end portions of the left and right side plates 22 and 22 through a mounting base 33. Then, the blade is deflected by a cutting blade deflecting means 36 (three supporting members 37, 37, 38) described later.

  The mounting base 33 for the cutting blade 31 is a thin thin plate having substantially the same length as the cutting blade 31 and can be bent in the length direction. 5-7, the cutting blade 31 (upper blade 31a and lower blade 31b) has an upper blade 31a and a lower blade 31b in a predetermined small range on the left and right in the front half portion on the mounting base 33, respectively. It is installed so that it can slide. That is, the upper blade 31a and the lower blade 31b are respectively formed with elongated holes 35, 35,... At a plurality of locations (11 locations in the example of FIG. 5) spaced from each other on the left and right. In a state where the long holes 35, 35 of the blade 31b are overlapped, bolts 34, 34,... Are inserted into the overlapping long holes 35, 35 from the mounting base 33, respectively, and the upper blade 31a and the lower blade 31b are inserted. Can be slid left and right within the range of the long hole 35.

  Further, the upper blade 31a and the lower blade 31b of the cutting blade 31 can be bent in a curved shape following the mounting base 33, and the both blades 31a and 31b are bent in a curved shape. Even in the bent state, the two blades 31a and 31b can be individually slid left and right.

  The cutting blade 31 has two positions near the left and right ends of the rear half of the mounting base 33 at a position where the cutting edge 31 protrudes from the front end 41a of the conveyor belt 41 slightly (for example, about 2 to 3 cm). And a total of three locations in the central portion are supported by the support members 37, 37, and 38 that serve as the cutting blade deflecting means 36 from the horizontal member 25 laid between the lower surfaces of the front end portions of the left and right side plates 22 and 22, respectively. ing.

  In this embodiment, among the three support members 37, 37, and 38 that serve as the cutting blade deflecting means 36, the height adjustment screw 38 is used for one support member that is located at the center portion, and is positioned at the left and right ends. As the two support members 37, 37, members capable of simply supporting the respective support portions in a fixed position are used.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, the height adjusting screw 38 serving as a central support member includes a bolt 38a suspended downward from the horizontal member 25 and upper and lower screws screwed to the lower side of the bolt 38a. Nuts 38a, 38a. And this height adjustment screw 38 penetrates the hole formed in the mounting base 33 on the lower side of the bolt 38a, and sandwiches the mounting base 33 from the upper and lower surfaces by the upper and lower nuts 38b, 38b, whereby the mounting base 33 The central part of the slab is supported at a predetermined height.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 7, the support members 37, 37 at both ends are arranged in a state where a spacer 37 b made of an elastic material (for example, rubber) is interposed between the horizontal member 25 and the mounting base 33. 25 and the mounting base 33 are tightened with bolts and nuts 37a, so that the portions of the mounting base 33 (portions near the left and right end portions) are supported at fixed positions.

  In the cutting blade deflecting means 36 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, both nuts 38b, 38b of the height adjusting screw 38 supporting the central portion are rotated upward with respect to the bolt 38a. As a result, the central portion of the mounting base 33 can be pushed upward. For example, in FIG. 6, when the nuts 38b and 38b are turned upward to the height of 38b ', the portion (center portion) of the mounting base 33 can be pushed up to the height of 33' (cutting blade) 31 is the height of reference numeral 31 '). At this time, since both end portions of the mounting base 33 remain at the fixed positions shown in FIG. 7, the mounting base 33 and the cutting blade 31 are bent into a posture in which the central portion is curved in a convex shape as shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, one of the central portions of the three support members is used as the height adjustment screw 38. However, in other embodiments, the two support members at the left and right end portions are used as height adjustment screws. On the other hand, the central support member can be simply supported at a fixed position. Further, all three support members can be height adjustment screws, and appropriate height adjustment screws (one central portion or left and right Two of the end portions may be operated.

  In this way, when the cutting blade 31 can be bent in the curved shape by the cutting blade bending means 36, the cutting blade is cut when the ridge upper surface Aa is bent in the ridge width direction as shown in FIG. 10. 31 can be curved along the curved shape of the heel surface Aa at a position close to the heel surface Aa. Therefore, the stem portion Yb of each leafy vegetable Y in the ridge width direction of the ridge upper surface Aa can be cut at the same height.

  A brush roll 51 is employed for the loading device 5. The brush roll 51 has an outer diameter of about 40 to 50 cm and a length (about 110 cm) substantially equal to the width of the conveyor belt 41. The brush used for the brush roll 51 is a relatively soft one (one that does not damage the leaf Ya leaf). In the following description, the brush roll 51 of the loading device 5 is referred to as a large diameter brush roll.

  The large-diameter brush roll 51 is installed such that the lowermost surface of the brush roll is close to the upper surface of the front end portion 41 a of the conveyor belt 41 by the left and right support arms 52 and 52. That is, the base ends of the support arms 52 and 52 are pivotally supported on the side plates 22 and 22 by a single shaft 53, and the large-diameter brush roll 51 is rotated between the tips of the support arms 52 and 52. Supports freely. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, each support arm 52, 52 is supported by each side plate 22, 22 with a support frame 54 with a height adjusting mechanism (long hole), and the fixed height of each support frame 54. By adjusting this, the distance between the lowermost surface of the large-diameter brush roll 51 and the upper surface of the conveyor belt front end portion 41a can be adjusted.

  The large-diameter brush roll 51 is rotated by a motor 55 so that the lower surface side of the brush roll moves backward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4) via a power transmission member (pulley and belt) 56. The driving speed of the large-diameter brush roll 51 is set so that the peripheral speed is slightly faster than the conveying speed of the conveyor belt 41. The large-diameter brush roll driving motor 55 can be shared by the conveyor belt motor 42.

  The harvesting unit U has a height adjustment for use in a state where the cutting blade 31 is slightly separated (for example, about 1 to 2 cm) from the field scene (the upper surface Aa of the ridge A in the case of FIGS. 1 to 4). A device 7 is used.

  The height adjusting device 7 used in this embodiment includes a ground roller 71 formed by connecting two short rollers 71a and 71a spaced apart from each other by a common shaft 71b, and the ground roller 71 on both side plates 22. , 22 and an operating device 75 for adjusting the height on the lower surface near the front part. For example, the inner end interval between the left and right short rollers 71a and 71a is preferably about 40 to 50 cm.

  The grounding roller 71 is installed in the horizontal direction on the lower surface near the front part between the left and right side plates 22, 22. Both end portions of the ground roller 71 are pivotally supported at the distal end portions (lower end portions) of the relatively small left and right arms 72, 72, and the base end portions (upper end portions) of the respective arms 72, 72 are supported. A shaft 74 is pivotally supported on a horizontal member 73 (FIG. 2) installed on the lower surface near the front part between the left and right side plates 22 and 22, and the ground roller 71 swings forward and backward (and up and down) together with both arms 72 and 72. It is installed so that it can move. As shown in FIG. 1, in the state where the left and right arms 72 are largely tilted forward (corresponding to the heel), the lower surface height of the grounding roller 71 is considerably separated from the lower surface height of the crawler 11, while on the other hand, FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, when the left and right arms 72 are swung back to a posture in which the left and right arms 72 are oriented substantially vertically (corresponding to flat ground), the lower surface height of the ground roller 71 is set to be equal to the lower surface height of the crawler 11. . The grounding roller 71 supports the harvesting unit U by grounding on the field scene in the state shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 11, but at that time, the harvesting unit U is separated by the height difference from the lower surface of the crawler 11 to the lower surface of the grounding roller 71. The tilt angle changes.

  The operating device 75 can swing the arm 72 back and forth and maintain the posture of the arm 72. The operating device 75 uses a long connecting member 76 having an expansion / contraction part 77 formed of a screw cylinder in the middle part. Yes. The connecting member 76 can expand and contract the expansion / contraction part 77 by rotating the handle 78 on the rear lower surface of the right side plate 22, and the arm 72 can be moved back and forth by expanding and contracting the expansion / contraction part 77. Can be swung. That is, when the expansion / contraction part 77 is extended, the arm 72 is tilted forward as shown in FIG. 1 and the ground roller 71 is moved upward. On the other hand, when the expansion / contraction part 77 is contracted, the arm 72 is moved as shown in FIG. The grounding roller 71 moves downward by swinging backward to a substantially vertical posture. The operation device 75 may be of any appropriate configuration as long as the height of the ground roller 71 can be adjusted up and down (becomes a lifting device).

  By the way, when cultivating leafy vegetables (for example, spinach) Y to be harvested on cocoon A, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in a plurality of rows with predetermined intervals (for example, intervals of about 15 to 20 cm) in the front and rear and right and left directions. Planted. Moreover, leafy vegetables Y and Y planted near the left and right ends of the cocoon A are in positions that are quite close to the heel side edge (for example, positions within and outside 10 cm from the heel side edge). On the other hand, when the spinach grows to a state where it can be harvested, the length from the stem Yb to the tip of the leaf Ya is considerably long (for example, about 20 to 25 cm), and the leaves are planted near the end of the heel. Some leaf parts Yc of rape (spinach) Y may hang over the side surfaces Ab, Ab of the cocoon beyond the heel side edge. In the following description, a leaf part that hangs down on the side face Ab in the state of planting leafy vegetables is referred to as a hanging leaf Yc.

  The left and right scraping devices 6, 6 used in the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of this embodiment are prepared by using the cutting blade 31 to stalk the hanging leaves Yc, Yc hanging from the left and right sides Ab, Ab of the cocoon as described above. This is for scraping to the side of the upper surface Aa before cutting the part.

  In this embodiment, a brush roll 61 having a diameter of about 20 to 30 cm and a length of about 10 cm is used as each of the scraping devices 6 and 6. The brush used for the brush roll 61 is also preferably a soft brush (one that does not damage the leaf portion Ya when scraping the leaf portion Ya of the leaf vegetable Y). In the following description, the brush roll 61 used in the scraping device 6 is referred to as a small diameter brush roll.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIGS. 8 to 9, each of the scraping devices 6, 6 is slightly forward of the small-diameter brush rolls 61, 61 (for example, about 3 to 5 cm) from the cutting blade 31. In the position and in the vicinity of the front end portions of the left and right side plates 22, 22 of the machine body frame 2, the small-diameter brush roll 61 is installed in a posture in which the rotation axis faces front and rear. Each of the small-diameter brush rolls 61, 61 has left and right side surfaces Ab, It is arranged in a state close to the heel side surface Ab, Ab at a position near the top of Ab (for example, a state separated by about 1 to 2 cm).

  As a driving source for each of the small-diameter brush rolls 61, 61, in this embodiment, a rotating shaft 43 of the roll at the front end portion 41a of the conveyor belt 41 is used. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, the rotary shafts 62 and 62 of the small-diameter brush rolls 61 and 61 are moved forward through the bevel gears 63 and 63 to the left and right ends of the rotary shaft 43 of the conveyor belt front end 41 a, respectively. When the rotating shaft 43 of the conveyor belt front end 41a rotates, the left and right brush rolls 61, 61 move in the direction of the arrows in FIG. Direction).

  The left and right bevel gears 63 and 63 are covered with gear cases 64 and 64, respectively. Each of the gear cases 64 and 64 can be rotated within a predetermined angle range around the rotation shaft 43 of the conveyor belt front end portion 41a together with the rotation shaft 62 of the small-diameter brush roll 61. That is, a mounting plate 65 is fixed to the base end portion of each gear case 64, 64, and the mounting plate 65 rotates the conveyor belt front end portion 41 a with respect to the outer surface of the front end portion of each side plate 22, 22 of the machine frame 2. The mounting plate 65 is installed so as to be rotatable in a vertical plane around the shaft 43, and the mounting plate 65 is rotated within a range of arc-shaped elongated holes 66 provided in the mounting plate 65 (in the illustrated example, there are two inside and outside). I can do it. A bolt 67 is inserted into each arc-shaped elongated hole 66, and the mounting plate 65 can be fixed to the side plate 22 at an arbitrary rotation angle with the bolt 67.

  In this embodiment, by changing the fixing posture of the mounting plate 65 on each side, the left and right small-diameter brush rolls 61 are moved to a low position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 8 and a high position indicated by a chain line (reference numeral 61 '). Can be displaced between. 1 to 4, the lower end of the small-diameter brush roll 61 is positioned in a low position so that the lower end of the small-diameter brush roll 61 is slightly lower than the upper surface Aa of the straw. Position so that the lower end of the is in a slightly higher position than the plain field scene.

  By the way, the ridge width W of the field may vary in a range of about 90 to 110 cm depending on the grower. In this embodiment, the rotation shafts 62 of the small-diameter brush rolls 61 and 61 are installed at fixed positions in the left-right direction. In relation to this, when the collar width W is different, the outer peripheral surfaces of the small-diameter brush rolls 61 and 61 may not be disposed at appropriate close positions with respect to the left and right collar side surfaces Ab and Ab. Therefore, in this embodiment, several types of small-diameter brush rolls 61, 61 having different diameters (for example, a plurality of types having a diameter in the range of about 20 to 30 cm in increments of 2 to 3 cm) are prepared. Accordingly, it is preferable to use a roller having such a size that the outer peripheral surfaces of the small-diameter brush rolls 61 and 61 are close to the appropriate positions of the flange side surfaces Ab and Ab, respectively. In addition, about 1-2 cm is suitable for the proximity | contact distance of the small diameter brush roll outer peripheral surface with respect to the collar side surface Ab.

  In another embodiment, a dedicated motor can be used as a driving source for each small-diameter brush roll 61, 61. Further, if each small-diameter brush roll 61, 61 can be adjusted to the left and right, even if the ridge width W is different, only a single-diameter small-diameter brush roll can be used.

  In this embodiment, the leaf vegetable harvesting machine rolls while the ground roller 71 of the height adjusting device 7 is in contact with the upper surface Aa of the cocoon A while harvesting. 11 and 11 in which the grooves B and B travel are uneven or uneven (the harvesting machine tilts to the left or right), or when the ridge surface Aa is inclined in the ridge width direction, the cutting blade 31 is in relation to the ridge surface Aa. The left and right leafy vegetables Y, Y... Are cut off at an angle in the cocoon width direction. In that case, the cutting heights of the left and right leaf vegetables Y, Y. For example, if the ridge width direction of the ridge upper surface Aa and the length direction of the cutting blade 31 are inclined by about 2 °, for example, the cutting height of the leaf vegetables by the cutting blade 31 at the left and right side edges of the ridge A is increased. A difference of about 3 to 4 cm occurs, and the length of the leaf portion Ya cut by each leaf vegetable Y located on the left and right is different.

  Therefore, in the leaf vegetable harvesting machine of this embodiment, the cutting blade 31 is automatically set to the ridge upper surface Aa according to the inclination state of the traveling device 1 (each crawler 11, 11) or the inclination state of the ridge upper surface Aa in the ridge width direction. A cutting blade follower 8 for following in parallel is provided.

  The cutting blade follower 8 includes a ground roller 71 of the height adjusting device 7 and swing support means for swinging the entire harvesting unit U to the left and right. The grounding roller 71 is always maintained in a parallel posture with the cutting blade 31 that can swing up and down (and back and forth) with respect to the left and right side plates 22 and 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the swing support means includes the vertical swing shaft 24 (supported between the two columns 21, 21) that pivots the left and right side plates 22, 22 so as to swing vertically. The bracket 81 attached to the left and right side plates 22 and 22 and the bracket 83 fixed to the horizontal member 82 are pivotally supported by a single shaft 84 facing forward and backward. . Accordingly, the harvesting unit U can swing left and right around the shaft 84 facing forward and backward with respect to the vertical swing shaft 24. In the following description, the front / rear shaft 84 is referred to as a left / right swing shaft.

  The vertical swing shaft 24 supports the harvesting unit U so as to be swingable up and down as described above, but when the vertical swing shaft 24 is rotatably mounted on the left and right support columns 21 and 21. If the bracket 81 on the vertical swing shaft 24 side is fixed to the vertical swing shaft 24 and the vertical swing shaft 24 is attached to the left and right support columns 21 and 21 so as not to rotate, the vertical swing shaft The bracket 81 on the 24 side is swingable with respect to the vertical swing shaft 24.

  The cutting blade follower 8 functions as follows. At the time of harvesting, the leaf vegetable harvesting machine is moved forward with the left and right crawlers 11, 11 straddling the ridge A. At this time, the cutting blade 31 is set to support the height of the front end of the harvesting unit by the ground roller 71. It is set so as to be positioned at a predetermined proximity height (interval of 1 to 2 cm) from the upper surface Aa.

  In this state, the harvesting unit U is swingable up and down around the vertical swing shaft 24 and swingable left and right around the left and right swing shaft 84. Regardless of the right-and-left inclination state or the heel surface Aa inclination state, the grounding roller 71 (the left and right short rollers 71a and 71a) always comes in contact with the heel surface Aa in parallel due to the weight of the harvesting unit U. That is, the grounding roller 71 (both short and small rollers 71a, 71a) comes to ground while the axis of the grounding roller 71 is parallel to the heel surface Aa in the heel width direction.

  During the harvesting operation (when the leaf vegetable harvester is traveling forward), there are steps or irregularities in the ridges B, B where the crawlers 11, 11 travel, or there is a portion inclined in the ridge width direction on the ridge upper surface Aa. However, since the entire harvesting unit U is swingable left and right about the left and right swing shaft 84, the ground roller 71 follows so as to always contact with the heel surface Aa in the heel width direction in a parallel posture. The cutting blade 31 comes to maintain a parallel posture with respect to the ridge surface Aa (the cutting heights of the leaf vegetables Y and Y cultivated on the left and right sides are uniform).

  In order to harvest the leafy vegetables Y cultivated on the straw A with this leaf vegetable harvesting machine, each crawler 11, 11 of the traveling device 1 straddles the straw A as shown in FIGS. It arrange | positions so that it may face in parallel with the ridge A (each crawler 11, 11 is located in the left and right ridge grooves B, B). At this time, the front portion of the harvesting unit U is lowered by its own weight, and the grounding roller 71 contacts the heel surface Aa. In this state, the operating blade 75 is operated by operating the operating device 75 (handle 78) of the height adjusting device 7. The height is adjusted so as to be separated from the upper surface Aa by a predetermined interval (1-2 cm). In this state, the outer peripheral surfaces of the small-diameter brush rolls 61 and 61 of the left and right scraping devices 6 and 6 are close to the upper positions of the left and right side surfaces Ab and Ab of the ridge A, respectively.

  Then, the motors (32, 42, 55) of the reaping device 3, the transport device 4, and the lifting device 5 are respectively driven (the small diameter brush rolls 61, 61 of the left and right scraping devices 6, 6 also rotate. ), The harvesting machine is advanced by the traveling device 1. Then, first, the left and right side surfaces Ab and Ab of the kite are squeezed into the upper surface Aa side of the hanging leaves Yc and Yc by the small diameter brush rolls 61 and 61 of the left and right scraping devices 6 and 6 (each hanging leaf). Immediately after that, the cutting blade 31 sequentially cuts the stems Yb of the leafy vegetables Y, Y,. When the stem portion Yb of each leaf vegetable Y is cut, the leaf portions Ya are separated apart. At this time, the conveyor belt 41 is advanced in a driving state and the large-diameter brush roll 51 of the loading device 5 is moved. By rotating in the scraping direction, each separated leaf portion Ya, Ya,... Immediately contacts the conveyor belt front end portion 41a and is scraped up onto the conveyor belt front end portion 41a by the large-diameter brush roll 51. Become. Therefore, most of the cut leaf portions Ya, Ya,... (Most) are smoothly scraped up onto the conveyor belt front end portion 41a, and are sequentially fed back on the conveyor belt 41 to be the rear end portion of the conveyor belt. To the collection container 18 below.

  Thus, when this leaf vegetable harvesting machine is used, only each leaf portion Ya can be collected automatically, and the harvesting operation can be performed at the traveling speed by the traveling device 1, so that the collection efficiency is higher than that of the manual operation. Good for scratching steps. Further, in the case where only the leaf portion Ya of the leaf vegetable Y is harvested, each leaf portion Ya immediately after being cut by the cutting blade 31 is sequentially scraped up onto the conveyor belt front end portion 41a by the large-diameter brush roll 51. Then, even if each leaf portion Ya is cut and unstable, it can be collected with high probability.

  Furthermore, before cutting the stem Yb of the leaf vegetable Y on the cocoon A with the cutting blade 31, the left and right scraping devices 6, 6 (small diameter brush rolls 61, 61) hang down from the left and right heel side surfaces Ab, Ab. Since each dripping leaf Yc of the leafy green can be scraped onto the ridge A (the dripping leaf Yc can be raised), the dripping leaf Yc that has been difficult to harvest can be reliably harvested (yield is further increased). Will be better).

  Further, in this leaf vegetable harvesting machine, even if there is a portion inclined in the ridge width direction on the ridge upper surface Aa, or there is a step in the left and right ridge grooves B, B on which the crawlers 11, 11 of the traveling device 1 travel. The cutting blade follower 8 always keeps the cutting blade 31 parallel to the ridge surface Aa, so that the cutting height of each leaf vegetable Y, Y... Is made uniform over the entire ridge width. be able to. That is, since each leaf vegetable Y, Y... Is cut by the stem portion Yb (the leaf portion Ya above the stem portion Yb is not cut), there is almost no leaf portion Ya that cannot be harvested and remains in the field. (Yield increases).

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, in the heel A in which the heel surface Aa is curved in the heel width direction, the height of the leaf vegetable stem portion Yb is different between the central portion of the heel and the left and right side portions, In this case, the height adjusting screw 38 of the cutting blade bending means 36 is operated to bend the cutting blade 31 to the same curved shape as that of the upper surface Aa, and the cutting operation may be performed in this state. Also in this case, since each leaf vegetable Y, Y... Is cut by the stem portion Yb (the leaf portion Ya above the stem portion Yb is not cut), the leaf portion Ya that cannot be harvested and remains in the field Almost disappears (yield increases). A part (particularly small leaves) of each cut leaf portion Ya may remain on the field without being placed on the conveyor belt 41, but the remaining amount that cannot be collected becomes extremely small.

  In FIG. 11, the case where the leaf vegetable Y cultivated on the flat ground with the above leaf vegetable harvesting machine is harvested is shown. In the case of this FIG. 11, since the lower surface of the crawler 11 becomes the same height as the planting surface (field scene A) of the leafy vegetables Y, the height adjusting device 7 is adjusted and the cutting blade 31 is brought close to the planting surface. While lowering to a position (position for cutting leaf vegetable stem Yb), the small diameter brush rolls 61 and 61 of the left and right scraping devices 6 and 6 are moved up to a height at which the lower surface of the brush roll is slightly separated from the planting surface. Secure at the position. In addition, since the other usage method and the function of each apparatus are the same as the Example shown in FIGS. 1-10, the description is used.

  1 is a traveling device, 2 is a body frame, 3 is a cutting device, 4 is a conveying device, 5 is a lifting device, 6 is a scraping device, 7 is a height adjusting device, 8 is a cutting blade follower, 11 is a crawler, 21 is a support, 22 is a side plate, 24 is a horizontal axis (vertical swing shaft), 31 is a cutting blade, 32 is a cutting blade motor, 36 is a cutting blade deflecting means, 37 is a support member, and 38 is a height. Adjustment screw, 41 is a conveyor belt, 41a is a front end of the conveyor belt, 42 is a conveyor belt motor, 51 is a large diameter brush roll, 55 is a large diameter brush roll motor, 61 is a small diameter brush roll, and 71 is a grounding member ( Grounding roller), 75 is an operating device, 84 is a forward / backward shaft (left-right swinging shaft), U is a harvesting unit, A is a straw, Aa is a straw top, Y is a leaf vegetable, Ya is a leaf part, Yb is a stem part It is.

Claims (1)

An airframe frame (2) is provided on the traveling device (1), and each stem portion of leafy vegetables (Y) on the left and right multiple lines (Y) cultivated on the heel (A) at the front end position on the airframe frame (2) ( A cutting blade (31) having a predetermined length capable of simultaneously cutting Yb), and a conveyor belt (41) for carrying each leaf portion (Ya) cut by the cutting blade (31) to the rear side of the machine frame. , A leaf vegetable harvesting machine provided with a lifting device (5) for placing each leaf portion Ya cut by the cutting blade (31) on the front end of the conveyor belt,
The cutting blade (31) uses a thin plate that can be bent in the cutting blade length direction.
The cutting blade (31) can be bent to a shape corresponding to the curved shape of the upper surface (Aa) by the cutting blade bending means (36).
A leaf vegetable harvesting machine characterized by that.

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