JP2013158336A - Branch collecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a branch collecting apparatus capable of efficiently and easily performing work of collecting and transporting pruned branches scattered on the ground.SOLUTION: A branch collecting apparatus includes a branch fork part F of comb shape for scooping branches, formed by juxtaposing, at suitable spaces, a plurality of long-sized forks F1 projected forward, and disposing, between the long-sized forks F1, short-sized forks F2 thinner and shorter than the long-sized forks F1. A branch receiving part 1 with the same width as the lateral width of the branch fork part F is erected above the rear end of the branch fork part F, and a branch receiving surface 2 is formed of a net-like or transparent member. A branch collecting part 3 comprising the branch fork part F and the branch receiving part 1 is mountable to the front side of a travelable working machine.

Description

  The present invention relates to a branch collecting device that is mounted on the front side of a working machine such as a riding mower and can collect pruned branches of trees that have fallen on the ground.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a branch collecting machine that can be set at the rear of a tractor and hook a branch that has fallen on the ground with a claw and transport it to a target position.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-72332

  Although the branches after tree pruning are dropped on the ground in an orchard or the like, the work of picking up and collecting these branches by hand is inefficient and labor intensive. This invention makes it a subject to provide the branch collection apparatus which can perform the collection collection conveyance work of the branch which fell on these grounds efficiently and easily.

  A plurality of long forks F1 projecting forward are arranged side by side at an appropriate interval, and a short fork F2 narrower and shorter than the long forks F1 is arranged between the long forks F1 and the long forks F1. A comb-shaped branch fork portion F for scooping branches is formed, and a branch receiving portion 1 having a width substantially equal to the lateral width of the branch fork portion F is erected above the rear end portion of the branch fork portion F. The branch collecting surface 2 is configured by a net-like or transparent member, and the branch collecting unit 3 including the branch fork part F and the branch receiving part 1 is configured to be attached to the front side of a work machine capable of traveling. A device.

  Further, a handle 4 is extended from the upper part of the branch receiving part 1 to the rear, and by operating this handle 4, the branch collecting part 3 is configured to be able to swing up and down, and the branch collecting part 3 is used as a riding mower 5 The branch collecting device attached to the head.

  The riding mower 5 has a round handle 8 for steering the riding mower 5 in front of a seat 7 provided at the center of the fuselage 6 and an accelerator pedal 9 that can be moved forward and backward by a stepping operation. And a branch collecting device in which the handle 4 extends to the vicinity of one side of the left and right sides of the round handle 8 of the riding mower 5.

  Further, the long fork F1 is made of a pipe material, and its front end portion is crushed in the vertical direction to form the flat surface portion 10, and the posture of the branch fork portion F at the time of collecting branches is other than the front end portion of the long fork F1. And the long fork F1 flat surface portion 10 is bent so that the flat fork F1 is substantially parallel to the ground in the side view or the front end portion is slightly upwardly inclined, and the bottom surface of the bent portion is grounded. A branch collecting device.

  Further, the rear end portion of the branch fork portion F is configured so that the front end portion of the branch fork portion F can be turned up and down, and the front end portion of the long fork F1 is urged toward the ground and the handle 4 is By operating, the branch collecting device is configured such that the branch collecting unit 3 can be lowered so that the rear end of the long fork F1 is brought into contact with the ground 11 while the front end is grounded.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of long forks F1 projecting forward are arranged in parallel at an appropriate interval, and a short fork F2 narrower and shorter than the long forks F1 is connected to the long forks F1. Since the comb-shaped branch fork portion F for scooping the branches is formed between the fork F1 and the fork F1, the distance between the long fork F1 and the long fork F1 is appropriately wide, The short fork F2, which is thinner and shorter than the long fork F1, is light in weight, and the branches taken on the short fork F2 are adjacent to the forks F1, F2. Since the interval between the two is narrow, even a relatively short branch can be collected. Further, a branch receiving portion 1 having substantially the same width as the left and right width of the branch fork portion F is provided above the rear end portion of the branch fork portion F, and the branch receiving surface 2 is made of a net-like or transparent member. Since the branch collecting unit 3 including the branch fork F and the branch receiving unit 1 is configured to be mounted on the front side of the traveling work machine, the branch scooped by both forks F1 and F2 is used as the branch receiving unit. 1 can be received and transported, and the operator operating the rear working machine can see the front end portions of both forks F1 and F2 from the rear of the branch receiving surface 2, and the branch collecting state of the branch collecting unit 3 It is easy to check the condition of the water and the pool, and the branch collection work can be performed efficiently.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a handle 4 is extended from the upper part of the branch receiving portion 1 toward the rear, and by operating the handle 4, the branch collecting portion 3 is configured to be swingable up and down. Since the portion 3 is mounted on the riding mower 5, the branch collecting work can be efficiently performed using the riding mower 5 generally used in orchards and the like.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the riding mower 5 to which the branch collecting device is attached is provided with a round handle 8 for performing a steering operation of the riding mower 5 in front of the seat 7 provided at the center of the body 6. An accelerator pedal 9 that can be operated forward and backward by a stepping operation is provided, and the handle 4 is extended to the vicinity of one side of the left and right sides of the round handle 8, so that the operator can use the round handle 8 of the riding mower 5 The handle 4 of the branch collecting device can also be operated while maneuvering the accelerator pedal 9 and the branch collecting operation is easy and efficient.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the long fork F1 is made of a pipe material, and the front end portion thereof is crushed in the vertical direction to form the flat surface portion 10, so that the posture of the branch fork portion F at the time of collecting branches is long. A portion other than the front end portion of the fork F1 is bent forward and downward in a side view, and the long fork F1 flat portion 10 is bent so that the plane portion 10 is substantially parallel to the ground in the side view or the front end portion is slightly raised and inclined. Since the bottom surface is grounded, the long fork F1 made of pipe material is lightweight, and the front end of the grounded long fork F1 slides on the ground like a sled, and the front end may pierce the ground. In addition, it is easy to insert the long fork F1 between the branch and the ground, and the branch can be scooped up efficiently. Furthermore, the process of crushing the pipe material is inexpensive and easy.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the rear end portion of the branch fork portion F is configured such that the front end portion of the branch fork portion F can be turned up and down, and the front end portion of the long fork F1 is directed toward the ground. In addition to energizing, by operating the handle 4, the branch collector 3 can be lowered so that the rear end of the long fork F1 is brought into contact with the ground while the front end of the long fork F1 is in contact with the ground. Because there is good grounding at the front end of the long fork F1, the branch can be easily and efficiently picked up, transported while pushing the scooped branch to a predetermined place, and then the work implement is moved backward to move under the branch. When the branch fork portion F is pulled out, the rear end portion of the branch fork portion F is also lowered by lowering the branch collecting portion 3, and the branch fork portion F is easily pulled out from below the branch to smoothly discharge the branch. It is possible.

Overall plan view. Overall side view. Overall front view. The partial side view which shows a fork movable state. The partial side view which shows a fork movable state. The partial side view which shows a fork movable state. The side view which shows the state in the case of fork extraction. The partial side view which shows the fork up-and-down movement adjustment example. The side view which shows a storage attitude | position. The partial front view which shows the rocking | fluctuation mechanism of a branch collection part.

  Based on the illustrated example, the branch collecting apparatus of the present invention is attached to the front side of a self-propelled work machine in order to collect branches and leaves scattered on the ground after pruning fruit trees and the like to a predetermined place. While the working machine is traveling forward, the branch forks F projecting forward are scooped up and transported to a predetermined place. The branch fork portion F is composed of a long fork F1 whose front end is grounded and a short fork F2 which is narrower and shorter than the long fork F1, and has an appropriate interval as shown in FIG. It is formed in a comb shape in which a short fork F2 is disposed between a plurality of long forks F1, F1 arranged side by side. About one or two short forks F2 are arranged at an appropriate interval between the long forks F1 and the long forks F1. If the distance between the long forks F1 and F1 is too small, there is a disadvantage that the branch is difficult to be taken into the upper base (rear) portion of the long fork F1 only by pushing the branch at the front end of the long fork F1. Also, when the interval between the long forks F1, F1 is widened so that the branches can be easily taken into the root portion of the long fork F1, it is difficult to scoop the short branches. There is also an inconvenience that the branches pass through between the long forks F1, F1 and fall. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the interval between the long forks F1, F1 is set to 200 to 300 mm, and one short fork F2 is arranged at the center of the interval.

  The long fork F <b> 1 and the short fork F <b> 2 are configured to be lightweight by a circular pipe member having a circular cross section, and the flat portion 10 is formed by crushing the front end portion thereof. Both forks F1 and F2 are not limited to round pipe materials, but in this embodiment, round pipe materials that are easy to process and inexpensive are used. The posture of the branch fork portion F at the time of branch collection is a forward downward slope having a fork angle θ, so that the flat surface portion 10 is substantially parallel to the ground in a side view, or the front end portion of the flat surface portion 10 is slightly upwardly inclined. The bent portion is brought into contact with the lower surface of the bent portion. The short fork F2 is approximately half the length of the long fork F1 and is thin. It is rarely grounded, but it does not allow soil or branches to enter the pipe. Like the long fork F1, the front end portion is crushed so as to be easily deformed. The rear end portions of the long fork F1 and the short fork F2 are welded to the lower surface side of the fork base 15 made of a square pipe material.

  A branch receiving portion 1 having a width substantially the same as the left and right width of the branch fork portion F is erected above the rear portion of the branch fork portion F including the long fork F1, the short fork F2, and the fork base 15. The receiving surface 2 is formed of a net-like member so that an operator who operates the work machine at the rear can see the scooping state of the front end portion and the branches of the long fork F1. The branch receiving surface 2 is not limited to a net-like member, as long as it can receive a scooped branch and an operator can work while confirming the branch fork portion F, and is composed of a transparent resin plate or the like. May be. The rear portion of the branch fork portion F is pivotally supported by the pin 16 so as to be rotatable with respect to the branch receiving portion 1, and is urged by a spring 17 in the direction of grounding the front end portion of the long fork F1. Therefore, the branch fork portion F is configured so that the front end portion thereof is grounded during the branch collection operation and swings up and down following a certain degree of unevenness on the ground.

  Next, an embodiment in which the branch collecting apparatus of the present invention is mounted on a riding mower will be described. The riding mower 5 is generally used for weed cutting in an orchard or the like. A pair of left and right front wheels 18 and a rear wheel 19 are provided at the front and rear portions of the body 6, and a seat 7 on which an operator sits is placed at the center of the body 6. A large-diameter cutting blade 20 is provided on the lower abdomen. A round handle 8 for steering the body 6 is provided in front of the seat 7, and a step 21 is formed below the seat 7 and the round handle 8. A handle 4 is provided on the upper part of the branch receiving portion 1 of the branch collecting device, and its rear end is extended to the vicinity of the side of the round handle 8 of the riding mower. An operator is seated on the seat 7 of the riding mower 5. It is possible to operate the handle 4 in a state. Specifically, the pair of left and right fork frames 22 fixed to the back side of the branch receiving surface 2 and the pair of left and right base arms 23 attached to the body 6 are pivotally supported, and the handle 4 is swung back and forth. By doing so, the entire fork can be swung around the shaft 24. Further, the swinging of the entire fork can be fixed by inserting / removing the fixing pin 25 provided on the base arm 23 side into / from the hole 29 provided in the fork frame 22, and can be made freely swingable. The pulling operation of 25 is performed by connecting the lever 26 provided at the rear end of the handle 4 and the fixing pin 25 with a cable 37 and grasping the lever 26 together with the handle grip 27. In order to swing the branch collecting portion 3 with a light force, a spring 30 for assisting the swinging force is provided.

  The riding mower 5 equipped with the branch collecting device of the present invention includes a hydraulic continuously variable transmission (HST) 28, and can travel forward when the front side of the accelerator pedal 9 is depressed, and can travel backward when the rear side is depressed. Therefore, it is easy to switch the forward and backward travel of the airframe 6 and to stop the travel. The branch collection work is a work form in which the branches 6 are scooped and collected while the body 6 is traveling forward, transported to a predetermined collection place, and then moved backward to place the branch at the collection place. The front end of the long fork F1 is grounded and is configured to follow the unevenness of the ground as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, so that the tip of the long fork F1 does not pierce the ground. The branches scattered on the ground can be efficiently removed. After the collected branches are transported to a predetermined collection location, it is necessary to discharge the branches on the branch fork part F. However, since the branches cannot be smoothly discharged only by moving the airframe 6 backward, the branches of the present invention The collecting device can swing the branch collecting portion 3 by grasping the lever 26 together with the handle grip 27 and removing the fixing pin 25 from the hole 29 of the fork frame 22. When the handle 4 is swung forward. The upper part of the branch receiving part 1 moves forward around the shaft 24, and the lower part of the branch receiving part 1 moves rearward. Further, the branch fork portion F can move rearward A with the front end portion of the long fork F1 being grounded, and the fork angle θ can be reduced by lowering the rear end portion of the branch fork portion F. Therefore, if the vehicle travels backward in this state, the branch riding on the upper side of the branch fork portion F is easily discharged smoothly. Further, when the branch is not smoothly discharged only by lowering the rear part of the branch fork part F, it is effective to repeat the forward / backward swinging operation of the handle 4 while slowly moving backward. Reference numeral 32 denotes a stopper bolt that restricts swinging of the branch collecting unit 3 in the downward direction.

  The branch receiving portion 1 of the branch collecting apparatus of the present invention is provided with a branch guard 31 standing from the left and right central portion. This branch guard 31 is intended to prevent an operator from being injured by a branch facing in the same direction as the traveling direction of the airframe 6 jumping above the branch receiving portion 1 during traveling when collecting long branches. Yes, it is formed with an appropriate width in the front part of the front of the worker, and the inside is formed of a net-like member similar to the branch receiving surface 2. In addition, since it will have a possibility that a branch will pass a mesh if it comprises with a net-like member, it is preferable to comprise with a transparent resin board. The branch guard 31 concentrates on the branch collecting work, and an operator who is distracted by the branch fork portion F comes into contact with a branch or an obstacle at a lower position in front of the branch guard 31 to be injured. This is also effective, and there is an effect that the operator notices the obstacle early because the branch guard 31 contacts the obstacle in front in advance.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the branch fork portion F can be folded so as to rotate upward about the pin 16 and approach the branch receiving portion 1. Further, the fixed pin 25 is released by operating the lever 26 while the branch fork portion F is folded, and the handle 4 is pulled backward, whereby the branch collecting portion 3 can be raised. Loading is possible. Further, if not only the branch fork portion F but also the handle 4 and the branch guard 31 are configured to be removable or foldable, the branch collecting device can be stored compactly even when stored alone.

  FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the angle of the branch fork F can be adjusted. The branch fork portion F is urged by a spring 17 in a direction in which the front end portion of the long fork F contacts the ground, and a push bolt 34 screwed into a nut 33 fixed to the branch receiving portion 1 side is attached to the knob 35. The forward tilt angle of the branch fork portion F can be changed and adjusted by the turning operation. The forward tilt angle is determined at a position where the abutting member 6 provided behind the fork base 15 and the push bolt 34 abut. When the push bolt 34 is lowered, the urging force of the spring 17 is overcome to overcome the front end of the branch fork portion F. It turns in the direction in which the side rises. In addition, since the push bolt 34 and the contact member 36 are not connected, the rotation in the direction in which the front end portion of the branch fork portion F rises is free. This is because the front end of the long fork F1 is in a non-grounded state as much as possible, and it is possible to cope with the area where it is desired to prevent the ground 11 from being damaged. Is not necessary.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Branch receiving part 2 Branch receiving surface 3 Branch collecting part 4 Handle 5 Riding mower 6 Airframe 7 Seat 8 Round handle 9 Accelerator pedal 10 Plane part 11 Ground F Branch fork part F1 Long fork F2 Short fork

Claims (5)

  A plurality of long forks (F1) projecting forward are arranged in parallel at an appropriate interval, and a short fork (F2) that is narrower and shorter than the long forks (F1) is connected to the long forks (F1). A comb-shaped branch fork portion (F) that is disposed between the small fork (F1) and scoops off the branches is formed, and the branch fork portion (F) is disposed above the rear end of the branch fork portion (F). The branch receiving portion (1) having substantially the same width as the right and left widths of the branch fork portion (F) and the branch receiving portion (1) is constructed by standing up the branch receiving surface (2) with a net-like or transparent member. The branch collecting device (3) is configured to be attachable to the front side of a work machine capable of traveling.   The branch receiving portion (1) extends from the upper part to the rear and the handle (4) is operated so that the branch collecting portion (3) can be swung up and down. The branch collection device according to claim 1, wherein (3) is mounted on a riding mower (5).   The riding mower (5) has a round handle (8) for steering the riding mower (5) in front of the seat (7) provided in the center of the fuselage (6), and a forward and backward movement by a stepping operation. An accelerator pedal (9) capable of traveling operation is provided, and the handle (4) extends to the vicinity of one side of the left and right sides of the round handle (8) of the riding mower (5). The branch collection device as described.   The long fork (F1) is made of a pipe material, and its front end portion is crushed in the vertical direction to form a flat surface portion (10). F1) other than the front end portion is bent forward and downward in side view, and the long fork (F1) flat surface portion (10) is bent so that it is substantially parallel to the ground in the side view or the front end portion is slightly upward inclined. The branch collecting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom surface of the bent portion is grounded.   The rear end portion of the branch fork portion (F) is configured so that the front end portion of the branch fork portion (F) can be turned up and down, and is biased toward the direction in which the front end portion of the long fork (F1) is grounded. At the same time, by operating the handle (4), the branch collecting part (3) is moved so that the rear end of the long fork (F1) is brought close to the ground (11) in the state where the front end is grounded, or is grounded. The branch collection device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the branch collection device is configured to be lowered.

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