WO1997012509A1 - Secoueur a deux etages avec agitateur a axes multiples - Google Patents

Secoueur a deux etages avec agitateur a axes multiples Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997012509A1
WO1997012509A1 PCT/US1996/015877 US9615877W WO9712509A1 WO 1997012509 A1 WO1997012509 A1 WO 1997012509A1 US 9615877 W US9615877 W US 9615877W WO 9712509 A1 WO9712509 A1 WO 9712509A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
shaker
harvester
axes
agitator
conveyor
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/015877
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David Jeffrey Meester
Original Assignee
Fmc Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fmc Corporation filed Critical Fmc Corporation
Priority to AU73880/96A priority Critical patent/AU7388096A/en
Publication of WO1997012509A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997012509A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
    • A01D45/00—Harvesting of standing crops
    • A01D45/006—Harvesting of standing crops of tomatoes

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to apparatus for harvesting above-ground vegetable crops, such as tomatoes More particularly, the present invention concerns harvesters of the type which include a shaking mechanism for removing fruit from the vine, means for separating the vines, and means for collecting said fruit.
  • Direct-loading harvesters have been known in the art for many years and have enjoyed wide ⁇ spread use in the harvesting of tomatoes.
  • such harvesters are arranged to harvest tomato plants grown in rows, to elevate the harvested plants to shaker conveyors for separating tomatoes from their vines, to carry the tomatoes from the shaker conveyors to sorter conveyors where undesired tomatoes and trash are removed, and finally to elevate the remaining tomatoes from the harvester to an attendant truck or trailer for delivery to processing plants.
  • the invention provides an improved method and apparatus for separating tomatoes or other vegetable crops from vines and leaves
  • the invention provides a conveyor, which provides the feeding of vines to the shaker assembly and the separation of tomatoes or other vegetable crops from the vines
  • the invention also provides a multiple-axes agitator to improve the separation of vines to allow tomatoes caught between the vines to be released.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tomato harvester using a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a tomato harvester using a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the paths taken by the tomatoes, vines and deb ⁇ s after they are harvested
  • Figure 3 is a central section of part of the harvester illustrated in Figures 1 and 2
  • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along lines 4-4 in Figure 3.
  • Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft figure 4, along lines 5-5
  • Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a central section of another embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a central section of another embodiment of the invention.
  • the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used in a tomato harvesting machine H, as illustrated in Figure 1
  • the tomato harvesting machine H is adapted to harvest tomatoes T from vines V grown in a row on an elongate planting ⁇ dge PR.
  • the harvesting machine H is designed to proceed along the planting ⁇ dge PR, sever the tomato vines V near ground level, elevate the vines for further processing, separate the tomatoes from the vines, and transfer the tomatoes to an awaiting truck TR
  • the tomato harvesting machine H includes a pickup mechanism PU comprising a pickup conveyor 17 mounted in a header frame 18, said header frame being pivotally attached to the main frame of the harvester H
  • the front end of the header frame 18 is supported by a pair of wheels 20 mounted on a U-shaped support frame 21 which is pivotally attached to the front end of said header frame
  • a pair of lever arms 23 extend upward from the U-shaped support frame 21 and are adapted to raise and lower said support frame with respect to the front end of the header
  • a pair of hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 24 are attached to the distal ends of the lever arms 23 at the piston rod and to the header frame 18 at the cylinder end Actuation of the cylinder assemblies 24 allows the distance that the front end of the pickup mechanism PU travels above the ground to be adjusted
  • a cutting means is provided at the front end of the pickup mechanism PU to sever the tomato vines at or near the ground level
  • the cutting means may be of va ⁇ ous types, and a rotating cutting bar 26 is illustrated in Figure 1
  • the cutting bar 26 is rotatably attached at both ends to the header frame 18 and is rotated by a hydraulic motor (not shown) As the harvester H is driven forward, the cutting bar 26 encounters the individual vines V and severs them near the ground After severing, the vines V fall onto the pickup conveyor 17 and are elevated for further processing on the main frame of the harvester, as will be descnbed hereinafter
  • a longitudinal transfer conveyor 28 is adapted to receive the tomatoes T and vines V from the pickup conveyor 17 There is an adjustable gap between the discharge end of the pickup conveyor 17 and the receiving end of the transfer conveyor 28 which allows loose tomatoes, dirt clods and other debris to drop from the vines in transit These loose tomatoes and deb ⁇ s fall onto one of two short, dirt cross conveyors 29, 30 which transfer them to the right side and the left side respectively, of the harvester H (Fig 2) It should be noted that the further processing undergone on both sides of the harvester H is identical and that such processing will be described only for the left side of the machine which is fed by the left dirt cross conveyor 30 The tomatoes, dirt and other deb ⁇ s are discharged from the left dirt cross conveyor 30 through a dirt sorter electronic system 32, where the red tomatoes are retrieved back onto a longitudinal sorter conveyor 27 The dirt, debris, and green tomatoes fall off the left dirt cross conveyor 30 through the dirt sorter electronic system 32 to a trash chute and then to the ground Sorters, who
  • the feeder bars 31 are angled between 30° and 60° from the horizontal plane.
  • the feeder bars 31 direct the vines under a shaker brush assembly 15, which comprises a shaker brush 16 with shaker brush 16 tines 19, and a means for oscillating the shaker brush 16, such as an eccentric weight assembly 14.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a cut away side view of the feeder bars 31, the shaker brush 16, the shaker conveyor 37 and the moving roller 33.
  • a shaker brush is defined as a tined brush that provides rotational oscillation.
  • the shaker conveyor 37 the shaker brush 16 is positioned sufficiently above the shaker con vey or 37 so that the tines 19 of the shaker brush 16 do not reach or pass through the shaker conveyor 37 and yet are able to engage the vines supported on the shaker conveyor 37.
  • the shaker conveyor 37 as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, comprises a first endless belt 45 and a second endless belt 47 with a plurality of metal rods 49 extending in parallel there between.
  • the plurality of rods 49 extending from the first endless belt 45 to the second endless belt 47, are spaced apart to allow tomatoes to pass between the rods 49 to a fruit conveyor 35 below the shaker conveyor 37.
  • the plurality of rods 49 are spaced a distance "dl" of 4 inches apart.
  • the rods 49 are spaced in the range of 3 inches to 6 inches apart.
  • the fruit conveyor 35 as shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises first and second endless belts 83 with a plurality of metal rods 84 extending in parallel there between.
  • the spacing between the metal rods 84 of the fruit conveyor 35 is a distance "d2" of 1 inch apart.
  • the rods 84 are spaced in the range of 0.5 inches to 2 inches apart.
  • the shaker conveyor 37 extends almost to the dirt cross conveyors 29, 30, under the roller 33, under the feeder bars 31, under the shaker brush 16, and into the bottom of a multiple-axes agitator 39.
  • the shaker conveyor 37 surrounds the fruit conveyor 35 and two fruit cross conveyors 34, so that part of the shaker conveyor 37 is above the fruit conveyor 35 and the fruit cross conveyors 34 and part of the shaker conveyor 37 extends under the fruit conveyor 35 and the two fruit cross conveyor 34.
  • tomatoes T which have been disengaged by the shaker brush 16 fall through the openings in the shaker conveyor 37 onto either of the two fruit cross conveyors 34.
  • Other tomatoes T which have been disengaged by the shaker brush 16 are caught between vines V, and at first are not able to reach the openings in the shaker conveyor 37.
  • the shaker conveyor 37 causes the vines V with loosened tomatoes T to pass through the multiple-axes agitator 39
  • the multiple-axes agitator 39 separates the vines and allows tomatoes T to fall through the vines V and through the shaker conveyor 37 to a fruit conveyor 35, located beneath the shaker conveyor 37
  • the remaining vines V are conveyed by the shaker conveyor 37 to the rear of the harvester H, where they are allowed to fail to the ground
  • Figure 4 illustrates the section taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 3, illustrating the multiple-axes agitator 39 and the shaker conveyor 37
  • the multiple-axes agitator 39 comprises a rotary shaft 51, which is mounted on a frame member 50 of the harvester H, so that the length of the rotary shaft 51 is substantially horizontal
  • a plurality of hubs 52 are mounted on the rotary shaft 51
  • Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a hub 52 on the rotary shaft 51
  • a pin 54 fits into a hole in the rotary shaft 51 and the hub 52 so that the hub 52 rotates with the rotary shaft 51
  • Part of the outer surface of each hub 52 forms a cylindrical surface 53 having an axis which is inclined to an axis along the length of the rotary shaft 51
  • the axis of the cylindrical surface 53 is inclined to the axis of the length of the rotary shaft 51 by an angle "a" Tine support rings 55 surround each cylindrical surface 53 of each hub 52, wherein each tine support ring 55 has an axis of rotation which is the axis of the cylindrical surface 53 which the support ring 55 surrounds
  • Bearings 61 are placed between each tine support ⁇
  • the shaker conveyor 37 passes vines V and loosened tomatoes T, which are caught among the vines V, into the tines 63 of the multiple-axes agitator 39
  • the shaker conveyor 37 rotates in a clockwise direction as indicated in Figure 3, to carry the vines from under the shaker brush 16
  • the multiple-axes agitator 39 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction as indicated as the rods 49 of the shaker conveyor 37 or the vines on the shaker conveyor 37 push the tines 63 of the multiple-axes agitator 39
  • a motor 68 or other means d ⁇ ves the drive shaft 60, which drives the drive pulley 58, which d ⁇ ves the shaft pulley 57, causing the rotary shaft 51 to rotate
  • the rotary shaft 51 drives the hubs 52 Because of the beanngs 61 which separate the hubs 52 from the tine support nngs 55, the tine support rings 55 and the tines 63 rotate independently of the hubs 52 and are not driven by the hubs 52 Since axis of the
  • the fruit which has fallen onto fruit cross conveyor 34 is discharged onto the sorter conveyor 27 where it joins the fruit directed there by the left dirt cross conveyor 30
  • the fruit which is fallen onto the other cross conveyor is discharged to the other side of the machine where it joins the second processing line
  • the tomatoes discharged from the sorter conveyor 27, having been manually and elect ⁇ cally sorted to remove unsuitable tomatoes and debris, are directed to an automatic color sorter 40 where further undesirable tomatoes may be ejected from the harvester H
  • the inspected tomatoes are then discharged onto the cross feed conveyor 41 where they join the inspected tomatoes from the other side of the harvester H, all tomatoes then being directed to the right hand side of the harvester H From the cross feed conveyor 41 , the tomatoes are directed to the discharge conveyor 42 where the tomatoes are elevated and discharged into a receiving truck TR (Fig 1 ) which travels alongside the harvester H
  • the invention is an improvement over the apparatus described in United States Patent 4,335,570 incorporated by reference, in that this invention provides a more durable conveyor in the shaker conveyor 37
  • the apparatus descnbed in the patent causes the tines of the shaker brush to pass through the conveyor, thus requi ⁇ ng the less durable conveyor
  • This more durable conveyor is able to use the backside of the shaker brush 16 and the multiple-axes agitator 39 which provides an improved separation thus providing a two stage shaker brush device with a multiple axes recovery brush.
  • United States Patent 4,335,570 lacks feeder bars 31 which feed the vines V into the shaker brush 16 allowing for an initial shaking and then allow the vines V to drop out from the shaker brush 16, thus allowing the vines to expand allowing a first release of tomatoes from the vines V, before entenng the backside of die shaker brush 16, the second stage
  • United States Patent 4,335,570 lacks the multiple-axes agitator The invention is an improvement over the apparatus described in United States Patent
  • the invention is an improvement over the apparatus described in United States Patent 3,620,223 in that this invention utilizes a multiple-axes agitator in a tomato harvester
  • the invention d ⁇ ves the rotation of the tines by the movement of a conveyor, so that the rotation of the tines is in sync with the movement of the conveyor
  • FIG. 6 a cross-sectional view of the central section is illustrated in Figure 6 This embodiment is identical the to the previous embodiment, except that the tines 163 are shorter, so that they do not reach the shaker conveyor 37 In the operation of this embodiment, the vines moving on the shaker conveyor 37 cause the tines 163 to rotate
  • FIG. 7 a cross-sectional view of the central section is illustrated in Figure 7
  • a cylinder 201 is mounted coaxially to the rotary shaft 51 with cylinder bearings 202 between the cylinder 201 and the rotary shaft 51
  • the cylinder 201 has slots 203 through which the tines 163 extend
  • the cylinder 201 is mechanically connected to a cylinder pulley 215
  • a cylinder belt 220 extends from the cylinder pulley 215 to a cylinder drive pulley 225
  • the cylinder d ⁇ ve pulley 225 is mounted on a cylinder drive pulley shaft 227, which forms part of a cylinder hydraulic motor 230
  • the tines 263 do not extend to the shaker conveyor 37
  • the shaft pulley 57 d ⁇ ves the rotary shaft 51 as a first rotational speed
  • the vines on the shaker conveyor 37 provide a d ⁇ ving force on the tines 263
  • the cylinder hydraulic motor 230 provides either a dnving force or a braking force, which ever is desired, through the cylinder drive pulley shaft 227 to the cylinder drive pulley 225
  • the cylinder drive pulley 225 transfers the force through the cylinder belt 220 to the cylinder pulley 215, so that the cylinder 201 rotates at a desired second rotational speed, which is different from the first rotational speed
  • the tines 263 since the tines 263 are rotating at a different rotational speed than the rotary shaft 51 , the tines 263 oscillate back and forth as shown at 67
  • the slots 203 in the cylinder 201 allow the tines 263 to oscillate back and forth

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Harvesting Machines For Root Crops (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé amélioré pour séparer les fruits, par exemple des tomates (T), de leurs tiges (V), ainsi qu'un appareil destiné à cet usage. On utilise un ensemble tête secoueuse (15) pour un premier 'brossage', et un agitateur à axes multiples (39) pour un second 'brossage', afin de séparer plus efficacement les fruits des tiges.
PCT/US1996/015877 1995-10-06 1996-10-03 Secoueur a deux etages avec agitateur a axes multiples WO1997012509A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU73880/96A AU7388096A (en) 1995-10-06 1996-10-03 Two stage shaker with multiple-axes agitator

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US54010395A 1995-10-06 1995-10-06
US08/540,103 1995-10-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997012509A1 true WO1997012509A1 (fr) 1997-04-10

Family

ID=24154003

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1996/015877 WO1997012509A1 (fr) 1995-10-06 1996-10-03 Secoueur a deux etages avec agitateur a axes multiples

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7388096A (fr)
WO (1) WO1997012509A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023219503A1 (fr) * 2022-05-12 2023-11-16 Belua Beheer B.V. Procédé pour faire pousser une culture et dispositif de récolte destiné à être utilisé dans le procédé

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3620223A (en) * 1970-01-14 1971-11-16 Deere & Co Crop agitator for the separating mechanism of agricultural combines and the like
US4335570A (en) * 1980-08-28 1982-06-22 Fmc Corporation Harvesting shaker for crops such as tomatoes or the like
US5099636A (en) * 1990-09-13 1992-03-31 Yoder Joseph A Vinous row crop harvesting apparatus and methods
US5197269A (en) * 1991-07-03 1993-03-30 Fmc Corporation Vine separation system
US5480353A (en) * 1995-02-02 1996-01-02 Garza, Jr.; Ponciano Shaker crank for a harvester

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3620223A (en) * 1970-01-14 1971-11-16 Deere & Co Crop agitator for the separating mechanism of agricultural combines and the like
US4335570A (en) * 1980-08-28 1982-06-22 Fmc Corporation Harvesting shaker for crops such as tomatoes or the like
US4335570B1 (fr) * 1980-08-28 1986-05-20
US5099636A (en) * 1990-09-13 1992-03-31 Yoder Joseph A Vinous row crop harvesting apparatus and methods
US5197269A (en) * 1991-07-03 1993-03-30 Fmc Corporation Vine separation system
US5480353A (en) * 1995-02-02 1996-01-02 Garza, Jr.; Ponciano Shaker crank for a harvester

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2023219503A1 (fr) * 2022-05-12 2023-11-16 Belua Beheer B.V. Procédé pour faire pousser une culture et dispositif de récolte destiné à être utilisé dans le procédé
NL2031842B1 (en) * 2022-05-12 2023-11-17 Belua Beheer B V Method of growing a crop and harvesting device for use in the method.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7388096A (en) 1997-04-28

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