WO2017209592A1

WO2017209592A1 - Improved head with rotary cutting knives for harvesting agave plants

Info

Publication number: WO2017209592A1
Application number: PCT/MX2016/000057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rubén NAVARRO VELASCO
Original assignee: Navarro Velasco Rubén
Priority date: 2016-05-30
Filing date: 2016-06-02
Publication date: 2017-12-07

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved head with rotary cutting knives for harvesting agave plants, which is supported on another structure with means for adjusting the position thereof. The head is formed by: a rotary shaft that is secured to a motor connected to the upper end thereof so as to rotate same, the lower end of the rotary shaft being secured, by means of a bushing, to a lower rotary plate having cutting elements; a pair of hydraulic actuators that are secured to a static upper plate having extendable rods secured to an intermediate plate that has vertical movement and also comprises guides for vertical sliding; a mechanism of articulated scissor arms that are secured in slots in the front and rear edges of an intermediate rotary plate connected to a central tubular body by means of a bushing, the lower end of the articulated scissor arms being pivotably secured to first upper slidable plates slidably mounted on the lower rotary plate having guiding grooves. The lower rotary plate is characterised in that it comprises a pair of vertical arms having adjustable separation which are adapted for securing rotary cutting discs to the lower end thereof and which are slidably coupled to second lower slidable plates coupled to the lower face of the lower rotary plate, the second lower slidable plates being connected to the first upper slidable plates to which the lower ends of the articulated scissor arms are pivotably secured.

Description

IMPROVED HEAD WITH ROTATING CUTTERS FOR THE JIMADO OF AGAVE PLANTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to agriculture in general, in particular it relates to agricultural equipment, machines and implements that are mounted or collected in three actors or other types of vehicles, to perform crop work. More specifically, it refers to an improved head with rotating cutting blades for the agave plant jimado.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the section of the background of the invention of the patent application MX / a / 2013/004606 of the same inventor as the present invention, an extensive analysis of the agave culture and the techniques that are currently executed for the jimado is made of the same; the patent (MX243917) referring to agave harvesters and jimadoras is also cited; however, said machine is a complex machine that operates so that a fork must go at ground level by passing the agave plants between the horizontal arms terminated at the tip and at which end of the arms the cutting blades are arranged, that is short by exerting pressure on the machine feed. It requires a lower wear plate since the fork must be dragging on the ground. When cutting the agave plant by the base, it must be driven by the conveyor to drive the agave plant and deposit it inside the cage drum that has knives that cut the leaves or pencas of the agave plant. This also represents a problem of obstruction since the cuttings or leaves that have to be cut must leave through the openings of the drum that comprises rings and that leaves small grooves that do not allow the proper exit of the agave's leaves, which makes it difficult to pamper.

Performing another search to further determine the closest state of the art, patent publication JP2008239032 (document D1) was found, which discloses a ball joint of the spherical face bearing means 90 type, capable of rotating around a axial vertical line Z of a direction input arrow 87 and a horizontal axial line X that is long horizontally on the right and left sides and crossing the axial vertical line Z, is supplied in a section in the middle in the longitudinal direction of the axis of address entry 87 in an address column. The spherical face bearing means 90 is adjusted at the output of the hydraulic drive device for rotation 28 which rotates around the axial vertical line Z in accordance with the amount of operation of the steering wheel 10 and adjusts the output of the drive device hydraulic for straight forward 25 rotating around the horizontal axial line X in accordance with the amount of operation of the main gear lever 73.

It is very clear that document D1 does not disclose a rotating cutting blade head that is formed by a central tubular body that internally houses a rotating shaft that exits at both ends; wherein at its upper end a motor connected to said rotating shaft is fixed, and at whose lower end it is fixed on a rotating plate comprising a pair of hydraulic actuators with extensible stems that activate a scissor arm mechanism that are fixed to elements sliders that are mounted in guide grooves, which allows vertical blades (cutting elements) to rotate to cut the perimetral pendants of the agave / maguey pineapple; wherein said scissor mechanism allows to vary the opening between the vertical blades (cutting elements) to adjust to the different diameters and sizes of agave / maguey.

Therefore, document D1 by itself does not disclose, neither the structural configuration, nor the elements, its assembly, operation and operation as the improved head with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants; therefore, this document D1 does not affect the novelty of this invention at all.

Document SK336392 A3 (document D2) was also located on which discloses, based on its description and its figures, a support frame to be attached to the front area of three hydraulic lifting points of a tractor consisting of a support arm (3) where through the middle joint (4 ) the base frame (2) of the harvester is hung with the possibility of lateral oscillation. The support arm (3) is placed centrally in relation to the base structure (2). The base frame (2) on one side of the middle joint (4) is connected through the joints (5, 5 ', 6, 6') of the adjustment elements (7, 7 '), to the base structure (one). The middle joint (4) between the support arm (3) and the base structure (2), the rear joints (5, 5 ') and the adjustment elements (7, 7') by turning the base structure (1) and the front joints (6, 6 ') of the adjustment elements (7, 7'), rotate the base structure (2), are made as ball joints. The frontal joints (6, 6 ') are in the operative position arranged with respect to the horizontal higher than the posterior joints (5, 5'). The support arm (3) is in the support structure (1) made forward in the direction (20) of the movement and in its front parts are made at the top of the base structure (2) facing down the console of support (19). The middle joint (4) is connected to the base frame (2) through the loading console (23) and also to the support arm (3) through the support console (19).

Although a support arm (3) that mounts is described in the frontal zone of three points of hydraulic elevation of a tractor to hold and manipulate a harvester its structural configuration, types of support elements, drive means to raise and lower and to adjust the cutting diameter are not at all similar to those of the improved agave and harvest agave machine of the present invention.

Therefore, it is evident that document D2 does not disclose a rotating cutting blade head that is formed by a central tubular body that internally houses a rotating shaft that exits at both ends; wherein at its upper end a motor connected to said rotating shaft is fixed, and at whose lower end it is fixed on a rotating plate comprising a pair of hydraulic actuators with extensible stems that activate a scissor arm mechanism that are fixed to elements sliders that are mounted in guide grooves, which allows vertical blades (cutting elements) to rotate to cut the perimeter pendants of the agave / maguey pineapple; wherein said scissor mechanism allows to vary the opening between the vertical blades (cutting elements) to adjust to the different diameters and sizes of agave / maguey. Therefore, document D1 does not affect the novelty of this invention at all.

Another document located was document AU2005314708 A1 (document D3) that reveals an agricultural robot system and the method of harvesting, pruning, harvesting, weeding, measuring and Agricultural crop management. It uses autonomous robot (s) and semi-autonomous (s) that comprise a vision machine with cameras that identify and locate the fruits of each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or can be used in the Measurement of agriculture parameters or aid in the management of agricultural resources. The cameras can be coupled with an arm or other instrument to allow views from within the plant when the desired agricultural function is performed. A robot moves through a first field to "map" the location of the plants, the number and size of the fruits and the approximate positions of fruit or a map of the cords and sticks of the grape vines. Once the map is completed, a robot or a server can create an action plan that a robot can implement.

The agricultural robot system consists of a robot comprising at least one actuator and at least one camera; an action plan collected through said robot; and said robot being configured to operate in accordance with said action plan in an agricultural field using said at least one camera to interact with the objects in said agricultural field using said at least one actuator.

This document does not reveal, nor does it suggest an improved head with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants that is formed by a central tubular body that internally houses a rotating shaft that comes out at both ends; in where at its upper end a motor connected to said rotating shaft is fixed, and at whose lower end it is fixed on a rotating plate comprising a pair of hydraulic actuators with extendable stems that activate a mechanism of scissor arms that are fixed to sliding elements which are mounted in guide grooves, which allows vertical blades (cutting elements) to rotate to cut the perimetral penises of the agave / maguey pifia; wherein said scissor mechanism allows to vary the opening between the vertical blades (cutting elements) to adjust to the different diameters and sizes of agave / maguey.

Therefore, document D3 by itself does not disclose, neither the structural configuration, nor the elements, their assembly, form of operation and operation as the improved head with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants; thus, this document D3 does not affect the novelty of this invention at all.

None of the documents either reveal or suggest a circular guide system with one, two or several laser or light rays that at the speed of rotation generate a circle on the plant, which allows this line to be compared with the diameter of the agave plant / maguey, so that once its center and diameter are located, the cutting head descends and the cutting discs start the jim precisely aligned on the coordinate axes X, Y and Z. With regard to the patent application MX / a / 2013/004606 of the same inventor as the present invention and the one that has been taken as the basis for the improvements, a machine for mechanically pampering and harvesting the agave is described, in accordance with The present invention consists of a chassis that defines a substantially horizontal platform that subsequently comprises a structural frame as a support means for subsequently projected arms in which support wheels are fixed to the floor of said chassis with damping elements and comprising at the front end a structural frame with frontally projected arms in which a drawbar that is fixed on a tractor or other vehicle is attached and an arm that connects to the tractor's power outlet is fixed on the top of said structural frame.

A sliding support base by action of hydraulic elements mounted on a pair of parallel rails that is arranged transversely on said platform and is adapted to receive at least one vertical post with height adjustment means, which fixedly comprises at its upper end an arm transverse at the end of which a head with rotating vertical cutting blades projected inferiorly is fixed; wherein said base comprises preferably hydraulic drive means to move it transversely on said platform and position the head with rotating vertical cutting blades on the agave plants for cutting the jaws; where said head it comprises a transmission motor for rotating an axis where said vertical rotating cutting blades are mounted and said head comprising a mechanism for regulating the separation of the vertical rotating cutting blades depending on the size (height and diameter) of the agave plants .

However, it could be seen in practice that there were problems of operation and low efficiency of the head with rotating internal cutting blades projected internally, since said vertical cutting knives substantially concave inwardly and define at least one sharp curved edge cutting, they presented problems during the turn and collided sharply with the agave plant's leaves, resulting in poor cuts of the leaves, damage to the very structure of the blades; on many occasions the sudden blow generated the detachment of the agave plant's leaves and even the whole plant was detached from the ground, leaving the cutting of the unfinished leaves unfinished.

The need to have an improved head with rotary cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants that allows to mechanically harvest and harvest the agave plants without operating problems, was that the present invention was developed.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION The main objective of the present invention is to make available an improved head with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants, which allows to reduce the work and time in the harvest of the agave and offers the benefit of the technological contribution in this sector of the field , which offers efficiency in the cutting of agave leaves and eliminates operational problems.

Another objective of the invention is to make said improved head available with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants, which is also compact, of simple, practical and functional structure.

Another object of the invention is to make said improved head available with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants, which is also structurally suitable, safe and efficient, and that can be easily mounted and disassembled on a tractor or other type of vehicles. .

Another objective of the invention is to make said improved head available with rotary cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants, which also considerably reduces production costs and allows to increase production and productivity in the processing industry of said crop used this technology .

Another object of the invention is to make said head available. improved with rotating cutting blades for agave plant jimado, which also reduces the work and time for the day laborer, since this makes the most difficult part of the jima process and so that the producer can reduce the times and costs of the harvest.

Another objective of the invention is to make said improved head available with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants, which is also easy to manufacture and relatively accessible to agricultural producers.

And all those qualities and objectives that will become apparent when making a general and detailed description of the present invention supported by the illustrated modalities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general, the improved head with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants, in accordance with the present invention consists of a central tubular body that internally houses a rotating shaft that exits at both ends of said central tubular body, whose upper end is fixed to a static upper plate where a motor connected to the upper end of said rotating shaft is mounted to rotate it, and whose lower end by bushing is fixed in a rotating lower plate where the lower end is connected of said gyratory axis; a pair of hydraulic actuators fixed in said static upper plate at the sides of said central tubular body, whose extendable rods are fixed in an intermediate plate ia with vertical upward-downward displacement through which said central tubular body centrally passes, and which also fixedly comprises on its upper face vertical sliding guides that pass through holes made in said plate its upper for rectilinear displacement in the vertical axis; a mechanism of articulated scissor arms whose upper ends are slidably mounted in grooves of the front and rear edges of a rotating intermediate plate connected by a hub to said central tubular body and said intermediate plate with upward-downward vertical displacement, and the lower end of said scissor arms are pivotally fixed to first sliding upper plates that are slidably mounted on said lower rotating plate with guide grooves practiced in said rotating lower plate; which allows when said hydraulic actuators are activated, the intermediate plate ia with vertical upward-downward displacement can be raised or lowered by operating said scissor arms to extend or contract them; and a pair of adjustable adjustable vertical arms where rotating cutting discs are fixed slidably mounted on second sliding bottom plates coupled on the bottom face of said rotating bottom plate and connected with said first sliding top plates. This scissor mechanism allows to vary the opening between the rotating discs of Cut to fit the different diameters and sizes of agave / maguey.

Said second sliding bottom plates laterally comprise a cavity adapted to slidably receive fixing plates where said vertical arms of adjustable separation are fixed, and comprising holes for receiving transverse fixing means to fix each other and secure in a desired position to said vertical arms of Adjustable separation at whose lower end the rotating cutting discs are rotatably fixed.

The improvements focus on the assembly and assembly of said scissor arm mechanisms both in the intermediate plate with upward-downward vertical displacement and in said lower rotating plate; as well as the assembly and assembly of said vertical arms of adjustable separation in said lower plate where the cutting discs are mounted and in the type and shape of said cutting discs, as well as their coupling.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention said rotating cutting discs are concave and are fixed with the concavity inwards with respect to the axis of rotation.

The head is mounted on a mechanical arm or other structure that can move said head longitudinally and transverse and can be adjusted in height through telescopic support elements or other adjustable height elements where said head is mounted.

The present invention has a circular guide system with one, two or several laser or light rays that at the speed of rotation generate a circle on the plant, which allows this line to be compared with the diameter of the agave / maguey plant, for Once its center and diameter are located, lower the cutting head and the cutting discs start the jim precisely aligned on the coordinate axes X, Y and Z.

To better understand the characteristics of the invention, the present description is attached, as an integral part thereof, to the drawings with illustrative but not limitative character, which are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a conventional perspective view of the improved head with rotating cutting blades for the aiming of agave plants, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the improved head with rotary cutting blades for agave plant pimping, in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the improved head with rotating cutting blades for the agave plant jimado, in accordance with the present invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, a detailed description of some of the modalities thereof will be shown, shown in the drawings which, for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, are attached to this description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The characteristic details of the improved head with rotating cutting blades for agave plant jimado, are clearly shown in the following description and in the accompanying illustrative drawings, serving the same reference signs to indicate the same parts.

With reference to figures 1 to 3, the cutting head (1) for cutting the agave plant jaws is mounted on a transverse support arm (2) fixed on telescopic support elements (2a) that allow raising and lowering the cutting head (1), which consists of a central tubular body (3) that internally houses a rotating shaft (4) that protrudes at both ends; said tubular body (3) being fixed at its upper end on an upper plate (5) in which a transmission motor (6) connected to said rotating shaft (4) is fixed, and whose lower end is fixed by bushing (not shown) on a lower rotating plate (7) where the lower end of said rotating shaft (4) is connected; said upper plate (5) also comprises fixedly on its face its at least one pair of laterally opposite hydraulic actuators (8), whose extensible rods (9) pass through holes made in said upper plate (5) and are fixed on the upper face of an intermediate plate with vertical upward-downward displacement (10) through which said central tubular body (3) passes centrally, and which also fixedly comprises on its upper face vertical sliding guides (1 1) which they pass through holes made in said upper plate (5) for rectilinear displacement in the vertical axis; a mechanism of articulated scissor arms (12) whose upper ends are slidably mounted in guide grooves (13) of the front and rear edges of a rotating intermediate plate (14) connected by a bushing (not shown) to said tubular body central (3) and said intermediate plate with upward-downward vertical displacement (10), and the lower end of said articulated scissor arms (12) are pivotally fixed to the first sliding top plates (15) which are slidably mounted on said icha lower swivel plate (7) with guide groove (16) made in said lower swivel plate (7); which allows that when activating said hydraulic actuators (8), the intermediate plate with upward-downward vertical displacement (10) can be raised or lowered, by actuating said articulated scissor arms (12) to extend or contract them; and a pair of adjustable adjustable vertical arms (17) where rotating cutting discs (18) are fixed slidably mounted on second sliding bottom plates (19) coupled on the underside of said rotating bottom plate (7) and connected with said first sliding top plates (15). This scissor mechanism allows to vary the opening between the cutting discs to adjust to the different diameters and sizes of agave / maguey.

Said rotating bottom plate (7) comprises at its front and rear edge, vertical containment plates (7a, 7b) that serve as glutton and conduction of said first sliding upper plates (15).

Said second sliding bottom plates (19) laterally comprise a cavity adapted to slidably receive fixing plates (20) where said adjustable adjustable vertical arms (17) are fixed, and comprising holes (22) to receive transverse fixing means (23) to fix each other and secure in a desired position to said adjustable adjustable vertical arms (17) at whose lower end the rotating cutting discs (18) are rotatably fixed.

Said rotating intermediate plate (14) comprises in its front and rear edge glutton plates (14a, 14b) where said glutton grooves (13) are made guiding bolts (21) fixed at the upper ends of said pair of articulated arms of scissors (12).

If said hydraulic actuators (8) retract, the articulated scissor arms (12) retract-close and become more vertical causing the rotating cutting discs (18) to join when the agave plant is smaller in diameter; while said hydraulic actuators (8) extend the articulated scissor arms (12) extend-open and the rotating cutting discs (18) separate when the agave plants are larger.

The present invention has a circular guide system with one, two or several laser or light rays (not shown) that at the speed of rotation generate a circle on the plant, which allows this line to be compared with the diameter of the agave plant / maguey, so that once its center and diameter are located, the cutting head (1) and the cutting discs (18) are lowered to start the jim precisely aligned on the coordinate axes X, Y and Z.

The cutting head (1) swears the agave or maguey with the rotating cutting discs (18) and at the same time it rotates, adjusts its diameter and adjusts its height when raising or lowering according to the height of the agave pine or maguey, thereby allowing the jima of any height or diameter of pifia. Cutting the highest lateral pencas from its maximum height to those that are flush with the ground. The invention has been described sufficiently that a person with average knowledge in the field can reproduce and obtain the results mentioned in the present invention. However, any skilled person in the field of the art that is in charge of the present invention may be able to make modifications not described in the present application, however, if for the application of these modifications in a given structure or in the manufacturing process thereof, the matter claimed in the following claims is required, said structures must be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS Having sufficiently described the invention, what is contained in the following claim clauses is claimed as property.

1.- An improved head with rotating cutting blades for cutting agave plants, of the type supported on a mechanical arm or other structure that can move it longitudinally and transversely and with height adjustment elements; of the type of head made up of a tubular body that houses a rotating axis, fixed to a static upper plate where a motor connected to the upper end of said rotating axis is mounted to make it rotate; and lower end fixed by means of a bushing on a rotating lower plate with cutting elements, where the lower end of said rotating shaft is connected; a pair of hydraulic actuators fixed on said static upper plate whose extendable stems are fixed on an intermediate plate with vertical displacement and which also permanently comprises on its upper face vertical sliding guides that pass through holes made in said static upper plate, a mechanism of articulated scissor arms fixed in slots of the anterior and posterior edges of a rotating intermediate plate connected by a bushing to said central tubular body and the lower end of said articulated scissor arms being pivotally fixed to first sliding upper plates that are slidably mounted on said rotating bottom plate with guide slots made in said lower rotating plate, characterized by comprising a pair of vertical arms with adjustable separation adapted to receive fixedly with rotation capacity at their lower end rotating cutting discs and that are slidably coupled in second sliding lower plates stored in the lower face of said rotating lower plate and connected to said first sliding upper plates where the lower ends of said articulated scissor arms are pivotally fixed.

2. - The improved head with rotating cutting blades for cutting agave plants, according to claim 1, characterized in that said second sliding lower plates laterally comprise a cavity adapted to slideably receive fixing plates where said vertical arms are fixed. of adjustable separation, and comprising holes to receive transverse fixing means to fix together and secure said vertical arms of adjustable separation in a desired position, at the lower end of which the cutting discs are rotatably fixed.

3. - The improved head with rotating cutting blades for cutting agave plants, according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotating intermediate plate comprises internally, on its front and rear edge, guide plates where said guide grooves are made. guide fixed bolts at the upper ends of said pair of Articulated scissor arms to facilitate movement during operation.

4. - The improved head with rotating cutting blades for cutting agave plants, according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotating cutting discs are concave and are fixed with the concavity facing inward with respect to the axis of rotation. .

5. - The improved head with rotating cutting blades for the cutting of agave plants, according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotating lower plate comprises on its front and rear edge vertical containment plates that serve as a guide and conduction of said first sliding upper plates where the lower ends of said articulated scissor arms are pivotally fixed.

6. - The improved head with rotating cutting blades for cutting agave plants, according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a circular guide system with one, two or several laser or light rays that at the rotation speed They generate a circle on the plant, which allows this line to be compared with the diameter of the agave/maguey plant, so that once its center and diameter are thus located, the cutting head descends and the cutting discs begin the jima in a accurately aligned on the X, Y and Z coordinate axes.