GB1214636A - Root crop harvesting and grading machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,214,636. Root crop harvester. R. A. POCKLINGTON and P. CUNNINGHAM. 8 July, 1968 [8 July, 1967], No. 31564/67. Heading A1F. A potato or like root crop harvester comprises a driven chassis, a plough element or elements 22 for lifting the potatoes, a pick-up elevator A on to which potatoes are received, a grid device G through which the potatoes &c. are passed and adapted to remove the haulm and other fibrous matter, a second conveyer B by which the potatoes issuing from the grid device G are transferred to a series of separating and grading rollers 37 arranged in a bed 36 over which the potatoes are continuously advanced to separate the clods, stones, soil &c., means for receiving the separated and graded potatoes from the roller bed 36 for delivery e.g. to a trailer, and means (99), Fig. 2 (not shown), for crushing discarded potatoes. A main frame 1 carries a tractor T whose detached front wheels 3 are steerably mounted on a strut 2, the back wheels 4 being carried by a sub-frame 6, and chain driven 14 from the back axle 8 of the tractor. The plough elements 22 are mounted on a sub-frame 17, pivoted at 18 and adjustable in height through a hydraulic ram 23. The conveyers A and B, and a further elevator C for lifting separated potatoes into a hopper H for delivery via conveyers K, L, Fig. 11 (not shown), to the trailer, comprises a flexible grid of interlinked rods 25, mounted on driven and idler sprockets, e.g. 25<SP>1</SP>, 26, respectively. The grid G, Figs. 7-8 (not shown), comprises a comb-like fence (27), potatoes passing between flexible rods (27<SP>1</SP>), while haulm &c. is held back, and falls to the ground, assisted by a driven roller 31. The roller bed 36, Figs. 3-6 (not shown) comprises five axles each mounting a series of rubber rollers 37 in close axial contact, a chain 59 transmitting drive from a shaft 51 to a sprocket S on each roller shaft so that adjacent sets of rollers rotate in opposite senses. Potatoes pass over the rollers to the rear elevator C, while stones, undersize potatoes &c. are drawn between the rollers, falling via crushing rollers (99), Fig. 2 (not shown), to the gorund. The angle of the roller bed is adjustable, as are the spacings of the roller axles, which are mounted in bearing blocks (70), Fig. 4 (not shown), adjustably slidable between guide bars (71).