Tobacco plant transport apparatus

After a cutter of a tobacco harvester cuts each tobacco plant, the cut tobacco plant has its stalk penetrated by toothed elements on two chains on opposite sides of the cut tobacco plant to advance it to an elevated position. Just prior to being released by the toothed elements, the stalk of the cut tobacco plant has its butt end engage a ramp to retard its motion to tilt the cut tobacco plant. This results in the cut tobacco plant pivoting to fall by gravity as its leaves are engaged by wheels to advance the cut tobacco plant. The butt end of the stalk falls into an area of a continuously rotating disc so that the cut tobacco plant has a substantially horizontal orientation. The cut tobacco plant is then advanced by chains and cleats to a spearing mechanism where the cut tobacco plant is automatically loaded on a stick.

This invention relates to a tobacco harvester and, more particularly, to an
 improved transport arrangement for transporting cut tobacco plants to a
 position in a tobacco harvester in which each can be automatically loaded
 on a tobacco stick.
 This invention is an improvement of the tobacco harvester of U. S. Pat. No.
 5,400,577 to Duncan et al, which is incorporated by reference herein. The
 tobacco harvester of the aforesaid Duncan et al patent required two
 workers with one of the workers having to pick up each of the tobacco
 plants after it was cut or severed at its butt end and precisely position
 the cut tobacco plant for transport to a spear from which it was advanced
 automatically onto a tobacco stick.
 U. S. Pat. No. 4,813,216 to Day, V, et al discloses a cut tobacco plant
 being transported to an elevated position in a substantially vertical
 orientation. The transport system makes two 90.degree. changes of the cut
 tobacco plant to invert the cut tobacco plant so that its leaves hang
 downwardly. This requires a relatively high structure of about 12'. There
 also is a requirement for a special curing frame.
 The tobacco harvester of the present invention utilizes a unique transport
 system in which the cut or severed tobacco plant is automatically
 transported without a worker being involved to a position in a tobacco
 harvester in which it can be automatically disposed on a tobacco stick in
 the manner shown and described in the aforesaid Duncan et al patent.
 The tobacco harvester of the present invention disposes the tobacco plant
 after it is cut or severed with its stalk in a substantially vertical
 orientation. The cut tobacco plant is transported in its substantially
 vertical orientation along an inclined path to an elevated position.
 Just prior to reaching the elevated position, advancement of the butt end
 of the stalk is retarded so that release of the tobacco plant at the
 elevated position causes it to begin to pivot to fall by gravity onto a
 conveyor system. The conveyor system transports the tobacco plant in a
 substantially horizontal orientation to a spearing mechanism of the
 aforesaid Duncan et al patent. Thus, a relatively compact structure is
 provided in which there is only a 90.degree. change in direction of motion
 of the tobacco plant.
 The present invention includes an arrangement for controlling the motion of
 the butt end of the stalk of the cut tobacco plant after it starts to fall
 due to gravity. This insures that the cut tobacco plant is in its
 substantially horizontal orientation when it falls onto the conveyor
 system.
 An object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco harvester.
 Another object of this invention is to increase the throughput of a tobacco
 harvester.
 A further object of this invention is to provide a tobacco harvester having
 a mechanical arrangement for transporting a cut tobacco plant from its
 cutting position until the tobacco plant is placed on a spear and a stick.
 Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from the
 following description, claims, and drawings.
 The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,
 in which:
 FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a tobacco harvester of the present invention
 connected to a tractor;
 FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the tobacco harvester
 of FIG. 1 and showing cut tobacco plants in phantom positions for
 advancement from a cutting position to an elevated position along an
 inclined path;
 FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a portion of the tobacco harvester of
 FIG. 1 showing a tobacco plant just prior to it being cut in a solid line
 position and the cut tobacco plant in phantom line positions as it is
 advanced;
 FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of a portion of the
 tobacco harvester of FIG. 3 and showing a ramp for tilting the stalk of
 each cut tobacco plant as it is advanced from a cutting position to the
 elevated position;
 FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the tobacco harvester of FIG. 3;
 FIG. 6 is an enlarged rear elevation view of a portion of the tobacco
 harvester of FIG. 5;
 FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of an arrangement including
 telescoping square hollow tubes for tightening a twisted belt of the
 tobacco harvester of FIG. 3;
 FIG. 8 is an end elevation view, taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7, and
 showing one of the square hollow tubes for adjusting the tightness of the
 twisted belts;
 FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of a portion of the
 tobacco harvester of FIG. 3, taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 2 and showing a
 support for one end of one of the twisted belts and a rotating wheel
 utilized for advancing each cut tobacco plant by engaging its leaves after
 its stalk has been advanced to the elevated position;
 FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan elevation view of a support for
 the other end of one of the twisted belts and taken within phantom circle
 A of FIG. 2; and
 FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevation view of a portion of one of a pair of
 chains for toothed elements holding a cut tobacco plant after it has been
 cut.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a tobacco
 harvester 10 of the present invention connected to a tractor 11 by tractor
 lifting links 12. The tractor lifting links 12 are connected to a three
 point hitch frame 14 (see FIG. 3) of the tobacco harvester 10. Thus, the
 tractor 11 (see FIG. 1) provides the motive power for the tobacco
 harvester 10.
 A pair of rear wheels 15 is connected to the frame 14 (see FIG. 3) through
 two square hollow tubes 16. Two square hollow tubes 17 and 18 (see FIG. 6)
 are connected to the frame 14 (see FIG. 3).
 The hollow tube 18 (see FIG. 6) is secured to the upper end of an inclined
 square hollow tube 19 (see FIG. 3) having its lower end connected to a
 square hollow tube 20 of the frame 14. The hollow tube 20 is secured to
 one end of a square hollow tube 21, which has the hollow tubes 16
 connected thereto intermediate its ends, of the frame 14 and extends
 forwardly therefrom.
 The hollow tube 19 has its bottom secured to a plate 22, which is disposed
 on top of the hollow tube 20. A plate 23 is positioned on the bottom of
 the hollow tube 20, and bolts 24 and nuts 25 attach the hollow tube 19 to
 the hollow tube 20 of the frame 14.
 Three bars 31 attach the bottom of the hollow tube 18 (see FIG. 6) to the
 bottom of the hollow tube 17 to support the hollow tube 17 in
 substantially parallel relation to the hollow tube 18 and with the same
 inclination as shown in FIG. 3.
 Two stalk guide bars 32 and 33 (see FIG. 1) extend forwardly to receive a
 stalk 34 (see FIG. 3) of a tobacco plant 35 as the tobacco harvester 10 is
 pulled along a row of the tobacco plants 35 by the tractor 11 (see FIG.
 1). The stalk guide bar 32 (see FIG. 3) is supported on a horizontal end
 of an L-shaped metallic sled runner 36 attached to the hollow tube 17. The
 stalk guide bar 33 (see FIG. 1) is similarly secured to the hollow tube 18
 (see FIG. 6) by a sled runner (not shown) having the same configuration as
 the sled runner 36 (see FIG. 3).
 Each of the tobacco plants 35 has the stalk 34 cut adjacent its butt end 39
 (see FIG. 6) by a rotating cutter 45 (see FIG. 3). The cutter 45 is
 continuously rotated by a hydraulic motor 46 through a belt 47.
 The hydraulic motor 46 is supported by the hollow tube 18 (see FIG. 6).
 Each of the hollow tubes 17 and 18 has a notch (One shown at 48 in the
 hollow tube 17 in FIG. 3.) formed therein to enable the cutter 45 to
 rotate. The cutter 45 is supported by the hollow tube 18 (see FIG. 6).
 After the rotating cutter 45 (see FIG. 3) cuts or severs the stalk 34 of
 the tobacco plant 35, the stalk 34 is held or retained in a substantially
 vertical orientation, as shown in phantom at 49, by two sets of toothed
 elements 50 (see FIG. 2) and 51. There is a slight spacing between the
 elements 50 and 51 so that the elements 50 and 51 have their teeth 52 and
 53, respectively, penetrate into the stalk 34.
 All of the elements 50 are mounted on a chain 54 (see FIG. 6). All of the
 elements 51 are mounted on a chain 55.
 The chain 54 passes around an upper sprocket 56 and a lower sprocket (not
 shown). The chain 55 passes around an upper sprocket 57 and a lower
 sprocket (not shown).
 Each of the upper sprocket 56 and the lower sprocket (not shown), which is
 driven by the chain 54, is supported by the inclined hollow tube 17. Each
 of the upper sprocket 57 and the lower sprocket (not shown), which is
 driven by the chain 55, is supported by the inclined hollow tube 18.
 As shown in FIG. 4, the element 51 has a portion connected to each of two
 adjacent links 58 of the chain 55. A chain guide 59 (see FIG. 11), which
 is formed of an ultra high molecular weight plastic, is disposed between
 opposite paths of the links 58 at at least one position. A steel spacer
 59A is disposed between the guide 59 and the hollow tube 18 to support the
 chain 55 intermediate the upper sprocket 57 (see FIG. 6) and the lower
 sprocket (not shown). The guide 59 (see FIG. 11), the spacer 59A, and the
 hollow tube 18 are fixed to each other by bolts (not shown) and nuts (not
 shown). The chain 54 (see FIG. 3) is similarly supported.
 The chain 54 (see FIG. 3) is driven continuously by a hydraulic motor 60.
 The hydraulic motor 60 is supported by the hollow tube 17 through a
 bracket 61.
 A chain 62 passes around a sprocket 63 on a shaft (not shown) of the
 hydraulic motor 60. The chain 62 also passes around a sprocket 65 on a
 shaft 66, which is rotatably supported in bearings 66A (see FIG. 6) and
 66B mounted on the horizontal tube 17. The shaft 66 is attached to the
 upper sprocket 56 to 20 drive the chain 54.
 A hydraulic motor (not shown) drives the chain 55 through a shaft 67, which
 is rotatably supported in bearings (One shown at 67A in FIG. 6.) mounted
 on the hollow tube 18, in the same manner as the hydraulic motor 60 (see
 FIG. 3) drives the chain 54 through the shaft 66. The hydraulic motor (not
 shown), which drives the chain 55 (see FIG. 6), is in hydraulic series
 with the hydraulic motor 60 (see FIG. 3) and is supported on the hollow
 tube 18 (see FIG. 6) in the same manner as the hydraulic motor 60 (see
 FIG. 3) is supported on the hollow tube 17.
 As the toothed elements 50 (see FIG. 2) and 51 carry the plants 35
 upwardly, leaves 70 (see FIG. 5) of the cut tobacco plant 35 are engaged
 by two driven, twisted belts 71 and 72. As shown in FIG. 2, the twisted
 belt 71 is adjacent the toothed elements 50, and the twisted belt 72 is
 adjacent the toothed elements 51. The twisted belts 71 and 72 aid in
 maintaining the cut tobacco plant 35 (see FIG. 3) in its substantially
 vertical orientation and gently guide the leaves 70 and the stalk 34.
 One suitable example of each of the twisted belts 71 (see FIG. 2) and 72 is
 a V-belt sold under the trademark BROWNING as part no. 4GBB136. This
 V-belt has four ribs.
 The lower end of the belt 71 passes around a sheave 73 (see FIG. 10) and
 its upper end passes around a sheave 74 (see FIG. 9), which is the same as
 the sheave 73 (see FIG. 10). Each of the sheaves 73 and 74 (see FIG. 9)
 has two grooves 75 and 76 therein to receive the inner two ribs on the
 belt 71. One suitable example of the sheaves 73 (see FIG. 10) and 74 (see
 FIG. 9) is sold under the trademark BROWNING as part no. 2BK25.
 As shown in FIG. 10, the sheave 73 is fixed to a shaft 77. The shaft 77 has
 its ends rotatably supported in two spaced bearings 78.
 Each of the bearings 78 has a base 79 supported by a yoke 80 to which the
 base 79 is connected. Each of the bearings 78 also has a housing, which
 has the base 79 connected thereto and an outer race therein, and an inner
 race, which is connected to the shaft 77.
 One of the bearings 78 also is attached to an L-shaped bracket 81. The
 bracket 81 is connected by bolts 82 to the inclined hollow tube 17 (see
 FIG. 6).
 The shaft 77 (see FIG. 3) has a sprocket 83 thereon at its outer end. A
 chain 84 passes around the sprocket 83 and also around a sprocket 85 on a
 shaft 86, which is supported by a bracket 87 extending downwardly from the
 hollow tube 17.
 The shaft 86 has a second sprocket (not shown), which is concentric with
 the sprocket 85, mounted thereon. A chain 88 passes around the second
 sprocket (not shown) on the shaft 86 and a sprocket 89 on a shaft 90 of a
 gear box 91, which is supported by the hollow tube 17.
 The gear box 91 has a second shaft 92 to which is fixed a sprocket 93. A
 chain 94 passes around the sprocket 93 and a sprocket 95 on the shaft 66.
 The shaft 86 also is rotatably supported by a bracket (not shown), which is
 the same as the bracket 87, supported by the hollow tube 18 (see FIG. 6).
 The shaft 86 (see FIG. 3) has a sprocket (not shown) transferring the
 rotation of the shaft 86 through a chain (not shown) to a sprocket (not
 shown) to drive the flexible belt 72 (see FIG. 2) in the same manner as
 the flexible belt 71 is driven.
 As shown in FIG. 9, the sheave 74 is mounted on a shaft 98 to receive the
 upper end of the belt 71. The shaft 98 is disposed in two spaced bearings
 99.
 Each of the bearings 99 has a base 100 supported by a yoke 101 to which the
 base 100 is connected. Each of the bearings 99 also has a housing, which
 has the base 100 connected thereto and an outer race therein, and an inner
 race, which is connected to the shaft 98. The shaft 98 is attached to a
 wheel 102, which has fingers 103 equiangularly spaced on its circumference
 as shown in FIG. 2.
 The yoke 80 (see FIG. 10) is fixed to a square hollow tube 104. The hollow
 tube 104 has an angle iron 105 (see FIG. 8) fixed to two adjacent sides
 thereof. An angle iron 106 is fixed to the other two sides of the square
 hollow tube 104. As shown in FIG. 7, each of the angle irons 105 and 106
 extends beyond end 107 of the hollow tube 104.
 A square hollow tube 108 has one end fixed to the yoke 101 (see FIG. 9).
 The hollow tube 108 has it other end 109 (see FIG. 7) disposed within the
 angle irons 105 and 106.
 A portion of the angle iron 105 has two longitudinal slots 110 therein as
 does a substantially parallel portion of the angle iron 106 as shown in
 FIG. 8. Each of the longitudinal slots 110 receives a bolt 111 extending
 through holes (not shown) in the top and bottom of the hollow tube 108
 with a nut 112 cooperating with each of the bolts 111.
 This arrangement enables the positions of the end 107 (see FIG. 7) of the
 hollow tube 104 and the end 109 of the hollow tube 108 to be shifted
 relative to each other. This adjusts the tightness of the belt 71 (see
 FIG. 9). This is accomplished by shifting the distance between the hollow
 tube 104 (see FIG. 7) and the hollow tube 108. The twisting of the belt 71
 (see FIG. 9) is accomplished by the shafts 98 (see FIG. 2) and 77 being in
 planes substantially perpendicular to each other.
 The hollow tube 108 (see FIG. 9) has one end of a bracket 113 (see FIG. 2)
 attached thereto by a bolt 114. The bracket 113 has its other end attached
 to the inclined hollow tube 17 (see FIG. 3) by bolts 115.
 A similar driving arrangement is provided for a wheel 120 (see FIG. 2),
 which also has fingers 121 equiangularly spaced on its circumference. The
 wheels 102 and 120 accelerate each of the cut tobacco plants 35 (see FIG.
 5) as it exits from the toothed elements 50 (see FIG. 2) and 51.
 Prior to the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35 exiting from the toothed
 elements 50 and 51, the stalk 34 had its butt end 39 (see FIG. 5) engage a
 ramp 123 (see FIG. 4). The ramp 123 is supported by a trough 124 disposed
 between the inclined hollow tubes 17 (see FIG. 6) and 18 and supported by
 the bars 31 (see FIG. 4).
 When the butt end 39 of the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35 engages the
 ramp 123, this retards the motion of the butt end 39 of the stalk 34 of
 the tobacco plant 35 so that the stalk 34 begins to tilt to the left as
 shown in FIG. 3 as its upper end is moving faster. This continues until
 the butt end 39 (see FIG. 4) of the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35
 ceases to engage the ramp 123 through passing beyond its end 125.
 As shown in FIG. 2, the end 125 of the ramp 123 is just prior to where the
 toothed elements 50 and 51 move away from each other. The leaves 70 (see
 FIG. 5) of the cut tobacco plant 35 have already been moved forwardly of
 the butt end 39 (see FIG. 6) of the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35 when
 it leaves the end 125 of the ramp 123. As a result, the tobacco plant 35
 falls downwardly due to gravity and the weight of the leaves 70 (see FIG.
 5) on the falling free end of the tobacco plant 35.
 As the tobacco plant 35 falls downwardly, it pivots so that the stalk 34
 goes to its substantially horizontal orientation. This is produced by the
 stalk 34 engaging a continuously rotating disc 130 (see FIG. 6).
 One half of the circumference of the disc 130 is formed with relatively
 large scallops 131 so that a relatively large area 132 is provided between
 the adjacent of the scallops 131 for the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35.
 The other half of the circumference of the disc 130 is formed with
 relatively narrow pointed ends 133. These provide relatively small areas
 134 therebetween.
 A guide 135 cooperates with the circumference of the rotating disc 130 to
 guide the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35 as it is advanced by clockwise
 rotation of the disc 130. The guide 135 includes a straight upper portion
 136, a curved portion 137, a straight lower portion 138. The upper end of
 the straight upper portion 136 has a straight portion 139 extending
 therefrom at an angle.
 The guide 135 is pivotally supported on a pivot pin 140, which is fixed to
 the hollow tube 17. At the junction of the portions 136 and 139 of the
 guide 135, a steel collar 141 is welded to the straight upper portion 136
 and the straight portion 139. The steel collar 141 has a bronze bushing
 142 therein for receiving the pivot pin 140.
 A spring 143 continuously urges the guide 135 towards the rotating disc
 130. The spring 143 has one end fitting over a pin 144 on the straight
 upper portion 136 of the guide 135 and its other end fitting over a pin
 145 on a plate 146, which is fixed to the hollow tube 17.
 Accordingly, the spring 143 allows the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35 to
 be accommodated in either one of the areas 132 or one of the areas 134 of
 the disc 130 depending upon where the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35
 fell after leaving the end 125 of the ramp 123. The maximum amount of
 pivoting of the guide 135 by the spring 143 towards the rotating disc 130
 is limited by the straight portion 139 engaging the plate 146.
 The disc 130 is rotated by a hydraulic motor 150 (see FIG. 2), which is
 support by a plate 150A fixed to the hollow tube 18 (see FIG. 6) having a
 sprocket 151 on its shaft 152. The sprocket 151 drives a chain 153, which
 rotates a sprocket (not shown) fixed to the disc 130. A pin 154, which is
 fixed to the hollow tube 18, has a bronze bushing 155 on which a hub 155A
 of the sprocket (not shown), which is fixed to the disc 130, rotates.
 A guide 155B, which is supported by the plate 150A, cooperates with the
 straight lower portion 138 of the guide 135 to provide a controlled path
 of movement as the stalk 34 leaves the area 132 or 134 of the disc 130.
 This insures that the stalk 34 does not wrap around the disc 130 during
 its advancement by the disc 130.
 The guide 155B also prevents the leaves 70 (see FIG. 5) of the tobacco
 plant 35 from engaging the disc 130. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide 155B is
 disposed outwardly of the disc 130.
 As the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35 assumes its substantially
 horizontal orientation as shown in phantom in FIG. 3, the leaves 70 on the
 upper portion of the tobacco plant 35 fall onto a chain 156 (see FIG. 1).
 The leaves 70 (see FIG. 3) on the lower portion of the tobacco plant 35
 fall onto two continuous chains 157 (see FIG. 1) and 158.
 The chains 157 and 158 are activated whenever a switch activator 159 is
 engaged by the falling tobacco plant 35 (see FIG. 6). Each of the chains
 157 (see FIG. 1) and 158 has four spaced flights or cleats 160 as more
 particularly shown and described in the aforesaid Duncan et al patent.
 The chain 156 also is activated when the chains 157 and 158 are driven. The
 chain 156 has much smaller cleats (not shown) on it. This helps convey the
 upper part of the leaves 70 (see FIG. 3) of the tobacco plant 35.
 The remainder of the operation of the tobacco harvester 10 is the same as
 described in the aforesaid Duncan et al patent. That is, a spear 162 (see
 FIG. 5) pierces the stalk 34 of the tobacco plant 35 at a distance from
 the butt end 39 and causes the tobacco plant 35 to pass onto a stick 163
 (see FIG. 1) as shown and described in the aforesaid Duncan et al patent.
 A platform 164 enables a single worker to handle the sticks 163 and remove
 each of the sticks 163 with the cut tobacco plants 35 (see FIG. 5)
 thereon.
 It should be understood that the stalks 34 of the cut tobacco plants 35 are
 not necessarily straight due to various weather factors during growth.
 Therefore, only the bottom portion of the cut tobacco plant 35 may have a
 substantially vertical orientation.
 It should be understood that the wheels 102 and 120 are preferably covered
 with a relatively soft material such as foam, for example. This protects
 the leaves 70 during their engagement by the wheels 102 and 120.
 An advantage of this invention is that it reduces the cost of harvesting
 tobacco plants. Another advantage of this invention is that only a single
 worker is required to handle the tobacco of the tobacco harvester since
 there is automatic cutting of the tobacco plant and transporting it to a
 position in which it can be automatically positioned on a tobacco stick. A
 further advantage of this invention is that it is a faster operation.
 For purposes of exemplification, a particular embodiment of the invention
 has been shown and described according to the best present understanding
 thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in
 the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to
 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.