Abstract:
An auxiliary device for harvesting pasture prevents clogging at a roll baler to increase speed of harvesting pasture and decrease occurrence of troubles and enhance density of roll package. The auxiliary device for harvesting pasture includes tires having a predetermined width and weight as a rolling body, a holding portion to rotatably hold the tires, and an attaching portion to attach the holding portion to the front of a tractor which tows a roll baler. In the constitution of the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture, the attaching portion is attached to the front portion of the tractor and a line of collected grass is subject to rolling pressure by rolling of tires in accordance with movement of the tractor. Instead of the tires, a cylindrical body or a columnar body, or either one which is made in the form of metal cylindrical body or columnar body can be mounted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application no. PCT/JP2008/002461, filed 5 Sep. 2008, which claims the priority of Japanese application no. 2007-267193, filed 11 Sep. 2007, and each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture, which is mounted to the front portion of a tractor or to the rear portion of a grass collecting machine (rake). Particularly, the present invention relates to an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture to achieve an increase in speed of harvesting pasture, a decrease in occurrence of troubles, and high density in a roll package when using a roll baler which is a packaging machine for pasture. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For dairy farmers in Hokkaido, how to finish harvesting operation in a short period of time is an important matter during a busy summer season when the amount of annual rough forage (pasture, silage, etc.) is yielded, particularly, because the yield of pasture is heavily affected by the weather. 
     The process of harvesting pasture consists of, for example, cutting with a mower conditioner, inverting pasture with a tedder, collecting pasture with a grass collecting machine (rake), and roll packaging with a roll baler. 
     In reality, however, using a roll baler which carries out roll packaging, particularly, makes harvesting operation inefficient due to frequent breaks. This is because the roll baler tends to collect grass excessively when there is a large amount of pasture and cause clogging at a chamber (suction opening) with grass when collecting more grass in a short period of time in case of rain. 
     As related art, JP 11-56083A describes a treatment of pasture before its drying on ground, in which the cell membranes of pastures are broken with physical pressures, hard stems and soft leaves are pressed to transpire water contained in the stems through the leaves, and the pressed pastures are put on stumps in continuous mat-like forms to dry the pasture with air from lower side. 
     JP 05-227824A describes a rotary rake device which is capable of performing grass collecting operation and grass packaging operation in its state connected to a tractor and a roll baler without performing reconnecting operation. 
     JP 60-18462A describes a vehicle such as a tractor which is capable of using both narrow and wide tires together and obtaining row ground pressure due to a wider ground contact area between wheels and a cultivated land. 
     JP 54-15840A describes a device for regrowing pasture mounted with a colter having a jagged blade on its circumference for crushing a surface of grass farm and cutting lateral roots, a body having a blade for crushing subsoil and a wing for digging to make better ventilation and passing of water by crushing the underground layer, and a roller for smoothing a raised surface of ground on which pasture is grown, to a frame having a wheel in order for a tractor to tow. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. 
     As explained above, when harvesting pasture in a conventional method, a roll baler has faced difficulty smoothly taking in grass on a line of collected grass (a line of pasture raked with a grass collecting machine), leading to a break of operation caused by clogged pasture grass in case that there is a large amount of harvested grass or much grass must be collected depending on weather conditions in processes of cutting, inverting, collecting and roll packaging. 
     In order to prevent above mentioned problems, there is no choice but to lower density of collected grass, however, by which it takes longer time to harvest pasture, causing difficulty obtaining good quality due to high probability of returned moisture or rain since operations in the day time is delayed to the night or the following day. 
     The related art described above are not for solving the problems. 
     Harvesting pasture with good quality depends on how to improve efficiency of a set of operations. 
     In order to produce good-quality milk and beef, it is indispensable to secure obtaining good-quality pasture. Also, providing good self-supplied feed leads to an increase in the amount of producing food, prevention of diseases, and a decrease in costs to purchase feed, bringing about greatly positive economic effects. Thus, a solution to the above-mentioned problems is sought for. 
     In view of the actual status described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture to prevent clogging at a roll baler and achieve an increase in speed of harvesting pasture, a decrease in occurrence of troubles, and high density in a roll package. 
     The present invention provides the following constitution so that problems mentioned above are solved. 
     The invention provides an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture which includes a rolling body having a predetermined width and weight, a holding portion to rotatably hold the rolling body, and an attaching portion to attach the holding portion to the front portion of a tractor or the rear portion of a grass collecting machine, wherein a line of collected grass is subject to rolling pressure by rolling of the rolling body according to movement of the tractor or the grass collecting machine with the attaching portion being attached to the front portion of the tractor towing a roll baler or the rear portion of the grass collecting machine. 
     The invention provides the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture, wherein the rolling body comprises a plurality of tires in parallel. 
     The invention provides the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture, wherein the rolling body is formed in the shape of cylindrical body or columnar body. 
     The invention provides the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture, wherein the cylindrical body is made in the form of metal cylindrical body or the columnar body is made in the form of metal columnar body. 
     The invention provides the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture, wherein the holding portion has leg portions hanging at both ends thereof, respectively, and tires are rotatably mounted at the lower ends of the leg portions, and arm portions which swing in accordance with activation of a hydraulic hoist are swingably mounted at both ends of the holding portion and inside the leg portions, and the rolling body is rotatably supported on a shaft at both ends of the arm portions. 
     The invention provides the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture, wherein both arm portions are limited to swing within a predetermined extent by an elastic means. 
     The invention provides the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture, wherein a gauge to indicate a distance between the rolling body and the holding portion is mounted with the lower end portion being swingably disposed at the center of a spanning portion to span both the arm portions and the upper end portion slidably penetrating a gauge holding member mounted on the holding portion. 
     According to the present invention, grass on a line of collected grass can be taken in smoothly into a chamber of a roll baler by compressing with a rolling body such as a roller of tire immediately after collecting grass with a rake which is a grass collecting machine to reduce the volume and enhance the density. 
     The method mentioned above makes it possible to prevent break of operation caused by a clogged roll baler with grass that have negatively affected efficiency of harvesting pasture in the past, leading to achieving an increase in speed of harvesting pasture, a decrease in occurrence of troubles, and high density in a roll package, in addition, contribution to saving energy and to ecology. 
     Also, management costs can be saved significantly since the packaging capacity is increased by over 10 to 15% compared with a conventional size of roll. 
     Furthermore, the following effects are expected to happen;
         Scattering of pasture can be prevented even when windy days.   Drying grass excessively can be prevented.   Vehicles including a tractor can smoothly pass through on a line of collected grass due to the decreased volume of the line of grass. In this case, troubles such as grass getting stuck cannot happen.   Less moisture is absorbed since the air does not smoothly pass through the line of grass.   When a forage harvester is used, taking in of grass into the forage harvester and cutting operation are facilitated, leading to high efficiency in operations with forage harvester.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view to show a status in which the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the front portion of a tractor which tows a roll baler; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view to show a status in which the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the front portion of the tractor which tows the roll baler; 
         FIG. 5  ( a ) is a perspective view to show a status of a line of collected grass before being compressed with the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  ( b ) is a perspective view to show a status of the line of collected grass after being compressed with the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view to show a status in which the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is attached to the rear portion of a grass collecting machine; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view to show a status in which the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is attached to the rear portion of the grass collecting machine; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , reference number  1  denotes an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The auxiliary device  1  for harvesting pasture is mounted with a plurality of tires  2  in parallel as a rolling body having a predetermined width and weight, and a holding portion  3  for rotatably holding the tires  2 , and an attaching portion  4  for attaching the holding portion  3  to the front portion of a tractor (not shown). 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show a status in which a tractor  6  is connected with the auxiliary device  1  for harvesting pasture by attaching the attaching portion  4  of the auxiliary device  1  for harvesting pasture to the front portion of the tractor  6  towing a roll baler  5 . Although mounting to the front portion of a tractor  6  which does not tow a roll baler  5  is possible, it is better for operating efficiency to simultaneously carry out operations with the auxiliary device  1  for harvesting pasture and with the roll baler  5  in a row by mounting to the front of the tractor  6  towing the roll baler  5 . 
     Thus, when the tractor  6  advances along a line of grass (refer to reference number  7  in  FIG. 5 ) collected with a grass collecting machine (not shown) under the condition that the tractor  6  towing the roll baler  5  is connected with the auxiliary device  1  for harvesting pasture, a plurality of tires  2  of the auxiliary device  1  for harvesting pasture roll on, press and compress the line of collected grass so that the volume of grass is reduced (downsized) and the density thereof is enhanced. 
       FIG. 5  ( a ) shows the status of a line of collected grass  7  before being compressed with the auxiliary device  1  for harvesting pasture.  FIG. 5  ( b ) shows the line of collected grass  7  after being compressed with the auxiliary device  1  for harvesting pasture. 
     Next, the following roll baler  5  takes in pasture on the line of collected grass which has been compressed through a chamber and carries out roll packaging. 
     When the roll baler  5  takes in pasture on the line of collected grass through a chamber, the pasture on the line of collected grass is taken in smoothly without causing clogging at an opening of the roll baler  5  since the line has already been compressed and the volume thereof has been reduced. Thus, it is possible to achieve an increase in speed of harvesting pasture and roll packaging, and high density in a roll package, in addition, to reduce breaks or breakdown caused by troubles arising at the roll baler  5 . 
     In  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , reference number  21  denotes an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. The auxiliary device  21  for harvesting pasture is mounted with a plurality of tires  22  in parallel as a rolling body having a predetermined width and weight, and a holding portion  23  for rotatably holding the tires  22 , and an attaching portion  24  for attaching the holding portion  23  to the rear portion of a grass collecting machine. 
       FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  show a status in which a grass collecting machine  25  is connected with the auxiliary device  21  for harvesting pasture by attaching the attaching portion  24  of the auxiliary device  21  for harvesting pasture to the rear portion of the grass collecting machine  25  towed by a tractor  26 . 
     Thus, when the tractor  26  advances and the grass collecting machine  25  is driven under the condition that the auxiliary device  21  for harvesting pasture is connected to the rear portion of the grass collecting machine  25  which is connected to the rear portion of the tractor  26 , the grass collecting machine  25  collects the grass which has already been cut and makes it into a line. 
     And, a plurality of tires  22  of the auxiliary device  21  for harvesting pasture roll on, press and compress the line of collected grass so that the volume of grass is reduced and the density thereof is enhanced. 
     Next, without showing a figure, the following roll baler takes in pasture on the line of collected grass which has already been compressed and carries out roll packaging. 
     When the roll baler takes in pasture on the line of collected grass, the pasture is taken in smoothly without causing clogging at a chamber of the roll baler since the line has already been compressed and the volume thereof has been reduced. Thus, it is possible to achieve an increase in speed of harvesting pasture and roll packaging, and high density in a roll package, in addition, to reduce breaks or breakdown caused by troubles arising at the roll baler. 
     In  FIG. 10 , reference number  31  denotes an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention. The auxiliary device  31  for harvesting pasture is mounted with a metal cylindrical body  32  instead of a plurality of tires in parallel (shown as reference number  2  in  FIG. 2 ) as a rolling body of the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture (shown as reference number  1  in  FIG. 2 ), and a holding portion  33  for rotatably holding the cylindrical body  32 , and an attaching portion  34  for attaching the holding portion  33  to the front portion of a tractor (not shown). 
     The cylindrical body  32  is not limited to be made of metal but including synthetic resin, rubber, wood or one of those materials whose circumference is covered with metal plate, and not limited to be formed in the shape of cylinder but including columnar shape. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the holding portion  33  of the auxiliary device  31  for harvesting pasture has leg portions  35  hanging at both ends thereof, respectively, and tires  36  are rotatably mounted at the lower ends of the leg portions  35 , and arm portions  38  which swing with activation of a hydraulic hoist  37  are swingably mounted at both ends of the holding portion  33  and inside the leg portions  35 , and the cylindrical body  32  is rotatably supported on a shaft at both ends of the arm portions  38 . 
     Also, both arm portions  38  are limited to swing within a predetermined extent by a spring  39 , which is an elastic means. 
     In further detail, the piston rod side of the hydraulic hoist  37  is swingably fixed at the center of a spanning portion  40  to span both arm portions  38 . A bar  41 , which coaxially extends from the cylinder side of the hydraulic hoist  37 , is mounted with the upper end slidably penetrating a bar holding member  42  mounted on the holding portion  33 . The spring  39 , which is an elastic means and fixed by the hydraulic hoist  37  and the bar holding member  42  at both ends thereof, is disposed between the hydraulic hoist  37  and the bar holding member  42 , holding the bar  41 . In the constitution described above, preferably, a bottom dead point of up-and-down movement of the cylindrical body  32  is set at a point just before the cylindrical body  32  touches the ground. 
     Accordingly, although the arm portions  38  swing as the cylindrical body  32  moves upward, the swing is controlled by reaction force from the spring  39  and up-and-down movement of the cylindrical body  32  is controlled by reaction force. With the reaction force and the cylindrical body  32 &#39;s own weight, the cylindrical body  32  can exert rolling pressure on a line of collected grass. 
     Also, a gauge  43  to indicate a distance between the cylindrical body  32  and the holding portion  33  is mounted with the lower end of portion being swingably mounted to the spanning portion  40 , and the upper end portion slidably penetrating the gauge holding member  44  mounted on the holding portion  33 . 
     When the spanning portion  40  moves up and down in accordance with up-and-down movement of the cylindrical body  32  against the holding portion  33 , the gauge  43  also moves up and down. When the upper end of gauge  43  moves up and down on the gauge holding member  44 , how much the cylindrical body  32  moves up and down can be read by a scale of the gauge  43  or a height thereof from the gauge holding member  44 . 
     The auxiliary device  31  for harvesting pasture described in the third embodiment can be used with being attached to the front portion of a tractor towing a roll baler in the same way as the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture (shown as reference number  1  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In  FIG. 12 , reference number  51  denotes an auxiliary device for harvesting pasture in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The auxiliary device  51  for harvesting pasture is mounted with a metal cylindrical body  52  instead of a plurality of tires in parallel (shown as reference number  22  in  FIG. 7 ) as a rolling body of the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture (shown as reference number  1  in  FIG. 7 ), and a holding portion  53  for rotatably holding the cylindrical body  52 , and an attaching portion  54  for attaching the holding portion  53  to the rear portion of a grass collecting machine. 
     In the same way as the cylindrical body (shown as reference number  32  in  FIG. 10 ), the cylindrical body  52  is not limited to be made of metal but including synthetic resin, rubber, wood or one of those materials whose circumference is covered with metal plate, and not limited to be formed in the shape of cylinder but including columnar shape. 
     The auxiliary device  51  for harvesting pasture described in the fourth embodiment can be used with being attached to the rear portion of a grass collecting machine in the same way as the auxiliary device for harvesting pasture (shown as reference number  21  in  FIG. 7 ) 
     The auxiliary device  51  for harvesting pasture in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention is mounted with the tires  36 , the hydraulic hoist  37 , the spring  39 , and the gauge  43 , which are shown in  FIG. 11  and mounted in the auxiliary device  31  for harvesting pasture in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, whereby the same advantages as described in the third embodiment can be obtained. 
     Also, the tires  36 , the hydraulic hoist  37 , the spring  39 , and the gauge  43  shown in  FIG. 11  can be mounted to the auxiliary devices  1 ,  21  for harvesting pasture in accordance with the first and second embodiments of the present invention in the same way as the auxiliary device  31  for harvesting pasture in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention to obtain the same advantages as described in the third embodiment. 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that it is capable of further modifications, and uses and/or adaptations of the invention and following in general the principle of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope of the invention or limits of the claims appended hereto. 
     DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
     
         
           1 ,  21 ,  31 ,  51 : AUXILIARY DEVICE FOR HARVESTING PASTURE 
           2 ,  22 ,  36 : TIRE 
           3 ,  23 ,  33 ,  53 : HOLDING PORTION 
           4 ,  24 ,  34 ,  54 : ATTACHING PORTION 
           5 : ROLL BALER 
           6 ,  26 : TRACTOR 
           7 : LINE OF COLLECTED GRASS 
           25 : GRASS COLLECTING MACHINE 
           32 ,  52 : CYLINDRICAL BODY 
           35 : LEG PORTION 
           37 : HYDRAULIC HOIST 
           38 : ARM PORTION 
           40 : SPANNING PORTION 
           43 : GAUGE 
           44 : GAUGE HOLDING MEMBER