Improvements in Implements for Pulling up Potato Plants.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1899—Accepted, 1st July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Implements for Pulling up Potato Plants.
I, ANTON DAMBACHER, of No. 35, Pariser Strasse, in the City of Munich, in the
Kingdom of Bavaria and German Empire, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In using potato diggers as at present constructed it is found that the removal of
the plant presents difficulties and that the device for the purpose impedes the action
of the devices for digging and collecting the tubers.
According to the present invention this difficulty is obviated by keeping the two
operations entirely separate through using two distinct implements. The implement
forming the subject of the present application is only for pulling up the potato plant,
and this operation is carried out preliminary to the use of the implement for 'digging
and collecting the tubers from the rows or hills.
The implement now described consists essentially of a device for tearing asunder or
separating the plant, in order to press the stalks forward; a device for drawing the
stalks together into a convenient position; and a wheel to seize them in a bunch by
means of a bowed spring, pull them up and transport them to a series of travelling
bands provided with teeth, which bring the plant under a cutting device having a
set of stationary and of rotating knives.
By means of this latter arrangement the plant is chopped up and may be then
dispersed. Any tubers which may be lifted with the plant are separated by a rake
device below the wheel.
On the accompanying drawing one form of carrying out the invention is shown.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the implement.
Fig. 2 a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 a section on the line x-x, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 a rear view, to a larger scale, of the wheel for pulling up the plant, the
central case or cylinder being shown in section.
.
Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of Fig. 4.
Fig. one of the arms of the wheel separately, drawn to a still larger scale, and
showing the hook and bowed spring.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the latter.
The implement as a whole runs on wheels a, and is driven by chain wheels 'b
mounted on the same axle, and engaging with other chain wheels d. The imple-
ment is steered by the fore-carriage c.
On the axle a is mounted the inain framework carrying at its front end the
vertical adjustable blade device m, which forms a preliminary or advance cutter and
serves the purpose of tearing the plant apart and bending it over in the direction
in which the implement is travelling. Below the framework is carried a
shaft n, on which is mounted the frame l, carrying the operating device proper.
The frame can be raised and lowered at its rear end by means of a crank o,
shaft o' and chain o², whereby the wheel e may be adjusted to the proper height.
The frame also carries the bowed pivotally mounted presser device i, for
pressing down the stalks of the plant. This device is carried by lateral arms i¹,

page_text: (Fig. 1) and presses down the plant by its own weight into the position for the
wheel to seize it.
This wheel consists of a cylindrical case e, having hooks el secured radially
to it and adapted to seize the stalks of the plant pressed down by the presser device
(as shown in Fig. 5), and to pull them out and elevate them. On the case e bowed
springs are arranged, pressed outwards by the spiral springs p, and each having
one end connected to a chain or wire fastened to one arm of a lever r (Fig. 5)
pivoted to the case e.
q
These bowed springs q are for the purpose of preventing the plant which has been
pulled up from falling down again, so that it may be carried by the hooks e¹ to a
transport mechanism f and there deposited by the bowed springs q being drawn back
through the operation of their respective levers r. The bowed springs are acted upon
twice by the levers r in each revolution of the wheel, that is, on the levers 7 sliding
over the two rollers 1 (Figs. 4 and 5).
Above the wheel are a number of sickle shaped knives g (Figs. 1 and 3), so
arranged that they take into the spaces between the travelling bands. f.. Operating
with the rotating blades g are other stationary knives h fixed on the main framework,
in such manner that each blade g comes between two stationary knives h.
The operation of the implement is as follows:
The plant pulled out of the ground is carried by the wheel through half a revolution
(Fig. 4). In this position the bowed spring q under the action of the lever and
roller is drawn down, and the plant now free is caught by the teeth s of the
travelling bands which carry it to the knives gh. Here the rotary blades g throw the
stalks against the stationary blades h, so that they are finely chopped up, and may
then fall into a collector, or (since in this chopped form the stalks can no longer
impede the potato digging machine) may be allowed to drop on the row. Behind the
wheel (Fig. 1) a rake t is arranged, by means of which any potatoes pulled up and
hanging to the plant are raked off and fall to the ground. At the rear end of the
implement there is also a device u for working through the rows or hills and thus
preparing for the subsequent operation of the potato gatherer.,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
'
1. An implement for pulling up potato plants, comprising a suitable framework (l)
mounted on wheels (a c) and carrying a device (m) to separate the plants, and an
adjustable frame (k) on which is pivoted a device (i) to bend over the plants, said
frame having mounted on it a wheel driven by means of suitable gearing from the
main axle, provided with hooks (el) and a spring device (7) and operating. mechanism
(); in combination with a transporter (f) and cutting device consisting of rotary
blades (9) cooperating with stationary blades (h), and a raking device (t), with or
without the addition of a device (u) for working through. the rows or hills, all
substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
2. In an implement for pulling up potato plants, a wheel for seizing and raising
the plants from the ground, comprising a central part or case having radial hooked
arms (el) and bowed springs (q) pressed outwards by spiral springs (p) and drawn
inwards by lever and roller device (r r¹), all arranged and operating substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1890
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