CLEANING CROPS VEHICLE AND METHOD OF THE SAME

Abstract

A vehicle is configured to operate next to a harvesting machine, and comprises a first receptacle suitable to receive crops delivered by the harvesting machine through a delivering conveyor while the vehicle is driving alongside the harvesting machine during a mobile harvesting operation and a cleaning device adapted to receive the received crops of the first receptacle and automatically separate the received crops in excess materials and cleaned crops. The vehicle is operated such that the excess materials of the cleaning device are scattered on the agricultural field while the vehicle is driving along the agricultural field and in that the vehicle further comprises a second receptacle adapted to buffer the cleaned crops.

Claims

1.-17. (canceled)

18. A vehicle configured to drive on a public road and on an agricultural field, and further configured to operate next to a harvesting machine, the vehicle comprising: a first receptacle suitable to receive crops delivered by the harvesting machine through a delivering conveyor of the harvesting machine while the vehicle is driving alongside the harvesting machine during a mobile harvesting operation; and a cleaning device adapted to: receive the received crops of the first receptacle; and automatically separate the received crops in excess materials and cleaned crops; wherein during the mobile harvesting operation, the vehicle is operated such that the excess materials of the cleaning device are scattered on the agricultural field while the vehicle is driving along the agricultural field, and in that the vehicle further comprises: a second receptacle adapted to buffer the cleaned crops of the cleaning device; and during a stationary dumping operation, the vehicle is further configured to buffer the excess materials.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the vehicle is further configured to scatter the excess materials while the vehicle is driving along the agricultural field next to the harvesting machine during a mobile harvesting operation.

20. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the vehicle is further configured to scatter the excess materials while the vehicle is travelling on the agricultural field from the harvesting machine towards a stationary dumping location.

21. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the vehicle is further configured to scatter the excess materials while the vehicle is travelling on the agricultural field from a stationary dumping location towards the harvesting machine.

22. The vehicle according to claim 18, the vehicle further comprising: a distribution conveyor pivotally and/or telescopically mounted such that the cleaned crops received from the cleaning device may be uniformly distributed in the second receptacle; and/or a discharging conveyor adapted to convey the cleaned crops from the second receptacle to a storage and/or transport receptacle.

23. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the cleaning device is further configured: to extract stones from the excess materials; and/or to extract ferromagnetic materials from the excess materials.

24. The vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising a ventilator and a stud conveyor belt, the ventilator configured to blow the received crops against the stud conveyor belt, the stud conveyor configured to separate the received crops in the excess materials and the cleaned crops.

25. The vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising a flattening roll configured to crush prior to the scattering the excess materials.

26. The vehicle according to claim 18, the vehicle further comprising: a transmitting conveyor configured to transmit the received crops from the first receptacle to the cleaning device; and a driver's cabin movable mounted on one or two arms such that the driver's cabin may be lifted; and wherein the first receptacle is mounted on the transmitting conveyor; and wherein the transmitting conveyor is movable mounted on the vehicle such that it may be moved under or along the driver's cabin when the driver's cabin is lifted.

27. The vehicle according to claim 18, the vehicle further comprising a shovel unit suitable to shovel crops, wherein the shovel unit is configured to transmit the shovelled crops to the first receptacle.

28. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the weight handling capacity of the first receptacle relative to the weight handling capacity of the second receptacle is in the range of 10% to 35%.

29. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the width of the vehicle is in the range of approximately 2m to 3m, and wherein the length of the vehicle is approximately 15m.

30. A method for operating the vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises the steps of: receiving crops from a harvesting machine while driving alongside the harvesting machine during a mobile harvesting operation on an agricultural field; and separating the received crops in excess materials and cleaned crops; wherein the excess materials are scattered on the agricultural field while driving along the agricultural field and the cleaned crops are buffered.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the excess materials are scattered while driving along the agricultural field next to the harvesting machine during a mobile harvesting operation.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the excess materials are scattered while travelling on the agricultural field from the harvesting machine towards a stationary dumping location.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the excess materials are scattered while travelling on the agricultural field from a stationary dumping location towards the harvesting machine.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the excess materials are buffered when being stationary at a stationary dumping location.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle suitable for cleaning crops received from a harvesting machine; and

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention driving on a public road; and

[0059] FIG. 3 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention driving on an agricultural field; and

[0060] FIG. 4 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention comprising cleaned crops in the second receptacle; and

[0061] FIG. 5 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention unloading cleaned crops in a container; and

[0062] FIG. 6 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a shovel unit.

[0063] FIG. 7 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a ventilator, a stud conveyor belt and a flattening roll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

[0064] FIG. 1 shows schematically a harvesting machine 100 and a vehicle 110 for cleaning received crops 102 from the harvesting machine 100. The harvesting machine 100 harvest crops on an agricultural field. These crops are delivered through a delivering conveyor 101 from the harvesting machine 100 to the vehicle 110. The received crops 102 are first collected in a first receptacle 111. According to an embodiment, the received crops are next conveyed through a transmitting conveyor 112 to a cleaning device 113. In the cleaning device 113 the received crops 102 are separated into cleaned crops 120 and excess materials 121. The excess materials 121 are scattered on the agricultural field. The cleaned crops 120 are conveyed by the use of a distribution conveyor 114 to a second receptacle 115. Finally, the cleaned crops 120 are discharged from the vehicle 110 through a discharging conveyor 116 to an external container 130.

[0065] FIG. 2 illustrates the vehicle 110 for cleaning crops. The vehicle 110 is located on a public road 210. The vehicle 110 comprises the first receptacle 111, the transmitting conveyor 112, the cleaning device 113, the distribution conveyor 114, the second receptacle 115 and the discharging conveyor 116. The vehicle 110 further comprises a driver's cabin 200 and an arm 201 mounted on the vehicle 110. When the vehicle 110 drives on the public road 210, the driver's cabin 200 is located at the front of the vehicle 110 and the first receptacle 110 and the transmitting conveyor 112 are located behind the driver's cabin 200. In this configuration a driver in the driver's cabin 200 has thus a good view of the public road while driving and the height of the vehicle is limited such that the vehicle is also suitable to drive on the public road 210 since the driver's cabin 200 is positioned in a low setting.

[0066] The vehicle 110 is also configured to drive on an agricultural field 300. FIG. 3 illustrates such an embodiment. First, the driver's cabin 200 is lifted on the arm 201 such that it is positioned higher than the first receptacle 111. Next, the first receptacle 111 and the transmitting conveyor 112 are moved under or next to the driver's cabin 200 such that they are located at the front of the vehicle 110. In this configuration a driver in the driver's cabin 200 has thus a good view of the first 112 and second receptacle 115. The first receptacle 111 is telescopically mounted on the vehicle 110 such that it is extended when it is located at the front of the vehicle 110. The transmitting conveyor 112 is positioned at the bottom of the first receptacle 111.

[0067] Next the delivering conveyor 101 of the harvesting machine 100 is placed above the first receptacle 111 such that crops 102 are received from the harvesting machine 100. Since the first receptacle 111 is telescopically mounted on the vehicle 110 the height between the transmitting conveyor 111 and upper surface of the transmitting conveyor 112 is adapted depending on the type of crops that are harvested. This height corresponds to the drop height of the harvested crops. Since a high drop height of crops may damage these crops it is important to limit this drop height. For example, if potatoes are harvested the drop height is preferably reduced to lower than 40 cm.

[0068] Additionally, a proximity sensor 310 is installed at the front of the driver's cabin 310. In this way the distance between the delivering conveyor 101 and the driver's cabin 200 is monitored by emitting for example electromagnetic or sound waves. This is beneficially since the vehicle 110 is driving along the harvesting machine 100 and thus if there is a speed difference between the two the distance between the driver's cabin 200 and the delivering conveyor 101 varies as well. This way any damage to the driver's cabin 200 is avoided.

[0069] In the cleaning device 113 the received crops 102 are separated into excess materials 121 and cleaned crops 120. The excess materials 121 are scattered on the agricultural field 300 while the cleaned crops 102 are conveyed to the second receptacle 114. FIG. 4 illustrates cleaned crops 102 in the second receptacle 115. The distribution conveyor 114 is pivotally mounted on the hinge 400 and further telescopically mounted as well. In this way the cleaned crops 120 are uniformly distributed in the second receptacle 115.

[0070] When the second receptacle 115 is partly or fully loaded with cleaned crops 120 they are unloaded in for example a container. FIG. 5 illustrates such an unloading operation. The container 101 is integrated in an external truck 500 which is located on the public road 210. The vehicle is still standing on the agricultural field 300. By the use of the discharging conveyor 116 which may also be installed in the second receptacle 115 the cleaned crops 120 are transferred to the truck 500 in particular to its container 101 and after this operation the vehicle 110 drives back to the harvesting machine 100.

[0071] Additionally, a proximity sensor 501 is installed at the back of the vehicle 110. In this way the distance between the vehicle 110 and the truck 500 is monitored by emitting for example electromagnetic or sound waves. This is beneficially since the vehicle 110 drives backwards to the truck 500 and the sensor 501 indicates the required distance between the vehicle 110 and the truck 500. This way any damage to the vehicle 500, in particular the discharging conveyor 116, and/or the truck 500 is avoided.

[0072] According to an embodiment, the vehicle 110 further comprises a shovel unit 600. The shovel unit 600 is mounted in front of the vehicle 110. Crops 102 dropped at a dumping location, for example on a field or in a silo, are shovelled by the shovel unit 600 and the shovel unit 600 drops the crops in the first receptacle 111. Next, the crops are transmitted to the cleaning device 113 and the cleaning operation is performed in the same way as when the crops are received by a delivering conveyor 101 of a harvesting machine 100. The shovel unit 600 comprises, for example, a telescopic handler and a transporting conveyor. By use of the telescopic handler, crops located at a distance of the vehicle 110 may be shovelled as well, which increases the efficiency and flexibility of the vehicle 110.

[0073] According to an embodiment, the vehicle 110 further comprises a flattening roll, a stud conveyor belt and/or a ventilator. FIG. 7 illustrates such a vehicle 110 comprising the ventilator 701, the flattening roll 702 and the stud conveyor belt 703. Firstly, the cleaning device 113 which comprises, for example, axial rollers, separates excess materials 121 from the received crops 102 and the excess materials 121 are subsequently guided to the flattening roll 702. The flattening roll 702 crushes or flattens the excess materials 121 prior to the scattering. The excess materials 121 comprise, for example, small potatoes, also denominated as parispotatoes, which are crushed such that they will not deteriorate the agricultural field when scattered on it.

[0074] The vehicle 110 further comprises the ventilator 701 which blows the received crops 102 against the stud conveyor belt 703. The studs of the stud conveyor belt 703 are dimensioned in such a way that the received crops 102 are further separated in cleaned crops 120 and excess materials 121.

[0075] According to an aspect of the invention, the first receptacle 111 may also be replaced by the shovel unit 600. This way, the shovelled crops are immediately transmitted to the cleaning device 113 such that the cleaning process is initiated in a faster way. Another advantage is that the vehicle is lighter.

[0076] Although the present invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention may be embodied with various changes and modifications without departing from the scope thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. In other words, it is contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the basic underlying principles and whose essential attributes are claimed in this patent application. It will furthermore be understood by the reader of this patent application that the words comprising or comprise do not exclude other elements or steps, that the words a or an do not exclude a plurality, and that a single element, such as a computer system, a processor, or another integrated unit may fulfil the functions of several means recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the respective claims concerned. The terms first, second, third, a, b, c, and the like, when used in the description or in the claims are introduced to distinguish between similar elements or steps and are not necessarily describing a sequential or chronological order. Similarly, the terms top, bottom, over, under, and the like are introduced for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to denote relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and embodiments of the invention are capable of operating according to the present invention in other sequences, or in orientations different from the one(s) described or illustrated above.