DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of apparatus for harvesting tuber crops.
DEFINITION
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
Tractor/ Agricultural Vehicle: The term “Tractor/ Agricultural Vehicle” refers to an engineering vehicle such as a mini tractor, a large tractor or any prime mover or machine or a power tiller having four wheels with an architecture of a tractor having horse power in the range from 10 HP (horse power) and above and specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or construction.
Dehaulming:- The term “Dehaulming” refers to the act of detaching the vegetative part of a plant, found above the ground, from the root tubers.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Tuber crops such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, and aroids are grown all around the world, and are often thought of as roots because they usually grow below the ground, but technically they are starchy, enlarged modified stems called tubers, which grow on short branches called stolons from the lower parts of plants. These tubers are harvested as a major component of food throughout the world. The present disclosure is related to devices and methods for harvesting different types of tuber crops which also include potatoes available in India namely, Kufri Chamatkar, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Dewa, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Kuber, Kufri Kundan, Kufri Lalima, Kufri Lauvkar, Kufri Pushkar, Kufri Red, Kufri Safed, Kufri Sheetman, and Kufri Sindhuri.
Based on the final usage of the Potatoes they can be classified as Seed Potato, Processing Potato and Table Potato. The Potato harvesting methods for the three types is different as the shelf life is different. The Seed potato has a shelf life of 6 to 8 months as it is stored in Cold storages and sold in next season for cultivation. The Table Potato would have a shelf life of around one to two months. The Processing Potato has a shelf life of around one month. The shelf life decides the way potato is harvested. The seed potato is harvested 15 days after dehaulming (vine cutting). When they are harvested, they are sunbathed for 5 to 6 hours and then “cured” in straw heaps. The Table Potato and the processing potato are directly harvested and taken to the processing machines or mandis respectively.
Also, the time of harvest is very important in these potatoes. The development of tuber continues till vines die. The main crop is ready for harvest within 75-120 days of planting depending upon the area, soil type and variety sown. The main crop is ready for harvest when majority of the leaves turn yellow-brown. At this stage, the tops are cut near the ground level. The potatoes are dug out from the field by ploughing after 8-10 days. These potatoes are manually picked from the field and stored in shade. However, manual harvesting of potatoes is very labor intensive, time consuming and causes lot of damage to the tubers.
To overcome the drawbacks of manual harvesting, nowadays digging machines are being used. However, these machines only dig potatoes from the ground and leave it open on the earth for manual picking. This semi-mechanized method of harvesting is labor intensive as well as lot of potatoes remain unearthed and causes loss to the farmer.
Therefore, there is a need of an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops that alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops that increases picking efficiency.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops that reduces damage to the tuber crops while harvesting.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops that reduces the choking of tubers while being harvested/ while being uprooted.
Still yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops that reduces the time and effort required for cleaning the tubers post harvesting.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops that reduces windrowing time and increases the turnaround time.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for harvesting tuber crops that single handedly allows digging, windrowing, loading and cleaning of tubers with one machine only.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops. The apparatus configured to be detachably coupled to an agricultural vehicle. The apparatus configured to receive power from the vehicle. The apparatus comprises a digging conveyor, a plurality of array of blades, a clod separator, a cleaning conveyor, a flat conveyor, and a plurality of chain drives and gearboxes. The digging conveyor has an inclined tray. The digging conveyor is configured to be coupled to an operative front end of the vehicle. The digging conveyor is configured to dig and scoop a mass of land comprising mixture of tubers and soil. The conveyor is further configured to allow the land mass to travel upwards. The plurality of array of blades is operatively configured on the tray. The blades are configured to cut the land mass to separate the tubers from the land mass during upward travel of the land mass and allow small particles of land mass to fall back on ground. The clod separator is configured to receive tubers from the digging conveyor, the clod separator configured to generate vibrations to separate soil stuck on the tubers. The cleaning conveyor is configured to receive the tubers from the clod separator, the cleaning conveyor configured to clean the tubers. The flat conveyor is configured to receive the cleaned tubers from the cleaning conveyor, and further configured to transport the cleaned tubers. The plurality of chain drives and gearboxes operatively coupled with the digging conveyor, the clod separator, the cleaning conveyor, and the flat conveyor to allow transportation of tubers from the digging conveyor to the flat conveyor upon reception of power from the PTO shaft of the vehicle.
In an embodiment, the digging conveyor includes a plurality of rotating plates configured to create the row marking on the land for differentiating dug and non-dug areas of land.
The first chain drive and the second chain drive coupled at left hand side and at right hand side of an axle shaft of a rear wheel of the vehicle respectively. The first chain drive includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket and the second sprocket are configured to be coupled with a chain to allow power transmission from the axle to the first sprocket and then to the second sprocket. The second chain drive includes a third sprocket and a fourth sprocket. The third sprocket and the fourth sprocket are configured to be coupled with a chain to allow power transmission from third sprocket to the fourth sprocket. The third chain drive is configured to power the cleaning conveyor. Third chain drive includes a fifth sprocket coupled via a chain to a sixth sprocket. The fourth chain drive configured to power the flat conveyor, the fourth chain drive includes a seventh sprocket and an eighth sprocket coupled via a chain. The fifth chain drive and a sixth chain drive are configured to power the digging conveyor, and the array of blades. The fifth chain drive includes a ninth sprocket and a tenth sprocket configured to be coupled via a chain. The sixth chain drive includes an eleventh sprocket and a twelfth sprocket coupled with a chain.
In an embodiment, the digging conveyor includes a sandwich belt operatively disposed thereon. The sandwich belt is configured to be driven by the fifth and the sixth chain drive to activate the digging conveyor. In an embodiment, the sandwich belt includes a fourteenth chain drive and a fifteenth chain drive to activate the digging conveyor.
In an embodiment, the sandwich belt is a transporting mechanism selected as a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, chains, tubes, or a combination thereof.
In an embodiment, a chain drive of the plurality of chain drives is selected from the group consisting of a chain drive, a gear drive, a belt drive, a rope drive, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) drive, or any combination thereof.
The first gearbox is configured to be coupled with the axle tor receive power from a power take off (PTO) shaft of the vehicle. The first gear box configured to reduce the power input, and is further configured to transmit the power to the third chain drive to activate the cleaning conveyor. The second gearbox is configured to receive power transmitted from the first gearbox, and is further configured to reduce and transmit the received power. The third gearbox is configured to receive the reduced power from the second gearbox. The third gearbox is further configured to simultaneously activate the fourth chain drive, fifth chain drive, sixth chain drive to activate the flat conveyor, the sandwich belt, and the clod separator to harvest the tuber crop.
In an embodiment, the third gearbox is configured to be coupled with the eighth sprocket of the fourth chain drive via a cardan shaft, the cardan shaft configured to facilitate power transmission from the eighth sprocket to the third gearbox.
In an embodiment, the apparatus includes an elevator and a fall breaker removably coupled to the flat conveyor to allow the cleaned tubers to travel through the elevator and drop into a plurality of boxes coupled one below other.
In an embodiment, the fall breaker allows the cleaned tubers to fall gently in a truck or container via the boxes.
In an embodiment, the first gearbox is configured to be coupled with the PTO shaft of the vehicle via a universal joint (UJ) coupler to enable transfer of rotary motion from the PTO shaft to the first gear box.
In an embodiment, the agricultural vehicle is a tractor selected as a mini tractor, a large tractor or any prime mover or machine or a power tiller having four wheels with an architecture of a tractor having horse power in the range from 10 HP (horse power) and above.
In an embodiment, the first gearbox is coupled with the second gearbox via a second universal joint (UJ) coupler.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
An apparatus of the present disclosure for harvesting tuber crops will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a digging conveyor having an array of blade operatively mounted thereon and allowing tubers to travel upwards, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the digging conveyor of Figure 1 with a plurality of array of blades mounted thereon in spaced apart configuration;
Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the digging conveyor of Figure 1;
Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of the digging conveyor of Figure 2;
Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of an apparatus mounted on top of a tractor for harvesting tubers;
Figure 6 illustrates an isometric view of a sandwich belt coupled to the digging conveyor of Figure 1;
Figure 7 illustrates an isometric view of a clod separator coupled to the apparatus of Figure 5;
Figure 8 illustrates a top view of a third gear box operatively coupled to the sandwich belt of Figure 6 and to the clod separator of the apparatus of Figure 7;
Figure 9 illustrates an isometric view of a cleaning conveyor coupled with the first gear box of Figure 5;
Figure 10 illustrates a top view of a first gear box operatively coupled to a cleaning conveyor of the apparatus of Figure 5;
Figure 11 illustrates an isometric view of a flat conveyor of the apparatus of Figure 5;
Figure 12 illustrates a top view of a second gear box operatively coupled with the flat conveyor of Figure 10;
Figure 13 illustrates an isometric view of an elevator coupled with a fall breaker to cause the tubers to travel through elevator and fall breaker, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 14 illustrates a top view of the apparatus of Figure 5 depicting tubers travelling through the conveyors and three connection points;
Figure 15 enlarged top view of the apparatus of Figure 14 depicting a first gear box, a second gear box, and a third gear box coupled with each other using a universal joint (UJ) coupler;
Figure 16 illustrates a left hand side view of a chain drive coupled with an axle of a tractor to drive the units of the apparatus of Figure 5;
Figure 17 illustrates a right hand side view of a chain drive coupled with the axle of the tractor to drive the units of the apparatus of Figure 5;
Figure 18 illustrates a rear view of the first gear box coupled with the second gear box of Figure 15 via a chain drive to drive the flat conveyor of Figure 11;
Figure 19 illustrates a left hand side view depicting coupling between the 22 teeth sprocket of the second gear box of Figure 18 with the third gear box of Figure 15 by using a cardan shaft;
Figure 20 illustrates a top view depicting a coupling between the third gear box of Figure 15 and the digging conveyor of Figure 1;
Figure 21 illustrates a side view of the apparatus of Figure 5 depicting digging conveyor coupled with the third gearbox of Figure 15 using a chain drive;
Figure 22 illustrates a front view of the third gear box of Figure 15 coupled with a chain drive to drive the sandwich belt of Figure 11;
Figure 23 illustrates a left hand side view of the third gear box of Figure 15 coupled with a chain drive to drive the sandwich belt of Figure 11;
Figure 24 illustrates an enlarged isometric view of a flat conveyor coupled with the second gear box of Figure 15;
Figure 25 illustrates an enlarged view of a chain drive coupled with the flat conveyor of Figure 24;
Figure 26 illustrates an isometric view of the cleaning conveyor coupled with the apparatus of Figure 5; and
Figure 27 illustrates a left hand side view of the apparatus of Figure 5 detachably coupled with the elevator and the fall breaker of Figure 13.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1000 – Tractor/ Agricultural vehicle
100 – An apparatus for harvesting tuber crops
102 – Digging conveyor
102A – Sandwich belt
104 – Rotating plates
106 – Array of blades
108 – Inclined Tray
110 – Tubers/ Potatoes
115 – Power take-off (PTO) shaft
116 – First gearbox
118 – Cleaning conveyor
120 – Second gearbox
122 – Flat conveyor
124 – Third gearbox
130 – Clod separator
132 – Elevator
134 – Fall breaker
134A – Boxes
136A – First connection point
136B – Second connection point
136C – Third connection point
138A – First universal joint (UJ) coupler
138B – Second universal joint (UJ) coupler
140A – First chain drive
140B – Second chain drive
140C – Third chain drive
140D – Fourth chain drive
140E – Fifth chain drive
140F – Sixth chain drive
140G – Seventh chain drive
141 – First sprocket
142 – Second sprocket
143 – Third sprocket
144A---144F – Chains
145 – Fourth sprocket
146 – Fifth sprocket
148 – Cardan shaft
150 – Sixth sprocket
152 – Seventh sprocket
154 – Eighth sprocket
156 – Ninth sprocket
158 – Tenth sprocket
160 – Eleventh sprocket
162 – Twelfth sprocket
164 – Thirteenth sprocket
166 – Fourteenth sprocket
168 – Fifteenth sprocket
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, operations, elements and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The present disclosure envisages an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops. The apparatus for harvesting tuber crops (herein after referred to as “apparatus 100”) is now described with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 27.
The apparatus 100 of the present disclosure is configured to harvest tuber crops like potatoes, cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, and aroids. In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 of the present disclosure is configured to harvest different types of potatoes such as Kufri Chamatkar, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Dewa, Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Kuber, Kufri Kundan, Kufri Lalima, Kufri Lauvkar, Kufri Pushkar, Kufri Red, Kufri Safed, Kufri Sheetman, and Kufri Sindhuri.
The apparatus 100 comprises a digging conveyor 102, a clod separator 130, a plurality of chain drives (140A-140E), a cleaning conveyor 118, and a flat conveyor 122. In an embodiment, the agricultural vehicle 1000 (i.e., a tractor 1000) which has front wheels 110A and rear wheels 110B. In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 is configured to be detachably coupled to any kind of tractor, thereby overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional harvesting machines. In an embodiment, the tractor can be a mini tractor, a large tractor or any prime mover or machine or a power tiller having four wheels with an architecture of a tractor having horsepower in the range from 10 HP (horsepower) and above.
In an embodiment, the tractor 1000 is configured to be detachably coupled to the apparatus 100 using bolts and pins at three connecting points (136A-136C) as depicted in Figure 14, such that the apparatus 100 is coupled with a power take-off (PTO) shaft 115 of the tractor 1000 with a first gear box 116 via a first universal joint (UJ) coupler 138A. Each rear wheel 110B of the tractor 1000 includes a chain drive i.e., a first chain drive 140A coupled at the left hand side to the axle shaft and a second chain drive 140B coupled at the right hand side to the axle shaft of the tractor 1000. The first chain drive 140A includes a first sprocket 141 and a second sprocket 142. The second chain drive 140B includes a third sprocket 143 and a fourth sprocket 145. The second sprocket 142 is coupled with the axle shaft of the tractor 1000 and is configured to rotate along with the axle shaft. The first sprocket 141 is coupled with the second sprocket 142 via a first chain 144A to allow power transmission from axle to the first sprocket 141, and from the first sprocket 141 to the second sprocket 142. More specifically power is transmitted from the tractor shaft to the first sprocket 141, and then via the first chain 144A to the second sprocket 142, and from the second sprocket 142 to the rear wheels 110B.
Similarly, the fourth sprocket 145 is coupled to the third sprocket 143 via a second chain 144B to facilitate transmission of power. In an embodiment, each of the first sprocket 141 and the third sprocket 143 has at least 20 teeth. In an embodiment, each of the second sprocket 142 and the fourth sprocket 145 has at least 26 teeth.
The first gear box 116 is operatively coupled with a second gearbox 120 via a second universal joint (UJ) 138B. The first gearbox 116 is connected with the PTO shaft 115 with the help of the first UJ coupler 138A, to enable transfer of rotary motion from the PTO shaft 115 to the first gear box 116. The first gear box 116 is further configured to reduce the speed and transmit the reduced speed to the second gear box 120. The reduced speed from the first gear box 116 is transmitted to a third chain drive 140C to allow the third chain drive 140C to run the cleaning conveyor. In an embodiment, the third chain drive 140C includes a fifth sprocket 146 coupled via a third chain 144C to a sixth sprocket 150. In an embodiment, the fifth sprocket 146 has at least 20 teeth and the sixth sprocket 150 has at least 36 teeth. In an embodiment, the first gear box 116 is a one input and two output gear box that provides speed reduction in a pre-determined ratio.
The second gear box 120 is configured to receive the reduced rotational speed and drives a fourth chain drive 140D to operate the flat conveyor 122 disposed at the rear portion of the tractor 1000. The fourth chain drive 140D includes a seventh sprocket 152, an eighth sprocket 154, and a ninth sprocket 156 coupled via a fourth chain 144D. The seventh sprocket 152 has at least 30 teeth, the eighth sprocket 154 has at least 22 teeth, and the ninth sprocket has at least 20 teeth sprocket. In an embodiment, the second gear box 120 is a one input and one output type gear box which provides further speed reduction in a pre-determined ratio.
The eighth sprocket 154 is coupled with a third gear box 124 via a cardan shaft 148. The third gear box 124 is configured to receive the reduced rotational speed from the eighth sprocket 154, and further configured to drive a fifth chain drive 140E and a sixth chain drive 140F to drive a sandwich belt 102A disposed on the digging conveyor 102. The fifth chain drive 140E includes a tenth sprocket 158 and an eleventh sprocket 160 coupled via a fifth chain 144E. The sixth chain drive 140F includes a twelfth sprocket 162 and a thirteenth sprocket 164 coupled via a sixth chain 144F. The eleventh sprocket 160 is rotatably coupled on the right side and the thirteenth sprocket 164 is coupled on the left side of the top end of the digging conveyor 102. In an embodiment, the tenth sprocket 158 and the twelfth sprocket 162 have at least 20 teeth. In an embodiment, the tenth sprocket 160 and the thirteenth sprocket 164 each has at least 36 teeth. In an embodiment, the third gear box 124 is further configured to drive the clod separator 130 to allow the clod separator 130 to vibrate and allow the soil from the tubers 110 to fall on the ground. The third gear box 124 is one input and two output type of gear box.
In an embodiment, the sandwich belt 102A is in the form of a chain drive. More particularly, the sandwich belt 102A includes a seventh chain drive 140G having a fourteenth sprocket 166 and a fifteenth sprocket 168. The eleventh sprocket 160 and the thirteenth sprocket 164 are coupled with the fourteenth sprocket 166 to drive the fifteenth sprocket 168. The sandwich belt 102A is configured to drive the digging conveyor 102 to allow the harvested tubers 110 to travel towards the clod separator 130.
The digging conveyor 102 includes an inclined tray 108, an array of blades 106 are operatively disposed on the digging conveyor 102. More particularly, the arrays of blades 106 are disposed all over the tray 108. The digging conveyor 102 digs and scoops a mass of land which includes a mixture of tubers and soil. The digging conveyor 102 is further configured to allow the land mass to travel upwards. During upward travel, the blades 106 facilitates cutting of heap of landmass and separate tubers 110 (refer Figure 1). The blades 106 allow the landmass containing small particles to drop back to ground and simultaneously retain the tubers 110. The digging conveyor 102 is coupled with the sandwich belt 102A. A plurality of rotating plates 104 are rotatably coupled to the lower end of the tray 108 on either side. The rotating plates 104 along with the blades 106 facilitate digging of soil containing tubers 110 to be harvested. Further, the rotating plates 104 also create the row marking on the ground for differentiating dug and non-dug areas. The gap between the blades 106 is less at the lower end of the tray 108 and is more at the top end of the tray 108. The rotating plates 104 rotate upon receiving rotational power from the sandwich belt 102A.
In an embodiment, an elevator 132 and a fall breaker 134 system is configured to be removably coupled at the flat conveyor 122 to allow the cleaned tubers such as potatoes 110 to travel through the elevator 132 and drop into a plurality of boxes 134A coupled one below other. The fall breaker 134 allows the tubers 110 to fall gently in a truck or container via the boxes 134A (refer Figure 13).
In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 can be easily detached or removed from the tractor 1000 by removing the bolts and pins from the three connection points (136A-136C).
In an embodiment, the sandwich belt 102A is a transporting mechanism selected as a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, chains, tubes, or a combination thereof.
In an embodiment, the number of teeth configured on each of the sprockets 141, 142, 143, 145, 146, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, and 168 can vary as per the application and requirement.
In an embodiment, each of the chain drives (140A-140G) is selected from the group consisting of a chain drive, a gear drive, a belt drive, a rope drive, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) drive, or any combination thereof.
In an operative configuration the apparatus 100 for harvesting tuber crop such as potatoes 110 is detachably coupled to the tractor 1000 at the three connection points (136A-136C), such that the gearboxes (116, 120, 124) receive power from the PTO shaft 115 of the tractor 1000. When the tractor 1000 is turned on, and the tractor 1000 is maneuvered, the apparatus 100 is activated. The first gear box 116 receives power input from the axle of the tractor 1000. The first gear box 116 reduces the power input and transmits the power to the third chain drive 140C to activate the cleaning conveyor 118, and simultaneously activates the second gear box 120. The second gear box 120 further reduces the power and activates the third gear box 124 and the fourth chain drive 140D to activate the flat conveyor 122. The third gear box 124 activates the fifth chain drive 140E and the sixth chain drive 140F to activate the sandwich belt 102A and simultaneously activates the clod separator 130. The sandwich belt 102A activates the digging conveyor 102. The digging conveyor 102 is configured to be inserted to scoop landmass including mixture of potatoes and soil. Once the land mass is scooped, the land mass is allowed to be transported from the lower end of the tray 108 to the top end of the tray 108 by the operation of the sandwich belt 102A. During upward travel, the heap of landmass is cut by the blades 106 to allow the land mass particles to drop back to ground and retain the potatoes 110. The potatoes 110 then travel to the top end of the tray 108. Further, the potatoes 110 are transported to the clod separator 130, where they are subjected to vibration to remove remaining soil stuck on the potatoes 110. Further, the potatoes 110 are transported to cleaning conveyor 118 where the potatoes 110 are cleaned and are transported to the flat conveyor 122. The potatoes 110 are either packed in truck or container by using the elevator 132 and the fall breaker 134.
Thus, the rotating plates 104 mounted on the digging conveyor 102 are flexible enough for digging the tubers and holding the tubers. The arrangement of the blades 106 enables to cut the land mass and dig the tubers out and prevent the tubers from falling back in the cultivated area. Further, the blades 106 also help to allow the tubers to move along with the sandwich belt 102A which will hold the tubers that are harvested as the sandwich belt 102A moves on. Also, there is a small gap between the blades 106 which is enough for sand, earth gravel or small stones to drop, however, it will be retained by the tubers and it can be adjustable based on the tuber variants. Further, if individual blades 106 are broken, the blades 106 can also be replaced instead of changing the whole system. Also, it avoids another top mounted moving system as the cutting blades 106 which holds the tubers and also helps in removing the soil.
Thus, the apparatus 100 harvests tubers without damaging the potatoes. Further, the use of apparatus 100 increases the efficiency of picking of tubers such as potatoes by 95% as compared to the conventional machines and methods. More specifically, the apparatus 100 facilitates a harvesting process which allows harvesting of two rows of tubers such as potatoes by a single machine and then cleaning and transportation of the same. The apparatus 100 reduces the choking of tubers such as potatoes while harvesting. The apparatus 100 helps in reducing the dual operation into single operation. The apparatus 100 is powered by the agricultural vehicle i.e., a tractor 1000 and hence eliminates the need of an additional power source. Moreover, the apparatus 100 is such that he apparatus 100 is detachable from the tractor 1000, and therefore it facilitates the tractor 1000 to be used for other purposes during off harvesting season. As a result, the apparatus 100 occupies less space, and can be easily manufactured and maintained. Further, the apparatus 100 provides a low cost solution. The apparatus 100 facilitates digging, windrowing, loading and cleaning with one machine only, thereby reducing the turnaround time of harvesting. The apparatus 100 can also be implemented on a normal digger to increase the efficiency.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of an apparatus for harvesting tuber crops, that:
• increases efficiency of picking tubers;
• reduces damage to the tubers which are fallen to ground;
• reduces the chocking of tubers;
• reduces time and efforts for cleaning the tubers post harvesting;
• reduces windrowing time and increase the turnaround time; and
• allows digging, windrowing, loading and cleaning with one machine only.
The embodiments herein, the various features, and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. An apparatus (100) for harvesting tuber crops, said apparatus (100) configured to be detachably coupled to an agricultural vehicle (1000), said apparatus (100) configured to receive power from said vehicle (1000), said apparatus (100) comprising:
a. a digging conveyor (102) having an inclined tray (108) configured to be coupled to an operative front end of said agricultural vehicle (1000), said digging conveyor (102) configured to dig and scoop a mass of land, said mass of land comprising tubers (110) and soil , said conveyor (102) configured to allow said land mass to travel upwards;
b. a plurality of array of blades (106) operatively configured on said tray (108), said blades (106) configured to cut the land mass to separate said tubers (110) from said land mass and allow small particles of land mass to fall back on ground;
c. a clod separator (130) configured to receive tubers (110) from said digging conveyor (102), said clod separator (130) configured to generate vibrations to separate soil stuck on the tubers (110);
d. a cleaning conveyor (118) configured to receive the tubers (110) from said clod separator (130), said cleaning conveyor (118) configured to clean said tubers;
e. a flat conveyor (122) configured to receive said cleaned tubers (110) from said cleaning conveyor (118), and - configured to transport the cleaned tubers (110); and
f. a plurality of chain drives (140A-140E) and gearboxes (116, 120, 124) operatively coupled with said digging conveyor (102), said clod separator (130), said cleaning conveyor (118), and said flat conveyor (122) to allow transportation of tubers (110), each of said chain drives (140A-140E) and said gearboxes (116, 120, 124) is configured to receive power from a power take-off (PTO) shaft (115) of the agriculture vehicle (1000).
2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said digging conveyor (102) includes a plurality of rotating plates (104) configured to create the row marking on the land for differentiating dug and non-dug areas of land.
3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
a. said first chain drive (140A) and a second chain drive (140B) coupled at left hand side and at right hand side of an axle shaft of a rear wheel of the agriculture vehicle (1000) respectively, said first chain drive (140A) includes a first sprocket (141) and a second sprocket (142), said first sprocket (141) and said second sprocket (142) configured to be coupled with a first chain (144A) to allow power transmission from the axle to said first sprocket (141) and then to said second sprocket (142), said second chain drive (140B) includes a third sprocket (143) and a fourth sprocket (145) coupled with a second chain (144B) to allow power transmission from third sprocket (143) to said fourth sprocket (145);
b. said third chain drive (140C) configured to power said cleaning conveyor (118), said the third chain drive (140C) includes a fifth sprocket (146) coupled via a third chain (144C) to a sixth sprocket (150);
c. said fourth chain drive (140D) configured to power said flat conveyor (122), said fourth chain drive (140D) includes a seventh sprocket (152), an eighth sprocket (154) and a ninth sprocket (156) coupled via a fourth chain (144D); and
d. said fifth chain drive (140E) and a sixth chain drive (140F) configured to power said digging conveyor (102), and said array of blades (106), said fifth chain drive (140E) includes a tenth sprocket (158) and an eleventh sprocket (160) coupled via a fifth chain (144E), and said sixth chain drive (140F) includes a twelfth sprocket (162) and a thirteenth sprocket (164) coupled with a sixth chain (144F).
4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said digging conveyor (102) includes a sandwich belt (102A) operatively coupled with said fifth chain drive (140E) and said sixth chain drive (140F) to activate said digging conveyor (102) and said clod separator (130).
5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sandwich belt (102A) is a transporting mechanism selected as a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, chains, tubes, or a combination thereof.
6. The apparatus (100) as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein a chain drive of said chain drives (140A-140G) is selected from the group consisting of a chain drive, gear drive, belt drive, rope drive, continuously variable transmission (CVT) drive, or a combination thereof.
7. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
a. said first gearbox (116) configured to be coupled with the axle to receive power from the power take off (PTO) shaft (115) of the agriculture vehicle (1000), said first gear box (116) configured to reduce the power input, and configured to transmit the power to the third chain drive (140C) to activate the cleaning conveyor (118);
b. said second gearbox (120) coupled with said first gearbox (116) via a second universal joint (UJ) coupler (138B), said second gearbox (120) configured to receive power transmitted from the first gearbox (116), said second gearbox (120) configured to reduce and transmit the received power; and
c. said third gearbox (124) configured to receive the reduced power from the second gearbox (120), said third gearbox (124) configured to simultaneously activate said fourth chain drive (140D), said fifth chain drive (140E), and said sixth chain drive (140F) to activate the flat conveyor (122), the sandwich belt (102A), and said clod separator (130).
8. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said sandwich belt (102A) includes a fourteenth sprocket (166) and a fifteenth sprocket (168), said sandwich belt (102A) configured to activate said digging conveyor (102).
9. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third gearbox (124) is configured to be coupled with said eighth sprocket (154) of said fourth chain drive (140D) via a cardan shaft (148), said cardan shaft (148) configured to facilitate power transmission from said eighth sprocket (154) to said third gearbox (124).
10. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, said apparatus (100) includes an elevator (132) and a fall breaker (134) removably coupled to said flat conveyor (122) to allow the cleaned tubers to travel through the elevator (132) and drop into a plurality of boxes (134A) coupled one below other to said fall breaker (134), said fall breaker (134) allows the cleaned tubers (110) to fall gently in a truck or container via the boxes (134A)..
11. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first gearbox (116) is configured to be coupled with said PTO shaft (115) of the agriculture vehicle (1000) via a first universal joint (UJ) coupler (138A) to enable transfer of rotary motion from the PTO shaft (115) to the first gear box (116).
12. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the agriculture vehicle (1000) is a tractor selected as a mini tractor, a large tractor or any prime mover or machine with an architecture of a tractor having horsepower in the range from 10 HP (horsepower) and above.

Dated this 24th day of January, 2022

_______________________________
MOHAN RAJKUMAR DEWAN, IN/PA – 25
Of R.K.DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant

TO,
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, AT CHENNAI