SPECIFICATION

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: COMBINE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]
The present invention relates to a combine (which is also referred to as a combine-harvester in the art). More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement of the structure of a chaff sieve in a combine, but is not limited thereto.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]
In a known chaff sieve structure of a conventional combine, a sieve casing 9 provided with a chaff sieve 19 for sorting threshing matter which falls from a receiving net (or a concave) 6 is provided to a sorting section 3 so as to be able to swing forward and backward, the sorting section 3 being positioned below a threshing chamber of the threshing device. In the chaff sieve 19, numerous parallel sorting plates (chaff lip plates 19a) are arranged front to rear at a predetermined pitch, the plurality of sorting plates 19a are supported so as to be able to swing about a horizontal axis, a support frame (connecting plate 29) is connected and extends front to rear between the plurality of sorting plates 19a, and the angle of the plurality of sorting plates 19a is changed in association with the forward and backward movement of the support frame 29 (see Patent Document 1).

[0003]
In the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, a horizontally oriented support shaft 28 (locking pin 38) provided to the lower end portions of the sorting plates 19a is pivotably supported on the support frame 29, and one end of an operating lever 36 is pivotably supported on the support shaft 29 of the upper end portion of a single sorting plate 19a. In a state in which an elongated hole 37 is formed in the center portion of the operating lever 36, the locking pin 38 at the lower end portion of the sorting plate 19a is fitted in the elongated hole 37 so that the sorting plate 19a can swing within the range of the elongated hole 37, a coil spring 30a for urging the sorting plate 19a in the closing direction is provided to the locking pin 38, and in the normal state, the sorting plate 19a is in contact with the upper end of the elongated hole 37. The lower end portion of the operating lever 36 is retained by the locking pin 38, thereby positioning the operating lever 36, and the degree of opening of the chaff sieve is changed by changing the position at which the operating lever 36 is engaged with the locking pin 38.

[0004]
In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a configuration is adopted whereby the degree of opening (angle of the sorting plates 19a) of the chaff sieve 19 can be changed by changing the position of the operating lever 36, but even when the sorting plates 19a are fixed in a predetermined position in order to enable adaptation to the amount of threshing, when the processed amount increases (becomes heavier), the angle of the sorting plates 19a changes against the coil spring 30a and the degree of opening of the chaff sieve 19 increases. This threshing device is configured to be suitable for harvesting rice in particular, and this configuration can be applied without modification to a combine for harvesting rapeseed or the like, but is not preferred.
Specifically, in a common type of combine for harvesting rapeseed and the like, the threshing drum is long, and processed matter in which rapeseed grains, pods, small stem debris, and the like that flow down from through the receiving net are mixed together is sorted by the sorting section. Since the opening size of the receiving net is set to a small value for rapeseed harvesting, when the chaff sieve used in the sorting operation has a wide variation in the degree of opening thereof, most of the processed matter flows down from between the chaff plates without being winnowed, and poor sorting can result.

[0005]
In another known chaff sieve structure in a conventional combine, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, in a sorting section B positioned below a threshing chamber 3 of a threshing device, a sieve casing 10 provided with a chaff sieve 7 for sorting threshing matter that drops from a receiving net 4 is provided so as to be able to swing forward and backward, and the chaff sieve 7 is configured such that numerous sorting plates (chaff plates 11) are provided parallel to each other and arranged from front to rear at a predetermined pitch, the plurality of sorting plates 11 is supported so as to be able to swing about a horizontal axis, a support frame (linking member 13) is connected extending front to rear between the plurality of chaff plates 11, and the angle of the plurality of sorting plates 11 is changed in association with the forward and backward movement of the support frame 13.

[0006]
In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, a configuration is adopted in which an operating arm 17 is attached to a pivot support shaft 14 provided to the upper end portion of a single sorting plate 11 and a pivot support pin 18 provided to the lower end portion of the single sorting plate 11, a release wire 22 which can be pulled is retained by the lower end portion of the operating arm 17, a spring 23 is provided for supplying an elastic urging force in the closing direction of the sorting plates 11 of the chaff sieve 7 in the direction opposite the release wire 22, and the degree of opening of the chaff sieve can be changed through the use of a manual operating lever or the like attached to the distal end of the release wire 22.

In this technique, although not configured in the manner disclosed in Patent Document 1 in which a chaff plate swings within the range of an elongated hole formed in an operating lever, a structure is formed such that when the operating lever is fixed in a predetermined position, the sorting plate 11 is urged in the closing direction by a spring 23 in the same manner as in the technique of Patent Document 1, and when the processed amount increases (becomes heavy), the angle of the sorting plate 11 changes against the spring, and the degree of opening of the chaff sieve 7 increases. Consequently, when this structure is applied without modification to a combine for harvesting rapeseed, the same problem of poor sorting can occur as in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1.

(The reference numerals in the above description are those of the respective patent documents.)

PRIOR ART
Patent Documents

[0007]
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-262138 (JP 2000-262138 A)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-75640 (JP 10-075640 A)

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEM(S) TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a combine provided with a chaff sieve structure which is adapted for sorting processed matter in which small grains such as rapeseed grains are mixed together with small processed debris, or for sorting processed matter in which grains substantially of a predetermined size or smaller, such as rapeseed or pulse, and processed debris are both present.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM(S)

[0009]
The above object is fulfilled by a first aspect of the present invention as under: -
A combine comprising a threshing device which includes a receiving net and a sorting section disposed below the receiving net; the sorting section including:

a sieve casing capable of swinging forward and backward;
and

a chaff sieve provided to the sieve casing for sorting threshing matter which falls from through the receiving net; and the chaff sieve including:

a plurality of sorting plates arranged parallel to each other in the front-rear direction at a predetermined pitch, each of the sorting plates being supported so as to be able to swing about a horizontal axis; and

a support frame elongated in the front-rear direction and connected between the plurality of sorting plates;

wherein the degree of opening of the chaff sieve is set by changing an angle of each of the sorting plates in association with forward and backward movement of the support frame;

characterized in that an operating member is provided between a pivot shaft provided to a side portion of the chaff sieve and an operating shaft connected to the support frame; and

the front-rear position of the support frame is fixed and the degree of opening of the chaff sieve is set by fixing the operating member to a side panel of the sieve casing via a positioning fixing member.

[0010]
According to this aspect, since the operating member is connected between the pivot shaft and the operating shaft, once the position of the operating member with respect to the sieve casing is determined, the position of the operating shaft is then determined, and the angle of the sorting plates (degree of opening of the chaff sieve) is determined. By thus operating the operating member to change the angle of the sorting plates, the degree of opening of the chaff sieve can be set to a degree of opening that is appropriate for the type of product being harvested.

In the case of harvesting rapeseed in particular, since the rapeseed grains, pods, stem debris, and the like are small, when the degree of opening is larger than a predetermined value, the processed matter flows down from between the sorting plates without being sorted by the chaff sieve, and sorting is likely to be insufficient. However, according to the first aspect described above, the sorting plates do not swing (the degree of opening of the chaff sieve is unchanged) even when the processed amount is somewhat large for the chaff sieve for which the degree of opening has been set. It is therefore possible to prevent large amounts of processed debris mixed in with the processed matter from flowing down from between the sorting plates, and sorting can be performed satisfactorily.

In linking a sorting plate to the operating member, the operating member may be fixed only to the pivot shaft of the sorting plate, or the operating member may be linked only to the sorting plate, and the sorting plate swung about the pivot shaft of the sorting plate to change the degree of opening of the chaff sieve. However, these options are disadvantageous in terms of the strength of support in the chaff sieve which is continually swinging during work.

On the other hand, according to the first aspect described above, since the operating member is connected between two shafts which include the pivot shaft and the operating shaft, and is fixed to the side panel of the sieve casing via the positioning fixing member, the operating shaft is supported and fixed at three points, the operating member is not subjected to large stresses, and breakage of the operating member is also easily prevented.

Consequently, the predetermined sorting can be performed regardless of the amount of processed matter, and sorting that is adapted to sorting rapeseed and the like can be performed. The operating member can also be used satisfactorily for long periods of time without breakage.

[0011]
A second aspect of the present invention which can be added to the first aspect is as under:-
the pivot shaft is provided at one of an upper end position and a lower end position of any one of the plurality of sorting plates to form a pivot; and
the operating shaft is provided at the other of the upper end position and lower end position of the one sorting plate, and is connected to the support frame.

[0012]
According to this aspect, the pivot shaft and the operating shaft can be used as support shafts provided to the upper end portion and lower end portion of a sorting plate in order to change the angle of the sorting plate, and the pivot shaft and operating shaft can also be made to serve as support shafts for the sorting plate. There is therefore no need to provide a separate pivot shaft and operating shaft, and the structure can be simplified.

[0013]
A third aspect of the present invention which can be added to the first or second aspect is as under:-
the operating member is provided adjacent to an outer surface of the outside of a side panel of the chaff sieve;
the operating shaft is connected to the operating member so as to pass through the side panel of the chaff sieve; and
an elongated hole is formed in the side panel along a swinging range of the operating shaft, and the elongated hole can be blocked by the operating member through the swinging range of the operating shaft.

[0014]
According to this aspect, the pivot shaft and the operating shaft which is connected to the support frame provided inside the sieve casing are connected to the operating member provided on the outside of the sieve casing, and the operating shaft is swung about the pivot shaft as a pivot to change the degree of opening of the chaff sieve. Since the operating shaft passed through the sieve casing is therefore operated by swinging, there is naturally a need for an elongated hole in the sieve casing to allow the operating shaft to swing. Since threshing matter is oscillated and sorted between the right/left side walls of the sieve casing, when the elongated hole is left open, there is a risk of not only grains but also unsorted processed debris being recovered through the elongated hole and into the grain recovery section.

Since the operating member is made to function as a lid for the elongated hole so that the elongated hole is blocked by the operating member, advantages are gained in that there is no need to provide a separate cover panel for blocking the elongated hole, the number of components can be reduced, there is no need for an operation to block the hole which changes when the degree of opening of the chaff sieve is changed, and the operation of changing the degree of opening of the chaff sieve is facilitated. [0015]
Other aspects and the effects and advantages demonstrated thereby will become apparent from the description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the entire combine according to a first embodiment (Figs. 1 through 15 show the first embodiment);

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the entire combine;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the threshing
device;
Fig. 4 is a partial side view showing the air path of the sorting wind of the winnowing fan;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the threshing chamber;

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the threshing drum;

Fig. 7 is a developed view showing the arrangement of the threshing teeth in the threshing drum;

Fig. 8 is a partially broken side view showing the fully open state of the first chaff sieve;

Fig. 9 is a partial longitudinal sectional front view showing a sorting plate of the first chaff sieve, the operating member, and left side wall of the threshing device;

Fig. 10 is a partial longitudinal sectional front view showing the left half of a sorting plate of the first chaff sieve;

Fig. 11 is a partially broken side view showing the fully closed state of the first chaff sieve;

Fig. 12 is a partially broken side view showing the maximum degree of opening of the second chaff sieve;

Fig. 13 is a partial longitudinal sectional front view showing a sorting plate of the second chaff sieve and the operating fixture for setting the degree of opening;

Fig. 14 is a partial longitudinal sectional front view showing the left half of a sorting plate of the second chaff sieve;

Fig. 15 is a partially broken side view showing the minimum degree of opening of the second chaff sieve;

Fig. 16 is a partial perspective view showing a sorting plate according to a modification of the first embodiment;

Fig. 17 is a right side view showing the combine according to a second embodiment (Figs. 17 through 25 show the second embodiment);

Fig. 18 is a plan view showing a normally configured combine;

Fig. 19 is a left side view showing a normally configured combine;

Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing the attachment position of the switch operating fixture of the grain recovery device;

Fig. 21 is a front view showing the outer frame of the front of the threshing device, and the storage support stand of the grain discharge chute supported on the outer frame;
Fig. 22 is a partially broken side view showing the attachment structure of the storage support stand;

Fig. 23 is a plan view showing the attachment position of the storage support stand in the normal use state;

Fig. 24 is a plan view showing the attachment position of the storage support stand during shipping;

Fig. 25(a) is a sectional view showing the attachment structure of the switch operating fixture of the grain recovery device, and Fig. 25(b) is a front view showing the same;

Fig. 26 is a side view showing the combine according to a third embodiment (Figs. 26 through 36 show the third embodiment);

Fig. 27 is a plan view showing the combine;

Fig. 28 is a side view showing the rear portion of the combine;

Fig. 29 is a side view showing the combine;

Fig. 30 is a view showing the power transmission state;

Fig. 31 is a perspective view showing the rotation limiting device;

Fig. 32 is a side view showing the rotation limiting device;

Fig. 33 is a plan view showing the rotation limiting device;

Fig. 34 is a plan view showing the rotation limiting device;

Fig. 35 is a plan view showing the rotation range of the vertical
auger;

Fig. 36 is a plan view showing each state of the protruding pin and the rotating lever;

Fig. 37 is a plan view showing each state of the protruding pin and the rotating lever in the prior art, in contrast with the third embodiment;

Fig. 38 is a side view showing the entire combine according to a fourth embodiment (Figs. 38 through 49 show the fourth embodiment);

Fig. 39 is a plan view showing the entire combine;

Fig. 40 is a front view showing the auxiliary cutting device, the coupling mechanism, the onboard operating section, and the conveyance mechanism;

Fig. 41 is a plan view showing the auxiliary cutting device, the coupling mechanism, and the conveyance mechanism;

Fig. 42 is a side view showing the drive structure of the auxiliary cutting device;

Fig. 43 is a side view showing the urging means provided between the vehicle body and the elevator frame positioned at the right/left center;

Fig. 44 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the eccentric drive unit with respect to the auxiliary cutting device;

Fig. 45 is a partial cut-away side view showing the eccentric drive unit with respect to the auxiliary cutting device;

Fig. 46 is a side view showing a state in which the short leg portion of the engaging piece is engaged with the engaging hole of the middle coupling member, the linking member and the conveyance device are linked, and the auxiliary cutting device is lifted up in association with the raising and lowering action of the primary cutting device during travel over a furrow;

Fig. 47(a) is a front view showing a state in which the linkage
between the middle coupling member and the short leg portion of the engaging piece is cut, and the auxiliary cutting device is not coupled with the conveyance device; and Fig. 47(b) is a front view showing a state in which the middle coupling member and the short leg portion of the engaging piece are linked, and the auxiliary cutting device can be raised together with the conveyance device;

Fig. 48(a) is a front view showing a state in which the short leg portion of the engaging piece is separated from the engaging hole of the middle coupling member so that the linkage between the linking member and the conveyance device is cut, and the auxiliary cutting device is not coupled with the conveyance device; and Fig. 48(b) is a front view showing a state in which the short leg portion of the engaging piece is engaged with the engaging hole of the middle coupling member so that the linking member and the conveyance device are linked, and the auxiliary cutting device can be raised together with the conveyance device; and
Fig. 49 is a side view showing another embodiment

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0017]
[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment will first be described with reference to Figs. 1 through 15.
The overall configuration of a normal-type or whole-culm charging-type combine will first be described. Figs. 1 and 2 are a side view and a plan view, respectively, showing the entire combine. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an axial flow threshing device 3 and a product recovery section 4 are provided parallel to each other on the right and left at the top of a travel vehicle body 2 provided with a pair of right/left crawler travel devices 1, and an operating section 5 is provided in front of the product recovery section 4.

[0018]
A feeder 6 for harvesting and product conveyance is connected at the front of the threshing device 3 so as to be able to swing up and down about a pivot X, and a harvesting section 7 having a cutting width which substantially corresponds to the transverse width of the vehicle body is connected to the front end of the feeder 6.
The harvesting section 7 is composed of a clipper-type harvesting device 9 provided between a pair of right/left plant separating frames 8, and an auger 10 suspended between the pair of right/left plant separating frames 8, and the harvesting section 7 is configured so that crops harvested by the harvesting device 9 can be cross-fed to the right/left center by the auger 10 and fed to the feeder 6. The auger 10 is configured such that raking tines 12 and a screw 13 are provided to the external peripheral part of a drum-shaped auger body 11.

[0020]
A picker conveyor 14 is housed in the feeder 6, and the feeder 6 is configured so that the product to be processed that is fed from the feeder 6 can be conveyed along the bottom of the feeder 6 and fed to the threshing device 3.

Products to be harvested by the normal-type combine include rice, wheat, millet, foxtail millet, pulse, sesame, rapeseed and various other products, but rapeseed is the product to be harvested in this case. The rapeseeds to be harvested are referred to below as grains, stems and the pods surrounding the grains are referred to generically as stem parts, and in some cases the pods are distinguished from the stem parts.

[0021]
A hydraulic cylinder 16 is provided between the front portion of a main deck 15 in the travel vehicle body 2 and the lower portion of the feeder 6, and through the telescopic motion of the hydraulic cylinder 16, the harvesting section 7 and the feeder 6 can be swung upward and downward about the pivot X.

[0022]
A pickup reel 17 for scooping up standing crops is installed above the front portion of the harvesting section 7. Right/left support arms 18 capable of swinging up and down about a pivot Y are pivotably connected to rear end portions of the right/left separating frames 8, and the pickup reel 17 is pivotably connected via a support bracket 19 to the front portions of the support arms 18.

[0023]
A hydraulic cylinder 20 is provided between the separating frames 8 and the support arms 18, and by the upward and downward swinging of the support arms 18 by the hydraulic cylinder 20, the pickup height of the pickup reel 17 can be changed, and the support bracket 19 can be slidably adjusted along the support arms 18 to enable the pickup position to be adjusted forward and backward.

[0024]
As shown in Fig. 3, a threshing drum 23 which rotates about a front-rear-oriented threshing drum shaft 22 installed along the conveyance direction of the cut product to be processed is provided in a threshing chamber 21 formed at the top of the threshing device 3, a receiving net (or a concave) 24 formed in a U-shape as viewed from the front and covering the bottom side of the threshing drum 23 is provided below the threshing drum 23, a dust-transmitting port 25 is formed to the rear of the receiving net 24 at the end of the downstream side in the threshing direction of the threshing device 3, and a sorting section 26 is provided below the receiving net 24. In the sorting section 26, a swinging sorting mechanism 28 provided with a sieve casing 27 is provided immediately below the receiving net 24, a winnowing fan 29 is provided in front of and below the swinging sorting mechanism 28, a first recovery section 30 is formed below the front side of the swinging sorting mechanism 28, a second recovery section 31 is formed below the rear side of the swinging sorting mechanism 28, a dust discharge port 32 is formed to the rear of the swinging sorting mechanism 28, and a top panel 33 is provided for covering the upper portion of the threshing drum 23 from above.

[0025]
The threshing chamber 21 is formed in sections by the receiving net 24 for covering the threshing drum 23, and by the top panel 33 and other components, a feeding port 34 is formed at the bottom of the front end of the threshing chamber 21, the rear end portion of the feeder 6 is connected to the feeding port 34, and all of the harvested product to be processed which is conveyed by the feeder 6 is charged and fed from the feeding port 34 as threshing matter.

[26]
In the threshing drum 23, the threshing drum shaft 22 is rotatably provided between a front wall 35 and a back wall 36 of the threshing device 3, and the threshing drum 23 is rotatably driven clockwise as viewed from the front about the threshing drum shaft 22 as a pivot by power from an engine (not shown) transmitted via the winnowing fan 29 and other components, whereby the processing product fed to the threshing chamber 21 is threshed, and the threshing matter is conveyed to the rear toward the downstream side in the threshing direction while being processed into single grains.
[27]
The receiving net 24 is a concave receiving net formed in a lattice, which catches the stem portions of the processing product fed to the threshing chamber 21 and allows the single grains or pod-accompanied grains obtained by threshing, or the processed debris of the pods or stem portions formed by threshing, to drop downward to the swinging sorting mechanism 28, while preventing the stem portions from dropping down to the swinging sorting mechanism 28. The opening size of the receiving net 24 is smaller than the opening size for rice, and is replaced with a receiving net for rice in cases in which rice is threshed.

[28]
The threshing drum 23 is composed of a truncated conical scooping part 37 installed at the front end thereof, and a threshing processing section 38 adjacent to the rear end of the scooping part 37. Two helical teeth 39 for scooping and conveying the cut straw fed from the feeding port 34 toward the threshing processing section 38 to the rear when the threshing drum 23 is rotating are integrally provided to the external peripheral surface of the scooping part 37.

[0029]
The threshing processing section 38 includes a front support member 40 composed of a plate connected to the front portion of the threshing cylinder shaft 22, a middle support member 41 composed of a ring-shaped hollow plate disposed in the middle between the front and rear of the threshing drum 23, and a rear support member 42 composed of a plate connected to the rear portion of the threshing cylinder shaft 22, and with the support members 40 through 42, the threshing processing section 38 is configured in a basket shape formed by six threshing drum frames 43 composed of rigid pipes arranged and supported at a certain interval in the peripheral direction of the threshing drum 23 in a front-rear orientation along the threshing cylinder shaft 22, and a plurality of threshing teeth 44 arranged on each of the threshing drum frames 43 at a predetermined
interval in the front-rear direction and oriented so as to protrude outward in the radial direction of the threshing drum 23 from the threshing drum frames 43.

[30]
In other words, in the threshing drum 23, the plurality of threshing teeth 44 protruding to the outside is aligned and arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction and the peripheral direction of the threshing processing section 38, the internal space S of the threshing processing section 38 is communicated with the threshing chamber 21, and threshing matter is allowed to enter the internal space S.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the outlines of the support members 40 through 42 are circular with the threshing cylinder shaft 22 at the center thereof, and the threshing drum frames 43 are connected on the external peripheral side by bolts at positions equidistant from the threshing cylinder shaft 22. The six threshing drum frames 43 are provided on the external peripheral sides of the support members 40 through 42 so as to be arranged at a certain interval in the peripheral direction, and the threshing drum 23 is formed with a large diameter, thereby making it possible to prevent the stem portions of the threshed product from wrapping around the threshing drum 23.

[32]
The threshing teeth 44 are attached at an angle so as to have a delay angle whereby the distal ends thereof are delayed in the rotation direction with respect to the normal line. It is thereby easier for stem portions which become caught on the threshing teeth 44 to release from the threshing teeth 44 as the drum rotates.

[33]
In the six threshing drum frames 43 in the peripheral direction, the threshing teeth 44 are arranged at a constant pitch P in the forward direction and the rearward direction from positions separated at a distance L from the front support member 40 and the rear support member 42 in alternating fashion in the peripheral direction, and the final threshing teeth 44 (alternately at the front end or the rear end) are attached at 1/2 the pitch P.

[34]
Specifically, in the top threshing drum frame 43 and the total of three threshing drum frames 43 which are every other threshing drum frame 43 (the odd-numbered threshing drum frames 43 counting from the top threshing drum frame 43) in Fig. 6, threshing teeth 44 are arranged so as to trace the same rotational trajectory at a constant pitch P toward the rear referenced from a position at a distance L from the front support member 40, and the final threshing teeth 44 are provided at one-half the pitch P. In the bottom threshing drum frame 43 and the total of three threshing drum frames 43 which are every other threshing drum frame 43 (the even-numbered threshing drum frames 43 counting from the top threshing drum frame 43) in Fig. 6, threshing teeth 44 are arranged so as to trace the same rotational trajectory at a constant pitch P toward the front referenced from a position at a distance L from the rear support member 42, and the final threshing teeth 44 are provided at one-half the pitch P. There is thus a distance of 1/4-pitch P in the front-rear direction between the group of threshing teeth 44 at the rear ends of the odd-numbered threshing drum frames 43 and the group of threshing teeth 44 at the rear ends of the even-numbered threshing drum frames 43, and a 1/4-pitch P distance in the front-rear direction between the group of threshing teeth 44 (rotational trajectory) at the front ends of the even-numbered threshing drum frames 43 and the group of threshing teeth 44 (rotational trajectory) at the front ends of the even-numbered threshing drum frames 43.

[35]
Specifically, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the pitch in the front-rear direction between the group of threshing teeth 44 provided to the odd-numbered threshing drum frames 43 and the group of threshing teeth 44 provided to the even-numbered threshing drum frames 43 is 1/4 the pitch P, 1/2 the pitch P, and 1/4 the pitch P at the front ends and the rear ends, and the threshing teeth 44 in the rest of the front-rear space are provided at pitches repeatedly alternating between 1/4 pitch P and 3/4 pitch P.

[36]
The plurality of threshing teeth 44 in the peripheral direction (groups of threshing teeth 44 of each of the three odd-numbered and three even-numbered threshing drum frames 43) are thereby provided so as to trace the same rotational trajectory, a plurality of sets of two groups of threshing teeth 44 composed of a plurality of threshing teeth 44 which trace the same rotational trajectory is present in the front-rear direction, and the pitch of the plurality of sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 in the front-rear direction is set so that the pitch between one set of groups of threshing teeth 44 (e.g., an odd-numbered set in the peripheral direction) and the group of threshing teeth 44 of the set adjacent toward the front (e.g., an even-numbered set in the peripheral direction), and the pitch between the one set (odd-numbered set) of groups of threshing teeth 44 and the group of threshing teeth 44 of the set adjacent toward the rear (even-numbered set) differ in size from 1/4 pitch P to 3/4 pitch P.

[37]
Ultimately, two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 adjacent at 1/4 pitch P are present for every distance of 3/4 pitch P in the front-rear direction of the threshing drum 23, and during threshing of threshing matter, the threshing matter is sequentially threshed by repetition of a process in which the matter is threshed by the two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 adjacent in the front and rear at 1/4 pitch P, the threshing matter moves toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the threshing drum while being swept into the receiving net, the threshing matter passes through the space in which the threshing teeth 44 are 3/4 pitch P apart, and the matter is threshed by the lower group of threshing teeth 44 while tumbling at random and changing orientation within the space.

[38]
Specifically, since the adjacent two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 are adjacent, the threshing matter is generally struck (subjected to impact) by the threshing teeth 44 of the group of threshing teeth 44 toward the front (on the upstream side in the conveyance direction) among the adjacent two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44, but among the adjacent two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 the threshing matter is (1) struck by either the front or rear group of threshing teeth 44, (2) struck continuously by the threshing teeth 44 of the front group of threshing teeth 44 and the threshing teeth 44 of the rear group of threshing teeth 44, or (3) struck simultaneously by the two threshing teeth 44 at the front and rear in the front or rear group of threshing teeth 44.
In the case of (1), since the threshing matter is struck a smaller number of times (half the number of times) by the threshing teeth 44 over the course of passing through the entire threshing drum, the amount of impact is reduced.

In the case of (2), since the threshing matter is continuously struck by the front and rear threshing teeth 44, there is minimal reduction in speed of the threshing matter when struck by the rear threshing teeth 44, and the speed difference between the rotation of the threshing teeth 44 and the rotation of the threshing matter is small. The impact on the threshing matter when struck by the rear threshing teeth 44 is therefore reduced.
In the case of (3), since each piece of threshing matter is contacted by two threshing teeth 44 simultaneously in the front and rear, the impact is reduced.
Consequently, the overall impact on the threshing matter is reduced in all of the above cases. In other words, threshing is performed in which two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 adjacent in the front and rear form a pair which functions to lessen the overall impact on the threshing matter.

[0039]
Specifically, the threshing matter struck by the front and rear two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 having a short pitch is typically struck by the threshing teeth 44 on the upstream side in the transfer direction, but when the phenomenon described in (1) occurs, the threshing matter moves past the downstream two sets of threshing teeth 44 which form a pair and is threshed by the next two sets of adjacent groups of threshing teeth 44, and the number of jarring impacts on the threshing teeth 44 is reduced.
In a case in which the threshing matter is struck by the threshing teeth 44 in front (upstream in the transfer direction) among the two sets of adjacent groups of threshing teeth 44 which form a pair and is subsequently struck by the threshing teeth 44 in the rear of the group of threshing teeth 44 of the pair (as in the case of (2) described above), the threshing matter receives the impact of the front threshing teeth 44 and subsequently is immediately struck again. In this case, since the front and rear two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 which form a pair are a short distance (pitch) apart and are adjacent to each other, the threshing matter receives the impact of the front and rear threshing teeth 44 one after another in the space of a short time. The threshing matter which has been struck by the threshing teeth 44 momentarily rotates at substantially the same speed as the rotation speed of the threshing teeth. The threshing matter decreases in speed upon separating from the threshing teeth, but when the threshing matter is struck by the adjacent front and rear threshing teeth 44 one after another, the reduction in speed when struck by the rear threshing teeth 44 of the pair is minimal. There is accordingly minimal force of impact when the threshing matter is struck again by the rear threshing teeth 44, and when the pitch of the two sets of threshing teeth 44 is small overall, the force of impact is smaller than the total force of impact of the two widely pitched sets.
When the threshing matter comes in contact simultaneously with the front and rear threshing teeth 44 of the two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 having a short pitch and forming a pair (in the case of (3) described above), since it is the same as if the rotation speed of either the front or rear threshing teeth 44 were the same as the rotation speed of the threshing matter, i.e., the front or rear threshing teeth 44 made contact with a velocity differential of zero, the force of impact is reduced by about half when the threshing matter is struck by the pair of threshing teeth 44 substantially simultaneously. The force of impact is also reduced by half when the threshing matter is struck at exactly the same time by the two sets of front and rear threshing teeth which form a pair.
Since the force of impact by the threshing teeth 44 on the threshing matter is reduced as described above, formation of stalk juice from the threshing matter can be suppressed, and the general threshing load is reduced.

[0040]
The stem portion of rapeseed includes a large amount of moisture, and large amounts of stalk juice occur when rapeseed is repeatedly struck by the threshing teeth at high speed and force. Stickiness of the threshing drum due to stalk juice increases the threshing load, sorting cannot be performed satisfactorily, and product quality is reduced. However, in the present embodiment, since the overall number of threshings by the threshing teeth 44 is reduced, or the overall force of impact is reduced while the threshing matter is reliably threshed by two sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 having a short pitch, stalk juice is less prone to occur. Since the threshing teeth 44 of adjacent sets of groups of threshing teeth 44 are also arranged in staggered fashion in positions offset from each other in the peripheral direction, threshing is performed reliably by the threshing teeth of either of the front and rear groups of threshing teeth forming a pair with different rotational phases, continuous threshing effects are readily obtained by the threshing teeth of front and rear groups of threshing teeth while
reducing the force of impact, threshing can be performed satisfactorily while reducing the threshing load, sorting can be performed satisfactorily, and high-quality grains can be recovered.
[41]
As shown in Fig. 3, a configuration is adopted whereby the large stems, pods and other threshing debris discharged from the dust-transmitting port 25 at the rear end of the threshing chamber 21, and the threshing debris discharged from the rear end of the sorting section 26 are finely cut by a chopper 47 as a fine cutting device which includes a rotating blade 45 and a fixed blade 46 and disposed to the rear of the dust discharge port 32.
[42]
As shown in Fig. 3, the right/left front portions of the sieve casing 27 are guided into and retained in guide rails 49 via right/left rollers 50 so as to be able to move forward and backward, the guide rails 49 being in a downward tilting orientation and fixed to the inside surfaces of right/left side walls 48 in the sorting section 26, and the rear portion of the sieve casing 27 is detachably connected to an eccentric rotating mechanism 51 which is horizontally installed between the right and left side walls 48. By the eccentric rotation of the eccentric rotating mechanism 51 in this configuration, the front portion of the sieve casing 27 moves back and forth in linear fashion at an angle in the front-rear direction, the rear portion of the sieve casing 27 cyclically rotates upward, downward, forward and backward, and the functions are demonstrated whereby the loaded threshing matter is conveyed rearward, sifted, and sorted.
[43]
Insertion rails (not shown) for mounting and guiding the rollers 50 are provided extending from the rear ends of the guide rails 49 to the rear portion of the threshing device, and are configured so that the rollers 50 of the sieve casing 27 which has been disconnected from the eccentric rotating mechanism 51 are guided to the rear by the insertion rails so that the sieve casing 27 can be extracted to the rear from the dust discharge port 32.
[44]
The winnowing fan 29 generates a sorting wind by being rotationally driven by engine 2 power transmitted via a belt transmission mechanism (not shown), and the sorting wind is fed toward sorted matter dropped from through the receiving net 24, sorted matter sorted by the swinging sorting
mechanism 28, and other matter through three wind paths R1 through R3, whereby the sorted matter is sorted by wind power, and stem debris and other matter having a small specific gravity is winnowed from the sorted matter and conveyed toward the dust discharge port 32 on the downstream side in the threshing direction.
[45]
As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the sorting wind that passes through the upper wind path R1 from the winnowing fan 29 flows toward the middle support member 41 of the threshing drum 23 through a wind path R4 formed in the sieve casing 27. Threshing matter which is prevented from flowing to the downstream side in the threshing direction by the middle support member 41 can thereby be conveyed by wind power toward the periphery of the threshing drum 23, and as a result, it is possible to prevent the threshing matter from accumulating immediately in front of the middle support member 41 and obstructing the threshing process.
[46]
The positional relationship between a rear end edge 29b of a winnowing fan casing 29a which forms the wind path Rl, and an opening front edge 60b of a grain pan 60 which forms the opening 60a of the wind path R4 is such that the sieve casing 27 caused to oscillate by the action of the eccentric rotating mechanism 51 is in the front-most position, the opening front edge 60b of the grain pan 60 is positioned further to the rear than the rear end edge 29b of the winnowing fan casing 29a, and the entire opening 60a of the wind path R4 formed in the grain pan 60 is always positioned further to the rear than the rear end edge 29b of the winnowing fan casing 29a. Through this configuration, even when grains which have fallen onto the grain pan 60 spring up and fall from the opening 60a, the grains do not fall into the dead space of the winnowing fan casing 29a, and the grains can be transported to the first recovery section 30 by the sorting wind of the winnowing fan and reliably recovered.
[47]
The first matter recovered by the first recovery section 30 is conveyed by a transverse screw 53 to the outside of the device and subsequently sent into the grain recovery section 4 by a hoisting device 54 composed of a screw conveyor, and the recovered second matter is conveyed by a transverse screw 55 to the outside of the device, then conveyed by a screw-type return device 56 and fed back to the front of the sieve casing 27 to undergo re-sorting.
[48]
Provided at the front of the sieve casing 27 are such components as an oscillating corrugated front grain pan 57 for transporting the threshing matter dropped from the front of the receiving net 24 and the returned second matter to the rear; a sieve line 58 for loosening the processed matter which reaches the end of the front grain pan 57; a first chaff sieve 59 for sifting and sorting while oscillating and transporting the processed matter that has reached the rear end of the sieve line 58 and the threshing matter dropped from the middle of the receiving net 24 to the rear; a fine sorting grain pan 60 and grain sieve 61 for sifting and sorting the sorted matter dropped from the sieve line 58 and the first chaff sieve 59; and a second chaff sieve 62 for sifting and sorting the sorted matter that has reached the end of the first chaff sieve 59 and the threshing matter that has fallen from through the receiving net 24 while oscillating and transporting the sorted matter and threshing matter to the rear, and transporting the remaining processing debris to the dust discharge port 32.
[49]
The front grain pan 57 performs "gravity separation" for separating the processing matter into upper and lower layers according to specific gravity during oscillating transport, and is configured so that the rapeseeds, which have a high specific gravity, are separated into a lower layer, and the processing debris of stems or pods and other processed matter having a low specific gravity are separated into an upper layer, and the layers are transported to the subsequent sieve line 58.

When the processing matter separated roughly into two upper and lower layers by the front grain pan 57 moves onto the sieve line 58, the rapeseeds (grains) of the lower layer immediately fall downward and are fed to the grain pan 60 and the grain sieve 61, and the processing debris and grains mixed up in the processing debris which form the upper layer that does not fall from the sieve line 58 are transferred on to the first chaff sieve 59.
[51]
The structure for adjusting the degree of opening of the first chaff sieve 59 is configured as described below. As shown in Fig. 8, the first chaff sieve 59 is provided substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction, and numerous sorting plates 63 in which two thin plates are joined together are arranged parallel to each other from front to rear at a constant pitch. The sorting plates 63 are composed of a sorting plate 63A at the center in the front-rear direction that is connected to an operating member 68, and other sorting plates 63B to the front and rear. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the center sorting plate 63A includes a plate 63b in which a folded piece 63a is formed to provide reinforcement and to catch the sorting matter that flows down to the lower end portion; a pivot shaft 67 composed of a round rod fixed to the upper end portion of the plate 63b; an operating shaft 65 composed of a lower pivot pin disposed on the right and left of the lower end portion of the plate 63b; and a retaining plate 63c disposed on the right and left of the plate 63b to retain the pivot shaft 67 and the operating shaft 65. As shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the sorting plates 63B to the front and rear are provided with a plate 63b in which a folded piece 63a is formed to provide reinforcement and to catch the sorting matter that flows down to the lower end portion; a pivot shaft 67a composed of an upper pivot pin disposed on the right and left of the upper end portion of the plate 63b; a lower pivot pin 65a disposed on the right and left of the lower end portion of the plate 63b; and a reinforcing plate 63d joined over to the plate 63b to retain the pivot shaft 67a and the lower pivot pin 65. [0052]
The sorting plates 63A, 63B are connected so as to be able to swing forward and backward about horizontal axes a of the pivot shafts 67, 67a with respect to right/left chaff sieve attachment frames 89 which are attached to right/left side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27. The lower pivot pins 67, 67a at the right/left lower end portions in the sorting plates 63A, 63B are also connected to a pair of right/left support frames 64 disposed substantially horizontally and extending in the front-rear direction, and the angle of the plurality of sorting plates 63A, 63B is changed in association with the forward and backward movement of the support frames 64. In other words, when the support frames 64 move forward, the angle of the sorting plates 63 A, 63B is lessened and the degree of opening of the first chaff sieve 59 decreases. When the support frames 64 move to the rear, the angle of the sorting plates 63A, 63B becomes sharper and the degree of

opening of the first chaff sieve 59 increases.
[53]
The operating shaft 65 composed of a lower pivot pin for connecting the lower end portion of the center sorting plate 63A and the support frame 64 on the left side of the vehicle body passes through a curved elongated hole 66 formed in the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27 and protrudes outward to the left from the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27. The pivot shaft 67 pivotably supported by the chaff sieve attachment frame 89 on the left side of the upper end portion of the center sorting plate 63A passes through a hole formed in the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27 and protrudes outward to the left from the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27. A male screw is formed at the left end of the pivot shaft 67, and the operating member 68 is fitted on the pivot shaft 67 on the outside of the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27. One end of the operating shaft 65 rotatably retained by the sorting plate 63A is fixed to the center portion of the operating member 68. The swinging of the operating member 68 causes the support frames 64 to move forward and backward, thereby changing the degree of opening of the first chaff sieve 59.
[54]
The pivot shafts 67, 67a at the upper end portions of the plurality of sorting plates 63 are each pivotably attached to the right/left chaff sieve attachment frames 89, and the operating shaft 65 at the lower end portion of a sorting plate 63 is connected to the support frames 64 so that the first chaff sieve 59 forms a unit, and the right/left chaff sieve attachment frames 89 are fixed by bolts to the right/left side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27, whereby the pivot shafts 67, 67a are attached to the side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27 via the chaff sieve attachment frames 89.
[55]
The operating member 68 is configured so as to be retainable in position by fixing a nut 69a in the inside portions of round holes 69 formed in a plurality of (five) operating positions in the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27, and screwing on and fixing a bolt 70 as a positioning fixing member at one of the operating positions, and the farther forward the operating member 68 is swung, the more the degree of opening of the first chaff sieve 59 is decreased. Conversely, the farther back the operating member 68 is swung, the more the degree of opening of the first chaff sieve

59 is increased.
[56]
The operating member 68 is formed in a wide rectangular shape, and the curved elongated hole 66, through which is passed the operating shaft 65 fitted to the left lower end portion of the center sorting plate 63, is configured so as to be entirely blocked by the plate surface of the operating member 68 in the entire range of attachment positions of the operating member 68, i.e., regardless of which of the five positions the operating member 68 is fixed in. In other words, the operating member 68 also serves as a cover member for the elongated hole 66.
[57]
As shown in Fig. 1 and Figs. 8 through 10, an opening 71 is formed in a position corresponding to the outside portion of the operating member 68 in the left side wall 48 of the sorting section 26, and the opening 71 is blocked by a detachable opening and closing lid 72. When the degree of opening of the first chaff sieve 59 is changed, the opening and closing lid 72 is removed, and the set angle of the first chaff sieve 59 is changed by swinging the operating member 68 and changing the position of the hole 69 in which the bolt is fastened.
[58]
The second chaff sieve 62 is configured as described below.
The second chaff sieve 62 is provided tilting upward toward the rear so that the rear portion thereof is higher than the front portion thereof, between the area above the second recovery section 31 in the sieve casing 27 and the rear end portions of the sieve casing 27. Numerous sorting plates 73 are arranged parallel to each other from front to back in the second chaff sieve 62.
The sorting plates 73 are composed of a sorting plate 73A which is connected to an operating fixture 75 for setting an aperture, and other sorting plates 73B to the front and rear. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the sorting plate 73A includes a plate 73b in which a folded piece 73a is formed to provide reinforcement and to catch the sorting matter that flows down to the lower end portion; a pivot shaft 80 composed of a round rod fixed to the upper end portion of the plate 73b; an operating shaft 81 composed of a lower pivot pin disposed on the right and left of the lower end portion of the plate 73b; and a retaining plate 73c disposed on the right and left of the plate

73b to retain the pivot shaft 80 and the operating shaft 81. As shown in Figs. 12 and 14, the sorting plates 73B to the front and rear are provided with a plate 73b in which a folded piece 73 a is formed to provide reinforcement and to catch the sorting matter that flows down to the lower end portion; a pivot shaft 80a composed of an upper pivot pin disposed on the right and left of the upper end portion of the plate 73b; a lower pivot pin 81a disposed on the right and left of the lower end portion of the plate 73b; and a reinforcing plate 73d joined over to the plate 73b to retain the pivot shaft 80a and the lower pivot pin 81a.
[59]
The sorting plates 73A, 73B are connected so as to be able to swing forward and backward about horizontal axes b of the pivot shafts 80, 80a with respect to right/left upper frames 86 which are attached to right/left side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27. The lower pivot pins 81, 81a at the right/left lower end portions in the sorting plates 73A, 73B are also connected to a pair of right/left support frames 74 disposed at an upward angle towards the rear and extending in the front-rear direction, and the angle of the plurality of sorting plates 73A, 73B is changed in association with the forward and backward movement of the support frames 74. In other words, when the support frames 74 move forward, the angle of the sorting plates 73A, 73B loosens and the degree of opening of the second chaff sieve 62 decreases. When the support frames 74 move to the rear, the angle of the sorting plates 73A, 73B tightens and the degree of opening of the second chaff sieve 62 increases.
[60]
The operating shaft 81 composed of a lower pivot pin for connecting the lower end portion of the sorting plate 73A and the support frame 74 on the left side of the vehicle body passes through a curved elongated hole 82 formed in the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27 and protrudes outward to the left from the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27. The pivot shaft 80 pivotably supported by the upper frame 86 on the left side of the upper end portion of the sorting plate 73A passes through a hole formed in the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27 and protrudes outward to the left from the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27. A male screw is formed at the left end of the pivot shaft 80, and the operating fixture 75 for setting the degree of opening is fitted on the pivot shaft 80 on the outside of the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27. One end of the operating shaft 81 rotatably retained by the sorting plate 73A is fixed to the center portion of the operating fixture 75. The swinging of the operating fixture 75 causes the support frames 74 to move forward and backward, thereby changing the degree of opening of the second chaff sieve 62. The degree of opening is set by fixing the support frames 74 with respect to the sieve casing 27. This degree of opening is set by swinging the operating fixture 75 for setting the degree of opening connected to the second chaff sieve 62 and fixing the operating fixture 75 in a predetermined position. [0061]
The pivot shafts 80, 80a at the upper end portions of the plurality of sorting plates 73A, 73B are each pivotably attached to the right/left upper frames 86, and the lower pivot support pins 81, 81a of the lower end portion of the sorting plates 73 A, 73B are connected to the support frames 74 so that the second chaff sieve 62 forms a unit, the right/left upper frames 86 are fixed by bolts to the right/left side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27, and the pivot shafts 67, 67a are detachably attached to the side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27 via the upper frames 86. [0062]
A bottom plate 76 for allowing the second matter sorted by the second chaff sieve 62 to flow down to the second recovery section is provided at the lower ends of the right/left side panels 27a at the rear portion of the sieve casing 27. At the bottom of the rear portion of the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27, an operating fixture fixing plate 77 L-shaped in cross-section is fixed to the bottom plate 76 by a bolt 78 so as to extend along the left side panel 27a. Three pins 79 for fixing the operating fixture 75 for setting the degree of opening are provided at a 15-degree pitch to the operating fixture fixing plate 77. An engaging hole 83 for engaging with the pins 79 and fixing the operating fixture 75 in position is formed at the free end of the operating fixture 75. The operating fixture 75 is formed by a flexible resin plate, and as indicated by the double-dashed lines in Fig. 13, the position of the operating fixture 75 can be changed by flexing the operating fixture 75 to engage and disengage with the pins 79. [0063]
The pivot shaft 80 composed of a round rod fixed to the upper end of the center sorting plate 73 among the sorting plates 73 arranged in the

front-rear direction passes through the left side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27 and extends to the outside of the sieve casing 27, the operating fixture 75 for setting the degree of opening is fixed to the pivot shaft 80 which passes through the side panel 27a, and the free end of the operating fixture 75 extends downward at an angle toward the dust discharge port 32 positioned at the rear end of the threshing device 3. The operating shaft composed of the lower pivot support pin 81 implanted in the lower end portion of the sorting plate 73 is connected to the center portion of the operating fixture 75, and the elongated hole 82 in which the operating shaft 81 is able to swing is formed in the side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27. The operating fixture 75 is positioned on the side of the outside wall of the left side of the threshing device 3, near enough to the dust discharge port 32 to be reached by hand from the dust discharge port 32. The operating fixture 75 is operated from the left side to the rear of the dust discharge port 32 of the threshing device 3.

The upper ends of the sorting plates 73 of the second chaff sieve 62 are pivotably attached to the upper frames 86, and the upper frames 86 are attached to the right/left side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27 by a plurality of bolts 87, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.
[65]
The chopper 47 is attached so that the dust discharge port 32 can be opened by swinging through the outside to the right and left of the vehicle body about the vertical axis Q of a vertical shaft provided between the chopper 47 and the back wall 36 of the threshing device 3, and the chopper 47 when closed is fixed in place by a fixing fitting not shown in the drawing.
[66]
To change the degree of opening of the second chaff sieve 62, the fixing fitting of the chopper 47 is removed, and with the chopper 47 opened about the vertical axis Q to open the dust discharge port 32, a worker operates the operating fixture 75 from the dust discharge port 32 to change the engagement with the pins 79.
When the second chaff sieve 62 is to be removed, the chopper 47 is opened wide, the connection of the eccentric rotating mechanism 51 is released, and the sieve casing 27 is pulled out, after which the bolts 87 are removed to remove the second chaff sieve 62. A different type of crop can
then be harvested by replacing the chaff sieve or straw rack with one having a different opening size.
[67]
The operating shafts 65, 81 and the pivot shafts 67, 80 at the upper end portions of the plurality of sorting plates 73 of the second chaff sieve 62 and the first chaff sieve 59 are pivotably attached to the right/left chaff sieve attachment frames 89 and support frames 64, and the upper frames 86 and support frames 74, respectively, to unitize each of the first chaff sieve 59 and the second chaff sieve 62, the right/left chaff sieve attachment frames 89 and upper frames 86 are attached by bolts to the right/left side panels 27a, respectively, of the sieve casing 27, and the pivot shafts 67, 80 are detachably attached to the side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27 via the chaff sieve attachment frames 89 and the upper frames 86.
[68]
[Modifications of the First Embodiment]
(1) In the embodiment described above, a configuration is adopted in which the lower end portions of the sorting plates 63, 73 of the first chaff sieve 59 and second chaff sieve 62 are swung about horizontal axes a, b of the upper end portions, but a configuration may be adopted in which the upper and lower positions of the horizontal axes a, b and the support frames 64, 74 are reversed, the plurality of sorting plates 63, 73 is supported so as to be able to pivot about horizontal axes a, b at the lower end portions thereof, the upper end portions of the plurality of sorting plates 63, 73 are connected to support frames 64, 74 extending forward and to the rear, the angle of the plurality of sorting plates 63, 73 is changed in association with the forward and backward movement of the support frames 64, 74, and the degree of opening of the first chaff sieve 59 and second chaff sieve 62 is thereby set.
[69]
(2) In the embodiment described above and the modification described in (1), the positioning fixing members (nut 69a or pins 79) for fixing the operating member 68 and the operating fixture 75 to the side panel 27a of the sieve casing 27 may be provided at the top of the sorting plate 73.

(3) In the embodiment described above, the pivot shaft 67 and operating shaft 65 of the first chaff sieve 59, and the pivot shaft 80 and operating shaft 81 of the second chaff sieve 62 are provided to the sorting plates 63, 73, in the upper end portions and lower end portions of the sorting plates 63, 73, but a configuration may be adopted in which the pivot shaft 67 and operating shaft 65 of the first chaff sieve 59, or the pivot shaft 80 and operating shaft 81 of the first chaff sieve 59 are provided independently in a different position from the sorting plates 63, 73.
[71]
(4) In the embodiment described above, the operating shafts 65, 81 and the pivot shafts 67, 80 at the upper end portions of the plurality of sorting plates 73 of the second chaff sieve 62 and the first chaff sieve 59 are pivotably attached to the right/left chaff sieve attachment frames 89 and support frames 64, and the upper frames 86 and support frames 74, respectively, to unitize each of the first chaff sieve 59 and the second chaff sieve 62, the right/left chaff sieve attachment frames 89 and upper frames 86 are attached by bolts to the right/left side panels 27a, respectively, of the sieve casing 27, and the pivot shafts 67, 80 are detachably attached to the side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27 via the chaff sieve attachment frames 89 and the upper frames 86. However, one or both of the pivot shaft 67 and the pivot shaft 80 may be attached directly to the side panels 27a of the sieve casing 27.
[72]
(5) In the embodiment described above, the sorting plates 63, 73 are altogether attached to the first chaff sieve 59 and the second chaff sieve 62, respectively, so that the angle thereof can be changed, but some of the sorting plates 63, 73 may also be fixed to the sieve casing 27.
[73]
(6) In the sorting plates 63B, 73B of the first chaff sieve 59 and the second chaff sieve 62, the plates 63b, 73b and the reinforcing plates 63d, 73d are joined over each other to increase the strength of the sorting plates 63B, 73B, but instead of these sorting plates 63B, 73B, a configuration may be adopted in which a square horseshoe-shaped corrugation rib 90 is formed along the entire right/left length in the middle between the top and bottom of the sorting plates 63B, 73B, and the upper pivot support pins 67a, 80a and the lower pivot support pins 65a, 81a are retained by a retaining plate 91, as shown in Fig. 16. A folded rib 92 for reinforcement is formed at the lower

ends of the sorting plates 63B, 73B, and at the top surface of the rib 92, when the sorting matter flows down over the sorting plates 63B, 73B, the sorting matter is temporarily caught by the rib 92 and sorted by oscillation and wind, and the lightweight pods, stems, and leaves are wind-sorted. If the corrugation rib 90 is provided in the middle between the top and bottom of the sorting plates 63B, 73B, since the oscillation and wind sorting occurs at the top surface of the corrugation rib 90 as well, the sorting precision is further enhanced, and materials are conserved.
[74]
(7) A configuration may be adopted in which the first chaff sieve 59 and the second chaff sieve 62 are integrated as a single chaff sieve. In this case, some of the sorting plates may be fixed.
[75]
(8) The embodiment described above can be applied to the threshing device of a combine for harvesting not only rapeseed, but sesame or pulse as well.
[76]
[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment will next be described with reference to Figs. 17 through 25.
[77]
[Overall Configuration]
Figs. 17 through 19 show a normal-type combine as an example of a combine.
In this normal-type combine, a vehicle body frame 110 is mounted on a pair of right/left crawler travel devices 111, 111 to form a self-propelled vehicle body 101, and on the self-propelled vehicle body 101 are mounted an onboard operating section 102 equipped with a driver seat 120; an engine 112 positioned below the driver seat 120; a threshing device 113 for threshing and sorting charged processing matter to be threshed; and a grain recovery device 103 for recovering the threshed processing matter.
A feeder 115 of a harvesting and pre-processing device 114 for harvesting stalks to be cut is connected at the front of the self-propelled vehicle body 101 so as to be able to swing up and down about a horizontal axis (not shown) of the rear end portion thereof, and the combination of these devices constitutes a normal-type combine for threshing whole culms of cut threshing matter.
[78]
[Crawler Travel Device]
The crawler travel device 111 is composed of a track frame 109 oriented in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body and connected to the vehicle body frame 110 via a frame support 108; a plurality of ground rollers 133 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the track frame 109 and supported by the track frame 109 so as to be able to freely rotate; a tension wheel 134 supported at the rear end portion of the track frame 109 so as to be able to freely rotate; a crawler drive wheel 135 supported by a bracket 116 so as to be able to drive rotation, the bracket 116 being attached at the front end of the track frame 109; two front and rear top rollers 136, 136 supported by front and rear brackets 119, 119 so as to be able to freely rotate, the brackets 119, 119 being provided upright a distance apart in the middle portion of the track frame 109 in the front-rear direction thereof; a pivot wheel 137 capable of pivoting up and down and attached to the lower end portion of an arm 121 which is able to pivot up and down about an axis P of a right/left-oriented support shaft 146 pivotably supported at the center portion of the track frame 109; and a crawler belt 138 which is a rubber endless crawler belt wrapped around all of the rollers 133 through 137. The pivot wheel 137 is provided between the front and rear top rollers 136, 136 (in the middle position in the front-rear direction).
[79]
A sled-shaped guide 139 for preventing wheel loss is provided between the front three ground rollers 133, 133 and between the tension wheel 134 and the rear two ground rollers 133, 133.
[80]
The support shaft 146 fixed to the upper end portion of the arm 121 is removably supported by a boss fixed to the upper end surface of the track frame 109, and the arm 121 is urged in the downward swinging direction by an urging mechanism not shown in the drawing. Lowering of die arm 121 by the urging mechanism is blocked by a lower stopper 148 fixed to the track frame 109. The lower limit position of the pivot wheel 137 supported by the lower end portion of the arm 121 is determined by the lower stopper 148. Raising of the arm 121 by the ground counterforce is blocked by an upper stopper 149 fixed to the track frame 109. The upper limit position of

the pivot wheel 137 is thereby determined. [0081]
[Onboard Operating Section]
In the onboard operating section 102, the driver seat 120 is provided on top of a box-shaped motor unit cover 122 for covering the top of the engine 112, and the motor unit cover 122 is configured so as to also serve as a seat support platform.
A control column 124 provided upright from the front end portion of an operating unit floor 123 on the vehicle body frame 110 is provided in front of the driver seat 120, a control box 125 is provided extending from the left side of the control column 124 to the motor unit cover 122 to the rear, and an air intake duct 126 for drawing in outside air from above the transverse outside of the vehicle body on the side of the engine 112 via a dust cover 126a is integrally connected to the motor unit cover 122 to the right of the driver seat 120. [0082]
A steering lever 127 for controlling the travel direction of the vehicle body is provided on the top surface of the control column 124, a speed change lever 128 for controlling the travel speed of the vehicle body, and a cutting clutch lever 129 for interrupting the driving of the harvesting and pre-processing device 114 are provided on the top surface of the control box 125. Various other instruments are installed in operating panels formed on the top surfaces of the control column 124 and the control box 125. [0083]
On the downward sloping top surface of the air intake duct 126, a switch operating fixture 132 is provided for selecting the grain discharge position of a grain discharge device 105 of the grain recovery device 103 which is composed of a grain tank 104 and a grain discharge device 105, as shown in Figs. 17 and 20.
Between the driver seat 120 and the side surface on the inside of the vehicle body of the air intake duct 126, a grain discharge clutch lever 131 is provided as an operating fixture of a grain discharge clutch 187 which is capable of switching between driving the grain discharge device 105 and stopping the driving thereof, in order to extract the grain stored in the grain tank 104 of the grain recovery device 103.
The operation of the switch operating fixture 132 and the grain

discharge clutch lever 131 will be described hereinafter.
[84]
An air cleaner 117 for the air intake for the engine 112 is provided behind the driver seat 120, a cylindrical air intake duct 151 extending vertically is connected to the air cleaner 117, and a pre-cleaner 118 is connected to the top of the air intake duct 151. The air intake duct 151 extends upward along the inside surface of the grain tank 104, and the middle portion in the vertical direction thereof is fixed to the inside surface of the grain tank 104. The outside air at the top of the vehicle body, which includes relatively little dust, is thereby cleaned via the pre-cleaner 118 and the air cleaner 117 and fed as air for combustion to the engine 112.
[85]
In the air intake duct 151, a pipe 152 (inner pipe) connected to the pre-cleaner 118 is fitted into a pipe 153 (outer pipe) below the pipe 152. A pair of elongated holes 153a formed in symmetrical positions at the top, and a pair of bolt holes 153b formed in symmetrical positions at the bottom are formed in the pipe 153, and a symmetrically formed pair of bolt holes 152a is formed in the pipe 152. By inserting and fastening bolts (not shown) between the pair of bolt holes 152a of the pipe 152 and the pair of upper elongated holes 153a or lower bolt holes 153b of the pipe 153, the pre-cleaner 118 can be fixed so that the vertical position thereof can be changed. During shipping and transport, since the assembly is stored in a container for transport, the inner pipe 152 of the pre-cleaner 118 is inserted into the outer pipe 153 of the air cleaner 117 to reduce the height of the top end of the pre-cleaner 118, as shown in Figs. 17 through 19.
[86]
[Threshing Section]
In the threshing device 113, a wind sorting chamber is formed in the bottom portion, and a threshing chamber whose front end is connected to the feeder 115 is provided in the top portion of the threshing device 113. A cylindrical transmission casing 157 which houses an input shaft or other transmission device for driving a threshing tank shaft is provided in front of the front wall of the threshing chamber. The transmission casing 157 is provided between the top portions of right/left vertical frames 158 of the front portion of the threshing device 113 which form the outer frame of the threshing device 113. Attachment parts 159 for inserting bolts to attach the

transmission casing 157 to the front surfaces of the vertical frames 158 are formed above and below on the right/left of the transmission casing 157, and bolts are inserted in the bolt insertion holes of the attachment parts 159 and fastened to the front portion of the vertical frames 158. The transmission casing 157 functions as a horizontal frame forming the outer frame of the threshing device 113.
The threshing device 113 is configured so as to thresh the cut straw fed to the threshing chamber through the use of an axial-flow threshing drum (not shown) which rotates about an axis oriented in the front-rear direction of the travel vehicle body, and is configured so as to sort the threshed matter in a sorting device disposed below the threshing drum into threshed grains and straw debris and feed the threshed grains to the grain tank 104 of the grain recovery device 103. The straw debris and the like separated from the desired threshing matter (threshed grains) stored in the grain tank 104 is dropped out to the rear of the self-propelled vehicle body 101.
[87]
[Grain Tank]
In the grain tank 104, a bottom screw 141 for conveying the stored grain toward the rear is provided at the bottom of a tank main body 140.
As shown in Fig. 17, a discharge casing 142 for removably supporting the rear end portion of the bottom screw 141 is connected to the rear end of the lower portion of the grain tank 104, and the grain tank 104 is supported so as to be able to swivel about a vertically oriented axis y together with the discharge casing 142.

A ceiling part 143 of the tank main body 140 is formed so that a ceiling part 143b toward the rear is lower than a ceiling part 143a toward the front of the tank main body 140 on the self-propelled vehicle body 101. A maintenance opening provided to the lower rear ceiling part 143b is covered by a lid 144, a guide 145 for guiding a grain discharge tube 170 of the grain discharge device 105 is provided to the lid 144, and the maintenance opening can easily be opened and closed by grasping the guide 145 by hand. [0089]
Figs. 17 through 19 show a state in which the lid 144 to which the guide 145 is attached is removed, and in Figs. 17 and 18, the lid 144 and the

guide 145 are indicated by double-dashed lines. In the grain discharge tube 170 shown in Figs. 17 through 19, a storage support stand 130 is lowered to the lowest position thereof, and the grain discharge tube 170 having been moved to a position toward the center of the vehicle body is supported by the storage support stand 130. The pre-cleaner 118 shown in Figs. 17 through 19 is also shown lowered to the lowest position thereof.
[90]
The guide 145 has the function of lifting and guiding upward the grain discharge tube 170 which is in a downward orientation from horizontal, in association with the movement of the grain discharge tube 170 of the grain discharge device 105 over the self-propelled vehicle body 101, and ensures that the grain discharge tube 170 which swivels about the vertically oriented axis y swings vertically about a horizontal axis x when moving over the self-propelled vehicle body 101 to intersect with the pre-cleaner 118 at a high elevation relative to the vehicle body and be placed in the storage support stand 130 above the vehicle body.
The guidance by the guide 145 functions in the range of rotation of the grain discharge tube 170 about the vertically oriented axis y, between the position of the storage support stand 130 and the horizontal end portion of the vehicle body on the side where the onboard operating section 102 is positioned, and no guidance is provided by the guide 145 outside this range.
[91]
[Storage Support Stand]
The storage support stand 130 is positioned higher than the top panel 113a of the threshing device 113, and is attached to the top end of a stay 164 provided upright in the middle in the horizontal direction of the transmission casing 157 provided between the top portions of the vertical frames 158.
The stay 164 is composed of an upper stay 164a and a lower stay 164b, and is fixed by a pin 165 inserted in pin insertion holes 166 formed in both the upper stay 164a and the lower stay 164b. Pin insertion holes 166 are formed in two locations above and below in the lower stay 164b, and during normal use, the pin 165 is placed in the upper pin insertion hole 166 of the lower stay 164b to connect the lower stay 164b with the upper stay 164a (as indicated by the double-dashed lines in Fig. 22). When the pin 165 is placed through the lower pin insertion hole 166 of the lower stay 164b to connect the upper stay 164a to the lower stay 164b (as indicated by
the solid lines in Figs. 21 and 22), the height of the front end of the grain discharge tube 170 can be lowered when the grain discharge tube 170 is mounted on the storage support stand 130, and the maximum vehicle height of the combine can be reduced for shipping and transport (container storage).
[92]
An input pulley 174 for receiving the power of the engine is provided on the left side (right side in Fig. 21) of the transmission casing 157, and a reverse input pulley 174a is provided on the right side (left side in Fig. 21). A forward rotation input shaft (not shown) for transmitting power from the input pulley 174, and a reverse rotation input shaft (not shown) for transmitting power from the reverse input pulley 174a are housed inside the transmission casing 157, and power is transmitted to the threshing drum via a bevel gear provided in the right/left center from either the left or the right input shaft. A bevel casing 175 is installed at the right/left center of the transmission casing 157, and the bevel gear and the bevel gear of the threshing drum shaft are housed in the bevel casing 175.
A flange 176 is formed on the external periphery of the opening at the rear of the bevel casing 175, and a threshing chamber front wall 177 is fixedly connected to the flange 176.
Power is normally not transmitted to the reverse input shaft, and the threshing drum is driven by power from the forward rotation input shaft. When jamming occurs, a clutch is engaged to cut power to the forward rotation input shaft and transmit power to the reverse rotation input shaft, and the threshing drum is rotated in reverse to clear the jamming.
[93]
Stay attachment parts 172 are formed on the left side of the center portion of the transmission casing 157 and at the top of the bevel casing 175. A plate-shaped support member 164c at the lower end of the lower stay 164b is fixed by bolts 179 to the stay attachment parts 172.
[94]
At the top of the upper stay 164a, an attachment plate 180 as a part for attaching the storage support stand 130 is fixed in order to support the grain discharge tube 170 on the storage support stand 130 in two locations on the right and left. A plurality of bolt holes 181a, 181b is formed in the attachment plate 180 so that the position of the storage support stand 130

can be changed between two locations on the right and left. The bolt holes 181a formed in the attachment plate 180 are holes for normal use, and bolts 182 are placed in the bolt holes 181a to fasten the storage support stand 130 as shown in Fig. 23. The bolt holes 181b are holes for bolting the storage support stand 130 during shipping so that the distal end of the grain discharge tube 170 is brought toward the center in the right/left direction of the self-propelled vehicle body 101 in a state in which the pin 165 is placed in the lower pin insertion hole 166 of the lower stay 164b and the storage support stand 130 is lowered when the combine is loaded into a container, as shown in Fig. 24. In this case, the guide 145 is removed in advance and the pre-cleaner 118 is lowered so as not to obstruct the movement of the grain discharge tube 170 toward the center in the right/left direction.
[95]
The storage support stand 130 is composed of a support plate 130a bolted to the attachment plate 180 at the top end of the upper stay 164a and formed in an L-shape as viewed from the side, and having a concave portion formed therein which is U-shaped and wide at the top as viewed from the front, and a grain discharge tube mounting stay plate 130b attached along the edge of the U-shaped concave portion.
[96]
[Grain Discharge Device]
The screw-type grain discharge device 105 for hoisting the grain transported by the bottom screw 141 and subsequently conveying the grain sideways and discharging the grain to the outside of the vehicle is provided to the rear of the grain tank 104. The grain discharge device 105 is composed of a screw-type vertical conveyance mechanism 106 connected so as to be communicated at the lower end of the rear surface of the grain tank 104, and a screw-type transverse conveyance mechanism 107 connected so as to be communicated with the upper end of the vertical conveyance mechanism 106, and the entire grain discharge device 105 is able to swivel with respect to the discharge casing 142 about the vertically oriented axis y which is concentric with the screw axis of the vertical conveyance mechanism 106.
[97]
The vertical conveyance mechanism 106 is composed of the combination of a vertical screw 161 provided concentrically with the vertically oriented axis y, and a vertical feed cylinder 160 which houses the vertical screw 161.
The lower end of the vertical feed cylinder 160 is connected to the upper end of the discharge casing 142, a gear part 160a is provided to the external periphery slightly above the point of connection, and the vertical feed cylinder 160 is swiveled about the vertically oriented axis y by a swiveling electric motor 163 provided with a pinion 162 engaged with the gear part 160a. The swiveling electric motor 163 is fixed on the side of the discharge casing 142.
[98]
The bottom screw 141 and the vertical screw 161 are coupled together via a coupling mechanism 50. As shown in Figs. 17 and 18, an upper end casing 167 is provided at the upper end of the vertical feed cylinder 160, and the drive power of the vertical conveyance mechanism 106 is transmitted from the upper end casing 167 to the transverse conveyance mechanism 107.

The transverse conveyance mechanism 107 is composed of the combination of the grain discharge tube 170 for receiving the grain hoisted through the vertical feed cylinder 160 and discharging the grain to the outside, and a conveyance screw 171 provided inside the grain discharge tube 170.
The grain discharge tube 170 includes a transverse feed cylinder part 173 connected on the downstream side in the grain discharge direction from the upper end casing 167 of the vertical feed cylinder 160, and the conveyance screw 171 is provided inside the grain discharge tube 170.
[100]
The upper end portion of a hydraulic cylinder 156 is connected between the transverse feed cylinder part 173 and an arm member 178 which swings integrally with the transverse feed cylinder part 173, and is connected to a cylinder attachment bracket 168, the lower end portion of which is connected to the upper end portion of the vertical feed cylinder 160. [0101]
The grain discharge clutch 187 is provided to a system for transmitting belt drive power to the bottom screw 141. As shown in Fig.
17, the grain discharge clutch 187 is composed of a tension clutch for pushing a tension roller 188 against a transmission belt 185, and as described hereinafter, the grain discharge clutch 187 is engaged and disengaged by operation from the onboard operating section 102 of a grain discharge clutch lever 131, which is an example of a clutch operating fixture. [0102]
[Operation of the Grain Discharge Device]
Following is a description of the manner in which the grain discharge device 105 is swiveled about the vertically oriented axis y and swung upward and downward about the horizontally oriented axis x.
[103]
A cover 155 which protrudes upward past the tilted surface 154 is provided at the top of the forward-descending tilted surface 154 of the air intake duct 126, and the switch operating fixture 132 is provided in a position lower than the top surface of the cover 155. As shown in Figs. 20 and 25, the switch operating fixture 132 is composed of the combination of a first operating switch 132a provided at the top, and a second operating switch 132b provided at the bottom, the first switch 132a and second switch 132b are disposed in a concave portion in which the top surface of the cover 155 is depressed, and the first switch 132a and second switch 132b are placed so as to be hidden by the cover 155 when viewed from the side. The first operating switch 132a is a seesaw switch for selecting left or right swiveling of the grain discharge tube 170 in the horizontal direction thereof, and the second operating switch 132b is a seesaw switch for selecting upward or downward swinging of the grain discharge tube 170.
[104]
The first operating switch 132a is provided in a horizontal orientation and configured so as to return to the middle position from being pressed in either direction, and is configured so that the transverse conveyance mechanism 107 is swiveled in the direction in which the switch is pressed only while the pressed part of the switch is being pressed to the left or right, and so that swiveling is stopped when the pressure on the switch is released. The second operating switch 132b is provided in a vertical orientation and configured so as to return to the middle position from being pressed in either direction, and is configured so that the

transverse conveyance mechanism 107 is swung upward and downward in the direction in which the switch is pressed only while the pressed part of the switch is being pressed upward or downward, and so that the upward or downward movement of the transverse conveyance mechanism 107 is stopped when the pressure on the switch is released.
[105]
The wiring of the first operating switch 132a and second operating switch 132b is connected to a control device (not shown) through the inside of the air intake duct 126, the control device outputs an actuation command to the swiveling electric motor 163 on the basis of the operation of the first operating switch 132a, and a command to extend or retract the hydraulic cylinder 156 is outputted to an electromagnetic valve (not shown) for control on the basis of the operation of the second operating switch 132b.
The first operating switch 132a and the second operating switch 132b are positioned closer to the outside of the vehicle body than the driver seat 120, and can therefore be operated from a seated position in the driver seat 120, as well as from on the ground when the operator is dismounted from the self-propelled vehicle body 101.
[106]
[Modification of the Second Embodiment]
The configuration of this embodiment can be applied to a normal-type combine for threshing rice and wheat grains or millet, foxtail millet, or pulse, as well as to a culm-head charging-type combine for threshing while holding cut straw in a feed chain. [0107]
[Summary of Second Embodiment]
As described above, the combine according to this embodiment features the configuration as under:- A combine comprising:
a threshing device provided on one side in the right/left direction of a self-propelled vehicle body;
a grain tank provided on the other side in the right/left direction of a self-propelled vehicle body;
a grain discharge tube for discharging threshed matter in the grain tank provided so as to be able to swivel about a vertically oriented axis positioned at the rear of the grain tank, and so as to be able to swing upward
t ,
and downward about a horizontally oriented axis; and
a storage support stand for mounting and supporting the longitudinal middle portion of the grain discharge tube provided at the front of the threshing device; wherein
a horizontal frame is provided across the top portions of right/left vertical frames at the front of the threshing device, which form the outer frame of the threshing device; and
the storage support stand of the grain discharge tube is provided via a stay which is provided upright in the middle of the horizontal frame in the right/left direction thereof.
Since the storage support stand of the grain discharge tube is thereby provided at the top of a robust double housing frame composed of the right/left vertical frames and the horizontal frame provided across the top portions of the vertical frames, the height of the stay provided between the horizontal frame and the storage support stand can be reduced.
The stay and the storage support stand can be supported with adequate strength from two ways by the right/left vertical frames which are provided at an interval corresponding to the transverse width of the threshing device.
Consequently, by effectively utilizing the right/left vertical frames, which are existing members forming the outer frame of the threshing device, to provide the storage support stand of the grain discharge tube, there is no need to provide a dedicated long brace from the vehicle body frame (even if a dedicated member were provided for supporting the stay, a small member would be sufficient), and the storage support stand can easily be formed using a short stay. The strength of a short brace is also sufficient for the stay, a small-sized, lightweight stay can be formed, and weight can be reduced.
Preferably, the horizontal frame in the above configuration is a transmission casing which houses a transmission device for driving the threshing drum of the threshing device.
Through this configuration, the transmission casing, which is an existing member housing the transmission device for driving the threshing device, is used also as the horizontal frame for supporting the stay. The support structure of the stay and the storage support stand can therefore be

simplified. [0108]
[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment will next be described with reference to Figs. 26 through 37.
[109]
The present embodiment relates particularly to a combine provided with a moving body capable of being moved by the driving of an actuator; a detected body attached to the moving body; a position detection mechanism having a terminal capable of swinging in contact with the detected body; and a control mechanism for stopping the driving of the actuator when the detected body is detected by the position detection mechanism.
[110]
For example, as shown in Fig. 29, a protruding pin 231 (as an example of the detected body) is attached to a vertical auger 208 (as an example of the moving body) which is provided to a vehicle body frame 202 so as to be able to rotate, and a position detection mechanism 232 is provided having a rotating lever 232a capable of swinging in contact with the protruding pin 231. In the case of discharging grain to the loading platform of a truck, for example, the vertical auger 208 is rotated about an axis 208X by the driving of an actuator M to position the discharge port of a horizontal auger 209 over the loading platform of the truck, and the grain is discharged by the rotation of a screw 208b provided to the vertical auger 208 and a screw 209b provided to the horizontal auger 209. When the vertical auger 208 is about to rotate past a predetermined range, the rotating lever 232a touches the protruding pin 231 and swings, as shown in Figs. 33 and 34, for example. Driving of the actuator is stopped when the rotating lever 232a swings to one side by more than a predetermined amount from the middle position (the position of the rotating lever 232a on the left side of Fig. 33(a) and the position indicated by double-dashed lines of the rotating lever 232a on the right side of Fig. 33(a), and the position indicated by double-dashed lines of the rotating lever 232a on the left side of Fig. 34(a) and the position of the rotating lever 232a on the right side of Fig. 34(a)). [0111]
In a conventional example of this type of combine, when the vertical auger 208 is about to rotate past a predetermined range, the protruding pin

231 is simply detected by the position detection mechanism 232, and driving of the actuator M is stopped.
However, as shown in Fig. 37, for example, when the vertical auger 208 is rotated counterclockwise (see Fig. 37(a)), the vertical auger 208 sometimes moves past the predetermined range (see Fig. 37(b)), due to such factors as rotational inertia of the vertical auger 208 and faulty detection by the position detection mechanism 232. The rotating lever 232a may then sometimes lose contact with the protruding pin 231 (see Fig. 37(c)). When the rotating lever 232a loses contact with the protruding pin 231, the rotating lever 232a swings to the other side, and is returned by spring action to the middle position (position indicated by double-dashed lines of the rotating lever 232a in Fig. 37(c)). When the vertical auger 208 rotates clockwise from this state, the rotating lever 232a swings toward the other side from the middle position (position indicated by double-dashed lines of the rotating lever 232a in Fig. 37(d)) (see Fig. 37(d)), the position of the rotating lever 232a is outside the range of proper detection, and the position detection mechanism sometimes malfunctions. [0112]
In view of this problem, there is a need for the ability to prevent malfunctioning of the position detection mechanism even when the moving body has moved past the predetermined movement range. Possible configurations for overcoming this problem are described below. These configurations are described in detail below.
[113]
As shown in Fig. 26, a combine (as an example of a work vehicle) includes a crawler travel device 201, a vehicle body frame 202 provided on top of the crawler travel device 201, a harvesting section 203 provided to the front of the vehicle body frame 202, and other components. The vehicle body frame 202 includes a steering section 204 operated by a worker; a threshing section 205 for threshing and sorting cut straw; a grain tank 206 for storing grain fed from the threshing section 205; an unloader 207 for discharging the grain to the outside of the vehicle from the grain tank 206; and other components. A normal-type combine is described as an example in the present embodiment, but this configuration is not limiting; the present embodiment may also be applied to a culm-head charging-type combine.
[114]
As shown in Figs. 27 through 30, the unloader 207 includes a vertical auger 208 (as an example of the moving body) for conveying the grain stored in the grain tank 206 upward, the vertical auger 208 being connected to the grain tank 206; a horizontal auger 209 for discharging the grain conveyed by the vertical auger 208 onto the loading platform of a truck or the like; a connecting member 210 for connecting the vertical auger 208 and the horizontal auger 209; and other components. The vertical auger 208 has a cylindrical exterior casing 208a, and a vertical feed screw 208b provided inside the exterior casing 208a. The horizontal auger 209 has a cylindrical exterior casing 209a, and a horizontal feed screw 209b provided inside the exterior casing 209a. The connecting member 210 has a cylindrical exterior casing 210a, and a horizontal feed screw 210b provided inside the exterior casing 210a. [0115]
A discharge screw 211 is provided at the bottom of the grain tank 206. A lower casing 212 is attached to the rear side of the grain tank 206. The discharge screw 211 is supported by the lower casing 212 and the grain tank 206 so as to be able to rotate. One end of the discharge screw 211 protrudes from the lower casing 212, and a pulley 213a on one side is attached to the protruding portion of the discharge screw 211. A cylindrical member 217 is provided between the lower casing 212 and the vehicle body frame 202, and a first shaft member 214 is supported by the cylindrical member 217 so as to be able to rotate. One end of the first shaft member 214 protrudes from the cylindrical member 217, and a pulley 213b on the other side is attached to the protruding portion of the first shaft member 214. A belt 215 is provided which is wrapped around the pair of pulleys 213a, 213b. A bevel gear 216a on one side is attached to the other end of the first shaft member 214. A bevel gear 216b on the other side for meshing with the bevel gear 216a on the one side is attached to the lower end portion of the vertical feed screw 208b. A bevel gear 218a on one side is attached to the upper end portion of the vertical feed screw 208b. A bevel gear 218b on the other side for meshing with the bevel gear 218a on the one side is attached to the other end of the horizontal feed screw 210b. A bevel gear 219a on one side is attached to one end of the horizontal feed screw 210b. A bevel gear 219b on the other side for meshing with the bevel gear 219a on the one side is attached to the proximal end of the

horizontal feed screw 209b.
[0116]
According to the above configuration, when the discharge screw 211 is caused to rotate by the driving of the engine E, the vertical feed screw 208b coupled with the discharge screw 211 also rotates, the horizontal feed screw 210b coupled with the vertical feed screw 208b rotates, and the horizontal feed screw 209b coupled with the horizontal feed screw 210b rotates. The grain in the grain tank 206 is thereby conveyed upward through the vertical auger 208 by the rotation of the vertical feed screw 208b, and the grain is conveyed toward the distal end through the horizontal auger 209 by the rotation of the horizontal feed screw 209b and discharged through a discharge port 209c provided at the distal end of the horizontal auger 209. Since the belt 215 is provided so as to wrap around the pair of pulleys 213a, 213b, damage due to slipping of the belt 215 can be prevented even when a large torque is applied to the vertical feed screw 208b and the horizontal feed screws 209b, 210b due to jamming with grain or the like. [0117]
As shown in Figs. 28 and 29, a ring gear 221 is fixed to the exterior casing 208a of the vertical auger 208. The lower end portion of the exterior casing 208a of the vertical auger 208 is fitted into an upper cylindrical portion 212a of the lower casing 212 so as to be able to rotate in relative fashion. The ring gear 221 is mounted and supported in the upper cylindrical portion 212a of the lower casing 212. A first vertical frame 222 and a second vertical frame 225 are provided upright on the vehicle body frame 202. A first attachment member 226 is provided at the top of the first vertical frame 222. A horizontal frame 227 is provided between the second vertical frame 225 and the first attachment member 226. A second attachment member 228 for supporting the middle portion of the vertical auger 208 so as to allow the middle portion to rotate is provided to the first attachment member 226. A third attachment member 229 for supporting the upper portion of the vertical auger 208 so as to allow the upper portion to rotate is provided to the grain tank 206. A motor M (as an example of the actuator) is attached to the first vertical frame 222 via a bracket B. A gear 223 for meshing with the ring gear 221 is fixed to a rotary shaft of the motor M. The vertical auger 208 can be rotated about the vertical axis 208X by the driving of the motor M.
[0118]
A hydraulic cylinder 224 is provided between the exterior casing 210a of the connecting member 210 and the exterior casing 209a of the horizontal auger 209. The horizontal auger 209 can be swung upward and downward by the telescopic motion of the hydraulic cylinder 224.
[119]
When the grain in the grain tank 206 is discharged onto the loading platform of a truck (not shown), the hydraulic cylinder 224 is extended to raise the distal end of the horizontal auger 209, the motor M is driven to rotate the unloader 207, and the discharge port 209c of the horizontal auger 209 is positioned over the loading platform of the truck. The discharge screw 211, vertical feed screw 208b, horizontal feed screw 209b and horizontal feed screw 210b are then rotated, and the grain is discharged from the discharge port 209c of the horizontal auger 209.
[120]
As shown in Figs. 31 through 34, a rotation limiting device C for limiting the rotation of the vertical auger 208 is provided to the unloader 207. The rotation limiting device C includes an upper protruding pin 231a (as an example of the detected body) which protrudes from the top surface of the ring gear 221 attached to the external peripheral portion of the vertical auger 208; a lower protruding pin 231b (as an example of the detected body) which protrudes from the bottom surface of the ring gear 221 in the same position as the upper protruding pin 231a in planar view; a pair of position sensors 232 (as an example of the position detection mechanism) having the rotating lever 232a (as an example of the terminal) capable of swinging in contact with the upper protruding pin 231a; a pair of fixed stoppers 233 for limiting the rotation of the vertical auger 208 by coming in contact with the lower protruding pin 231b; a CPU (as an example of the control mechanism; not shown) for stopping the driving of the motor M (as an example of the actuator) when the upper protruding pin 231a is detected by the position sensors 232; and other components. The upper protruding pin 23 la and the lower protruding pin 231b are provided in the same position in planar view by inserting and fixing a pin in a hole formed through the ring gear 221, and using the top portion of the pin as the upper protruding pin 231a and the bottom portion of the pin as the lower protruding pin 231b. The upper protruding pin 231a and the lower protruding pin 231b can thereby be

provided in the same position in planar view by the simple assembly operation of merely inserting and fixing a pin in a hole formed through the ring gear 221. [0121]
In the present embodiment, a configuration is described in which the upper protruding pin 23 la and the lower protruding pin 23 lb are provided in the same position in planar view. However, the upper protruding pin 231a and lower protruding pin 231b may be provided in substantially the same position in planar view, or the upper protruding pin 231a and lower protruding pin 231b may be provided out of phase in the peripheral direction.
The upper protruding pin 231a is also longer than the lower protruding pin 231b in the above configuration, but the upper protruding pin 231a and lower protruding pin 231b may be the same length, or the upper protruding pin 231a may be shorter than the lower protruding pin 231b. The upper protruding pin 231a and lower protruding pin 231b are also provided as a single set in the above description, but a plurality of sets of upper protruding pins 231a and lower protruding pins 231b may also be provided.
Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which a protruding pin 231 which protrudes from either surface of the ring gear 221 is provided, and a pair of position sensors 232 having a rotating lever 232a capable of swinging in contact with the protruding pin 231, and a pair of fixed stoppers 233 for limiting the rotation of the vertical auger 208 by coming in contact with the protruding pin 231 are provided. [0122]
A first attachment member 235 is fixed to the first vertical frame 222. The first attachment member 235 includes a rectangular flat plate portion 235a, a substantially trapezoidal upper bent portion 235b extending in the horizontal direction from the upper end of the flat plate portion 235a, and a substantially trapezoidal lower bent portion 235c extending in the horizontal direction from the lower end of the flat plate portion 235a, and the cross-sectional shape of the first attachment member 235 forms a square horseshoe shape which opens horizontally. Triangular notches 235d, 235e are formed in the upper bent portion 235b and the lower bent portion 235c, respectively. The notches 235d, 235e are fixedly attached so as to fit on
the corner of the first vertical frame 222.
[123]
A second attachment member 236 is attached to a side of the first attachment member 235. The second attachment member 236 includes a disk-shaped support part 236a in which a notch 236d is formed in the top surface thereof for mounting and fixing the motor M; a bent portion 236b on one side which extends downward from the end portion on one side of the support part 236a; and a bent portion 236c on the other side which extends downward from the end portion on the other side of the support part 236a, and the cross-sectional shape of the second attachment member 236 forms a square horseshoe shape which opens downward. The notch 236d is adjacent to the vertical auger 208 in parallel fashion. The flat plate portion 235a of the first attachment member 235 and the bent portion 236b on one side of the second attachment member 236 are fixed by bolts or other fastening means. The distal ends (toward the vertical auger 208) of the bent portion 236b on one side and the bent portion 236c on the other side are each bent toward the inside. The fixed stoppers 233 are thereby formed at the distal ends of the bent portions 236b, 236c. The spacing between the pair of stoppers 233 decreases the closer to the vertical auger 208.
[124]
A flat plate-shaped connecting member 237 for connecting the pair of stoppers 233, and a flat plate-shaped support member 238 substantially V-shaped for connecting the pair of stoppers 233 and connecting to the bottom surface of the connecting member 237 are provided. The pair of stoppers 233 are thereby reinforced by the connecting member 237 and the support member 238. The pair of stoppers 233 are furthermore fixed to the upper cylindrical portion 212a.
[125]
The pair of position sensors 232 (position sensors 232 on the right sides of Figs. 33(a) and 34(a)) have rotating levers 232a which are capable of swinging about a vertical axis. Elastic springs (not shown) are attached between the rotating levers 232a and the position sensors 232 on one side so that the rotating levers 232a return to the middle position thereof. Driving of the motor M is stopped when the rotating levers 232a swing to one side more than a predetermined amount from the middle position. The range from the middle position to the maximum swing position to which a rotating
lever 232a swings past a predetermined amount is the range of proper detection by the rotating lever 232a. [0126]
As shown in Fig. 32, the position sensor 232 of one side is attached to the upper bent portion 235b of the first attachment member 235 via an attachment piece 241 of one side. The attachment piece 241 of one side includes a flat plate-shaped first attachment portion 241a, and a flat plate-shaped second attachment portion 241b connected to an end portion of the first attachment portion 241a. The first attachment portion 241a is fixed to the top surface of the upper bent portion 235b, and the position sensor 232 of one side is attached to the second attachment portion 241b.
[127]
The position sensor 232 of the other side (position sensor 232 on the left sides of Figs. 33(a) and 34(a)) has substantially the same configuration as the position sensor 232 of the one side, and is attached to the bent portion 236c on the other side of the second attachment member 236 via an attachment piece 242 of the other side. The attachment piece 242 of the other side includes a flat plate-shaped first attachment portion 242a, a flat plate-shaped second attachment portion 242b connected to an end portion of the first attachment portion 242a, and a flat plate-shaped third attachment portion 242c connected to an end portion of the second attachment portion 242b. The first attachment portion 242a is fixed to the side surface of the bent portion 236c of the other side, and the position sensor 232 of the other side is attached to the third attachment portion 242c. Through the above configuration, the first attachment member 235 and the second attachment member 236 form a bracket B for attaching the motor M to the vertical auger 208 on the side of the vehicle body frame 202.
[128]
Following is a description of the operation whereby the movement of the vertical auger 208 is limited when the vertical auger 208 rotates past the predetermined rotation range. [0129]
As shown in Figs. 33 and 36, when the vertical auger 208 is rotated counterclockwise by the driving of the motor M (see Fig. 36(a)), the rotating lever 232a of the position sensor 232 on one side makes contact with the upper protruding pin 231a and swings. When the rotating lever 232a
t
swings to one side more than a predetermined amount from the middle position, driving of the motor M is stopped (see Fig. 36(b)). When the vertical auger 208 moves past the predetermined rotation range due to such factors as the inertia of the vertical auger 208, the lower protruding pin 23 lb comes in contact with one of the stoppers 233 (the stopper 233 on the right side of Figs. 33(b) and 34(b)) while contact between the rotating lever 232a and the upper protruding pin 23la is maintained (see Fig. 36(c)). When the vertical auger 208 rotates clockwise from this state, the rotating lever 232a loses contact with the protruding pin 231 and is returned by spring action to the middle position (see Fig. 36(d)). The rotating lever 232a is thereby prevented from swinging to the other side from the middle position (as in Fig. 37(d)). As a result, the rotating lever 232a can be prevented from leaving the proper detection range and causing one of the position sensors 232 to malfunction. The stopper 233 on one side is tilted toward the other side (to the right in Fig. 33) with respect to the direction of the axis 208X of the vertical auger 208. [0130]
As shown in Fig. 34, when the vertical auger 208 is rotated clockwise by the driving of the motor M, the rotating lever 232a of the other position sensor 232 makes contact with the upper protruding pin 231a and swings. Driving of the motor M is stopped when the rotating lever 232a swings to one side more than a predetermined amount from the middle position. At this time, when the vertical auger 208 moves past the predetermined rotation range due to such factors as the inertia of the vertical auger 208, the lower protruding pin 231b comes in contact with the other stopper 233 (the stopper 233 on the left side of Figs. 33(b) and 34(b)) while contact between the rotating lever 232a and the upper protruding pin 231a is maintained. When the vertical auger 208 is rotated counterclockwise from this state by the driving of the motor M, the rotating lever 232a loses contact with the upper protruding pin 231a and is returned by spring action to the middle position. The rotating lever 232a is thereby prevented from swinging to the other side from the middle position. As a result, the rotating lever 232a can be prevented from leaving the proper detection range and causing the other position sensor 232 to malfunction. The stopper 233 on the other side is tilted toward the other side (toward the top in Fig. 33) with respect to the direction of the axis 208X of the vertical auger 208.
As shown in Fig. 35, the rotating levers 232a of the position sensors 232 come in contact with the upper protruding pin 231a, and driving of the motor M is stopped, thereby limiting the rotation of the vertical auger 208. The rotation range of the vertical auger 208 at this time is referred to as a first rotation range al. The rotation of the vertical auger 208 is also limited by the upper protruding pin 231a coming in contact with the stoppers 233. The rotation range of the vertical auger 208 in this instance is referred to as a second rotation range a2. The second rotation range a2 is set larger than the first rotation range al. Even when the vertical auger 208 rotates past the first rotation range al, since the rotation range thereof is limited to within the second rotation range a2, no malfunctioning of the position sensors 232 occurs.
[132]
In the present embodiment, the positions of the position sensor 232 and stopper 233 on one side and the positions of the position sensor 232 and stopper 233 on the other side are arranged so as to be offset from each other by a predetermined rotation range. The rotation range can be set as needed by changing the arrangement of the position sensors 232 and the stoppers 233.
[133]
[Modifications of the Third Embodiment]
In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the motor M is attached to the first vertical frame 222 of the vehicle body frame 202 via a bracket B, but this configuration is not limiting, and the motor M may be attached to the lower casing 212 of the vehicle body frame 202 via the bracket B.
[134]
(2) In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the position sensor 232 on one side is attached to the first attachment member 235, and the position sensor 232 on the other side is attached to the second attachment member 236, but this configuration is not limiting, and the position sensor 232 of one side and the position sensor 232 of the other side may be attached to the second attachment member 236, for example.
[135]
(3) In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the
'unloader 207 includes a vertical auger 208 capable of rotating about the vertical axis 208X on the vehicle body frame 202, and a horizontal auger 209 connected to the vertical auger 208 and capable of swinging upward and downward about a pivot at the location where the vertical auger 208 is connected, and a rotation limiting device C is provided at the bottom of the vertical auger 208. However, this configuration is not limiting, and a configuration may be adopted in which the unloader 207 includes a vertical auger 208 fixed to the vehicle body frame 202, and a horizontal auger 209 capable of swiveling to the right and left as well as swinging upward and downward about a pivot at the location where the vertical auger 208 is connected, and a rotation limiting device C is provided at the top of the vertical auger 208, for example.
[136]
(4) The configuration of the above embodiment can be applied to combines, tractors, construction equipment, and various other types of work vehicles. The above embodiment can also be applied to a configuration other than that of a rotating body rotatable by the driving of an actuator, i.e., to a moving body capable of being moved linearly by the driving of an actuator.
[137]
[Summary of Third Embodiment]
As described above, the work vehicle (combine) according to this embodiment features the configuration as under according to a first aspect thereof:-
A work vehicle comprising:
a moving body capable of being moved by the driving of an actuator; a detected body attached to the moving body; a position detection mechanism having a terminal capable of swinging in contact with the detected body; and
a control mechanism for stopping the driving of the actuator when the detected body is detected by the position detection mechanism; wherein
a fixed stopper is provided for coming in contact with the detected body to limit the movement of the moving body, and
the position detection mechanism and the stopper are arranged so that the detected body comes in contact with the stopper while a state of
contact between the terminal and the detected body is maintained.
[138]
According to the present configuration, as shown in Fig. 36, for example, when the vertical auger 208 (as an example of the moving body) is rotated counterclockwise (see Figs. 36(a) and 36(b)), and the vertical auger 208 rotates past the predetermined rotation range, the protruding pin 231 comes in contact with the stopper 233 while contact between the rotating lever 232a (as an example of the terminal) and the protruding pin 231 (as an example of the detected body) is maintained (see Fig. 36(c)). When the vertical auger 208 is rotated clockwise from this state, the rotating lever 232a loses contact with the protruding pin 231, and is returned by spring action to the middle position (see Fig. 36(d)). The rotating lever 232a is thereby prevented from swinging to the other side from the middle position (as in Fig. 37(d)). As a result, the terminal can be prevented from leaving the proper detection range and causing the position detection mechanism to malfunction.
[139]
In a preferred embodiment, the actuator is attached on the side of the vehicle body frame with respect to the moving body via a bracket, and the position detection mechanism and the stopper are attached to the bracket.
According to this configuration, since the actuator is attached on the side of the vehicle body frame with respect to the moving body via a bracket, and the position detection mechanism and the stopper are attached to the bracket, the bracket for attaching the actuator on the side of the vehicle body frame with respect to the moving body is also made to function for attaching the position detection mechanism and the stopper, and the configuration can thereby be simplified.
[140]
In a preferred embodiment, the moving body is a rotating body capable of rotating, a ring gear for meshing with a gear of the actuator is provided on the external peripheral portion of the rotating body, the detected body is a protruding pin provided on both sides of the ring gear, and the position detection mechanism and the stopper are arranged symmetrically on either side of the ring gear.
According to this configuration, since a ring gear is provided on the external peripheral portion of the rotating body, a protruding pin is provided
». »
on both sides of the ring gear, and the position detection mechanism and the stopper are arranged symmetrically on either side of the ring gear, the entire structure can be made compact by the symmetrical arrangement of the position detection mechanism and the stopper on either side of the ring gear.
[141]
[Fourth Embodiment]
A fourth embodiment will next be described with reference to Figs. 38 through 49.
Fig. 38 is a side view showing the entire combine, and this combine is configured as a whole-culm charging-type combine in which the straw of rice, wheat, and the like is cut, wherein a harvesting and conveyance device 303 as a conveyance device for cutting straw to be cut and conveying the straw to the rear is connected so as to be able to swing up and down about a first axis XI oriented in the right/left direction at the front of a vehicle body
302 which travels by the driving of a pair of right/left crawler travel devices 301; such components as a threshing device 304 for threshing the cut straw from the harvesting and conveyance device (conveyance device) 303 and sorting the matter obtained by this threshing, and a grain tank 305 for storing grain from the threshing device 304 are mounted on the vehicle body 302; and an onboard operating section 306 is formed at a location in front of the grain tank 305 in the vehicle body 302.
[142]
As shown in Figs. 38 and 39, the harvesting and conveyance device
303 is configured so that dividers 307 provided on the right/left ends of the front portion thereof part the straw to be cut from the straw not to be cut as the vehicle body travels, a rotating reel 308 provided above the front portion of the harvesting and conveyance device 303 scoops the straw to be cut toward the rear as the straw is parted by the right/left dividers 307, a clipper-shaped primary cutting device 309 provided at the bottom of the harvesting and conveyance device 303 cuts the straw to be cut at a predetermined point, an auger 310 provided to the rear of the primary cutting device 309 gathers the straw cut by the primary cutting device 309 into a predetermined location in the right/left direction and conveys the straw toward the rear at the predetermined location, and a conveyance mechanism 311 extending to the top front portion of the threshing device
304 from the predetermined location conveys the cut straw from the auger
• J>.
310 to the threshing device 304. The harvesting and conveyance device 303 can be swung upward and downward about a first axis XI oriented in the right/left direction by the action of a hydraulic cylinder 312 which is provided between the conveyance mechanism 311 and the vehicle body 302, and this upward and downward swinging enables the cutting height to be adjusted by changing the height position of the primary cutting device 309 with respect to the straw to be cut.
[143]
The support structure of the clipper-type auxiliary cutting device 314 will be described next. As shown in Figs. 39 and 40, a horizontal frame 316 made of square pipe is provided extending in the right/left direction at the front end of the vehicle body 302, and bearing parts 317 are provided in three locations in the right/left direction of the horizontal frame 316. As shown in Fig. 43, the bearing parts 317 are composed of supports 317A attached to the horizontal frame 316, and boss parts 317B formed integrally with the supports 317A, and cylindrical shafts 318 are attached to the boss parts 317B so as to be able to swing.
[144]
The cylindrical shafts 318 protrude horizontally along the second axis X2 from the boss parts 317B, and elevator frames 313 are connected and fixed to the protruding portions. In this configuration, the distal end portions of the elevator frames 313 supported by the bearing parts 317 in three locations in the right/left direction are connected by an angled connecting frame 315, and the elevator frames 313 are able to swing in integral fashion.
[145]
Urging means A will be described next which sets the lower limit position of the swinging range of the elevator frames 313 and urges the elevator frames 313 upward. As shown in Figs. 40 and 43, the urging means A acts on the middle elevator frame 313 positioned in the middle among the elevator frames 313 provided in three locations in the right/left direction, and the urging means A urges all three of the elevator frames 313 upward.
[146]
Specifically, the urging means A is composed of a compression coil spring 319, a support bolt shaft 320 positioned along the axis of the
» »
compression coil spring 319, a holder 321 for screwing onto the bottom end of the support bolt shaft 320, and upper and lower bearing disks 322A, 322B for holding the top and bottom ends of the compression coil spring 319.
An angled bearing frame 323 for supporting the lower bearing disk 322B extends forward from a vertically oriented front end frame 302A of the vehicle body 302, and the front end portion of the bearing frame 323 is supported by a front axle casing 325 which extends toward the drive wheels of the right/left crawler travel devices 301 from a transmission casing 324.
[147]
The lower bearing disk 322B is mounted on the bearing frame 323, and the holder 321 fitted over the bottom end of the support bolt shaft 320 is fitted in and retained in the axis position of the lower bearing disk 322B. The support bolt shaft 320 supported by the lower bearing disk 322B via the holder 321 extends upward toward the middle elevator frame 313, and the upper bearing disk 322A is installed at the upper end position of extension.
[148]
A saucer-shaped stopper 326 is mounted on the lower surface of a middle elevator frame 313, an adjusting bolt 327 is attached to the stopper 326, and a lower-end bolt head 327A of the adjusting bolt 327 is brought in contact with an upper-end bolt head 320A of the support bolt shaft 320 to press and urge the middle elevator frame 313 upward using the above-described compression coil spring 319. The adjusting bolt 327 is adjusted by advancement or retraction in the vertical direction relative to the stopper 326, whereby the contact position with an upper receiving disk 322A is adjusted and the pressing and urging force of the compression coil spring 319 can be adjusted.
[149]
The structure of the auxiliary cutting device 314 will now be described. The auxiliary cutting device 314 is composed of an angled base 329 mounted and secured back-to-back to the connecting frame 315, a receiving blade 330 mounted on the base 329, a movable blade 332 supported by the receiving blade 330, a knife bar 333 for driving the movable blade 332, and a knife clip 334 for holding the knife bar 333, as shown in Figs. 38 through 43.
[150]
Sleds 348 are mounted so as to project rearward on the downward-facing surface of the connection frame 315, and the auxiliary cutting device 314 is configured to readily follow the concavo-convex cutting surface. The sleds 348 are provided in three locations in the horizontal direction of the connection frame 315, and are provided below the elevator frames 313. The three sleds 348 are provided in positions offset to the right/left outer sides from the right/left crawler-type travel devices 301. This serves to prevent the sled 348 from interfering with the right/left crawler-type travel devices 301 when the auxiliary cutting device 314 ascends or descends.
[151]
The drive structure of the movable blade 332 will now be described. A drive structure is provided to a left-end bearing part 317 positioned at the left end of the bearing part 317 for supporting the three elevator frames 313, as shown in Figs. 40 through 42. A pair of right/left roller bearings 335 is housed in the interior space of the cylindrical shaft 318 supported by the left-end bearing part 317, and the drive shaft 336 is supported across the roller bearings 335, as shown in Fig. 44.

A rotating boss 338 on which an input sprocket 337 is mounted is installed on the cantilever end section 336A that protrudes from the cylindrical shaft 318 in the drive shaft 336, and the eccentric driving unit CI is mounted further to the cantilever distal end portion from the mounting position of the input sprocket 337.
[153]
The eccentric driving unit CI is composed of a rotating core section 339 mounted and secured in a state of being eccentrically disposed relative to the drive shaft 336, a pivot holder section 341 mounted outermost on the rotating core section 339 with a large bearing 340 interposed therebetween, and a drive fork section 343 mounted on the upper- and lower-end shafts 341A of the pivot holder section 341 with a small bearing 342 interposed therebetween, as shown in Figs. 44 and 45.
[154]
In a configuration such as that described above, the pivot holder section 341 mounted outermost on the rotating core section 339 via the large bearing 340 is pivotably driven right and left about an axial center orthogonal to the axial center of rotation of the drive shaft 336, as indicated
by the arrow, because the rotating core section 339 mounted on the drive shaft 336 integrally rotates with the drive shaft 336 but in an eccentric state. The drive fork section 343 mounted outermost on the upper- and lower-end shafts of the pivot holder section 341 also operates in coordination and pivotably swings to the right and left.
[155]
A drive rod shaft 344 in a forward and downward orientation is mounted on and secured to the drive fork section 343, and the drive rod shaft 344 is extended to the vicinity of the auxiliary cutting device 314, as shown in Figs. 42, 44 and 45. A mounting base 345 extends from the lower end portion of the left elevator frame 313 toward the drive rod shaft 344, a bearing block 346 is mounted on and secured to the distal end side of the mounting base 345, and the bearing block 346 rotatably supports the distal end portion of the drive rod shaft 344.
In such a configuration, the drive rod shaft 344 operates in coordination with the right/left pivoting of the drive fork section 343 and is configured to allow pivoting about the axial center Z of the drive rod shaft.
[156]
A pivot drive unit 347 is mounted on and secured to the lower end portion that protrudes downward from the bearing block 346 of the drive rod shaft 344, and a drive arm 347A extending from the pivot drive unit 347 is linked to the knife bar 333 for the movable blade.
With such a configuration, the movable blade 332 is reciprocatingly driven right and left by the drive force transmitted via the input sprocket 337 of the eccentric driving unit CI, the drive shaft 336, the rotating core section 339, the pivot holder section 341, the drive fork section 343, the drive rod shaft 344, the pivot drive unit 347, and the drive arm 347A.
[157]
Next, the configuration of an interlocking mechanism B1 will be described. As shown in Figs. 38 to 41, the interlocking mechanism B1 is configured so that, even when the main cutting device 309 has been elevatably operated to change the cutting height, a state will be maintained in which the elevating action of the main cutting device 309 cannot be performed in coordination with the auxiliary cutting device 314 when the vertical interval between the auxiliary cutting device 314 and the main cutting device 309 is smaller than a predetermined interval, and when the
» r
vertical spacing is equal to or greater than the predetermined interval, the auxiliary cutting device 314 is allowed to operate in coordination with the elevation action of the main cutting device.
[158]
The interlocking mechanism B1 is composed of a strip-shaped linking member 350 that is longer in the vertical direction, and an operating locking unit 351 for switching the intermediate portion of the linking member 350 to connect to and disconnect from the harvesting and conveyance device 303, as shown in Figs. 47 and 48.
The linking member 350 is composed of a mounting hole allowing connecting to the connecting frame 315 of the auxiliary cutting device 314 using a connecting pin 352 in the lower end portion of the linking member, and an elongated hole 353 for mounting a plate-shaped middle connecting member 354 in a vertically intermediate position, the elongated hole 354 being formed along the lengthwise direction of the linking member 350 itself in the location where the middle connecting member 354 is mounted. Also, an operation grip 355 is formed in the upper end portion of the linking member 350, and is positioned at a height that allows the operator to grip and operate it from the operating unit 306.

The linking member 350 is composed of a highly elastic steel plate, and when the operation grip 355 is gripped and pivotably operated by a small distance in the transverse direction of the vehicle body; i.e., in the direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the linking member 350, the linking member bendably deforms under its own elasticity, and can be engaged or disengaged by changing the relative position between an engaging hole 354a and the operating locking unit 351 formed in the middle connecting member 354.

[159]
The operating locking unit 351 is composed of an engaging piece 356 formed by bending a round rod material into a U-shape, and a channel-shaped bracket 349 mounted on the side surface of a conveyance casing 311A and used for mounting the engaging piece 356, as shown in Figs. 47 and 48.

Specifically, the engaging piece 356 is formed by integrally bending leg portions 356a, 356b extended in parallel and the proximal end portion 356c connecting the legs together. The proximal end portion 356c is positioned in the interior space of the bracket, and the engaging piece 356 is mounted on the bracket 349 in a state in which the two leg portions 356a, 356b are made to extend from the bracket 349 in the insertion/removal direction through the proximal end portion 356c.

[0160]
The engaging piece 356 has a hook shape so that one leg portion 356a extended from the bracket 349 is fitted into the elongated hole 353 for sliding of the linking member 350, and the short leg portion 356b of the other side can be engaged with and disengaged from the engaging hole 354a of the middle connecting member 354. A spring 357 for urging the short-side leg portion 356b of the engaging piece 356 from the engaging hole 354a toward the removal side is mounted outermost on the engaging piece 356.

[0161]
Therefore, as shown in Fig. 47(a) and 48(a), in the case that the harvesting and conveyance device 303 does not elevate in a state in which the long leg portion 356a of the engaging piece 356 has engaged with the elongated hole 353 of the linking member 350, and the short leg portion 356b of the engaging piece 356 is set apart and disengaged from the engaging hole 354a of the middle connecting member 354, the long leg portion 356a merely slides and moves in a relative fashion in a state of being engaged with the engaging hole 354a, and the auxiliary cutting device 314 does not elevate and operate.

However, when the harvesting and conveyance device 303 has elevated well beyond the cutting height control range, the leg portion 356a makes contact with the upper end of the engaging hole 354a, and together with the linking member 350, the auxiliary cutting device 314 elevates as an integrated entity with the harvesting and conveyance device 303.

[0162]
On the other hand, when the operation grip 355 of the linking member 350 is gripped and the linking member 350 is operated slightly in the rightward direction in a state in which the short leg portion 356b described above is set apart from the engaging hole 354a of the middle connecting member 354, the short leg portion 356b of the engaging piece 356 is inserted into the engaging hole 354a, as shown in Figs. 47(b) and 48(b). When the harvesting and conveyance device 303 is elevated in this
state, the short leg portion 356b of the engaging piece 356 engages with the middle connecting member 354 and lifts the linking member 350 using the harvesting and conveyance device 303, and the auxiliary cutting device 314 is lifted as an integrated entity with the harvesting and conveyance device 303.

[163]
In this lifted state, the weight of the auxiliary cutting device 314 acts on the contact surface between the engaging hole 354a and the engaging piece 356, and the engaged state between the engaging hole 354a and the engaging piece 356 is maintained even when the grip on the operation grip 355 is released. As shall be apparent, when the harvesting and conveyance device 303 is lowered and the auxiliary cutting device 314 makes contact with the ground, the weight of the auxiliary cutting device 314 no longer acts on the contact surface, and therefore the linking member 350 returns to its original state under its own elasticity and the engaged state is discontinued.

[164]
With a combine so configured, during travel over a furrow or the like, the interlocking mechanism B1 is operated and switched to a state in which the auxiliary cutting device 314 operates in coordination with the elevator action of the harvesting and conveyance device 303, and the harvesting and conveyance device 303 is elevatably operated, whereby the auxiliary cutting device 314 is also placed in a lifted orientation in concert therewith, as shown in Fig. 46.

Reference numeral 358 in Figs. 47 and 48 is a washer for preventing the leg portion 356a inserted into the elongated hole 353 for sliding from disengaging from the elongated hole 353 for sliding, and the reference numeral 359 indicates a retaining pin.

Next, gas springs 369 for urging the auxiliary cutting device 314 toward the field surface will be described. As shown in Figs. 41 and 42, the gas springs 369 are provided to the surface facing the threshing device 304 in the casing 31 OA for accommodating the auger 310, which horizontally feeds and transports the cut ear portions. The gas springs 369 are a right/left pair provided to the opposite sides of the conveyance device 311. One of the gas springs 369 is positioned adjacent to a
transverse-direction center of the surface facing the threshing device 304, and the other of the gas springs 369 is positioned at the left side end portion of the surface facing the threshing device 304. The two gas springs 369 extend toward the threshing device 304 from the casing 31 OA for accommodating the auger 310.

[0166]
A right/left pair of brackets 370 is provided to the surface facing the threshing device 304, the upper end portion of a cylinder 369A of one of the gas springs 369 is connected to a bracket 370B, which is positioned in the width wise center and is one of the right/left pair of brackets 370; and a lower end fork portion 369b of a piston 369B extended downward from the cylinder 369A is mounted on the bracket 45, which is mounted on the elevator frames 313 intermediately positioned in the transverse direction.

[167]
The upper end portion of the cylinder 369A of the other gas springs 369 is connected to the bracket 370A, which is positioned on the left-side end and is one of the right/left pair of brackets 370; and the lower end fork portion 369b of the piston 369B extended downward from the cylinder 369A is mounted on the bracket 45, which is mounted on the elevator frames 313 positioned at the left end.

[168]
The elevator action of the auxiliary cutting device 314 is reduced by two gas springs 369 such as those described above.

Extending and retracting the gas springs 369 enables the auxiliary cutting device 314 to be kept in a substantially fixed-height position received by the urging means A, even if the harvesting and conveyance device 303 has been elevatably operated to control the cutting height. In other words, when the harvesting and conveyance device 303 is elevatably operated, the pistons 369B of the gas springs 369 are extended in accompaniment with the elevating action, and the auxiliary cutting device 314 is kept in a substantially fixed position.

[0169]
When the harvesting and conveyance device 303 is to be amply elevated in order to travel over a furrow or the like, the harvesting and conveyance device is elevated by the interlocking mechanism B1 in coordination with the auxiliary cutting device 314. In such a case, the gas springs 369 maintain the interval between the harvesting and conveyance device 303 and the auxiliary cutting device 314 in a state in which the pistons 369B have been extended and retracted.

[170]
(Modification of the fourth embodiment)
(1) A coil spring 219 was described as urging means A for urging the elevator frames 313 upward, but it is also possible to provide a plate spring, a coned disc spring, or another spring structure other than a coil spring. Alternatively, an oil damper or the like may also be used rather than a spring.

[171]
(2) The urging means A may be configured as described below. Specifically, a substantially triangular attachment bracket 360 is disposed upright from the connecting frame 315 for supporting the auxiliary cutting device 314, as shown in Fig. 49. A bearing holder 361 is mounted on the front surface of the front end upper portion of the attachment bracket 360, bearings 362 are housed inside the bearing holder 361, and the distal end portion of the drive rod shaft 344 extended forward and downward from the eccentric driving unit CI is inserted and supported by the bearings 362.

An upper receiver bracket 363 for the urging means A is secured to the lateral side surface of the rear end portion of the attachment bracket 360. An angled lower receiver bracket 364 extended from the vehicle body 302 is disposed below the receiver bracket 363. A core shaft 365 is provided across the upper and lower receiver brackets 363, 364, and a cylindrical holder 366 for holding the core shaft 365 is mounted on the lower receiver bracket 364. A receiver plate 367 is mounted near the upper end of the core shaft 365. A compression coil spring 368 is disposed between the receiver plate 367 and the lower receiver bracket 364 and mounted outermost on the core shaft 365.

With such a configuration, the elevator frames 313 (not shown), urging means A, and drive rod shaft 344 can be supported with a single attachment bracket 360.

[172]
(3) In place of the strip-shaped linking member 335 described above, a chain may be provided in a bridging fashion across a side surface of the conveyance casing 311A and the elevator frames 313 of the conveyance device 311.

[173]
(4) The gas springs 369 do not particularly need to be provided.

[174]
(Summary of the fourth embodiment)
As described above, the combine in the present embodiment is features the configuration as under:- A combine comprising:
a main cutting device for cutting ear portions of standing grain; a conveyance device for conveying the cut ear portions; the main cutting device and the conveyance device being elevatably attached to a vehicle body;
an auxiliary cutting device supported so as to allow elevation in relation to the vehicle body and acting on the standing grain in a position lower than the main cutting device; and urging means for urging the auxiliary cutting device upward.

[175]
In accordance with this configuration, the auxiliary cutting device is constantly urged upward by the urging means; therefore, the elevation operation can be carried out in a responsive fashion, raised portions in the field can be readily traveled over, and interference from the raised portions can be prevented in advance.
A simple restructuring in which the auxiliary cutting device is merely urged upward thus makes it possible to provide a cutting pre-processing structure of a combine provided with an auxiliary cutting device in which interference from raised portions can be avoided while keeping the height of the cut stalks at the same low level.

[176]
In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary cutting device is attached to elevator frames that can be elevated in relation to the vehicle body, and the urging means is provided across the elevator frames and the vehicle body.

According to such a configuration, having the auxiliary cutting device attached to the elevator frames makes it possible for the auxiliary cutting device to be elevatably supported in a stable manner by the elevator frames, and the auxiliary cutting device to be responsively elevated so as to follow raised portions and avoid interference. Moreover, even when large raised portions are present in a field, allowing the auxiliary cutting device to be amply elevated together with the elevator frames makes it possible for the auxiliary cutting device to be retracted without interference from raised portions.

Both the urging means for achieving elevating action in a responsive manner and the restructuring for attaching an auxiliary cutting device to the elevator frames for ample elevating and clearance function to provide a combine comprising an auxiliary cutting device whereby raised portions can be avoided and interference with large raised portions can also be avoided.

[177]
In a preferred embodiment, a sled is provided to the auxiliary cutting device.

In accordance with this configuration, the sled is in contact with the ground. Therefore, in concert with the urging force of the urging means, the auxiliary cutting device readily follows uneven regions of the cutting surface and any collision with raised portions or other unforeseen situations can be readily avoided.

[178]
In a preferred embodiment, a coupling mechanism is provided so that, according to the elevating action of the main cutting device and the conveyance device, a state in which the auxiliary cutting device is disassociated with the elevating action of the main cutting device is maintained if the vertical interval between the auxiliary cutting device and the main cutting device is less than a predetermined interval; and the auxiliary cutting device is associated with the elevating action of the main cutting device when the interval equals or exceeds the predetermined interval.

According to this configuration, in cases that the vertical movement of the main cutting device is adjusted in accordance with the length of the standing grain, the auxiliary cutting device will not be coupled and the cutting height will not be changed when the vertical interval between the main cutting device and the auxiliary cutting device is kept below the predetermined interval.

As a consequence, the standing stems whose grain portion has been cut by the main cutting device are cut at a fixed cut-stalk height by the auxiliary cutting device; therefore, the cut-stalk height remaining in the field remains fixed.

For example, when the cutting pre-processing section is amply elevated while turning over a furrow, the vertical interval between the main cutting device and the auxiliary cutting device will be at or above the predetermined interval; therefore, the linking mechanism operates and the auxiliary cutting device rises. The auxiliary cutting device accordingly does not interfere with field surface or the like while turning over a furrow.

Accordingly, the standing stems can be cut at a fixed, suitable height when the cutting function of the auxiliary cutting device must be used.

In the case that cutting work is not required when turning over a furrow, the auxiliary cutting device can be coupled to the main cutting device so as to be elevated and retracted, and it is possible to avoid situations in which the main cutting device might interfere with unforeseen obstacles.

[0179]
According to another preferred embodiment, the coupling mechanism includes a linking member extending across the conveyance device provided with the main cutting device and the elevator frames provided with the auxiliary cutting device, for preventing the vertical interval between the main cutting device and the auxiliary cutting device from increasing above a fixed amount.

According to this configuration, the main cutting device is provided to the conveyance device that elevates in relation to the vehicle body, and the auxiliary cutting device is mounted on the elevator frames attached to the vehicle body, whereby the main cutting device and the auxiliary cutting device can be separated and set in a state in which the auxiliary cutting device will not be coupled even if the main cutting device is elevatably operated to adjust the cutting height.

Since the auxiliary cutting device must be retracted upward from the field surface in the same manner as the main cutting device when turning over a furrow or the like, the elevator frames are connected to the conveyance device using the linking member, and the main cutting device and the auxiliary cutting device are coupled together. Therefore, the linking member functions to couple the elevator frames to the elevating action of the conveyance device when the vertical interval between the conveyance device and the elevator frames is equal to or greater than the predetermined interval.

The elevator frames and the conveyance device are thus linked by the linking member for preventing the vertical interval between the main cutting device and the auxiliary cutting device from increasing above a fixed amount. Therefore, costs can be reduced by using a mechanical linking mechanism.

[0180]
[DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS/MARKS]
3 threshing device
21 threshing chamber
24 receiving net (concave)
26 sorting section
27 sieve casing
27 a side panel
59 chaff sieve
63 lip plate
64 support frame
65 operating shaft (lower pivot support pin)
66 elongated hole
67 pivot shaft
68 operating member
70 positioning fixing means (bolt)
a pivot

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0181]
As described above, the present invention relates to a combine. The configuration in one embodiment and the configuration in another embodiment may be used in the same combine, provided that there is no mutual conflict.

CLAIMS

1. A combine comprising a threshing device which includes a receiving net and a sorting section disposed below the receiving net;

the sorting section including:

a sieve casing capable of swinging forward and backward;
and

a chaff sieve provided to the sieve casing for sorting threshing matter which falls from through the receiving net; and the chaff sieve including:

a plurality of sorting plates arranged parallel to each other in the front-rear direction at a predetermined pitch, each of the sorting plates being supported so as to be able to swing about a horizontal axis; and

a support frame elongated in the front-rear direction and connected between the plurality of sorting plates;

wherein the degree of opening of the chaff sieve is set by changing an angle of each of the sorting plates in association with forward and backward movement of the support frame;

characterized in that an operating member is provided between a pivot shaft provided to a side portion of the chaff sieve and an operating shaft connected to the support frame; and

the front-rear position of the support frame is fixed and the degree of opening of the chaff sieve is set by fixing the operating member to a side panel of the sieve casing via a positioning fixing member.

2. The combine according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot shaft is provided at one of an upper end position and a lower end position of any one of the plurality of sorting plates to form a pivot; and
the operating shaft is provided at the other of the upper end position and lower end position of the one sorting plate, and is connected to the support frame.

3. The combine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the operating member is provided adjacent to an outer surface of the outside of a side panel of the chaff sieve;

the operating shaft is connected to the operating member so as to pass through the side panel of the chaff sieve; and

an elongated hole is formed in the side panel along a swinging range of the operating shaft, and the elongated hole can be blocked by the operating member through the swinging range of the operating shaft.