NORMAL TYPE COMBINE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a normal type combine. Herein, the term "normal type combine" is the name of a combine referred to also as "a whole culm charging type combine" or "a general purpose combine" which is configured to charge reaped crops as a whole altogether to a subsequent threshing process.

The term is used in contrast to "a culm head charging type combine" which is configured to thresh only culm head portions of reaped product, while gripping the culm roots thereof. In the following description, the normal type combine may be sometimes referred to simply as "a combine".

BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION

[1] With some of the normal type combines, a reaping/conveying device is attached to the front portion of the combine machine body to be driven to be lifted up/down by means of a hydraulic cylinder. The reaping/conveying device includes a reaping processing section for reaping crops by a predetermined reaping width and conveying the reaped crops by transverse-feeding action and gathering them to an intermediate portion in the machine body transverse width direction; and an angular tube-like feeder for conveying rearward the crops gathered at this reaping processing section toward a threshing device mounted on the combine machine body. A riding/driving section is mounted to a front portion of the combine machine body at a position on one end side of the machine body transverse width direction. The reaping processing section is disposed forwardly of the riding/driving section and the feeder is disposed on the other end side of the machine body transverse width direction.

With this kind of normal type combine, conventionally, the hydraulic cylinder for drivingly lifting up/down the reaping/conveying device is configured to be pivotally connected to a connecting portion formed on a lower face side of the bottom face of the feeder (see e.g. JP11-266656A).

[2] With the normal type combine, its rake-in reel is mounted forwardly of the combine machine body and this includes a plurality of tines attached to tine support members supported transversely between right and left reel frames, with the tines being in juxtaposition and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the tine support members.

Conventionally, as a rake-in reel of this type, there was one configured as follows. Namely, the tine includes an attached portion to be attached to the tine support member and a pendant bar-like portion pendant downwards so as to rake in an amount of crops such as rice, wheat, soy beans, etc. as an object to be reaped, with the attached portion and the pendant bar-like portion being formed integral with other and with the attached portion of the tine being affixed to the tine support member by a threaded member (see e.g. JP2005-211010).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[Problems to be Solved by Invention]

[1] The problem or object corresponding to the background art [1] above is as follows.
With the conventional arrangement, the hydraulic cylinder is configured to be pivotally connected to a connecting portion formed on a lower face side of the bottom face of the feeder.

Hence, there is the possibility of bending deformation of the bottom face portion. More particularly, since the load of the reaping/conveying device is received by the hydraulic cylinder via the bottom face portion of the feeder, the load is applied to the bottom face portion along a direction approximately perpendicular to its lower face. As a result, there occurs stress concentration in the bottom face portion of the feeder, so that there may occur downward bending deformation along a portion thereof centering around the portion connected to the hydraulic cylinder.

Then, in order to prevent such bending deformation in the 5 bottom face portion of the feeder, there would incur a disadvantage of increasing complexity of the support structure for supporting the reaping/conveying device with allowing lifting thereof by means of a hydraulic cylinder, such as provision of a large reinforcing member with enhanced strength at the portion where the connecting portion of the feeder is to be provided.

In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide a normal type combine that allows simplification of the support structure for supporting the reaping/conveying device with allowing lifting thereof by means of a hydraulic cylinder.

[2] The problem or object corresponding to the background art [2] above is as follows.
With the rake-in reel of the conventional combine described above, when there occurs a displacement at the pendant balike portion at the leading end of the tine due to a raking-in reaction force associated with rotational drive of the rake-in reel, a large bending moment is applied to the base end, and this bending stress will be concentrated at the attached portion formed integral with the pendant bar-like portion. And, with repeated
application of such bending stress, the tine may be deformed or damaged.

Then, as an improved arrangement for avoiding early deformation or damage due to repeated application of such bending stress, it was conceived to provide a coil spring portion in the form of a spiral around a transverse axis in the vicinity of the attached portion which coil spring portion allows, through an elastic deformation thereof, such displacement if occurred at the pendant bar-like portion at the leading end of the tine due to a raking-in reaction force associated with rotational drive of the rake-in reel.

With the above-described arrangement, as the displacement of the pendant bar-like portion is allowed by elastic deformation, there occurs no repeated application of bending stress at the attached portion, the risk of early deformation or damage of the tine can be avoided.

However, in the case of employing the above-described improved arrangement of providing a spiral-shaped coil spring portion in the vicinity of the attached portion, the pendant bar-like portion is attached as being located on the opposite side away
from the attached portion across the coil spring portion therebetween in the right/left direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the tine support member. Hence, the pendant bar-like portion will be displaced relative to the attached portion along the longitudinal direction of the tine support member.

As a result, on at least one of the right and left end portions of the rake-in reel where the right and left reel frames are present, there will be formed a wide gap between the pendant bar-like portion at the extreme end and the reel frame, so that the crops as the harvesting objects, may not be raked in effectively at the right and left ends of the rake-in reel.

In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide a rake-in reel for a combine, which reel makes it possible to avoid the possibility of early deformation or damage of the tines and which at the same time allows efficient and
smooth raking-in operation of crops as harvesting object at the right and left ends.

[Means for Achieving Objects]

[1] The inventive solution addressing to the object [1] above is as under. Firstly, a first characterizing feature of a normal type combine relating to the present invention is as follows :-

A normal type combine comprising:

a combine machine body including a riding/driving section and a threshing device;

a reaping/conveying device connected to a front portion of the combine machine body; and a hydraulic cylinder for drivingly lifting up/down the reaping/conveying device;

wherein the reaping/conveying device includes a reaping processing section for reaping culms of crops by a predetermined reaping width and conveying the reaped crops by 10 transverse-feeding and gathering them to an intermediate portion in a machine body transverse width direction, and an angular tubular feeder for rearwardly conveying the crops gathered in the reaping processing section toward the threshing device;

the riding/driving section is disposed on one end side of the machine body transverse width direction;

the reaping processing section is disposed forwardly of the riding/driving section; and

the feeder is disposed on the other end side of the machine body transverse width direction away from the riding/driving section;

characterized in that

said feeder includes a corner portion formed of a vertical wall portion disposed at one end side in the machine body transverse width direction and a bottom face portion; and that said hydraulic cylinder is connected to said comer portion.

With the first characterizing feature described above, the hydraulic cylinder for driving lifting up/down the reaping/conveying device is connected to a comer portion formed
of a vertical wall portion disposed at one end side in the machine body transverse width direction and a bottom face portion. Hence, when the load of the reaping/conveying device is received and supported to the portion connected to the hydraulic cylinder, this load is received in distribution by the bottom face portion and the vertical wall portion.

Therefore, even without increasing the plate thickness of the bottom face portion or providing a large reinforcing member, the possibility of bending deformation due to stress concentration in the bottom face portion is lessened. Further, as the vertical wall portion receives the load in the 5 direction along the plate face, even without increasing the plate thickness of the bottom face portion or providing a large reinforcing member, the supporting strength can be sufficiently large and the possibility of bending deformation is less.

Consequently, a simple support arrangement will suffice, without inviting increase in complexity of the support arrangement such as increase in plate thickness of a member forming the feeder, and provision of a large reinforcing member at the portion where the connecting portion to the feeder is to be provided.

Moreover, as the feeder is disposed with an offset toward the other end side of the machine body transverse width direction relative to the center position in the machine body transverse width direction of the reaping/conveying device and the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the comer portion formed of the vertical wall portion disposed at one end side in the machine body transverse width direction and the bottom face portion, the hydraulic cylinder is mounted closer to the center position in the machine body transverse width direction of the reaping/conveying device, whereby the reaping/conveying device as a whole can be received with as good as possible weight balance in the right/left direction and can be driven to be lifted up/down under this condition.

Therefore, it has become possible to provide a normal type combine that allows simplification of the support structure for supporting the reaping/conveying device with allowing lifting thereof by means of a hydraulic cylinder.

A second characterizing feature of a normal type combine relating to the present invention is as follows :-

a reinforcing frame body is disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the feeder;

a connected portion is provided at a portion of said reinforcing frame body corresponding to said comer portion, for connecting the hydraulic cylinder; and

said connected portion includes a connecting pin which pivotally connects a connecting portion of said hydraulic cylinder on the reaping/conveying device side to said reinforcing frame body.

With the second characterizing feature described above, a connecting pin is provided in a connected portion which is provided at a portion of the reinforcing frame body corresponding to the comer portion and to this connecting pin, and a connecting portion of the hydraulic cylinder on the reaping/conveying device side is pivotally connected.

That is, in such a case when the connection between the hydraulic cylinder and the feeder needs to be released or re-established for effecting a maintenance operation such as inspection, repair, etc., the connection and release of connection is effected via the connecting pin located at the portion corresponding to the comer portion. So that, the operation can be easily carried out.

More particularly, the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the comer portion formed of the vertical wall portion disposed at one end side in the machine body transverse width direction and the bottom face portion, and moreover the connecting pin is provided at one end side in the machine body transverse width direction. Hence, in case e.g. a worker is to carry out a connection releasing operation by inserting his/her hand from above the feeder, this operation can be easily carried out.

A third characterizing feature of a normal type combine relating to the present invention is as follows:-

as seen along the machine body front/rear direction, positions of opposed transverse end portions of the reaping processing section along the reaping width direction are in
substantial agreement respectively with positions of opposed transverse end portions of the combine machine body along the reaping width direction.

With the third characterizing feature described above, as seen along the machine body front/rear direction, the width at the reaping/conveying section along the machine body transverse direction is rendered substantially equal to the width of the combine machine body along the machine body transverse direction. Hence, e.g. even when the vehicle advances to the inner side of a field where crops are present and a reaping operation is to be effected with the crops being present on the opposed transverse sides in the machine body transverse width direction of the reaping processing section, there is less possibility of the combine machine body coming into contact with the crops thereby to push down or damage them and the reaping operation can be effected in a favorable manner.

Also, during traveling of the machine body, if the driver maneuvers the vehicle with monitoring the forward side of the machine body in such a manner as to avoid contact between the reaping processing section and outside objects such as a furrow, contact between the combine machine body and the outside object can be avoided. Therefore, there is no such trouble of having to effect a steering operation with checking the rear side. Hence, the operation can be carried out with greater convenience.

[2] The inventive solution addressing to the object [2] above is as under.

Firstly, a fourth characterizing feature of a normal type combine relating to the present invention is as follows:-

A normal type combine comprising: a combine machine body; and

a rake-in reel provided forwardly of the combine machine body, the rake-in reel including:

right and left reel frames;

a plurality of tine support members transversely supported between the right and left reel frames; and

a plurality of tines attached to each said tine support member in juxtaposition and spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the tine support member;
characterized in that each said tine includes:

an attached portion to be attached to the tine support member with a threaded member,
a pendant bar-like portion pendant downwards, and a coil spring portion in the form of a spiral extending about a transverse axis, the coil spring portion being disposed between the attached portion and the pendant bar-like portion and being capable of absorbing, through elastic deformation thereof, a bending displacement of the pendant bar-like portion; and that

each one of the tines disposed at the right and left ends adjacent the right and left reel frames is provided such that the pendant bar-like portion thereof is located on the side close to the reel frame and the attached portion thereof is located on the side
away from the reel frame.

With the fourth characterizing feature described above, the tine is comprised of an attached portion to be attached to the tine support member with a threaded member, a pendant bar-like portion pendant downwards and a coil spring portion in the form of a spiral extending about a transverse axis, the coil spring portion being disposed between the attached portion and the pendant bar-like portion and being capable of absorbing through elastic deformation thereof a bending displacement of the pendant bar-like portion. Therefore, if a displacement occurs in the pendant bar-like portion at the leading end of the tine due by a raking-in reaction force in association with the rotational drive of the rake-in reel, this displacement can be absorbed by the spiral-shaped coil spring portion through elastic deformation thereof. As a result, the disadvantage of early deformation or damage of the tine due to repeated application of bending stress
thereto can be avoided.

And, since each one of the tines disposed at the right and left ends adjacent the right and left reel frames is provided such that the pendant bar-like portion thereof is located on the side close to the reel frame and the attached portion thereof is located on the side away from the reel frame, at each right and left end of the rake-in reel, the gap between the pendant bar-like portion at the extreme end and the reel frame can be made small, so that at the right and left ends of the rake-in reel, crops as the harvesting object, can be raked in efficiently.

Therefore, it has become possible to provide a rake-in reel for a combine, which reel makes it possible to avoid the possibility of early deformation or damage of the tines and which at the same time allows efficient and smooth raking-in operation of crops as harvesting object at the right and left ends.

A fifth characterizing feature of the present invention is as follow said plurality of tines include:

a first tine arranged such that the pendant bar-like portion thereof is located on one side in the longitudinal direction and the attached portion thereof is located on the other side in the longitudinal direction, and

a second tine arranged such that the pendant bar-like portion thereof is located on the other side in the longitudinal direction and the attached portion thereof is located on the one side in the longitudinal direction, and the coil spring portion thereof has a form of a spiral reverse in direction to the first tine, the tine adjacent the reel frame disposed on the one side in the longitudinal direction is comprised of said first tine, and the tine adjacent the reel frame disposed on the other side in the longitudinal direction is comprised of said second tine.

With the fifth characterizing feature described above, the tine adjacent the reel frame located on one side in the longitudinal direction is comprised of the first tine and in this first tine, the pendant bar-like portion thereof is located on one side in the longitudinal direction and the attached portion thereof is located on the other side in the longitudinal direction. Hence, the tine will be arranged with its pendant bar-like portion being in the vicinity of the reel frame located on one side in the longitudinal direction.

Further, the tine adjacent the reel frame located on the other side in the longitudinal direction is comprised of the second tine and in this second tine, the pendant bar-like portion thereof is located on the other side in the longitudinal direction and the
attached portion thereof is located on the one side in the longitudinal direction. Hence, the tine will be arranged with its pendant bar-like portion being in the vicinity of the reel frame located on the other side in the longitudinal direction.

And, since the coil spring portion of the second tine has a form of a spiral reverse in direction to the first tine, even if the attached portion of the first tine and the attached portion of the second tine are attached with the threaded members from the same direction relative to the tine support members, the reel frame and the pendant bar-like portion can be arranged in close vicinity to each other. In this way, all of the tines can be attached with the threaded members from the same direction relative to the tine support members, so that the operations for attaching the tines can be carried out easily.

A sixth characterizing feature of the present invention is as follows :-

a riding/driving section is provided at a front portion of the combine machine body at a position offset to the one side in the longitudinal direction;

one/some of the plurality of tines disposed on the one side in the longitudinal direction is/are comprised of the first tine(s); and

the remaining tine(s) is/are comprised of the second tine(s).

With the sixth characterizing feature described above, since a riding/driving section is provided at a front portion of the combine machine body at a position offset to the one side in the longitudinal direction, one/some of the plurality of tines disposed on the one side in the longitudinal direction can be readily viewed by a driver present in the riding/driving section. And, as a driving operation is effected in such a manner as to minimize application of large reaction force to the tines located at positions readily viewed by the driver, the possibility of deformation or damage of these tines will be lower than the other tines.

Then, as one/some of the plurality of tines disposed on the one side in the longitudinal direction is/are comprised of the first tine(s) and the other tines are comprised of the second tine, the first tine(s) which is smaller in the number can suffer lower possibility of deformation or damage, thus giving less trouble for repair and replacement.

As a result, as to the second tine which is greater in number, there is a need to keep a great number of spare tines for repair; whereas, as to the first tine(s) which is (are) small in number, the possibility of deformation or damage is lower and the trouble of
repair/replacement is less, so there is no need to keep a great number of spare tines for repair. Namely, there is no need keep a great number of spare tines for the first tine(s) and the second tines respectively. Hence, unnecessary costs can be restricted in correspondence therewith and cost reduction is made possible.

A seventh characterizing feature of the present invention is as follows:- each said tine is formed of a metal spring member which is comprised of continuous serial formation of the attached portion, the coil spring portion and the pendant bar-like portion.

With the seventh characterizing feature described above, as the attached portion, the coil spring portion and the pendant bar-like portion are formed of a metal spring material which is comprised of continuous serial formation, the tine construction can be simple, so that cost reduction is made possible.

Further and other characterizing features and advantages thereof will become apparent upon reading the following 10 description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a view showing a normal combine according to a 15 first embodiment (same is true to the drawings up to Fig. 11), being an overall side view of this normal combine,

Fig. 2 is a general plan view of the normal combine,

Fig. 3 is a side view in partial vertical section of a reaping/conveying device,

Fig. 4 is a plan view in partial section of the reaping/conveying device,

Fig. 5 is a front view of an auger drum,

Fig. 6 is a view showing a bolt for cover attachment.

Fig 7 is a view showing a scraper,

Fig. 8 is a side view showing a hydraulic cylinder connecting portion,

Fig. 9 is a front view in vertical section of the hydraulic cylinder connecting portion.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the hydraulic cylinder connecting portion.

Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a connected state of the hydraulic cylinder under a vertically reversed condition,

Fig. 12 a view showing a normal combine according to a 35 second embodiment (same is true to the drawings up to Fig. 25), being an overall side view of this normal combine,

Fig. 13 is a general plan view of the normal type combine. Fig. 14 is a side view in vertical section showing a reaping/conveying device,

Fig. 15 is a front view in vertical section showing a dust exhaust device,

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a suction hood portion.

Fig. 17 is a rear view in vertical section of a side cover,

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing a lower front-side side cover,

Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing a lower rear-side side cover.

Fig. 20 is a side view of a reaping processing section.

Fig. 21 is a plan view in section showing a connected state of a transmission section cover,

Fig. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing the connected state of the transmission section cover,

Fig. 23 is a front view of a rake-in reel,

Fig. 24 is a side view in vertical section of a tine attaching portion, and

Fig. 25 is a front view of the tine attaching portion.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment]

With reference to Figs. 1 through 11, a first embodiment of a normal type combine will be described hereinafter.

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, this normal type combine is used for carrying out a harvesting work of crops such as rice, wheat, etc. To a front portion of a combine machine body A, a reaping/conveying device B is connected to be driven to be lifted
up/down by a hydraulic cylinder CY.

The combine machine body A is self-propelled by means of a pair of right and left crawler traveling devices 1, 1. Further, as being supported by a machine body frame 2, there are provided a riding/driving section 3 on which a driver rides and carries out a maneuvering operation, an engine section 4 for generating power, a threshing device for effecting a threshing process of crops, and a grain tank 6 for storing therein grains collected by the threshing process.

As shown in Fig. 2, the riding/driving section 3 is mounted to the front portion of the combine machine body A on the right side of the machine body as one end side of the machine body transverse width direction; and the engine section 4 is provided
downwardly of the riding/driving section 3. Also, the threshing device 5 is mounted on the left side of the machine body at a rear portion of the combine machine body A; and the grain tank 6 is mounted on the machine body right side at a rear portion. This grain tank 6 includes a grain discharging auger 7 for discharging stored grains to the outside of the machine body.

The reaping/conveying device B includes a reaping processing section 8 for reaping crops by a predetermined reaping width and conveying the reaped crops by transverse-feeding and gathering them to an intermediate portion in the machine body transverse width direction, and an angular tube-like feeder 9 for conveying rearward the crops gathered at this reaping processing section 8 toward the threshing device 5 mounted on the combine machine body A.

And, as shown in Fig. 2, the reaping processing section 8 is disposed forwardly of the riding/driving section 3 and the feeder 9 is disposed on the machine body left side as the other end side of the machine body transverse width direction.

As shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 9, the feeder 9 includes a rake-up conveyer 11 mounted inside a conveyer case in the form of an angular tube. The rake-up conveyer 11 includes conveying bars 13 transversely connected between a pair of right and left chains entrained vertically (entrained about horizontal axes). The rake-up conveyer 11 is configured such that the crops transversely fed by the reaping processing section 8 are raked up and conveyed along the bottom face of the conveyer case 10 to be charged into the threshing device 5.

Between a front portion of the machine body frame 2 of the combine machine body A and a lower portion of the feeder 9, the hydraulic cylinder CY is pivotally connected. In response to 5 expansion/contraction motion of this hydraulic cylinder CY, the reaping/conveying device B, that is, the reaping processing section 8 and the feeder 9 together can be driven to be lifted up/down about a transverse axis PI relative to the combine machine body A.

As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the reaping processing section 8 is provided as a framework structure, wherein a rear side, rear face portion 15, a conveyer deck 16 and a pair of right and left side plates 17, 17 are attached and fixed to a reaping section frame 14 comprised of angular pipes and L-shaped members interconnected to one another. And, as shown in Fig. 2, to front portions of the right and left side plates 17, 17, there are mounted dividers 18 for dividing crops into harvesting objects and non-harvesting objects. Along the front end of the conveyer deck 16, there is mounted a clipper type reaping device 19 for clipping the culm roots of the crops. And, along the right and left side plates 17, 17, there is mounted an auger 20 for transversely feeding the reaped crops to an intermediate portion in the reaping width direction. Further, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, there is provided a rake-in reel 22 drivably and rotatably supported to a pair of right and left support arms 21 extending forwardly and upwardly from upper portions of the base end of the reaping section frame 14, the rake-in reel 22 being configured to rake in an amount of crops present forwardly of the feeder 9 into this feeder 9 machine body front end position of the dividers 18, so that the reel 22 is capable of raking in the crops as the harvesting objects in an efficient manner.

As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the auger 20 includes a pair of right and left screw blades 24, 25 which provide the outer perimeter of a large-diameter auger drum 23 with a transverse-feeding function of the crops toward the front end portion of the feeder 9 in association with revolution of the auger 5 drum 23. The auger 20 further includes right and left pairs of (i.e. four) bar-shaped rake-in devices 27 at four peripheral portions of this auger 20 facing the front end entrance of the feeder 9. The bar-shaped rake-in devices 27 are configured to project/retract through slide bushes 26 from the auger drum 23.

Further, at an intermediate portion of a right side transverse feeding region, there is provided a single rake-in device 28 which is configured to project/retract through a further slide bush 26.

As shown in Fig. 4, inside the auger drum 23 in the vicinity of the right and left opposed ends thereof, lid plates 29, 30 are affixed. Further, inside the auger drum 23, a pair of intermediate support plates 31, 32 are fixedly mounted with a spacing from each other.

The right lid plate 29 and the right intermediate support plate 31 together support a rotation support shaft 33; and a connecting flange 34, key-connected to the rotation support shaft 33 is connected by bolts to the right lid plate 29; and the rotation support shaft 33 is integrally connected to the auger drum 23.

Further, as shown in Fig. 4, to the left side plate 17, there is fixedly connected a fixed support shaft 36 disposed coaxial with an axis P2 of the rotation support shaft 33 via a connection flange 35. This fixed support shaft 36 is configured to engage outwardly and rotatably support the left lid plate 30 of the auger drum 23 via a bearing 37 and a bearing bracket 38. And, there are provided eccentric support shafts 39 with their rotation being
fixed by key connection to the fixed support shaft 36. On the outer peripheral portion of this eccentric support shafts 39, the rake-in devices 27, 28 are attached via attaching bosses 40 to be rotatable about an axis P3 extending along the fixed support shaft 39.

Incidentally, the eccentric support shafts 39 are provided in a right and left pair, and these right and left eccentric support shafts 39 are connected via a relay shaft 42 which is supported by the right intermediate support plate 32 via a bearing bracket 41.

With the auger 20 configured as described above in operation, as the auger drum 23 is rotated counter-clockwise in 5 Fig. 3 in association with driving rotation of the rotation support shaft 33, each rake-in device 27, 28 will follow this and rotate about the axis P3 of the eccentric support shaft 39. In course of this, a distance between the eccentric support shaft 39 and the slide bush 26 varies in accordance with the rotational phase, so
that each rake-in device 27, 28 will rotate while projecting/retracting from/to the auger drum 23, whereby an amount of crops will be raked into the feeder 9 with avoiding interference with the conveyer deck 16 and/or the rear face portion 15.

As shown in Fig. 5, at portions of the auger drum 23 corresponding to the attached positions of the rake-in devices 27, 28, there are defined three through holes 43a, 43b, 43c for allowing attachment and detachment of the rake-in devices 27, 28. And, these through holes 43a, 43b, 43 c are closed with detachable covers 44a, 44b, 44c, respectively.

These covers 44a, 44b, 44c are configured to be fixed to the auger drums 23 with a plurality of bolts 45. As shown in Fig. 6, each bolt 45 for attaching these covers 44a, 44b, 44c has a head portion 45A whose outer shape is cylindrical. And, in the top
face of the head portion 45A, there is defined a hexagonal slot 45B, so that fastening and removing operations are possible with using a hexagonal wrench (not shown). With such cylindrical outer shape, the possibility of accidentally hooking crops is reduced.

As shown in Fig. 2, in this combine, as viewed along the front/rear direction of the machine body, the position of each one of the opposed end portions of the reaping processing section 8 in the machine body transverse width direction is set in agreement with the position of each one of the opposed end portions of the combine machine body A in the machine body transverse width direction.

Referring more particularly, the position of the machine body left end portion of the reaping processing section 8, in other words, the position of the left divider 18 in the machine body 5 transverse width direction is set in agreement with the position of the machine body left end 5a of the threshing device 5 as viewed along the front/rear direction of the machine body.

Similarly, the position of the machine body right end portion of the reaping processing section 8, in other words, the position of the right divider 18 in the machine body transverse width direction is set in agreement with the position of the machine body right end 6a of the grain tank 6 as viewed along the front/rear direction of the machine body.

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a dust exhaust device 46 is provided at the conveying start end of the conveyer case 10 of the feeder 9, so that earth dust or the like entrained into the conveyer case 10 together with crops and/or dust generated in front of the feeder 9 may be exhausted to the outside of the conveyer case 10 by this dust exhaust device 46.

The dust exhaust device 46 includes a dust exhaust hood 47 provided outside the conveyer case 10 and an axial flow type rotary fan 48 provided inside the dust exhaust hood 47.

As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, scrapers 51, 52 are provided in the rear face portion 15 and on the right and left sides of a crop introducing opening 50 continuous from the front end entrance 49 of the feeder 9 and at positions downwardly of the opening 50, for preventing upward entrainment of crops transversely fed by the auger 20 and subsequent entrapment thereof to the auger 20.
As shown in Fig. 4, the scraper 51 located on the left side as viewed in the machine body advancing direction is formed short, while the scraper 52 located on the right side of the same is formed long. Each of the scrapers 51, 52 is formed by bending a band plate-like plate member whose cross section is bent into the L-shape. Further, as shown in Fig. 7, through insertion holes 51C, 62C defined in their vertically oriented attaching portions
51a, 62A, the scrapers 51, 52 are connected at a plurality of portions thereof to the rear face portion 15, and are fixedly mounted such that their horizontally oriented scraping portions 5IB, 52B protrude toward the auger 20.

With provision of the scrapers 51, 52 described above, in course of transverse conveyance by the screw blades 24, 25 in the auger 20, it is possible for the scraping portions 5 IB, 52B of the scrapers 51, 52 to prevent upward entrained conveyance of crops and subsequent entrapment thereof with the auger 20.

As shown in Fig. 7, the opening 50 side end portion of each scraping portion 51B/52B of the scraper 51/52 is cut away with an inclination, and to this inclined portion 53, there is fixed by welding a guide member 52 comprised of a round bar bent in the form of angular hook shape approximately. The guide member 54 is provided in such a manner as to protrude more toward the opening 50 than the opening 50 side terminal edge of the scraping portion 5IB, 52B.

With the above-described arrangement, the crops that have been transversely conveyed to the vicinity of the opening 50 will not get entrapped with the opening 50 side ends of the scraping portions 5 IB, 52B of the scrapers 51, 52 and will not stay there, but can be smoothly guided toward the opening 50.

And, the hydraulic cylinder CY for lifting operations is connected to a corner portion K which is formed of a right vertical wall portion 10a disposed on the right end side (corresponding to "one end side in the machine body transverse width direction") and a bottom face portion l0d of the feeder 9.

The mounting arrangement of the hydraulic cylinder CY to the feeder 9 will be specifically described hereinafter.

As shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the conveyer case 10 of the feeder 9 is formed as an angular tubular shape having the right and left vertical wall portions 10a, 10b, an upper face portion 10c and the bottom face portion l0d. A reinforcing member 55 (an example of "a reinforcing frame body") is connected and fixed to the lower face side of the bottom face portion l0d, with the reinforcing member 55 being located on more front side than the front/rear center portion in the bottom face portion l0d and extending along the right/left direction.

This reinforcing member 55 is formed of an angular pipe 5 and its left end portion (corresponding to "the other side in the machine body transverse width direction") is set at the same position as the left vertical wall portion l0d of the conveyer case 10 as viewed in plan view. And, the left end portion of the reinforcing member 55 is connected and fixed integrally to the left vertical wall portion 10b of the conveyer case 10 via a vertically oriented connecting plate 56.

And, at a portion of the reinforcing member 55 corresponding to the comer portion K formed of the right vertical wall portion 10a and the bottom face portion l0d of the conveyer case 10, there is provided an attaching bracket 57 acting as "a connected portion" for connection of the hydraulic cylinder CY. Further, at one machine body transverse width end of this attaching bracket 57, there is provided a connecting pin 59 to which a leading end 58a of a cylinder rod 58, acting as "a connecting portion" of the hydraulic cylinder CY on reaping/conveying device side, is pivotally connected.

That is, as shown in Fig. 9, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the right end portion (corresponding to the one end side in the machine body transverse width direction) of the reinforcing member 55 is provided to protrude more outwards than the right vertical wall portion 10a of the conveyer case 10 as seen in plan view; and to the right end portion of this reinforcing member 55, there is fixedly connected the attaching bracket 57 which is bent in the step shape (approximately Z-shaped) as seen in lateral side view.

As shown in Fig. 11, the attaching bracket 57 has its lower horizontal face portion 57A placed in abutment against a lower face 55A of the reinforcing member 55; its vertical face portion 57B placed in abutment against a rear face 55B of the reinforcing member 55; and its upper horizontal face portion 57C placed in abutment against the bottom face portion l0d of the conveyer case

And, the bracket 57 is integrally connected and fixed by welding to the reinforcing member 55 and the bottom face portion l0d of the conveyer case 10,

Further, a pin holding member 60 is provided in the 5 rearwardly opened U-shape in plan view and fixedly welded to the vertical face portion 57B and the upper horizontal face portion 57C of the attaching bracket 57. And, the pin holding member 60 defines through holes 61 extending therethrough along the right/left direction. The connecting pin 59 is attached to the pin holding member 60 by extending through the through holes 61.

At one end of the connecting pin 59, a pin-retainer attaching plate 62 is integrally fixed to the connecting pin 59. This attaching plate 62 is fixed also to the lower face 55A of the reinforcing member 55 by a bolt 63, thereby to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the connecting pin 59 from the pin holding member 60.

As shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the hydraulic cylinder CY is pivotally connected to the feeder 9 by extending and attaching the connecting pin 59 through the through holes 61 of the pin holding member 60 and the leading end portion 58a of the cylinder rod 58, with the leading end portion 58a of the cylinder rod 58 being aligned with an intermediate portion of the pin holding member 60. Incidentally, as shown in Fig. 3, the rear end portion of the cylinder main body 64 is pivotally connected to
a front portion of the machine body frame 2.
When the coupling (connection) between the hydraulic cylinder CY and the feeder 9 is to be released, the bolt 63 will be loosened to remove the attaching plate 62 and then the connecting pin 59 will be drawn out of the pin holding member 60, whereby
the pivotal connection between the cylinder rod 58 and the pin holding member 60 can be released. When the connection is to be re-established, the leading end portion 58a of the cylinder rod 58 will be positioned at the intermediate portion of the pin holding member 60 and the connecting pin 59 will be inserted, and then the bolt 63 will be fastened to fix the attaching plate 62 against withdrawal.

Numeral 80 shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 represents a locking tool for locking the hydraulic cylinder CY under a condition of the reaping processing section 8 being raised largely, 5 with the cylinder rod 58 of the hydraulic cylinder CY being under its extended state. The locking tool 80 is formed with an angular downwardly open hook shape cross section as seen in the front/rear direction and is configured to be supported with its front end portion being inserted into the connecting pin 59.

When a reaping operation is to be carried out, that is, when the locking tool 80 is not used, a retaining pin 82 provided on the feeder 9 will be inserted into an insertion hole formed at a position holding portion 81 which is provided at a rear end of the locking tool 80, and then the locking tool 80 will be retained against inadvertent withdrawal by a beta pin 83. Whereby, as shown in Fig. 8, the locking tool 80 is held under a standby posture as extending along the bottom face portion l0d of the feeder 9. Incidentally, when the locking tool 80 is to be used, the beta pin 83 will be removed and the locking tool 80 will be retained to the terminal end of the cylinder body 64 of the hydraulic cylinder CY as shown by the virtual line in Fig. 8, whereby the hydraulic cylinder CY can be locked under the extended state thereof.

As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 9, on the outer face side of the left vertical wall portion 10b, a vertically oriented reinforcing body 67 having an L-shaped cross section is provided as being connected to a vertically oriented connecting plate 56 to which the left end portion of the reinforcing member 55 is connected. And, a front/rear oriented reinforcing body 68 formed of a channel member is provided as extending continuously from the upper portion to the front end portion of this vertically oriented reinforcing body 68. These respective reinforcing bodies 67, 68 are integrally connected and fixed to the left vertical wall portion 10b and the reinforcing member 55.

Further, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 8, the right vertical wall portion 10a includes a vertically oriented reinforcing body 69 which is formed of a channel member and extends along the entire width in the vertical direction of the right vertical wall portion
10a. A front/rear oriented reinforcing body 70 formed of a channel member is provided as extending continuously from a vertical intermediate portion to the front end portion of this vertically oriented reinforcing body 69. These respective reinforcing bodies 69, 70 are integrally connected and fixed to the right vertical wall portion 10a and the reinforcing member 55.

With the provision of the plurality of reinforcing bodies 67-70 as described above, the support strength is improved at the area between the portion to which the hydraulic cylinder CY is connected and the connected portion of the reaping processing section 8, which area tends to be exposed to a stress due to application of the load of the reaping/conveying device B.

With the normal type combine having the above-described arrangements, as the reaping processing section 8 is vertically pivoted relative to the threshing device 5 about the lift transverse axis PI by the hydraulic cylinder CY, the reaping processing section 8 is lifted between a lowered working state in which the conveyer deck 16 is lowered to the vicinity of the ground surface and a raised non-working state in which the deck 16 is lifted high above the ground surface. And, when the combine machine body A is caused to travel under the lowered working state, a reaping operation of crops and feeding of the reaped crops to the threshing device 5 can be effected. More particularly, with the pair of right and left dividers 18, the crops will be divided into harvesting objects and non-harvesting objects; and the harvesting object crops are raked in rearwards by the rake-in reel 22 and at the same time the culm roots of the crops are clipped off by the reaping device 19.

Then, the crops will be transversely fed by the auger 20 and conveyed rearwards by the feeder 9 and the whole crops from the roots to heads of the culms will be charged into the threshing device 5 to be subject to a threshing process.

[Modified Embodiments of First Embodiment]

(1) In the foregoing embodiment, the connecting pin 59 is detachably and pivotally connected to the leading end portion 58a of the cylinder rod 58, which portion 58a acts as "a connecting portion" of the hydraulic cylinder CY on reaping/conveying device side.

Instead of this arrangement, the connecting pin 59 may be provided as being fixed in position on the side of the feeder 9.

Further, instead of the arrangement of the connecting pin being provided under the cantilever-wise projecting state at the one end side in the machine body transverse width direction, this connecting pin 59 may be supported at both opposed ends thereof.
(2) In the foregoing embodiment, as viewed along the machine body front/rear direction, the position of each of the opposed ends of the reaping processing section 8 in the reaping width direction is set in agreement with the position of each of the opposed ends of the combine machine body A in the reaping width direction. Instead of this arrangement, the position of each of 20 the opposed ends of the reaping processing section 8 in the reaping width direction may be different from the position of each of the opposed ends of the combine machine body A in the reaping width direction.

[Second Embodiment]

With reference to Figs. 12 through 25, a second embodiment of a normal type combine will be described hereinafter.

As shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, this normal type combine is used for carrying out a harvesting work of crops such as rice, wheat, etc. To a front portion of a combine machine body A, a reaping/conveying device B is connected to be driven to be lifted
up/down by a hydraulic cylinder CY.

The combine machine body A is self-propelled by means of 35 a pair of right and left crawler traveling devices 101, 101.

Further, as being supported by a machine body frame 102, the combine machine body A includes a riding/driving section 103 on which a driver rides and carries out a maneuvering operation, an engine section 104 for generating power, a threshing device 105 5 for effecting a threshing process of crops, and a grain tank 106 for storing therein grains collected by the threshing process.

As shown in Fig. 13, the riding/driving section 103 is mounted on the front portion of the combine machine body A with an offset to the right side of the machine body (corresponding to 1one side in a longitudinal direction of a tine support member 161 to be described later) as viewed along the advancing direction. And, as shown in Fig. 12, the engine section 104 is provided downwardly of the riding/driving section 103. Also, the threshing device 105 is mounted at a rear portion of the combine machine body A, on the left side of the machine body A as viewed along the advancing direction; and the grain tank 106 is mounted on the left side of the threshing device 105 at the rear portion of the machine body. This grain tank 106 includes a grain discharging auger 107 for discharging stored grains to the outside of the machine body.

As shown in Fig. 12, to the left side face of the threshing device 105 and on its upper rear side, an opening/closing door 108 formed of a metal plate is provided to be opened/closed about a rear vertical axis Y so as to allow maintenance and inspection of
e.g. "a concave" (receiving net) mounted inside the threshing device 105. The opening/closing door 108 includes an elastic engagement type opening/closing tool 109 capable of locking the opening/closing door 108 under its closed state with an elastic engagement function and also capable of releasing the lock with a pulling operation.

Forwardly of the opening/closing door 108, there is detachably mounted a threshing section front transverse side cover 110 formed of resin. Downwardly thereof, there are detachably provided a lower front side cover 111 formed of resin and a lower rear side cover 112 formed also of resin. The lower front side cover 111 and the lower rear side cover 112 are supported to a transverse side wall 113 of the threshing device 105 via detaching means provided between and across the respective covers 111, 112 and the transverse side wall 113 of the 5 threshing device 105,

More particularly, as shown in Fig. 17, Fig. 18 and Fig. 19, the detaching means of each cover 111, 112 includes engaging means 116 which consists of an engaged member 114, formed of an angular hooked shape round bar, and a hook shaped engaging member 115 engageable therewith; and locking means 119 which consists of an engaged member 117, formed of an angular hooked shape round bar, and an elastic engagement type opening/closing tool 118 engageable therewith.

As shown in Fig. 17, with the cover 111/112 under the attached state, when a lower rear face of an operational portion of the opening/closing tool 118 is pulled forwardly, the cover 111/112 will be pivoted toward its detaching side and the locking of the locking means 119 will be released. Then, under this condition, if the cover 111/112 is pulled upward, the engagement of the engaging member 115 with the engaged member 114 disposed downward will be released, whereby each cover 111, 112 can be detached from the transverse side wall 113.

Since the covers 111, 112 provided on the left side face of the threshing device 105 are formed of synthetic resin, in order to avoid inadvertent contact thereof with an outside object such a furrow, a protection member 120 extends from the machine body frame 102 at a machine body rear end portion downwardly of the lower rear side cover 112.

The reaping/conveying device B includes a reaping processing section 121 for reaping crops by a predetermined reaping width and conveying the reaped crops by transverse-feeding and gathering them to an intermediate portion in the machine body transverse width direction, and an angular tube-like feeder 122 for conveying rearward the crops gathered at this reaping processing section 121 toward the threshing device
105 mounted on the combine machine body A.

And, as shown in Fig. 13, the reaping processing section 121 is disposed forwardly of the riding/driving section 103, and the feeder 122 is disposed on the machine body left side of the riding/driving section 102 as viewed along the advancing direction.

As shown in Fig. 12, Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, the feeder 122 includes a rake-up conveyer 124 mounted inside a conveyer case 123 in the form of an angular tube. The rake-up conveyer 124 includes conveying bars 126 transversely connected between a pair of right and left chains 125 entrained vertically (entrained about horizontal axes). The rake-up conveyer 124 is configured such that the crops transversely fed by the reaping processing section 121 are raked up and conveyed along the bottom face of the conveyer case 123 to be charged into the threshing device 105.

As shown in Fig. 12, Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, the reaping processing section 121 is provided as a framework structure wherein a rear side, rear face portion 128, a conveyer deck 129, and a pair of right and left side plates 130, 130 are attached and fixed to a reaping section frame 127 comprised of angular pipes and L-shaped members interconnected to one another. And, to front portions of the right and left side plates 130, 130, there are mounted dividers 131 for dividing crops into harvesting objects and non-harvesting objects. Along the front end of the conveyer deck 129, there is mounted a clipper type reaping device 132 for clipping the culm roots of the crops. And, along the right and left side plates 130, 130, there is mounted an auger 133 for transversely feeding the reaped crops to an intermediate portion in the reaping width direction. Further, there is provided a rake-in reel 135 drivably and rotatably supported by a pair of right and left support arms 134, 134 extending forwardly and upwardly from upper portions of the base end of the reaping section frame 127, the rake-in reel 135 being configured to rake in an amount of crops present forwardly of the feeder 122 into this feeder 122.

As shown in Fig. 12, this rake-in reel 135 is arranged with its machine body front end position projecting more forwardly of the machine body than the machine body front end position of the dividers 131, so that the reel 135 is cable of raking in the crops as the harvesting objects in an efficient manner.

As shown in Fig.20, on a machine body right side portion of the reaping processing section 121, a transmission section cover 136 formed of resin is provided for covering the transverse outer side of a belt type transmission mechanism (not shown) which transmits power from the engine section 104 to the auger 133 and the reaping device 132. This transmission section cover 136 is configured to be fastened by bolts at a plurality of portions thereof to the left side plate 130.

As shown in Fig. 20, Fig. 21 and Fig. 22, the transmission section cover 136 is fastened and fixed by bolts 138, with the front end portion of the transmission section cover 136 being placed in contact with the inner side of an attaching plate 137 extended from the side plate 130 supporting the divider 131. And, at the attaching portion, a nut 139 is attached under an embedded state to the transmission section cover 136. Further,
the attaching plate 137 defines an insertion hole 140 in the form of a slot elongated along the front/rear direction for absorbing change in the attaching position due to assembly tolerance.

As the attaching insertion hole 140 is formed as an elongate slot as described above, when the bolt 138 is fastened as being inserted into this insertion hole 140 alone, there is the risk of the embedded nut 139 entering the inside of the insertion hole 140 inadvertently. Therefore, in order to maintain the nut 139 in position, a U-shaped relay plate member 142 defining a round bolt insertion hole 141 is provided as striding over the attaching plate for allowing insertion and subsequent fastening of the bolt 138 therein.

Though not shown, at the other bolt attaching portions, fastenining and fixing is effected with using welding nuts (not shown) provided in the side plate.

As shown in Fig. 12, Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, a dust exhaust device 143 is provided at the conveying start end of the feeder 122, so that earth dust or the like entrained into the conveyer case 123 together with crops and/or dust generated in front of the feeder may be exhausted to a site distant from the riding/driving section 103.

The dust exhaust device 143 includes a dust exhaust hood 144 provided outside the conveyer case 123 and an axial flow type rotary fan 145 provided inside the dust exhaust hood 144. The dust exhaust food 144 includes a suction hood portion 146 disposed on the outer face side of a ceiling plate portion 123 A of the conveyer case 123, and an exhaust hood portion 147 disposed between the lateral side portion of this suction hood portion 146 and the transverse outer face side of the conveyer case 123.

As shown in Fig. 15, the suction hood portion 146 is connected to the ceiling plate portion 123 A of the conveyer case via an attaching flange 148 provided at its lower end portion.

And, a dust flow passage extends from a suction dust inlet 149 provided in the suction hood portion 146, to an outlet 150 formed at the lower end portion of the exhaust hood portion 147. The suction hood portion 146 and the exhaust hood portion 147 are formed of synthetic resin members molded into a predetermined shape; and a connecting flange 146f formed integrally at the transverse end of the suction hood 146 and a connecting flange 147f formed integrally at the transverse end of the upper end side of the exhaust hood portion 147 are screw-connected to each other.

As shown in Fig. 16, a circumference 146a of the suction hood portion 146 around a rotary fan 145 is shaped into an arcuate form extending along the outer perimeter of the rotary fan 145 so as to function as a fan shroud for the rotary fan 145. Further, an obliquely oriented inclined face portion 151 defines a cylindrical work opening 153 used for attachment/detachment of a drive motor 152 of the rotary fan 145; and a peripheral edge portion at the inner deep portion of the work opening 153 is configured as supporting portion for supporting the drive motor 152. And, the suction hood portion 146 forms a plurality of reinforcing ribs 154, 155 comprised of concave grooves vertically extending along the inclined face portion 151 which is a position not impairing the suction function, thereby to enhance the rigidity of the suction hood portion 146.

Further, this dust exhaust device 143 is configured to effect a dust exhaust operation with activation of the rotary fan 145 in response to an ON operation of a reaping clutch, only during a harvesting operation when crops are reaped and conveyed toward the threshing device 105.

While detailed explanation of the transmission system will be omitted herein, it is yet noted that the system is configured such that the power of the engine section 104 is transmitted to the reaping/conveying device B in an intermittent manner via a belt
tension type reaping clutch (not shown), and as shown in Fig. 15, a reaping clutch lever 157 for engaging/disengaging the reaping clutch is provided to be pivotable about a transverse axis Ql between a clutch engaged position ON and a clutch disengaged position OFF.

Further, with this combine, in order to prevent occurrence of clogging of culms in the reaping/conveying device B, there is provided a reverse drive mechanism (not shown) for temporarily causing the reaping/conveying device B to be rotated in reverse. And, this reverse drive mechanism is configured to allow the rotation in the reverse direction with an operation of a specially provided reverse rotation operational tool, when the reaping clutch for reaping operation is switched over to the clutch disengaged state thereof.

And, as shown in Fig. 15, in the vicinity of a reaping clutch lever 157, there is provided a lever position detecting switch 158 which is turned OFF when the reaping clutch lever 157 is at the clutch disengaged position OFF and turned ON when the reaping clutch lever 157 is at the clutch engaged position ON. The lever position detecting switch 158 is electrically connected to the drive motor 152 of the dust exhaust device 143 such that, when this lever position detecting switch 158 is OFF, the drive motor 152 of the dust exhaust device 143 is rendered inoperable; and when the lever position detecting switch 158 is ON, the drive motor 152 of the dust exhaust device 143 is rendered operable.

With the above-described arrangements, during a reaping operation, dust generated inside the feeder 122 in association with this reaping operation can be exhausted to the outside.

Moreover, when the reverse drive mechanism is under operation or during a non-reaping work, the dust exhaust device 143 is not operated.

This prevents the inconvenience of a great amount of crops released from clogging thereof from being inadvertently discharged to the outside, e.g. when the reaping/conveying device B is operated in reverse.

The rake-in reel 135 will be described hereinafter in detail.

As shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13, the rake-in reel 135 includes a pair of right and left reel frames 160 having a pentagonal shape as seen in lateral side view, at right and left ends of a drive shaft 159 rotatably supported at the leading ends of a pair of support arms 134, 134. As shown in Fig. 23, tine support members 161 extend between these paired right and left reel frames 160, 160, with ones being provided for the five apexes of each reel frame 160 respectively. A plurality of tines 162 are attached to each tine support member 161 in juxtaposition along its longitudinal direction.

Each reel frame 160 includes a reel frame main body 160a; five arms 160b formed of metal plates and provided in the reel frame main body 160a; a resin block body 160c attached to the leading end of each arm 160b; and an annular band plate 160d entrained across and around the five block bodies 160c and connected by a bolt to the arm 160b together with the block body 160c associated therewith. Each block body 160c forms an attaching portion for rotatably attaching the tine support member 161 thereto. The annular band plate 160d is comprised of a divided plate member divided at the portion of each arm 160b.

In order to allow the tines 162 attached to each tine support member 161 to be kept under the posture extending downward from the tine support member 161 despite the revolution of the rake-in reel 135, for maintaining such posture, there is provided a posture maintaining mechanism 163 whose configuration is well-known.

Referring to this posture maintaining mechanism 163 briefly, the posture maintaining mechanism 163 includes an assist rotary body 164 provided on one transverse outer side of the rake-in reel 135 and having a pentagonal shape as viewed along the machine body lateral face direction. In operation, in association with revolution of the rake-in reel 135, the assist rotary body 164 is rotated by a drive force transmitted from the rake-in reel 135 via a link 165 about an axis Q3 which is different from the reel rotation axis Q2. As each tine support member 161 is rotatably operated by the link 165, each tine support member is rotated relative to the reel frame 160, so that the tines 162 of each tine support member 161 can be maintained under the posture extending downwards from the tine support member 161, despite revolution of the rake-in reel 135.

As shown in Fig. 12, the rake-in reel 135 can be lifted up/down between a lowered working state and a raised non-working state as a pair of support arms 134, 134 are vertically pivoted relative to the reaping section frame 127 about the axis Q4 by a hydraulic cylinder 166 connected to each of the pair of support arms 134, 134 and the reaping section frame 127.

When the pair of right and left support arms 134, 134 are lowered and the lower end of the rake-in reel 135 is brought to the vicinity of the ground surface G, there is realized a lowered working state on the lower position side of the rake-in reel 135.

Then, in response to rotation of the drive shaft 159, the rake-in reel 135 is rotated about the reel rotation axis Q2, and the tines of each tine support member 161 are rotated about the reel rotation axis Q2 as well.

Each tine 162 is rotated as being kept in its posture 35 extending downwards from the tine support member 161 by the action of the posture maintaining mechanism 163, and comes into engagement with crops and rakes them in toward the reaping device 132.

As shown in Fig. 24 and Fig. 25, the tine support member 161 is formed by fixing a channel member 16IB, having its groove opening oriented toward the combine's forward side, integrally to the lower face of the tine support member main body
161A formed of a metal pipe.

The tine support member 16IB includes an upper 10 horizontal face portion 170, a vertical face portion 171 and a lower horizontal face portion 172; and is connected integrally to the tine support member main body 161A by welding the upper horizontal face portion 170 along the tine support member main body 161A.

Further, the vertical face portion 171 defines a plurality of tine-attaching insertion holes 171a spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction thereof The lower horizontal face portion 172 defines, in correspondence with the respective tine attaching position, a slit 172a into which a pendant bar-like portion 162c of the tine 162 to be described later is inserted for preventing transverse displacement of the tine 162.

The tine 162 is formed of a metal spring member, in which an attached portion 162a to be attached by a threaded member 173 to the vertical face portion 171 of the channel member 161B is provided at its upper end portion; and a coil spring portion 162b in the form of a spiral about a transverse axis is provided continuously with the attached portion 162a; and the pendant bar-like portion 162c extends continuously with this coil spring portion 162b. The attached portion 162a is formed in a ring shape, and at its ring hollow portion, the threaded member 173 having a flat washer 173 a is inserted for allowing fixing thereof to the vertical face portion 171.

Also, the coil spring portion 162b is formed in the form of a spiral having two turns and configured to absorb, through its elastic deformation along the diameter decreasing direction (or diameter increasing direction), a bending displacement of the pendant bar-like portion 162c due to a rake-in reaction force from the crops, the ground surface G, etc. in association with rotational drive of the rake-in reel 135.

That is, the tine 162 is formed of a metal spring member which is comprised of continuous serial formation of the attached portion 162a, the coil spring portion 162b and the pendant bar-like portion 162c.

A tine head height dimension (h) from the upper end of the 10 attached portion 162a to the spiral lowermost portion of the coil spring portion 162b is set to an approximately equal value to a spacing dimension between the upper horizontal face portion 170 and the lower horizontal face portion 172 of the channel member 16IB, so that the upper portion of the tine 162 can be accommodated within the groove of the channel member 161B without leaving any unnecessary space.

Further, with the above-described attaching arrangement, when a push-up force is applied from the lower side of the tine 162, both the fixing force by the threaded member 173 and the supporting force of the upper horizontal face portion 170 against which the attached portion 162a is in abutment become effective to stably maintain the attached state of the tine 162.

Also, the tine 162 is configured such that a portion of the spiral of the coil spring portion 162b projects more outward than a straight line interconnecting respective outer edge portions of the upper horizontal face portion 170 and the lower horizontal face portion 172 of the channel member 161B (see Fig. 24), and this projecting portion can be operated with fingers at the time of attachment/detachment of the tine 162 to/from the channel member 16 IB during a maintenance operation (inspection, repair, etc.) of the tine 162, so that the maintenance operation can be carried out in an efficient manner.

And, as shown in Fig. 23, the respective tines 162 on the right and left ends adjacent the right and left reel frames 160, 160 are arranged such that the pendant bar-like portion 162c thereof is located on the side close to the reel frame 160, 160 and the attached portion 162a is located on the side away from the reel frame 160.

Further, the plurality of tines 162 include a first tine Tl 5 arranged such that the pendant bar-like portion 162c thereof is located on one side in the longitudinal direction of the tine support member 161 and the attached portion 162a thereof is located on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the same; and a second tine T2 arranged such that the pendant bar-like portion 162c thereof is located on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the tine support member 161 and the attached portion 162a thereof is located on the one side in the longitudinal direction of the same, and the coil spring portion 162b thereof has a form of a spiral reverse in direction to the first tine Tl. And, the tine 162 adjacent the reel frame 162 disposed on the one side in the longitudinal direction is comprised of the first tine Tl, and the tine 162 adjacent the reel frame 160 disposed on the other side in the longitudinal direction is comprised of the second tine T2.

Fig. 23 is a front view of the rake-in reel 135, as the rake-in reel 135 being viewed in the opposite direction to the machine body advancing direction. With reference to Fig. 23 additionally, the two tines 162 located at the end on the machine body right side (the left side in Fig. 23) as viewed along the advancing direction, which side corresponds to the one side in the longitudinal direction, are comprised of the first tines Tl; and the other, remaining tines 162 are comprised of the second tines T2. That is, the first tines Tl are configured such that the pendant bar-like portions 162c thereof are disposed on the
machine body right side (the left side in Fig 23) and the attached portions 162a thereof are disposed on the machine body left side (the right side in Fig. 23), whereas the second tines T2 are configured such that the pendant bar-like portions 162c thereof are disposed on the machine body left side (the right side in Fig23) and the attached portions 162a thereof are disposed on the machine body right side (the left side in Fig. 23). And, as shown in Fig. 25, the coil spring portion 162b of the second tine T2 is provided in the form of a spiral reverse in direction to that of the first tine Tl.

With the above-described arrangement, on the right/left end of the rake-in reel 135, the distance between the pendant bar-like portion 162c of the tine 162 at the extreme end and the reel frame 160 is rendered short, whereby crops as the harvesting objects can be raked in an efficient manner at the right and left end portions of the rake-in reel 135.

Further, as described above, since the riding/driving section 103 is provided at the front portion of the combine machine body A at a position offset toward the machine body right side as viewed along the advancing direction, the first tines Tl provided at the end portion of the machine body right side can be readily viewed by the driver present in the riding/driving section 103.

Moreover, with the above-described tine attaching arrangement, displacement effective on the leading end of the tine 162 can be allowed by the elastic deformation of the coil spring portion 162b, so that plastic deformation or fatigue breakdown of the tine 162 will occur less likely, whereby improvement in the durability of the tine 162 is made possible.

Besides, since each tine 162 can be replaced separately, the trouble of exchanging the tines 162 can be reduced. Also, since the shape of the tine 162 is a simple shape formed only by bending a metal spring member, the cost of the tine 162 can be reduced.

[Modified Embodiments of Second Embodiment]

(1) In the foregoing embodiment, the two tines 162 of the plurality of tines 162 located on one end in the longitudinal direction are comprised of the first tines Tl; and the other tines are comprised of the second tines T2. However, the number of the first tine Tl is not limited to two, but can be one, or three or 35 more.

(2) In the foregoing embodiment, the plurality of tines 162 includes the first tines Tl, and the second tines T2 having the coil spring portion 162b thereof being in the form of a spiral in reverse direction to that of the first tine Tl. Instead of this arrangement, the tines 162 can be comprised of either the first tines Tl or the second tines T2 alone, and the attaching positions of such tines relative to the tine support member 161 can be switched over between a state for attaching them from the machine body front face side and a state for attaching them from the machine body rear face side.

With the above-described arrangement, each of the tines 162 located on the right and left ends adjacent the right and left reel frames 160 can be arranged such that the pendant bar-like portion 162c is located on the side close to the reel frame 160 and the attached portion 162a is located on the side away from the reel frame 160.

(3) In the foregoing embodiment, the tine 162 is formed of a metal spring member including the attached portion 162a, the coil spring portion 162b and the pendant bar-like portion 162c which are provided continuous in series with one another. Instead of this, the attached portion 162a, the coil spring portion 162b and the pendant bar-like portion 162c may be prepared 25 separately from one another; and then these separate members may be connected to one another.

What we claim is:

1. A normal type combine comprising:

a combine machine body (A) including a riding/driving section (3) and a threshing device (5);

a reaping/conveying device (B) connected to a front portion of the combine machine body (A); and a hydraulic cylinder (CY) for drivingly lifting up/down the reaping/conveying device (B);

wherein the reaping/conveying device (B) includes a reaping processing section (8) for reaping culms of crops by a predetermined reaping width and conveying the reaped crops by transverse-feeding and gathering them to an intermediate portion in a machine body transverse width direction, and an angular tubular feeder (9) for rearwardly conveying the crops gathered in the reaping processing section (8) toward the threshing device (5);

the riding/driving section (3) is disposed on one end side of the machine body transverse width direction;

the reaping processing section (8) is disposed forwardly of the riding/driving section (3); and

the feeder (9) is disposed on the other end side of the machine body transverse width direction away from the riding/driving section (3);

characterized in that said feeder (9) includes a corner portion (K) formed of a vertical wall portion (10a) disposed at one end side in the machine body transverse width direction and a bottom face portion (10b); and that

said hydraulic cylinder (CY) is connected to said corner portion (K).

2. The normal type combine according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing frame body (55) is disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the feeder (9);

a connected portion (57) is provided at a portion of said reinforcing frame body (55) corresponding to said corner portion (K), for connecting the hydraulic cylinder (CY); and

said connected portion (57) includes a connecting pin (59) which pivotally connects a connecting portion (58a) of said hydraulic cylinder (CY) on the reaping/conveying device (B) side to said reinforcing frame body (55).

3. The normal type combine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein as seen along the machine body front/rear direction, positions of opposed transverse end portions of the reaping processing section (8) along the reaping width direction are in substantial agreement respectively with positions of opposed transverse end portions of the combine machine body (A) along the reaping width direction.

4. A normal type combine comprising:

a combine machine body (A); and

a rake-in reel (135) provided forwardly of the combine machine body (A), the rake-in reel (135) including:

right and left reel frames (160);

a plurality of tine support members (161) transversely supported between the right and left reel frames (160); and

a plurality of tines (162) attached to each said tine support member (161) in juxtaposition and spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the tine support member;

characterized in that

each said tine (162) includes:

an attached portion (162a) to be attached to the tine support member (161) with a threaded member (173),

a pendant bar-like portion (162c) pendant downwards, and

a coil spring portion (162b) in the form of a spiral extending about a transverse axis, the coil spring portion (162b) being disposed between the attached portion (162a) and the pendant bar-like portion (162c) and being capable of absorbing, through elastic deformation thereof, a bending displacement of the pendant bar-like portion (162c); and that each one of the tines (162) disposed at the right and left ends adjacent the right and left reel frames (160) is provided such that the pendant bar-like portion (162c) thereof is located on the side close to the reel frame (160) and the attached portion (162a) thereof is located on the side away from the reel frame (160). 10

5. The normal type combine according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of tines (162) include:

a first tine (Tl) arranged such that the pendant bar-like portion (162c) thereof is located on one side in the longitudinal direction and the attached portion (162a) thereof is located on the other side in the longitudinal direction, and

a second tine (T2) arranged such that the pendant bar-like portion (162c) thereof is located on the other side in the longitudinal direction and the attached portion (162a) thereof is located on the one side in the longitudinal direction, and the coil spring portion (162b) thereof has a form of a spiral reverse in direction to the first tine (Tl),

the tine adjacent the reel frame (160) disposed on the one side in the longitudinal direction is comprised of said first tine (Tl), and

the tine adjacent the reel frame (160) disposed on the other side in the longitudinal direction is comprised of said second tine (T2).

6. The normal type combine according to claim 5, wherein

a riding/driving section (103) is provided at a front portion of the combine machine body (A) at a position offset to the one side in the longitudinal direction;

one/some of the plurality of tines (162) disposed on the one side in the longitudinal direction is/are comprised of the first tine(s) (T1); and

the remaining tine(s) is/are comprised of the second tine(s) (T2).

7. The normal type combine according to any one of claims 4-6, wherein each said tine (162) is formed of a metal spring member which is comprised of continuous serial formation of the attached portion (162a), the coil spring portion (162b) and the pendant 10 bar-like portion (162c).