Apparatus for harvesting and cleaning windrowed cane

Claim 2

Field harvesting means for gathering freshly cut windrowed cane comprising a motor driven vehicle, cane pickup and conveying means mounted on and extending forwardly from said vehicle for engaging windrowed cane extending in generally parallel relation to the direction of movement of said vehicle and lifting the cane of the windrow upwardly from the ground for rearward conveyance, cane segmentizer means positioned on said vehicle to receive cane from said pickup and conveying means, a cleaning chamber mounted on said vehicle in a position to receive cane segments discharged from said cane segmentizer means to fall downwardly through said cleaning chamber, an outfeed conveyor means mounted on the vehicle and having a lower end in said cleaning chamber to receive said cane segments falling through said cleaning chamber, said outfeed conveyor extending transversely upwardly from said cleaning chamber and having a discharge end spaced to one side of said vehicle, means mounted on said vehicle for providing an air blast in said cleaning chamber across said cane segments falling through said cleaning chamber onto said outfeed conveyor for removing trash and leaf particles from said cane segments and blower means mounted adjacent the outer end of said outfeed conveyor for creating an air flow across the path of travel of cane segments falling from the discharge end of said outfeed conveyor.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said cane segmentizer means includes first and second driven segmentizer roll means mounted for rotation about parallel axes, gear means drivingly connecting said first and second segmentizer roll members for rotation in unison, a plurality of radially extending blade members equidistantly spaced on each of said segmentizer roll members so that one blade on each roll passes in unison through the nip of said roll members with a cooperating blade on the other roll member as said roll members rotate in unison, the blade members on said first segmentizer roll member having an outer edge termination comprising a sharly tapered edge surface, said blades on said second segmentizer roll having surface portions defining a bottomed slot in their outer edge into which a sharply tapered edge surface of a blade member on said first segmentizer roll moves as the blades pass through the nip of said segmentizer rolls as the rolls rotate in unison.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein said bottomed slots in said blade members on said second segmentizer roll member comprise stepped surfaces providing a plurality of cutting edges cooperable with the sharply tapered edge surface of the blade members on the first segmentizer roll member.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2 wherein said cane pickup and conveying means comprises a lower conveyor feed asSembly including a first chain driven conveyor system for picking and lifting cane from the surface of the ground, and agitating roll means positioned to receive said cane from said first chain conveyor system and including rotating members physically engageable with said cane for dislodging leaf and trash particles from the cane and for feeding cane to a second chain conveyor system positioned to receive cane from said agitator roll to convey said cane upwardly, a second agitator roll positioned to receive cane from the upper end of said second chain conveyor system and including means engageable with the cane for feeding the cane and for dislodging trash and leaf particles from the cane, said first and second segmentizer rolls being positioned immediately adjacent said second agitator roll for receiving cane from said second agitator roll.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein said outfeed conveyor includes a horizontal portion extending across the lower end of said cleaning chamber with said outfeed conveyor comprising first and second parallel spaced chain members connected by parallel rods and angle members spaced along said chain members parallel to said rods for lifting cane segments upwardly from said cleaning chamber.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 2 wherein each of said segmentizer roll members includes a central radial flange, said blade means includes first and second radially extending blade members on each side of each of said central radial flange means extending in opposite radial directions 180* from each other about the periphery of said roll and wherein the blades on one side of said radial flange are rotated 90* about the axis of the roll member on which they are mounted with respect to the blades on the other side of said central radial flange.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6 additionally including a sharp cutting edge defining a circular outer periphery of each of said central radial flange members and wherein the outer periphery of said central radial flanges on the first segmentizer roll radially overlaps the outer periphery of the central radial flange on the second segmentizer roll whereby said central radial flange members cooperate to provide a cutting action on any cane members passing through the area in which the central radial flange members overlap.

Claim 9

Field harvesting means for gathering windrowed cane comprising a motor driven vehicle, cane pickup and conveying means extending forwardly from said vehicle for engaging windrowed cane and lifting the cane upwardly from the ground, cane segmentizer means positioned to receive cane from said pickup and conveying means, a cleaning chamber into which cane segments are discharged from said cane segmentizer means to fall downwardly onto the lower end of an outfeed conveyor means extending transversely upwardly from said vehicle and having a discharge end spaced to one side of said vehicle, means for providing an air blast across said cane segments falling onto said outfeed conveyor for removing trash and leaf particles from said cane segments, shroud means enclosing the discharge end of said outfeed conveyor and power driven fan means in said shroud means for creating air flow across cane segments being conveyed by and discharged from the discharge end of said outfeed conveyor for blowing leaf or other trash particles away from said cane segments.

Claim 10

Field harvesting means for gathering windrowed cane comprising a motor driven vehicle, cane pickup and conveying means extending forwardly from said vehicle for engaging windrowed cane and lifting the cane upwardly from the ground, cane segmentizer means positioned to receive cane from said pickup and conveying means, a cleaning chamber into which cane segments are discharged from said cane segmentizer means to fall downwardly onto the lower end of an outfeed conveyor means extending transversely upwardly from said vehicle and having a discharge end spaced to one side of said vehicle, means for providing an air blast across said cane segments falling onto said outfeed conveyor for removing trash and leaf particles from said cane segments, shroud means enclosing the discharge end of said outfeed conveyor and power driven fan means in said shroud means for creating air flow across cane segments being conveyed by and discharged from the discharge end of said outfeed conveyor for blowing leaf or other trash particles away from said cane segments.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 additionally including a plurality of parallel agitator rolls mounted beneath the discharge end of said outfeed conveyor for receiving cane segments from said discharge end of said outfeed conveyor, means for driving said agitator rolls for physically agitating said cane segments to dislodge leaf or trash particles on said cane segments and to move said cane segments to a discharge point from which they are discharged into a receiving device.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 9 wherein each of said parallel agitator rolls comprises a support shaft, a plurality of square rim members coaxially mounted on saiD support shafts and spaced along the length of said support shafts, the square rim members of each agitator roll being interleaved with the square rim members of adjacent agitator rolls.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 wherein said cane segmentizer means comprises first and second segmentizer roll members mounted for rotation about parallel axes, gear means connecting said first and second segmentizer rolls, a plurality of radially extending blade members on each of said segmentizer roll members, the blade members on said first segmentizer roll member having an outer edge termination comprising a sharply tapered edge surface, said blades on said second segmentizer roll having a slot in their outer edge into which a sharply tapered edge surface of a blade member on said first segmentizer roll moves as the blades pass through the nip of said segmentizer rolls as the rolls rotate in unison.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 11 wherein said slots in said blade members comprise stepped surfaces providing a plurality of cutting edges cooperable with the sharply tapered edge surface of the blade members on the other segmentizer roll means.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 12 additionally including hold-down conveyor means positioned above said pickup conveying means for aiding in the conveyance of cane upwardly along said cane pickup and conveying means.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 9 wherein said cane segmentizer means comprises first and second segmentizer roll member mounted for rotation about parallel axes, each of said segmentizer rolls including a central radial flange, first and second radially extending blade means on each side of each of said radial flange extending in opposite radial directions 180* from each other about the periphery of said roll, the blades on one side of said radial flange being displaced 90* with respect to the blades on the other side of said central radial flange and gear means connecting said first and second segmentizer rolls whereby the blade means on the two rolls cooperate with each other as they pass through the nip between the first and second segmentizer rolls to effectively chop cane into short segments.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 14 additionally including a sharp cutting edge defining a circular outer periphery of each of said central radial flange members and wherein the outer periphery of said central radial flanges defined by said sharp cutting edges of the first segmentizer roll radially overlaps the outer periphery of the central radial flange of the second segmentizer roll whereby said central radial flange members cooperate to provide a cutting action on any cane members passing through the area in which the central radial flange members overlap.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 1 wherein said segmentizer means comprises a first rotary support means mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation, a second rotary support means mounted for rotation about a second axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation, cutting blades extending radially from said first rotary support means and each blade having a sharp outer edge, backup members mounted on said second rotary support means and each backup member having inwardly extending bottomed slots in its outer portions, said inwardly extending slots being of a sufficient depth and width to permit one of said sharp outer edges to be received in the confines of one of said inwardly extending slots with an appreciable clearance space between the sharp outer edge and the surface of said inwardly extending slot and drive means for rotating said first and seconod support means in unison so that said sharp outer edges move into the confines of one of said inwardly extending slots during each revolution of said first and second support means for effecting a cutting operation on cane or the like positioned between said cutting blade and said backup member.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 16 wherein said inwardly extending slots are of V-shaped configuration.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 16 wherein said inwardly extending slots each comprise first and second side walls connected at their innermost extent by a flat bottom wall portion.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 18 wherein said backup members each comprise a blade member and said slot is formed in an outer edge of said blade member.

Claim 22

Means for cutting cane or the like into short segments comprising a first rotary support means mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation, a second rotary support means mounted for rotation about a second axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation, cutting blades extending radially from said first rotary support means with each cutting blade having a sharp outer edge termination, backup members mounted on said second rotary support means, each of said backup members having an inwardly extending bottomed slot facing outwardly and formed of relatively fixed immovable surfaces, said inwardly extending slots being of sufficient depth and width to permit the sharp outer edge of one of said blade members to be received within its confines without touching the inwardly extending slot surfaces while permitting a buildup of cane fibers in the slot to provide a backing for the cutting action of said sharp outer edge and drive means for rotating said first and second support means in unison so that each of said sharp outer edges moves into the confines of one of said inwardly extending slots during each revolution of said first support means for effecting a cutting operation on cane or the like positioned between said cutting blade and said backup member.

Claim 23

Means for cutting cane or the like into short segments comprising a first rotary support means mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation, a second rotary support means mounted for rotation about a second axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation, cutting blades extending radially from said first rotary support means with each cutting blade having a sharp outer edge termination, backup members mounted on said second rotary support means, each of said backup members having an inwardly extending bottomed slot facing outwardly and formed of relatively fixed immovable surfaces, said inwardly extending slots being of sufficient depth and width to permit the sharp outer edge of one of said blade members to be received within its confines without touching the inwardly extending slot surfaces while permitting a buildup of cane fibers in the slot to provide a backing for the cutting action of said sharp outer edge and drive means for rotating said first and second support means in unison so that each of said sharp outer edges moves into the confines of one of said inwardly extending slots during each revolution of said first support means for effecting a cutting operation on cane or the like positioned between said cutting blade and said backup member.

Claim 24

The invention of claim 20 wherein said surface portions defining said inwardly extending slots include first and second side walls connected at their innermost extent by a flat bottom wall portion to define each slot.

Claim 25

The invention of claim 20 wherein said backup members each comprise a blade member with said slot being formed in an outer edge of each of said blade members.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 22 additionally including end flanges on the ends of said first and second rotary support means, a central radial cutting flange mounted medially between said end flanges on each of said rotary support means, said central radial cutting flanges each having an outer sharp circular cutting surface with the cutting surfaces of the two central radial cutting flanges overlapping to provide a continuous scissor type cutting operation for any cane segments or the like passing through the overlapped portions of said central radial cutting flanges.

Claim 27

Field harvesting means for gathering windrowed cane comprising a motor driven vehicle, cane pickup and conveying means extending forwardly from said vehicle for engaging windrowed cane and lifting the cane upwardly from the ground, cane segmentizer means positioned to receive cane from said pickup and conveying means, said segmentizer means comprising a first rotary support means mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation, a second rotary support means mounted for rotation about a second axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation, cutting blades extending radially from said first rotary support means and each blade having a sharp outer edge, backup members comprising blade members mounted on said second rotary support means and each blade member having inwardly extending bottomed slots in its outer portions formed in an outer edge of each blade, said inwardly extending slots each defined by first and second side walls connected at their innermost extent by a flat bottom wall portion and being of a sufficient depth and width to permit one of said sharp outer edges to be received in the confines of one of said inwardly extending slots with an appreciable clearance space between the sharp outer edge and the surfaces of said inwardly extending slot, drive means for rotating said first and second support means in unison so that said sharp outer edges move into the confines of one of said inwardly extending slots during each revolution of said first and second support means for effecting a cutting operation on cane or the like positioned between said cutting blade and said backup member, end flanges on the ends of said first and second rotary support means and a central radial cutting flange mounted medially between said end flanges on each of said rotary support means, said central radial cutting flanges each having an outer sharp circular cutting surface with the cutting surfaces of the two central radial cutting flanges overlapping to provide a continuous scissor type cutting operation for any cane segments or the like passing through the overlapped portions of said central radial cutting flanges.

Claim 28

Field harvesting means for gathering windrowed cane comprising a motor driven vehicle, cane pickup and conveying means extending forwardly from said vehicle for engaging windrowed cane and lifting the cane upwardly from the ground, cane segmentizer means positioned to receive cane from said pickup and conveying means, said segmentizer means comprising a first rotary support means mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation, a second rotary support means mounted for rotation about a second axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation, cutting blades extending radially from said first rotary support means and each blade having a sharp outer edge, backup members comprising blade members mounted on said second rotary support means and each blade member having inwardly extending bottomed slots in its outer portions formed in an outer edge of each blade, said inwardly extending slots each defined by first and second side walls connected at their innermost extent by a flat bottom wall portion and being of a sufficient depth and width to permit one of said sharp outer edges to be received in the confines of one of said inwardly extending slots with an appreciable clearance space between the sharp outer edge and the surfaces of said inwardly extending slot, drive means for rotating said first and second support means in unison so that said sharp outer edges move into the confines of one of said inwardly extending slots during each revolution of said first and second support means for effecting a cutting operation on cane or the like positioned between said cutting blade and said backup member, end flanges on the ends of said first and second rotary support means and a central radial cutting flange mounted medially between said end flanges on each of said rotary support means, said central radial cutting flanges each having an outer sharp circular cutting surface with the cutting surfaces of the two central radial cutting flanges overlapping to provide a continuous scissor type cutting operation for any cane segments or the like passing through the overlapped portions of said central radial cutting flanges.