Harvesters – Tobacco
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2001-05-08
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Tobacco
C414S501000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226968
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a tobacco harvester and, more particularly, to an improved transport arrangement for transporting cut tobacco plants to a position in a tobacco harvester in which each can be automatically loaded on a tobacco stick.
This invention is an improvement of the tobacco harvester of U. S. Pat. No. 5,400,577 to Duncan et al, which is incorporated by reference herein. The tobacco harvester of the aforesaid Duncan et al patent required two workers with one of the workers having to pick up each of the tobacco plants after it was cut or severed at its butt end and precisely position the cut tobacco plant for transport to a spear from which it was advanced automatically onto a tobacco stick.
U. S. Pat. No. 4,813,216 to Day, V, et al discloses a cut tobacco plant being transported to an elevated position in a substantially vertical orientation. The transport system makes two 90° changes of the cut tobacco plant to invert the cut tobacco plant so that its leaves hang downwardly. This requires a relatively high structure of about 12′. There also is a requirement for a special curing frame.
The tobacco harvester of the present invention utilizes a unique transport system in which the cut or severed tobacco plant is automatically transported without a worker being involved to a position in a tobacco harvester in which it can be automatically disposed on a tobacco stick in the manner shown and described in the aforesaid Duncan et al patent.
The tobacco harvester of the present invention disposes the tobacco plant after it is cut or severed with its stalk in a substantially vertical orientation. The cut tobacco plant is transported in its substantially vertical orientation along an inclined path to an elevated position.
Just prior to reaching the elevated position, advancement of the butt end of the stalk is retarded so that release of the tobacco plant at the elevated position causes it to begin to pivot to fall by gravity onto a conveyor system. The conveyor system transports the tobacco plant in a substantially horizontal orientation to a spearing mechanism of the aforesaid Duncan et al patent. Thus, a relatively compact structure is provided in which there is only a 90° change in direction of motion of the tobacco plant.
The present invention includes an arrangement for controlling the motion of the butt end of the stalk of the cut tobacco plant after it starts to fall due to gravity. This insures that the cut tobacco plant is in its substantially horizontal orientation when it falls onto the conveyor system.
An object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco harvester.
Another object of this invention is to increase the throughput of a tobacco harvester.
A further object of this invention is to provide a tobacco harvester having a mechanical arrangement for transporting a cut tobacco plant from its cutting position until the tobacco plant is placed on a spear and a stick.
Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from the following description, claims, and drawings.
The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:
FIG. 1
is a top plan view of a tobacco harvester of the present invention connected to a tractor;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the tobacco harvester of FIG.
1
and showing cut tobacco plants in phantom positions for advancement from a cutting position to an elevated position along an inclined path;
FIG. 3
is a side elevation view of a portion of the tobacco harvester of
FIG. 1
showing a tobacco plant just prior to it being cut in a solid line position and the cut tobacco plant in phantom line positions as it is advanced;
FIG. 4
is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of a portion of the tobacco harvester of FIG.
3
and showing a ramp for tilting the stalk of each cut tobacco plant as it is advanced from a cutting position to the elevated position;
FIG. 5
is a rear elevation view of the tobacco harvester of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 6
is an enlarged rear elevation view of a portion of the tobacco harvester of
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 7
is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of an arrangement including telescoping square hollow tubes for tightening a twisted belt of the tobacco harvester of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 8
is an end elevation view, taken along line
8
—
8
of
FIG. 7
, and showing one of the square hollow tubes for adjusting the tightness of the twisted belts;
FIG. 9
is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of a portion of the tobacco harvester of
FIG. 3
, taken along line
9
—
9
of FIG.
2
and showing a support for one end of one of the twisted belts and a rotating wheel utilized for advancing each cut tobacco plant by engaging its leaves after its stalk has been advanced to the elevated position;
FIG. 10
is an enlarged fragmentary top plan elevation view of a support for the other end of one of the twisted belts and taken within phantom circle A of
FIG. 2
; and
FIG. 11
is a fragmentary elevation view of a portion of one of a pair of chains for toothed elements holding a cut tobacco plant after it has been cut.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3902304 (1975-09-01), Mitchell et al.
patent: 3902607 (1975-09-01), Middleton
patent: 4037392 (1977-07-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 4192124 (1980-03-01), Balthes
patent: 4444001 (1984-04-01), Thurnau et al.
patent: 4813216 (1989-03-01), Day et al.
patent: 5400577 (1995-03-01), Duncan et al.
Kovács Arpád Fáb
Leach, Jr. Frank C.
Pezzuto Robert E.
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