AU2012247030B2

AU2012247030B2 - Sugarcane leaves remover methods and apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2012247030B2
Application number: AU2012247030A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Giovanni FROVA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-09
Filing date: 2012-11-09
Publication date: 2014-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2032-11-09
Also published as: BR102013022266A2; WO2014074077A1; BR102013022266B1; AU2012247030A1

Abstract

A sugar cane leaf remover machine comprises a self propelled motorized frame forming a tunnel in which the standing stalks of sugarcane pass through because of the forward movement of such frame. 5 A couple of side arms attached to the front of the frame raise lodged sugarcanes and align straight and lodged sugarcanes to the front end of the tunnel machine. A movable arm protruding forward ahead of the tunnel on which is mounted a cutting device to remove the top leaves of the sugar cane. An adjustable deflector (tunnel ceiling board) to engage and bend the standing sugarcanes at an angle suitable for the removal of the leaves. A set of rotary 10 brushes, disposed on the side of the machine with an angle such as the brushes to be near perpendicular to the canes bent by the deflector. The machine above moves along the row of sugarcane stalks planted, not cut, forcing the sugarcane to bend and pass in a tilt forward position through a tunnel formed by counter rotating brush of a cylindrical shape. Through the passage in the tunnel the cylindrical brushes are removing the leaves along the stalk. The 15 longitudinal axys of the cylindrical brushes is inclined in a way to be near perpendicular to the tilted forward stalks. The stalks are maintained bent forward during the passage in the tunnel by an adjustable ceiling board above the top end of of the stalk. After the stalks have passed through the tunnel, they exit from the end of the tunnel and they regain their original position. They are then ready to be harvested by any conventional mean (mechanical or manual), with 20 the advantage of being free of leaves and still attached to the ratoon. IL}

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Giovanni Frova Address for Service: A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys PO Box 222, Mitcham, SA 5062 Invention Title: Sugarcane leaves remover methods and apparatus The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- SUGARCANE LEAVES REMOVER METHODS AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention 5 The present invention relates to a machine capable to remove leaves from sugarcane stalks still planted as found in a sugar cane field, planted in row and not yet cut. 2. Description of existing method of mechanical and manual sugarcane harvesting and leaves removing: In order to harvest sugar cane three methods are commonly adopted. 10 A. Sugarcanes are cut green one by one by hand and knife and the leaves along the stalks are removed using the knife. The upper part of the cane, all made up of leaves, is also removed by knife. The canes so cut are then collected in bundles for loading on transport mean and taken to the sugar mill. B. Sugarcanes are burnt and successively cut by hand and knife. The top of the cane 15 still must be removed by knife because it does not bum. Burning the cane is practical but the disadvantage is that then canes are loosing a part of their sugar content, plus sugar mills are applying penalties for canes delivered burnt and the burning process is polluting the air with C02 emission. C. Sugarcane are harvested mechanically, with self propelled machines which in a 20 single passage through the planted canes raise and align the canes, remove the top leaves, bend the canes and cut them at the base, then feed the canes in a chopper that cut the canes in billett and extract dirt and leaves with powerful fans. Canes billett are then discharged into a bin trailed along the mechanical harvester by another tractor/truck. This is the most efficient method, but requires extremely 25 high powerful engines. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is a man driven self powered machines able to remove leaves along the stalks and on the top of the cane with the cane still standing using a low 30 power engine, and being able to work across the rows without having the adjacent row to be 2 cut first. This enable this machine to remove leaves in an entire fields planted with sugarcane and cutting the canes in a subsequent stage. Advantages are that for manual harvesting there is no need to remove the leaves by knife or fire; and for mechanized harvesting (using fully automatic machines) there will be substantial saving in fuel consumption and the harvesting 5 machines will be able to travel faster, since the fan leaves extractors are using a substantial part of the power of the engines. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Fig 1 is a general side view of the machine in accordance with the present invention 10 Fig 2 is a perspective view of the machine Fig 3 ia a front view of the machine, clearing showing the "tunnel" through which sugar canes have to pass through. Fig 4 is a perspective view that shows how the canes are bent and engaged before being stripped of the leaves 15 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1-2-3-4 illustrates a machine for removing the leaves of the sugar canes with the said canes still planted on the soil, and after the process of removing the leaves, the said canes are still planted to the soil and returning to the previous position before the passage of the 20 machine. The machine is made of a frame on which are installed an engine (C), a pair of arm (D) with rolling screw (commonly called crop divider) to raise lodged canes, a protruding frame (A) , adjustable in height on which is mounted a rotating cutting mechanism (B) to remove the 25 upper portion of the leaves of the canes, 2 pair of rotating brushes (F - F) inclined, forming a tunnel in which the canes pass through, a tunnel ceiling (E) adjustable in height with guides disposed beside each other to form rails, disposed parallel to the advance sense of the machines, designed to maintain the same lateral position of the upper part of the stalk during the passage in the tunnel. The canes travel between two set of rails in which they enters 30 randomly at the moment of entering the tunnel. The moving parts are the rotating brush (F - F) the cutting device (B) the wheels (W), the crop divider (D). The parts which are changing 3 position to accommodate the canes in different heights and position are: the crop divider (D) which can be raised or lower to follow the contour of the soil, the cutting mechanism on the protruding frame (A-B), which moves higher or lower according to the height of the canes, the tunnel ceiling (E) moving up or down to change the bending angles of the canes, by mean of 5 the adjusting screw (V). The movement is transmitted from the engine to the moving parts buy mean of belt (in this drawing), chains, or hydraulic transmission, or electric motors and actuators. HOW IT WORKS 10 The machine moves along the canes planted in rows, in the Fig 1 from right to left. The canes, if lodged, are raised by the crop dividers (D) and maintained vertical or near vertical. The adjustable cutting device (A - B) removes the upper part of the canes, made of leaves only. After this process the canes are found as in Fig 1 and 4 (H). The machines keeps on advancing and the cane is engaged under the tunnel ceiling (E) which is adjusted at a height 15 lower than the height of the cane, therefore forcing the cane to bend forward and getting engaged between the rails. The canes now are as in Fig 1-4 (I). The cane must now pass through the tunnel formed by the rotating brush (F-F) and the leaves are removed as effect of the friction produced by the rotating brush on the cane. (Fig 1-4 L). The canes are now completely cleaned of the leaves and are sliding toward the end of the tunnel, still engaged and 20 bended (Fig 1 M). The cane is exiting the tunnel and regain the original position , same as before the passage of the machine (Fig 1 N) . For the all duration of the passage of the cane in the tunnel (Fig 1 I-L-M) the cane is maintained in a bend forward position due to the low position of the ceiling, which presses the canes down and for effect of the movement of the entire machine forward, resulting in a bend forward position. 25 4

Claims

1. A sugar cane leaf remover machine comprises a steerable self propelled motorized frame forming a tunnel through which standing stalks of sugarcane pass, a respective one of a pair of powered rotating devices positioned on opposite sides of the tunnel for contact with 5 leaves of the stalks to remove the leaves, wherein the stalks are bent forward with an upper end of the stalks tilted in the direction of advancement of the machine by reason of contact with a ceiling of the tunnel.

2 The machine according to claim 1 wherein the ceiling is adjustable in height. 0

3. The machine according to claim 2 comprising engagement means on a lower surface of the ceiling to engage the stalks during the passage of the machine thereover.

4. The machine according to claim 3 wherein the engagement means comprise at least two 5 spaced apart downwardly facing guides parallel to the advancement direction of the machine.

5. The machine according to claim 1 wherein the powered rotating devices are generally cylindrical and are mounted to the machine at an angle relative to a support surface with 0 the bottom end of the rotating devices placed forward and the upper end rearward in respect of the direction of advancement of the machine.

6. A machine according to either claim 1 or 5 in which the powered rotating leaf remover devices are cylindrical brushes. 25

7. The machine according to either claim 1 or 6 comprising two or more pairs of brushes spaced apart in the direction of advancement of the machines

8. The machine according to claim 7 in which the cylindrical brushes of a pair are staggered 30 relative to one another in respect of the direction of advancement of the machine. 5

9. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the powered rotating devices each comprises a set of rotating disc brushes.

10. The machine according to claim 1 comprising powered rollers at the upper part of an 5 entrance of the tunnel to strip upper leaves of the stalk.

11. The machine according to either claim 5 or 6 in which rake shaped fingers are positioned in contact with the rotating brush to remove leaves that wind around the rotating axle of the brush. 0

12. The machine according to claim 1 in which the removed leaves are processed by the machine and chopped in smaller particles before being thrown on the field.

13. The machine according to claim 1 in which the removed leaves are stored and compressed 5 on board the machine to form a package.

14. The machine according to claim 1 comprising two or more tunnels through which standing stalks of sugarcane pass. 0 6