Overhanging tines for orienting bast stalks

• US 9,510,507 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises LLC (Hanesbrands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises LLC (Hanesbrands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Abbott, Michael D., Miller, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fbin-Kovcs, rpd
• Application Number:
  US14/811,204
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 563/271, 56/139, 56/145, 56/164.B, 171/127
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/00 Combines, i.e. harvesters or mowers combined with threshing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/06 Combines with headers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/12 Details of combines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/006 with devices for pressing or compacting
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 45/065 of fibrous plants other than flax, e.g. ramie, sisal, hemp, jute, Spanish grass, raffia
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 61/02 Endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 82/00 Crop conditioners, i.e. machines for crushing or bruising stalks combined with harvesters A01D43/10
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 11/02 for flax
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 15/00 Baling presses for straw, hay or the like

Abstract

An apparatus for harvesting bast stalks includes a cutting device and a first moving belt. The cutting device is configured to receive bast stalks includes at least one cutter at a front end of the apparatus, where the cutter is configured to cut bast stalks from bast plants. The first moving belt has a first end for receiving the cut bast stalks from the cutter, a second end, and a top surface configured to move the cut bast stalks between the first end and the second end. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced tines extending toward the top surface of the first belt to orient a substantial majority of the bast stalks generally parallel to each other and generally along the direction the first moving belt is configured to move.

Claims

1. A harvester for harvesting bast stalks, the harvester comprising:

at least one cutting device configured to receive bast stalks and comprising at least one cutter at a front end of the harvester, the at least one cutter configured to cut bast stalks from bast plants;

a first moving belt having a first end for receiving the cut bast stalks from the at least one cutter, a second end, and a top surface configured to move the cut bast stalks between the first end and the second end;

a plurality of sets of spaced tines extending toward the top surface of the first moving belt and disposed laterally across the first moving belt between a first side and a second side of the first moving belt to orient a substantial majority of the bast stalks generally parallel to each other and generally along the direction the first moving belt is configured to move, each set of spaced tines in the plurality of sets of spaced tines being affixed to and supported by a respective bar of a plurality of bars elevated above the first moving belt and substantially perpendicular to a length of the first moving belt extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the plurality of sets of spaced tines extend from the plurality of bars toward the first moving belt, the tines in each set of spaced tines are connected at proximal ends to the respective bar, and distal ends of the tines in each set of spaced tines form a line parallel to and proximate the top surface of the first moving belt; and

at least one actuator connected to the plurality of bars and configured to move the plurality of bars back and forth across the first moving belt in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction the first moving belt is configured to move, the at least one actuator configured to move the plurality of bars in such a way that operation of the actuator moves the line of the distal ends of the tines along a linear path parallel to and proximate the top surface of the first moving belt.

2. The harvester of claim 1, further comprising a de-husking device at the second end of the first moving belt through which the bast stalks pass through, the de-husking device comprising a plurality of roller sets.

3. The harvester of claim 2, further comprising:

a second moving belt positioned to receive the de-husked bast stalks from the de-husking device, the second belt having an exit end; and

an apparatus at the exit end of the second moving belt for handling the oriented bast stalks.

4. The harvester of claim 1, comprising a baler for packaging the bast stalks.

5. The harvester of claim 2, wherein the harvester comprises a hopper adjacent the de-husking device for receiving materials removed from the bast stalks with the de-husking device.

6. The harvester of claim 3, further comprising a compactor at the exit end of the second moving belt to compact the bast stalks.

7. The harvester of claim 1, wherein a distance between the distal ends of the plurality of sets of spaced tines and the top surface of the first moving belt remains constant during actuation of the at least one actuator.

8. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bars are oriented substantially parallel to each other.

9. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sets of tines comprise rigid tines.