Harvesting machine having a moisture removal mechanism

Abstract

A harvesting machine is disclosed along with a method of operating the harvesting machine. The harvesting machine includes a frame having a first end and a second end. A rotatable pick-up head is pivotally mounted on the first end and is capable of urging a crop into the machine. A cutting mechanism is mounted on a bottom plate of the frame for cutting the stems of the plants and forming a movable web. First and second moisture removal mechanisms are positioned downstream of the cutting mechanism, and each includes a suction roll and a press roll. A moving belt forms a closed loop around the pair of suction and press rolls, and has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. The moving belt forms first and second nips between each pair of suction and press rolls for squeezing moisture out of said stems as the movable web is routed through the first and second nips.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A harvesting machine, comprising:
 a) a frame having a first end and a second end, at least one axle having a pair of wheels, and having a bottom plate positioned adjacent to said first end, and said bottom plate having a front edge and a rear edge;   b) a rotatable pick-up head pivotally mounted on said first end of said frame, said pick-up head having at least two spaced apart and outwardly extending finger sets, each finger set containing a plurality of fingers spaced apart from one another across the width of said pick-up head, each finger set sequentially contacting growing plants in a field, each plant having a stem containing a high moisture content and a base, and each of said finger sets bending said stems downward onto said bottom plate;   c) a cutting mechanism mounted on said bottom plate below said pick-up head, said cutting mechanism cutting each of said stems at said respective base to form a moving web as said harvesting machine traverses a crop field;   d) a first moisture removal mechanism positioned downstream of said cutting mechanism, and said first moisture removal mechanism including a first suction roll positioned below a first press roll;   e) a second moisture removal mechanism positioned downstream of said first moisture removal mechanism, and said second moisture removal mechanism including a second suction roll positioned below a second press roll; and   f) a moving belt forming a closed loop around both said first and second moisture removal mechanisms, said moving belt having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, said moving belt forming a first nip with said first press roll and a second nip with said second press roll for squeezing moisture out of said stems as said movable web is routed through said first and second nips.   
     
     
         2 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein a crop converging mechanism is located downstream of said second moisture removal mechanism, said crop converging mechanism including a pair of rotating augers aligned on a common axis which can forcibly reduce the width of said moving web to a narrow ribbon having a width of less than about 30 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein said harvesting machine is a self-propelled unit and a baler is towed behind said self-propelled unit. 
     
     
         4 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein said harvesting machine is a self-propelled unit which includes a baler. 
     
     
         5 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein said first moisture removal mechanism is identical in construction to said second moisture mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein said second moisture removal mechanism is inclined relative to said first moisture removal mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein said first moisture removal mechanism is positioned in front of and slightly below said second moisture removal mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The harvesting machine of  claim 1  wherein said first suction roll is positioned in front of and slightly below said second suction roll. 
     
     
         9 . The harvesting machine  claim 1  wherein said first press roll is positioned in front of and slightly below said second press roll. 
     
     
         10 . A harvesting machine, comprising:
 a) a frame having a first end and a second end, at least one axle having a pair of wheels, and having a bottom plate positioned adjacent to said first end, said bottom plate having a front edge and a rear edge, and said bottom plate is inclined upward towards said rear edge;   b) a rotatable pick-up head pivotally mounted on said first end of said frame, said pick-up head having at least two spaced apart and outwardly extending finger sets, each finger set containing a plurality of fingers spaced apart from one another across the width of said pick-up head, each finger set sequentially contacting growing plants in a field, each plant having a stem containing a high moisture content and a base, and each of said finger sets bending said stems downward onto said bottom plate and towards said incline;   c) a cutting mechanism mounted on said bottom plate below said pick-up head, said cutting mechanism cutting each of said stems at said respective base to form a moving web as said harvesting machine traverses a crop field;   d) a first moisture removal mechanism positioned downstream of said cutting mechanism, and said first moisture removal mechanism including a first suction roll positioned below a first press roll;   e) a second moisture removal mechanism positioned downstream of said first moisture removal mechanism, and said second moisture removal mechanism including a second suction roll positioned below a second press roll;   f) a moving belt forming a closed loop around both said first and second moisture removal mechanisms, said moving belt having a plurality of small apertures formed therethrough, said moving belt forming a first nip with said first press roll and a second nip with said second press roll for squeezing moisture out of said stems as said movable web is routed through said first and second nips; and   g) routing said movable web into a baler to form a bale.   
     
     
         11 . The harvesting machine of  claim 10  wherein a crop converging mechanism is located downstream of said second moisture removal mechanism, said crop converging mechanism including a pair of rotating augers aligned on a common shaft which forcibly reducing the width of said moving web to a narrow ribbon having a width of less than about 30 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The harvesting machine of  claim 10  wherein said harvesting machine is a self-propelled unit which includes a baler. 
     
     
         13 . The harvesting machine of  claim 10  wherein said first nip reduces the moisture content of said moving web by at least 15%. 
     
     
         14 . The harvesting machine of  claim 10  wherein said second nip reduces the moisture content of said moving web by at least 10%. 
     
     
         15 . The harvesting machine of  claim 10  wherein said harvesting machine is a self-propelled unit and a baler is towed behind said self-propelled unit. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a harvesting machine, said harvesting machine having a frame with a first end and a second end, at least one axle having a pair of wheels, and having a bottom plate positioned adjacent to said first end, said bottom plate having a front edge and a rear edge, and said bottom plate is inclined upward towards said rear edge; a rotatable pick-up head pivotally mounted on said first end of said frame, said pick-up head having at least two spaced apart and outwardly extending finger sets, each finger set containing a plurality of fingers spaced apart from one another across the width of said pick-up head, each finger set sequentially contacting growing plants in a field, each plant having a stem containing a relatively high moisture content and a base, and each of said finger sets bending said stems downward onto said bottom plate and towards said incline; a cutting mechanism mounted on said bottom plate below said pick-up head, said cutting mechanism cutting each of said stems at said respective base to form a movable web as said harvesting machine traverses a crop field; a first moisture removal mechanism positioned downstream of said cutting mechanism, said first moisture removal mechanism including a first suction roll positioned below a first press roll, a second moisture removal mechanism positioned downstream of said first moisture removal mechanism, said second moisture removal mechanism including a second suction roll positioned below a second press roll, and a moving belt forming a closed loop around both said first and second moisture removal mechanisms, said moving belt having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, said moving belt forming a first nip with said first press roll and a second nip with said second press roll for squeezing moisture out of said stems as said movable web is routed through said first and second nips, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) attaching said harvesting machine to a self-propelled unit which can be driven across a field for the purpose of harvesting a crop;   b) rotating said pick-up head and activating said cutting mechanism to cut each of said stems at said stem base and routing said cut stems into said harvesting machine as a movable web; and   c) directing said movable web between said first and second nips to reduce the moisture content of said movable web by forcing moisture out of each of said stems.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising lowering said moisture content in said cut stems by at least about 20%. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising lowering said moisture content in said cut stems by at least about 25%. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising baling said movable web into a bale. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising depositing said movable web onto the ground, after said moisture content has been reduced, and then using a self-propelled baler to bale said movable web which was deposited onto the ground. 
     
     
         21 . A header for attachment to a self-propelled unit or to a chopper type machine, which is either self-propelled or a pull-type unit, comprising:
 a) a frame having a first end and a second end, and having a bottom plate positioned adjacent to said first end, said bottom plate having a front edge and a rear edge, and said bottom plate is inclined upward towards said rear edge;   b) a rotatable pick-up head pivotally mounted on said first end of said frame, said pick-up head having at least two spaced apart and outwardly extending finger sets, each finger set containing a plurality of fingers spaced apart from one another across the width of said pick-up head, each finger set sequentially contacting growing plants in a field, each plant having a stem containing a high moisture content and a base, and each of said finger sets bending said stems downward onto said bottom plate and towards said incline;   c) a cutting mechanism mounted on said bottom plate below said pick-up head, said cutting mechanism cutting each of said stems at said respective base to form a moving web as said harvesting machine traverses a crop field;   d) a first moisture removal mechanism positioned downstream of said cutting mechanism, and said first moisture removal mechanism including a first suction roll positioned below a first press roll;   e) a second moisture removal mechanism positioned downstream of said first moisture removal mechanism, and said second moisture removal mechanism including a second suction roll positioned below a second press roll; and   f) a moving belt forming a closed loop around both said first and second moisture removal mechanisms, said moving belt having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, said moving belt forming a first nip with said first press roll and a second nip with said second press roll for squeezing moisture out of said stems as said movable web is routed through said first and second nips.