Storage tank and recleaning apparatus for root crop harvesters

Abstract

A root crop harvester having a horizontal cleaning conveyor for conveying harvested roots to one side of the machine while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, and a vertical conveyor for receiving roots from the horizontal conveyor, elevating them and discharging them either into a receptacle alongside the harvester or into a storage tank mounted on the harvester frame. The storage tank has a transversely extending opening in its forward portion disposed directly above the cleaning conveyor, and a floor conveyor selectively operable to move roots lying on the floor forwardly to the opening so that they can gravitate there-through onto the cleaning conveyor to be recleaned.

We claim: 
     
       1. In combination with a root crop harvester having a mobile frame, means carried by the frame for removing roots from the ground and delivering them rearwardly, transverse cleaning conveyor means on the frame for receiving roots from the first-mentioned means and conveying them transversely to one side of the frame while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, a vertically extending conveyor on said one side of the frame for receiving roots from the cleaning conveyor means and conveying the same vertically, and selectively operable means on the upper end of the vertical conveyor for directing roots elevated thereby either outwardly or inwardly relative to the frame, a root storage tank and recleaning apparatus comprising: a walled container mounted on the frame above the cleaning roll conveyor means and inwardly from the vertically extending conveyor, said container having an open top through which roots directed inwardly relative to the frame by the selectively operable means gravitate into the container, and a floor structure for the container having an opening through which roots conveyed thereto gravitate onto the cleaning conveyor, said floor having selectively operable conveyor means associated therewith for conveying roots in the container to said opening. 
     
     
       2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the opening in the floor of the container extends transversely directly above the cleaning conveyor means, and the conveyor means associated with the floor is operable to convey .[.the.]. roots to the opening in a generally even distribution along the transverse extent of the opening. 
     
     
       3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the container includes a pair of longitudinally extending vertical sidewalls, and wherein the conveyor means associated with the floor structure includes an endless flexible element which extends transversely between the sidewalls and has an upper run disposed above and supported on the floor structure and a lower run disposed below the floor structure. 
     
     
       4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the forwardmost extent of the endless flexible means defines the rear side of the opening in the floor structure. 
     
     
       5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein the container includes a transverse front wall which has an upper edge disposed forwardly of the forwardmost extent of the endless flexible means and a lower edge disposed rearwardly of the forwardmost extent of the endless flexible means and in vertical spaced relation thereto. 
     
     
       6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the cleaning conveyor means has front and rear portions, the first-mentioned means is disposed to deliver roots to the front portion, and including means for directing roots which gravitate through the opening in the floor of the container onto the rear portion. 
     
     
       7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the conveyor means associated with the floor structure extends forwardly in overlying spaced relationship to the rear portion of the cleaning roll conveyor means and the forwardmost extent thereof defines the rear side of the opening in the floor structure, and wherein said root directing means includes a transversely extending baffle which is inclined downwardly and rearwardly to a lower transverse edge beneath the floor structure and above the cleaning roll conveyor means, and said baffle defines the front side of the opening in the floor structure. 
     
     
       8. A root crop harvester comprising: a mobile frame, means carried by the frame for removing roots from the ground, cleaning conveyor means disposed on the frame for receiving roots from the first-mentioned means and operative to convey said roots generally horizontally while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, a vertical conveyor disposed on the frame for receiving roots from the discharge end of the cleaning conveyor means and operative to elevate the same, means on the upper end of the vertical conveyor for selectively directing the elevated beets to either of a pair of spaced discharge points, and a container mounted on the frame directly beneath one of said discharge points for receiving the elevated beets, the container having an opening in its lower portion and a conveyor associated with the floor of the container operative to move roots lying on the floor to the opening, the opening being located so that roots conveyed thereto are directed onto the cleaning conveyor means. 
     
     
       9. A beet harvester comprising: a mobile frame, a plurality of transversely spaced digger wheel units carried by the forward portion of the frame and operative to remove beets from the ground; a first, transversely extending conveyor supported on the frame directly behind the digger wheel units and operative to receive beets from each of the units and convey the same upwardly and rearwardly; a cleaning conveyor mounted on the frame directly behind the first conveyor and operative to receive beets from the first conveyor and convey the same transversely to one side of the machine, while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, said cleaning conveyor including a plurality of parallel, cylindrical grab rolls having spiral ridges thereon; a vertical auger mounted at said one side of the machine and operative to receive beets from the cleaning conveyor and elevate the same; a transversely extending, reversible conveyor supported at the upper end of the vertical conveyor and operative to receive the elevated beets and convey them either inwardly to a first discharge point located over the frame or outwardly to a second discharge point located outwardly from the frame; a beet storage tank mounted on the frame directly beneath the first discharge point for receiving beets from the reversible conveyor, said tank having a transversely extending opening in its lower forward portion disposed directly above the cleaning conveyor; and a conveyor associated with the floor of the tank selectively operative to move beets lying on the floor forwardly to the opening to gravitate therethrough onto the cleaning conveyor. 
     
     
       10. The invention defined in claim 9 including a baffle in the tank for engaging the beets which gravitate through the opening and deflecting them rearwardly toward the rear portion of the cleaning conveyor. .Iadd.11. In combination with a root crop harvester having a mobile frame, means carried by the frame for removing roots from the ground and delivering them rearwardly, transverse cleaning conveyor means on the frame for receiving roots from the first-mentioned means and conveying them transversely to one side of the frame while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, a vertically extending conveyor on said one side of the frame for receiving roots from the cleaning conveyor means and conveying the same vertically, and selectively operable means supported in a root receiving relation at the upper portion of the vertical conveyor for directing roots elevated thereby either outwardly or inwardly relative to the frame, a root storage tank and recleaning apparatus comprising: a walled container mounted on the frame above the cleaning roll conveyor means and inwardly from the vertically extending conveyor, said container having an open top through which roots directed inwardly relative to the frame by the selectively operable means gravitate into the container, and a floor structure for the container having an opening through which roots conveyed thereto gravitate onto the cleaning conveyor, said floor having selectively operable conveyor means associated therewith for conveying roots in the container to said opening..Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A root crop harvester comprising: a mobile frame, means carried by the frame for removing roots from the ground, cleaning conveyor means disposed on the frame for receiving roots from the first-mentioned means and operative to convey said roots generally horizontally while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, a vertical conveyor disposed on the frame for receiving roots from the discharge end of the cleaning conveyor means and operative to elevate the same, means supported in a root receiving relation at the upper portion of the vertical conveyor for selectively directing the elevated beets to either of a pair of spaced discharge points, and a container mounted on the frame directly beneath one of said discharge points for receiving the elevated beets, the container having an opening in its lower portion and a conveyor associated with the floor of the container operative to move roots lying on the floor to the opening, the opening being located so that roots conveyed thereto are directed onto the cleaning conveyor means..Iaddend. .Iadd.13. In combination with a root crop harvester having a mobile frame, means carried by the frame for removing roots from the ground and delivering them rearwardly, transverse cleaning conveyor means on the frame for receiving roots from the first-mentioned means and conveying them transversely to one side of the frame while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, conveyor means for elevating roots carried on the frame for receiving roots from the cleaning conveyor means and conveying the same upwardly, and selectively operable means disposed in root receiving relationship to said elevating conveyor means for directing roots elevated thereby either outwardly or inwardly relative to the frame, a root storage tank and recleaning apparatus comprising: a walled container mounted on the frame above the cleaning roll conveyor means and inwardly from the elevating conveyor means, said container having an open top through which roots directed inwardly relative to the frame by the selectively operable means gravitate into the container, and a floor structure for the container having an opening through which roots conveyed thereto gravitate into the cleaning conveyor, said floor having selectively operable conveyor means associated therewith for conveying roots in the container to said opening..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A root crop harvester comprising: a mobile frame, means carried by the frame for removing roots from the ground, cleaning conveyor means disposed on the frame for receiving roots from the first-mentioned means and operative to convey said roots generally horizontally while simultaneously removing excess dirt therefrom, conveyor means for elevating roots disposed on the frame for receiving roots from the discharge end of the cleaning conveyor means and operative to elevate the same, means disposed in root receiving relationship to said elevating conveyor means for selectively directing the elevated roots to either of a pair of spaced discharge points, and a container mounted on the frame directly beneath one of said discharge points for receiving the elevated roots, the container having an opening in its lower portion and a conveyor associated with the floor of the container operative to move roots lying on the floor to the opening, the opening being located so that roots conveyed thereto are directed onto the cleaning conveyor means..Iaddend.