The Experimental Production of Self-propelled Harvester with the Roll Baler for Chopped Materials and the Improvement of the Cylinder-type Cutterhead

Abstract

The authors are developing a self-propelled harvester that enables harvesting, cutting, and rolling mold corn, grass, and feed rice plant with one machine. This will facilitate expanding the feed production base into untilled paddy fields, thus reducing the production cost. Wilting grass has a greater resistance to cutting than other crops, as well as uneven moisture and grass volume. It thus jams easily during harvesting and cutting, reducing the processing volume per hour.
Therefore, the cylinder type cutterhead of the harvesting section was improved to reduce the resistance to cutting and the blowing capacity, thereby reducing power consumption and stabilizing rotation. The obtained performance was then compared to that before improvement. Reduced power consumption could not be confirmed, but it appeared that adopting an increased inertia moment for the cutterhead will improve the stability of work, leading to improved work performance.