Folding pick-up attachment for a harvesting machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding pick-up attachment for a harvesting machine, preferably for a preferably self-propelled forage harvester.

Description

[0001] Foldable pick-up attachment for a harvester

[0002] The invention relates to a foldable pick-up attachment for a harvesting machine, preferably for a forage harvester, in particular for a self-propelled forage harvester, which has a pickup rotor with pickup tools for picking up crops from the ground.

[0003] Forage harvesters are harvesting machines used for harvesting and gathering crops, cutting crops into short parallel lengths, and conveying the chopped material into containers or separate vehicles. Typical crops include grasses, stalk-like crops such as alfalfa or field grass, pulses, mixtures, and / or row-cropped crops such as corn or sorghum. The chopped material can either be fed directly to livestock as fodder or stored for silage or drying to be later fed to livestock as fodder. The forage harvester can harvest the crop directly by cutting across its full width or from single or multiple rows, or by gathering it from the swath. Forage harvesters can be tractor-mounted, tractor-trailed, or self-propelled.

[0004] A harvesting header is a usually removable device for picking up the crop into the forage harvester. A pick-up header is specifically designed to pick up previously cut crops. The crop can be laid in rows or swaths.

[0005] Self-propelled forage harvesters have now achieved engine power of over 1000 hp. Along with the increase in engine power, the throughput of forage harvesters has also increased. In addition to the high engine and throughput required for maize silage, harvesting capacity is also an important factor for high forage quality in grass silage. After mowing, the meadows and fields must be cleared within a short time frame in order to ensilage the green fodder with an optimal dry matter content, for example. To utilize the high throughput of a harvester, especially a forage harvester, it is necessary, among other things, to significantly increase the forward speed of the harvester.

[0006] Increasing the working speed or forward speed of the harvesting machine, especially the forage harvester, as a quasi investment-neutral increase in efficiency or harvesting capacity, is accompanied by negative side effects, which are described in more detail below.

[0007] It is well known that harvesting machines, such as forage harvesters, typically have a ground pressure control and a pendulum blade for height control or ground adaptation of the pick-up attachment. However, ground pressure control reacts slowly, meaning it can no longer work effectively and responsively at higher forward speeds. The result is poor ground adaptation of the pick-up attachment, which—as explained in more detail below—in turn leads to harvest losses, massive forage contamination, and increased machine wear.

[0008] If the harvester, especially the forage harvester, travels over a hill at high forward speed, the ground pressure control system cannot lower the pick-up attachment and thus the collecting rotor in time, causing it to be raised too high for a certain time and distance. The collecting tools, especially the raking tines, of the collecting rotor no longer reach the turf, leading to crop losses because the crop material is not collected. The result is crop losses that are left behind in the field because the optimal raking height could not be maintained.

[0009] If the harvesting machine, especially the forage harvester, travels through a depression at high forward speed, the ground pressure control cannot raise the pick-up attachment and thus the intake rotor in time, resulting in the rotor being moved too low for a certain time and distance. As a result, the intake tools, especially the raking tines, of the intake rotor aggressively comb through the soil or turf, which leads to massive contamination of the crop and thus to forage contamination and consequently to a reduction in forage quality, damage to the turf and increased wear on both the pick-up attachment and the harvesting machine, for example the forage harvester, as a large amount of dirt, particularly sand and soil, is picked up. Breakage of the intake tools, especially the raking tines, is also possible.

[0010] Drivers of forage harvesters and material handling vehicles require a significantly higher level of concentration at higher forward speeds, so that exhaustion is reached much sooner. As a result, changes in the soil contour, caused, for example, by scours (narrow ditches used for drainage between individual fields), wet patches, or other obstacles, are only detected late, making it difficult to manually adjust the forward speed and the height of the pick-up attachment in a timely manner.

[0011] For the reasons mentioned above, it makes sense to increase the working width of the pick-up attachment in order to accommodate more crop or crop mass in a single pass. This allows the forward speed to be kept lower, which in turn reduces the strain on the driver, improves forage quality, prevents increased machine wear, and is also more fuel-efficient.

[0012] Harvesting capacity is a key factor for high forage quality, particularly in grass silage. After mowing, the meadows and fields must be cleared within a short time frame so that, for example, the green fodder can be ensiled with an optimal dry matter content. This puts the harvester driver under extreme time pressure throughout the harvesting chain. Furthermore, especially during grass harvesting, the areas to be harvested are frequently changed due to the high harvesting power, leaving no time to set up or convert the pick-up attachment between road transport and field work. For this reason, wider, rigid pick-up attachments are not suitable, as they must be detached from the harvester, especially the forage harvester, and loaded onto a transport wagon for transfer between different areas.The transport wagon is then coupled to the harvesting machine, especially the forage harvester, and pulled to the next plot, where the pick-up attachment must be attached to the harvesting machine, especially the forage harvester, and prepared for field use. This process is very time-consuming and impractical.

[0013] The better alternative is to use foldable pick-up attachments.

[0014] Folding pick-up attachments are commonly used in conjunction with self-propelled forage harvesters, such as corn headers used for silage maize harvesting. Folding pick-up attachments are also commonly used in conjunction with self-propelled combine harvesters, such as corn headers or grain headers used for harvesting grain maize or other cereals.

[0015] The advantage of folding pick-up attachments is that they are significantly shorter in setup than rigid, non-folding pick-up attachments, which must be placed on a transport wagon for road transport and pulled with the harvesting machine, such as a forage harvester, to the next field. The driver can advantageously pivot the folding pick-up attachment hydraulically and / or electrically reversibly between a working position and a transport position from the cab or driver's position. In many cases, leaving the cab or getting down from the driver's position is no longer necessary. With folding pick-up attachments, the average setup time for changing between the two operating modes—the working position and the transport position, or vice versa—is well under a minute.

[0016] Especially when chopping maize or stalks, the transfer of the crop from the pick-up attachment to the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, plays a very important process-related function. A consistent and reliable crop flow increases chopping capacity and chopping quality, which in turn influences forage quality and productivity. The crop mat must be pre-compressed and transferred directly from the at least one transferring conveyor element of the pick-up attachment, in particular from the transfer tools, for example a cross conveyor auger, a transfer floor or a transfer level, to the at least one receiving conveyor element of the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, i.e. in particular to a pre-compression channel or pre-compression housing. The compression of the crop mat must not drop during the transfer. For this to happen, the transfer area orto keep the distance between the donating and receiving funding bodies as small as possible.

[0017] The disadvantage of foldable pick-up attachments, especially two-part foldable machine frames, is the additional space required for the folding components. With a two-part foldable pick-up attachment, the folding axis is located in the center of the machine in the direction of travel when in the working position. To switch between the working and transport positions, the right-hand half of the machine (in the direction of travel) is folded onto the left-hand half, or vice versa. To ensure even load distribution into the harvester, especially into the forage harvester's pre-compression housing, the folded pick-up attachment must be positioned symmetrically in front of the harvester, especially the forage harvester's pre-compression housing, even in the transport position.To ensure that the pick-up attachment is positioned symmetrically in front of the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester's pre-compression housing, in both transport and working positions, the machine frame is shifted accordingly during folding in a sliding frame attached to the pick-up attachment. The sliding frame therefore accommodates both machine halves at its front end in the direction of travel. An adapter frame is attached to the rear end of the sliding frame in the direction of travel, with which the pick-up attachment is picked up by the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, via at least one pickup point. The two machine halves are pivotally coupled to one another via a pivot axis, the folding axis. A folding cylinder, located between the two machine halves, pivots the folding machine half 180° relative to the pushing machine half. The pushing machine half is slidably guided in the sliding frame.An articulated control link between the folding machine half and the sliding frame moves the pushing machine half relative to the sliding frame through the folding movement, so that the entire pickup attachment is positioned symmetrically in front of the sliding frame or forage harvester in its end positions, i.e., the transport position and the working position. The pushing machine half thus moves linearly within the sliding frame and thus, for a certain distance, also in front of the contours of the harvester, in particular the forage harvester's pre-compression housing.

[0018] The contours of the harvester, in particular the pre-compression housing, such as pre-compression rollers, receiving pockets for the pick-up attachment, and drive or locking components, protrude through the sliding frame into the installation space of the machine halves of the pick-up attachment. This is not a problem with rigid or three-part folding machine frames, as the middle machine frame section can be recessed accordingly and is also fixed in position to the contours of the harvester, in particular the pre-compression housing, and therefore does not shift relative to the contours of the harvester, in particular the pre-compression housing. With a two-part folding machine frame, one machine half is shifted linearly in front of the contours of the harvester, in particular the pre-compression housing, when changing between transport and working position.As a result, the protruding contours of the harvester, particularly the pre-compression housing, are no longer fixed to the pick-up attachment. Although the central machine section can be recessed to create space for the protruding contours of the harvester, particularly the pre-compression housing, and especially the pre-compression channels in the working position, the outer part of the machine half cannot be recessed, so that when the corresponding machine half is moved, it would collide with the corresponding interfering contours on the harvester, particularly the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester.

[0019] A collision between the pushing machine half and the interfering contours on the harvesting machine, in particular on the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester, can be avoided by designing the adapter frame and the shifting frame such that the pushing machine half is sufficiently spaced from the harvesting machine, in particular from the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester. The main disadvantage here is that due to the greater spacing of the machine halves from the harvesting machine, in particular from the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester, the at least one transferring conveyor element of the pick-up attachment, in particular the cross conveyor auger, is spaced further from the at least one receiving conveyor element of the harvesting machine, in particular the front pre-compression rollers.This increases the transfer area between the pick-up attachment and the harvesting machine, especially the forage harvester's pre-compression housing, which, as described above, significantly impairs crop transfer. As a result, consistent feeding of the harvesting machine, especially the forage harvester, and homogeneous compression of the harvest mat can no longer be guaranteed, which in turn leads to a reduction in forage quality and productivity.

[0020] Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object of providing an improved foldable pick-up attachment.

[0021] This object is achieved in a foldable pick-up attachment for a harvesting machine, in particular for a preferably self-propelled forage harvester, by the features of claim 1. Further developments and advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0022] The foldable pick-up attachment according to the invention for a harvesting machine, preferably for a forage harvester, particularly preferably for a self-propelled forage harvester, comprises a machine frame which can be folded and unfolded via a folding mechanism, a sliding frame which is arranged on the side of the machine frame facing rearward in the direction of travel and is connected to the latter to cooperate with the folding mechanism, and an adapter frame which is arranged on the side of the sliding frame facing rearward in the direction of travel and is connected to the latter, wherein the adapter frame has at least one receiving point for receiving the pick-up attachment by the harvesting machine, wherein for transferring the pick-up attachment from a working position to a transport position, the machine frame and / or the sliding frame can be transferred, in particular tilted, from a working position to a transport position,in which the angle and / or the distance of the machine frame and / or the sliding frame relative to the adapter frame and / or the harvesting machine, in particular to a receiving conveyor element of the harvesting machine, in particular to a pre-compression channel or a pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine, is increased to a predetermined amount and in which the folding mechanism can be implemented, and wherein, in order to transfer the pick-up attachment from a transport position to a working position, the machine frame and / or the sliding frame can be transferred, in particular tilted, from the transport position, in which the folding mechanism can be implemented, into a working position, in which the angle and / or distance relative to the adapter frame and / or the harvesting machine, in particular to the receiving conveyor element of the harvesting machine, in particular to the pre-compression channel or the pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine, is reduced to a predetermined amount.

[0023] In other words: Before the folding component of the foldable pick-up attachment or the machine frame folds from a working position into a transport position, whereby a pushing component of the foldable pick-up attachment or the machine frame usually moves linearly in front of the harvester, in particular in front of the pre-compressor housing of the forage harvester, the machine frame of the pick-up attachment must be transferred, in particular tilted, from the original working position to the transport position. Tilting creates a greater distance between the machine frame and the harvester, in particular the pre-compressor housing of the forage harvester, so that the pushing component can move in front of the harvester, in particular the pre-compressor housing of the forage harvester, without collision.Conversely, after the pick-up attachment has been moved from the transport position into the working position by executing the folding mechanism, the machine frame is tilted back into the original working position in order to be at the shortest possible distance from the harvesting machine, in particular from the pre-press housing of the forage harvester.

[0024] Due to the change in distance and / or angle between the machine frame and / or sliding frame relative to the adapter frame and / or harvesting machine according to the invention, sufficient space is generated between the foldable machine frame and the interfering contours of the harvesting machine, in particular the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester, for the implementation of the folding mechanism, so that the folding mechanism can be implemented without collision. While the folding mechanism can be implemented in the transport position according to the invention, this is not the case in the working position according to the invention. For this purpose, the aforementioned distance orThe angle is reduced to a necessary minimum in order to maintain the smallest possible transfer area for the crop strand during the harvesting process between the at least one discharging conveyor element of the pick-up attachment and the at least one receiving conveyor element of the harvesting machine, in particular the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester. This allows the logistical and capacity advantages of a foldable pick-up attachment that is wide in working position to be combined with the process-related advantages of the smallest possible transfer area between the discharging and receiving conveyor elements.

[0025] Furthermore, the aforementioned change in distance and / or angle increases the distance of the folding machine frame relative to the driver's cab or operator's platform of the harvester, so that collisions during the folding process between folding parts of the pick-up attachment and components of the harvester, especially the forage harvester, can be ruled out. The same applies to pick-up attachments folded into the transport position, which, thanks to appropriate distance and / or angle-enhancing measures, no longer collide with the driver's cab or operator's platform when the pre-compression housing is fully raised.

[0026] The adapter frame is a frame that is preferably attached to the sliding frame of the folding pick-up attachment. The folding pick-up attachment is picked up and carried by the harvester via this adapter or attachment frame. The harvester can therefore also be referred to as the carrier vehicle.

[0027] It can be advantageous if the shifting frame and the adapter frame are designed in such a way that in the working position the distance between a delivering conveyor element, in particular a cross conveyor screw, or a transfer floor or a transfer level, of the pick-up attachment, which in the working position transfers a strand of crop to the harvesting machine, and the receiving conveyor element, in particular the pre-compression channel or housing, of the harvesting machine, which in the working position receives the strand of crop from the pick-up attachment, is so small that the strand of crop remains uniformly and homogeneously compressed during the transfer and the reception.

[0028] It may be advantageous if the machine frame is recessed in such a way that, in the working position, it does not collide with protruding contours of the harvesting machine, in particular the receiving conveyor element of the harvesting machine, in particular the pre-pressing channel or the pre-pressing housing of the harvesting machine.

[0029] It can be advantageous if the machine frame is designed to be foldable in several parts, preferably in two parts, wherein the machine frame for this purpose has a folding machine half and a pushing machine half which are coupled to one another and wherein at least the pushing machine half is preferably linearly displaceable in the sliding frame, wherein in the transport position the folding machine half can be folded onto the pushing machine half about a folding or rotation axis running between the machine halves in the direction of travel.

[0030] It may be advantageous if at least one, preferably only one folding cylinder is provided, which is arranged between the two machine halves and pivots the folding machine half by 180° relative to the pushing machine half.

[0031] It can be advantageous if at least one, preferably only one control link is provided, which is connected in an articulated manner between the folding machine half and the sliding frame and, through the folding movement, moves the pushing machine half relative to the sliding frame, so that the entire pick-up attachment is positioned symmetrically in front of the sliding frame or the harvesting machine in its end positions, i.e. in the transport position and the working position.

[0032] It can be advantageous if the sliding frame is connected to the adapter frame via a pivot axis, whereby the sliding frame and thus the machine frame of the pick-up attachment can be tilted relative to the adapter frame and thus to the harvesting machine connected to the adapter frame. It can be advantageous if the pivot axis is aligned horizontally to the surface or ground level when the pick-up attachment is in a neutral position.

[0033] It can be advantageous if the rotation axis is positioned at the level of the transfer floor or the transfer level of the pick-up attachment.

[0034] It may be advantageous if at least one, preferably several actuators, in particular hydraulic cylinders, linear motors and / or threaded spindles, are provided above and at a distance from the axis of rotation, i.e. on the side of the axis of rotation facing away from the ground or floor, which actuators are arranged transversely to the direction of travel and spaced apart from one another, which couple the adapter frame to the sliding frame.

[0035] By changing the length of the actuators, the sliding frame and thus the machine frame of the pick-up attachment are tilted around the rotation axis relative to the adapter frame and thus to the harvester. The resulting increase in distance between the adapter frame or harvester and the sliding frame and machine frame is sufficient to ensure collision-free movement of the sliding component of the machine frame, preferably the sliding machine half, relative to the protruding contours of the harvester, in particular the pre-compression channel or the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester.

[0036] It may be advantageous if the predetermined tilt angle of the sliding frame and thus of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame and thus relative to the harvesting machine can be adjusted preferably by means of at least one actuator from a central location, preferably from the driver's cab of the harvesting machine.

[0037] It can be advantageous if the pushing machine half can be guided linearly on the sliding frame, wherein the linear guide forms a rotation axis, whereby the machine frame can be tilted relative to the sliding frame and thus relative to the adapter frame and thus relative to the harvesting machine that can be connected to the adapter frame. It can be advantageous if the rotation axis is formed in that the pushing machine half has a round linear guideway or guide rail, in particular a tube or a shaft, in the lower region, which is preferably arranged below the transfer floor or the transfer level of the pick-up attachment, and that preferably the sliding frame and / or the adapter frame have aligned orhas preferably concavely shaped guide rollers arranged in a line and spaced from one another, in which the pushing machine half runs with its guide track or guide rail.

[0038] It may be advantageous if the rotation axis is aligned horizontally to the surface or ground level in a neutral position of the pick-up attachment.

[0039] It can be advantageous if the pushing machine half has a round linear guideway or guide rail, in particular a tube or a shaft, in the upper area, and that the sliding frame and / or preferably the adapter frame has concavely shaped guide rollers which are aligned or arranged in a line and spaced apart from one another transversely to the direction of travel and preferably relative to the subsurface or floor level, in which the pushing machine half runs with its guideway or guide rail, wherein the guideway or guide rail provided in the upper area is designed in such a way that when the pushing machine half is moved on the lower linear guide rail transversely to the direction of travel and thus during folding, the pushing machine half rotates around the axis of rotation orthe guide track provided in the lower area is tiltable, wherein the guide track provided in the upper area preferably has a contour suitable for tilting, preferably an arcuate or semi-arcated contour, oriented transversely to the direction of travel and approximately perpendicular to the folding axis. The resulting increase in distance between the machine frame and the sliding frame or adapter frame or harvesting machine is sufficient to ensure collision-free displacement of the sliding component of the machine frame, preferably the sliding machine half, relative to the protruding contours of the harvesting machine, in particular the pre-compression channel or the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester. It can be advantageous if the extent or degree of tilting can be controlled by designing the arcuate or semi-arcated shape.

[0040] It may be advantageous if the predetermined change in distance between the machine halves and the sliding frame relative to the adapter frame and / or the harvesting machine, in particular to the receiving conveyor element of the harvesting machine, in particular to the pre-pressing channel or the pre-pressing housing of the harvesting machine, can be achieved by the adapter frame and the sliding frame being connected to one another in an articulated manner by one or more pivotable links.

[0041] It can be advantageous if the handlebars are attached in the area of ​​the lower and upper corner points of the sliding frame and the adapter frame.

[0042] It may be advantageous if the handlebars are aligned in any direction, for example horizontally or vertically to the surface or ground level, but preferably horizontally to the surface or ground level.

[0043] It may be advantageous if the change in the distance between the sliding frame and the adapter frame is designed as a parallel displacement, controlled by the links, wherein at least one, preferably several actuators arranged transversely to the direction of travel and spaced apart from one another, in particular hydraulic cylinders, linear motors and / or threaded spindles, are provided to carry out the parallel displacement.

[0044] It may be advantageous if the length of at least one actuator can be changed electrically, hydraulically and / or mechanically.

[0045] It may be advantageous if the at least one actuator can be electrically and / or hydraulically controlled and / or regulated, preferably from a central location, preferably from the driver's cab of the harvester. It may be advantageous if the distance change and / or angle change or tilting from the working position to the transport position and vice versa according to the invention can be carried out as a sequential control of the folding process.

[0046] It may be advantageous if the above-mentioned options for changing the distance and / or angle or tilting can be implemented in various combinations.

[0047] It can also be advantageous if the pick-up attachment is designed to be three-part folding or multi-part folding. Where the previous section refers to a pushing or folding machine half, this would be understood as a pushing or folding machine component in the case of a three-part folding or multi-part folding pick-up attachment.

[0048] After all of this, the following advantages of a foldable pick-up attachment for a forage harvester according to the invention are given compared to the prior art:

[0049] Increasing harvesting capacity by increasing the working width

[0050] Increase productivity or reduce setup times of a wide pick-up attachment by making it foldable

[0051] Improvement of the crop flow and thus the forage quality and productivity, as a two-part folding pick-up attachment has a small distance between the transfer elements in the working position, i.e. a small transfer area between the cross conveyor auger of the pick-up attachment and the pre-press rollers of the forage harvester

[0052] Combining the logistical and capacity advantages of a foldable and wide pick-up attachment with the process-related advantages of a rigid, i.e., non-foldable pick-up attachment, due to the possibility of optimally positioning the foldable pick-up attachment in front of the forage harvester's pre-compression housing. Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. All features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective specified combination, but also in other combinations or even on their own.

[0053] The invention will now be explained in more detail using preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0054] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a folding pick-up attachment from the front in working position,

[0055] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the foldable pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 1 from the rear in working position,

[0056] Fig. 3 is a side view of the folding pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 1,

[0057] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the folding pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 1 from the front during the initial phase of the folding process from the working position to the transport position,

[0058] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the folding pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 4 from the rear,

[0059] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the folding pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 1 from the front during an advanced phase of the folding process from the working position to the transport position, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the folding pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 6 from the rear,

[0060] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the folding pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 1 from the front in transport position at the end of the folding process,

[0061] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the folding pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 8 from the rear,

[0062] Fig. 10 is a view of a foldable pick-up attachment in transport position from the rear, in which a rotation axis between the machine frame and the sliding frame is formed by a guide rail and guide rollers,

[0063] Fig. 11 a detailed view of the foldable pick-up attachment according to Fig. 10 in transport position from the rear, in which a rotation axis between the machine frame and the sliding frame is formed by a guide rail and guide rollers,

[0064] Fig. 12 is a perspective detailed view of a guide rail and a guide roller of the foldable pick-up attachment shown in Fig. 10,

[0065] Fig. 13 a side view of a foldable pick-up attachment in which a rotation axis is formed between the adapter frame and the sliding frame, in the starting position,

[0066] Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the foldable pick-up attachment according to Fig. 13 from the rear, Fig. 15 is a side view of the foldable pick-up attachment according to, in which a rotation axis is formed between the adapter frame and the sliding frame, in an advanced tilting position,

[0067] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the foldable pick-up attachment according to Fig. 15 from the rear,

[0068] Fig. 17 is a side view of the foldable pick-up attachment according to Fig. 13, in which a rotation axis is formed between the adapter frame and the sliding frame, in a more advanced tilting position, and

[0069] Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the foldable pick-up attachment according to Fig. 17 from the rear.

[0070] If the same reference numbers are used in Figs. 1 to 18, they also designate the same parts or areas.

[0071] Figs. 1 and 2 each show a perspective view of a foldable pick-up attachment 10, one from the front, i.e., opposite the direction of travel FR, and the other from the rear, i.e., in the direction of travel FR. Fig. 3 schematically shows a side view of the foldable pick-up attachment 10 according to Fig. 1.

[0072] The foldable pick-up attachment 10 for a self-propelled forage harvester (not shown here) comprises a machine frame 12 which carries two machine halves 12a, 12b which can be folded apart and together via a folding mechanism.

[0073] Each machine half comprises a pickup rotor 1 with pickup tools 2, which in this case are designed as raking tines, for picking up crop from the ground. Each pickup rotor 1 is connected to three guide elements 3 resting on the ground or subsoil, which in this case are designed as sliding plates. The guide elements 3 guide the pickup rotor 1 and guide it to the ground. The ground usually forms the turf. Furthermore, each machine half 12a, 12b has a cross conveyor auger 4 that transfers the picked-up crop as a crop mat. Furthermore, each machine half 12a, 12b comprises so-called hold-down devices 5, preferably in the form of rollers, which determine the direction of the crop flow when the crop is conveyed upwards with great acceleration due to the rotating pickup tools 2.

[0074] The pick-up attachment 10 further comprises a sliding frame 14, which is arranged on the side of the machine frame 12 facing rearward in the direction of travel FR and is connected to the latter to assist in the folding mechanism, and an adapter frame 16, which is arranged on the side of the sliding frame 14 facing rearward in the direction of travel FR and is connected to the latter. The foldable pick-up attachment 10 is picked up and carried by the forage harvester via the adapter frame 16, which can also be referred to as an attachment frame.

[0075] In the present two-part foldable pick-up attachment 10, the folding axis 20 is located in the working position, i.e. when the machine halves 12a, 12b are folded out in the direction of travel FR in the machine center or in the center of the machine frame 12. As shown in various views and phases in Figs. 4 to 9, to change between the working position and transport position, the right-hand machine half 12a in the direction of travel FR is folded onto the left-hand machine half 12b. To ensure even load distribution into the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester, the folded pick-up attachment 10 must be arranged symmetrically in front of the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester, even in the transport position. To ensure that the pick-up attachment 10 is arranged symmetrically in front of the pre-compression housing of the forage harvester in the transport position and the working position, the machine frame 12 is shifted accordingly in the sliding frame 14 during the folding process.For this purpose, the sliding frame 14 accommodates the two machine halves 12a, 12b at its front end in the direction of travel FR, as described above. The adapter frame 16 is attached to the rear end of the sliding frame 14 in the direction of travel FR, as described above. The two machine halves 12a, 12b are rotatably coupled to one another via the rotation axis or folding axis 20. A folding cylinder 22, arranged between the two machine halves 12a, 12b, pivots the folding machine half 12a by 180° relative to the pushing machine half 12b. The pushing machine half 12b is slidably guided in the sliding frame 14.An articulated control link 24 between the folding machine half 12a and the sliding frame 14 displaces the sliding machine half 12b relative to the sliding frame 14 through the folding movement, so that the entire pick-up attachment is positioned symmetrically in front of the sliding frame 14 or the forage harvester in its end positions, i.e., the transport position and the working position. The sliding machine half 12b thus moves linearly within the sliding frame 14.

[0076] In the present two-part folding machine frame 12, the pushing machine half 12b is displaced linearly in front of the forage harvester's pre-compression housing during the transition between transport and working positions. As a result, the protruding contours of the forage harvester's pre-compression housing are exposed to collisions if a distance so small must be maintained between the conveyor element of the pick-up attachment that transfers the crop, in particular the cross conveyor auger 4, and the receiving conveyor element of the harvester, in particular the front pre-compression rollers of the pre-compression housing, that a homogeneous compression of the crop mat is ensured during the transfer.

[0077] According to the invention, in order to transfer the pick-up attachment 10 from the working position into the transport position, the machine frame 12 or the two machine halves 12a, 12b and / or the sliding frame 14 can be transferred, in particular tilted, from a working position into a transport position, in which the angle and / or the distance of the machine frame 12 or the two machine halves 12a, 12b and / or the sliding frame 14 relative to the adapter frame 16 and / or to the pre-compression channel or pre-compression housing of the forage harvester is increased to a predetermined dimension and in which the folding mechanism can be designed to be collision-free, and wherein in order to transfer the pick-up attachment 10 from the transport position into the working position, the machine frame 12 orthe machine halves 12a, 12b and / or the sliding frame 14 can be transferred, in particular tilted, from the transport position, in which the folding mechanism can be carried out collision-free, into the working position, in which the angle and / or distance relative to the adapter frame 16 and / or to the pre-press housing of the forage harvester is reduced to a predetermined amount.

[0078] The sliding frame 14 and the adapter frame 16 are designed such that in the working position the distance between a delivering conveyor element, i.e. the cross conveyor auger 4 and the transfer floor or the transfer level 18, of the pick-up attachment 10, which in the working position transfers a strand of crop to the harvesting machine, and the receiving conveyor element (not shown here), i.e. the pre-compression housing, of the forage harvester, which in the working position receives the strand of crop from the pick-up attachment 10, is so small that the strand of crop remains uniformly and homogeneously compressed during the transfer and reception.

[0079] The machine frame 12 is recessed in such a way that it does not collide with the contours of the pre-press housing of the forage harvester in the working position.

[0080] To produce the distance and / or angle change according to the invention between the machine halves 12a, 12b and the sliding frame 14, as shown in Figs. 10-13, the sliding machine half 12b can be guided linearly on the sliding frame 14, wherein the linear guide forms a rotation axis 30, whereby the machine frame 12 can be tilted relative to the sliding frame 14 and thus relative to the adapter frame 16 and thus relative to the forage harvester connectable to the adapter frame 16. The rotation axis 30 is formed in that the sliding machine half 12b has a round linear guideway or guide rail 32 in the form of a rod in the lower region, which is preferably arranged below the transfer floor or the transfer level 18 of the pick-up attachment 10. The sliding frame 14 has aligned or parallel guide rails transverse to the direction of travel FR and relative to the ground or floor level.concavely shaped guide rollers 34 arranged in a line and spaced apart from one another, in which the pushing machine half 12b runs with its guide track or guide rail 32. The rotation axis 30 is aligned horizontally to the level of a subsurface or ground in a neutral position of the pick-up attachment 10. Furthermore, the pushing machine half 12b has a round, linear guide track or guide rail 36 in the form of a rod in the upper area. The adapter frame 16 has concavely shaped guide rollers 38 which are aligned transversely to the direction of travel FR and relative to the subsurface or ground level and are spaced apart from one another, in which the pushing machine half 12b runs with its guide track or guide rail 36, wherein the guide track or guide rail provided in the upper areaGuide rail 36 is designed such that when the pushing machine half 12b is moved on the lower linear guide rail 32 transversely to the direction of travel FR and thus during folding, the pushing machine half 12b can be tilted about the axis of rotation 30 or the guide track provided in the lower area, wherein the guide track provided in the upper area preferably has a contour oriented transversely to the direction of travel FR and approximately perpendicular to the folding axis 20, suitable for tilting, preferably an arcuate or semi-arcated contour.

[0081] To produce the distance and / or angle change according to the invention, as shown in Figs. 13-18, the sliding frame 14 can also be connected to the adapter frame 16 via a pivot axis 26, wherein the sliding frame 14 and thus the machine frame 12 of the pick-up attachment 10 can be tilted relative to the adapter frame 16 and thus to the forage harvester connectable to the adapter frame 16. In a neutral position of the pick-up attachment 10, the pivot axis 26 is aligned horizontally to the plane of a subsoil or soil and is arranged at the level of the transfer floor or transfer plane 18 of the pick-up attachment 10. Above and at a distance from the axis of rotation 26, i.e. on the side of the axis of rotation 26 facing away from the ground or floor, a plurality of actuators 28, in this case hydraulic cylinders, are provided, which are arranged transversely to the direction of travel and spaced apart from one another and which couple the adapter frame 16 to the sliding frame 14.The specified tilt angle of the sliding frame 14, and thus of the machine frame 12, relative to the adapter frame 16 and thus relative to the forage harvester can be adjusted from the forage harvester's driver's cab using actuators 28. The dashed lines serve to better indicate the changing tilt angle during tilting. Reference numeral list.

[0082] 1 pickup rotor

[0083] 2 recording tools

[0084] 3 Guide element

[0085] 4 cross conveyor screw

[0086] 5 hold-down roller

[0087] 10 Pick-up attachment

[0088] 12 machine frames

[0089] 12a folding machine half

[0090] 12b pushing machine half

[0091] 14 sliding frames

[0092] 16 adapter frames

[0093] 18 handover level

[0094] 20 Folding or rotating axis

[0095] 22 folding cylinders

[0096] 24 steering handlebars

[0097] 26 axis of rotation

[0098] 28 Actuator

[0099] 30 axis of rotation

[0100] 32 guide rail

[0101] 34 Leadership role

[0102] 36 guide rail

[0103] 38 Leadership role

[0104] FR direction of travel

Claims

P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. A foldable pick-up attachment (10) for a harvesting machine, preferably for a forage harvester, particularly preferably for a self-propelled forage harvester, comprising a pickup rotor with pickup tools for picking up crop from the ground, comprising a machine frame (12) which can be folded apart and together via a folding mechanism, a sliding frame (14) which is arranged on and connected to the machine frame (12) on the side facing rearward in the direction of travel (FR) to assist in the folding mechanism, and an adapter frame (16) which is arranged on and connected to the sliding frame (14) on the side facing rearward in the direction of travel (FR), wherein the adapter frame (16) has at least one mounting point for receiving the pick-up attachment (10) by the harvesting machine.wherein, in order to transfer the pick-up attachment (10) from a working position to a transport position, the machine frame (12) and / or the sliding frame (14) can be transferred from a working position to a transport position, in particular tilted, in which the angle and / or the distance of the machine frame (12) and / or the sliding frame (14) relative to the adapter frame (16) and / or to the harvesting machine, in particular to a receiving conveying element of the harvesting machine, in particular to a pre-compression channel or a pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine, is increased to a predetermined dimension and in which the folding mechanism can be implemented, and wherein, in order to transfer the pick-up attachment (10) from a transport position to a working position, the machine frame (12) and / or the sliding frame (14) can be transferred from the transport position in which the folding mechanism can be implemented to a working position, in particular tilted,in which the angle and / or distance relative to the adapter frame (16) and / or to the harvesting machine, in particular to the receiving conveying element of the harvesting machine, in particular to the pre-compression channel or to the pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine, is reduced to a predetermined dimension.

2. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding frame (14) and the adapter frame (16) are designed such that in the working position the distance between a dispensing conveying element, in particular a transfer floor or transfer level(18), of the pick-up attachment (10), which in working position transfers a strand of harvested crop to the harvesting machine, and the receiving conveying element, in particular the pre-compression channel or housing, of the harvesting machine, which in working position receives the strand of harvested crop from the pick-up attachment (10), is so small that the strand of harvested crop remains uniformly and homogeneously compressed during the transfer and receipt.

3. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the machine frame (12) is recessed in such a way that it (12) does not collide with contours of the harvesting machine, in particular the receiving conveying element of the harvesting machine, in particular the pre-compression channel or the pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine, in the working position.

4. Foldable pick-up attachment according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine frame (12) is designed to be multi-part, preferably foldable in two parts, wherein the machine frame (12) has a folding machine half (12a) and a sliding machine half (12b) which are coupled together and wherein at least the sliding machine half (12b) is preferably linearly displaceable in the sliding frame (14), wherein in transport position the folding machine half (12a) is foldable onto the sliding machine half (12b) about a folding or pivot axis (20) extending between the machine halves (12a, 12b) in the direction of travel.

5. Folding pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, preferably only one, folding cylinder (22) is provided, which is arranged between the two machine halves (12a, 12b) and pivots the folding machine half (12a) by 180° to the sliding machine half (12b).

6. Folding pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, preferably only one, control link (24) is provided, which is located between the folding machine half (12a) and the The sliding frame (14) is articulated and, through the folding movement, shifts the pushing machine half (12b) relative to the sliding frame (14), so that the entire pick-up attachment (10) is positioned symmetrically in front of the sliding frame (14) or the harvesting machine in its end positions, i.e. in the transport position and the working position.

7. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding frame (14) is connected to the adapter frame (16) via a pivot axis (26), wherein the sliding frame (14) and thus the machine frame (12) of the pick-up attachment (10) is tiltable relative to the adapter frame (16) and thus to the harvesting machine connectable to the adapter frame (16).

8. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the axis of rotation (26) is aligned horizontally to the plane of a surface or ground in a neutral position of the pick-up attachment (10).

9. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the axis of rotation (26) is arranged at the level of the transfer floor or transfer plane (18) of the pick-up attachment (10).

10. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, preferably several actuators (28), in particular hydraulic cylinders, linear motors and / or threaded spindles, arranged transversely to the direction of travel and spaced apart from each other, are provided above and spaced apart from the axis of rotation (26), i.e. on the side of the axis of rotation (26) pointing away from the ground or floor, which couple the adapter frame (16) with the sliding frame (14).

11. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined tilting angle of the sliding frame (14) and thus of the machine frame (12) is relative to the adapter frame (16) and thus is adjustable relative to the harvesting machine, preferably by means of at least one actuator (28) from a central location, preferably from the driver's platform of the harvesting machine.

12. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding machine half (12b) is linearly guideable on the sliding frame (14), wherein the linear guide forms a pivot axis (30), whereby the machine frame (12) is tiltable relative to the sliding frame (14) and thus relative to the adapter frame (16) and thus to the harvesting machine connectable to the adapter frame (16).

13. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that the axis of rotation (30) is designed in such a way that the pushing machine half (12b) has in its lower region a round linear guide track or guide rail (32), in particular a tube or a shaft, which is preferably arranged below the transfer floor or transfer plane (18) of the pick-up attachment (10), and that preferably the sliding frame (14) and / or the adapter frame (16) has guide rollers (34) arranged transversely to the direction of travel (FR) and preferably relative to the surface or floor plane, aligned or in a line and spaced apart from each other, preferably concavely shaped, in which the pushing machine half (12b) runs with its guide track or guide rail (32).

14. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the axis of rotation (30) is aligned horizontally to the plane of a surface or ground in a neutral position of the pick-up attachment (10).

15. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sliding machine half (12b) has a round linear guide track or guide rail (36), in particular a tube or a shaft, in the upper area, and that the sliding frame (14) and / or preferably the adapter frame (16) are arranged transversely to the direction of travel (FR) and preferably relative to the surface or ground plane in an alignment or in a line. The machine half (12b) has concave guide rollers (38) spaced apart from each other, in which the sliding machine half (12b) runs with its guide track or guide rail (36), wherein the guide track or guide rail (36) provided in the upper area is designed such that when the sliding machine half (12b) is moved on the lower linear guide rail (32) transversely to the direction of travel (FR) and thus during folding, the sliding machine half (12b) can be tilted about the axis of rotation (30) or the guide track provided in the lower area, wherein the guide track provided in the upper area preferably has a contour suitable for tilting, preferably an arc-shaped or semi-arc-shaped contour, oriented transversely to the direction of travel (FR) and approximately perpendicular to the folding axis (20).

16. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that the extent or degree of tilting can be controlled by shaping the arc or semi-arc form.

17. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined change in distance of the machine halves (12a, 13b) and the sliding frame (14) relative to the adapter frame (16) and / or to the harvesting machine, in particular to the receiving conveying element of the harvesting machine, in particular to the pre-compression channel or to the pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine, is achieved by the adapter frame (16) and the sliding frame (14) being pivotally connected to each other by one or more pivotable links.

18. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 17, characterized in that the handlebars are attached in the area of ​​the lower and upper corner points of the sliding frame (14) and the adapter frame (16).

19. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the handlebars are aligned in any orientation, for example horizontally or vertically to the ground or floor plane, but preferably horizontally to the plane of the ground or floor.

20. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the change in the distance between the sliding frame (14) and the adapter frame (16) is designed as a parallel displacement controlled by the linkages, wherein at least one, preferably several actuators arranged transversely to the direction of travel and spaced apart from each other, in particular hydraulic cylinders, linear motors and / or threaded spindles, are provided for carrying out the parallel displacement.

21. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one actuator (28) is electrically, hydraulically and / or mechanically adjustable in length.

22. Foldable pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one actuator (28) is electrically and / or hydraulically controllable and / or adjustable, preferably from a central location, preferably from the driver's seat of the harvesting machine.

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