Haulm roller, lifting unit, and root-crop harvester

Abstract

The invention relates to a haulm roller for a lifting unit, to be arranged at a front end of a sieve belt of the lifting unit, comprising an external surface which is intended for abutting the sieve belt and which, in a side view and in a non-loaded state of the haulm roller, has an at least approximately circular envelope and which has a central axis about which the surface is moved during operation, wherein the haulm roller comprises an elastically deformable support structure located between the surface and the central axis, owing to which structure the surface gives way towards the central axis when in the loaded state.

Description

[0001] Cabbage roller, digging unit and root crop harvester

[0002] The present invention relates to a haulm roller for a digging unit, which is to be arranged at a front end of a sieve belt of the digging unit, with an outer surface which is intended to bear against the sieve belt, which, viewed in a side view and in an unloaded state of the haulm roller, has an at least approximately circular envelope and which comprises a central axis around which the surface is moved during operation. Furthermore, the invention relates to a digging unit for a root crop harvester, in particular a potato harvester, wherein the digging unit is equipped with at least one digging share arranged on a frame, at least one sieve belt downstream of the digging share in the crop flow direction, and at least one haulm roller, wherein the sieve belt and haulm roller form a contact surface at a front end of the sieve belt.It is understood that the crop flow direction is the direction of the crop flow occurring during operation. Finally, the invention relates to a root crop harvester, in particular a potato harvester.

[0003] Haulm rollers, also called haulm intake rollers, are designed to draw in any haulm accumulating in the area next to any outer coulter discs in front of the frame or the side walls of the screening channel, thus ensuring trouble-free operation. Haulm rollers known from the prior art have an essentially non-deformable running surface, which is why, viewed from the side, they are only connected to the screening belt in the direction of the central axis via a contact that is essentially designed as a line contact, see e.g. DE 20 2021 104 335 U1. The pulling effect between the haulm roller and the screening belt caused by the catching and holding of the haulm is manageable; experience has shown that haulm often accumulates laterally in front of the crop channel.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to avoid the above problems and in particular to improve the plucking effect and the conveying performance of the herb roller.

[0005] The object is achieved by an article according to claim 1, by a digging unit according to claim 14 and by a root crop harvesting machine according to claim 19. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims and the following description.

[0006] A haulm roller according to the invention is characterized in that it has an elastically deformable support structure arranged between the surface and the central axis, due to which the surface deflects in the direction of the central axis when loaded. During operation, the surface moves away from its otherwise circular shape in the direction of the central axis in the area of ​​​​load due to contact with the screening belt or due to any haulm, soil or other impurities, so that a contact or running surface of the haulm roller is enlarged in the direction of the crop flow during operation. A haulm roller with such a surface, in particular in the form of a running surface that can be moved back and forth in the radial direction, increases the pulling effect and the conveying capacity between the screening belt and haulm roller.The haulm in the area next to any outer coulter discs and in front of the side parts and the screen belt deflection is removed more effectively and the digging operation is more trouble-free. In addition, the friction surface of the friction pairing between the haulm roller and screen belt is increased so that the haulm roller, which is particularly passive (i.e. driven by the belt), can be driven more effectively. The change in the shape of the haulm roller, which is accompanied by a retreat of the surface, creates a type of churning movement, which reduces the adhesion of crop material or impurities. Stones that get stuck between the screen belt and haulm roller are avoided because the elastic, deformable haulm roller partially encloses the material and can be transported further between the screen belt and haulm roller.

[0007] A side view is a view taken in the direction of the central axis around which the haulm roller rotates during operation. In the operating position, the roller is installed in the harvesting unit and arranged to rotate. The elastically deformable support structure derives its elasticity primarily from the material, its structure, or its shape. However, it can also be formed additionally or alternatively by compressible media, such as cavities in the material or shock absorbers.

[0008] The support structure is offset radially inward from the surface, thus being located between the surface and the central axis or a fixed bearing core, on which the haulm roller can be mounted. In particular, the outer surface, which forms a running surface for contact with the sieve belt, or the layer forming this surface, is designed to be elastically deformable on its own and / or by means of the support structure. Therefore, repeated deviations of the surface from a circular shape, which exists regardless of any existing profiling, during operation, do not damage the haulm roller.

[0009] Advantageously, the spring travel that can be covered by the surface in the radial direction, i.e. in the direction of the central axis, is at least 1 cm, preferably at least 1.5 cm, due to the elastic support structure. Due to this deviation from a circular shape, the contact area with the sieve belt can be sufficiently increased by a larger system in the direction of the crop flow. The spring travel is the distance by which the surface is pressed in the direction of the central axis due to the change in shape during operation, and which is then covered during and after the load is released in order to assume the otherwise round shape of the haulm roller.

[0010] Advantageously, the surface is part of an outer layer supported by the support structure and, in particular, possesses sufficient elasticity to accommodate the deformations during operation. The outer layer can, for example, have a thickness of 1 to 2 cm and be flexible, with any existing ridges and depressions of a profile being pressed in essentially unchanged when they rest against the screen belt and are moved in the direction of the central axis.

[0011] To prevent blockages caused by stones or other harder and thicker debris, the elastically deformable support structure, in a further development of the invention, can exhibit a deformation of at least 7 cm for a weed roller diameter of between 350 mm and 450 mm. An upper limit can be 15 cm.

[0012] The support structure can at least partially comprise or be formed by a porous material that provides sufficient elasticity. It can also be formed by an air layer formed around the central axis, similar to a tire casing or tire cover, wherein the internal tread pressure can be adjustable to adjust the rolling behavior of the weed roller.

[0013] Preferably, according to a further development of the invention, the support structure is formed in a side view, particularly when made of a plastic material, over the entire surface between the bearing core of the herb roller and the surface, so that no material can accumulate.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support structure can have a plurality of struts formed between the central axis and the surface, in particular between the bearing core and the surface. These struts can be used, for example, to support an outer layer which has a profiled outer surface. In particular, the struts are made at least partially of plastic or metal. The elasticity of the support structure results from the material, the shape and / or the connection to the other parts of the herb roller, in particular wherein preferred directions can be defined which lead to a certain spring behavior of the outer layer. This is achieved in particular by the struts being curved from the inside to the outside and thus not being aligned exactly radially.

[0015] Preferably, these are struts that are strip-like, thus forming a kind of spoke. Viewed transversely to the longitudinal axis, the width of these struts can vary, for example, to free up space inside a crop intake channel. The strips are preferably designed so that the narrow sides of the strips are visible in a side view. Vertical lines arranged on the large surfaces of the strips run, in particular, transversely to the central axis.

[0016] The spring action can also be adjusted by varying the width of the strips, which can optionally be adjusted. For example, greater elasticity can be achieved by narrowing the strips toward the outside or outer surface, while the struts become wider and thus more stable toward the inside, toward the central axis. A particularly simple design is achieved when the herb roller has a surface formed integrally with the struts.

[0017] A maintenance-friendly development of the invention is formed by a support structure which is designed with a possible outer layer and outer surface to be removable from a bearing core.

[0018] The support structure may optionally be manufactured in conjunction with an outer layer in a two-component construction, for example with a stronger outer layer arranged on an annular part of the support structure carried by the struts.

[0019] The task posed at the beginning is also solved by a lifting unit as described at the beginning, which is characterized in that the herb roller is designed as described above or below, so that the lifting unit benefits from the corresponding advantages of the herb roller.

[0020] In particular, due to the elastically deformable support structure, the contact surface extends at least 2 cm in the direction of crop flow and is thus significantly larger than the contact surface configurations known from the prior art in a side view, which, due to their short length in the direction of crop flow, are quasi-point-shaped and otherwise extend longitudinally parallel to the central axis and form the aforementioned linear contact. More preferably, the length of the contact surface in the direction of crop flow is at least 5 cm in order to further improve the capture of the haulm. In particular, the length of the contact surface in the direction of crop flow is 10 cm to 20 cm. The length of the contact surface is generally considered without any crop or impurity elements present between the sieve belt and the haulm roller.

[0021] In particular, a spring travel of at least 1 cm is formed between the contact surface and the central axis by the support structure, ie the distance of the outer surface varies by at least 1 cm during operation during the rotation of the herb roller.

[0022] Support rollers known in the prior art are often pressed onto the sieve belt using spring tension. Due to the elastically deformable support structure of the haulm roller, a support device with a corresponding energy or force storage device can be dispensed with, so that the haulm roller is mounted in a support device of the harvesting unit without spring tension, i.e., not under spring tension.

[0023] In particular, the haulm roller is arranged by means of a support device so that it can be displaced in the direction of the crop flow and / or transversely thereto, so that, on the one hand, the aggressiveness of the pulling action and, on the other hand, in particular, the length of the contact surface can be optimally adjusted. Generally, the haulm roller is arranged at a front end of the first sieve belt, with the front end being arranged in particular above a frontmost deflection roller or unit of the sieve belt. Such an arrangement can thus lead to a reduced load on the sieve belt, since the compressive forces that lead to or are accompanied by deformation of the haulm roller are applied or absorbed directly by the deflection roller.

[0024] In particular, the herb rollers, which are arranged on the inside of a receiving channel which is limited downwards by the sieve belt and laterally in the direction of crop flow, are each located on an endless support for sieve bars of the sieve belt.

[0025] In particular, the haulm roller is passively driven by the screen belt during operation and thus does not require a separate, more complex drive mechanism. Preferably, the haulm roller is driven by an endless support of the screen belt, particularly in the form of a belt.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention during operation during a harvesting process, the distance between the screening belt and the central axis on a straight line perpendicular to the screening belt is less than the distance between the central axis and the intersection point of the straight line and the surface located above the central axis, which describes a corresponding change in shape due to the elastically deformable support structure. The difference in the distances corresponds to the spring travel. The advantages described above and below also apply to a root crop harvester according to the invention that is equipped with a digging unit as described above or below.

[0027] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures. Schematically shown:

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a herb roller according to the invention in an unloaded state,

[0029] Fig. 2 shows the object according to Fig. 1 in a loaded state,

[0030] Fig. 3 shows another object according to the invention,

[0031] Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the article according to Fig. 3 in a partial representation,

[0032] Fig. 5 shows another object according to the invention.

[0033] Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also be combined with previously described exemplary embodiments as well as the features of one of the independent claims and any further claims to form subject matter according to the invention. Where appropriate, elements that are at least partially functionally equivalent are provided with identical reference numerals. A haulm roller 2 according to the invention for a digging unit to be described in more detail below has a central axis 4, which, during operation of the haulm roller, corresponds to a rotational axis of the same. An outer surface 5 with a profile in the form of webs 6 and depressions 8 provided between the webs is provided for engagement with a sieve belt 18 of a root crop harvester. Viewed in the direction of the central axis 4, the surface 5 has a circular or round envelope, indicated by a partially recognizable circle 10.The outer surface 5 rotates during operation about the central axis 4 (Fig. 1). Viewed from the surface in the radial direction with respect to the central axis 4, the herb roller 2 according to the invention has a bearing core 12 which, on the one hand, comprises a bearing seat for arrangement on the sieve belt and, on the other hand, forms a base for strip-like struts 14. These struts 14 form an elastically deformable support structure which extends from the surface 5 with an outer layer 16 in the direction of the bearing core 12. The outer layer 16 can be part of the support structure. Regardless of whether the outer layer 16 is part of the support structure, it is carried by struts 14 of the support structure.

[0034] During operation, the surface 5 rests against the sieve belt 18 (Fig. 4) and forms a contact surface K with it, regardless of any haulms present, which extends at least 5 cm in the direction of crop flow regardless of the profiling. In this case, the focus is generally on the first and last contact point in the direction of crop flow. The surface 5 or the outer layer 16 springs in as shown in Fig. 2, with the outer layer 16 traveling a spring path of at least 1.5 cm. The struts 14 deform in such a way that they take on a shape with a successive convex and concave section. This results in very good elasticity and deformability and a reliable return to the starting position according to Fig. 1 when the outer layer is relieved of load due to it being lifted off the sieve belt during operation.In the loaded state, the surface 5 thus deviates in the direction of the central axis, since the support structure forms or specifies a spring deflection for the outer layer.

[0035] The support structure with its struts 14 is shown here as one piece with the outer layer. The plastic material used for this is polyurethane-based. The Shore hardness of the polyurethane can be adjusted to the desired elasticity of the haulm intake roller. The larger the contact surface required for improved rotation and haulm intake, the softer the material can be selected, and the closer the central axis can be positioned to the screen belt via an associated support device.

[0036] The bearing core 12 is formed on the outside from the same material as the struts 14 and has an insert for the bearing made of a material that is hard compared to the struts and can be deformed almost exclusively plastically, thus forming a bearing for arrangement on an axis of a support device of the herb roller.

[0037] Viewed transversely to the central axis, the width of the struts 14 can taper toward the central portion 12, whereby this taper can occur particularly on the side of the struts facing the interior of the screening channel. To define the outer boundary of the screening channel, the roller can be positioned more closely along an outer wall, thus making the screening channel less constricted on the opposite side.

[0038] A lifting unit according to the invention comprises, in addition to the sieve belt 18, which is deflected by deflections 20, in particular in the form of deflection rollers (Figs. 3 and 4), a frame 22 on which a support device 24 of the haulm roller 2 is arranged. A lifting share 23, shown only in dashed lines, is arranged upstream of the sieve belt in the crop flow direction F. To the sides, the haulm roller in Fig. 3 is delimited at the top by a side wall 25, wherein a star-shaped roller (not shown here) can be arranged between the side wall 25 and the haulm roller 2 to prevent the accumulation of dirt between the side wall 25 and the haulm roller 2.

[0039] The crop flow is created by the lifting of the soil material containing the harvested crop by means of the digging share, whereby the haulm roller 2 arranged at a front end 26 of the sieve belt 18 forms the contact surface K, which extends by at least 5 cm, in this case 12.5 cm, in the direction of crop flow F (Fig. 4). In this area, the struts 14 are visibly deflected, so that the sieve belt 18, along the straight line 28 perpendicular to the sieve belt, has a smaller distance from the central axis 4 than an intersection point P located above the central axis between the straight line 28 and the surface 5 of the haulm roller 2. The spring travel of the elastic support structure orThe difference in the distances between the sieve belt 18 and the central axis 4 on the one hand and the intersection point P and the central axis 4 on the other hand, corresponding to the outer layer 16, is at least 1 cm, preferably at least 1.5 cm, more preferably at least 2 cm, so that in particular contact surfaces of at least 5 cm in length are created in the direction of the material flow.

[0040] The support device 24 is height-adjustable via elongated holes 30 so that the length of the contact surface K and at the same time the pre-tensioning force with which the herb roller 2 presses onto the sieve belt 18 can be changed.

[0041] A digging unit 32 according to the invention is arranged according to Fig. 5 in a root crop harvesting device according to the invention designed as a towed potato harvester 34.

Claims

Claims 1. A haulm roller for a digging unit (32), which is to be arranged at a front end (26) of a sieve belt (18) of the digging unit (32), with an outer surface (5) which is intended to bear against the sieve belt (18), which, when viewed in a side view and in an unloaded state of the haulm roller (2), has an at least approximately circular envelope and which comprises a central axis (4) around which the surface (5) is moved during operation, characterized in that the haulm roller (2) has an elastically deformable support structure arranged between the surface (5) and the central axis (4), due to which support structure the surface (5) deflects in the direction of the central axis (4) when under load.

2. Cabbage roller according to claim 1, characterized in that the support structure is offset radially inwards from the surface (5).

3. Cabbage roller according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring travel that can be covered by the surface (5) in the radial direction is at least 1 cm, preferably at least 1.5 cm.

4. Cabbage roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface (5) is part of an outer layer which is carried by the support structure.

5. Cabbage roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure is at least partly formed by a porous material.

6. Cabbage roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure is at least partly formed by a plastic material.

7. Cabbage roller according to claim 6, characterized in that the support structure is formed in a side view over the entire surface between the bearing core (12) of the cabbage roller (2) and the surface (5).

8. Cabbage roller according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support structure is at least partly formed by a metal.

9. Cabbage roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure has a plurality of struts (14) formed between the central axis (4) and the surface (5), in particular between the bearing core (12) and the surface (5).

10. Cabbage roller according to claim 9, characterized in that the struts (14) are curved from the inside to the outside. 11 . Cabbage roller according to claim 10, characterized in that the struts (14) are strip-like.

12. Cabbage roller according to claim 11, characterized in that the strip-like struts (14) have a varying width when viewed in the direction transverse to the central axis (4).

13. Cabbage roller according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the surface (5) is formed integrally with the struts (14).

14. Lifting unit for a root crop harvesting machine, in particular a potato harvesting machine, with at least one lifting share (23) arranged on a frame (22), at least one sieve belt (18) arranged downstream of the lifting share (23) in the direction of crop flow and at least one haulm roller (2), wherein the sieve belt (18) and the haulm roller (2) form a contact surface (K) at a front end (26) of the sieve belt (18), characterized in that the haulm roller (2) is designed according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 13, in particular wherein the contact surface (K) extends at least 2, preferably at least 5 cm, in the direction of crop flow due to the elastically deformable support structure.

15. Harvesting unit according to claim 14, characterized in that the Contact surface (K) extends over at least 5 cm in the material flow direction (F) and / or the spring travel between the contact surface (K) and the central axis (4) is at least 1 cm.

16. Lifting unit according to one of the preceding claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the herb roller (2) is arranged to be displaceable in the crop flow direction (F) and / or transversely thereto by means of a support device (24).

17. Harvesting unit according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the herb roller (2) is passively driven via the sieve belt (18) during operation.

18. Lifting unit according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the distance between the screening belt (18) and the central axis (4) on a straight line (28) perpendicular to the screening belt is less than the distance between the central axis (4) and an intersection point (P) of the straight line (28) and the surface (5) located above the central axis.

19. Root crop harvesting machine with a digging unit (32) according to one of the preceding claims 14 to 18.

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