Granule dispenser for an agricultural spreading machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a granule portioner (10) for an agricultural spreading machine, comprising a portioning chamber (14) for forming granule portions and a portioning rotor (24) arranged in the portioning chamber (14), which has at least one contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b), wherein the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) is configured to move along an orbit (38, 38a, 38b) during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24) and to combine granule grains (G) located in the portioning chamber (14) into a granule portion.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a granule portioner for an agricultural spreading machine according to the preamble of claim 1, an agricultural spreading machine according to the preamble of claim 14 and a method for producing granule portions according to the preamble of claim 15.

[0002] In a granule dispenser with a portioning rotor located in a portioning chamber, which combines the granules in the chamber into a single portion, jams can occur between the portioning rotor and the granules. Such jams can impair the portioning process and lead to damage to the granule dispenser.

[0003] Due to manufacturing tolerances and wear, gaps between the portioning rotor and the wall of the portioning chamber cannot be completely and permanently avoided. Since the granules can vary in size, different gap dimensions can lead to jamming between the portioning rotor and the granules.

[0004] To prevent wear problems during the use of a suitable granule portioner, the contact elements of the portioning rotor, which move in a circular path, must be made of a dimensionally stable material, such as hard metal. Elastically deformable contact elements or contact elements with elastically deformable outer edges, such as contact elements with flaps or brushes, are unsuitable due to wear concerns.

[0005] The object underlying the invention is therefore to prevent or at least reduce jamming between the portioning rotor of a granule portioner and granule grains.

[0006] The problem is solved by a granule portioner of the type mentioned above, wherein the portioning rotor of the granule portioner according to the invention has an escape mechanism which allows the contact body to temporarily leave the orbit during the rotational movement of the portioning rotor in order to resolve and / or avoid jamming between the portioning rotor and granules.

[0007] The anti-jamming mechanism allows the contact body to perform evasive movements to trigger and / or prevent jamming between the portioning rotor and the granules. This mechanism also compensates for manufacturing tolerances that could lead to unintended gaps within the granule portioner. Furthermore, it compensates for wear effects that cause dimensional deviations in the granule portioner's components. Thus, the anti-jamming mechanism effectively prevents jamming-related malfunctions and damage to the granule portioner.

[0008] The portioning chamber of the granule dispenser is preferably arranged in a housing of the granule dispenser. The portioning rotor is preferably rotaryally driven. For this purpose, the granule dispenser is preferably equipped with a rotor drive. The rotor drive can be electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic. The path along which the contact body moves during the rotation of the portioning rotor is preferably a circular path. The granule that is portioned with the granule dispenser is preferably fertilizer. Consequently, the granule dispenser is preferably a fertilizer dispenser.

[0009] The deflection movements of the contact body are preferably caused by its contact with granules. Jammed granules block or impair the rotational movements of the portioning rotor, exerting a blocking force on the contact body. This blocking force, originating from a granule, causes the contact body to deflect, thus displacing it.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention, the avoidance mechanism allows a radial avoidance movement of the contact body to leave the orbit during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor. Alternatively or additionally, the avoidance mechanism allows an axial avoidance movement of the contact body to leave the orbit during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor. The avoidance mechanism can therefore also allow an avoidance movement of the contact body that comprises a radial and an axial component. The avoidance mechanism allows the contact body to temporarily leave the orbit in a radial and / or axial direction during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor in order to resolve and / or prevent jamming between the portioning rotor and granules. The contact body performs an avoidance movement in the radial direction, in particular inwards.The contact body moves radially inwards towards the axis of rotation of the portioning rotor when granules are located in a gap between the cylindrical or V-shaped surface that radially delimits the portioning chamber at least partially and a radially outer edge of the contact body. If the contact body performs an evasive movement in the radial direction inwards, i.e., towards the axis of rotation of the portioning rotor, the radial extent of the portioning rotor and thus its diameter decrease. The contact body performs an evasive movement in the axial direction when granules are located in a gap between a side wall that laterally delimits the portioning chamber at least partially and a lateral edge of the contact body.

[0011] The granule portioner according to the invention is further advantageously developed in that the deflection mechanism has a radial spring connected to the contact body, which allows the radial deflection of the contact body to leave the orbit during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor. The radial spring is positioned between the rotor mounting on the rotor drive and the contact body. The radial spring holds the contact body movable and deflectable against a restoring force in a reference position in which the contact body is located on the orbit. The deflection mechanism can have a stop that limits the restoring movement of the contact body caused by the radial spring and / or displacements due to centrifugal forces acting on the contact body.The stop ensures that the contact body is moved back onto the orbit after an evasive movement and is held there in a way that allows it to move inwards, and preferably not outwards.

[0012] Furthermore, a granule portioner according to the invention is advantageous in which the portioning rotor comprises at least one portioning wing, wherein the portioning wing has two contact bodies movable relative to each other, and wherein the avoidance mechanism allows axial avoidance movements of the two contact bodies, by means of which the two contact bodies, preferably independently of each other, can temporarily leave their orbit during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor. The two contact bodies can overlap section by section in the axial direction. An avoidance movement of one contact body in the axial direction can temporarily reduce the overall width of the contact surface assembly, resulting in gap formation or gap widening. A lateral outer edge of a first contact body preferably runs along a first side wall of the portioning chamber.A lateral outer edge of a second contact body preferably runs along a second side wall of the portioning chamber. This division prevents wall collisions when a contact body performs an evasive movement, as the respective contact body can pivot in front of or behind the other contact body in the direction of rotation.

[0013] In another embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention, the contact body has side walls that are elastically deformable or resiliently movable on one or both sides. These side walls allow the contact body to continue its axial displacement towards a side wall of the portioning chamber even after a side wall has come into contact with the side wall. The contact body can, for example, have a scoop shape. The side walls of the contact body can be angled and / or made of an elastic material, for example, spring steel, so that the angled side walls can be resiliently pressed inwards. To protect against wear, hard metal plates or other wear-reducing elements can be brazed onto the elastic material. The side walls of the contact body can be rotatably mounted and pulled against a stop by a side wall spring.Preferably, a stop opposing the direction of rotation of the portioning rotor prevents the width of the scoop from increasing due to the force exerted on the scoop by the granules. Preferably, the scoop shape does not include a back wall.

[0014] Furthermore, a granule portioner according to the invention is advantageous in which the portioning chamber is bounded at least partially radially and / or axially by a circumferential surface that at least partially surrounds the chamber. The portioning rotor is preferably arranged in the portioning chamber such that a radial gap forms between the radially outer edge of the contact body and a portioning surface that at least partially bounds the portioning chamber radially during the rotation of the rotor. Alternatively or additionally, the portioning rotor is arranged in the portioning chamber such that axial gaps form between the axially outer edges of the contact body and portioning surface portions that at least partially bound the portioning chamber axially during the rotation of the rotor.The portioning rotor can further be arranged in the portioning chamber such that the gap width of the radial gap and / or the axial gaps changes when the contact body moves to avoid a deflection. The outer surface and / or the contact body can each have a trapezoidal, V-shaped, or W-shaped cross-section. The outer edges of the contact body and the outer surface preferably run parallel to each other.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention, the portioning rotor is arranged in the portioning chamber such that the width of the radial gap changes when the contact body moves axially and / or radially. Alternatively or additionally, the portioning rotor is arranged in the portioning chamber such that the widths of the axial gaps change when the contact body moves axially and / or radially. A radial movement of the contact body can therefore lead to a widening of the axial gaps. In addition to the radial movement, an axial movement of the contact body can also occur, which leads to a further widening of the axial gap on one side of the contact body.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention, at least one axially outer edge of the contact body is inclined outwards, such that the axial gap between the axially outer edge of the contact body and a portion of the cylindrical surface that axially delimits the portioning chamber at least partially increases along with the radial gap during a radially inward deflection of the contact body. The axially outer edge of the contact body is thus inclined relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the portioning rotor. The at least one axially outer edge of the contact body therefore slopes laterally outwards in the radial direction.Preferably, the axially outer edges of the contact body located on both sides are inclined outwards, so that the axial gaps between the axially outer edges of the contact body and the partial areas of the outer surface that at least partially define the portioning chamber increase together with the radial gap during a radially inwards deflection movement of the contact body.

[0017] Furthermore, a granule portioner according to the invention is advantageous in which at least one portion of the outer surface, which axially delimits the portioning chamber at least partially, is inclined outwards, such that the axial gap between the axially outer edge of the contact body and the portion of the outer surface that axially delimits the portioning chamber at least partially increases along with the radial gap during a radially inward deflection of the contact body. The portion of the outer surface that axially delimits the portioning chamber at least partially is thus inclined relative to a plane that is orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the portioning rotor. The portion of the outer surface that delimits the portioning chamber at least partially therefore slopes laterally outwards in the radial direction.Preferably, the partial areas of the outer surface that axially delimit the portioning chamber at least partially on both sides are inclined outwards, so that the axial gaps between the axially outer edges of the contact body and the partial areas of the outer surface that axially delimit the portioning chamber at least partially increase together with the radial gap during a radially inwards deflection movement of the contact body.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention, the contact body is connected to a hub of the portioning rotor via a connecting element of a portioning wing. The connecting element can be part of the radial suspension or form the radial suspension itself. The connecting element preferably has a smaller width, i.e., a smaller axial extent, than the contact body. The width of the connecting element is preferably at most half the width of the contact body. The connecting element is therefore narrower than the contact body, so that the connecting element encounters fewer granules during rotation. In this way, the formation of granule impacts in the circumferential direction is prevented or at least significantly reduced.

[0019] The granule portioner according to the invention is further advantageously developed in that the portioning chamber has an inlet opening through which granules can enter the portioning chamber, the inlet opening being arranged in a side wall of the portioning chamber that laterally delimits the portioning chamber on an inlet side. The granules thus flow laterally into the portioning chamber. The side walls laterally delimiting the portioning chamber are preferably flat or without curvature. The portioning chamber is preferably laterally delimited by two opposing side walls, the opposing side walls being arranged parallel to each other.

[0020] In another preferred embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention, the connecting element is arranged largely or entirely on one side of the portioning chamber opposite the inlet side. This arrangement of the connecting element results in a comparatively large axial distance between the inlet opening and the connecting element, so that the connecting element does not move directly past the inlet opening during the rotation of the portioning rotor. This avoids a shear point at the inlet opening that could cause jamming. Granule jamming in the area of ​​the inlet opening edges is prevented in the axial space between the connecting element and the inlet opening. Furthermore, this significantly reduces wear during operation of the granule portioner. Fewer ricochets occur because the granules are less frequently struck by the connecting element.This significantly reduces the number of granules that unintentionally leave the dispensing chamber between two granule portions. The connecting element preferably has an elongated shape.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention, the radially outer edge of the inlet opening has a distance from the orbit of the contact body that increases in the direction of rotation of the portioning rotor. The inlet opening is preferably located in a region of the side wall that is not, or only partially, swept over by the contact body. Since the inlet opening is partially swept over, it is advantageous if the outer edge of the inlet opening is radially recessed so that, viewed in the direction of rotation, no shear edge is created when the end of the inlet opening is swept over. The radially outer edge of the inlet opening has a gently rising angle in the direction of rotation of the portioning rotor. This creates a continuous transition between the area of ​​the inlet opening swept over by the contact surface and the area not swept over.

[0022] In another embodiment, the housing wall of the granule portioner, which axially and / or radially delimits the portioning chamber, can be equipped with a housing-side deflection mechanism, either as an alternative or in addition to the rotor-side deflection mechanism on the portioning rotor. For example, the side wall is configured to perform axial deflection movements. Furthermore, the circumferential surface can be configured to perform radial and / or axial deflection movements.

[0023] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by an agricultural spreading machine of the type mentioned above, wherein at least one granule portioner of the agricultural spreading machine according to the invention is designed according to one of the embodiments described above. With regard to the advantages and modifications of the agricultural spreading machine according to the invention, reference is therefore made to the advantages and modifications of the granule portioner according to the invention.

[0024] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein, within the framework of the method according to the invention, the contact body temporarily leaves the orbit during the rotational movement of the portioning rotor by means of an avoidance mechanism of the portioning rotor in order to resolve or prevent jamming between the portioning rotor and granules. The method for producing granule portions is preferably carried out by means of a granule portioner according to one of the embodiments described above. With regard to the advantages and modifications of the method according to the invention, reference is therefore made to the advantages and modifications of the granule portioner according to the invention.

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 An embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 2 the in the Fig. 1 granule portioner shown in a sectional view; Fig. 3 an embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention in a sectional view; Fig. 4 the in the Fig. 3 illustrated granule portioners with a deflected contact body in a sectional view; Fig. 5 a portioning rotor of a granule portioner according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 6 a detailed description of the in the Fig. 5 portioning rotors shown; Fig. 7 an embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention in a sectional view; Fig. 8 a contact body of the in the Fig. 7 illustrated granule portioners; Fig. 9 a contact body of the in the Fig. 7 granule portioner shown during an evasive maneuver; Fig. 10 a contact body of the in the Fig. 7 granule portioner shown during an evasive maneuver; Fig. 11 an embodiment of the granule portioner according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 12 the in the Fig. 11 granule portioners shown in a sectional view; Fig. 13 the in the Fig. 11 granule portioners shown in a further sectional view; and Fig. 14 the in the Fig. 11 illustrated granule portioners in a perspective view.

[0026] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a granule dispenser 10, which can be used to produce fertilizer portions. The granule dispenser 10 is therefore a fertilizer dispenser.

[0027] The granule portioner 10 has a housing 12 in which a portioning chamber 14 is located. The portioning chamber 14 is bounded axially, i.e. laterally, by side walls 18. The portioning chamber 14 is bounded radially by a circumferential surface 16 that extends in sections. The circumferential surface 16 is interrupted in one area by the outlet opening 22.

[0028] In the portioning chamber 14, 10 granule portions are formed during operation of the granule portioner. For this purpose, a portioning rotor 24 is arranged in the portioning chamber 14, which performs a rotational movement around the axis of rotation 26 during operation of the granule portioner 10. The portioning rotor 24 is connected via the hub 28 to a rotor drive 30, which drives the portioning rotor 24 rotationally.

[0029] The portioning rotor 24 has two opposing portioning wings 32a, 32b. Portioning wing 32a comprises two contact bodies 34a, 34b, which move along orbits 38a, 38b during rotation of the portioning rotor 24. Portioning wing 32b comprises two contact bodies 36a, 36b, which also move along orbits 38a, 38b during rotation of the portioning rotor 24. During rotation of the portioning rotor 24, the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b guide the granules G located in the portioning chamber 14 into granule portions. The granules G enter the portioning chamber 14 of the granule portioner 10 via the inlet opening 20.

[0030] The contact bodies 34a, 34b are connected to hub 28 via connecting links 40a, 40b and radial spring 46a. The contact bodies 36a, 36b are connected to hub 28 via connecting links 42a, 42b and radial spring 46b. The connecting links 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b and the radial springs 46a, 46b are components of an escape mechanism for the portioning rotor 24. The escape mechanism of the portioning rotor 24 allows the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b to temporarily leave their orbits 38a, 38b during the rotation of the portioning rotor 24 in order to resolve and / or prevent jamming between the portioning rotor 24 and the granules G. The contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b can therefore perform an evasive movement, whereby the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b briefly leave their respective orbits 38a, 38b during the evasive movement. The orbits 38a, 38b are circular orbits in this case.The granular grains G, which are brought together into granular portions by the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b, are fertilizer grains.

[0031] The contact bodies 34a, 34b and the contact bodies 36a, 36b each form contact body pairs. During a radial deflection movement, which is made possible by the radial springs 46a, 46b, the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b of a contact body pair are deflected together. Due to the individual suspension of the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b via the connecting elements 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b of a contact body pair can perform axial deflection movements independently of one another. A lateral displacement of one contact body 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b does not necessarily entail a lateral displacement of another contact body 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b. The contact bodies 34a, 34b and the contact bodies 36a, 36b overlap section by section in the axial direction.The axial displacement of the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b can temporarily reduce the overall width of the contact body pairs, resulting in the formation of a gap between a contact body 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b and a side wall 18 of the housing 12, or in a widening of the gap. This gap formation or widening prevents and resolves grain jamming. The radial springs 46a, 46b allow the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b to perform a radial displacement to leave their orbits 38a, 38b during the rotation of the portioning rotor 24. Thus, the evasive mechanism of the granule portioner 10 allows a radial and an axial evasive movement of the contact bodies 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b to leave the orbits 38a, 38b during the rotational movement of the portioning rotor 24.

[0032] The Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a granule portioner 10, wherein the contact bodies 34, 36 of the portioning rotor 24 are located in the Fig. 3 along orbit 38. Unlike in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 The portioning wings 32a, 32b each comprise only one contact body 34, 36. In the case of the Fig. In the state shown in Figure 4, the contact body 36 performs an evasive movement, temporarily leaving the orbit 38. Leaving the orbit 38 prevents or resolves jamming with the granule G, as the radial gap 48b between the radially outer edge of the contact body 36 and the lateral surface 16 radially bounding the portioning chamber 14 widens. The radial gap 48a between the radially outer edge of the contact body 36 and the lateral surface 16 remains unchanged.

[0033] The ejection mechanism of the granule portioner 10 also includes stops 44a, 44b, which ensure that the contact bodies 34, 36 are returned to the orbit 38 after executing an ejection movement. The rebound of the portioning wings 32a, 32b is limited by the stops 44a, 44b, so that after the granule G has passed, the original radial gap width is restored at the outer edge of the contact body 36. Furthermore, the stops 44a, 44b also counteract centrifugal forces acting on the contact bodies 34, 36, so that the contact bodies 34, 36 do not leave the orbit 38 in the radial direction outwards.

[0034] The Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 6 shows a portioning rotor 24 in which the contact bodies 34, 36 are connected to the hub 28 via the connecting elements 40, 42 and the radial springs 46a, 46b.

[0035] The contact bodies 34, 36 each have resiliently movable side cheeks 54a, 54b, 56a, 56b on both sides, which allow the axial displacement of the contact bodies 34, 36 towards a side wall 18 of the portioning chamber 14 to continue even after a side cheek 54a, 54b, 56a, 56b comes into contact with a side wall 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact bodies 34, 36 have a scoop shape. The side cheeks 54a, 54b, 56a, 56b are made of an elastic material, in this case spring steel, so that they can be resiliently pressed inwards. In the illustrated embodiment, the scoop shape of the contact bodies 34, 36 has no back wall. In the event of wall contact due to an axial displacement movement of a contact body 34, 36, the side walls 54a, 54b, 56a, 56b can therefore execute an inward spring movement 58a, 58b. After a jam is released orUpon passing the critical granule G, a spring-induced restoring force ensures that the side walls 54a, 54b, 56a, 56b are moved back to their starting position.

[0036] The Fig. Figure 7 shows a granule portioner 10 in which the portioning chamber 14 is radially and axially bounded in the vicinity of the orbit 38 of the contact bodies 34, 36 by a partially circumferential surface 16. Taking into account the Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the portioning rotor 24 is arranged in the portioning chamber 14 such that radial gaps 48a, 48b form between the radially outer edges of the contact bodies 34, 36 and the portioning chamber 14 radially bounding part of the outer surface 16 when the portioning rotor 24 rotates. Furthermore, the portioning rotor 24 is arranged in the portioning chamber 14 such that axial gaps 50a, 50b, 52a, 52b form between the axially outer edges of the contact bodies 34, 36 and the portioning chamber 14 axially bounding parts of the outer surface 16 when the portioning rotor 24 rotates. The outer edges of the contact bodies 34, 36 and the outer surface 16 are parallel to each other. The axially outer edges of the contact bodies 34, 36 and the portioning chamber 14 axially bounding sub-areas of the outer surface 16 are inclined outwards.

[0037] The Fig. Figure 9 shows that the portioning rotor 24 is arranged in the portioning chamber 14 such that the gap width 60 of the radial gap 48a changes during a radial movement of the contact body 34. When the contact body 34 moves radially inwards, the radial gap 48a widens. In this way, grain jamming at the radially outer edge of the contact body 34 can be resolved by a movement. Fig. Figure 9 also shows that the portioning rotor 24 is arranged in the portioning chamber 14 such that the gap widths 62a, 62b of the axial gaps 50a, 50b change during a radial displacement of the contact body 34. During a radially inward displacement of the contact body 34, the axial gaps 50a, 50b are enlarged.

[0038] The Fig. Figure 10 shows that the radial displacement movement of the contact body 34 can be combined with an additional axial displacement movement of the contact body 36. The axially resilient connecting elements 40, 42 thus allow the contact bodies 34, 36 to also perform axial displacement movements to prevent or trigger grain jamming. During an axial displacement movement, the gap width 62b of one axial gap 50b is reduced, while simultaneously the gap width 62a of the opposite axial gap 50a is increased. Therefore, jamming caused by granules G at the axially outer edges of the contact bodies 34, 36 can be resolved by a radial and / or an axial displacement movement of the contact bodies 34, 36.

[0039] The Fig. 11 to Fig.Figure 14 shows a granule portioner 10 in which the contact bodies 34, 36 are each connected to a hub 28 of the portioning rotor 24 via a connecting element 40, 42 of a portioning wing 32a, 32b. The connecting elements 40, 42 have a smaller width, i.e., a smaller axial extent, than the contact bodies 34, 36. The width of the connecting elements 40, 42 is less than half the width of the contact bodies 34, 36. The connecting elements 40, 42 are designed to be so narrow that granule lateral impacts caused by the connecting elements 40, 42 in the circumferential direction are significantly reduced. This considerably reduces the number of granules G that leave the portioning chamber 14 between individual granule portions.

[0040] The portioning chamber 14 has an inlet opening 20 through which granules can enter the portioning chamber 14. The inlet opening 20 is located in a side wall 18 of the portioning chamber 14, which laterally delimits the portioning chamber 14 on an inlet side 64a. The connecting elements 40, 42 are located entirely on a chamber side 64b of the portioning chamber 14 opposite the inlet side 64a. The axial spacing between the inlet opening 20 and the connecting elements 40, 42 creates a clearance 66. Therefore, the connecting elements 40, 42 do not move directly past the inlet opening 20 during the rotation of the portioning rotor 24. Consequently, no shear point is created at the inlet opening 20 that could lead to jamming or additional wear of the inlet opening 20.Furthermore, the free space 66 prevents grain cross-bursts caused by unintentional contact between the connecting elements 40, 42 and granules G in the area of ​​the inlet opening 20.

[0041] Furthermore, the radially outer edge of the inlet opening 20 has a distance to the orbit 38 of the contact bodies 34, 36 that increases in the direction of rotation of the portioning rotor 24. A continuous transition is created between the area of ​​the inlet opening 20 swept by the contact bodies 34, 36 and the area not swept by the contact bodies 34, 36.

[0042] The outer surface 16 of the granule portioner 10 also has a V-shaped cross-section. This V-shaped cross-section builds up continuously in the section of the outer surface 16 located behind the outlet opening 22. This is achieved via a crescent-shaped surface 68 in the immediate vicinity of the outlet opening 22. Reference symbol list 10 granule dispensers 12 cases 14 Portioning chamber 16 Surface area 18 side wall 20 Entrance opening 22 Outlet opening 24 portioning rotor 26 Rotation axis 28 hub 30 Rotor drive 32a, 32b Portioning wings 34, 34a, 34b Contact body 36, 36a, 36b Contact body 38, 38a, 38b orbits 40, 40a, 40b Connecting links 42, 42a, 42b Connecting links 44a, 44b keystrokes 46a, 46b Radial suspensions 48a, 48b Radial gap 50a, 50b Axial columns 52a, 52b Axial gaps 54a, 54b Side cheeks 56a, 56b Side cheeks 58a, 58b Spring movements 60 gap width 62a, 62b Gap widths 64a, 64b Chamber page 66 free space 68 area G Granules

Claims

[1] Granule portioner (10) for an agricultural spreading machine, with - a portioning chamber (14) for forming granulate portions; and - a portioning rotor (24) arranged in the portioning chamber (14), which has at least one contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b), wherein the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) is designed to move along an orbital path (38, 38a, 38b) during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24) and to combine granules (G) located in the portioning chamber (14) to form a granule portion; characterized by that the portioning rotor (24) has an evasion mechanism which allows the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) to temporarily leave the orbit (38, 38a, 38b) during the rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24) in order to resolve and / or avoid jamming between the portioning rotor (24) and granules (G). [2] Granule portioner (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the evasive mechanism allows a radial evasive movement and / or an axial evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) to leave the orbit (38, 38a, 38b) during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24). [3] Granule portioner (10) according to claim 2, characterized by in that the evasive mechanism has a radial spring (46a, 46b) connected to the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b), which allows the radial evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) to leave the orbit (38, 38a, 38b) during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24). [4] Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the portioning rotor (24) comprises at least one portioning wing (32a, 32b), wherein the portioning wing (32a, 32b) has two contact bodies (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) which are movable relative to one another, wherein the deflection mechanism permits axial deflection movements of the two contact bodies (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b), by means of which the two contact bodies (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b), preferably independently of one another, can temporarily leave their orbit (38, 38a, 38b) during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24). [5] Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) has side cheeks (54a, 54b, 56a, 56b) which are elastically deformable or resiliently movable on one or both sides and which enable an axial deflection movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) in the direction of a side wall (18) of the portioning chamber (14) to continue even after a side cheek (54a, 54b, 56a, 56b) comes into contact with a side wall (18). [6] Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the portioning chamber (14) is delimited radially and / or axially at least in sections in the vicinity of the orbit (38, 38a, 38b) by an at least partially encircling surface (16), wherein the portioning rotor (24) is arranged in the portioning chamber (14) in such a way that - a radial gap (48a, 48b) is formed between the radially outer edge of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) and a portion of the lateral surface (16) which radially delimits the portioning chamber (14) at least in sections, and / or axial gaps (50a, 50b, 52a, 52b) are formed between the axially outer edges of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) and portions of the lateral surface (16) which axially delimit the portioning chamber (14) at least in sections, during the rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24), and - the gap width (60) of the radial gap (48a, 48b) and / or the axial gaps (50a, 50b, 52a, 52b) changes during an evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b). [7] Granule portioner (10) according to claim 6, characterized by that the portioning rotor (24) is arranged in the portioning chamber (14) in such a way that - the gap width (60) of the radial gap (48a, 48b) changes upon an evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) in the axial direction and / or upon an evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) in the radial direction; and / or - the gap widths (62a, 62b) of the axial gaps (50a, 50b, 52a, 52b) change in the event of an evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) in the axial direction and / or in the event of an evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) in the radial direction. [8] Granule portioner (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized byin that at least one axially outer edge of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) is inclined outwards, so that the axial gap (50a, 50b, 52a, 52b) between the axially outer edge of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) and a partial region of the lateral surface (16) which axially delimits the portioning chamber (14) at least in sections increases together with the radial gap (48a, 48b) during a radially inwardly directed evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b). [9] Granule portioner (10) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized byin that at least one partial region of the lateral surface (16) which at least partially axially delimits the portioning chamber (14) is inclined outwards, so that the axial gap (50a, 50b, 52a, 52b) between the axially outer edge of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) and the partial region of the lateral surface (16) which at least partially axially delimits the portioning chamber (14) increases together with the radial gap (48a, 48b) during a radially inwardly directed evasive movement of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b). [10] Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) is connected to a hub (28) of the portioning rotor (24) via a connecting member (40, 40a, 40b, 42, 42a, 42b) of a portioning wing (32a, 32b). [11] Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the portioning chamber (14) has an inlet opening (20) through which granules can enter the portioning chamber (14), wherein the inlet opening (20) is arranged in a side wall (18) of the portioning chamber (14) laterally delimiting the portioning chamber (14) on an inlet side (64a). [12] Granule portioner (10) according to claims 10 and 11, characterized by that the connecting member (40, 40a, 40b, 42, 42a, 42b) is arranged largely or completely on a chamber side (64b) of the portioning chamber (14) opposite the inlet side (64a). [13] Granule portioner (10) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by that the radially outer edge of the inlet opening (20) has a distance from the orbit (38, 38a, 38b) of the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) which increases in the direction of rotation of the portioning rotor (24). [14] Agricultural spreading machine for spreading granulate portions on an agricultural area, with - several granulate portioners (10) for producing granulate portions; characterized by that at least one granulate portioner (10) is designed according to one of the preceding claims. [15] Method for producing granulate portions by means of a granulate portioner (10), in particular by means of a granulate portioner (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising the steps: - introducing granules into a portioning chamber (14) of the granule portioner (10), - rotationally driving a portioning rotor (24) arranged in the portioning chamber; and - bringing together granules (G) located in the portioning chamber (14) by means of a contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) of the portioning rotor (24) which moves along an orbital path (38, 38a, 38b) during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24); characterized by that the contact body (34, 34a, 34b, 36, 36a, 36b) temporarily leaves the orbit (38, 38a, 38b) during the rotational movement of the portioning rotor (24) by means of an evasive mechanism of the portioning rotor (24) in order to release or prevent jamming between the portioning rotor (24) and granules (G).

Images