Leaf cutting device

Abstract

Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) on a device (7) movable along a plant or row of plants (9) for plant processing, wherein the leaf cutting device has several rotating or oscillating blades (8) by which parts of the foliage and branches of a plant or row of plants (9) can be cut, wherein the leaf cutting device has at least one blade bar (10) extending over the area of ​​the plant to be processed and the blades (8) are arranged adjacent to each other over the length of the blade bar (10) in a cutting plane (11) directed towards the plant, wherein the blades (8) can be covered by a protective device (12) cooperating with further housing parts or sheets of the blade bar, wherein the protective device (12) is a blade extending over the length of the blade bar (10),a hood is formed which is pivotable or movable along the longitudinal extent of the cutter bar and in the direction of the cutters and their cutting plane (11), wherein the hood, in the closed state, covers the cutters (8) at least in the cutting plane (11), characterized in that the protective device (12) designed as a pivotable or movable hood is concavely curved towards the cutting plane (11), which, in the open position, offers a convex outer contour that at least partially covers the rear of the cutter bar and the drive elements arranged therein.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a leaf cutting device on a plant processing device that can be moved along a plant or row of plants, wherein the leaf cutting device has a plurality of rotating or oscillating blades by means of which parts of the leaves and branches of a plant or row of plants can be trimmed, wherein the leaf cutting device has at least one blade bar extending over the area of ​​the plant to be worked on and the blades are each arranged adjacently over the length of the blade bar in a cutting plane directed towards the plant, wherein the blades can be covered with a protective device that interacts with other housing parts or sheets of the blade bar.

[0002] In particular, for the cultivation and processing of plants in row crops, such as in viticulture, fruit, hop and vegetable cultivation, plant processing equipment is required for efficient management, which is usually attached to an agricultural vehicle.

[0003] Such plant processing equipment, such as leaf cutters, sprayers or sprayers and defoliators, are often attached to the front (front attachments), the rear or the side of tractors and can be varied in their delivery to the plants or rows of plants to be processed in different directions.

[0004] Leaf trimmers are used to trim leaves and foliage, as well as protruding shoots, such as those of a vine, that extend into the path between two rows of vines. A leaf trimmer is often connected to a tractor's hydraulic or electric power supply.

[0005] The user drives the tractor along the side of the plant(s) so that one cutting area of ​​the cutting tool faces the plant(s) and removes any leaves, branches or shoots that extend into the cutting area.

[0006] For safety reasons, it is necessary that outside of the plant cultivation operation, i.e. when the cutting equipment is not in use, the corresponding tools or cutting tools can be transported and moved with the tractor in such a protected manner that there is no risk of injury to persons.

[0007] This is also important because tractors with attachments must also use normal traffic routes or access roads, which also requires that the distance between the processing equipment or its holders that protrude laterally beyond the vehicle during operation be reduced in order not to exceed any clearance widths or path widths during transport.

[0008] EP 1 443 815 B1 discloses a cutting bar for a leaf trimmer, into which cutting elements—here rotating cutting blades—mounted modularly on a shaft can be mounted. These cutting elements are driven either individually or jointly by a motor. Although parts of the cutting elements are covered at the rear with protective plates, this does not appear to provide adequate protection, for example, during transport or when not in use.

[0009] DE 20 2018 102 684 U1 discloses a leaf cutting device with multiple blade elements rotating around a blade axis. The blade elements are connected to each other via a coupling means and a tensioning element, enabling a common drive for all blade elements. A protective device covering the blade elements is not provided here.

[0010] DE 20 2018 102 684 U1 and DE 40 26 284 A1 disclose protective devices for a blade bar of a leaf cutting device, in which a cover part can be folded out of the cutting plane of the blades in front of the blade drive and, in the open position, is perpendicular to the cutting plane of the blades.

[0011] Such leaf trimmers are also known to have protective devices in the form of covers that are manually placed over the cutting elements after cutting and screwed to the frame or blade bar. Before doing so, the blades themselves often have to be rotated into a position that allows the attachment of such protective covers. The risk of injury during such activities is by no means negligible.

[0012] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a leaf trimmer having improved protective devices which can be easily activated when the cutting devices are not in use and which ensure that there is no risk of injury to persons, whereby in particular accident-prone manual activities for activating the protection are to be avoided.

[0013] This problem is solved by the features of the main claim. Further advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the subclaims.

[0014] In a leaf cutting device having at least one blade bar extending over the area of ​​the plant to be trimmed, and in which the blades are each arranged adjacently along the length of the blade bar in a cutting plane directed towards the plant, the protective device according to the invention is designed as a hood extending over the length of the blade bar, which hood can be pivoted or moved along the longitudinal extent of the blade bar and in the direction of the blades and their cutting plane. When closed, the hood thus designed covers the blades at least in the cutting plane. The hood can be mounted for pivoting or moving, for example, at the ends of the blade bar.

[0015] Such a hood, which is attached and mounted at the ends of the knife bar, can be easily pivoted or moved towards the cutting plane without any manual work having to be carried out on the knives themselves or within the cutting plane. At the same time, by covering the cutting plane, it offers reliable protection so that the knife tips in particular do not protrude freely.

[0016] This applies in particular to a further development in which the foliage cutting device has a plurality of rotating or oscillating blades by means of which parts of the foliage and branches can be trimmed laterally simultaneously on opposite sides of a plant or row of plants, wherein the foliage cutting device has at least two movable, opposite blade bars extending substantially vertically over the cutting height, and the blades are each arranged adjacently over the length of the blade bars in a cutting plane directed towards the plant in such a way that the blades of the blade bars are opposite one another.

[0017] Such a leaf cutterbar with opposing cutter bars and opposing blades or cutting tools is used for cultivating and processing plants in row crops, such as vineyards. The cutter bars can be moved toward each other after cutting or during transport so that the blades are positioned directly opposite each other at the shortest possible distance, while the cutting planes of the cutter bars are covered on both sides by protective hoods and guards.

[0018] A further advantageous embodiment consists in providing rotating blades with an overlapping cutting area or cutting cross-section, whose respective cutting planes are offset from one another. This allows the number of blades on the blade bar to be increased and the cutting speed to be increased. At the same time, an increase in the number of blades also poses further risks for any manually attached covers, so the pivoting or movable hood according to the invention, which covers the blades, is particularly suitable here.

[0019] A further advantageous design is that the protective device, designed as a pivoting hood, covers the rear of the blades when closed in the areas not covered by other housing parts or sheets, for example, covering approximately half the cutting area or blade radius. This means that the device is also covered on the rear when closed, and with two blade bars directly opposite each other and positioned close together, the blade area is covered all around. This design offers comprehensive protection while keeping the hood lightweight.

[0020] A further advantageous feature is that the guard, designed as a pivoting or movable hood, is mounted at both ends of the blade bar with parallelogram links. This type of mounting allows the hood to be pivoted or moved in the same orientation, i.e., without rotating around itself or around one of its longitudinal axes, toward the blades. Parallelogram links make it very easy to implement different spatial pivoting movements or curves for the guard or hood.

[0021] A further advantageous design is that the hood can be pivoted or moved by at least one linear drive linked to the cutter bar or its support and hood. This design allows for very simple automation without further manual access when the protective hood needs to be closed. Especially in conjunction with the hood's mounting in the form of a parallelogram linkage or gear, any spatial curve can be traversed by applying unidirectional or linear force. In a very simple and space-saving construction, the parallelogram links are designed as flat bars and are linked on the one hand to an end plate of the cutter bar and on the other hand to an end plate of the protective device designed as a hood.

[0022] A further advantageous design is that the hood can be pivoted or moved by a linear drive that is connected to the cutter bar on one side and to the protective device designed as a hood on the other. The linear drive is thus easily positioned outside the cutting area and its design can be easily adapted to the entire processing system.

[0023] Another advantageous design is that the linear drive is designed as a hydraulic cylinder or as an electric or electromagnetically driven actuator cylinder. Agricultural vehicles carrying plant cultivation equipment typically have either hydraulic or electric drive systems, so the drive of the protective hood can also be easily integrated into the vehicle's overall power supply and conveniently operated from the driver's cab.

[0024] Another advantageous design is that one of the end positions of the pivoting or movable hood can be moved to by spring loading. This design can reduce the size of the linear drive, particularly in a very lightweight design, or even reduce its weight simply by eliminating the need for controls for double-sided operation.

[0025] A further advantageous design is that the hood is concavely curved toward the cutting plane. This not only provides secure and extensive coverage of the cutting plane and the rotating blades, but also, when the hood is open, creates a convex outer contour that at least partially covers the rear of the blade bar and the drive elements located therein, thus deflecting severed plant parts during cutting.

[0026] A further advantageous design is that the protective device, which extends the length of the cutter bar and is designed as a hood, has two end plates connected by slats extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and the length of the cutter bar. Especially with a hood that is concavely curved to the cutting plane, such a slatted construction allows for easy shaping of the hood wall and simple replacement of individual wall sections in the event of any damage to the hood. Alternatively, a suitably shaped hood, e.g., made of aluminum or sheet steel, can be used.

[0027] As already mentioned, such a leaf cutting device is particularly well-suited for use on an agricultural vehicle in which at least two opposing blade bars extending vertically across the cutting height are designed and movable relative to each other in such a way that, when the protective device, designed as a pivoting hood, is closed, the housing parts or sheets of the blade bars and the pivoting or movable hood completely cover all cutting planes. The closing of the protective device can then be remotely controlled from the driver's cab.

[0028] The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1 leaf cutting devices according to the invention with a holder and a support frame for the leaf cutting devices, Fig. 2 which in Fig. 1 shown leaf cutting devices in a plan view from above, Fig. 3 which in Fig. 1 shown leaf cutting devices in a view in working condition, Fig. 4 which in Fig. 1 shown leaf cutting devices in a top view in working condition, Fig. 5 a view of a leaf cutting device in the longitudinal direction of the blade bar with the protective device open, Fig. 6 a view of a leaf cutting device in the longitudinal direction of the blade bar according to Fig. 5, but with closed protective device, Fig. 7 a further view of a leaf cutting device in the longitudinal direction of the blade bar with the guard closed, Fig. 8 a view of a leaf cutting device in the longitudinal direction of the blade bar according to Fig. 7, but with the protective device open, Fig. 9 a view of a leaf cutting device according to Fig. 7, in the upper part in the longitudinal direction of the cutter bar, in the lower part perpendicular to the cutter bar as seen from the cutting plane, each with the guard closed, Fig. 10 a view of a leaf cutting device according to Fig. 7, in the upper part in the longitudinal direction of the cutter bar, in the lower part perpendicular to the cutter bar as seen from the cutting plane, each with the protective device open.

[0029] The Fig. Figure 1 shows four leaf cutting devices 1 to 6 according to the invention, which are arranged on a device 7 for plant processing, designed as a holder and support frame for the leaf cutting devices. The device, including the leaf cutting devices, is arranged in the front or rear area of ​​an agricultural vehicle (not shown in detail here) and can thus be moved along a plant or row of plants. Each of the leaf cutting devices 1 to 6 has several rotating blades, by means of which parts of the foliage and branches of a plant or row of plants can be trimmed. The arrangement and design of the blades, some of which are not visible in the figure, are shown below. The leaf cutting devices 1, 2, 5 and 6 are designed as vertically oriented cutting devices, while the leaf cutting devices 3 and 4 are designed as horizontally oriented leaf cutting devices.

[0030] Fig. 2 shows the Fig. 1 in a top view. This shows, among other things, that the leaf cutting devices 1 and 2, as well as 5 and 6, each represent individual leaf cutting devices that are moved together into a rest position so that their rotating blades 8 are directly opposite each other.

[0031] Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show the Fig. 1, also in a front view and in a plan view from above, but in a state in which the leaf cutting devices 1 and 2 as well as 5 and 6 are each moved apart such that they are positioned on both sides of a plant or row of plants 9 located between them. The figures show a situation with the protective devices 12 open and covering the rear of the blades 8, wherein the rotating blades 8 are exposed. In this setting, a plant or row of plants 9 located between the rotating blades 8 can be freed of excess branches and leaves on both sides.

[0032] In summary, the Fig. 1 to 4 as well as 9 and 10, it can be seen that the respective leaf cutting device 1 to 6 has a blade bar 10 extending over a region of the plant 9 to be treated. In the vertically arranged leaf cutting devices 1, 2, 5 and 6, the respective blade bar is vertical and extends approximately over the cutting height of the plant or row of plants to be treated. The blades 8 are each arranged adjacently over the length of the blade bar 10 in a cutting plane 11 directed towards the plant, as can also be seen in conjunction with the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 becomes clear. Section plane 11 is a section plane averaged from individual section planes, as explained below.

[0033] The vertically positioned cutter bars 10 of the vertical foliage cutting devices 1, 2, 5, and 6 thus have rotating blades 8 arranged vertically one above the other, each of which lies in one of the vertical cutting planes 11. The rotating blades of the foliage cutting devices 1, 2, 5, and 6 laterally cut parts of the foliage and branches on opposite sides of a plant or row of plants 9. For this purpose, two of the movable or adjustable cutter bars 10, which are opposite one another and extend vertically across the cutting height, are arranged adjacent to one another in such a way that the blades 8 are opposite one another to the left and right of the row of plants 9.

[0034] The blade bars 10 of the horizontal leaf cutting devices 3 and 4, on the other hand, are arranged horizontally and have rotating blades 8 arranged horizontally next to one another, each of which lies in a horizontal cutting plane 11.

[0035] The blade bar 10 and the respective arrangement of the blades 8 can be best seen in the Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the respective cutting planes 11 are shown in the Fig. 5 to 10 are shown more clearly.

[0036] In conjunction with the Fig. 7 to 10 also shows that the protective device 12 interacts with other housing parts or sheets of the knife bar 10 and, in the closed state, covers the knives 8 on three sides, namely covering approximately half the knife radius of the knives 8 in the areas not covered by other housing parts or sheets.

[0037] According to the invention, the protective device 12 is designed as a hood extending over the length of the cutter bar 10, mounted at the ends of the cutter bar, pivotable or movable along the longitudinal extent of the cutter bar and in the direction of the blades 8 and their cutting plane 11, wherein the hood, in the closed state, covers the rear of the blades 8 up to at least the cutting plane 11. The protective device 12 designed as a hood is concavely curved towards the cutting plane and thus not only provides a protective function in the closed state, but also has a deflection function for cutting material when opened. To clarify this, Fig. 5, Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 also indicates the respective cutting direction 13.

[0038] Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 each show a closed protective device 12, while Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 each show a protective device 12 open in the operating state, i.e. during cutting of the plant 9.

[0039] In the Fig. 7 to 10 it can also be seen that the rotating blades 8 of the foliage cutting device are arranged in such a way that an overlapping cutting area or cutting cross-section 14 is produced, as shown by way of example in the Fig. 10. For this purpose, the respective individual cutting planes of adjacent knives are slightly offset from each other, so that in relation to the plant or row of plants 9, a cutting plane 11 is obtained which is the average of the individual cutting planes. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, however, only individual knives 8 are shown for simplification.

[0040] Fig. 5 to 8 illustrate the function and movement of the protective device 12 designed as a pivoting hood. The protective device 12 is mounted at both ends of the knife bar 10 with parallelogram links 15 and can be pivoted or moved in the direction of the knives and the cutting plane by a linear drive 16 linked to the knife bar and hood, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. The parallelogram links are designed as flat bars and are provided in pairs at both ends of the protective device or the blade bar, i.e. at the upper and lower ends of the vertical leaf cutting devices 1, 2, 5 and 6.

[0041] For this purpose, both the protective device 12, designed as a hood, and the cutter bar each have end plates 17, 18 to which the parallelogram links are hinged. The linear drive 16 is designed as a hydraulic cylinder.

[0042] The protective device 12, which extends over the length of the cutter bar 10 and is designed as a hood, consists of slats 19 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and over the length of the cutter bar 10, which are arranged between the two end plates 17 and are preferably detachably connected to them. The slats and the structure of the hood are best seen in Fig. 5 to 10.

[0043] In summary, the Fig.1 to 4, it can be seen that the device 7, designed as a support frame for the leaf cutters, has adjustable mounts 20, with the aid of which the leaf cutters 1 to 6 can be moved horizontally on both sides. An adjustable central support beam 21, which also belongs to the device 7, also allows all the leaf cutters to be adjusted in height. Using the mounts 20 and the support beam 21, the leaf cutters can be positioned toward the respective plant or row of plants 9 in such a way that a precise cut is achieved. List of reference symbols 1- 6 leaf cutting device 7 Plant processing equipment, holder 8 rotating blades 9 plant, plant row 10 knife bars 11 Cutting plane 12 Protective device 13 Cutting direction 14 Cross-section of a knife 15 parallelogram handlebars 16 Linear drive (hydraulic cylinder) 17 End plate of the knife bar 18 End plate of the protective device 19 slats 20 adjustable bracket 21 adjustable support beam

Claims

[1] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) on a device (7) for plant processing that can be moved along a plant or row of plants (9), wherein the leaf cutting device has a plurality of rotating or oscillating blades (8) by means of which parts of the leaves and branches of a plant or row of plants (9) can be trimmed, wherein the leaf cutting device has at least one blade bar (10) extending over the area of ​​the plant to be processed and the blades (8) are each arranged adjacently over the length of the blade bar (10) in a cutting plane (11) directed towards the plant, wherein the blades (8) can be covered with a protective device (12) that interacts with further housing parts or sheets of the blade bar, wherein the protective device (12) is designed as aa hood is formed which can be pivoted or moved along the longitudinal extent of the knife bar and in the direction of the knives and their cutting plane (11), the hood in the closed state covering the knives (8) at least in the cutting plane (11), characterized by that the protective device (12) designed as a pivoting or movable hood is concavely curved towards the cutting plane (11) and, in the open position, offers a convex outer contour which at least partially covers the rear side of the cutter bar and the drive elements arranged therein. [2] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to claim 1, which has a plurality of rotating or oscillating blades (8) by means of which parts of the foliage and branches on opposite sides of a plant or row of plants (9) can be trimmed laterally, wherein the leaf cutting device (1, 2, 5, 6) has at least two movable, oppositely disposed blade bars (10) extending substantially vertically over the cutting height, and the blades (8) are each arranged adjacently over the length of the blade bars (10) in a cutting plane (11) directed towards the plant or row of plants (9) such that the blades of both blade bars (10) are opposite one another. [3] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to claim 1 or 2, in which rotating blades (8) with an overlapping cutting cross-section (14) are provided, the respective individual cutting planes of which are offset from one another. [4] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the protective device (12) designed as a hood, in the closed state, covers the blades (8) at the rear in the areas not covered by further housing parts or sheets. [5] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the protective device (12) designed as a pivotable or movable hood is mounted at both ends of the cutter bar (10) with parallelogram links (15) and is pivotable or movable in the direction of the blades (8) and the cutting plane (11). [6] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to claim 5, wherein the protective device (12) designed as a pivotable or movable hood is pivotable or movable by at least one linear drive (16) articulated on the cutter bar and hood. [7] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to claim 5 or 6, in which the protective device (12) designed as a pivotable or movable hood is pivotable or movable by a linear drive (16) which is articulated on the one hand to an end plate (18) of the cutter bar (10) and on the other hand to an end plate (17) of the protective device (12). [8] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the linear drive (16) is designed as a hydraulic cylinder or as an electrically or electromagnetically driven actuating cylinder. [9] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to one of claims 6 to 8, in which one of the end positions of the protective device (12) designed as a pivotable or movable hood can be approached in a spring-loaded manner. [10] Leaf cutting device (1 - 6) according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the protective device (12) extending over the length of the cutter bar and designed as a hood has two end plates (17) which are connected to one another by slats (19) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and over the length of the cutter bar (10). [11] Device (7) for plant processing with at least one foliage cutting device (1-6) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the device (7) has means for its attachment to an agricultural vehicle and the leaf cutting device is connected to the device (7) via adjustable brackets (20) and support beams (21). [12] Device according to claim 11, in which at least two opposing leaf cutting devices (1, 2, 5, 6) are provided, each extending vertically over a cutting height, the cutter bars (10), blades (8) and protective devices (12) of which are designed and movable or pivotable relative to one another in such a way that, in the closed state of the protective device (12) designed as a pivotable or movable hood, the housing parts or sheets of the cutter bars and the pivotable hood completely cover the cutting planes (11) of the opposing leaf cutting devices (1, 2, 5, 6). [13] Agricultural vehicle with a device according to claim 11 or 12, in which the drives of the adjustable holders and support beams as well as the pivoting drive (16) of the protective device (12) designed as a pivoting or movable hood are designed to be remotely controlled from the driver's cab of the vehicle. [14] Agricultural vehicle according to claim 13, in which the power supply of the drives of the adjustable brackets and support beams as well as of the pivoting drive of the protective device designed as a pivoting or movable hood is provided from the vehicle.

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