Attachment for harvesting crops standing in rows

Abstract

The present invention relates to a header (1) for harvesting crops growing in rows. The header (1) comprises several picking units (5) arranged side by side and several cover elements (4) arranged side by side, each cover element (4) covering a gap between two adjacent picking units (5). Each cover element (4) comprises a front cover tip (8) and a rear cover hood (9), the cover tip (8) being pivotably mounted on the cover hood (9) and being pivotable relative to the cover hood (9) between a working position (A) and a transport position (T). The header (1) is characterized in that each cover element (4) comprises a locking device (13) designed to fix the cover tip (8) in its transport position (T).The locking device (13) comprises a spring-loaded locking element (14) which is assigned to the cover (9) and which engages in a locking receptacle (15) assigned to the cover tip (8) in the transport position (T).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a front attachment for harvesting crops standing in rows according to the preamble of independent patent claim 1 and to an agricultural harvesting machine with such a front attachment according to the preamble of independent patent claim 13.

[0002] Front attachments of the type mentioned above are used to harvest rows of stalked crops, such as corn, sunflowers, or the like. The front attachments have crop pickup and / or crop intake devices comprising paired picking rollers, each forming a picking spout between them. The stalked crop, arranged in rows at specific intervals from one another, is fed to the picking units arranged on the front attachment with their axes parallel to one another and extending essentially parallel to the rows of crop. To ensure precise and as loss-free a feed as possible of the stalked crop, i.e., without loss of fruit clusters or sprayed grain, so-called cover elements are arranged above the picking units. These cover elements consist of cover tips and cover hoods and cover the picking units in sections.When the front attachment is in its operating position, the front covering tips are essentially aligned with a covering hood located behind each covering tip. The front covering tips serve to guide the plants arranged in rows towards the picking units. A channel is formed between two adjacent covering hoods through which the picking units guide the plants. The fruit is separated from the stems using picking plates, and the remaining fruit is guided through the channels to a conveyor located behind the picking units. The surface of the covering hood is usually smooth and convex. The harvested crop is conveyed along this surface in the channels towards the conveyor.

[0003] The covering tips usually extend beyond the front end of the picking units to effectively guide the plants arranged in rows towards the picking units. However, this increased length is disadvantageous when the combine harvester is moved from one location to another, for example from a farm to a field or from one field to another, and the header has to be transported from the harvester, for example by means of a transport wagon, on public roads and paths. During transport of the header, particularly when it is transported from the harvester by means of a transport wagon, the covering tips are aligned in the vehicle width direction, whereby the legal regulations, in particular those regarding the permissible width, on public roads and paths must be observed.

[0004] In order to be able to take this mandatory requirement into account, it is known to move the cover elements as a whole or the cover tip in detail into a so-called transport position, in which the cover tip protrudes less far beyond the front end of the picking units during transport.

[0005] For example, US 6,513,313 B1 discloses an attachment for harvesting crops standing in rows, in which the cover hood and the cover tip are raised together by the row units in order to reduce the overhang of the cover tips.

[0006] While this reduces the overhang of the cover tips, this design of the cover elements is disadvantageous in that considerable force must be applied by an operator to move both the cover tip and the cover hood together into the transport position. Furthermore, the various connection points of the cover hood / supporting structure and the cover tip / cover hood are exposed to considerable forces during transport of the attachment, meaning that the cover element must be designed to absorb such forces in the transport position without damaging the cover element or the connection points. Furthermore, a complex mechanism is required to move both the cover tip and the cover hood simultaneously into the transport position and secure them there.

[0007] Based on this, it is therefore the object of the present invention to eliminate the described disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to design and further develop an attachment for harvesting crops standing in rows in such a way that the covering elements can assume a transport position in order to comply with the legal requirements during transport, whereby moving and securing the covering elements in the transport position is particularly uncomplicated, requires little effort but is also reliable.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of independent patent claim 1, wherein advantageous developments of the attachment according to the invention are the subject of the corresponding dependent patent claims 2 to 12.

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a front attachment for harvesting crops standing in rows. The front attachment comprises a plurality of picking units arranged next to one another and a plurality of covering elements arranged next to one another, each covering element covering a distance between two picking units arranged next to one another. Each covering element comprises a front covering tip and a rear covering hood, the covering tip being pivotably mounted on the covering hood and being pivotable relative to the covering hood between a working position and a transport position. The front attachment is characterized in that each covering element comprises a locking device designed to fix the covering tip in its transport position.The locking device comprises a spring-loaded locking element which is assigned to the cover hood and which, in the transport position of the cover tip, engages in a locking receptacle assigned to the cover tip.

[0010] The inventive design of the attachment with a cover tip that can be pivoted between a working position and a transport position and a locking device associated with the cover element for securing the cover tip in its transport position offers a number of advantages. On the one hand, this structural design of the attachment orof the cover element, it can be achieved that the attachment can be designed in a way that is suitable for transport, which ensures that legal requirements are met during transport, but that relocation for transport can be carried out easily and with little effort, and on the other hand that the cover tip is reliably and releasably fixed in the transport position, so that the cover tip can be quickly moved from its working position to its transport position and vice versa. In addition, the cover tip is laterally stabilized by the locking device during transport, and some of the forces acting on the cover tip are absorbed by the locking device, so that the bearing point of the cover tip and cover hood is not excessively stressed.

[0011] According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the cover hood projects at least partially into the cover tip, wherein the locking device is arranged in the overlapping area of ​​the cover hood and the cover tip.

[0012] By locating the locking device in the overlap area between the cover and the cover tip, a particularly space-saving positioning of the locking device is achieved, ensuring good accessibility for the operator when moving the cover tip from its transport position back to the working position. Furthermore, the arrangement in the overlap area ensures that the locking device is positioned close to the bearing point of the cover tip and cover hood, which makes it possible to absorb some of the forces acting on the cover tip and thus on the bearing point of the cover tip and cover hood during the transport process.

[0013] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the locking device comprises a receiving element arranged on the inside of the cover tip, wherein the receiving element encompasses the locking receptacle. The receiving element is designed to guide the spring-loaded locking element laterally, at least in sections, toward the locking receptacle and to load it counter to the spring force when the cover tip pivots from its working position to its transport position.

[0014] The use of an additional receiving element on the inside of the cover tip ensures, on the one hand, the reliable guidance and movement of the spring-loaded locking element, which ultimately ensures that the spring-loaded locking element engages in the locking receptacle when the cover tip reaches the transport position. Thus, when the cover tip is pivoted from the working position to the transport position, the spring-loaded locking element temporarily slides over the receiving element, essentially immediately before reaching the locking receptacle, and is guided and moved accordingly, so that locking occurs when the transport position is reached. In addition to this function of guiding and moving the spring-loaded locking element, the use of the additional receiving element ensures that the inside of the cover tip is not subjected to unnecessary stress and thus wear.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, it is provided that no such receiving element is arranged on the inside of the cover tip, but rather the locking receptacle is formed directly in the cover tip and the guidance and movement of the spring-loaded locking element takes place via a corresponding shaping on the inside of the cover tip.

[0016] Preferably, the receiving element is fork-shaped, with the receiving element comprising a first and a second leg connected to one another via a web. The locking receptacle is formed centrally between the legs in the web of the receiving element. The receiving element comprises a tab inclined relative to the legs of the receiving element for guiding the spring-loaded locking element in the direction of the locking receptacle and for loading the spring-loaded locking element against the spring force.

[0017] The fork-shaped design of the additional receiving element particularly advantageously ensures the previously described guidance and movement of the spring-loaded locking element, since the combination of two legs, a tab inclined toward them, and the central design of the locking receptacle in the web simultaneously realizes the functions of lateral guidance of the spring-loaded locking element toward the locking receptacle and movement of the spring-loaded locking element against the spring force. Furthermore, this structural design of the receiving element allows for particularly uncomplicated attachment to the inside of the cover tip, which can be achieved either in a form-fitting, force-fitting, and / or material-fitting manner, preferably via the legs and the web.

[0018] If no receiving element is provided on the inside of the cover tip in the alternative embodiment, the inside of the cover tip can be shaped according to this embodiment.

[0019] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the cover tip has a shape on its inside in certain regions, in which the spring-loaded locking element is arranged in the working position of the cover tip. The shape is designed such that the spring-loaded locking element can be guided laterally, at least in sections, in the direction of the locking receptacle when the cover tip is pivoted from its working position to its transport position.

[0020] Preferably, the shape is in the form of a groove.

[0021] The additional shaping on the inside of the cover tip ensures that the spring-loaded locking element is guided laterally towards the locking receptacle at the beginning of the cover tip pivoting process from the working position to the transport position and vice versa. In addition to this guiding function, the shaping can also form a stop against which the spring-loaded locking element rests in a set minimum working position of the cover tip. This ensures, particularly during assembly of the cover element, that the cover tip cannot pivot relative to the cover hood below this minimum working position and, at the same time, cannot shift laterally thanks to the lateral guidance. This reduces incorrect positioning during assembly of the cover element and thus simplifies assembly of the cover element overall.

[0022] It is further preferably provided that the shape on the inside of the cover tip is aligned with the tab of the receiving element arranged on the inside of the cover tip.

[0023] This reliably ensures that when the cover tip pivots from its working position to its transport position, the spring-loaded locking element hits the tab and is thus moved against the spring force, ensuring the locking engagement of the spring-loaded locking element in the locking receptacle. In addition, the spring-loaded locking element is reliably guided laterally throughout the entire pivoting movement of the cover tip.

[0024] If no receiving element is provided on the inside of the cover tip in the alternative embodiment, the previously described shape on the inside of the cover tip would be aligned with the shape on the inside of the cover tip comprising the locking receptacle, so that in this case too, the spring-loaded locking element is guided laterally toward the locking receptacle along the entire pivoting movement of the cover tip, starting from its working position into its transport position. In such a configuration, a surface on the inside of the cover tip, along which the spring-loaded locking element slides, could be provided with an additional coating to reduce wear on the cover tip.

[0025] According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the spring-loaded locking element comprises an actuating section for releasing the locking device in the transport position of the cover tip.

[0026] It is preferably provided that the actuating section is designed as a hand lever.

[0027] This allows the operator to particularly easily release the locking device for the cover tip in the transport position and return the cover tip to its working position.

[0028] According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that the spring-loaded locking element is formed from a bolt surrounded by a spiral spring.

[0029] The design of the spring-loaded locking element in the form of a spiral spring surrounding a bolt creates a particularly space-saving solution for a locking device, which, however, ensures that the cover tip is always locked in a stable and secure manner in the transport position.

[0030] According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is provided that each cover element comprises a support frame which is pivotably mounted on a frame structure of the attachment between a working position and a maintenance position, wherein the cover hood is fixed to the support frame.

[0031] The support frame to which the cover is attached ensures that the cover element as a whole has the necessary stability and rigidity to ensure proper operation of the front attachment in both the working and transport positions. Furthermore, the support frame ensures that the entire cover element can be moved into a maintenance position, allowing good access to the front attachment's picking units.

[0032] According to an advantageous development of the invention, each cover element comprises an adjustment device by means of which the working position of the cover tip can be adjusted. The adjustment device comprises a bracket pivotally mounted on the support frame of the cover element and a pull rod on which a threaded sleeve is adjustably arranged. The pull rod is pivotally mounted on the cover, and the threaded sleeve is coupled to the bracket. In its working position, the cover tip rests on the bracket.

[0033] The additional adjustment device allows the height of the bracket to be adjusted by adjusting the threaded sleeve on the drawbar and the corresponding coupling of the threaded sleeve and the bracket, thereby adjusting the working position of the cover tip. The adjustment device therefore allows the working position of the cover tip to be determined in a particularly simple and straightforward manner and with little effort. The method of adjustment ensures that the various cover tips of the various cover elements arranged next to each other can be moved into an essentially identical working position before the start of the harvesting process.

[0034] According to an advantageous development of the invention, each cover element is assigned a locking device, by means of which the support frame of the cover element can be secured in its working position. The locking device comprises a plate-shaped receiving element with a recess, connected to the frame structure of the attachment, and a hand lever pivotably coupled to the receiving element. In the working position of the support frame, a locking element formed on the support frame engages in the recess of the receiving element and is locked by means of the hand lever.

[0035] It is preferably provided that in the maintenance position of the support frame of the cover element, the locking mechanism is released and the support frame is fixed by a stabilizing element.

[0036] Preferably, the stabilizing element is a gas pressure spring or the like.

[0037] The locking device ensures that the support frame and thus also the cover element as a whole can be reliably secured in their working position, while at the same time providing an easy way to release this fixation in order to then move said support frame and thus also said cover element into the maintenance position. To release and fix the support frame and thus also the cover element, only the hand lever needs to be operated with little effort, so that the lock between the support frame and the locking device is adjusted or released. The use of an additional stabilizing element further ensures that the cover element is always held stable in the maintenance position during a maintenance process. This means that no additional components are required to fix the cover element during a maintenance process, thus allowing the maintenance process to be carried out easily.

[0038] Furthermore, the object of the invention is achieved by an agricultural harvesting machine with such an attachment according to independent patent claim 13.

[0039] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures.

[0040] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic and exemplary view of an attachment according to the invention for harvesting crops standing in rows; Fig. 2 a schematic and exemplary partial sectional view through the attachment according to the invention, wherein a covering tip of the attachment according to the invention is shown simultaneously in different working positions and its transport position; Fig. 3 a schematic and exemplary representation of a partial area of ​​the cover tip of the attachment according to the invention, wherein a receiving element of a locking device of the attachment according to the invention is shown; Fig. 4 a schematic and exemplary partial sectional view through the attachment according to the invention, wherein an adjustment device and a locking device of the attachment according to the invention are shown; and Fig. 5 a schematic and exemplary partial representation of the attachment according to the invention, wherein a cover element of the attachment according to the invention is shown in the maintenance position.

[0041] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic and exemplary representation of an attachment 1 according to the invention for harvesting crops standing in rows in a plan view. The attachment 1 is used in particular for harvesting corn or similar grains. The attachment 1 represents a picking attachment for an agricultural harvesting machine (not explicitly shown in the figures), such as a combine harvester or a forage harvester. Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a combine harvester's feeder 2 is arranged downstream of the front attachment 1, which can feed the harvested crop, for example, corn cobs, to the processing section of the combine harvester or forage harvester, which is supported on the ground via ground engagement means. Such front attachments are known from the prior art.

[0042] The front attachment 1 comprises a frame structure 3, multi-part, preferably two-part, cover elements 4, adjacent picking units 5 with paired picking rollers 6, which are arranged below the cover elements 4 that partially cover them, and cross conveyor devices, for example cross conveyor screws 7, located behind the picking units 5. The cover elements 4 serve, on the one hand, to improve stalk guidance in the area of ​​the picking units 5 and, on the other hand, to prevent excessive contamination and excessive grain loss during the harvesting process. For this purpose, the gaps between two adjacent picking units 5 are shielded or covered by said cover elements 4. The cover elements 4 each comprise a front cover tip 8 and a rear cover hood 9, with the cover tip 8 being pivotably mounted on the cover hood 9.The cover tip 8 can be pivoted between a working position A and a transport position T. The pivoting is preferably carried out manually by an operator. The working position A, which can be adjusted as described below, and the transport position T are shown in . Fig. 2 is shown as an example.

[0043] The rear covering hood 9 projects at least partially into the front covering tip 8, thereby forming an overlap region 10 between the covering hood 9 and the covering tip 8. The covering tip 8 and the covering hood 9 of a covering element 4 are aligned flush with one another. The covering hood 9 is designed as a hollow profile that is axially symmetrical to the longitudinal axis of the covering hood 9 and open downwards. The covering hood 9 has an arcuate profile that extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The extent of the covering hood 9 is essentially constant, starting from a front end facing the covering tip 8 to a rear end facing the frame structure 3. In addition to the covering elements 4 that cover the distances between two picking units 5 arranged next to one another, there are also outer covering elements 11 that likewise comprise a front covering tip and a rear covering hood.To deliver the picked crop to the elevator 2 of the combine harvester or forage harvester, the frame structure 3 has a substantially centrally located opening. A channel 12 is formed between two adjacent cover hoods 9, through which the crop separated from the stalks by the picking units 5 is guided to the cross conveyor augers 7.

[0044] In order to fix the cover tip 8 in its transport position T, a locking device 13 is provided according to the invention, which is inserted into the Fig. 2 to 4 as an example. Although the locking device 13 is described below with reference to the cover elements 4 of the attachment 1, the locking device 13 and the further described aspects of the invention are equally applicable to the outer cover elements 11.

[0045] To fix the cover tip 8 in its transport position T, the locking device 13 comprises a spring-loaded locking element 14, which is assigned to the cover hood 9 and which, in the transport position T of the cover tip 8, engages in a locking receptacle 15 assigned to the cover tip 8. The locking device 13 is arranged in the overlapping area 10 of the cover hood 9 and the cover tip 8. As shown in particular in Fig. 3, the locking device 13 can comprise a receiving element 16, which is arranged or fastened on the inside of the covering tip 8 or on the inside of the covering tip 8, i.e. on the surface of the covering tip 8 facing in the direction of the picking units 5. The fastening of the receiving element 16 can optionally be effected in a force-fitting, form-fitting and / or material-fitting manner, for example by screwing the receiving element 16 to the covering tip 8. The receiving element 16 comprises the locking receptacle 15, into which the spring-loaded locking element 14 engages in the transport position T of the covering tip 8.The receiving element 16 is further configured to guide the spring-loaded locking element 14 laterally, at least in sections, toward the locking receptacle 15 when the cover tip 8 pivots from its working position A into its transport position T, and to load it against the spring force, so that the spring-loaded locking element 14 engages the locking receptacle 15 in a locking manner upon reaching it. The receiving element 16 is preferably made of a metal, particularly preferably a steel alloy, and is formed as a sheet metal.

[0046] In an embodiment which is particularly suitable in Fig. 3, the receiving element 16 is fork-shaped. The fork-shaped structure of the receiving element 16 is formed by a first leg 17A and a second leg 17B of the receiving element 16, which are connected to one another via a web 17C. The locking receptacle 15 is formed in the web 17C of the receiving element 16 centrally between the two legs 17A, 17B. For the partial lateral guidance of the spring-loaded locking element 14 in the direction of the locking receptacle 15 and for loading the spring-loaded locking element 14 against the spring force, the receiving element 16 comprises a tab 18 formed between the two legs 17A, 17B of the receiving element 16, which tab is inclined relative to both legs 17A, 17B of the receiving element 16.When the cover tip 8 is pivoted from the working position A into the transport position T, the spring-loaded locking element 14 is temporarily guided laterally in the direction of the locking receptacle 15 via an interaction of the tab 18 and the two legs 17A, 17B on the one hand and loaded against the spring force on the other hand, whereby a locking engagement of the spring-loaded locking element 14 in the locking receptacle 15 is possible.

[0047] The cover tip 8 has a shape 19 in some areas on the inside, in which the spring-loaded locking element 14 is arranged in the working position A of the cover tip 8. The shape 19 is designed such that the spring-loaded locking element 14 is guided laterally at least in sections in the direction of the locking receptacle 15 when the cover tip 8 is pivoted from its working position A into its transport position T. In addition to this guiding function, the shape 19 can also form a stop 20 against which the spring-loaded locking element 14 rests in a set minimum working position A of the cover tip 8. This ensures, particularly during assembly of the cover element 4, that the cover tip 8 cannot pivot relative to the cover hood 9 below this minimum working position A, which leads to simplified assembly of the cover element 4.Said shaping 19 on the inside of the cover tip 8 preferably takes the form of a groove, as in . Fig. 3. If the receiving element 16 has the fork-shaped configuration described above, the shape 19 on the inside of the cover tip 8 is substantially aligned with the tab 18 of the receiving element 16 arranged on the inside of the cover tip 8. As a result, the spring-loaded locking element 14 is guided laterally in the direction of the locking receptacle 15 along the entire pivoting movement of the cover tip 8, starting from its working position A into its transport position T.

[0048] As an alternative to the arrangement of the receiving element 16, the cover tip 8 can be shaped on the inside in such a way or have such a shape that the locking receptacle 15 is formed by the cover tip 8 itself or is formed there and ensures the section-wise lateral guidance and loading against the spring force. The alternative embodiment without the receiving element 16 can, for example, comprise a shape on the inside of the cover tip 8, which has the described fork-shaped and Fig. 3. This further shape would accordingly follow the previously described shape 19 on the inside of the cover tip 8, so that here too the spring-loaded locking element 14 is guided laterally in the direction of the locking receptacle 15 along the entire pivoting movement of the cover tip 8, starting from its working position A into its transport position T. In order to reduce wear on the cover tip 8, it could be provided in this embodiment that the surface along which the spring-loaded locking element 13 slides during the pivoting movement of the cover tip 8 is provided with an additional surface coating.

[0049] As particularly in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the spring-loaded locking element 14 comprises an actuating section 21 for releasing the locking device 13 in the transport position T of the cover tip 8. The actuating section 21 can, for example, be designed as a handle which can be pulled by an operator to release the locking device 13, whereby the spring-loaded locking element 14 moves out of the locking receptacle 15 and thus the locking of the cover tip 8 in its transport position T is released. The cover tip 8 can then be pivoted back into its working position A. In the Fig. In the embodiment of the locking device 13 shown in Figures 2 to 4, the spring-loaded locking element 14 is formed from a bolt 23 surrounded by a spiral spring 22. The spring-loaded locking element 14 thus formed is inserted into a recess in the cover 9, with the bolt 23 being urged by the spiral spring 22 toward the cover tip 8. However, other configurations of the spring-loaded locking element 14 are equally conceivable.

[0050] The previously described cover elements 4 comprise, in addition to a front cover tip 8 and a rear cover hood 9, a support frame 24 pivotally mounted on the frame structure 3 of the attachment 1. The support frame 24 can be displaced or pivoted between a working position AT and a maintenance position WT. The cover hood 9 is fixed to the support frame 24 of the cover element 4, whereby it moves accordingly when the support frame 24 is pivoted, and the entire cover element 4 is displaced into the maintenance position WT.

[0051] In addition to the locking device 13, each cover element 4 of the attachment 1 comprises an adjustment device 25, by means of which the working position A of the cover tip 8 can be adjusted. The adjustment device 25 is particularly Fig. 4 and comprises a bracket 26 which is pivotally mounted on the support frame 24 of the cover element 4. Furthermore, the adjustment device 25 comprises a pull rod 27 on which a threaded sleeve 28 is adjustably arranged. The pull rod 27 is in turn pivotally mounted on the cover 9 and the threaded sleeve 28 adjustably arranged on the pull rod 27 is coupled to the bracket 26 of the adjustment device. In its working position A, the cover tip 8 rests on the bracket 26. By adjusting the threaded sleeve 28 on the pull rod and the corresponding coupling of the threaded sleeve 28 and the bracket 26, the height of the bracket can be adjusted, whereby the working position A of the cover tip 8 can be set.The adjustment device 25 therefore allows the working position A of the covering tip 8 to be determined in a particularly simple and uncomplicated manner, wherein the manner of adjustment can ensure that the various covering tips 8 of the various covering elements 4 arranged next to one another can be adjusted to a substantially identical working position A before the start of the harvesting process.

[0052] As already indicated and especially in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the support frame 24 can be moved between a working position AT and a maintenance position WT. In order to secure the support frame 24 and thus also the cover 9 attached thereto in the working position AT, each cover element comprises a locking device 29, which is particularly Fig.4. The locking device 29 comprises a plate-shaped receiving element 30 which is connected to the frame structure 3 of the attachment 1 and is provided with a recess 31. The locking device 29 further comprises a hand lever 32 which is pivotally coupled to the receiving element 30. The support frame 24 further comprises a locking element 33, preferably on its underside, which, in the working position AT of the support frame 24, engages in the recess 31 of the receiving element 30 and can be locked or is locked by means of the hand lever 32. So that the support frame 24 of the cover element 4 and thus also the cover element 4 as a whole can be pivoted into the maintenance position WT, the hand lever 32 is actuated to release the locking of the support frame 24 and the receiving element 30.The support frame 24 and thus the cover element 4 can then be pivoted into the maintenance position WT and secured there by a stabilizing element 34, which is preferably designed as a gas spring or the like. In the maintenance position WT, good accessibility to the components of the picking units 5 of the front attachment 1 is achieved.

[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the embodiments described above serve only to describe the claimed teaching, but are in no way to be regarded as limiting or exhaustive. List of reference symbols 1 attachment 2 inclined conveyors 3 Frame structure 4 Cover element 5 picking units 6 picking roller 7 Cross conveyor screw 8 Cover tip 9 Cover 10 Overlap area 11 Outer cover element 12 channel 13 Locking device 14 Spring-loaded locking element 15 locking holder 16 receiving element 17A, 17B legs 17C Bridge 18 tab 19 Shaping 20 stops 21 Operating section 22 spiral spring 23 bolts 24 supporting frames 25 Adjustment device 26 brackets 27 Drawbar 28 threaded sleeve 29 Locking device 30 receiving element 31 recess 32 hand levers 33 Locking element 34 Stabilizing element A Working position cover tip T Transport position cover tip AT Working position support frame / cover WT maintenance position support frame / cover element QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 6,513,313 B1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Front attachment (1) for harvesting crops standing in rows, wherein the front attachment (1) comprises a plurality of picking units (5) arranged next to one another, wherein the front attachment (1) comprises a plurality of cover elements (4) arranged next to one another, wherein each cover element (4) covers a distance between two picking units (5) arranged next to one another, wherein each cover element (4) comprises a front cover tip (8) and a rear cover hood (9), wherein the cover tip (8) is pivotally mounted on the cover hood (9), wherein the cover tip (8) is pivotable relative to the cover hood (9) between a working position (A) and a transport position (T), characterized byin that each cover element (4) comprises a locking device (13) which is designed to fix the cover tip (8) in its transport position (T), wherein the locking device (13) comprises a spring-loaded locking element (14) which is assigned to the cover hood (9) and which, in the transport position (T) of the cover tip (8), engages in a locking receptacle (15) assigned to the cover tip (8). [2] Attachment (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the cover (9) projects at least partially into the cover tip (8), wherein the locking device (13) is arranged in the overlapping region (10) of the cover (9) and the cover tip (8). [3] Attachment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized byin that the locking device (13) comprises a receiving element (16) which is arranged on the inside of the cover tip (8), wherein the receiving element (16) comprises the locking receptacle (15), wherein the receiving element (16) is designed to guide the spring-loaded locking element (14) laterally at least in sections in the direction of the locking receptacle (15) and to load it counter to the spring force when the cover tip (8) is pivoted from its working position (A) into its transport position (T). [4] Attachment (1) according to claim 3, characterized byin that the receiving element (16) is fork-shaped, wherein the receiving element (16) comprises a first and a second leg (17A, 17B) which are connected to one another via a web (17C), wherein the locking receptacle (15) is formed in the web (17C) of the receiving element (16) centrally between the legs (17A, 17B), wherein the receiving element (16) comprises a tab (18) inclined relative to the legs (17A, 17B) between the legs (17A, 17B) of the receiving element (16) for guiding the spring-loaded locking element (14) in the direction of the locking receptacle (15) and for loading the spring-loaded locking element (14) against the spring force. [5] Attachment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized byin that the cover tip (8) has a shape (19) on the inside in some regions, preferably in the form of a groove, in which the spring-loaded locking element (14) is arranged in the working position (A) of the cover tip (8), wherein the shape (19) is designed such that the spring-loaded locking element (14) can be guided laterally at least in sections in the direction of the locking receptacle (15) when the cover tip (8) is pivoted from its working position (A) into its transport position (T). [6] Attachment (1) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized by that the shape (19) on the inside of the cover tip (8) is aligned with the tab (18) of the receiving element (16) arranged on the inside of the cover tip (8). [7] Attachment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the spring-loaded locking element (14) for releasing the locking device (13) in the transport position (T) of the cover tip (8) comprises an actuating section (21). [8] Attachment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the spring-loaded locking element (14) is formed from a bolt (23) surrounded by a spiral spring (22). [9] Attachment (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that each cover element (4) comprises a support frame (24) which is pivotably mounted on a frame structure (3) of the attachment (1) between a working position (AT) and a maintenance position (WT), wherein the cover hood (9) is fixed to the support frame (24). [10] Attachment (1) according to claim 9, characterized byin that each cover element (4) comprises an adjusting device (25) by means of which the working position (A) of the cover tip (8) can be adjusted, wherein the adjusting device (25) comprises a bracket (26) which is pivotally mounted on the support frame (24) of the cover element (4), wherein the adjusting device (25) comprises a pull rod (27) on which a threaded sleeve (28) is adjustably arranged, wherein the pull rod (27) is pivotally mounted on the cover hood (9) and the threaded sleeve (28) is coupled to the bracket (26), wherein the cover tip (8) rests on the bracket (26) in its working position (A). [11] Attachment (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized byin that each cover element (4) is assigned a locking device (29), by means of which the support frame (24) of the cover element (4) can be fixed in its working position (AT), wherein the locking device (29) comprises a plate-shaped receiving element (30) connected to the frame structure (3) of the attachment (1) and having a recess (31), and a hand lever (32) pivotably coupled to the receiving element (30), wherein in the working position (AT) of the support frame (24), a locking element (33) formed on the support frame (24) engages in the recess (31) of the receiving element (30) and is locked by means of the hand lever (32). [12] Attachment (1) according to claim 11, characterized by that in the maintenance position (WT) of the support frame (24) of the cover element (4), the locking mechanism is released and the support frame (24) is fixed via a stabilizing element (34), preferably a gas pressure spring or the like. [13] Agricultural harvesting machine, in particular a combine harvester or forage harvester, with a front attachment (1), characterized by that the attachment (1) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 12.

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