Cleaning device for an agricultural machine

Abstract

Cleaning device (100) for an agricultural machine (1) designed to remove at least part of the soil and vegetation from a stream (10) containing harvested agricultural products, the cleaning device (100) comprising: - an input side (110) where the current (10) is supplied by a feed transport device (200); - an outlet side (120) where the stream (10) is transported to a discharge transport device (300) after at least partial removal of soil and vegetation; - a roller conveyor (130) with a set of rollers (132, 134, 136) designed to transport the harvested agricultural products of the stream (10) from the inlet side (110) to the outlet side (120), the set of rollers comprising (132, 134, 136): - two or more transport rollers (132) designed to be driven in such a way as to move the harvested agricultural products from the inlet side (110) to the outlet side (120); - one or more support rollers (134), wherein these support rollers (134) are arranged to support the agricultural products in the space between: - two adjacent transport rollers (132) and / or - the feed transport device (200) and the adjacent transport roller (132), MARKED BY THIS , THAT the set of rollers (132, 134, 136) further includes a support weed roller (136): - which is located in the space between the discharge transport device (300) and the adjacent transport roller (132) and - which at least on the surface has a higher coefficient of friction than the one or more support rollers (134).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The technical field concerns agricultural machinery, in particular agricultural vehicles for carrying out work in a field when harvesting plant products, such as tubers, bulbs and / or root crops, such as potatoes, onions, carrots, sugar beets, fodder beets, etc. State of the art

[0002] A harvester for harvesting tubers, such as potatoes, is known, for example, from BE1028549. Such a harvester comprises a series of haulm fingers at the outlet end of a sieve belt for retaining a portion of the haulm. These haulm fingers guide this haulm between the outlet end of this sieve belt and a haulm roller mounted below it. A disadvantage of such a device is that, as shown, for example, in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As reproduced in paragraph 2 of BE1028549A1, such a haulm roller, mounted below the outlet end, results in a significant height difference, or in other words, a drop step, for the digging potatoes at the level of the outlet end where the haulm roller is mounted. This can cause damage to the digging potatoes. Furthermore, the row of haulm fingers also acts as a brake on the flow of digging potatoes, which is guided at the outlet end, at the level of the haulm roller, to the downstream device for further transport and / or processing of the potatoes.

[0003] Furthermore, a potato harvester is also known from BE1022056. Such a harvester comprises an active cleaning unit that improves the removal of soil from the potatoes in various soil types under wet and dry conditions. This active cleaning device comprises a set of driven, adjacent rollers. As described in BE1022056, the downstream hedgehog belt is mounted almost flush with the rollers of the active cleaning device. This eliminates the drop step and the associated disadvantage of potato damage. However, the improved removal of soil means that the improved removal of haulms by means of a haulm roller as described in BE1028549 is missing.

[0004] Furthermore, EP0730399 discloses a cleaning unit for a potato harvester. This cleaning device comprises various pairs of rollers. A first roller of each pair preferably comprises a resilient surface and projections to act as a transport roller for transporting the potato stream over the cleaning unit. It is apparent that there is a significant drop at the inlet side, and EP0730399 proposes catching this drop of agricultural produce by attaching a resilient transport roller to the inlet side of the cleaning unit. A second roller of each pair acts as a support roller for the crop stream and can be driven in the same direction of rotation or in the opposite direction of rotation of the transport rollers, in the first case to assist in transporting the agricultural produce or in the second case to remove soil from the agricultural produce.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a device which makes it possible to avoid the disadvantages described above and which makes it possible to achieve an improved cleaning of the soil together with an improved removal of the weed in an efficient and simple manner. Short description

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, a cleaning device for an agricultural machine is provided, which is designed to at least partially remove soil and weeds from a stream of harvested agricultural products, the cleaning device comprising: - an input side where the current is supplied by a feed conveyor; - an output side where the stream is transported to a discharge conveyor after at least partial removal of soil and weeds; - a roller conveyor comprising a set of rollers designed to transport the harvested agricultural products of the stream from the inlet side to the outlet side, the set of rollers comprising: - two or more transport rollers designed to be driven to move the harvested agricultural products from the input side to the output side; - one or more support rollers, these support rollers being arranged to support the agricultural products in the space between: - two adjacent transport rollers and / or - the feed transport device and the adjacent transport roller, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the set of rollers further comprises a supporting weed roller: - which is mounted in the space between the discharge conveyor and the adjacent transport roller; and - which comprises, at least on the surface, a higher coefficient of friction than the one or more support rollers.

[0007] Installing the weed roller with a higher coefficient of friction on the exit side ensures efficient and improved soil cleaning along with improved haulm removal, as this weed roller acts on the haulm in a different way than the preceding support rollers. This is advantageous because the haulm type that was not removed by the support rollers has a better chance of being captured by the weed roller. Furthermore, the preceding support rollers and transport rollers ensure that some of the soil and any other unwanted objects have already been removed from the stream before the stream reaches the weed roller. This also increases the chance that the weed roller can reach the haulm present in the stream at the exit side.Furthermore, cleaning is more efficient, as the braking effect on the stream is less with the support rollers than with the weed roller mounted at the exit end. The support roller also ensures that the weeds can be removed without the need for a drop step. Such a drop step could, for example, cause damage to harvested agricultural products in the stream.

[0008] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein the support weed roller comprises, at least on the surface, a friction coefficient which is at least 0.01, preferably 0.02 or more, preferably 0.04 or more higher than the friction coefficient of the support roller.

[0009] This makes it possible to create a cleaning system with improved cleaning of the soil together with improved removal of the weed.

[0010] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein at least the surface of the support weed roller comprises or consists of: - rubber; and / or - a plastic having a modulus of elasticity of 0.1 GPa or less, preferably 0.01 GPa or less, and at least the surface of the one or more support rollers comprises or consists of: - metal; - Steel - a plastic with a modulus of elasticity of 1 GPa or more, preferably 2 GPa or more.

[0011] This makes it possible to implement the cleaning system in a simple manner.

[0012] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein the support weed roller is designed to support the agricultural products in the space between the discharge transport device and the adjacent transport roller.

[0013] In this way, the risk of damage to agricultural products is reduced because, for example, there is no fall step, where the flow of agricultural products is no longer supported and falls down over a certain distance, which can cause damage.

[0014] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein the supporting weed roller is designed to rotate in a weed roller mode in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to the adjacent transport roller, so that at least a part of the weed present in the flow at the level of the supporting weed roller and the adjacent transport roller is gripped between the supporting leaf roller and the adjacent transport roller and removed from the flow.

[0015] In this way, a weed roller action can be realized to remove weeds, which also has a cleaning effect on the agricultural products that rest on the supporting weed roller.

[0016] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein the supporting weed roller is designed to rotate in a transport mode in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller.

[0017] This creates a cleaning system with greater flexibility that can be optimally used in a variety of situations. For example, transport mode can be useful when the stream contains little or no weed and / or in situations where additional support and / or additional propulsion of the stream in the transport direction is necessary or desirable.

[0018] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein the ratio of the respective radius of the one or more support rollers and support weed roller with respect to the radius of the adjacent transport rollers is 50% or less, for example 40% or less, preferably 35% or less.

[0019] This ensures that the weed roller can optimally fill the space between the adjacent transport roller and the discharge conveyor, supporting the flow there, while the agricultural products in the flow are driven primarily by the drive of the adjacent transport roller and the discharge conveyor to move further downstream. The same applies to the support rollers mounted between the adjacent transport rollers. The support rollers and the weed roller can also exert a cleaning effect on the agricultural products they support.

[0020] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein at the level of the output side, the vertical distance between the top side of the discharge conveyor device and the top side of the adjacent conveyor roller is equal to or less than: - 200% of the radius of this transport roller; - 100% of the radius of this transport roller; - 50% of the radius of this transport roller; - 200% of the radius of the weed roller and / or - 100% of the radius of the weed roller.

[0021] In this way, the risk of damage to the harvested potato products in the stream is further limited.

[0022] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein: - the distance between the discharge conveyor and the adjacent conveyor roller is in the range of 180% up to and including 400% of the radius of the supporting weed roller, for example 200% up to and including 300%, preferably 210% up to and including 280% and / or - the distance between the supporting weed roller and the respective discharge transport device and / or the adjacent transport roller is 100% or less of the radius of the supporting weed roller, for example 80% or less, preferably 50% or less.

[0023] In this way, the risk of damage to harvested agricultural products in the stream is further limited.

[0024] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein one or more weed fingers are mounted at the level of the supporting weed roller and / or the adjacent transport roller, which are designed to guide at least a part of the weed in the stream in such a way as to be captured between the supporting weed roller and the adjacent transport roller.

[0025] In this way, the weed-removing effect of the support weed roller is further enhanced in the weed roller mode. It has also been shown that, with such a cleaning system, only haulm fingers are preferably installed at the level of the support weed roller. Furthermore, the number of haulm fingers can be limited compared to other cleaning systems, which limits the braking effect of such haulm fingers on the harvested agricultural products in the stream.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the support weed roller and / or the one or more support rollers are height-adjustable.

[0027] According to one embodiment, a cleaning device is provided, wherein: - the support weed roller is designed to rotate selectively in an opposite direction of rotation or in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller; - the one or more support rollers are designed to rotate selectively in an opposite direction of rotation or in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport rollers; and - the support weed roller is designed to rotate according to a selected direction of rotation, independently of the direction of rotation of the one or more support rollers.

[0028] In this way, the cleaning device can be used with a high degree of flexibility and adapted to different conditions.

[0029] According to a second aspect, an agricultural machine is provided, comprising a cleaning device according to the first aspect, the agricultural machine further comprising: - a feed transport device designed to feed the stream to the input side of the cleaning device; - a discharge conveyor device designed to transport to one outlet side of the cleaning device the stream from which at least some of the soil and weeds have been removed, and / or wherein the agricultural machine comprises and / or consists of: - a towed agricultural machine; - a self-propelled agricultural machine; - a stationary agricultural machine and / or - an agricultural machine or vehicle used to carry out work in a field when harvesting agricultural products such as tubers, bulbs and / or root crops; - an agricultural machine or vehicle used for processing and / or transporting harvested agricultural products, such as tubers, bulbs and / or root crops.

[0030] According to a third aspect, a method of using a cleaning device according to the first aspect is provided, wherein the supporting weed roller is rotated in a weed roller mode of the cleaning device in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to the adjacent transport roller, so that at least a portion of the weed present in the flow at the level of the supporting weed roller and the adjacent transport roller is gripped between the supporting blade roller and the adjacent transport roller and removed from the flow.

[0031] According to one embodiment, a method is provided wherein the support weed roller is rotated in a transport mode of the cleaning device in a same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller.

[0032] According to one embodiment, a method is provided, wherein - the support weed roller is selectively rotated in an opposite direction of rotation or in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller; - the one or more support rollers are selectively rotated in an opposite direction of rotation or in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport rollers and - the support weed roller is rotated according to a selected direction of rotation, independently of the direction of rotation of the one or more support rollers.

[0033] It is understood that further modifications and / or combinations of embodiments are possible. Furthermore, it is understood that embodiments similar to embodiments of another aspect are also possible. All of this does not depart from the scope of protection defined in the claims. Short description of the characters

[0034] By way of example, individual embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the figures, in which: - Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaning device for an agricultural machine; - Fig. 2 a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 shows; - Fig. 3 the side view of Fig. 2 shows more in detail; - Fig. 4 section IV from Fig. 3 shows more in detail and - Fig. 5 to Fig. 7 schematically show a side view, a top view and a perspective view of an embodiment of an agricultural machine comprising an embodiment of a cleaning device as shown in Fig. 1 up to and including Fig. 4 is reproduced.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaning device 100 for an agricultural machine. According to the illustrated embodiment, the agricultural machine 1 is, for example, an agricultural machine for digging potatoes. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments of the agricultural machine are possible, such as an agricultural machine or an agricultural vehicle for performing work in a field when digging plant products, such as tubers, bulbs, and / or root plants, such as potatoes, onions, carrots, sugar beets, fodder beets, etc. Further alternative embodiments of the agricultural machine, wherein, for example, a cleaning process is carried out on and / or next to the field, for example during further processing of such plant products or agricultural products.The illustrated embodiment of the cleaning device 100 is designed to at least partially remove soil and weeds from a stream 10 containing harvested agricultural products.

[0036] As in Fig. 2, the cleaning device 100 comprises an inlet side 110, where the stream 10 is fed by a feed conveyor device 200. According to the illustrated embodiment, the stream 10 comprises, for example, in addition to the harvested agricultural products, for example potatoes or any other harvested agricultural products, also soil and foliage and optionally, for example, other undesirable matter, such as stones, clods of earth, etc. The illustrated feed device 200 comprises, as illustrated, for example, a screening belt; however, it is understood that any other suitable embodiment of a feed device is possible, such as a conveyor belt, a roller conveyor, or any other suitable transport element for providing the stream 10 with harvested agricultural products to the cleaning device 100.

[0037] At the output side 120, the stream 10 is transported to a discharge transport device 300. This means that the stream 10 is provided to the discharge transport device 300 after at least partial removal of soil and weeds by the cleaning device 100. In other words, the suitable harvested agricultural products in the stream 10 are transported by the cleaning device 100 to the discharge transport device 300. At least a portion of the soil and weeds, but optionally also other undesirable objects, such as stones, clods of earth, etc., are removed from the stream by the cleaning device 100.According to the illustrated embodiment, the discharge transport device is a screening belt, such as a hedgehog belt, but it is understood that any other suitable embodiment of a discharge device is possible, such as a conveyor belt, a screening belt with grid bars, a roller conveyor with transversely and / or axially mounted rollers, or any other suitable transport element for transporting the stream 10 of harvested agricultural products from the cleaning device 100.

[0038] As further stated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the cleaning device comprises a roller conveyor 130 with a set of rollers 132, 134, 136. This set of rollers 132, 134, 136 is designed to transport the harvested agricultural products of the stream 10 from the input side 110 to the output side 120. As can be seen, the set of rollers 132, 134, 136 comprises four transport rollers 132, three support rollers 134, and one support weed roller 136. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments with a different suitable number of transport rollers 132, support rollers 134, and one support weed roller 136 are possible. The set of rollers comprises two or more transport rollers 132. These transport rollers 132 are driven such that they move the harvested agricultural products from the input side 110 to the output side 120. The set of rollers also includes one or more support rollers 134.As shown, these support rollers 134 are mounted to support the agricultural products in the space between two adjacent transport rollers 132. However, it should be understood that, according to an alternative embodiment, a support roller may also be mounted between the feed conveyor 200 and the transport roller 132 adjacent to the feed conveyor.

[0039] As further stated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the set of rollers further comprises a support weed roller 136. This support weed roller 136 is mounted in the space between the discharge conveyor 300 and the adjacent transport roller 132. The support weed roller 136 further comprises, at least on its surface, a higher coefficient of friction than the one or more support rollers 134. In other words, the friction coefficient of the contact surface of the support weed roller 136 differs from the friction coefficient of the contact surface of the one or more support rollers 134. As will be further described in more detail, the friction coefficient of the support weed roller 136 is preferably higher than the friction coefficient of the support rollers 134.It is understood that the surface of the supporting weed roller 136 refers to the contact surface of the supporting weed roller 136 with the stream 10 and / or the agricultural products, the soil and / or weeds of the stream, in other words at least a part of the outer surface of the supporting weed roller 136.

[0040] It is understood that the coefficient of friction refers to the dynamic friction coefficient. As is known, for example, from the publication: Bishop, CFH (2012), "The coefficient of friction of individual potatoes and various handling materials - Short communication", Res. Agr. Eng. Vol. 58, 2012, No. 3: 114-117, https: / / rae.agricultureiournals.cz / pdfs / rae / 2012 / 03 / 05.pdf; the dynamic friction coefficient of rubber, for example, is higher than that of steel for potatoes. This remains the case under various conditions, such as wet or dry conditions, and under conditions where the potatoes are heavily or lightly soiled. The friction coefficient of rubber remains higher than that of steel, for example.An embodiment wherein the support weed roller 136 comprises a rubber surface or a rubber-coated surface will thus have a higher coefficient of friction than a support roller 134 with a steel surface. It is understood that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the coefficient of friction of the support weed roller 136 is at least 0.01, preferably at least 0.02, and preferably 0.04 higher than the coefficient of friction of the support roller 134. The measurement method for the coefficient of friction can be the measurement method from the publication cited above or any other suitable measurement method for determining a coefficient of friction of such a roller with respect to harvested agricultural products and / or a stream 10 comprising harvested agricultural products.

[0041] The elasticity of a material can be expressed using its modulus of elasticity. The modulus of elasticity is a measure of the stiffness of a material and indicates how much tensile force is required to cause the material to experience a certain amount of elongation. For example, the modulus of elasticity of rubber varies from 0.0001 to 0.001 GPa inclusive. It is understood that alternative embodiments of the support blade roller 136 are possible which comprise and / or consist of a suitable plastic having a modulus of elasticity similar to that of rubber, such as in the range of 0.001 GPa or less. It is understood that further alternative embodiments of such elastic plastics are possible, for example having a modulus of elasticity of 0.1 GPa or less, for example 0.01 GPa or less.

[0042] According to the illustrated embodiment, such a support weed roller 136 is combined, for example, with support rollers 134 that comprise and / or consist of a metal, such as steel or any other suitable metal. It is understood that alternative embodiments of the support roller 134 are possible, which comprise and / or consist of a suitable plastic, such as polystyrene, nylon, ... or even hard plastic, with a higher modulus of elasticity than rubber, for example in the range of 2 to 4 GPa inclusive. It is understood that further alternative embodiments of such hard plastics are possible, for example with a modulus of elasticity of 1 GPa or more, for example 2 GPa or more.

[0043] As in Fig. 1 to Fig. As can also be seen in Figure 4, the supporting weed roller 136 is designed to support the agricultural products in the space between the discharge conveyor 300 and the adjacent conveyor roller 132. This means that the supporting weed roller 136, together with the discharge conveyor 300 and the adjacent conveyor roller 132, forms a set of subsequent conveyor elements that support the agricultural products, or in other words, there are no openings between these elements that would allow a desired harvested agricultural product to move therebetween.

[0044] When the cleaning device 100 is in operation, the cleaning device 100 can be set and / or controlled in one or more operating modes. One such operating mode is, for example, a weed roller mode, as described here. In this weed roller mode, the support weed roller 136 is designed to rotate in an opposite direction of rotation relative to the adjacent transport roller 132. In the Fig. 2 to Fig. 4, this means that the supporting weed roller 136 is driven clockwise and the transport roller 132 counterclockwise. It is understood that in this way, at least a portion of the weed present in the stream 10 at the level of the supporting weed roller 136 and the adjacent transport roller 132 is gripped between the supporting weed roller 136 and the adjacent transport roller 132 and thereby removed from the stream 10. As shown, the gripped weed is removed downwards between the supporting weed roller 136 and the adjacent transport roller 132. It is understood that the supporting weed roller 136 also exerts a cleaning effect on the agricultural products that come into contact with the supporting weed roller 136.

[0045] According to optional embodiments, it is also possible for the supporting weed roller 136 to be driven and / or controlled in a different operating mode, for example, in a transport mode, to rotate in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller 132. Such a transport mode is advantageous, for example, when there is little or no weed left in the stream 10 at the level of the supporting weed roller 136 and / or when additional support of the stream in the transport direction is desired at the level of the outlet side 120 of the cleaning device.

[0046] As in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, the radius of the supporting weed roller 136 and the supporting rollers 132 in the illustrated embodiment is significantly smaller than the radius of the transport rollers 132. This ensures that the contact area of ​​the transport rollers 132 with the stream 10 and the agricultural products present in the stream is larger than that of the supporting weed roller 136 or the supporting rollers 132. As a result, the direction of movement of the stream 10 will be substantially in the direction from the input side 110 to the output side 120 under the influence of the direction of rotation of the transport rollers 132, which support this direction of movement. As stated above, in certain embodiments, the supporting weed roller 136 can be driven in the same or opposite direction as the transport rollers 132, depending on the operating mode.The same is also possible for the support rollers 134, which in certain embodiments can also be driven in the same and / or opposite direction of rotation as the transport rollers 132. It is understood that alternative embodiments are possible that differ from the ratios of the radii shown in . Fig. 2 to Fig. 4. In such embodiments, the ratio of the respective radius of the one or more support rollers 134 and support weed roller 136 with respect to the radius of the adjacent transport rollers 132 is 50% or less, for example 40% or less, preferably 35% or less.

[0047] As can also be seen, there is no so-called drop step at the level of the supporting weed roller 136. In other words, at the level of the exit side 120, the vertical distance between the top of the discharge transport device 300 and the top of the adjacent transport roller 132 is limited. Preferably, at the level of the exit side 120, the vertical distance between the top of the discharge transport device 300 and the top of the adjacent transport roller 132 is equal to or less than 50% of the radius of this transport roller 132 or 100% of the radius of the supporting weed roller 136. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments are possible in which this vertical distance is equal to or less than 200% of the radius of this transport roller 132, 100% of the radius of this transport roller 132, 200% of the radius of the supporting weed roller 136 and / or 100% of the radius of the supporting weed roller 136.

[0048] As can also be seen, the distance between the discharge conveyor 300 and the cleaning device 100 is also limited. The stream 10 is thus preferably supported at the level of the exit side 120 and thus follows a well-defined path, which reduces the risk of unwanted or uncontrolled movements of the harvested agricultural products and promotes the cleaning effect of the components of the cleaning device. Preferably, the distance between the discharge conveyor 300 and the adjacent transport roller 132 is in the range of 210% to 280% inclusive of the radius of the supporting weed roller 136; however, it is understood that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein this range is 180% to 400% inclusive of the radius of the supporting weed roller 136, for example, 200% to 300% inclusive.For the same reasons, the distance between the support weed roller 136 and the discharge transport device 300 is preferably also limited. Preferably, as shown, the distance between the support weed roller 136 and each of the discharge transport device 300 and / or the adjacent transport roller 132 is 50% or less of the radius of the support weed roller 136. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein this distance is 100% or less of the radius of the support weed roller 136, for example, 80% or less.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment, the weed roller and / or one or more support rollers are height-adjustable. This allows the cleaning device to be adapted to different conditions.

[0050] According to the illustrated embodiment, haulm fingers 138 are optionally mounted at the level of the supporting haulm roller 136 and / or the adjacent transport roller 132, which haulm fingers are designed to guide at least a portion of the haulm in the stream 10 so as to be captured between the supporting haulm roller 132 and the adjacent transport roller 132. Preferably, such haulm fingers 138 are mounted only at the level of the supporting haulm roller 136, as this limits the braking effect of such haulm fingers 138 on the agricultural products in the stream. Furthermore, it has also been shown that the number of haulm fingers 138 along the longitudinal axis of the supporting haulm roller 136 can be limited compared to a known device with a known haulm roller, as described, for example, in BE1028549.According to the illustrated embodiment, the haulm fingers are arranged, for example, along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the supporting haulm roller 136 at a spacing that is 1.5 to 3 times, preferably 2 times, greater than the optimal spacing for a known haulm roller, such as that described in BE1028549. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein a different suitable number of haulm fingers 138 are arranged at any other suitable spacing.

[0051] Fig. 5 to Fig. 7 show an embodiment of an agricultural machine 1, which comprises an embodiment of a cleaning device 100, as shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. The agricultural machine relates to a potato harvester, the components of which, with the exception of the cleaning device, are similar to those known, for example, from BE1022056. However, it is understood that modified embodiments of agricultural machines 1 comprising such a cleaning device 100 are possible, such as a towed or self-propelled harvester, a mobile or stationary processing machine for harvested agricultural products, such as tubers, bulbs, and / or root crops, such as potatoes, onions, carrots, sugar beets, fodder beets, etc.

[0052] The embodiment of the agricultural machine 1 comprises a digging unit 11, as shown schematically. The shown embodiment comprises two digging shares 2 and associated side discs, as well as a rear idler 4. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments with a different suitable number of digging units 11 and / or alternative embodiments of a digging unit 11 are possible. The digging unit 11 generates a stream of digged agricultural products, which is fed to transport elements that guide the stream to the cleaning device 100. According to the shown embodiment, these transport elements comprise a first upwardly inclined sieve belt 5, which, as is known to those skilled in the art, transports the potatoes and allows the soil in the stream to partially fall through the sieve belt bars. As further shown, the first sieve belt 5 is connected downstream to a second sieve belt 7.Both sieve belts 5 and 7 rotate in the same direction, as indicated by arrow 8 counterclockwise in the diagram in . Fig. 5. Downstream, the second screening belt 7 adjoins the cleaning device 100. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein a different suitable number of screening belts and / or any other suitable means of transport are present between the digging unit 11 and the cleaning device 100 of the agricultural machine 1. As shown, the agricultural machine 100 is an agricultural vehicle that can be driven on wheels 9 during a digging operation in the field. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments of agricultural machines 1 are possible that are used in a stationary manner and that, for example, do not comprise a digging unit 11, but receive digging potatoes from a suitable transport element or another agricultural machine.

[0053] As can also be seen, according to the Fig. 5 to Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, a haulm discharge belt 13 is used that rotates around the second screen belt 7 in the same direction of rotation 8 as the second screen belt 7. Such a haulm discharge belt 13 comprises, for example, a wide-meshed grid belt on which at least some of the haulm remains, but through which the potatoes can fall. In addition, the haulm discharge belt 13 can also reduce the risk of the agricultural products rolling back on the inclined part 12 of the screen belt 7.

[0054] The agricultural embodiment shown in the figures comprises a cleaning device 100, similar to that described above, between the second screening belt 7 and a further hedgehog belt 24. In other words, the second screening belt 7 according to the illustrated embodiment forms the feed transport device 200 for the cleaning device 100. According to the illustrated embodiment, the hedgehog belt 24 forms the discharge transport device 300 for the cleaning device 100. It is further understood that the cleaning device 100 is an active cleaning device, wherein the set of rollers 132, 134, 136 is driven by suitable means for rotation about its longitudinal axis. This longitudinal axis is also oriented almost transversely to the direction of movement of the stream 10 of harvested agricultural products. It is understood that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the longitudinal axis of the rollers at least crosses the direction of movement of the stream 10.It is understood that the longitudinal axes of the set of rollers 132, 134, 136 are parallel or nearly parallel. It is also understood that alternative embodiments are possible for the hedgehog belt 24 and the second screen belt 7 as discharge conveyor device 300 and feed conveyor device 200.

[0055] According to the illustrated embodiment of the agricultural machine 1, a guide element 25 is mounted above the hedgehog belt 24, which guide element pushes the desired agricultural products laterally from the hedgehog belt 25 toward an adjoining conveyor belt 26, which, according to the illustrated embodiment, is also designed as a hedgehog belt. Objects such as soil, small stones, undersized agricultural products, etc., can pass under the guide element 25 and are discarded at the end of the hedgehog belt 24. As can be seen in this embodiment, a further guide element in the form of a rotor cam 27 is mounted above the adjacent conveyor belt 26. This rotor cam 27 comprises flexible fingers that push the desired agricultural products laterally toward a transport device 28, which transports the harvested agricultural products to a collection container 30.As can also be seen, above the conveyor belt 26 after the rotor cam 27 there is a further guide element 31 in the form of a roller 31, which pushes the part of the stream that passes under the rotor cam 27 and does not pass under the roller 31 onto a return belt 32, for example for further inspection and / or sorting.

[0056] However, it is understood that the Fig.The embodiment of the agricultural machine described in Figures 5 to 7 is not restrictive for the application of the cleaning device 100. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible. The illustrated embodiment is, for example, a so-called towed harvester, in other words, a harvester that is pulled by a tractor during a harvesting operation. However, it is understood that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the agricultural machine is a self-propelled agricultural machine and thus itself has suitable means for moving during a harvesting operation. According to yet other embodiments, the cleaning device can be part of a stationary agricultural machine, such as is used, for example, for further processing of the agricultural products after the harvesting operation in the field, for example at a further processing location and / or storage location.Still further alternative embodiments of agricultural machines are possible which comprise a cleaning device 100 as described here, wherein the agricultural machine further comprises a feed transport device 200 for feeding the stream 10 to the input side 110 of the cleaning device 100 and a discharge transport device 300 for transporting the stream 10 away at the one output side 120 of the cleaning device 100, from which at least some of the soil and weeds have been removed.

[0057] It is further understood that the set of rollers 132, 134, 136 comprises one or more suitable drives that are suitably controlled to rotate the rollers. According to a preferred embodiment, the support weed roller 136 is designed to selectively rotate in an opposite direction of rotation or the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller 132, as described above, for example, in the weed roller mode on the one hand and in the transport mode on the other. Preferably, the one or more support rollers 134 are also designed to selectively rotate in an opposite direction of rotation or the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport rollers 132. It is advantageous that the support weed roller 136 is designed to rotate in a selected direction of rotation, independent of the direction of rotation of the one or more support rollers 134.In other words, the drive of the support weed roller 136 can preferably be controlled such that the direction of rotation is not dependent on the direction of rotation of the support rollers 134.

[0058] It is further understood, as described above, that a method of using the cleaning device 100 is possible, wherein the supporting weed roller 136, in a weed roller mode of the cleaning device 100, is rotated in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to the adjacent transport roller 132, so that at least a portion of the weed present in the stream 10 at the level of the supporting weed roller 136 and the adjacent transport roller 132 is gripped between the supporting weed roller 136 and the adjacent transport roller 132 and removed from the stream 10. According to an advantageous embodiment, it is also possible to use the cleaning device 100 in a transport mode, wherein the supporting weed roller 136 is rotated in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller 132.As stated above, in a particularly advantageous method of using the cleaning device, both the support weed roller 136 and the one or more support rollers 134 can be selectively rotated in an opposite direction of rotation or in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller 132. It is particularly advantageous if the support weed roller 136 is rotated according to a selected direction of rotation, independent of the direction of rotation of the one or more support rollers 134.

[0059] It is understood that further modifications and combinations of embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims. 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] EP 0730399

[0004] Cited non-patent literature

[0000] Bishop, CFH (2012), “The coefficient of friction of individual potatoes and various handling materials - Short communication”, Res. Agr. Closely. Vol. 58, 2012, No. 3: 114-117, https: / / rae.agricultureiournals.cz / pdfs / rae / 2012 / 03 / 05.pdf

[0040]

Claims

[1] Cleaning device (100) for an agricultural machine (1) designed to at least partially remove soil and weeds from a stream (10) of harvested agricultural products, the cleaning device (100) comprising: - an input side (110) where the stream (10) is supplied by a feed conveyor (200); - an output side (120) where the stream (10) is transported away to a discharge transport device (300) after at least partial removal of soil and weeds; - a roller conveyor (130) having a set of rollers (132, 134, 136) designed to transport the harvested agricultural products of the stream (10) from the input side (110) to the output side (120), the set of rollers (132, 134, 136) comprising: - two or more transport rollers (132) designed to be driven to move the harvested agricultural products from the input side (110) to the output side (120); - one or more support rollers (134), said support rollers (134) being mounted to support the agricultural products in the space between: - two adjacent transport rollers (132) and / or - the feed transport device (200) and the adjacent transport roller (132), MARKED BY THAT the set of rollers (132, 134, 136) further comprises a support weed roller (136): - which is mounted in the space between the discharge conveyor (300) and the adjacent transport roller (132) and - which comprises, at least on the surface, a higher coefficient of friction than the one or more support rollers (134). [2] Cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the support weed roller (136) comprises at least on the surface a friction coefficient which is at least 0.01, preferably 0.02 or more, preferably 0.04 or more higher than the friction coefficient of the support roller (134). [3] Cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least the surface of the support weed roller (136) comprises or consists of: - Rubber and / or - a plastic having a modulus of elasticity of 0.1 GPa or less, preferably 0.01 GPa or less, and at least the surface of the one or more support rollers (132) comprises or consists of: - metal; - Steel - a plastic with a modulus of elasticity of 1 GPa or more, preferably 2 GPa or more. [4] Cleaning device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting weed roller (136) is designed to support the agricultural products in the space between the discharge transport device (300) and the adjacent transport roller (132). [5] Cleaning device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the supporting weed roller (136) is designed to rotate in a weed roller mode in an opposite direction of rotation with respect to the adjacent transport roller (132), so that at least a part of the weed present in the stream (10) at the level of the supporting weed roller (136) and the adjacent transport roller (132) is gripped between the supporting weed roller (136) and the adjacent transport roller (132) and removed from the stream (10). [6] Cleaning device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the support weed roller (136) is designed to rotate in a transport mode in a same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller (132). [7] Cleaning device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the ratio of the respective radius of the one or more support rollers (132) and support weed roller (136) with respect to the radius of the adjacent transport rollers (134) is 50% or less, for example 40% or less, preferably 35% or less. [8] Cleaning device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at the level of the output side (120) the vertical distance between the upper side of the discharge conveyor device (300) and the upper side of the adjacent conveyor roller (132) is equal to or less than: - 200% of the radius of this transport roller (132); - 100% of the radius of this transport roller (132); - 50% of the radius of this transport roller (132); - 200% of the radius of the weed roller (136) and / or - 100% of the radius of the weed roller (136). [9] Cleaning device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein: - the distance between the discharge conveyor device (300) and the adjacent conveyor roller (132) is in the range of 180% up to and including 400% of the radius of the supporting weed roller (136), for example 200% up to and including 300%, preferably 210% up to and including 280% and / or - the distance between the supporting weed roller (136) and the respective discharge transport device (300) and / or the adjacent transport roller (132) is 100% or less of the radius of the supporting weed roller (136), for example 80% or less, preferably 50% or less. [10] Cleaning device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein: - one or more weed fingers (138) are mounted at the level of the supporting weed roller (136) and / or the adjacent transport roller (132), which are designed to guide at least part of the weed in the stream (10) in such a way as to be captured between the supporting weed roller (136) and the adjacent transport roller (132); - the support weed roller (136) and / or the one or more support rollers (134) are height-adjustable. [11] Cleaning device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein: - the support weed roller (136) is designed to rotate selectively in an opposite direction of rotation or a same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport roller (132); - the one or more support rollers (134) are designed to rotate selectively in an opposite direction of rotation or in the same direction of rotation as the adjacent transport rollers (132); and - the support weed roller (136) is designed to rotate according to a selected direction of rotation, independently of the direction of rotation of the one or more support rollers (134). [12] Agricultural machine comprising a cleaning device (100) according to one or more of the preceding claims, the agricultural machine further comprising: - a feed transport device (200) designed to feed the stream (10) to the input side (110) of the cleaning device (100); - a discharge transport device (300) designed to transport away, at the outlet side (120) of the cleaning device (100), the stream (10) from which at least some of the soil and weeds have been removed, and / or wherein the agricultural machine (1) comprises and / or consists of: - a towed agricultural machine (1); - a self-propelled agricultural machine (1); - a stationary agricultural machine (1); - an agricultural machine or vehicle used to carry out work in a field when harvesting agricultural products such as tubers, bulbs and / or root crops; and / or - an agricultural machine or vehicle used to process and / or transport harvested agricultural products, such as tubers, bulbs and / or root crops.

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