Loading device for loading agricultural distribution machines with powder or particulate material

Abstract

Loading device for loading an agricultural distribution machine (1) with powder and / or particulate material to be distributed, comprising: - at least one mobile storage container (2) for receiving the distribution material, - at least one conveying device (10) associated with the mobile storage container (2), which is designed to convey distribution material received in the mobile storage container (2) from the storage container (2) to a loading location, and - a control device assigned to the conveyor device (10), which is designed for remote-controlled and / or automated control of the conveyor device (10), characterized in that the conveyor device (10) with the control device assigned to it is formed by a separate conveyor unit which can be detachably mounted on the mobile storage container (2) downstream of an outlet (4) thereof.

Description

The invention relates to a loading device for loading an agricultural distribution machine with powder- and / or particulate distribution material, comprising:at least one mobile storage container for receiving the distribution material,at least one conveying device assigned to the mobile storage container, which is designed for conveying distribution material accommodated in the storage container from the storage container to a loading location, anda control device assigned to the conveying device, which is designed for remotely controllable and / or automated control of the conveying device.Agricultural distribution machines are known on the one hand in the form of so-called centrifugal or disk spreaders for applying powder- or particulate distribution material, such as, in particular, fertilizer or seed, in a variety of configurations, for example in the form of a towed, usually axle-supported self-rotor or of a design accommodated by the three-point power lifter of a towing machine, such as a tractor. Such distribution machines comprise a container receiving the distribution material, on the bottom of which usually one or two outlet openings are arranged, wherein a metering element is arranged downstream of the respective outlet opening in order to remove the distribution material to be discharged from the container in the desired quantity - or more precisely: with the desired mass flow. The metering element, in particular in the case of distributing machines in the form of centrifugal or disk spreaders, usually has a metering slide which can be opened and closed by means of a suitable control element in order to be able to set the desired mass flow depending on the desired distribution width of the material to be distributed on the ground, depending on the travel speed and depending on the physical properties of the material to be distributed, such as its flowability. Alternatively, the metering member may also comprise for the same purpose, for example, a controllably rotationally driven cam or cellular wheel roller. Downstream of the metering element there is one or more distribution element(s), such as, for example, in the form of distributor disks equipped with blades for throwing, by means of which the powder- or particle-shaped distribution material is distributed over the desired working width. An agricultural distribution machine of this kind in the form of a disk spreader is known, for example, from DE 10 2007 053 550 A1.In addition to the disk spreaders described above, pneumatic distributing machines are also known for agricultural purposes, as can be seen, for example, in the form of a pneumatic fertilizer spreader from DE 10 2004 030 240 A1. Pneumatic distribution machines generally have a plurality of metering elements, each of which comprises a rotationally driven metering roller, to the metering housing of which, on the outlet side, in turn, a plurality of transfer chambers pressurized by means of fans connect, from which transfer chambers a plurality of conveying lines emerge individually or in groups, which feed lines each open into a distribution element. The latter are usually formed by impact members which distribute the material to be distributed impinging thereon approximately in the form of a fan on the floor. A partial width switching is ensured in that each metering element is assigned its own motor, which is controlled independently of one another in terms of speed, for driving its respective metering roller, so that distributing elements which are arranged next to one another and are supplied with distributing material from the respective groups of conveying lines which issue from a respective metering element can be connected or disconnected in groups.In addition, generic distributing machines in the form of agricultural sowing or drilling machines are used. Here too, the distribution material held in the container in stock is metered by means of a metering element usually arranged below an outlet opening of the container, and the metered mass flow of distribution material is transferred to a delivery line which is arranged downstream of the metering element and is acted upon by compressed air, for example by means of a fan, and which delivers the metered distribution material flow dispersed into the compressed air flow to a distributor head. The distributor head comprises a plurality of outputs, each of which is adjoined by a distributor line, which serves to feed the stream of material to be distributed in the number of partial streams corresponding to distributor lines in each case to a distributor element, for example in the form of sowing coulters (if the material to be distributed is in particular seed), impact elements (if the material to be distributed is in particular fertilizer) or the like, which are arranged at booms thereof at different lateral distances from the distributor machine. Such distribution machines are known, for example, from DE 44 34 963 A1 or DE 197 47 029 A1. As an alternative to such a distributor head, a plurality of transfer chambers can also be arranged downstream of the respective metering elements, which transfer chambers serve for transferring a metered stream of material to a respective distributor line which supplies a respective distributor element directly, i.e. without the interposition of a distributor head. Such a pneumatic distribution machine is known, for example, from DE 20 2022 100 740 A1.Modern agricultural distribution machines, which are designed-as described above-in most cases in the form of self-drivers or attachments, are moreover frequently equipped with satellite-based position detection systems and an electronic control and / or regulating device which is capable, for example, of reading an electronic field map on which the distribution material requirement of the field is stored. In this way, such distribution machines are increasingly suitable for autonomous or at least partially autonomous operation in order to deliver the respectively provided quantity of distribution material in an automated manner at each location within a field to be ordered, without human intervention being required on site. Furthermore, spreading robots or drones which are operated as autonomously as possible for discharging agricultural distribution products are already known (cf., for example, DE 20 2023 106 596 A1 or DE 20 2023 106 598 A1), the functional parts of which, such as containers, metering elements, distribution elements, etc., are designed in a similar manner to conventional agricultural distribution machines.The necessary loading processes of the agricultural distribution machine in particular prove to be costly from a logistic point of view, provided that their container is not sufficient to hold the entire quantity of distribution material required in each case. In order to avoid a plurality of transfers of the agricultural distribution machine between its operating location on a field and the agricultural operation which is generally located elsewhere, where the distribution machine can be loaded with new distribution material, use is made in practice, for example, of mobile storage containers which are placed, for example, on the chassis of a vehicle, such as a truck trailer, and have a significantly larger capacity than the container of the distribution machine. The required total amount of material to be distributed can then be applied to such a storage container, for example during agricultural operation, after which it is transferred together with the agricultural distribution machine to its destination on a field where the agricultural host, thanks to the storage container set down on site, can refill the container of the distribution machine once or several times if necessary. However, this too represents a not inconsiderable outlay both in terms of handling and in terms of time and requires the presence of at least one operator on site, such that autonomous operation of the agricultural distribution machine is not possible.Modern loading devices for loading agricultural distribution machines at their operating location are therefore usually designed in the manner of a so-called transfer truck and comprise, in addition to the axle-supported, mobile storage container for receiving a large quantity of distribution material compared to the capacity of the container of the distribution machine, a conveying device assigned to the storage container, which conveying device serves for conveying the distribution material received in the storage container from the storage container to a loading location, wherein the conveying device is generally designed in the form of a conveyor belt pivotable obliquely upwards from an outlet of the storage container and the loading location results from the position of the free (upper) end of the conveyor belt, where the container of the agricultural distribution machine can be loaded when it is positioned at this loading location below the free end of the conveyor belt. The conveying device is usually assigned a control device which can be arranged in physical terms on the conveying device itself or on the mobile storage container or its axle-supported chassis and serves for remotely controllable and / or automated control of the conveying device.However, the known transfer vehicles with the storage container, the conveying device and the corresponding control device prove to be relatively expensive, wherein their use is essentially limited to the loading of agricultural distribution machines at their place of use, so that their purchase and / or use for the agricultural host frequently proves to be non-economical. In addition, the storage containers of known transfer vehicles frequently have a very large capacity, which represents an over-dimensioning in particular in the case of at least partially autonomously operating agricultural distribution machines, for example in the form of spreader robots or drones, the containers of which generally have a smaller capacity than those of attachments or even self-drivers and which generally serve for the supply of smaller agricultural areas, which may be relatively difficult to access and / or are difficult to handle, and only do not allow economic operation.The object of the invention is to improve a loading device for loading an agricultural distribution machine with powder- and / or particulate distribution material of the type mentioned at the beginning in a simple and cost-effective manner to the effect that its economics are improved with at least extensive avoidance of the aforementioned disadvantages both with regard to procurement and with regard to operation.According to the invention, this object is achieved in a loading device of the type mentioned at the beginning in that the conveying device with the control device assigned to it is formed by a separate conveying unit which can be detachably mounted on the storage container downstream of an outlet thereof.The embodiment according to the invention thus provides a modular construction of the loading apparatus, wherein the separate conveying unit with the conveying device and the control device assigned to it is detachably mounted on the mobile storage container downstream of the outlet thereof. In this way, the conveying unit can be used as required for different mobile storage containers-for example for those with different capacities, depending on which total amount of distribution material is just required by the respective agricultural distribution machine at its location of use-wherein the mobile storage container can be designed to the greatest extent in a conventional manner and only requires a corresponding holder for the detachable mounting of the conveying device of the conveying unit, so that conventional mobile storage containers can also be easily retrofitted in this respect.The conveying device of the conveying unit according to the invention can in principle have any conveying means known per se and suitable for powder- and / or particulate distribution material, wherein the conveying device of the conveying unit can comprise, for example, at least one conveyor belt and / or at least one conveying screw.If desired, the mobile storage container can be provided with a cover in order to protect the often hygroscopic material accommodated therein from external influences, such as in particular moisture.The mobile storage container and / or a cover thereof of the aforementioned type can furthermore have closable passage openings for ventilating and / or regulating the moisture of distributed material removed in the storage container.In addition, the mobile storage container can be equipped with internal guide elements, such as in the manner of conductive sheets, which are designed for feeding distributed material accommodated in the storage container in the direction of its outlet, in order to keep any remaining amount of distributed material remaining in the storage container as low as possible after it has been completely emptied.As already indicated, the mobile storage container can be advantageously supported by the chassis of a vehicle in order to be able to transport it in a simple manner to its place of use on an agricultural working surface. The mobile storage container can be fixedly connected to the chassis, for example, in the manner of a trailer or a self-propelled vehicle, or can preferably be releasably mounted on the chassis in a modular manner, for example, in the manner of a container.According to an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the mobile storage container can be pivoted about an, in particular substantially horizontal, pivot axis in order to allow distribution material accommodated in the storage container to slide along in the direction of the outlet. The pivot axis can be arranged here, for example, on the chassis of a vehicle.In the case of such a swivelability of the mobile storage container, the latter can preferably be swivelled by means of a motorized storage container swivel drive, such as for example in the form of electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or hydropneumatic piston / cylinder units. The motorized storage container pivot drive communicates in particular with the control device of the delivery unit in order to be able to pivot the mobile storage container in an automated manner depending on the need for distribution material and in this way to enable a practically complete emptying of the storage container.According to one embodiment, the outlet of the mobile storage container can be arranged, for example, on a base of the mobile storage container in order to achieve the modular construction of the loading device according to the invention, wherein the conveying device of the conveying unit can be mounted such that it can be pushed into a receptacle arranged below the outlet, for example in the manner of a drawer. If the mobile storage container is pivotable in the manner described above, the conveying unit detachably mounted on the mobile storage container can be pivotable together with the storage container in this manner.Instead, for the same purpose, it can be provided, for example, that the outlet of the mobile storage container is arranged in the lower region of a side wall thereof, wherein the conveying device of the conveying unit can be mounted adjacent to the outlet, in particular pivotably about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.In the case of such a swivelability of the conveying device of the conveying unit, the conveying device can advantageously be swivelled by means of a motorized conveying device swivel drive, such as e.g. again in the form of electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or hydropneumatic piston / cylinder units. The motorized conveying device pivoting drive communicates in particular with the control device of the conveying unit in order to pivot the conveying device into the desired loading position in an automated manner depending on the necessary height of the free end of the conveying device, which specifies the provided loading location of the agricultural distribution machine.The control device of the conveying unit can expediently have an input and / or display module, which can comprise, for example, a keyboard, a screen, a touchscreen or the like.The input and / or display module can be designed in particular for displaying parameters and / or commands and / or for inputting parameters and / or commands, wherein the parameters and commands relate to different aspects of the, in particular automatic, loading of the agricultural distribution machine. Merely by way of example, for parameters which can be input and / or displayed, the quantity of distribution material which is located in the mobile storage container and / or has already been removed therefrom, for example on the basis of the current weight of the storage container, start and stop times of the conveying device, the duration and / or number of already carried out and / or still planned filling processes of the agricultural distribution machine, settings of the mobile storage container and / or of the conveying device, such as, for example, the geographical position data thereof, the orientation or the pivot position of the storage container and / or conveying device, possible operating faults, etc. In the case of the commands which can be input and / or displayed, it can be, for example, inputs on the desired orientation of the conveying device and / or of the mobile storage container, for activating and deactivating the conveying device, including the programming thereof for automated operation, etc.The control device of the conveying unit can furthermore preferably have a first, in particular wireless, interface which is designed for communication with a mobile terminal device which is set up in a program-related manner and which can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop or the like.The control device can in this context expedientlyfor displaying parameters and / or commands, such as those of the type mentioned above, on the mobile terminal device set up in a program-related manner, so that the latter can serve as a display device of the control device, and / orreceiving parameters input into the mobile terminal device, such as, for example, those of the above-mentioned type, which are set up in a program-related manner, so that the mobile terminal device can serve as an input device of the control device, and / orreceiving and executing commands input into the mobile terminal device, such as those of the above-mentioned type, which is set up in a program-related manner, so that the conveying unit can be remotely controlled directly by means of the mobile terminal device communicating with its control device.The control device of the conveying unit can preferably alternatively or preferably additionally have a second, wireless interface, which is designed for communication with a control and / or regulating device of an agricultural distribution machine, such as, for example, via the ISOBUS standard protocol known in agricultural technology, which is a uniform data transmission protocol according to ISO standard 11783, which is used for use in different agricultural machines of different manufacturers.The control device can be connected in a similar manner in this contextfor receiving parameters transmitted by the control and / or regulating device of the agricultural distribution machine, such as, for example, those of the type described above, and / orfor receiving and executing commands sent by the control and / or regulating device of the agricultural distribution machine, such as, for example, those of the type described above,The invention also provides an arrangement in which the parameters and / or commands can be input either by the operator of the agricultural distribution machine into the control and / or regulating device thereof, or wherein the parameters and / or commands, in the case of an agricultural distribution machine operating at least partially or fully autonomously, can also be automatically generated by the control and / or regulating device thereof and transmitted to the control unit of the conveying unit if, for example, the container of the agricultural distribution machine which has been positioned at the loading location is to be filled with fresh distribution material. In addition, in this way, it is also possible, in particular, for parameters specific to the respective agricultural distribution machine to be transmitted to the control device of the conveying unit, such as, for example, the type of distribution machine including the capacity and / or the current fill level of its container, the opening or closing position of a cover of the container of the agricultural distribution machine, provided the latter has a container with a closable cover, its geometric dimensions (in order, for example, to raise the free end of the conveying device to a corresponding height level) and the like, it also being possible, of course, for parameters and control commands which can be input into the input device of the control device of the loading device or are automatically generated by said device to be transmitted to the agricultural machine, such as, for example, with regard to automatic opening of a cover of the container of the distribution machine if said container is intended to be loaded with distribution material by means of the loading device.For the purpose of fully automated operation of the loading apparatus according to the invention, it can also be provided, for example, that the control device of the conveying unit is connected to at least one sensor which is designed to detect an agricultural distribution machine positioned at the loading location. In this way, the control device of the control unit is able to recognize an agricultural distribution machine positioned at the loading location and only to put the conveying device into operation in this case, while the conveying device otherwise remains stopped, for example, and can also be activated by an operator intervention, in that the operator inputs a corresponding control command, not at all or only by generating a warning.For corresponding reasons, the control device of the conveying unit can furthermore be connected to at least one sensor which is designed to detect the fill level of distribution material of an agricultural distribution machine positioned at the loading location. As a result, the control device of the control unit is enabled to detect the fill level of the container of an agricultural distribution machine positioned at the loading location and to put the conveying device into operation only until a predetermined maximum fill level of the container of the agricultural distribution machine has been reached, while the conveying device remains stopped, for example, when such a maximum fill level is reached or exceeded, and can also be activated by an operator, by the latter inputting a corresponding control command, not or only by generating a warning.Accordingly, it can preferably be provided that the control device is designed to block the conveying device of the conveying unit if no agricultural distribution machine is positioned at the loading location and / or if the fill level of an agricultural distribution machine positioned at the loading location exceeds a predefined maximum value, in order to prevent malfunctions of the loading apparatus according to the invention-whether they are automatically supported by sensors or whether they are triggered by manual control commands-as far as possible.According to a further development of the loading device according to the invention, it can be provided that the conveying unit further comprises an intermediate container arranged downstream of the conveying device, into which intermediate container the conveying device can transfer the distribution material conveyed out of the mobile storage container. Such an intermediate container can serve in particular as a "buffer store" in order to shorten the loading processes of the agricultural distribution machine in terms of time, wherein the intermediate container enables the respectively desired quantity of distribution material to be removed from the mobile storage container by means of the conveying device of the conveying unit and to be loaded onto the intermediate container as long as distribution material is still being discharged onto an agricultural working surface by means of the agricultural distribution machine. Consequently, pre-metering of distribution material from the "large" storage container into the intermediate container which is "small" in comparison thereto takes place, so that the actual loading process of the agricultural distribution machine only requires a transfer of the distribution material pre-metered in the intermediate container into the container of the agricultural distribution machine at the loading location.The intermediate container of the conveying unit is consequently expediently designed for transferring the items to be distributed accommodated therein to an agricultural distribution machine positioned at the loading location, wherein the intermediate container can have, for example, at least one metering means which can be activated and deactivated by means of the control device of the conveying unit, whether by manually inputting corresponding control commands into the control device, a mobile terminal device communicating therewith or a control and / or regulating device of an agricultural distribution machine communicating therewith, or whether it is automatically possible by means of sensors which are able to detect a distribution machine placed at the loading location and / or the fill level of the container thereof.The dosing means of the intermediate container can preferably be a dosing opening which can be opened and closed by means of the control device, for example by controlling a dosing slide interacting with the dosing opening. In addition, any other desired metering means known per se for the intermediate container are also possible in principle, including conveyor belts or conveyor screws which can be driven and stopped by means of the control device.In an advantageous embodiment of the loading device according to the invention, it can be provided that the mobile storage container and / or the conveying unit is assigned at least one sensor which is designed to detect the quantity of distribution material located in the storage container and / or the quantity of distribution material removed from the storage container by means of the conveying device. The sensor can be, for example, a weighing sensor, but also any other sensors, e.g., in the form of cameras or the like.If the loading device is equipped with an intermediate container of the aforementioned type, at least one sensor, such as e.g. in the form of a weighing sensor, can also be assigned to the intermediate container in a similar manner, which sensor is designed to detect the quantity of distribution material located in the intermediate container and / or the quantity of distribution material removed from the intermediate container.With regard to the energy supply of the loading device according to the invention, it can be provided, for example, that it has an electricity storage device which is arranged in particular on the mobile storage container or on a chassis carrying the latter and to which the conveying unit and, if appropriate, the intermediate container can be connected. The electricity storage can, for example, also be connectable via corresponding electrical interfaces to the on-board electric system of an agricultural distribution machine or of a vehicle, such as a truck as the towing vehicle an axle-supported mobile storage container, in order to be able to charge its electricity storage at the site of use, if necessary.The loading device can furthermore have at least one photovoltaic module which is connected to the electricity storage unit in order to be able to charge the electricity storage unit of the loading device at its place of use.Furthermore, it can be provided that the loading device has a position determination system, e.g. satellite-assisted, in particular in the form of GPS, which is expediently connected to the control device, which, for example, can in turn transmit the position data of the respective loading location to the agricultural distribution machine, so that in the case of partially autonomous or else fully autonomous operation it is capable of moving automatically to the loading location even if the loading device is placed at any location close to an agricultural working surface.Further features and advantages of the invention are evident from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a loading device according to the invention during the loading of an agricultural distribution machine in the form of a centrifugal fertilizer spreader; FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the loading device according to FIG. 1 during the loading of an agricultural distribution machine in the form of a spreader robot, which is illustrated only in a highly schematic manner; and FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of a loading device according to the invention during the loading of an agricultural distribution machine in the form of a spreader robot which is illustrated only in a highly schematic manner.The loading device schematically represented in FIG. 1 for loading agricultural distribution machines 1, as in the present case in the form of a centrifugal or centrifugal fertilizer spreader known per se, which is accommodated as an attachment by the three-point power lifter of a tractor, with powder- and / or particulate distribution material, such as fertilizer or seed, comprises a mobile storage container 2 for accommodating the distribution material with an outlet 4 arranged in the lower region of one of its sides, such as its rear. The mobile storage container 2 is provided with a cover 3 in the exemplary embodiment shown, wherein it can have closable passage openings for ventilating and / or regulating the moisture content of the distribution material accommodated in the mobile storage container 2 (not represented in the drawing). In addition, the mobile storage container 2 can be equipped with internal guide elements (likewise not visible in the drawing), which are designed for feeding the distribution material accommodated in the storage container 2 in the direction of its outlet 4. The mobile storage container 2 is in the present case carried by the chassis 5 of a vehicle in the form of an axle-supported trailer, wherein the trailer is equipped with a coupling 7 in order to be able to transfer it to its place of use on an agricultural working surface by means of a towing vehicle 8, for example in the form of a tractor. In addition, the mobile storage container 2 can be pivoted about an approximately horizontal pivot axis which extends transversely to the direction of travel of the trailer carrying the storage container 2 and is located in the rear region of the chassis 5, in order to allow distribution material accommodated in the storage container to slide in the direction of the outlet 4. In order to ensure the possibility of a practically complete emptying of the mobile storage container 2, the latter can furthermore be pivoted by means of a motorized storage container pivot drive 6, which comprises, for example, a piston / cylinder unit.The loading apparatus further comprises a conveying device 10 assigned to the mobile storage container 2, which in the present case is designed in the form of a conveyor belt and is designed for conveying the distribution material accommodated in the mobile storage container 2 from the storage container 2 to a loading location which is predetermined by the free end of the conveying device 10. The conveying device 10 is assigned a control device, not shown in the drawing, which is suitably set up in terms of programming and is designed for remotely controllable and / or automated control of the conveying device 10. In this case, the conveying device 10 together with the control device assigned to it form a separate conveying unit which is mounted detachably on the mobile storage container 1 downstream of its outlet 4. In the case of FIG. 1, it is provided in this context that the conveying device 10 of the conveying unit can be mounted so as to be pivotable adjacent to the outlet 4 of the mobile storage container 2 about an approximately horizontal pivot axis S arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the trailer carrying the storage container 2, so that its free end is height-adjustable in accordance with the size of the agricultural distribution machine 1 to be loaded, in order to preset the desired loading location. For pivoting the conveying device 10 about the pivot axis S, a motorized conveying device pivot drive 11 is provided, which comprises, for example, a pair of piston / cylinder units, each of which is articulated on the one hand on the frame of the conveyor belt of the conveying device 10 and on the other hand can be detachably mounted on a pivot pin in the region of the outlet 4 of the mobile storage container 2.The control device of the conveying unit can have an input and / or display module (not shown), a first, in particular wireless, interface (likewise not shown) for communication with a mobile terminal device set up in a program-related manner and / or a second, wireless interface (likewise not shown) for communication with a control and / or regulating device of the agricultural distribution machine 1 to be loaded, in order to be able to input, display and process various parameters and commands in the manner mentioned further above and thus to be able to control the conveying device of the conveying unit in a remotely controllable and / or partially or fully automated manner. For the purpose of a very largely autonomous operation of the conveying device 10 of the conveying unit, its control device can furthermore be connected to sensors (not shown in the drawing), which are designed, for example, for detecting the agricultural distribution machine 1 positioned at the loading location and / or for detecting the fill level of distribution material in its container.FIG. 2 shows a loading device corresponding to FIG. 1 in the situation of the automated loading of an agricultural distribution machine 1 in the form of an autonomous spreader robot, of which only its container, frame and chassis are illustrated in the drawing, whereas all other functional parts, such as in particular metering and distribution elements, have been omitted.The embodiment of a loading device schematically represented in FIG. 3, in which the same and functionally identical components are provided with the same reference numerals and do not require repeated explanation, differs from that of FIGS. 1 and 2 on the one hand in that the outlet 4 of the mobile storage container 1 is arranged on a base thereof and the conveying device 10 of the conveying unit is inserted, detachably mounted in a receptacle arranged below the outlet 4. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 3, the conveying unit comprises an intermediate container 13 arranged downstream of the conveying device 10, into which the conveying device 10 transfers the distribution material conveyed out of the mobile storage container 2. The intermediate container 13 of the conveying unit serves as a buffer store for the distributed material metered by means of the conveying device 10 and for transferring the distributed material accommodated therein to the agricultural distribution machine 1 positioned at the loading location, which is formed, for example, in a corresponding manner as in the case of FIG. 2 by an autonomous spreader robot, which is illustrated only in a highly schematic manner. For this purpose, the intermediate container 13 has a dosing means 14, which can likewise be activated and deactivated by means of the control device of the conveying unit and can be designed, for example, in the form of a dosing opening, which can be opened and closed by means of a dosing slide (not visible in FIG. 3 ) controlled by the control device and interacting with the dosing opening 14.In all loading devices shown in schematic form in FIGS. 1 to 3, at least one sensor (not shown), in particular in the form of a weighing sensor, can furthermore be assigned to the mobile storage container 2 and / or to the conveying unit, which sensor is designed to detect the quantity of distribution material located in the storage container 2 and / or the quantity of distribution material removed from the storage container 2 by means of the conveying device 10. The same applies in relation to the intermediate container 13 according to FIG. 3, which for its part can be assigned at least one sensor (likewise not shown), in particular in the form of a weighing sensor, which is designed for detecting the quantity of distribution material located in the intermediate container 13 and / or the quantity of distribution material removed from the intermediate container 13.In addition, in all embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the loading device can be equipped with a power store (not shown in the drawing), which is arranged in particular on the storage container 2 or on its chassis 5 and to which the conveying unit and, if appropriate, the intermediate container 13 can be connected. Such an electricity storage can be connected to a photovoltaic module (likewise not shown in the drawing), which is likewise arranged on the storage container 2, for example, in order to ensure an at least partially autonomous energy supply of the loading device. Moreover, the loading device may be provided with a satellite-based positioning system, such as GPS, which is connected to the control device.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2007 053 550 A1

[0002] DE 10 2004 030 240 A1

[0003] DE 44 34 963 A1

[0004] DE 197 47 029 A1

[0004] DE 20 2022 100 740 A1

[0004] DE 20 2023 106 596 A1

[0005] DE 20 2023 106 598 A1

[0005]

Claims

Loading device for loading an agricultural distribution machine (1) with powder- and / or particle-shaped distribution material, comprising: - at least one mobile storage container (2) for receiving the distribution material, - at least one conveying device (10) assigned to the mobile storage container (2), which is designed for conveying distribution material received in the mobile storage container (2) from the storage container (2) to a loading location, and - a control device assigned to the conveying device (10), which is designed for remotely controllable and / or automated control of the conveying device (10), characterized in that the conveying device (10) with the control device assigned to it is formed by a separate conveying unit, which can be detachably mounted on the mobile storage container (2) downstream of an outlet (4) thereof.Loading device according to claim 1, characterised in that the conveying device (10) of the conveying unit comprises a conveyor belt and / or a conveying screw.Loading device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the mobile storage container (2) is provided with a cover (3).Loading device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the mobile storage container (2) and / or the cover (3) thereof has closable passage openings for ventilating and / or regulating the moisture of distribution material removed in the storage container (2).Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mobile storage container (2) is equipped with internal guide elements which are designed for feeding distribution material accommodated in the storage container (2) in the direction of its outlet (4).Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mobile storage container (2) is carried by the chassis (5) of a vehicle, wherein it is mounted in particular in a detachable manner on the chassis (5).Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mobile storage container (2) can be pivoted about an, in particular substantially horizontal, pivot axis in order to enable distribution material accommodated in the storage container (2) to slide in the direction of the outlet (4).Loading device according to claim 7, characterised in that the mobile storage container (2) can be pivoted by means of a motor-driven storage container pivot drive (6), wherein the motor-driven storage container pivot drive (6) communicates in particular with the control device of the conveying unit.Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the outlet (4) of the mobile storage container (2) is arranged on a base of the storage container (2), it being possible for the conveying device (10) of the conveying unit to be mounted such that it can be pushed into a receptacle arranged below the outlet (4).Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the outlet (4) of the mobile storage container (2) is arranged in the lower region of a side wall thereof, wherein the conveying device (10) of the conveying unit can be mounted so as to be pivotable adjacent to the outlet (4), in particular about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (S).Loading apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that the conveying device (10) of the conveying unit is pivotable by means of a motorized conveying device pivot drive (11), wherein the motorized conveying device pivot drive (11) communicates in particular with the control device of the conveying unit.Loading device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the control device of the conveying unit has an input and / or display module.Loading device according to claim 12, characterised in that the input and / or display module - is designed to display parameters and / or commands, and / or - is designed to input parameters and / or commands.Loading device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the control device has a first, in particular wireless, interface which is designed for communication with a mobile terminal device set up in a programme-related manner.Loading device according to claim 14, characterised in that the control device is - configured to display parameters and / or commands on the mobile terminal device which is set up in a program-related manner, and / or - configured to receive parameters which are input into the mobile terminal device which is set up in a program-related manner, and / or - configured to receive and execute commands which are input into the mobile terminal device which is set up in a program-related manner.Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the control device of the conveying unit has a second, wireless interface which is designed for communication with a control and / or regulating device of an agricultural distribution machine.Loading device according to Claim 16, characterized in that the control device is - designed to receive parameters transmitted by the control and / or regulating device of the agricultural distribution machine (1), and / or - designed to receive and execute commands transmitted by the control and / or regulating device of the agricultural distribution machine (1).Loading device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that the control device of the conveying unit is connected to at least one sensor which is designed to detect an agricultural distribution machine (1) positioned at the loading location.Loading device according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterised in that the control device of the conveying unit is connected to at least one sensor which is designed to detect the fill level of distribution material of an agricultural distribution machine (1) positioned at the loading location.Loading device according to claim 18 or 19, characterised in that the control device is designed to block the conveying device (10) of the conveying unit if no agricultural distribution machine (1) is positioned at the loading location and / or if the fill level of an agricultural distribution machine (1) positioned at the loading location exceeds a predetermined maximum value.Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the conveying unit further comprises an intermediate container (13), which is arranged downstream of the conveying device (10) and into which the conveying device (10) is able to transfer the distribution material conveyed out of the storage container (2).Loading device according to claim 21, characterised in that the intermediate container (13) of the conveying unit is designed for transferring the material to be distributed accommodated therein to an agricultural distribution machine (1) positioned at the loading location.Loading device according to claim 22, characterised in that the intermediate container (13) has at least one dosing means which can be activated and deactivated by means of the control device of the conveying unit.Loading device according to claim 23, characterised in that the dosing means of the intermediate container (13) is - a dosing opening (14) which can be opened and closed by means of the control device, or - a conveying means, such as a conveyor belt or a conveying screw, which can be driven and stopped by means of the control device.Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the mobile storage container (2) and / or the conveying unit is assigned at least one sensor, in particular in the form of a weighing sensor, which is designed to record the quantity of distribution material located in the storage container (2) and / or the quantity of distribution material removed from the storage container (2) by means of the conveying device (10).Loading device according to one of Claims 21 to 25, characterized in that the intermediate container (13) is assigned at least one sensor, in particular in the form of a weighing sensor, which is designed to record the quantity of distribution material located in the intermediate container (13) and / or the quantity of distribution material removed from the intermediate container (13).Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 26, characterized in that it has a power store which is arranged in particular on the mobile storage container (2) and to which the conveying unit and, if appropriate, the intermediate container (13) can be connected.Loading device according to claim 27, characterised in that it comprises at least one photovoltaic module which is connected to the electricity storage.Loading device according to one of Claims 1 to 28, characterized in that it has a position determination system, in particular a GPS system, which is in particular connected to the control device.

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