MOWING AND / OR TRIMMER

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a mowing and / or trimming device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From the document EP 2874484 B1 a mowing and / or trimming device with a drive shaft and a plurality of modules is already known, each of which is axially displaceable relative to the drive shaft in a released state and each of which comprises an annular housing element rotatable relative to the drive shaft in the released state for retracting a cutting line.

[0003] Document EP 3 138 376 A1 describes a weed rotor having a tubular shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, which is motorized for rotation about the longitudinal axis, and which comprises a cylindrical structure and a replaceable protective tube arranged around the cylindrical structure and configured to slide on the ground.

[0004] The document US 4 104 797 A describes a cutting arrangement in the form of a rotating head for a rotary lawn mower, edger or trimmer.

[0005] The document IT VR20 090 065 A1 describes a device for removing shoots from a plant.

[0006] The object of the invention is, in particular, to advantageously further develop a device of this type. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims. Advantages of the invention

[0007] The invention is based on a mowing and / or trimming device, in particular a thread rotor, with a drive shaft, with a first module and with at least one second module, which can be driven in rotation about a rotation axis via the drive shaft and which each comprise a thread spool for receiving and storing at least one cutting thread and a housing unit with at least one thread passage opening for a passage of a loose end of the cutting thread, in particular for mowing and / or trimming purposes.

[0008] It is proposed that the housing unit of the first module has at least one counter-connecting element which is provided for a positive connection with a connecting element of the drive shaft and for receiving a drive torque from the drive shaft.

[0009] The design according to the invention allows a generic device to be advantageously further developed. In particular, efficiency during operation of the mowing and / or trimming device can be advantageously increased. In particular, longer operating times and shortened maintenance times can advantageously be achieved, thus increasing economic efficiency for a user. In addition, improved properties with regard to comfort for a user can advantageously be achieved. In particular, a user can advantageously be enabled to particularly easily replenish the cutting lines of the individual modules, thereby shortening maintenance times. In particular, a connection between the respective modules can advantageously be maintained during replenishment of the cutting line, thereby simplifying replenishment of the cutting line.Furthermore, it is advantageous to enable both the replenishment of individual cutting threads from a single module and the replenishment of multiple cutting threads from multiple modules simultaneously, or of all cutting threads from all modules simultaneously. Furthermore, the transmission of drive torque from the drive shaft to the respective modules can be optimized, achieving a particularly uniform power transmission, thus minimizing wear on the cutting thread and enabling a long operating time.

[0010] The mowing and / or trimming device is particularly intended for use in horticulture and / or agriculture and / or viticulture, for mowing and / or trimming, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, for example underneath vines. For drive, the drive shaft can be driven in particular by an external drive motor, for example an engine of an agricultural machine. The drive shaft in particular has a rotationally fixed and preferably firmly connected connecting flange which has the connecting element. In an assembled state, the connecting element engages positively in the mating connecting element of the housing unit and, in an operating state, transmits the drive torque from the drive shaft to the housing unit of the first module and drives the first module to rotate about the axis of rotation.Each module of the mowing and / or trimming device has, in particular, at least one cutting line. "Provided" is understood to mean, in particular, specifically, designed, and / or equipped. The fact that an object is intended for a specific function is understood to mean, in particular, that the object fulfills and / or performs this specific function in at least one application and / or operating state. The housing unit, in particular, forms a receiving space for the line spool. Advantageously, the receiving space is completely closed when the housing unit is assembled, with the exception of the at least one line passage opening.

[0011] According to the invention, the housing unit of the first module has a form-locking element which, in an assembled state, interacts with a counter-form-locking element of the second module and is intended to transmit the drive torque from the first module to the second module. According to the invention, the housing unit of the second module has a further form-locking element which is intended to interact with a further counter-form-locking element of a further module. This can advantageously ensure a particularly uniform and / or reliable transmission of the drive torque. In particular, the respective housing units of each module have at least one form-locking element and at least one counter-form-locking element.Preferably, all modules of the mowing and / or trimming device have corresponding form-locking elements and counter-form-locking elements, so that the modules can be arranged one behind the other in series and the drive torque can be transmitted from the first module to a last of the modules via all the remaining modules.

[0012] The respective form-locking elements of the respective modules are in particular designed identically to one another. The respective counter-form-locking elements of the respective modules are in particular designed identically to one another. The respective form-locking elements can in particular be designed as a material accumulation of the respective housing unit. The counter-form-locking elements can in particular be designed as a material recess in the respective housing unit. In particular, the form-locking element of one module engages in a form-locking manner with the counter-form-locking element of a module arranged next to it in an assembled state and is provided for transmitting the drive torque from the module to the next module.In particular, the form-locking element and the counter-form-locking element are arranged on opposite sides of the housing unit of each module and are angularly offset from one another with respect to the rotation axis, preferably offset by an angle of 180°, so that during assembly, a form-locking connection between a form-locking element of one module and a counter-form-locking element of a nearest module can be created by means of a rotational movement. It is particularly conceivable for each module to have several form-locking elements and several counter-form-locking elements, which are each arranged symmetrically and angularly offset from one another in a plane. For example, the modules could each have two form-locking elements offset from one another by an angle of 180°, or three form-locking elements offset from one another by an angle of 120°, or four form-locking elements offset from one another by an angle of 90°.In particular, a number of positive locking elements and counter-positive locking elements can be adapted to specific operating conditions. A symmetrical arrangement of the positive locking elements and counter-positive locking elements can advantageously compensate for a suction effect caused by the rotation of the respective cutting lines during the operating state of the mowing and / or trimming device.

[0013] It is further proposed that the housing units each comprise an annular housing element and at least one cover element, which, in an assembled state, forms at least partially a closed interior space with the respective housing element for receiving the respective thread spool. Preferably, the respective form-locking elements and the respective counter-form-locking elements of the respective housing unit are located on the annular housing element, preferably on an inner edge of the housing elements, which, in an assembled state, faces the drive shaft. This advantageously enables protection of the thread spool and / or the part of the cutting thread wound on the thread spool from external influences, for example from moisture."Annular" is to be understood in particular as meaning that a cross-section of the respective housing elements deviates from a circular ring shape with respect to their respective axial direction, in particular by less than 25%, preferably less than 10%, and particularly preferably less than 5%. An "axial direction" is to be understood in particular as a direction running parallel to the axis of rotation in an assembled state.

[0014] It is also proposed that the cover element be connected to the respective filament spool, in particular of the same module. The cover element is preferably connected to the filament spool via a positive and / or non-positive connection, for example via a screw connection. However, it would also be conceivable for the cover element to be formed integrally with the filament spool or to be connected to the filament spool via a material connection, for example, welded or glued. This advantageously enables simple assembly and / or disassembly of the respective modules, in particular for replacing the respective cutting filaments.

[0015] It is also proposed that the housing units each have a further cover element, which is arranged opposite the respective cover element, in particular of the same module. This advantageously allows an interior space to be at least substantially completely closed, which in particular can further improve the protection of the spool and the portion of the cutting filament wound thereon from external influences. "At least substantially" in this context is understood to mean, in particular, that a deviation from a predetermined value deviates by less than 25%, preferably less than 10%, and particularly preferably less than 5% of the predetermined value.

[0016] If the additional cover element is arranged so that it can rotate relative to the cover element, particularly of the same module, this can advantageously simplify assembly and / or disassembly, as well as the reloading of the cutting line. In particular, the housing element can have a guide element, for example, an annular groove, into which the cover element can engage and thus be rotatably mounted. In particular, the cover element is firmly connected to the guide element, preferably screwed to it.

[0017] It is further proposed that the thread passage openings each have a direction of extension which is aligned at an angle of less than 90° to a radial outer wall of the respective housing unit, in particular of the housing elements, in particular of the same module. Advantageously, the thread passage openings each have a direction of extension which is aligned at an angle of less than 75°, particularly advantageously at an angle of less than 60°, preferably at an angle of less than 55°, and particularly preferably at an angle of less than 50°, to a radial outer wall of the respective housing unit. This can advantageously prevent damage to the cutting thread. Furthermore, wear of the cutting thread at the thread passage opening can advantageously be reduced, whereby the service life of a cutting thread can advantageously be extended and user satisfaction can be improved.

[0018] It is also proposed that the housing units, in particular the housing elements, each have a thread guide notch running in the circumferential direction, adjoining and in particular tapering to the thread passage opening. The thread guide notch extends in particular from the thread passage opening in the circumferential direction of the housing unit and tapers in particular against a standard direction of rotation of the drive shaft, in particular such that a depth and / or width of the thread guide notch preferably decreases monotonically, so that the cutting thread comes to rest in the thread guide notch upon termination of the rotational movement of the drive shaft. This can further improve protection of the cutting thread against damage. In particular, wear of the cutting thread can advantageously be further reduced.

[0019] It is further proposed that the modules, in particular all modules of the mowing and / or trimming device, each have precisely one thread passage opening. This advantageously allows each individual cutting thread to be adjusted separately. In particular, the varying wear of individual cutting threads caused by varying stresses can be better taken into account.

[0020] Furthermore, it is proposed that the thread passage openings of adjacent modules be arranged at an angular offset from one another with respect to the rotation axis, in particular by an angle of 180°. To achieve an angularly offset arrangement of the thread passage openings of adjacent modules, the positive locking elements and counter-positive locking elements, as well as the thread passage openings of the adjacent modules, are coordinated with one another. This symmetrical arrangement advantageously enables a particularly uniform rotational movement of the drive shaft during operation of the mowing and / or trimming device.

[0021] According to the invention, the mowing and / or trimming device has a locking unit which is provided to at least substantially prevent rotation of the thread spools relative to the drive shaft in a locked state. The locking unit has in particular at least one locking element which firmly clamps the respective thread spools of the respective modules to the drive shaft. The locking element can be designed, for example, as a clamping screw which is screwed into a corresponding thread of the drive shaft, wherein the thread is designed as a left-hand thread in order to prevent loosening of the clamping screw when the drive shaft is rotated during operation. In the locked state, the locking element presses the respective thread spools together in the axial direction relative to one another and thus prevents rotation of the thread spools relative to the drive shaft.This can prevent, in particular, unwanted unwinding of the cutting line, especially during operation of the mowing and / or trimming device. In this context, "at least substantially preventing" is understood to mean that rotation of the line spool relative to the drive shaft in the locked state would only be possible under a very strong external force, which does not occur during normal operation.

[0022] The thread spools are each rotatable relative to the drive shaft within the respective housing unit, particularly of the same module, for reloading the cutting threads when the locking unit is released. This advantageously simplifies reloading the cutting thread. In particular, individual cutting threads of the respective modules or all cutting threads of all modules can advantageously be reloaded particularly easily. Furthermore, the positive connections between the respective modules can be maintained during reloading, which in particular prevents the unintentional loosening and falling off of individual modules and advantageously reduces the user's workload during reloading.

[0023] It is further proposed that the housing units each have at least one thread receptacle which, when the cutting thread is accommodated, is provided to provide a connection to the respective thread spool, in particular acting parallel to the respective axial direction. The thread receptacle is arranged in particular on the further cover element of the housing unit, in particular on an inner edge of the further cover element, into which the thread spool is inserted. In particular, the cutting thread clamps the thread spool after it has been plugged on and thus creates the connection acting parallel to the respective axial direction. In this way, the thread spool can advantageously be connected to the housing unit using simple technical means, and accidental loosening of the thread spool can be prevented.

[0024] The mowing and / or trimming device preferably has at least one winding adapter element, which can be detachably connected to the respective thread spools of the respective modules and is provided, in particular, for simplified winding of the cutting line in conjunction with an external rotating device, for example, a cordless screwdriver. With the aid of the winding adapter element, the connection to the respective thread spool, which acts parallel to the respective axial direction, can be released, in particular by gently pressing.

[0025] Furthermore, it is proposed that the modules, and in particular all modules, be identical to one another. This can advantageously simplify the manufacturing process. Furthermore, user convenience can be increased by allowing individual modules to be freely interchangeable.

[0026] The mowing and / or trimming device according to the invention is not intended to be limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the mowing and / or trimming device according to the invention may have a number of individual elements, components, and units that differs from the number stated herein to fulfill a function described herein. Drawings

[0027] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0028] They show: Fig. 1: a first module of a mowing and / or trimming device with a housing unit in a schematic plan view, Fig. 2: the first module in a further schematic plan view, Fig. 3: the housing unit of the first module in a schematic view, Fig. 4: a schematic sectional view of a partial area of ​​the housing unit, Fig. 5: a drive shaft of the mowing and / or trimming device, Fig. 6: the first module in a positive connection with the drive shaft, Fig. 7: the housing unit with a thread spool and a winding adapter, Fig. 8: the mowing and / or trimming device with a locking unit and Fig. 9: the mowing and / or trimming device in a schematic exploded view. Description of the embodiment

[0029] Fig. 1shows a first module 14 of a mowing and / or trimming device 10 in a schematic plan view. The first module 14 has a thread spool 20 for receiving and storing a cutting thread 22. The first module 14 has a housing unit 24. The housing unit 24 has an annular housing element 40. The housing unit 24 has a thread passage opening 26. The thread passage opening 26 is designed as a bore in the housing element 40 of the housing unit 24. The thread passage opening 26 is provided for the passage of a loose end 28 of the cutting thread 22. The first module 14 has a form-locking element 34. The housing unit 24 of the first module 14 has a mating connecting element 30. The counter-connecting element 30 is provided for a positive connection with a connecting element 32 of a drive shaft 12 of the mowing and / or trimming device 10 (cf. Fig. 5 ).

[0030] Fig. 2shows the first module 14 in a further schematic plan view from a Fig. 1 opposite viewing direction. The housing unit 24 has the form-locking element 34. In an assembled state of the mowing and / or trimming device 10, the form-locking element 34 interacts with a counter-form-locking element 36 of a second module 16 (cf. Fig. 8 ) together. The second module 16 is identical to the first module 14, which is why a representation of the counter-form-locking element 36 is provided at this point on Fig. 1 referred to.

[0031] Fig. 3 shows the housing unit 24 of the first module 14 in a schematic view. The housing unit 24 has a cover element 42. In an assembled state, the cover element 42 forms an at least partially closed interior space 44 with the housing element 40 of the housing unit 24. The interior space 44 is intended to accommodate the thread spool 20 (cf. Fig. 7). The cover element 42 is connected to the thread spool 20.

[0032] The housing unit has a further cover element 46. The further cover element 46 is arranged opposite the cover element 42 (see Fig. 1 and 2 ). The further cover element 46 is arranged rotatably relative to the cover element 42.

[0033] The housing unit 24 has a thread holder 58. The thread holder 58 is provided to hold the cutting thread 22. When the cutting thread 22 is held, the thread holder 58 is provided to form a thread parallel to an axial direction 60 (cf. Fig. 8 ) effective connection with the respective thread spool 20.

[0034] Fig. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a partial area of ​​the housing element 40 of the housing unit 24. The section runs through the housing element 40 orthogonal to an axial direction 60 (cf. Fig. 8) and intersects the thread passage opening 26. The thread passage opening 26 has a direction of extension 66, which is arranged at an angle 64 to a radial outer wall 50 of the housing element 40 of the housing unit 24. The angle 64 is less than 90° and is in particular 45°.

[0035] Fig. 5 shows the drive shaft 12 of the mowing and / or trimming device 10. The drive shaft 12 has a connecting flange 68. The connecting flange 68 is welded to the drive shaft 12. The connecting flange 68 has the connecting element 32.

[0036] Fig. 6shows a representation of the housing unit 24 of the first module 14, which is positively connected to the connecting element 32 via the mating connecting element 30. The housing element 40 of the housing unit 24 has a thread guide notch 52 adjacent to the thread passage opening 26. The thread guide notch 52 tapers in the circumferential direction of the housing element 40 and accommodates the cutting thread 22.

[0037] Fig. 7 . shows the housing unit 24 of the first module 14 with the thread spool 20 and a winding adapter element 70. The winding adapter element 70 is provided for winding the cutting thread 22 around the thread spool 20.

[0038] Fig. 8shows the mowing and / or trimming device 10 in a pre-assembled state. The mowing and / or trimming device 10 has the first module 14, the second module 16 and two further modules 62. The first module 14, the second module 16 and the further modules 62 are identical to one another. The first module 14 is positively connected to the connecting element 32 of the drive shaft 12 via the mating connecting element 30. In an operating state, the housing unit 24 of the first module 14 transmits a drive torque (not shown) from the drive shaft 12 to the mating positive-locking element 36 of the second module 16 via the positive-locking element 34. The second module 16 has a further positive-locking element 38 which is identical to the positive-locking element 34 of the first module 14.The further module 62 has a further counter-positive locking element 48, so that the drive torque is transmitted in the same manner from the further positive locking element 34 of the second module 16 to the nearest further module 62. In an operating state, the drive torque generates a rotational movement of the mowing and / or trimming device 10 about a rotational axis 18 in a rotational direction 78.

[0039] The first module 14, the second module 16, and the additional modules 62 each have exactly one thread passage opening 26. The thread passage openings 26 of adjacent modules 14, 16, 62 are arranged at an angle offset from one another with respect to the rotation axis 18. The thread passage opening 26 of the first module 14 is arranged at an angle of 180° with respect to the rotation axis 18 from the thread passage opening 26 of the second module 16.

[0040] The mowing and / or trimming device 10 has a locking unit 54, which in Fig. 8 and 9is shown. The locking unit 54 is provided to at least substantially prevent rotation of the thread spools 20 relative to the drive shaft 12 in a locked state. In a released state of the locking unit 54, the thread spools 20 of the first module 14, the second module 16, and the further modules 62 are rotatable relative to the drive shaft 12. The locking unit 54 has a locking element 72 and a further locking element 74. The locking element 72 and the further locking element 74 are each designed as screws with a left-hand thread (not shown). To establish the locked state, the further locking element 74 is screwed into an internal thread (not shown) of the drive shaft 12 against the direction of rotation 78 and presses an end flange 76 against the last of the further modules 62.The locking element 72 is screwed into the further locking element 74 against the direction of rotation 78 in order to establish the locking state. Reference symbol

[0041] 10 Mowing and / or trimming device 12 Drive shaft 14 First module 16 Second module 18 Rotation axis 20 Thread spool 22 Cutting thread 24 Housing unit 26 Thread passage opening 28 Loose end 30 Counter-connecting element 32 Connecting element 34 Form-locking element 36 Counter-form-locking element 38 Further form-locking element 40 Housing element 42 Cover element 44 Interior 46 Further cover element 46 Further counter-form-locking element 50 Outer wall 52 Thread guide notch 54 Locking unit 56 Thread receptacle 60 Axial direction 62 Further module 64 Angle 66 Direction of travel 68 Connecting flange 70 Winding adapter element 72 Locking element 74 Further locking element 76 End flange 78 Direction of rotation

Claims

1. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) comprising a drive shaft (12), a first module (14), and at least one second module (16), which are rotatably drivable about a rotational axis (18) via the drive shaft (12), and which each comprise a filament spool (20) for receiving and storing at least one cutting filament (22), and a housing unit (24) with at least one filament outlet opening (26) for the passage of a free end (28) of the cutting filament (22), wherein the housing unit (24) of the first module (14) comprises at least one counter-connection element (30), which is designed to form a positive-fit connection with a connection element (32) of the drive shaft (12) and to receive a drive torque from the drive shaft (12), wherein the housing unit (24) of the first module (14) comprises a positive-fit element (34) which, in an assembled state, interacts with a counter-positive-fit element (36) of the second module (16) and is configured to transmit the drive torque from the first module (14) to the second module (16), wherein the housing unit (24) of the second module (16) comprises a further positive-fit element (38), which is configured to interact with a further counter-positive-fit element (48) of a further module (62), characterized in that the mowing and / or trimming device (10) comprises a locking unit (54), which is configured to at least substantially prevent rotation of the filament spools (20) relative to the drive shaft (12) in a locking state, wherein the filament spools (20) are rotatable within the respective housing unit (24) relative to the drive shaft (12) in a release state of the locking unit (54) in order to dispense the cutting filaments (22).

2. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing units (24) each comprise an annular housing element (40) and at least one cover element (42), which, in an assembled state, together with the respective housing element (40), at least partially form a closed interior space (44) for receiving the respective filament spool (20).

3. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover element (42) is connected to the respective filament spool (20).

4. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing units (24) each comprise a further cover element (46), which is arranged opposite the respective cover element (42).

5. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the further cover element (46) is arranged rotatably relative to the respective cover element (42).

6. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filament outlet openings (26) each have a direction of extension (66) which is oriented at an angle (64) of less than 90° to a radial outer wall (50) of the respective housing unit (24), in particular of the housing elements (40).

7. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing units (24), in particular the housing elements (40), each comprise a filament guide notch (52) which extends in the circumferential direction, adjoins the filament outlet opening (26), and in particular tapers.

8. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modules (14, 16, 62) each comprise exactly one filament outlet opening (26).

9. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filament outlet openings (26) of adjacent modules (14, 16, 62) are arranged offset in angle relative to each other about the rotational axis (18), in particular by an angle of 180°10. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing units (24) each comprise at least one filament holder (58), which, when a cutting filament (22) is received, is configured to provide a connection to the respective filament spool (20), in particular acting parallel to a respective axial direction (60).

11. Mowing and / or trimming device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all modules (14, 16, 62) are formed identically to each other.