PORTIONING DEVICE FOR CHEMICAL GRANULES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an agricultural spreading machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for producing granule portions according to the preamble of claim 8.

[0002] A metering unit for dispensing granular material is known from German patent application DE 10 2015 112 813 A1. A metering device for granular material with a collection container is known from German patent application WO 2017 / 032691 A1. A garden seed drill is known from German patent application US 8 061 281 B1. A dibbling seeding device is known from German patent application DE 832 954 C. A device for distributing granular objects is known from German patent application EP 2 550 850 A1. A machine for sowing rice seed is known from German patent application FR 2 273 462 A1.

[0003] When sowing some plant varieties, such as maize, fertilizer is applied simultaneously to promote plant growth and thus increase yield. In this context, it has been common practice, particularly with row crops, to spread the fertilizer in bands along the soil of the agricultural field. In contrast, the seeds in a row are sown at a uniform distance from each other. The distance between the seeds can be, for example, 15 cm. A relatively large proportion of the fertilizer spread in bands is inaccessible to the plants, at least during the emergence phase, because their root systems are not yet sufficiently developed.

[0004] To improve the accessibility of the deposited fertilizer for emerging plants, dispensing devices are known in the prior art by means of which fertilizer can be deposited in portions in the immediate vicinity of a seed. A corresponding system is known, for example, from publication EP 1 825 737 B1.

[0005] These and other known solutions for the portioned application of chemical granules to agricultural land, however, only allow for granule distribution at limited driving speeds and / or frequently lead to unintentional mis-portioning of the granules. The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially overcome the known disadvantages of the portioned application of chemical granules to agricultural land.

[0006] The problem is solved by an agricultural spreading machine of the type mentioned above, wherein the spreading machine includes a metering device by means of which the quantity of granules supplied to the portioning device can be adjusted, and wherein the quantity and size of a granule portion can be adjusted via the quantity of granules supplied to the portioning device.

[0007] The invention utilizes the fact that a purely mechanical system for forming granule portions can be implemented using a rotary-driven conveying element. This system generates granule portions not through the kinematics of the conveying element, but without the need for a controllable electromechanical closing device, such as an electrically pulsating valve. Furthermore, the delivery frequency of the granule portions can be precisely adjusted via the rotational speed of the conveying element and / or the number of conveying elements, enabling the implementation of comparatively high delivery frequencies. This allows for the dispensing of uniformly spaced granule portions even at high travel speeds. The delivery frequency can, for example, range between 7 and 40 Hertz.

[0008] A portion of granules comprises a plurality of granules. The granules can be introduced into the portioning device via a conveying airflow that carries them along. In this case, the outlet opening serves to dispense granule portions produced from the granules carried by the conveying airflow. The at least one conveying element is configured to combine the granules carried by the conveying airflow into granule portions during a rotational movement. The conveying airflow carrying the granules, which is introduced into the portioning device via the inlet opening, is preferably a continuous air-granule mixture flow and / or a volumetrically metered air-granule mixture flow.

[0009] Alternatively, the granules can also fall into the portioning device under the influence of gravity, without the need to generate a conveying airflow.

[0010] According to the invention, the portioning device comprises a housing within which a portioning chamber is arranged, wherein the rotatably driven conveying element is located within the portioning chamber. The inlet opening and / or the outlet opening of the portioning device are preferably formed on the housing. The housing can be a multi-part housing. Preferably, the housing has a cover that can be removed from a housing base without damage. By removing the cover, the portioning chamber can be accessed from the outside for cleaning, maintenance, or repair purposes. Furthermore, because the housing of the portioning device can be opened, it is possible to adapt the configuration of the portioning device to a specific type of granules or the requirements of a planned granule application.For example, the conveying element can be interchangeable, allowing different conveying elements to be used for portioning the granules. In this context, the portioning device can also be equipped with an insert containing multiple conveying elements. This allows the number of conveying elements to be adapted to a specific type of granule or the requirements of a planned granule output. The inlet opening is preferably connected to the portioning chamber via an inlet channel. The outlet opening is preferably connected to the portioning chamber via an outlet channel. The portioning chamber can, for example, be disc-shaped. The conveying airflow, carrying the granules, preferably enters the portioning chamber of the portioning device through a chamber inlet opening.The chamber inlet opening is preferably arranged on a lateral end face of the portioning chamber and aligned in the direction of rotation of the conveying element, so that the conveying airflow can be introduced in the direction of rotation. The produced granule portions preferably leave the portioning chamber through a chamber outlet opening. The chamber outlet opening is preferably arranged on an inner surface extending circumferentially, the inner surface of which defines the portioning chamber in the radial direction.

[0011] In a further development of the agricultural spreading machine according to the invention, the conveying element is configured to come into contact with granules located in the portioning chamber during a rotational movement and to push these granules ahead of it after contact is established. The conveying element thus acts as a carrier and collects the granules located in the portioning chamber during the rotational movement. The number of granules that the conveying element pushes ahead of it during the rotational movement increases during its movement between the chamber inlet opening and the chamber outlet opening of the portioning chamber.

[0012] According to the invention, the conveying element is configured to accelerate granules located in the portioning chamber during a rotational movement. This rotational acceleration is achieved by ensuring that the rotational speed of the conveying element is higher than the speed of movement of the granules in the portioning chamber. The granules, which are pushed by the conveying element, preferably move along an outward spiral path, as the centrifugal force propels the granules radially outward. The granules thus accumulate at the wall radially bounding the portioning chamber, forming a granule portion or increasing the size of an existing one. The centrifugal force therefore pushes the granules carried by the conveying element outward.The granules are then guided between the wall radially limiting the portioning chamber and the end faces laterally limiting the portioning chamber and moved rotationally by the conveying element.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment of the agricultural spreading machine according to the invention, the portioning chamber is bounded radially by a wall of the housing that at least partially surrounds the axis of rotation of the conveying element. This wall forms an inner surface by which the granule portions are guided, at least section by section, during the rotational movement of the conveying element. The chamber outlet opening is formed in the wall that bounds the portioning chamber radially, through which the granule portions leave the portioning chamber. The granule portions are thus ejected from the portioning chamber in a tangential direction by the conveying element.

[0014] Furthermore, an agricultural spreading machine according to the invention is advantageous in which the conveying element is elongated and / or designed as a radially outwardly extending wing. The portioning device can also have several conveying elements, each of which can, for example, be designed as an outwardly extending wing. The multiple radially outwardly extending conveying elements can be arranged, in particular in a star-shaped configuration, around a common drive axis. The delivery frequency of the granule portions can be changed by varying the number of conveying elements without adjusting the rotational speed of the conveying elements. The conveying elements can, for example, be components of a multi-bladed rotor, which can be driven rotationally by a drive device.

[0015] Furthermore, an agricultural spreading machine according to the invention is preferred in which the conveying element is formed in multiple parts and / or at least partially from an elastically deformable material. Preferably, the conveying element has a contact surface which comes into contact with the granules located in the portioning chamber during rotation. The contact surface is preferably formed from the elastically deformable material so that the tendency of the granules to rebound from the conveying element is reduced. In this way, the packing density of the granule portion can be increased and the risk of granules breaking out of the portion is reduced.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the agricultural spreading machine according to the invention, the conveying element comprises a deformable body, in particular a deformable rubber body. The deformable body preferably forms the contact surface of the conveying element, which comes into contact with the granules during a rotational movement of the conveying element. The rubber body is durable and robust against external stress and significantly reduces the tendency of the granules to bounce off. Preferably, during the rotational movement of the conveying element, the deformable body rests against the wall radially delimiting the portioning chamber, at least along a certain angular range. This ensures backlash-free guidance of the granule portion and a seal against the wall. Furthermore, gap formation is prevented, as the elastic body always rests against the wall radially delimiting the portioning chamber.

[0017] Furthermore, an agricultural spreading machine according to the invention is advantageous in which the portioning device has a drive unit. The drive unit is configured to drive the conveying element rotationally. The drive unit can be electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic. Preferably, the drive unit is designed as an electric motor or comprises an electric motor. The drive unit can be coupled to a control unit by which the rotational frequency can be adjusted. The drive unit is preferably attached to the housing of the portioning device. The drive unit preferably has a drive shaft, with the conveying element being attached to the drive shaft.

[0018] The conveying device can be designed to generate a conveying airflow carrying granules and may, for example, include a blower by means of which the conveying airflow is generated. Chemical granules are then fed from the storage container into the conveying airflow, resulting in the conveying airflow carrying the granules. The portioning device can be designed to produce portions of granules from the granules carried by the conveying airflow.

[0019] The agricultural spreading machine is preferably configured to deposit granule portions with a portion length between 3 cm and 6 cm, particularly between 4 cm and 5 cm, onto the agricultural land. The agricultural spreading machine is preferably configured to deposit granule portions with a portion width between 1 cm and 3 cm, particularly granule portions with a portion width of approximately 2 cm, onto the agricultural land.

[0020] According to the invention, the agricultural spreading machine comprises a metering device by means of which the quantity of granules supplied to the portioning device can be adjusted. According to the invention, the quantity and size of a granule portion are adjustable via the quantity of granules supplied to the portioning device.

[0021] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, comprising the step of: adjusting the quantity of granules supplied to the portioning device by means of a metering device of the agricultural spreading machine; wherein the quantity and size of a granule portion are adjusted via the quantity of granules supplied to the portioning device.

[0022] Preferably, the granules are introduced into the portioning device via a conveying airflow that carries the granules along with it. Preferably, the granules carried by the conveying airflow are combined into granule portions by the conveying element. Alternatively, the granules can fall into the portioning device under the influence of gravity, without the need to generate a conveying airflow.

[0023] Preferably, a portioning device according to one of the embodiments described above is used when carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0024] The method according to the invention can further include the discharge of the portioning device of the granule portions, in particular those produced from the granule particles carried along by the conveying airflow.

[0025] In the method according to the invention, the granules, and in particular the conveying airflow carrying the granules, are introduced into a portioning chamber of the portioning device, within which the conveying element performs a rotational movement. Alternatively or additionally, the granules located in the portioning chamber are carried along by the rotating conveying element, in particular along a conveying path that at least partially revolves around the axis of rotation of the conveying element. According to the invention, the granules located in the portioning chamber are rotationally accelerated by the rotating conveying element. In particular, the granule portions are ejected from the portioning chamber of the portioning device towards an outlet opening of the portioning device.As the rotating conveying element picks up the granules in the portioning chamber, they come into contact with the conveying element, which then pushes them forward. The centrifugal force of the centrifugal force causes the granules to be moved radially outwards, accumulating them against the radially bounded wall of the portioning chamber. There, they form granule portions or increase the size of existing portions. The granule portion is then guided by the conveying element and the inner surface of the housing before being ejected from the portioning chamber.The ejection of the granule portions from the portioning chamber is preferably achieved through a chamber outlet opening in the wall radially bounding the portioning chamber, which interrupts the wall and thus allows the ejection. The granule portions are preferably ejected from the portioning chamber in a tangential direction.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the rotational speed of the conveying element is higher than the movement speed of the granules introduced into the portioning chamber. In this way, the conveying element can catch up with and carry along the granules introduced into the portioning chamber during a rotational movement, so that the granules are brought together.

[0027] Furthermore, a method according to the invention is advantageous in which the impact of the granules on the conveying element is dampened by means of an elastically deformable contact surface of the conveying element. During the rotational movement of the conveying element, the contact surface of the conveying element comes into contact with the granules located in the portioning chamber. The elastically deformable contact surface of the conveying element can, for example, be a component of a rubber body of the conveying element.

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a portioning device in a perspective view; Fig. 2 an embodiment of a portioning device during granule portioning in a first state in a side sectional view; Fig. 3 the one shown in the Fig. 2 The portioning device shown during granule portioning in a second state in a side sectional view; Fig. 4, which is shown in the Fig. 2 The portioning device shown during granule portioning is in a third state in a side sectional view; Fig. 5, which is shown in the Fig. 2 The portioning device shown during granule portioning is in a fourth state in a side sectional view; and Fig. 6, which is shown in the Fig. 2 The portioning device shown during granule portioning is in a fifth state in a side sectional view.

[0029] The Fig. 1 Figure 10 shows a portioning device 10 for chemical granules, specifically for fertilizer. The portioning device 10 shown can, for example, be a component of an agricultural spreading machine by means of which chemical granules can be deposited onto agricultural land. Such a spreading machine has, for example, a storage container for the granules, the storage container being connected to a conveying device. The conveying device can include a blower and be designed to generate a conveying airflow carrying granules 100. The portioning device 10 serves to produce granule portions 102 from the granules 100 carried by the conveying airflow. Such an agricultural spreading machine also has a depositing device for depositing the produced granule portions 102 onto the agricultural land.

[0030] The portioning device 10 has a multi-part housing 12 made of plastic. The housing 12 comprises a base 16, the interior of which is closed by a lid. The base 16 and the lid can be attached to each other in a way that allows for non-destructive detachment. Fastening elements, such as screws, can be used to attach the lid to the base 16.

[0031] The housing 12 includes an inlet opening 18, which is arranged at one end face of an inlet channel 20. The conveying air flow carrying the granules 100 can be introduced into the portioning device 10 via the inlet opening 18. The conveying air flow carrying the granules 100 is then directed via the inlet channel 20 to a portioning chamber 26, which is arranged inside the housing 12.

[0032] Within the portioning chamber 26, a rotary-driven conveying element 28 is arranged, which is designed to combine the granules 100 carried along by the conveying airflow into granule portions 102 during a rotational movement. The rotary drive of the conveying element 28 is effected by a drive unit 32 designed as an electric motor. During operation of the portioning device 10, the conveying element 28 performs a rotational movement about the axis of rotation 30.

[0033] The portioning chamber 26 located in the housing 12 is connected to an outlet opening 22 via an outlet channel 24. The outlet opening 22 serves to discharge the portions of granules 102 produced within the portioning chamber 26.

[0034] The portioning device 10 thus represents a mechanical system for forming granule portions 102. Each corresponding granule portion 102 comprises a plurality of granule grains 100. The conveying airflow introducing the granule grains 100 into the portioning device is a continuous air-granule mixture flow. The granules are volumetrically metered into the airflow. The quantity of granules fed into the airflow can be adjusted via a metering device on the dispensing machine.

[0035] The portioning device 10 allows the provision of granule portions at a frequency in the range of 7 to 40 Hertz.

[0036] The Fig. 2 bis 6 Figure 1 shows a portioning device 10 without a lid during granule portioning. Due to the missing lid, the portioning chamber 26 located inside the housing 12 is visible. The portioning chamber 26 has a disc-shaped base.

[0037] The portioning chamber 26 is connected to an inlet channel 20 via a chamber inlet opening 34. The chamber inlet opening 34 is located on a lateral end face of the portioning chamber 26. Furthermore, the portioning chamber 26 is connected to an outlet channel 24 via a chamber outlet opening 36. The chamber outlet opening 36 is formed in a wall 40 that radially delimits the portioning chamber 26. The wall 40 is a circumferentially extending inner surface that rotates on a circular path. Due to the arrangement of the chamber outlet opening 36 in the wall 40, the generated granule portions 102 are ejected from the portioning chamber 26 in a tangential direction.

[0038] The conveying element 28 is elongated and multi-part. Furthermore, the conveying element 28 is designed as a radially outwardly extending wing. The conveying element 28 has a contact surface 42 which, during a rotational movement of the conveying element 28, comes into contact with the granules 100 located within the portioning chamber 26. The contact surface 42 is supported by an elastically deformable rubber body 38. The rubber body 38 reduces the tendency of the granules 100 to rebound when they come into contact with the conveying element 28.

[0039] In the Fig. 2 In the depicted state, the conveying element 28 is located at the level of an upper section of the chamber inlet opening 34. The granules 100 introduced into the portioning chamber 26 via the conveying air flow lie in front of the conveying element 28 in the direction of rotation. The conveying element 28 is moved by the drive device 32 in such a way that the granules introduced into the portioning chamber 26 are picked up by the conveying element 28 and thus come into contact with the conveying element 28 inside the portioning chamber 26.

[0040] The Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows how some granules 100 have already been picked up by the conveying element 28 and, after contact with it, are pushed ahead of the conveying element 28. The conveying element 28 accelerates the picked-up granules 100 rotationally, so that the granules 100 are moved radially outwards by centrifugal force. The granules 100 collected by the conveying element 28 thus move along an outwardly directed spiral path.

[0041] The Fig. 4 This shows that the granules 100, moved radially outwards by centrifugal force, accumulate on the wall 40 that radially delimits the portioning chamber 26 and form granule portions 102 there. The granules 100 carried along by the conveying element 28 are thus pushed together outwards by centrifugal force. The granule portion 102 is then guided jointly by the conveying element 28 and the inner surface of the housing 12.

[0042] The Fig. 5 shows that the portion of granules 102 is pushed along the wall 40 radially limiting the portioning chamber 26 in front of the conveying element 28, before the portion of granules 102 is ejected from the portioning chamber 26 in a tangential direction at the level of the chamber outlet opening 36.

[0043] The ejection of the granule portion 102 from the portioning chamber 26 is in the Fig. 6 The portion of granules 102 ejected from the portioning chamber 26 then leaves the portioning device 10 via the outlet opening 22 located at the end face of the outlet channel 24.

[0044] During the production of the granule portions 102 by means of the conveying element 28, new granule particles 100 were already introduced into the portioning chamber 26 via the conveying airflow. The granule particles 100 that had meanwhile been introduced into the portioning chamber 26 are combined into a granule portion 102 during the subsequent rotation of the conveying element 28.

[0045] As an alternative to the embodiment shown, the portioning device 10 can also have several conveying elements 28, which can, for example, be designed as wings extending radially outwards. The several conveying elements 28 can, for example, be arranged in a star shape around the axis of rotation 30 and be driven by a common drive unit 32. Reference sign

[0046] 10 Portioning device 12 Housing 16 Housing base 18 Inlet opening 20 Inlet channel 22 Outlet opening 24 Outlet channel 26 Portioning chamber 28 Conveyor element 30 Rotation axis 32 Drive unit 34 Chamber inlet opening 36 Chamber outlet opening 38 Rubber body 40 Wall 42 Contact surface 100 granules 102 granules portion

Claims

1. Agricultural spreading machine, comprising - a storage container for chemical granulate; - at least one portioning device (10) for producing granulate portions (102) from granulate grains (100); - a conveying apparatus for conveying granulate grains (100) from the storage container into the portioning device (10); and - at least one depositing apparatus for depositing the produced granulate portions (102) onto an agricultural area; wherein the portioning device (10) comprises an inlet opening (18) for granulate grains (100), an outlet opening (22) for dispensing granulate portions (102) produced from the granulate grains (100), and at least one rotationally drivable conveying element (28), wherein the conveying element (28) is configured to combine granulate grains (100) introduced into the portioning device (100) into granulate portions (102) during a rotational movement; wherein the portioning device (10) comprises a housing (12) within which a portioning chamber (26) is arranged, wherein the rotationally drivable conveying element (28) is arranged within the portioning chamber (26); wherein the conveying element (28) of the portioning device (10) is configured to rotationally accelerate, during a rotational movement, granulate grains (100) located in the portioning chamber (26) in such a way that the granulate grains (100) located in the portioning chamber (26) are moved radially outward by the centrifugal force, with the result that the granulate grains (100) accumulate on the wall radially delimited the portioning chamber (26) and form granulate portions (102) there or increase the size of already existing granulate portions (102); characterized in that the spreading machine comprises a metering apparatus by means of which the granulate quantity supplied to the portioning device (10) is adjustable, wherein the granulate quantity and size of a granulate portion (102) are adjustable via the granulate quantity supplied to the portioning device (10).

2. Agricultural spreading machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying element (28) of the portioning device (10) is configured to come into contact, during a rotational movement, with granulate grains (100) located in the portioning chamber (26) and to push these granulate grains (100) in front thereof after contact has been established.

3. Agricultural spreading machine according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portioning chamber (26) of the portioning device (10) is delimited in a radial direction by a wall (40) of the housing (12), which wall at least partially encircles the rotation axis (30) of the conveying element (28).

4. Agricultural spreading machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying element (28) of the portioning device (10) is elongate and / or designed as a wing extending radially outward.

5. Agricultural spreading machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying element (28) of the portioning device (10) is made of multiple parts and / or at least in portions is made of an elastically deformable material.

6. Agricultural spreading machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying element (28) of the portioning device (10) comprises a deformable body, in particular a deformable rubber body (38).

7. Agricultural spreading machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portioning device (10) comprises a drive apparatus (32) configured to rotationally drive the conveying element (28) of the portioning device (10).

8. Method for producing granulate portions (102) by means of a portioning device (10) of an agricultural spreading machine, comprising the steps of: - introducing granulate grains (100) into the portioning device (10); - introducing the granulate grains (100) into a portioning chamber (26) of the portioning device (10), within which at least one rotationally driven conveying element (28) executes a rotational movement; - the rotating conveying element (28) rotationally accelerating the granulate grains (100) located in the portioning chamber (26); - combining the granulate grains (100) introduced into the portioning device (10) into granulate portions (102) by means of the at least one rotationally driven conveying element (28) of the portioning device (10) in such a way that the granulate grains (100) located in the portioning chamber (26) are moved radially outward by the centrifugal force, with the result that the granulate grains (100) accumulate on the wall radially delimited the portioning chamber (26) and form granulate portions (102) there or increase the size of already existing granulate portions (102); characterized by the step of: - adjusting, by means of a metering apparatus of the agricultural spreading machine, the granulate quantity supplied to the portioning device (10); wherein the granulate quantity and size of a granulate portion (102) are adjusted via the granulate quantity supplied to the portioning device (10).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized by at least one of the following steps: - the rotating conveying element (28) carrying along the granulate grains (100) located in the portioning chamber (26), in particular along a conveying path that at least partially encircles the rotation axis (30) of the conveying element (28); - ejecting the granulate portions (102) from the portioning chamber (26) of the portioning device (10) toward an outlet opening (22) of the portioning device (10).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the rotational speed of the conveying element (28) is higher than the movement speed of the granulate grains (100) introduced into the portioning chamber (26).

11. Method according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the impact of the granulate grains (100) on the conveying element (28) is softened by means of an elastically deformable contact surface (42) of the conveying element (28).