HARVESTING MACHINE FOR SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATION OF TWO TEST TRAYS FOR GRAIN LOSS MEASUREMENT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a harvesting machine, in particular a combine harvester, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From DE 101 50 080 A1, a harvesting machine with a depositing device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. The depositing device is designed to accommodate a single test pan, which can be remotely placed on the ground. For this purpose, two guide rails with an L-shaped profile are arranged in the rear area of ​​the cutting unit on the harvesting machine, which is designed as a combine harvester, inclined to the horizontal, which serve to accommodate the individual test pan. The test pan is held in the guide rails by a spring-loaded mechanism arranged thereon until the test pan slides to the ground under the force of gravity upon manual or automatic actuation of the mechanism. The test pan comprises a box-shaped container in which a replaceable sieve is arranged.By using sieves with different opening widths, the test pan can be used for different crop types to determine actual crop losses or grain losses. For the deployment of multiple test pans, DE 101 50 080 A1 stipulates the installation of several depositing devices, each containing a test pan, on the harvester.

[0003] From US 4,393,704 A or US2020 / 029499A1 a harvesting machine with a depositing device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, which serves to deposit a single test tray between the wheels of the harvesting machine.

[0004] In order to increase the accuracy of determining crop losses, i.e. grain losses, it is necessary to determine crop losses at several points in a field using a test pan. Due to the process, crop losses are not evenly distributed due to the deposition of crop by the harvester, but are subject to greater or lesser variations depending on the uniformity of the crop density. The determination of crop losses is used to calibrate grain loss sensors on the harvester. The sensor grain loss signals for crop losses generated by the grain loss sensors are used to adjust the working units of the harvester in order to keep crop losses below adjustable limits and at the same time achieve the highest possible utilization and maximum crop throughput.

[0005] Against this background, it is the object of the present invention to further develop a harvesting machine according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that a higher accuracy in the determination of crop loss, in particular in fields with inhomogeneous crop stock, and at the same time a simplification with regard to the placement of the test tray is achieved.

[0006] This object is achieved by a storage device having the features of the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing features of claim 1.

[0007] Advantageous further training is the subject of the subclaims.

[0008] According to claim 1, a harvesting machine, in particular a combine harvester, is proposed, comprising a depositing device with an ejection mechanism for depositing a test tray for determining crop losses on the ground over which the harvesting machine travels. The ejection mechanism is configured to simultaneously deposit two test trays from two stacks of test trays arranged side by side in the depositing device onto the ground. In particular, the depositing device is oriented transversely to the direction of travel of the harvesting machine. This ensures that the working width of the harvesting machine is completely covered when picking up the crop to be evaluated for actual crop loss.

[0009] It is particularly advantageous if the harvesting machine has a control device which is designed to control the depositing device for the simultaneous deposit of test trays in pairs at predetermined or predeterminable intervals. The depositing can take place automatically at intervals, in particular at equal intervals, with the interval(s) being able to be stored in a memory unit of the control device so that they can be retrieved. Alternatively, provision can be made for the spacing to be individually adjusted, which can be useful in the case of inhomogeneous field crops. When harvesting inhomogeneous field crops, provision can be made for the operator to manually trigger the depositing of the test trays by the depositing device using the control device in order to deposit the test trays at different points on the ground, i.e. both at different intervals one behind the other within a lane and also distributed over several lanes.

[0010] According to the invention, the ejection mechanism comprises a frame designed to accommodate at least two pairs of test trays stacked one above the other. Thus, several test trays, preferably three to five, are stacked, i.e., arranged one above the other, in the storage device, which are then placed sequentially in pairs on the floor.

[0011] In particular, the frame can comprise guide rails arranged opposite one another and ejection rails arranged parallel and movable relative to the guide rails. The ejection rails are driven in an oscillating manner by at least one drive device for guiding and separating the test trays, particularly in pairs. The frame with its guide rails and the ejection rails, which are movable relative to the guide rails and driven in an oscillating manner, forms the ejection mechanism. By means of the ejection mechanism, the test trays can be separated, guided, and ejected in pairs.

[0012] For this purpose, a plurality of horizontally extending folds can be formed on mutually facing vertically running inner sides of the ejection rails, wherein each fold has a lower leg plane and an upper leg plane which are connected to one another by a ramp-shaped section, and wherein a gap is formed between folds arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the ejection rails, between the upper leg plane of one fold and the lower leg plane of a subsequent fold. The three folds, the lower leg plane, the ramp-shaped section and the upper leg plane, are arranged in a repeating sequence in the longitudinal direction of the ejection rail. The bottommost test tray of a stack of several test trays lying one above the other in the storage device lies with its tabs at the level of the gap.

[0013] Furthermore, the respective test tray can have tabs arranged on both sides of an outer frame, wherein the tabs of the test tray located at the bottom within a stack rest on the edges of the ejection rails and are guided by them during an oscillating movement of the ejection rails in the longitudinal direction.

[0014] The bottommost test pan in a stack of multiple test pans stacked on top of each other in the storage device rests with its tabs essentially at the level of the gap. The forward movement performed in a first movement cycle pushes the respective upper leg level between the tabs of the bottommost test pan and the test pan above it. The test pans lying next to each other in one level of the storage device are fixed in the axial direction by frame elements of the storage device. The subsequent backward movement performed in the first movement cycle moves the bottommost test pan to the lower leg level of the ejection rails. When the ejection rails move forward again in the subsequent movement cycle, the tabs on the lower leg level slide towards the gap and fall to the floor.At the same time, during this movement cycle, the test tray following vertically is separated again. The respective test tray is guided by the bevels on both sides of the outer frame, which rest at least partially on the bevels of the ejection rails during an oscillating movement of the ejection rails in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] Preferably, the ejection rails can be connected to the drive device by a coupling mechanism in order to synchronize the oscillating movement of the ejection rails. This can prevent the test trays from tilting during separation and deposit by the ejection mechanism. The coupling mechanism can comprise an eccentric and a coupling rod connected to one of the ejection rails. The eccentrics and coupling rods of a respective ejection rail are connected to one another by a transverse axis on which the eccentrics and coupling rods are rotatably mounted. A rotary movement transmitted from the drive device to one of the eccentrics is transmitted from the axis to the eccentric and the coupling rod of the opposite ejection rail.

[0016] Furthermore, the respective ejection rail can be axially guided in the guide rail running parallel to it by at least two guide means arranged on the respective ejection rail. The respective guide rail can preferably be designed as a C-profile, whereby the guide means are held in the transverse and vertical directions. The guide means can have sliding or rolling elements with which the respective ejection rail is movably guided in the guide rail relative to the latter. The respective guide means can be arranged by a hat profile fastened to the ejection rail for receiving the sliding or rolling elements, wherein the sliding or rolling elements are in turn guided or movable in the guide rail in a form-fitting manner. Viewed in the longitudinal direction of the respective ejection rail, a plurality of guide means are arranged at a distance from one another to ensure tilt-free guidance of the ejection rails.

[0017] Preferably, a drop-off point for the test trays deposited in pairs can be physically and / or electronically marked. Physical marking can be achieved, for example, by applying foam or paint. For this purpose, the depositing device or the combine harvester can have a suitable discharge device designed to apply foam or paint. The discharge device can be controlled by the control device. Electronic marking can be achieved, for example, by storing position data of the harvesting machine at the time of deposit in a memory unit of the control device, which is preferably arranged on the harvesting machine. The position data can be provided to the harvesting machine by a position tracking system. In addition, the position data can be transmitted to a mobile data processing device, such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or the like.Furthermore, an electronic marking can be made on a map of the field to be worked, which is stored electronically in the control device. Alternatively or additionally, each test tray can be equipped with a transmitter, for example, operating on a Bluetooth basis, whose signals can be detected by a mobile data processing device to locate the position of the respective test tray.

[0018] The harvesting machine can have a separation arrangement and a cleaning arrangement as working elements, wherein at least one grain loss sensor is arranged at the ends of the separation arrangement and the cleaning arrangement on the crop discharge side, which sensor grain loss signals transmit to the control device for the relative determination of crop losses.

[0019] In particular, the control device can be configured to automatically place the test trays on the ground for calibrating the grain loss sensors, depending on the harvester reaching a quasi-stationary operating state in which the harvester has a substantially constant crop throughput. To calibrate the grain loss sensors, the actual crop losses are determined based on an evaluation of the contents of the deposited and driven-over test trays by the harvester.

[0020] Preferably, the control device can be configured to prevent a change in operating parameters after the quasi-stationary operating state has been reached for the duration of the test trays being deposited, and to output an indication by means of an input / output unit that a change in the operating parameters is temporarily prevented by the control device. In this way, it can be avoided that a manual or automatic change in one or more operating parameters leads to a deviation in the determination of grain losses using the test trays. Operating parameters include, for example, the driving speed of the harvester and, in particular, automatic or manual settings of the threshing arrangement, the separation arrangement, and / or the cleaning arrangement, which can lead to a change in the crop throughput and / or an increase in crop losses.

[0021] In addition, the control device can be configured to store the sensor grain loss signals detected by the grain loss sensors at the time of the respective placement of the test trays.

[0022] Preferably, the adjustment of the sensitivity of the grain loss sensors can be carried out manually by the operator of the harvesting machine or automatically by the control device after receiving the actual crop losses.

[0023] For this purpose, the actual crop losses determined by evaluating the recorded contents of the test trays can be transmitted manually to the control device via the input / output unit or by a data processing device, particularly a mobile one. Direct transmission of the determined actual crop losses via the data processing device is more advantageous. This avoids transmission errors.

[0024] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

[0025] They show: Fig. 1 a combine harvester in a schematic side view; Fig. 2 schematically a perspective view of a storage device for test trays; Fig. 3 a schematic view of a test tray from above and a detailed view in section; Fig. 4 schematically a perspective partial view of a rear wall and an ejection rail with a guide means arranged thereon; Fig. 5 schematically a rear partial view according to Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6 shows a schematic partial view of the inside of the ejection rail; Fig. 7 shows a schematic partial perspective view of a coupling mechanism for driving the ejection rails; and Fig. 8 shows a schematic partial view of several test trays lying one above the other.

[0026] In Fig. 11 shows a schematic side view of a harvesting machine 1 designed as a combine harvester 2. The combine harvester 2 has, in a manner known per se from the prior art, a cutting unit 3, a feederhouse 4, a threshing arrangement 5, a separation arrangement 6, a cleaning arrangement 7, a transport arrangement 8, a grain tank 9, and a distribution arrangement 10. A crop flow or grain flow 11 received by the cutting unit 3, which comprises grain components and non-grain components such as chaff and straw, is conveyed through these sections of the combine harvester 2 essentially in the stated sequence and processed by the arrangements also referred to as working elements.

[0027] More precisely, in the threshing arrangement 5 and the separation arrangement 6, the grain components are to be separated from the non-grain components, i.e. the remaining harvested crop, wherein the separated grain components are cleaned of the non-grain components in the cleaning arrangement 7 and the thus cleaned grain components are then fed to the grain tank 9 by the transport arrangement 8. The non-grain components, such as the straw and chaff, are then deposited on the ground 12 at the rear of the combine harvester 2 by the distribution arrangement 10 or emerge from the combine harvester 2 at the corresponding end of the separation arrangement 6, which may comprise longitudinally aligned straw walker trays 6a or separation rotors, and reach the ground 12 of the field.

[0028] In the threshing arrangement 5, the majority of the grain components are separated from the received crop stream 11. The so-called residual grain and the non-grain components reach the separation arrangement 6, where a further separation process takes place to largely separate the residual grain from the non-grain components in the crop stream 11. The material mixture 13 emerging from the end of the separation arrangement 6, consisting of unseparated residual grain and non-grain components, is returned to the ground 12 by the distribution arrangement 10, which comprises a straw chopper 14 and, here and preferably, a radial distributor 15.

[0029] The grain components obtained from the threshing assembly 5 and the separating assembly 6 are then fed to the cleaning assembly 7. A combination of sieves and directed air streams removes any remaining non-grain components. The transport assembly 8, consisting of augers and elevators, conveys the now-cleaned grain components to the grain tank 9. From there, they are transferred to a discharge truck.

[0030] Depending on various factors such as driving speed, crop density, and / or moisture content, grain losses occur during this combine harvesting process. These losses can occur during intake, during threshing in the threshing assembly, but also during separation in the separation assembly 6 and in the cleaning assembly 7. Reference numeral 16 denotes crop losses or grain losses that occur during the cleaning process. Further crop losses 16 result from the separation process by the separation assembly 6.

[0031] To determine the crop losses 16, at least two grain loss sensors 17 are used, which serve to detect the grain components emerging from the combine harvester 2 as crop losses 16. The grain loss sensors 17 are positioned in a known manner at the end of the separation arrangement 6 and the cleaning arrangement 7, i.e., in the discharge area of ​​the crop stream 11, which essentially consists of non-grain components.

[0032] The grain loss sensors 17 only detect the crop losses 16 proportionally, as the grain loss sensors 17 cannot easily and directly detect the quantitatively precise amount of crop losses 16. This is not only because not all lost grains ever reach the detection range of the grain loss sensors 17, but also because the relationship between the measured grain loss values ​​and the actual amount of lost grains can vary greatly.

[0033] The grain loss values ​​are used, among other things, to adjust the operating parameters of the various process-related arrangements of combine harvester 2 so that grain losses do not exceed agrotechnical requirements and harvester 1 or combine harvester 2 can achieve maximum throughput. The grain loss values ​​are also used to control other machine settings, such as the drive system or the driving speed. Thus, in the event of changing harvesting conditions, such as changes in crop density in an inhomogeneous field or changes in crop moisture, the operating parameters and machine settings must be regularly adjusted based on the sensed grain loss values ​​in order to always optimize the efficiency of the combine harvesting process.

[0034] To actually determine the crop losses 16 that occur, test trays 18 are placed on the ground 12, which collect the crop flow 11 discharged by the cleaning arrangement 7 and the distribution arrangement 10 in the form of grain losses 16 and the crop mixture 13. The test trays 18 cover approximately the entire usable working width of the combine harvester 2. For this purpose, two test trays 18 are placed next to each other on the ground. The test trays 18 are deposited by a depositing device 19 located on the underside of the mower-rotary shear 2. The test trays 18 are deposited one behind the other on the ground 12 at an adjustable distance A. The distance A can be adjusted by the time offset when the depositing device 19 is triggered for depositing the test trays 18. The depositing device 19 is arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis or direction of travel of the combine harvester 2.

[0035] In Fig. 2is a schematic perspective view of the storage device 19 for test trays 18. The storage device 19 comprises a frame 20, at least one drive device 26 and a coupling mechanism 28, which is Fig. 7 will be explained in more detail below. The at least one drive device 26 is preferably embodied here as an electric motor. For reasons of better visualization of the components of the storage device 19, only one test tray 18 is shown in the illustration. However, two test trays 18 are provided, arranged side by side in one plane.

[0036] The frame 20 comprises two parallel guide rails 21 extending in the longitudinal direction x. The guide rails 21 are connected at their ends by a flap 22 pivotable about an axis 24 and a stationary rear wall 23. On the side of the flap 22, several test trays 18 stacked one above the other can be inserted into the storage device 19. The flap 22 can be locked to prevent the test trays 18 from slipping out. Cross struts 25 extending in the transverse direction y are arranged on the upper side of the frame 20, with which the storage device 19 is detachably fastened to the underside of the combine harvester 2. The functional principle of the connection to the combine harvester 2 is based on spring-returned locking hooks. The storage device 19 can be released by pulling on laterally projecting actuating elements 30, which here are preferably designed as rings.

[0037] On the inside of the respective guide rail 21, an axially movable ejection rail 27 is arranged parallel to the respective guide rail 21. The ejection rails 27 are movable relative to the guide rails 21 in the longitudinal direction x. The ejection rails 27 are identical. A rotational movement generated by the drive device 26 is converted into a linear movement by the coupling mechanism 28 and transmitted to the ejection rails 27. For this purpose, the coupling mechanism 28 comprises an eccentric 47 and a coupling rod 48, which in Fig. 7are shown in more detail, which are connected to one of the ejection rails 27. The eccentric 47 and the coupling rod 48 of a respective ejection rail 27 are connected to one another by a transverse axis 29, on which the eccentric 47 and the coupling rods 48 are rotatably mounted. A rotary movement transmitted from the drive device 26 to one of the eccentrics 47 on one of the ejection rails 27 is transmitted synchronously by the axis 29 to the eccentric 47 and the coupling rod 48 of the opposite ejection rail 27. The ejection rails 27 are thus driven by the at least one drive device 26 in an oscillating manner in the axial direction of the storage device 19, which is indicated by the arrow SR, which represents the direction of movement. The ejection rails 27 carry out a forward movement and a backward movement in the longitudinal direction x, guided by the parallel guide rails 21.

[0038] The representation in Fig. 3shows a schematic view of the test tray 18 from above as well as a detailed view of the test tray 18 in section. The test tray 18 is essentially cuboid-shaped and has an outer frame 31, which encloses a surface 32 provided with a plurality of recesses 33 for partially collecting the components of the crop stream 11 that are separated from the combine harvester 2 by the separation arrangement 6 and the cleaning arrangement 7. The test tray 18 has at least two axially spaced tabs 34 on each of two opposite longitudinal sides of the outer frame 31.

[0039] The test tray 18 is designed to be flat and stackable, for which purpose the test tray 18 has a height H of up to 40 mm, in particular up to 30 mm. This achieves the flattest possible design of the storage device 19. To ensure the simplest possible feeding of the test tray 18 into the storage device 19, the outer frame 31 of the test tray 18 has external dimensions that allow an operator to grip the test tray 18 with both hands in order to feed it to the storage device 19 through the opening released by the pivoting flap 22. For this purpose, the outer frame can have a length L of 0.4 m to 0.6 m, in particular 0.5 m, and a width B of 0.6 m to 0.9 m, in particular 0.75 m.

[0040] The depressions 33 on the surface 32 can have a circular and / or a polygonal cross-section. The depressions 33 of the respective test tray 18 can also be of uniform design. The depressions 33 have an opening width in the range from 10 mm to 25 mm and a depth T in the range from 8 mm to 20 mm. The depressions of the test trays 18 can also be of uniform design. Uniform design means that the test trays 18 each have depressions 33 with the same geometry and / or the same dimensions, i.e. opening width and depth. The test tray 18 can preferably be of one-piece design, with the outer frame 31 with the tabs 34 located thereon and the depressions 33 being produced by forming. The dimensioning of the test trays 18 makes it possible to position at least three test trays 18 one above the other in the storage device 19.Particularly preferably, up to five test trays 18 are arranged one above the other in the depositing device 19. If grain components and non-grain components, such as chaff or chopped straw components, reach the test tray 18 from the harvested material picked up, processed, and then separated by the harvesting machine 1, straw components with a diameter larger than the opening width of the recesses 33 slide over the recesses 33 or remain on the surface, while the smaller grain enters the recesses 33 of the test tray 18. The upper edges of the recesses 33 can be sharp-edged in order to safely guide grains sliding over the test tray 18 into the recesses 33.

[0041] In Fig. 4is a schematic perspective partial view of the rear wall 23 and one of the ejection rails 27 with guide means 44 arranged thereon. The respective ejection rail 27 is guided axially in the guide rail 21 running parallel to the latter by at least two guide means 44 arranged on the respective ejection rail 27. The respective guide rail 21 can preferably be designed as a C-profile, whereby the guide means 44 are held in the transverse direction y and vertical direction z. The guide means 44 can have sliding or rolling elements 45, with which the respective ejection rail 27 is guided in the respective guide rail 21 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction x relative to the latter. The respective guide means 44 can be arranged, for example, by a hat profile 46 fastened to the ejection rail 27 for receiving the sliding or rolling elements 45, wherein the sliding or rolling elements 45 are in turn guided or supported in the guide rail 21 in a form-fitting manner.are movable. Instead of the hat profile 46, other attachment and fastening methods for the guide means 44 are also possible.

[0042] The representation in Fig. 5 shows schematically a rear partial view of rear wall 23, ejection rail 27 and guide rail 21 according to Fig. 4 .

[0043] In Fig. 6a schematic partial view of the inside of one of the ejection rails 27 is shown. In the longitudinal direction x of the ejection rail 27, a plurality of folds 37 arranged in the same sequence are provided. The folds 37 are designed as a lower leg plane 35, an upper leg plane 36 and a ramp-shaped section 38 which connects the lower leg plane 35 and the upper leg plane 36 to one another. The alternating arrangement of the folds 37 is symmetrical when viewed in the longitudinal direction x of the ejection rail 27. Between the folds 37 arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction x of the ejection rail 27, a gap 39 is formed between the upper leg plane 36 of a fold 37 and the lower leg plane 38 of a subsequent fold 37, which gap extends in the longitudinal direction x as well as in the vertical direction z.The bevels 37 of the respective ejection rail 27 serve to support and guide the tabs 34 on the isolated test tray 18, which can be seen from the . Fig. 8 is illustrated.

[0044] The representation in Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective partial view of the coupling mechanism 28 for driving the ejection rails 27. The respective coupling rod 28 is attached to the end of the ejection rail 27. One of the eccentrics 47 is rotatably mounted on a bearing point 49 in the area of ​​the rear wall 23 on the frame 20. The opposite eccentric 47 is connected to the drive shaft of the - in Fig. 6 not shown - drive device 28 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0045] The representation in Fig. 8shows a schematic partial view of several test shells 18 lying one above the other. Shown are one of the tabs 34 arranged on the outside of the outer frame 31 of the respective test shell 18 as well as the lower leg planes 35 and an upper leg plane 36 of the folds 37.

[0046] The drive device 26 causes, as already explained above, a forward and backward movement of the ejection rails 27 in the longitudinal direction of the storage device 19. The frequency of this oscillating forward and backward movement determines the temporal and thus also spatial intervals at which the test trays 18 arranged one above the other are separated in the storage device 19 in two successive movement cycles, each corresponding to a forward and backward movement, and then placed on the floor 12.

[0047] The bottommost test tray 18 of a stack of several test trays 18 stacked one above the other in the storage device 19 rests with its tabs 34 at the level of the gap 39. Due to the synchronous forward movement of the ejection rails 27, carried out in a first movement cycle, the respective upper leg plane 36 slides between the tabs 34 of the bottommost test tray 18 and the test tray 18 located above it. The test trays 18 lying next to one another in a plane of the storage device 19 are fixed in the axial direction by frame elements, the flap 22, and the rear wall 23 of the storage device 19. Due to the subsequent synchronous backward movement of the ejection rails 27 in the first movement cycle, the bottommost test tray 18 reaches the respective lower leg plane 35 of the ejection rails 27.When the ejection rails 27 are moved forward again in the subsequent movement cycle, the tabs 34 slide on the respective lower leg plane 35 in the direction of the gap 39 and then fall onto the floor 12. At the same time, in this movement cycle, the test trays 18 following in the vertical direction are separated again.

[0048] As can be seen from the illustration in Fig. 1As can be seen, the combine harvester 2 comprises at least one control device 40. The drive device 26 can be controlled by means of the control device 40 in order to control the depositing of the test trays 18 on the ground 12. The control device 40 makes it possible, for example, to deposit the test trays 18, which are to be deposited next to one another in pairs, on the ground 12 at intervals A that can be predetermined by the operator. Alternatively, the depositing of the test trays 18 in the depositing device 19 can take place automatically by the control device 40. The control device 40 can specify the temporal or spatial interval A between the depositing of test trays 18. The test trays 18 are preferably dropped one after the other at a interval A of a few meters. This can be carried out automatically by the control device 40.In the case of a very inhomogeneous field, it may be useful for the operator to manually trigger the placement of the test trays 18 in order to place the test trays 18 at different locations on the ground 12, i.e., both at different distances A within a lane one behind the other and distributed across several lanes. Particularly in the latter case, it is necessary to determine the placement position of the manually placed test trays 18 in order to be able to locate them in the field without great effort.

[0049] For this purpose, a drop point of the test tray 18 can be marked physically and / or electronically. Physical marking can be achieved, for example, by applying foam or paint to the ground 12. Electronic marking can be achieved, for example, by storing position data of the combine harvester 2 at the time the respective test tray 18 is deposited in a memory unit of the control device 40. The position data can be provided to the combine harvester 2 by a position-finding system. A receiver module 41 can be arranged on the combine harvester 2 to receive corresponding position-finding signals. From the receiver module 41, the position-finding signals reach the control device 40 for evaluation and storage. In addition, the position data can be transmitted to a mobile data processing device, such as a smartphone, a tablet PC, or the like.Alternatively or additionally, each test shell 18 can be equipped with a transmitter, for example, operating on a Bluetooth basis, whose signals can be detected by a mobile data processing device in order to locate the position of the respective test shell 18. Optical signal transmitters on the test shells 18 are also conceivable.

[0050] To adjust the distance A or a trigger point for the paired placement of the test trays 18 at different locations on the ground, an input / output unit 43 is provided, which is connected to the control device 40. Using the input / output unit 43, the operator of the combine harvester 2 can adjust the distance A at which the test trays 18 are placed. The operator can also manually control the trigger point for the placement using the input / output unit 43.

[0051] The storage device 19 can comprise at least one sensor 42, which serves to detect the presence of the test trays 18. The at least one sensor 42 can be used to determine at least the number of test trays 18 in the storage device 19. For this purpose, the sensor 42 can be arranged in the rear wall 23 of the frame 20 of the storage device 19. The at least one sensor 42 transmits corresponding signals to the control device 40 for evaluation and display by means of the input / output unit 43.

[0052] At least one grain loss sensor 17 is arranged at each of the crop discharge ends of the separation arrangement 6 and the cleaning arrangement 7, which transmits sensor grain loss signals to the control device 40 for the relative determination of crop losses. The sensor grain loss signals are used by the control device 40 and / or at least one additional control unit of the combine harvester 2 for setting operating parameters of the working elements, i.e. in particular the threshing arrangement 5, the separation arrangement 6 and the cleaning arrangement 7, as well as the driving speed of the combine harvester 2 as an operating parameter during the harvesting process. The setting of the operating parameters is based, among other things, on the criterion of crop losses, which should not exceed a predeterminable limit value.

[0053] To ensure the highest possible accuracy in detecting crop losses by the grain loss sensors 17, they must be calibrated in a field at the beginning of the harvesting process. For this purpose, the control device 40 can be configured to control the depositing device 19 for automatically depositing the test trays 18 on the ground 12 in order to calibrate the grain loss sensors 17, and to deposit the test trays 18 depending on the harvesting machine 1 reaching a quasi-stationary operating state in which the harvesting machine 1 has a substantially constant crop throughput.

[0054] To carry out the calibration of the grain loss sensors 17, the actually occurring crop losses 16 or grain losses are determined on the basis of an evaluation to be carried out of the contents of the test trays 18 placed and driven over by the harvesting machine 1.

[0055] For this purpose, the control device 40 is configured to prevent a change in operating parameters after reaching the quasi-stationary operating state for the duration of the deposition of the test trays 18 and to output an indication via the input / output unit 43 that a change in the operating parameters is temporarily prevented by the control device 40. In this way, it can be avoided that a change in one or more operating parameters leads to a deviation in the determination of actual crop losses by means of the test trays 18. Operating parameters are, as already explained, for example the driving speed of the harvesting machine 1 and, in particular, automatic or manual settings of the threshing arrangement 5, the separation arrangement 6 and / or the cleaning arrangement 7, which can lead to a change in the crop throughput and / or an increase in the crop losses 16. List of reference symbols

[0056] 1 Harvester 33 Deepening 2 Combine harvester 34 tab 3 Cutting unit 35 Lower thigh level 4 Inclined conveyor 36 Upper thigh level 5 Threshing arrangement 37 Bending 6 Separation arrangement 38 Section 7 Cleaning arrangement 39 gap 8 Transport arrangement 40 Control device 9 grain tank 41 Receiver module 10 Distribution arrangement 42 sensor 11 Crop flow 43 Input-output unit 12 Floor 44 Management tools 13 Good mix 45 Sliding or rolling element 14 straw chopper 46 Hat profile 15 Radial distributor 47 eccentric 16 Crop loss 48 coupling rod 17 Grain loss sensor 49 storage location 18 test tray 19 Storage device A Distance 20 frame SR Direction of movement 21 guide rail x Longitudinal direction 22 flap y Transverse direction 23 back wall Z Vertical direction 24 axis 25 cross brace 26 drive device 27 Ejection rail 28 coupling mechanism 29 axis 30 Actuating element 31 Outer frame 32 surface

Claims

1. A harvesting machine (1), in particular a combine harvester (2), comprising a depositing device (19) with an ejection mechanism for depositing a test pan (18) for determining harvested material losses (16) on the ground (12) over which the harvesting machine (1) travels, characterized in that the ejection mechanism is configured so as to simultaneously deposit respectively two test pans (18) from two stacks of test pans (18) disposed adjacent to one another in the depositing device (19) on the ground (12), and in that the ejection mechanism has a framework (20) which is configured to receive at least two pairs of test pans (18) stacked one on top of the other.

2. The harvesting machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the harvesting machine (1) has a control device (40) which is configured so as to control the depositing device (19) in order to simultaneously deposit test pans (18) in pairs at predetermined or specifiable separations (A).

3. The harvesting machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the framework (20) comprises guide rails (21) disposed opposite one another as well as ejection rails (27) disposed parallel to and movable relative to the guide rails (21), wherein the ejection rails (27) are driven in oscillation by at least one drive device (26) in order to guide and separate the test pans (18).

4. The harvesting machine (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a plurality of bent edges (37) extending in the transverse (y) direction are formed on mutually facing vertically extending inner sides of the ejection rails (27), wherein each bent edge (37) has a lower flat shank (35) and an upper flat shank (36) which are connected together by a section (38) in the form of a ramp, and in that between bent edges (37) which are disposed one behind the other in the longitudinal (x) direction of the ejection rails (27), a respective gap (39) is formed between the upper flat shank (36) of one bent edge (37) and the lower flat shank (35) of a subsequent bent edge (37).

5. The harvesting machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the respective test pan (18) has lugs (34) disposed on both sides on an outer frame (31), wherein the lugs (34) of the lowermost test pan (18) within a stack lie on the bent edges (37) of the ejection rails (27) during an oscillating movement of the ejection rails (27) in the longitudinal (x) direction and are guided thereby.

6. The harvesting machine (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the ejection rails (27) are connected to the drive device (26) by a coupling mechanism (28) in order to synchronise the oscillating movement of the ejection rails (27).

7. The harvesting machine (1) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the respective ejection rail (27) is axially guided in the guide rail (21) extending parallel thereto by at least two guide means (44) disposed on the respective ejection rail (27).

8. The harvesting machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an ejection position for the test pans (18) which are deposited in pairs can be physically and / or electronically marked.

9. The harvesting machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the harvesting machine (1) has a separating assembly (6) as well as a cleaning assembly (7), wherein at least one grain loss sensor (17) is respectively disposed on the material discharge ends of the separating assembly (6) as well as of the cleaning assembly (7), which transmits sensor grain loss signals to the control device (40) for the relative determination of harvested material losses.

10. The harvesting machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order to carry out a calibration of the grain loss sensors (17), the control device (40) is configured to control the depositing device (19) for automatically depositing the test pans (18) on the ground (12) and to carry out the deposition of the test pans (18) subject to reaching a quasi-stationary operational state of the harvesting machine (1) in which the harvesting machine (1) has a substantially constant throughput of harvested material.

11. The harvesting machine (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the control device (40) is configured so as to prevent a change in the operating parameters after reaching the quasi-stationary operational state for the period of time for depositing the test pans (18) and to output an indication by means of an input / output unit (43) that a change in the operating parameters is temporarily prevented.

12. The harvesting machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (40) is configured to store the sensor grain loss signals acquired from the grain loss sensors at the time of the respective depositing of the test pans (18).

13. The harvesting machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment of the sensitivity of the grain loss sensors (17) can be carried out manually, or automatically by the control device (40) after receiving the actual harvested material losses.

14. The harvesting machine (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the actual harvested material losses determined using the test pans (18) are transmitted to the control device (40) manually by means of the input / output unit (43) or from a data processing device, in particular a mobile data processing device.