Agricultural field sprayer and spray device for an agricultural field sprayer, as well as a method for adapting a spray device for row-based application of spray fluid

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spraying device for an agricultural field sprayer for the metered application of spray liquid on agricultural land. The invention further relates to an agricultural field sprayer with such a spraying device and a method for adapting a spraying device for row-specific application of spray liquid.

[0002] Agricultural sprayers are used for spreading or applying liquid active ingredients, such as pesticides and / or fertilizers. These sprayers, with a spray boom oriented transversely to the direction of travel and moved over the crop, are known in various designs.

[0003] The purpose of these field sprayers is to apply a defined volume of liquid, such as pesticides and / or fertilizers, evenly and with a definable intensity to a crop. To distribute the liquid over a large area of ​​the fields, the spray booms of these field sprayers feature laterally foldable extensions with a wide working width, sometimes exceeding twenty meters. For transport, these wide spray booms are folded and collapsed. When extended, the extensions are positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel. The spray boom is equipped with application elements, such as spray nozzles, arranged at intervals to precisely meter the liquid. These application elements generate a spray jet directed towards the ground or crop, creating a spray cone to distribute the liquid as desired.

[0004] When applying spray solution to agricultural land, it is advantageous, depending on the spraying process, to deliver the solution directly to the immediate vicinity of the plants. Since many agricultural crops are sown along rows, rows of plants form on the land during the crop's growth phase. A particularly effective and efficient application of the spray solution can therefore be achieved through row-specific application, meaning the solution is applied along application strips that run parallel to the plant rows.The application of spray liquid in rows along application strips is also referred to as band spraying or band application, in contrast to the application of spray liquid over the entire surface.

[0005] In spraying devices known from practical experience, the application elements are arranged lengthwise along the spray boom at a predetermined nozzle spacing, usually 25 cm or 50 cm. If the spacing of the plant rows deviates from this nozzle spacing or an integer multiple thereof, optimal row-specific application of the spray solution is not possible.

[0006] From European patent application EP 3 649 857 A1, an approach is known in which plant rows on agricultural land can be detected by sensors and in which application elements can be positioned transversely to the direction of travel or longitudinally along the spray boom by means of an actuator, depending on the detected plant rows. A disadvantage of this approach is that corresponding, costly, and maintenance-intensive actuators are required to move the individual application elements along the spray boom.

[0007] Document DE 10 2018 126 586 A1 relates to an agricultural sprayer with several application elements arranged on a spray boom. The application elements are designed to apply spray liquid to agricultural land. An adjustment device allows the impact area of ​​the spray liquid discharged by one or more application elements on the agricultural land to be changed during the application process.

[0008] For further general information on the state of the art, reference is made to documents EP 2 995 382 A1 and US 7 311 004 B2.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved technique for applying spraying liquid using a spray boom, thereby avoiding the disadvantages of conventional techniques. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a technique for applying spraying liquid using a spray boom, which enables cost-effective and precise row-based application of spraying liquid along application strips.

[0010] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims and the description.

[0011] A first general aspect of the invention relates to a spraying device for an agricultural field sprayer for metered application of spray liquid on agricultural land, preferably for row-related band spraying.

[0012] The spraying device comprises a spray boom with several dispensing elements for spraying and / or finely distributing the spray liquid, which are arranged at predetermined nozzle spacing along the longitudinal direction of the spray boom. The dispensing elements are preferably spray nozzles.

[0013] The spraying device is designed such that, during the application of spray liquid, the liquid discharged by the application elements creates impact zones forming a grid pattern whose grid spacing differs from the nozzle grid spacing or from an integer multiple thereof. To generate this varying grid spacing, at least some of the multiple application elements are each equipped with a nozzle cap designed to create an offset, i.e., a displacement, of the spray liquid impact zone along the longitudinal direction of the spray boom.

[0014] In other words, the spraying device is equipped with nozzle caps that ensure the impact areas of the spray jets generated by the application elements during spraying form a row grid. The spacing of this row grid differs from the spacing between adjacent impact areas that the application elements would create without the nozzle caps. The nozzle caps thus compensate for differences in grid width between a nozzle grid and the row grid of a plant row being treated. This eliminates the need for costly and maintenance-intensive actuators for moving the application elements along the spray boom. The nozzle caps are preferably detachably mounted on the application elements.

[0015] The term "impact zones forming a row grid" refers to a distribution of impact zones along the length of the spray boom, where adjacent impact zones are equidistant. This spacing, which corresponds to the distance between the centers of two adjacent impact zones, is called the row grid spacing. The row grid created by the nozzle caps can consist of disjoint (non-overlapping) or overlapping impact zones.

[0016] The nozzle caps can each be designed to deflect a spray liquid dispensed straight downwards by the dispensing element in such a way as to create a spray jet with a downwardly directed jet direction.

[0017] During spraying operation, each dispensing element generates a spray jet. A spray jet has a direction and a profile. For example, a conically spreading spray jet has a cone-shaped profile and a direction defined by the axis of the spray cone. The direction of the spray thus corresponds to the central axis of the profile, or in other words, the central axis of the spray jet. Upon impact with the ground, the spray profile creates the impact area.

[0018] The nozzle caps allow the spray direction to be changed relative to the longitudinal direction of the spray boom (compared to the spray direction produced by the application element without a nozzle cap), thereby creating a shift in the impact area. In other words, these nozzle caps create a deflection angle of the spray direction. This deflection angle is the angle between the spray direction exiting the nozzle caps and the vertical, or the spray direction that would be produced by the spray nozzles without the nozzle caps.

[0019] In one embodiment, the nozzle caps comprise at least a first group of nozzle caps and a second group of nozzle caps, wherein the nozzle caps of the first group are configured to generate a first offset of the spray liquid's impact area in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom, which differs from a second offset that can be generated by the nozzle caps of the second group. In other words, the deflection angle of the nozzle caps of the first group differs from the deflection angle of the nozzle caps of the second group.

[0020] The spraying device is thus equipped with at least two different types of nozzle caps, which differ in the size of the generated deflection angle and the offset of the resulting impact areas. In one embodiment, only two different groups or types of nozzle caps are used to shift the respective impact areas. This is particularly advantageous in order to adapt the nozzle grid to a desired, non-standard row grid with the fewest possible variations of nozzle caps.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of this design, an offset of 5 cm or an offset in a range of 0 to 5 cm can be generated using the nozzle caps of the first group, provided the spray boom maintains a specific vertical distance from the ground. Alternatively or additionally, an offset of 10 cm or an offset in a range of 5 to 10 cm can be generated using the nozzle caps of the second group, provided the spray boom maintains a specific vertical distance from the ground. This is particularly advantageous with regard to a typical nozzle grid spacing of 25 cm, which allows the application elements to be spaced apart along the length of the spray boom, since these two groups enable the spray pattern generated by the spraying device to be adapted to typical, but differing, row spacings of row crops, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the spraying device can have a third group of nozzle caps, wherein an offset of 15 cm or an offset in a range of 10 to 15 cm can be generated by means of the nozzle caps of the third group. This provides additional options for adapting the spray pattern that can be generated.

[0023] In one embodiment, the nozzle caps can each be selectively mounted in a first mounting position on the dispensing element and in a second mounting position rotated 180° relative to the first. In the first mounting position, the nozzle caps create a positive offset, and in the second mounting position, a negative offset of the impact area in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom. This offers the advantage that two different displacement directions (or two opposite deflections of the spray directions) with respect to the longitudinal direction of the impact area of ​​the spray liquid generated by a dispensing element can be produced with the same nozzle cap, depending on whether the nozzle cap is mounted in the first or second mounting position. This reduces the variety of different nozzle caps required to adapt the spraying device to different row spacings.

[0024] In one embodiment, the spraying device is designed to generate spray jets by means of nozzle caps, comprising spray jets with a straight downward direction and spray jets with a downward angle relative to the longitudinal direction. The downward-angled spray jets can include spray jets that cause a positive and negative offset of the impact areas and / or offsets of varying magnitudes.

[0025] According to another aspect, the nozzle caps of the first group and the second group can each include nozzle caps mounted in the first mounting position and nozzle caps mounted in the second mounting position. This allows for a particularly advantageous adaptation to a row grid spacing that deviates from a standard nozzle grid spacing. Furthermore, the nozzle caps of the third group, if present, can also each include nozzle caps mounted in the first mounting position and nozzle caps mounted in the second mounting position.

[0026] In another embodiment, the application elements, or at least the application elements equipped with nozzle caps, are rotatably mounted on the spray boom to adjust the offset or width of a spray profile generated by the nozzle cap within a predetermined area. For this purpose, the application elements can, for example, be rotatably mounted in a nozzle holder (also referred to as a nozzle assembly). The application elements can be rotatably mounted about an axis extending in the direction of travel to adjust the offset and / or rotatably mounted about a vertical axis to adjust the width of the spray profile, e.g., in the case of flat fan nozzles. This increases the possibilities for adjusting the impact areas.

[0027] The nozzle caps can be detachably mounted on a dispensing element, for example, by means of a click, snap and / or bayonet closure.

[0028] In another embodiment, several dispensing elements are rotatably mounted on the nozzle carrier in different detent and / or click positions to adjust the offset. Each detent and / or click position can be associated with a different longitudinal displacement of the impact areas. This facilitates flexible adjustment of the offset of individual dispensing elements.

[0029] In one embodiment of this design, a scale is attached to the nozzle holder or the dispensing element, allowing the set rotational position and / or offset to be read. This facilitates the correct setting of the desired offset and prevents operating errors.

[0030] In another embodiment, the spraying device has multiple nozzle carriers (also referred to as multiple nozzle pieces) in which at least two application elements are held. The at least two application elements can be equipped with different nozzle caps to generate different offsets of the impact area, depending on which of the two application elements is selected for spraying. Alternatively, one of the at least two application elements can be equipped without a nozzle cap or with a nozzle cap that does not generate a longitudinal offset of the impact area.

[0031] These designs offer the advantage that, to adjust the offset, the application element does not need to be fitted with the nozzle cap as part of a conversion; instead, the appropriate application element can be selected from the multi-nozzle assembly for spraying operation. This allows for faster configuration adjustment of the spraying device.

[0032] In another embodiment, the spraying device includes a control unit with a screen. The control unit is designed to display a user interface on the screen for configuring the spraying device for row-specific application. The control unit can be an operating terminal of the spraying device or a mobile device, such as a tablet computer. The user interface is designed for entering input parameters. In addition to a row spacing, the input parameters include at least one of the following: a nozzle grid spacing, a track width, a working width of the sprayer, a crop stand to be treated, a growth stage of the crop stand to be treated, and a parameter indicating whether additional spray solution should be applied between the rows.

[0033] Based on these input parameters, or at least a part thereof, a spray pattern for a row-related application of spray liquid can be defined, which is to be generated by the spraying device, and accordingly a required configuration of the application elements with nozzle caps that can generate the desired spray pattern.

[0034] The user interface is further designed to output a configuration of the application elements, whereby the configuration specifies, depending on the input parameters, the equipment of at least some of the application elements with nozzle caps for row-specific application. Accordingly, a user of the spraying device can be informed which nozzle cap configuration is required for the planned row-specific application.

[0035] For example, the output configuration can include conversion instructions for a user on how to use the nozzle caps to adapt the spraying device for row-based application. Alternatively or additionally, the output configuration can include a schematic visual representation of the row-based application of spray liquid that can be achieved with this configuration. This makes it easier for a user to convert the spraying device for row-based application of spray liquid (band application) and increases operator safety.

[0036] Furthermore, a configuration function may be stored in the control unit or in a control device of the field sprayer that is in signal communication with the control unit. Using the configuration function, the configuration of the spraying device for row-specific application can be defined based on the entered values ​​for the input parameters, in particular specifying which of the application elements should be equipped with which type of nozzle cap and, optionally, the mounting position of the nozzle cap.

[0037] In a further embodiment, the spraying device includes a metering and / or supply system for supplying the application elements with spray fluid. The metering and / or supply system can comprise one or more reservoirs for spray fluid, a feed pump, and a supply line for supplying the application elements with spray fluid. The spraying device can further include a control unit, e.g., a control device, configured to control and / or regulate the metering and / or supply system and / or the application elements for the sequential application of spray fluid, depending on the configuration of the application elements. The control unit can, for example, actuate a metering valve or an orifice associated with an application element or a group of application elements.

[0038] The configuration can, for example, specify that spray solution is applied using only some of the application elements, e.g., to avoid spraying between the rows of plants. Alternatively, a different spray solution can be applied between the rows of plants.

[0039] The invention further relates to an agricultural spreading machine, preferably a field sprayer, comprising a spraying device as described in this document. The agricultural spreading machine, preferably a field sprayer, can be self-propelled, towed by a tractor, or mounted on a tractor.

[0040] According to a second general aspect of the invention, a method for adapting a spraying device for row-specific application of spray liquid is provided. The spraying device is a spraying device for an agricultural field sprayer for metered application of spray liquid on agricultural land, comprising several application elements for spraying and / or finely distributing the spray liquid, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in a predetermined nozzle grid in the longitudinal direction of a spray boom.

[0041] The method may include an adaptation of the spraying device to provide, for example, a configuration of the application elements that enables the application of spray liquid along band application strips, preferably along rows of plants running in the direction of travel, starting from a configuration of the application elements that enables a full-surface application of spray liquid.

[0042] The method, or rather the adaptation, is characterized by the fact that the impact zones of the spray liquid discharged by the application elements during an application process are adjusted to a row grid of the row-related application. This adaptation is achieved by creating a longitudinal offset of the spray liquid impact zones along the spray boom using nozzle caps. For this purpose, at least some of the multiple application elements can be selected for equipping with nozzle caps; that is, it is determined which of the application elements must be equipped with nozzle caps in order to shift their impact zone to adapt to a desired row grid spacing. The nozzle caps are designed to compensate for any difference in grid width between a nozzle grid and a row grid.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, to adjust the impact area, at least some of the multiple application elements can be selected for equipping with nozzle caps, and the nozzle caps can be designed such that the spacing of the adjusted impact areas corresponds to the row spacing of a plant row and / or that the spacing of the adjusted impact areas and / or the row spacing of the row-related application is neither 25 cm or 50 cm nor an integer multiple thereof.

[0044] To avoid repetition, features disclosed solely according to the device shall also be deemed disclosed according to the process and be claimable, and vice versa. The aforementioned aspects and features of the invention, particularly with regard to the design of the injection molding device, therefore also apply to the injection molding device disclosed in connection with the process.

[0045] Furthermore, the following additional aspects are revealed: The application elements can be controlled separately in order to switch them on and off individually for spraying operations. For this purpose, the application element can include a switching valve (metering valve) or a controllable orifice to regulate the flow rate.

[0046] The spray boom can be movably mounted on a carrier vehicle, either directly or indirectly, about a pivot axis (A) extending in the direction of travel. The spray boom is preferably a pivotable spray boom with two lateral extensions. Each extension, as well as the central section, has dispensing elements for spraying and / or finely distributing the spray liquid. The two lateral extensions can each be rotatably connected to a central section of the spray boom via a vertical pivot axis.

[0047] Each boom can in turn have several linkage sections connected by joints, which can be folded together for transport and unfolded for working. This allows each of the two booms of a sprayer boom to be folded, preferably multiple times, by folding the respective linkage sections 180° at the joints for transport or unfolding them into a straight position for working. In the unfolded state, the sprayer boom extends transversely to the direction of travel of the sprayer.

[0048] The spray boom of the spraying device and / or the field sprayer has a large working width, i.e., a working width that is significantly greater than the width of the carrier vehicle or the field sprayer, e.g., a multiple of the carrier vehicle's width. The field sprayer may, in a manner known per se, include an actuating device, e.g., pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, by means of which an actuating force can be generated to move the distributor boom around the pivot axis. For movable mounting on the carrier vehicle, the spray boom may, for example, be mounted on a support beam, which in turn is coupled, for example, to a superstructure or frame section or frame construction of the carrier vehicle and / or to a rigidly or movably mounted support section of the carrier vehicle.

[0049] At least one distance sensor, e.g., an ultrasonic sensor, can be arranged on the boom to measure the distance to the ground or vegetation. The sprayer and / or the spray boom can also include, in a manner known per se, at least one sensor device for detecting the rotational position and / or rotational speed and / or acceleration of the spray boom, e.g., an accelerometer.

[0050] The longitudinal direction of the spray boom refers to the direction in which the spray boom or extensions extend when unfolded and in which the application elements, e.g., the spray nozzles, are spaced apart along the spray boom. The working width of the spray boom is determined by its length along its longitudinal direction when unfolded. The vertical direction of the extensions or spray boom refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the boom and perpendicular to the direction of travel of the sprayer. In this document, the term "control" is generally intended to encompass both control and regulation. Similarly, the term "control device" is also intended to encompass a regulating device.

[0051] The preferred embodiments and features of the invention described above can be combined in any way desired. Further details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an agricultural field sprayer with a spraying device; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an adaptation of a spraying device for row-specific application by means of nozzle caps according to one embodiment; Figure 3 shows an equipment of application elements with nozzle caps according to one embodiment; Figure 4 is a schematic view of an operating unit and user interface for adapting a spraying device for row-specific application according to one embodiment; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of an output of a configuration for adapting a spraying device for row-specific application according to one embodiment.

[0052] Identical or functionally equivalent elements are partly designated with the same reference symbols in the figures and partly not described separately.

[0053] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a variant of an agricultural field sprayer 100. The field sprayer 100 is shown here as an example of a trailed sprayer. At the rear, the field sprayer 100 includes a spray boom 2, which extends transversely to the direction of travel and is in a working position with a large working width, e.g., 24 meters or more. The spray boom 2 can be pivoted about a pivot axis A extending in the direction of travel by means of an adjusting device, e.g., hydraulically actuated adjusting cylinders. The spray boom 2, also referred to as a spray bar assembly, is height-adjustable relative to the carrier vehicle 17 by means of a height-adjustable parallelogram linkage. Furthermore, a storage tank 18 for spray fluid is mounted on the carrier vehicle 17.

[0054] The spray boom 2 comprises a central section and two lateral arms 3, each of which has a plurality of application elements for spraying and / or finely distributing the spray liquid. The longitudinal direction of the spray boom is in Figure 1 marked with arrow B. Furthermore, a control device 16 is provided which is in signal communication with the individual components of the spraying device, such as the application elements, pumps, valves, flow meters, in order to control them appropriately for the application of spray liquid.

[0055] Figure 2 Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of an adaptation of a spraying device for row-related application using nozzle caps according to one embodiment.

[0056] Figure 2The lower illustration shows a rear partial view of a boom 3 of the spraying device 1 according to one embodiment. Several dispensing elements 4a, 4b, 4c for spraying and / or finely distributing the spray liquid are mounted on the spray boom 2, in particular on each of the booms 3 and on the central section of the spraying device 1. These elements are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction B of the spray boom 2 at a predetermined nozzle grid spacing 5, which here is 25 cm. In the illustrated embodiment, the dispensing elements 4a, 4b, 4c are spray nozzles held in nozzle carriers. The dispensing elements 4a, 4b, 4c are therefore subsequently referred to as spray nozzles 4a, 4b, 4c.

[0057] The spray nozzles 4a, 4b, 4c are or may be identical in construction. The different reference numbers 4a, 4b, 4c are used to indicate that the spray nozzles are equipped with different nozzle caps 9a, 9b, 9c.

[0058] For the one here in Figure 2 In the case not shown, where all spray nozzles 4a, 4b, 4c are fitted with nozzle caps 9a that produce a straight downward spray jet, and all spray nozzles arranged at intervals of 25 cm are activated for spraying liquid during an application process, the spraying device would result in a full-surface application of the spray liquid, i.e., the impact areas of the individual spray jets would have an average distance corresponding to the nozzle grid spacing of 25 cm. The generation of such a spray pattern is known per se from the prior art.

[0059] Figure 2 now illustrates a method for adapting such a spray device for a series-related application of spray liquid according to an embodiment, as well as a correspondingly adapted spray device 1 according to an embodiment.

[0060] In the present example, the spraying device 1 is to be adapted for row-specific application of spray liquid along application strips, where the plants or plant rows 31 are planted here, for example, at a row spacing 30 of 45 cm. The row spacing 30 of the plant rows 31 thus differs from the nozzle grid spacing 5, which is 25 cm, and from integer multiples thereof.

[0061] For the row-specific application of spray liquid along these plant rows 31, a row grid 7 with a row grid spacing 8 of 45 cm is to be created using the spraying device 1. The impact areas 6 of the spray liquid discharged by the spray nozzles 4a, 4b, 4c during an application process are adapted to this desired row grid 7 for row-specific application by creating an offset in the longitudinal direction B of the spray boom 2 of the impact areas 6 using nozzle caps. At least some of the spray nozzles 4a, 4b and 4c are equipped with nozzle caps.

[0062] The nozzle caps are detachably mounted on the spray nozzles, e.g., by means of a bayonet fitting. Thus, the spray nozzles marked with reference numeral 4b are equipped with a nozzle cap 9b which, in the longitudinal direction B of the spray boom 2, creates an offset 10b of the impact area 6 of the spray liquid 11, which is 5 cm when the spray boom or extension arm 3 is at a certain distance from the ground. This is shown in the schematic diagram at the top right in Figure 2 illustrated.

[0063] The nozzle caps 9b are designed to deflect the spray liquid dispensed from the spray nozzle in such a way as to generate a spray jet 12b with a downwardly directed spray direction 13b, creating a 5 cm offset. The nozzle caps thus generate a first deflection angle α1. Without the nozzle cap 9b, the spray nozzle 4b would produce a straight downward spray jet with a spray direction 13b'. The deflection angle α1 therefore corresponds to the angle between the spray direction 13b and the vertical, or the angle between the spray direction 13b and the spray direction 13b' without the nozzle cap.

[0064] A nozzle cap 9b therefore shifts the impact area 6 by 5 cm to the left in the longitudinal direction B with respect to a specific vertical distance of the spray boom from the ground. The nozzle cap 9b creates a positive offset 10b of 5 cm if it is mounted on the spray nozzle 4b in a first mounting position. However, the nozzle cap 9b can also be mounted on the spray nozzle 4b rotated by 180° (second mounting position) and, in this mounting position, shifts the impact area accordingly to the right in the longitudinal direction B, i.e., the nozzle cap 9b then creates a negative offset 10b of 5 cm at the same application height. For clarity only, the lower illustration shows the Fig. 2 The locations where spray nozzles 4b are equipped with nozzle caps 9b are marked with a filled circle as a legend, since for the sake of clarity not all spray nozzles and nozzle caps are provided with reference symbols.

[0065] It is evident that several spray nozzles 4b are provided along the spray boom, which are equipped with nozzle caps 9b in the first mounting position as well as in the second mounting position.

[0066] In contrast, the nozzle caps 9c mounted on the spray nozzles 4c are designed to produce a greater offset of the impact area 6 than the nozzle caps 9b. The nozzle caps 9c produce an offset 10c twice as large, which here is 10 cm, with respect to a specific vertical distance of the spray boom 2 from the ground. To generate the 10 cm offset, the nozzle cap 9c is designed to deflect a spray liquid dispensed straight downwards from the spray nozzle 4c by a second deflection angle α2, which is greater than α1. Without the nozzle cap 9c, the spray nozzle 4c would produce a spray jet directed straight downwards with a jet direction 13c', for example, if the spray nozzle 4c were equipped with a nozzle cap 9a, which does not produce an offset. As shown in the schematic diagram at the top right in Figure 2 As can be clearly seen, the jet direction 13c' is deflected more strongly by the nozzle cap 9c than by the nozzle cap 9b.

[0067] The nozzle cap 9c shifts the impact area 6 by 10 cm to the left in longitudinal direction B with respect to a specific vertical distance of the spray boom from the ground area. This means that the nozzle cap 9c creates a positive offset 10c of 10 cm when mounted on the spray nozzle 4c in a first mounting position. However, the nozzle cap 9c can also be mounted on the spray nozzle 4c rotated by 180° (second mounting position). In this mounting position, it shifts the impact area to the right in longitudinal direction B, thus creating a negative offset 10c of 10 cm.

[0068] For the sake of clarity, the following are shown in the lower section: Fig. 2The locations where spray nozzles 4c are fitted with nozzle caps 9c are marked with a filled diamond as a legend, since for the sake of clarity not all spray nozzles and nozzle caps are labeled with reference numbers. It is evident that several spray nozzles 4c are provided along the spray boom, fitted with nozzle caps 9c in both the first and second mounting positions.

[0069] No nozzle caps are mounted on the spray nozzles 4a, or nozzle caps 9a are fitted which do not deflect the spray jet 12a or change the jet direction 13a and thus do not offset the impact area 6, which in Figure 2 is also illustrated. The lower illustration is only for the sake of clarity. Fig. 2 The locations where spray nozzles 4a are arranged without nozzle caps or with non-deflectoring nozzle caps 9a are marked with a filled triangle as a legend.

[0070] In summary, the nozzle caps 9b, 9c thus generate deflection angles α1, α2 of different sizes, i.e., each causes a different change in the direction of the spray jet by deflecting the spray liquid exiting the spray nozzles in the longitudinal direction B. For this purpose, the nozzle caps 9b, 9c have an impact element.

[0071] The spray boom 2 now has in its longitudinal direction B such a sequence of nozzle caps 9a, 9b, 9c, such that these change the impact areas 6 in such a way that a difference in the nozzle grid spacing 5 and the row spacing 30 is compensated for, or that a spacing of the adapted impact areas 10 corresponds to the row spacing 8 of 45 cm of the plant rows 31.

[0072] For a row spacing of 45 cm, the following example illustrates this: At least one spray nozzle can always be positioned directly above the row of plants, which in Figure 2This applies to spray nozzle 4a at position P. With a row spacing of 45 cm, there is a spray nozzle for each row of plants, positioned either directly above the row (0 cm offset), 5 cm offset, or 10 cm offset in the longitudinal direction B. This also generally applies to other common row spacings greater than 25 cm that are integer multiples of 5 cm.

[0073] Accordingly, for each row of plants, the nearest spray nozzle must be determined that has the smallest distance to that row of plants in longitudinal direction B.

[0074] If the next spray nozzle is offset by 5 cm from the row of plants, nozzle cap 9b, which creates the deflection angle α1, is used. This means that spray nozzle 4b is fitted with nozzle cap 9b, preferably in either the first or second mounting position, so that the spray jet 12b is deflected towards this row of plants, or the impact area is shifted towards the row of plants.

[0075] If the next spray nozzle is offset by 10 cm from the row of plants, nozzle cap 9c, which generates the deflection angle α2, is used. This means that spray nozzle 4c is fitted with nozzle cap 9c, preferably in either the first or second mounting position, so that the spray jet 12c is deflected towards this row of plants, or the impact area is shifted towards the row of plants.

[0076] If the next spray nozzle is directly above the row of plants, i.e., offset by 0 cm, the standard nozzle 4a is used or the nozzle cap 9a, which does not create any deflection.

[0077] The remaining spray nozzles, i.e. those located in the area between the rows of plants, are deactivated for row-specific application.

[0078] The steps described above can also be represented in the form of a configuration function that is stored in the spraying device and that automatically provides the user with the required nozzle caps for a specific row spacing, which is necessary for the intended row application of spraying fluid.

[0079] A spraying device 1 equipped with nozzle caps in this manner thus enables row-specific application of the spraying liquid. Using these nozzle caps, any conventional spraying device can be quickly and easily converted to a band application instead of a full-surface application of the spraying liquid. As stated above, this approach works not only for the example shown here with a row spacing of 45 cm, but also generally for other common row spacings greater than 25 cm and integer multiples of 5 cm. The only difference lies in the sequence at which point along the length of the spray boom each nozzle cap must be mounted.

[0080] Figure 3Figure 1 shows a highly schematic representation of an assembly of application elements with nozzle caps according to one embodiment. The special feature of this embodiment is that application elements 4b, 4c, equipped with nozzle caps 9b, 9c, are rotatably mounted on the spray boom or rotatably in a nozzle holder (not shown) for adjusting the offset 10b, 10c or the width of the spray profile within a predetermined range. For example, the multiple spray nozzles can be rotatably mounted on the nozzle holder in different detent positions by means of a locking connection 15 for adjusting the deflection angle α1, α2 and thus the offset 10b, 10c by means of the different detent positions. For this purpose, a scale 14 can be provided on the nozzle holder or on the application element, from which a set rotational position, a set deflection angle, and / or a set offset can be read.

[0081] This is particularly advantageous when, for example, different distances of the spray boom from the ground are required. Since the offset generated by a deflection angle α1 or α2 depends on the set distance of the spray boom, the detent position and thus the deflection angle can be adjusted when the distance changes in order to achieve the desired offset.

[0082] Figure 4Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an operating unit 20 and user interface 23 for adapting a spraying device for row-specific application according to one embodiment. The operating unit 20 has a screen 21 and is configured to display a user interface 23 on the screen 21 for configuring the spraying device for row-specific application. The operating unit 20 can be a mobile operating device, e.g., a tablet computer, which is wirelessly connected to a communication system of the field sprayer 100. The communication system of the field sprayer 100 can have a data bus in a manner known per se, e.g., a CAN data bus and / or a data bus configured as ISOBUS. A control unit 16 and an operating terminal (in Figure 4 (referred to as terminals) are in signal contact with the communication system.

[0083] The user interface 23 is programmed to allow the input of one or more input parameters 24. The input parameters 24 include a row spacing, which specifies the distance between the plant rows for the upcoming row-specific application of spray solution. In the example of the Figure 2 The user could therefore enter a value of 45 cm. Optionally, the user interface can be designed to capture further input parameters, e.g., a nozzle spacing, a track width, a working width of the sprayer, a crop stand to be treated, a growth phase of the crop stand to be treated, and a parameter indicating whether additional spray solution should be applied between the rows.

[0084] Based on these input parameters, a required configuration of spray nozzles with nozzle caps for row-related application of spray liquid can be determined and output.

[0085] The user interface is further designed to output this configuration of 25 spray nozzles, which in Figure 5 is shown schematically.

[0086] Here, configuration 25 can specify, depending on input parameters 24, the equipment of at least some of the spray nozzles with nozzle caps for row-specific application. Accordingly, a user of the spraying device 2 can be informed which nozzle cap configuration is required for the planned row-specific application. This includes a required sequence of nozzle caps 9b, 9c and their respective mounting positions, determined depending on the input parameters, as exemplified in connection with Figure 2 was described.

[0087] For example, the output configuration 25 may contain corresponding conversion instructions 26 for a user on how to use the nozzle caps to adapt the spraying device to row-based application. Alternatively or additionally, the output configuration may contain a schematic visual representation of the row-based application of spray liquid that can be achieved using the configuration. This makes it easier for a user to convert the spraying device for row-based application of spray liquid (band application) and increases operator safety.

[0088] Furthermore, a configuration function can be stored in the operating unit 23 or in a control device 16 of the field sprayer that is in signal communication with the operating unit. Using the configuration function, the configuration 25 of the spraying device for row-specific application can be defined based on the entered values ​​for the input parameters 24, whereby it is specified in particular which of the application elements are to be equipped with which type of nozzle cap and, optionally, the mounting position of the nozzle cap is also specified.

[0089] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a multitude of variants and modifications are possible, which also make use of the inventive concept and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and features of the dependent claims independently of the referenced claims. Reference symbol list

[0090] 1 Spray device 2 Spray boom 3 Boom 4a Dispensing element 4b Dispensing element 4c Dispensing element 5 Nozzle grid spacing 6 Impact area 7 Row grid 8 Row grid spacing 9a, 9c, 9c Nozzle cap 10b, 10c Offset 11a First mounting position 11b Second mounting position 12a, 12b, 12c Spray pattern 13a, 13b, 13c Spray direction with nozzle cap 13b', 13c' Spray direction without nozzle cap 14 Scale 15 Locking connection 16 Control unit 17 Carrier vehicle 18 Storage tank 20 Control unit 21 Screen 23 User interface 24 Input parameters 25 Configuration 26 Conversion notes 30 Plant row spacing 31 Plant, plant row 100 Agricultural field sprayer α1, α2 Deflection angle A Swivel axis in direction of travel BL Longitudinal direction of the boom V Vertical direction of the boom

Claims

1. Spraying device (1) for an agricultural field sprayer (100) for the metered application of spray liquid on agricultural land, preferably for row-related band spraying, comprising a sprayer boom (2) comprising a plurality of application elements (4a, 4b, 4c) for spraying and / or finely distributing the spray liquid, which are arranged at a predetermined nozzle grid spacing (5) at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction (B) of the sprayer boom (2), wherein impact areas (6) of the spray liquid discharged by the application elements (4a, 4b, 4c) during a discharge operation form a row grid (7), the row grid spacing (8) of which differs from the nozzle grid spacing (5) or from an integer multiple of the nozzle grid spacing (5), wherein, in order to produce the different row grid spacing (8), at least some of the plurality of application elements (4b, 4c) are each equipped with a nozzle cap (9b, 9c) which is configured to produce an offset (10b; 10c) of an impact area (6) of spray liquid in the longitudinal direction (B) of the spray boom (2).

2. Spraying device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle caps (9b, 9c) comprise at least a first group of nozzle caps (9b) and a second group of nozzle caps (9c), wherein the nozzle caps (9b) of the first group are configured to produce a first offset (10b) of the impact area (6) of spray liquid in the longitudinal direction (V) of the spray boom (2), which offset differs from a second offset (10c) which can be produced by means of the nozzle caps (9c) of the second group.

3. Spraying device (1) according to claim 2, wherein a) an offset (10b) of 5 cm or an offset in a range of 0 to 5 cm can be produced by means of the nozzle caps (9b) of the first group; and / or b) an offset (10c) of 10 cm or an offset in a range of 5 to 10 cm can be produced by means of the nozzle caps (9c) of the second group; and / or c) wherein the nozzle caps comprise a third group of nozzle caps, wherein an offset of 15 cm or an offset in a range of 10 to 15 cm can be produced by means of the nozzle caps of the third group.

4. Spraying device (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the nozzle caps (9b, 9c) can each be selectively mounted in a first mounting position (11a) on the application element (4b, 4c) and in a second mounting position (11b) on the application element (4b, 4c), wherein the nozzle caps (9b, 9c) in the first mounting position (11a) produce a positive offset and in the second mounting position (11b) a negative offset of the impact area (10) in the longitudinal direction (B) of the spray boom (2).

5. The injection device (1) according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 2 or 3, wherein the nozzle caps (9b, 9c) of the first group and the second group each comprise nozzle caps (9b, 9c) mounted in the first mounting position (11a) and comprise nozzle caps (9b, 9c) mounted in the second mounting position (11b).

6. Spraying device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the application elements (4b, 4c) equipped with nozzle caps (9b, 9c) are rotatably supported in a nozzle carrier for setting the offset (10b, 10c) or a width of the spray profile in a predetermined portion.

7. Spraying device (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the plurality of application elements (4b, 4c) are rotatably mounted on the nozzle carrier in different detent and / or click positions for setting the offset (10b, 10c) by means of the different detent and / or click positions.

8. Spraying device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a scale is provided on the nozzle carrier or on the application element, by means of which a set rotational position and / or a set offset can be read off.

9. Spraying device (1) according to one of the previous claims, further comprising multiple nozzle carriers in which at least two application elements are mounted, a) which are equipped with different nozzle caps for generating a different offset of the impact area; or b) of which one application element is equipped without a nozzle cap or is equipped with a nozzle cap which does not produce an offset of the impact area in longitudinal direction.

10. Spraying device (1) according to one of the previous claims, comprising a control unit (20) comprising a screen (21) configured to cause the display of a user interface (23) on the screen (21) for configuring the spraying device for a row-wise application, a) wherein the user interface for entering input parameters (24) is configured to detect, in addition to a row spacing, at least one of the following further input parameters: a nozzle grid spacing, a track width, a working width of the field sprayer, a crop to be treated, a growth phase of the crop to be treated, and a parameter indicating whether additional spraying liquid is to be applied between the rows; and b) wherein the user interface (23) is configured to output a configuration (25) of the application elements, wherein the configuration (25) indicates a configuration of the at least one part of the application elements with the nozzle caps (9b, 9c) determined as a function of the input parameters for the row-related application.

11. Spraying device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the configuration (25) contains conversion instructions (26) for a user for using the nozzle caps in order to adapt the spraying device to the row-related application and / or contains a schematic visual representation of the row-related application of spraying liquid that can be generated by means of the configuration.

12. Spraying device (1) according to claim 11, comprising a metering and / or supply system for supplying the application elements with spraying liquid and a control means which is configured to control and / or regulate the metering and / or supply system and / or the application elements for the row-related application of spraying liquid as a function of the configuration of the application elements.

13. Spraying device (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the nozzle caps a) are each configured to deflect a spray liquid discharged straight downwards by the discharge element in such a way that a spray jet is produced with a jet direction directed obliquely downwards in order to produce the offset; and / or b) are each detachably mountable on an application element by means of a click, snap-in and / or bayonet lock.

14. Agricultural field sprayer (100), comprising a spraying device (1) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the field sprayer is, for example, a self-propelled field sprayer or a field sprayer towed by means of a towing vehicle or a field sprayer attached to a towing vehicle.

15. Method for adapting a spraying device for a row-related application of spraying liquid, wherein the spraying device is a spraying device (1) for an agricultural field sprayer for the metered application of spray liquid on agricultural land, comprising a plurality of application elements for spraying and / or finely distributing the spray liquid, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in a predetermined nozzle grid in the longitudinal direction of a spray boom, wherein the method comprises Adapting impact areas (10) of the spray liquid discharged by the application elements during an application process to a row grid of the row-related application by creating an offset in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom of impact areas of spray liquid by means of nozzle caps.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein at least a part of the plurality of application elements is selected to be equipped with nozzle caps and the nozzle caps are configured as follows a) that a difference between the nozzle grid spacing and the spacing (30) of the plant rows (31) is equalised; and / or b) that a spacing of the adapted impact areas (10) corresponds to a row spacing (30) of a plant row (31); and / or c) that a spacing of the adapted impact areas and / or a row spacing of the row-related application is neither 25 cm or 50 cm nor an integer multiple thereof.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the spraying device is a spraying device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.