Rotary mower with a storage container for mower blades

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rotary mower with a storage container for receiving mower blades of the rotary mower according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Rotary mowers for mowing grass are known from DE 31 51 481 A1, DE 32 02 926 A1, and DE 10 2011 016 284 A1. The rotary mower in DE 31 51 481 A1 is a drum mower. The rotary mowers in DE 32 02 926 A1 and DE 10 2011 016 284 A1 are disc mowers.

[0003] Rotary mowers used for mowing grass have at least one cutter bar, with several cutting units mounted on each cutter bar. In a drum mower, the cutting units are called cutting drums. In a disc mower, the cutting units are called cutting discs. Each cutting unit of a cutter bar in a rotary mower has a cutting disc, a blade carrier, and at least one cutting blade. The cutting blade(s) of each cutting unit are connected to the blade carrier and are mounted on the respective blade carrier of the cutting unit in a replaceable manner. The first cutting units rotate in a first direction during operation, and the first cutting blades rotating along with the first cutting units also rotate in this first direction. These first cutting blades are designed to cut the crop in this first direction.During operation, the second mower blades rotate in a second direction, with the second mower blades rotating in the same direction. These second mower blades are designed to cut the crop in this second direction.

[0004] The mower blades of the mower assembly can wear out during operation and therefore must be replaced during maintenance. DE 198 56 746 A1 discloses a quick-change device for replacing an old blade with a new one.

[0005] From DE 202 04 943 U1, a rotary mower with a storage container for mower blades is known. The storage container holds mower blades: on the one hand, blades designed for cutting crops in the first direction of rotation, and on the other hand, blades designed for cutting crops in the opposite direction of rotation. The storage container has two receiving areas for the mower blades. Barcode markings are incorporated into one of the housings of the storage container. These barcode markings allow a link to be established between the article numbers of the mower blades and the storage container itself.

[0006] Based on this, the present invention aims to create a novel rotary mower with a storage container for mower blades, which allows for better handling of the mower blades.

[0007] This problem is solved by a rotary mower with a hopper for receiving mower blades according to claim 1. According to the invention, a receiving body for mower blades is arranged in each receiving area. The respective receiving body is designed such that, when the base body is stationary, it is inclined both horizontally and vertically. The mower blades can be received in a suspended arrangement on the respective receiving body. This prevents moisture from accumulating between the mower blades and thus avoids clumping or even corrosion. A further advantage is that gaps between the mower blades can be avoided, thereby preventing unwanted noises during operation, in particular rattling noises between the mower blades.

[0008] With the base body upright, the respective receiving body extends upwards from the end facing the base body's rear wall (which forms the rear wall) towards its end facing away from the rear wall. This design is particularly advantageous for accommodating mower blades without gaps between them, thus preventing rattling noises between the blades and the ingress of moisture between them.

[0009] Preferably, the respective receiving body forms an angle between 5° and 30° with the horizontal direction, particularly between 10° and 20°. This is especially preferred to facilitate handling of mower blades both when the base of the storage container is upright and when it is lying down.

[0010] Preferably, each receiving body has a nose-like projection at its end facing away from the rear wall, which points upwards when the base body is upright. The mower blades are held securely against loss on the receiving body by means of this nose-like projection.

[0011] Preferably, the respective receiving body is arranged in the respective receiving area such that, when the base body is stationary and mower blades are mounted in a suspended arrangement on the receiving body, a defined clearance or distance is formed between the lower edge of the mower blades and the lower edge of the side walls of the base body. With the base body stationary, the mower blades can thus be easily grasped by their lower edge with the fingers. This improves the handling of the mower blades.

[0012] The rear wall of the base is preferably designed so that the base can be laid on its back for filling and removing mower blades. In this horizontal position, the receiving bodies are angled upwards, and the mower blades can be inserted into them from above. After filling, the base can advantageously be easily moved back into an upright position with a single movement and transported.

[0013] Preferably, the storage container has a holder for the base body, wherein the holder has side walls and a bottom wall, and wherein the side walls of the holder have guide slots for projections formed on the side walls of the base body to guide the base body when inserting it into and removing it from the holder. As a result of the base body being guided in the holder by the interacting guide slots and projections, it is prevented from wedging and jamming when the base body is pulled out of or inserted into the holder. The guide slots and projections are preferably arranged such that the base body can only be inserted into the holder in one orientation relative to it. This creates an anti-rotation feature, which particularly advantageously prevents incorrect insertion.

[0014] Preferably, the handle is attached to the roof wall in such a way that, when the base is symmetrically and / or completely filled with mower blades, the center of gravity of the base lies in the handle in vertical projection. This allows the base, with the mower blades housed within it, to be handled particularly advantageously, namely very ergonomically, with just one hand.

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and the description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, without being limited thereto. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a detail of a rotary mower together with a storage container according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a storage container according to the invention with a base body and a holder for the base body; Fig. 3 the storage container of the Fig. 2in side view, Fig. 4 the storage container of the Fig. 2 in top view, Fig. 5 the base body of the storage container in side view, and Fig. 6 the base body of the storage container in perspective view.

[0016] The invention relates to a storage container for mower blades of a rotary mower. Such a storage container is intended to hold at least new blades for a possible blade change, in which worn old blades are replaced with new ones.

[0017] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a support structure 1, namely a so-called center stand, of a rotary mower together with a storage container 2 for mower blades of the rotary mower attached to the support structure 1. The figure shows the following: Fig. 1The supporting structure 1 shown allows the rotary mower, which is not shown elsewhere, to be coupled to a towing vehicle, whereby a top link of the towing vehicle can be coupled to section 1a of the supporting structure 1 and a lower link of the towing vehicle can be coupled to section 1b of the supporting structure 1.

[0018] The storage container 2 has a base body 3 and a holder 4 for the base body 3. The holder 4 is firmly attached to the support structure 1. The base body 3 can be inserted into and removed from the holder 4, whereby Figs. 1 and 2 show the base body 3 in a position partially removed from the holder 4.

[0019] The bracket 4 has at least side walls 5, whereby in Fig. 2 the in Fig. 1The visible front side wall 5 is not shown. The bracket 4 may also have a bottom wall. The bracket 4 is open at the top to allow the base body 3 to be inserted into and removed from the bracket 4 via an upper opening 6.

[0020] The base body 3 of the storage container 2, which is in Figs. 5 and 6 The base body 3, shown in isolation, has side walls 7 and a roof wall 8. One of the side walls 7 of the base body 3 forms a rear wall of the base body 3. Opposite this rear wall, the base body 3 is open.

[0021] A handle 9 is attached to the roof wall 8 to make it easy to grasp and hold the base body 3.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the base body 3 of the storage container 2 provides three receiving areas 10a, 10b and 10c for receiving mower blades 11. Within each receiving area 10a, 10b and 10c, several mower blades 11 can be received in a stacked, suspended arrangement.

[0023] Thus, new mower blades 11 can be inserted in the lateral intake areas 10a and 10c, namely in a first lateral intake area 10a new mower blades 11 which are designed for a crop cutting in a first direction of rotation, and in a second lateral intake area 10c new mower blades 11 which are designed for a crop cutting in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.

[0024] In a central receiving area 10b arranged between the lateral receiving areas 10a and 10c, old, worn or damaged mower blades 11 that have been replaced during a blade change can be received.

[0025] In each receiving area 10a, 10b and 10c, a receiving body 12 for the mower blades 11 is arranged, wherein the mower blades 11 can be threaded onto the respective receiving body 12 via a recess in the same and thus suspended on the same.

[0026] When the base body 3 is stationary, i.e., when a lower edge 7a of the side walls 7 of the base body 3 is, for example, on a base, the mower blades 11 hang on the receiving bodies 12 in an essentially vertical orientation.

[0027] This orientation of the mower blades 11 depends on an inclination of the receiving bodies 12 relative to a horizontal direction as well as relative to a vertical direction.

[0028] The receiving bodies 12 are designed such that each receiving body 12 is positioned when the base body 3 is stationary (see Fig. 5, 6) is inclined relative to the horizontal direction and relative to the vertical direction, wherein the respective receiving body 12, when the base body 3 is stationary, forms an angle between 5° and 30° with the horizontal direction, in particular an angle between 10° and 20°.

[0029] While a side wall 7 forming the rear wall of the base body 3 of the same, with the base body 3 standing (see Fig. 5 ) in a vertical direction, the receiving bodies 12, which serve for the hanging receiving of the mower blades 11, enclose an angle between 60° and 85°, in particular an angle between 70° and 80°, with the side wall 7 of the base body 3 forming the rear wall.

[0030] Each receiving body 12 extends upwards from its end facing the rear wall towards its end facing away from the rear wall. As the mower blades 11 are received by the receiving body 12, they slide downwards towards the rear wall of the base body 3. The mower blades 11 come into contact with each other without any gap or space between them, thus preventing unwanted rattling between the mower blades 11.

[0031] The orientation of the roof wall 8 corresponds to the orientation of the receiving bodies 12, so that the receiving bodies 12 and the roof wall 8 of the base body 3 run parallel.

[0032] Each receiving body 12 has a nose-like projection 13 at the end facing away from the rear wall of the base body 3, which points upwards when the base body 3 is stationary. The mower blades 11 can be held securely by this nose-like projection 13.

[0033] When the base body 3 is stationary, a defined clearance 14 or a defined distance is formed between a lower edge 11a of the mower blades 11 and a lower edge 7a of the side walls 7 of the base body 3, so that the mower blades 11 can be easily grasped and handled when the base body 3 is stationary. In this way, the mower blades 11 can be easily separated by accessing their lower edge 11a.

[0034] The rear wall of the base body 3 is preferably designed such that the base body 3 can be laid on its rear wall for filling and removing mower blades 11. In this horizontal position, the receiving bodies 12 are angled upwards, and the mower blades 11 can be inserted into the receiving bodies 12 from above or pulled upwards out. After filling, the base body 3 can advantageously be easily moved back into the upright position and transported using the handle 9.

[0035] As previously explained, both the base body 3 and the holder 2 have side walls 5. Projections 15 are formed on opposite side walls 7 of the base body 3. These projections 15 on the side walls 7 of the base body 3 interact with guide slots 16 on opposite side walls 5 of the holder 4. This guides the base body when it is inserted into and removed from the holder 4. This prevents the base body 3 from jamming or wedging during handling. The guide slots and projections are preferably arranged so that the base body can only be inserted into the holder in one orientation relative to it. This provides an anti-rotation feature, which particularly effectively prevents incorrect insertion.

[0036] Openings 17 are provided in at least one side wall 5 of the holder 4, which, when the base body 3 with the mower blades 11 mounted on the base body 3 is inserted into the holder 4, allow a view of the mower blades 11 mounted in the base body 3. This can best be seen Fig. 3 can be taken. According to Fig. 3 Below these openings 4, a scale 18 is applied to the respective side wall 5, from which the fill level on the mower blades 11 can be read.

[0037] To enable particularly ergonomic handling of the base body 3 with the mower blades 11 housed within it, the handle 9 is attached to the top wall 8 of the base body 3 in such a way that, when the base body 3 is symmetrically and completely filled with mower blades 11, the center of gravity of the base body 3 lies in the handle 9 in vertical projection. This allows a base body 3 filled with mower blades 11 to be advantageously held and carried with one hand without the risk of the base body 3 tipping sideways and the mower blades 11 falling out.

[0038] The storage container 2 according to the invention allows for particularly advantageous handling of mower blades 11. According to Fig. 5 A pictogram 19 is applied to the roof wall 8 of the base body 3, which shows the intended occupancy of the recording areas 10a, 10b and 10c with the mower blades 11.

[0039] It is advantageous to view it in vertical projection (see Fig. 4 The edges 8a or edges of the roof wall 8 of the base body 3 project towards the side walls 5 of the holder 4. This allows the insertion depth of the base body 3 into the receptacle 4 to be limited. The edges 8a or edges of the roof wall 8 of the base body 3 projecting towards the side walls 5 then form a stop, which limits the insertion depth of the base body 3 into the holder 4.

[0040] Preferably, twenty-five mower blades 11 can be accommodated in each intake area 10a, 10b and 10c. Reference symbol list

[0041] 1 Support structure 1a Section 1b Section 2 Storage container 3 Base body 4 Bracket 5 Side wall 6 Opening 7 Side wall 7a Bottom edge 8 Top wall 8a Edge 9 Handle 10a Pickup area 10b Pickup area 10c Pickup area 11 Mower blade 11a Bottom edge 12 Pickup body 13 Projection 14 Clearance 15 Projection 16 Guide slot 17 Opening 18 Scale 19 Pictogram

Claims

1. Rotary mower having a storage container (2) for receiving mower blades (11) of the rotary mower, wherein the storage container (2) comprises a main body (3), wherein the main body (3) has at least side walls (7) and a roof wall (8), wherein the main body (3) provides at least two receiving regions (10a, 10b, 10c) for receiving the mower blades (11), wherein a handle (9) for gripping the main body (3) is fastened to the roof wall (8), characterized in that a receiving body (12) for mower blades (11) is arranged in each receiving region (10a, 10b, 10c), the respective receiving body (12) is designed in such a way as to be inclined in relation to a horizontal direction and a vertical direction with the main body (3) standing, that is to say if a bottom edge (7a) of the side walls (7) is on a horizontal underlying surface, and the mower blades (11) are receivable in a hanging arrangement on the respective receiving body (12) substantially with a vertical orientation.

2. Rotary mower according to Claim 1, characterized in that the respective receiving body (12) includes an angle of between 5° and 30°, in particular an angle of between 10° and 20°, with the horizontal direction.

3. Rotary mower according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, with the main body (3) standing, a side wall (7) of the main body (3) that is formed as a rear wall extends in the vertical direction and the respective receiving body (12) includes an angle of between 60° and 85°, in particular an angle of between 70° and 80°, with the rear wall.

4. Rotary mower according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, with the main body (3) standing, the respective receiving body (12), proceeding from its end that is nearer to a side wall (7) of the main body (3) formed as a rear wall, extends upwards towards its end that is further away from the rear wall.

5. Rotary mower according to Claim 4, characterized in that at its end further away from the rear wall, the respective receiving body (12) has a nose-like projection (13) which, with the main body (3) standing, is directed upwards.

6. Rotary mower according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the respective receiving body (12) extends parallel to the roof wall (8).

7. Rotary mower according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, the respective receiving body (12) is arranged in the respective receiving region (10a, 10b, 10c) in such a way that, if, with the main body (3) standing, mower blades (11) have been received in a hanging arrangement on the respective receiving body (12), a defined clearance (14) or a defined spacing is formed between a bottom edge (11a) of the mower blades (11) and a bottom edge (7a) of the side walls (7) of the main body (3).

8. Rotary mower according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, the main body (3) provides three receiving regions for receiving mower blades (11), specifically lateral receiving regions (10a, 10c) for new mower blades (11) and a middle receiving region (10b) for old or used or worn mower blades (11).

9. Rotary mower according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized by a holder (4) for the main body (3), wherein the holder (4) has side walls (5).

10. Rotary mower according to Claim 9, characterized in that the side walls (5) of the holder (4) have guide slots (16) for projections (15) formed on side walls (7) of the main body (3), in order to guide the main body (3) as the main body (3) is inserted into the holder (4) and as the main body (3) is removed from the holder (4).

11. Rotary mower according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, on at least one of the side walls (5) of the holder (4), there are formed openings (17) which, with the main body (3) received in the holder (4), give a clear view of the mower blades (11) received by the main body (3).

12. Rotary mower according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, the handle (9) is fastened to the roof wall (8) in such a way that, with the main body (3) filled symmetrically and / or fully with mower blades (11), a centre of gravity of the main body (3) is situated in the handle (9) in a vertical projection.