BAND CUTTING MACHINE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt cutting unit according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, a self-propelled rotary cutter according to claim 12 is the subject of the invention.

[0002] A belt cutting unit of the type mentioned above is known from EP 3 420 796 B1 and US 8,087,224 B1.

[0003] DE 102011 116 341 A1 relates to a belt cutting device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] The aforementioned publications describe belt cutters comprising a central segment with a middle frame segment and two side segments, each with an outer frame segment. Each side segment is pivotally connected to the central segment by a frame joint. This frame joint includes a pivot axis around which the respective side segment can pivot. The side segments can be pivoted vertically around the horizontal pivot axis of the frame joint relative to the central segment to compensate for uneven terrain. Furthermore, the belt cutters include a flexible cutter bar, which is pivotally mounted on support arms attached to the frame segments around a rotation axis parallel to the cutter bar.The flexible cutter bar essentially follows a ground contour by resting on it. Within a pivoting range, the cutter bar can be moved between a lower and an upper position by deflecting the support arms around the axis of rotation. In the cutter bar's operating position, where it is in the upper position, an imaginary extension of the pivot axis, which is inclined towards the cutter bar, intersects the cutter bar. This affects the cutter bar during operation such that in the lower position, where it is intended to follow the ground contour, the vertical distance to the pivot axis is greatest. Moving one of the side segments upwards results in an extension of the cutter bar in the area of ​​the pivot axis. Conversely, moving one of the side segments downwards results in a compression of the cutter bar in the area of ​​the pivot axis.The compressed cutter bar partially lifts off the ground and loses contact, leaving plants unharvested. The stretching of the cutter bar as the side segment moves upwards can contribute to premature fatigue due to excessive stress.

[0005] Based on the aforementioned prior art, the invention aims to further develop a belt cutting device of the type mentioned at the outset, which avoids or at least reduces the adverse effects of the prior art.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by a belt cutting device with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] According to claim 1, a belt cutting device is proposed comprising a central segment with a central frame segment and two side segments, each with an outer frame segment, wherein the respective side segment is pivotably connected to the central segment by a frame joint comprising a pivot axis, wherein the respective frame joint comprises a pivot axis about which the respective side segment is pivotable, and a flexible cutter bar which essentially follows a ground contour in a resting position, in that the cutter bar is arranged on support arms pivotably attached to the frame segments about an axis of rotation parallel to the cutter bar, wherein the cutter bar can be moved by deflecting the support arms about the axis of rotation within a pivot range between a lower position and an upper position.According to the invention, the frame joints are arranged in such a way that they are inclined towards the ground, such that a virtual extension of the respective pivot axis cuts the cutter bar in a central position between the lower position and the upper position, wherein the pivot range . by an end position of the cutter bar in the lower position and by an end position of the cutter bar in the upper position is mechanically limited.

[0008] The effect achieved is to equalize the maximum pivoting distance between the cutter bar and the respective pivot axis in the operating situation where the cutter bar is in its lower position and the side segment is deflected upwards or downwards around the pivot axis. In particular, the maximum pivoting distance in this operating situation can be essentially halved.

[0009] For this purpose, the cutter bar in its center position can be positioned at a substantially equal distance to its end position in both the lower and upper positions. This minimizes the compression or stretching of the cutter bar in the area of ​​the pivot axis during a vertical deflection of one of the side segments. The pivot range is mechanically limited in both the lower and upper positions.

[0010] Preferably, the frame joints can be arranged on the middle frame segment.

[0011] In particular, the frame joints can be designed as sliding bearing arrangements located on the central frame segment. Preferably, two sliding bearing arrangements are provided, which serve for the pivotable connection of the respective side segment to the central segment.

[0012] In this arrangement, a sliding bearing arrangement can be arranged in the area of ​​a front wall facing the cutter bar and a sliding bearing arrangement can be arranged in the area of ​​a rear wall of the middle frame segment facing away from the cutter bar.

[0013] Preferably, each side segment can be positioned relative to the center segment by means of a controllable actuator. In particular, the actuators can be designed as double-acting hydraulic cylinders. The combine harvester can preferably include a control unit that is configured to control linear actuators for adjusting the height of the intake channel and the actuators on the belt header.

[0014] Furthermore, conveying devices can be arranged behind the cutter bar. On the side segments, these are configured as one endless, laterally circulating conveyor belt each, and on the center segment as one endless, circulating conveyor belt perpendicular to the adjacent conveyor belts. The conveyor belts of the side segments convey material transversely to the conveying direction of at least one conveyor belt of the center segment.

[0015] Furthermore, pivotally hinged support elements can be provided in a plane parallel to the support arms, at least on the outer frame segments of the side segments, to support the conveyor belts of the side segments. Pivotally hinged support elements can also be arranged on the middle frame segment of the center segment, to support the conveyor belts extending beyond the pivot axis onto the center segment.

[0016] In particular, the respective conveying device of the side segments can comprise a first deflection roller arranged on the middle segment and a second deflection roller arranged at the end of the respective side segment, around which the respective endless conveyor belt runs.

[0017] According to further training, the conveyor belt of the central segment and the conveyor belts of the side segments can be operated at independent speeds. Each conveyor belt is driven independently by a drive motor, which can be either electric or hydraulic.

[0018] In particular, the sliding bearing arrangement located in the area of ​​the front wall facing the cutter bar can be arranged essentially at the level of the support elements.

[0019] The problem initially posed is further solved by a self-propelled combine harvester with a belt header according to any one of claims 1 to 11. Reference may be made to the advantages of the belt header according to the invention.

[0020] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 schematically and by way of example a view of a belt cutter arranged on the intake channel of a combine harvester; Fig. 2 schematically and by way of example a partial view of the belt cutter in the area of ​​a pivot axis between a central segment and a side segment; Fig. 3 schematically and by way of example a partial view of the belt cutter according to Fig. 1 from the rear; and Fig. 4 schematically and exemplarily a sectional view in the connection area between the middle segment and one of the side segments.

[0022] In Fig. 1 Figure 1 is a schematic and exemplary view of a sling cutterbar 1 arranged on the intake channel 12 of a combine harvester. The sling cutterbar 1 has a segmented frame. It comprises a central segment 3 with a central frame segment 2 and two side segments 4 with an outer frame segment 2A or 2B. The side segments 4 are arranged adjacent to the central segment 3. A ground-following cutterbar 5 is arranged on the front side of the sling cutterbar 1 opposite the segmented frame, attached to the central segment 3 and the side segments 4. This cutterbar extends substantially across the entire width of the sling cutterbar 1. A segmented reel (not shown) is also provided, extending substantially across the entire width of the sling cutterbar 1.

[0023] The flexible cutter bar 5 can be pivoted vertically relative to the frame segments 2, 2A, 2B by means of support arms 17 articulated to the frame segments 2, 2A, 2B, as shown in Fig. 2 The support arms 17 are pivotally connected to the frame segments 2, 2A, 2B about a pivot axis 19 running parallel to the cutter bar 5.

[0024] Crop cut off by the cutter bar 5 is fed to a conveying device located behind the cutter bar 5, which is designed as an endlessly circulating conveyor belt 8 on the respective side segments 4. The endlessly circulating conveyor belts 8 are arranged adjacent to the central segment 3 in order to transport crop cut off by the cutter bar 5 laterally, i.e., transversely to the direction of travel of the combine harvester, towards the central segment 3 and to feed it to a feed device of the belt cutter 1, which is designed as a driven feed roller 10.

[0025] The central section 3 also includes a conveying device designed as an endless circulating conveyor belt 9. The conveyor belt 9 of the central section 3 conveys the crop transversely to the conveying direction of the laterally conveying conveyor belts 8 of the side sections 4. The intake roller 10 guides the crop, fed laterally to the central section 3 by the endless circulating conveyor belts 8 and 9, to an opening 11 located behind the intake roller 10 in the central frame segment 2. Through the opening 11, the harvested crop is fed to the combine harvester for further processing via the intake chute 12, to which the belt cutter 1 is detachably attached. A conveying device is arranged in the intake chute 12, which receives the crop fed by the intake roller 10 and conveys it to the combine harvester for further processing.The intake channel 12 is pivotably mounted on the combine harvester about a horizontal axis 13 by linear actuators (not shown) for height adjustment of the belt cutter 1.

[0026] In a plane running parallel to and above the support arms 17, support elements 18 are pivotally hinged to the frame segments 2, 2A, 2B, which support the circulating conveyor belts 8, 9, as shown in Fig. 2 The respective laterally conveying conveyor belt 8 comprises a first deflection roller, which is arranged on the middle segment 3, and a second deflection roller, which is arranged at the end of the respective side segment 4, diametrically opposite to the first deflection roller, around which the respective conveyor belt 8 of a side segment 4 runs endlessly.

[0027] In Fig. 3 This is a schematic and exemplary partial view of the belt cutting unit according to Fig. 1Shown from the rear. Each side segment 4 is pivotably connected to the center segment 3 by a frame joint 15 encompassing a pivot axis 14. Each side segment 4 can be positioned relative to the center segment 3 by pivoting about the pivot axis 14 via a controllable actuator 7. The actuators 7 are preferably designed as double-acting hydraulic cylinders 16. This allows the outer frame segments 2A, 2B to be pivotally coupled to the center frame segment 2 at their connection points 6. Pivoting the outer frame segments 2A, 2B and the side segments 4 relative to the center frame segment 2 and center segment 3, respectively, enables improved adaptation to the ground contour. In addition to the pivotal adaptation of the outer frame segments 2A, 2B, the ground contour is also adapted by the flexible cutter bar 5.The flexible cutter bar 5 can follow the ground within a deflection range by means of vertical deflection movements with the support arms 17 which are pivotably coupled to the frame segments 2, 2A, 2B about the axis of rotation 19.

[0028] In Fig. 4 A schematic and exemplary sectional view of the connection area 6 between the central segment 3 and one of the side segments 4 is shown. The pivot axis 14 runs through the frame joints 15 arranged on the central frame segment 2. The frame joints 15 can be designed as sliding bearing arrangements 21 arranged on the central frame segment 2. One sliding bearing arrangement 21 is located in the area of ​​a front wall 22 facing the cutter bar 5, and one sliding bearing arrangement 21 is located in the area of ​​a rear wall 23 of the central frame segment 2 facing away from the cutter bar 5. The frame joints 15 can be designed as hinges.

[0029] During the harvesting process, the flexible cutter bar 5 essentially follows the contour of the ground, resting on it. For this purpose, the cutter bar 5 can be moved within a pivot range 28 between a lower position 24 and an upper position 25 by vertically deflecting the support arms 17 about the axis of rotation 19. Fig. 4 The belt cutter 1 is shown in its end position in the upper position 25. The upper position 25 corresponds to an operating situation of the belt cutter 1 in which the cutter bar 5 is rigid across the entire working width of the belt cutter 1. In the upper position 25 as the end position, the pivot travel is mechanically limited.

[0030] The flexible cutter bar 5 can be moved into a lower position 24, in which the cutter bar 5 essentially rests on the ground and follows a ground contour. In its final position 24, the cutter bar 5 can compensate for uneven ground by means of a vertical compensating movement, by pivoting at least one of the support arms 17 upwards in sections about the axis of rotation 19 within the swivel range 28. The swivel path is also mechanically limited in the lower position 24 as the final position.

[0031] The frame joints 15 are inclined to the cutter bar 5 such that a virtual extension 27 of the respective pivot axis 14 intersects the cutter bar 5 in a mid-position 26 between the lower position 24 and the upper position 25. The virtual extension 27 extends through the frame joints 15 towards the ground.

[0032] In the center position 26 of the cutter bar 5, it has a substantially equal distance 29 to the position of the cutter bar 5 in the lower position 24 and to the position of the cutter bar 5 in the upper position 25. In the center position 26, the vertical distance 29 of the cutter bar 5 to the end position of the cutter bar 5 in the lower position 24 and to the end position of the cutter bar 5 in the upper position 25 is substantially equal.

[0033] The effect achieved thereby consists of an equalization of the maximum pivoting distance to be traveled between the cutter bar 5 and the respective pivot axis 14 in the operating situation in which the cutter bar 5 is in its lower position 24 and at least one of the side segments 4 is deflected upwards or downwards about the pivot axis 14. In particular, the resulting maximum pivoting distance to be traveled in this operating situation in which the cutter bar 5 is in the lower position 24 can be essentially halved.

[0034] The distance 29 in the center position 26 of the cutter bar 5 to the position of the cutter bar 5 in the lower position 24 and to the position of the cutter bar 5 in the upper position 26 is essentially the same. This minimizes the compression or stretching of the cutter bar 5 in the area of ​​the pivot axis 14 when one of the side segments 4 is deflected about the pivot axis 14.

[0035] This reduces the occurrence of compression of the cutter bar 5 in the area of ​​the pivot axis 14 when one of the side segments 4 moves downwards into the lower position 24. Conversely, when one of the side segments 4 moves upwards into the upper position 25, stretching of the cutter bar 5 is reduced.

[0036] This reduction in the compression or extension of the cutter bar 5 in the area of ​​the pivot axes 14 between the central segment 3 and the side segments 4 results in the compressed cutter bar 5 lifting less from the ground, thus maintaining better ground contact and leaving fewer plants unharvested in this area of ​​the cutter bar 5. Reducing the extension of the cutter bar 5 when the side segment 4 moves upwards leads to a reduction in mechanical stress. Reference symbol list

[0037] 1 Belt cutter 2 Middle frame segment 2A Outer frame segment 2B Outer frame segment 3 Middle segment 4 Side segment 5 Cutter bar 6 Connection area 7 Actuator 8 Conveyor belt 9 Conveyor belt 10 Feed roller 11 Opening 12 Feed channel 13 Axle 14 Swivel axis 15 Frame joint 16 Hydraulic cylinder 17 Support arm 18 Support element 19 Pivot axis 21. Sliding bearing arrangement 22. Front wall 23. Rear wall 24. Lower position 25. Upper position 26. Middle position 27. Virtual extension 28. Swivel range 29. Distance

Claims

1. Draper header (1) comprising - a middle segment (3), which has a middle frame segment (2), and two side segments (4), which have in each case one outer frame segment (2A, 2B), wherein the respective side segment (4) is connected pivotably to the middle segment (3) by a frame joint (15) which comprises a pivot axis (14), and - a flexible cutter bar (5) which follows a ground contour in a manner substantially resting on it in that the cutter bar (5) is arranged on supporting arms (17) which are articulated on the frame segments (2, 2A, 2B) in a manner pivotable about an axis of rotation (19) extending parallel to the cutter bar (5), wherein the cutter bar (5) is transferable between a lower position (24) and an upper position (25) within a pivoting range (28) by way of deflection of the supporting arms (17) about the axis of rotation (19), characterized in that the frame joints (15) are oriented inclined to the ground in such a way that a virtual extension (27) of the respective pivot axis (14) intersects the cutter bar (5) at a middle position (26) between the lower position (24) and the upper position (25), wherein the pivoting range (28) - is limited mechanically by an end position of the cutter bar (5) at the lower position (24) and - by an end position of the cutter bar (5) at the upper position (25).

2. Draper header (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that, at its middle position (26), the cutter bar (5) has a substantially equal spacing - to the end position of the cutter bar (5) at the lower position (24) and - to the end position of the cutter bar (5) at the upper position (25).

3. Draper header (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame joints (15) are arranged on the middle frame segment (2).

4. Draper header (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the frame joints (15) are in the form of plain-bearing arrangements (21) which are arranged on the middle frame segment (2).

5. Draper header (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that in each case one plain-bearing arrangement (21) is arranged in the region of a front wall (22), facing towards the cutter bar (5), and in each case one plain-bearing arrangement (21) is arranged in the region of a rear wall (23), facing away from the cutter bar (5), of the middle frame segment (2).

6. Draper header (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective side segment (4) is positionable relative to the middle segment (3) by way of an actuatable actuator (7).

7. Draper header (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, behind the cutter bar (5), there are arranged conveying devices which are in the form of in each case one endlessly circulating, laterally conveying conveyor belt (8) at the side segments (4) and an endlessly circulating conveyor belt (9) at the middle segment (3), which conveys perpendicularly to the adjacent conveyor belts (8).

8. Draper header (1) according to Claim 7, characterized in that, in a plane extending parallel to the supporting arms (17), provision is made of supporting elements (18) which are articulated pivotably at least on the outer frame segments (2A, 2B) of the side segments (4) and which support the conveyor belts (8) of the side segments (4).

9. Draper header (1) according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the respective conveying device of the side segments (4) comprises a first deflection roller, arranged on the middle segment (3), and a second deflection roller, arranged at the end side on the respective side segment (4), around which the respective laterally conveying conveyor belt (8) circulates.

10. Draper header (1) according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the conveyor belt (9) of the middle segment (3) and the conveyor belts (8) of the side segments (4) are operable at mutually independent belt speeds.

11. Draper header (1) according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the plain-bearing arrangement (21) arranged in the region of the front wall (22) facing towards the cutter bar (5) is arranged substantially at the height of the supporting elements (18).

12. Combine harvester having a draper header (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 11.