Granulate portioning means

Abstract

The invention relates to a granulate portioning means (10) for an agricultural spreading machine, comprising: a portioning rotor (30), which is designed to combine granulate grains during a rotational movement to form granulate portions; a housing (12), in which the portioning rotor (30) is arranged, wherein the housing comprises a housing main body (14) and a housing cover (16); and an electric drive device (18) for rotational driving of the portioning rotor (30).

Description

[0001] Granule dispenser

[0002] The invention relates to a granulate portioner according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a portioning system according to the preamble of

[0003] Patent claim 8, a change system according to the preamble of

[0004] Patent claim 10 and a method for operating a change system according to the preamble of patent claim 14.

[0005] Granule portioners of this type typically feature a portioning rotor, by means of which granules are combined into granule portions during a rotating movement. The portioning rotor can be arranged in a housing of the granule portioner and driven by an electric drive device of the granule portioner.

[0006] In practice, it has been shown that a disassembly option for the electric drive unit in granule dispensers would be advantageous for a variety of reasons. By disassembling the electric drive unit, it can, for example, be serviced or repaired separately from the other components of the granule dispenser. Furthermore, the granule dispenser should also be able to be used for belt depositing of granules on agricultural land, thus eliminating the need for granule portioning by a driven portioning rotor.

[0007] The object underlying the invention is therefore to increase the modularity of a granulate dispenser and / or to make the granulate dispenser more universally applicable.

[0008] The object is achieved by a granulate dispenser of the type mentioned above, wherein the electric drive device of the granulate dispenser according to the invention is fastened to the housing cover, and the housing cover and the electric drive device are components of a removable portioning module that is mounted non-destructively and reversibly detachably on the housing base. Because the portioning module is mounted non-destructively and reversibly detachably on the housing base, the housing cover and the electric drive device can be removed together from the housing base and placed on the housing base. The electric drive device can thus be disassembled together with the housing cover with extremely little effort, for example, for the purpose of maintenance and / or repair.Furthermore, the electric drive unit can be removed if it is not needed during the application process, for example, during tape application. The electric drive unit can be an electric motor, for example.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the granulate dispenser according to the invention, the portioning rotor is a component of the removable portioning module. In this case, the portioning rotor can be removed and replaced together with the housing cover and the electric drive device. Preferably, the removable portioning module also includes a bearing for the portioning rotor, so that the bearing for the portioning rotor can be removed and replaced together with the portioning rotor, the housing cover, and the electric drive device.

[0010] Furthermore, a granulate dispenser according to the invention is advantageous in which the portioning rotor is secured against falling out of the portioning module when the portioning module is removed. This prevents the portioning rotor from becoming detached from the rest of the portioning module. The portioning rotor's fall-out protection simplifies handling of the portioning module. Damage to or contamination of the portioning rotor due to it accidentally falling out of the portioning module is thus effectively prevented.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment of the granulate portioner according to the invention, the electric drive device has a drive housing which is fastened to the housing cover. The electrical components of the electric drive device are located in the drive housing. The drive housing can be connected to the housing cover in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting and / or material-fitting manner. The drive housing and the housing cover can be screwed and / or glued together. The drive housing can also be an integral part of the housing cover. The portioning module can have a contact area with one or more contact poles, via which the electric drive device is electrically contacted when the portioning module is placed on the housing base body.

[0012] Furthermore, a granulate portioner according to the invention is preferred in which the portioning module has an inlet opening for granulate to be portioned by means of the granulate portioner. The housing cover preferably carries the inlet opening. The inlet opening can be arranged on an inlet nozzle, wherein the inlet nozzle is preferably a component of the housing cover. Because the portioning module carries the inlet opening, the inlet can be modified by using a different module.

[0013] In another embodiment of the granulate dispenser according to the invention, the portioning module comprises at least one wall section of an outlet channel for granulate portions to be discharged from the granulate dispenser. Preferably, the housing base also comprises a wall section of the outlet channel. The outlet channel is preferably formed by the wall sections of the portioning module and the housing base.

[0014] In a further development, the granulate portioner according to the invention has one or more positioning members, by means of which the portioning module can be positioned with repeatable accuracy in an assembly position on the housing base body for mounting on the housing base body. The positioning members can comprise one or more pins and / or one or more pin receptacles, wherein the pins can be inserted into the pin receptacles for mounting the portioning module on the housing base body. One or more pins can be arranged on the portioning module and / or on the housing base body. One or more pin receptacles can be arranged on the portioning module and / or the housing base body. During operation of the granulate portioner, a radially outer region of the portioning rotor moves along an inner casing surface of the housing, which functions as a portioning track.The portioning track preferably comprises two track halves, with a first track half being a component of the housing base body and a second track half being a component of the portioning module. The track halves can be centered relative to one another using the positioning members, so that the portioning rotor runs at a uniform radial distance from the track halves. The granulate portioner can further comprise a pivoting system for the portioning module, via which the portioning module can be pivoted away from the housing base body during disassembly and pivoted towards the housing base body during assembly. The pivoting system can, for example, comprise one or more hook receptacles and one or more mounting hooks. The mounting hooks can be inserted into the one or more hook receptacles in such a way that a pivoting movement of the portioning module is enabled or required during assembly and / or disassembly.

[0015] The object underlying the invention is further achieved by a portioning system of the type mentioned above, wherein the granule portioner of the portioning system according to the invention is designed according to one of the claims described above. Regarding the advantages and modifications of the portioning system according to the invention, reference is first made to the advantages and modifications of the granule portioner according to the invention.

[0016] The air separator of the portioning system according to the invention can, for example, be a cyclone.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the portioning system according to the invention, the air separator is connected to the portioning module of the granulate portioner. The air separator is preferably attached to the portioning module. The air separator can preferably be removed from the portioning module reversibly and non-destructively.

[0018] The object underlying the invention is further achieved by a changeover system of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the granulate portioner of the changeover system according to the invention is designed according to one of the embodiments described above and the belt depositor module is configured to be mounted non-destructively and reversibly detachably on the housing base instead of the portioning module for converting the granulate portioner from a portioning configuration to a belt depositor configuration and, in the mounted state, to direct an air-granulate flow without portion formation through the housing of the granulate portioner comprising the replacement housing cover. With regard to the advantages and modifications of the changeover system according to the invention, reference is first made to the advantages and modifications of the granulate portioner according to the invention.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the exchange system according to the invention, the belt depositing module has an inlet opening for the air-granulate flow to be passed through the granulate portioner. The replacement housing cover preferably carries the inlet opening. The inlet opening can be arranged on an inlet nozzle, wherein the inlet nozzle is preferably a component of the replacement housing cover.

[0020] In a further development of the changing system according to the invention, the belt depositing module comprises a plug receptacle for receiving a connector plug. In the portioning configuration, the connector plug serves to electrically contact the electric drive device in the portioning module and is not used in the belt depositing configuration.

[0021] Furthermore, a change system according to the invention is preferred in which the belt depositor module comprises at least one wall section of an outlet channel for an air-granulate flow to be discharged from the granulate dispenser. Preferably, the housing base also comprises a wall section of the outlet channel. In the belt depositor configuration of the granulate dispenser, the outlet channel is preferably formed by the wall sections of the belt depositor module and the housing base.

[0022] The object underlying the invention is further achieved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the granulate portioner is converted from the portioning configuration to the belt depositing configuration by replacing the portioning module with a belt depositing module, such that in the belt depositing configuration the belt depositing module is mounted on the housing base body. The method according to the invention further comprises passing an air-granulate flow through the granulate portioner without portion formation, wherein the granulate portioner has the belt depositing configuration during the passage of the air-granulate flow, in which the belt depositing module is mounted on the housing base body of the granulate portioner. The method according to the invention is preferably used to operate a changeover system according to one of the embodiments described above.With regard to the advantages and modifications of the method according to the invention, reference is also made to the advantages and modifications of the exchange system according to the invention.

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a dispensing unit with a portioning system according to the invention in a perspective view;

[0025] Fig. 2 shows the dispensing unit shown in Fig. 1 after the portioning module of the granulate portioner of the portioning system has been released in a perspective view;

[0026] Fig. 3 shows the portioning module shown in Fig. 2 including the air separator in a perspective view;

[0027] Fig. 4 shows the housing base of the granulate dispenser shown in Fig. 2 in a perspective view from behind;

[0028] Fig. 5 shows a belt depositing module of a change system according to the invention, including an air separator, in a perspective view; Fig. 6 shows the dispensing unit shown in Fig. 1 after replacing the portioning module with the belt depositing module shown in Fig. 5, in a side view.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a spreading unit 100 for spreading granules on agricultural land. The granules can be fertilizer, for example.

[0030] The spreading unit 100 comprises a support element 102 on which a disc coulter 104 is arranged. The disc coulter 104 serves to create a placement furrow into which the granulate can then be deposited.

[0031] The dispensing unit 100 further comprises a portioning system 50, wherein the portioning system 50 comprises an air separator 52 and a granule portioner 10. The air separator 52 is designed as a cyclone. An air-granule flow passing through the air separator 52 is fed to the granule portioner 10. Within the air separator 52, a portion of air is separated from the air-granule flow. The portion of air separated by the air separator 52 can be adjusted via an adjustment on the air separator 52.

[0032] The granulate portioner 10 serves to produce granulate portions, which can then be conveyed via the placement line 106 of the spreading unit 100 in the direction of the placement furrow created by the disc coulter 104.

[0033] A housing base body 14 of the housing 12 of the granulate portioner 10 is attached to a support member 108 of the dispensing unit 100. A portioning rotor 30 is arranged in the housing 12 of the granulate portioner 10. The portioning rotor 30 combines the granules introduced into the housing 12 of the granulate portioner 10 into granulate portions through a rotational movement. The housing 12 further comprises a housing cover 16, which is attached to the housing base body 14.

[0034] The granulate portioner 10 also includes an electric drive device 18 for rotating the portioning rotor 30 arranged in the housing 12. The electric drive device 18 is an electric motor. The electric drive device 18 is attached to the housing cover 16. The housing cover 16, the electric drive device 18, and the portioning rotor 30 are components of a removable portioning module 20. The portioning module 20 is mounted on the housing base body 14 in a non-destructive and reversibly detachable manner.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows the dispensing unit 100 with the portioning module 20 removed. The air separator 52 is attached to the portioning module 20 and can be removed from the housing base 14 together with the portioning module 20. The housing cover 16, the electric drive device 18, the portioning rotor 30, and the air separator 52 can thus be removed together from the housing base 14 and placed onto the housing base 14.

[0036] The electric drive device 18 has a drive housing 28, which is attached to the housing cover 16. The electrical components of the electric drive device 18 are located in the drive housing 28. The drive housing 28 is connected to the housing cover 16 in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner via screw connections. In other embodiments, the drive housing 28 can also be connected to the housing cover 16 in a material-fitting manner or be an integral part of the housing cover 16.

[0037] The portioning module 20 has an inlet opening for granules to be portioned by the granule portioner 10. The inlet opening is arranged on an inlet nozzle 22, wherein the inlet nozzle 22 is a component of the housing cover 16. The portioning module 20 further comprises a wall section 26b of an outlet channel for granule portions to be discharged from the granule portioner 10. The housing base body 14 also comprises a wall section 26a of the outlet channel, so that the outlet channel is formed by the wall sections 26a, 26b of the portioning module 20 and the housing base body 14.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows that the portioning rotor 30, as a component of the portioning module 20, can be removed from the housing base body 14 together with the housing cover 16. When the portioning module 20 is removed, the portioning rotor 30 is secured against falling out of the portioning module 20, thus simplifying handling of the portioning module 20.

[0039] The portioning rotor 30 has two rotor blades 32a, 32b arranged on opposite sides, wherein the rotor blades 32a, 32b combine the granules located in the housing 12 of the granule portioner 10 into granule portions during a rotational movement of the portioning rotor 30.

[0040] The portioning module 20 comprises mounting hooks 34a, 34b, which can be inserted into hook receptacles 36a, 36b on the housing base body 14. When the mounting hooks 34a, 34b are inserted, the mounting hooks 34a, 34b together with the hook receptacles 36a, 36b form a hinge, via which the portioning module 20 can be pivoted toward and away from the housing base body 14.

[0041] Fig. 4 shows that the housing base body 14 of the granulate portioner 10 is screwed to the support member 108 of the dispensing unit 100. The support member 108 has a circular recess into which a circular projection of the housing base body 14 can be inserted for positioning the housing base body 14.

[0042] Fig. 5 shows a belt depositor module 70 of a replacement system having a replacement housing cover 72. In addition to the belt depositor module 70, the replacement system also includes a granulate dispenser 10 with a removable portioning module 20. The granulate dispenser 10 can be configured, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

[0043] The belt depositing module 70 is designed to be non-destructively and reversibly detachably mounted on the housing base 14 in place of the portioning module 20 for converting the granulate portioner 10 from a portioning configuration to a belt depositing configuration. In the mounted state, it directs an air-granulate flow without portion formation through the housing 12 of the granulate portioner 10, which includes the replacement housing cover 72. The portioning configuration is illustrated, for example, in Fig. 1. The belt depositing module 70 comprises mounting hooks 76a, 76b, which can be inserted into the hook receptacles 36a, 36b of the housing base 14.

[0044] Fig. 6 shows the granulate dispenser 10 in the belt depositing configuration. The belt depositing module 70 has an inlet nozzle 80. The inlet nozzle 80 carries an inlet opening for the air-granulate flow to be passed through the granulate dispenser 10. The replacement housing cover 72 of the belt depositing module 70 further comprises a wall section 74b of the outlet channel for an air-granulate flow to be discharged from the granulate dispenser 10. In the belt depositing configuration of the granulate dispenser 10, the outlet channel is formed by the wall section 26a of the

[0045] Housing base body 14 and the wall section 74b of the

[0046] Tape storage module 70 is formed.

[0047] The belt storage module 70 includes a connector receptacle 78 for receiving a connecting plug. In the portioning configuration (see Fig. 1), the connecting plug serves to electrically contact the electric drive device 18 in the portioning module 20. In the belt storage configuration, the connecting plug is not used, so it is protected from damage and contamination by inserting it into the connector receptacle 78 on the replacement housing cover 72.

[0048] The housing cover 16 of the portioning module 20 and the replacement housing cover 72 of the belt storage module 70 each comprise three pins 38a-38c, 82a-82c, which serve to position the portioning module 20 and the belt storage module 70, respectively, on the housing base body 14. The housing base body has pin receptacles 40a-40c, into which the pins 38a-38c, 82a-82c on the portioning module 20 and the belt storage module 70, respectively, can be inserted for repeatable positioning of the portioning module 20 and the belt storage module 70, respectively. Reference numerals

[0049] 10 granulate dispensers

[0050] 12 housings

[0051] 14 Housing base body

[0052] 16 Housing cover

[0053] 18 Drive device

[0054] 20 Portioning module

[0055] 22 inlet nozzles

[0056] 26a, 26b wall sections

[0057] 28 drive housing

[0058] 30 Portioning rotor

[0059] 32a, 32b rotor blades

[0060] 34a, 34b Mounting hooks

[0061] 36a, 36b hook receptacles

[0062] 38a-38c pins

[0063] 40a-40c pin holders

[0064] 50 portioning system

[0065] 52 air separators

[0066] 70 Belt storage module

[0067] 72 replacement housing covers

[0068] 74b Wall section

[0069] 76a, 76b Mounting hooks

[0070] 78 plug receptacle

[0071] 80 inlet nozzles

[0072] 82a-82c pins

[0073] 100 spreading unit

[0074] 102 support element

[0075] 104 disc coulter

[0076] 106 filing line

[0077] 108 support link

Claims

Claims Granule portioner (10) for an agricultural spreading machine, comprising a portioning rotor (30) which is designed to combine granulate grains into granulate portions during a rotational movement; a housing (12) in which the portioning rotor (30) is arranged, wherein the housing (12) comprises a housing base body (14) and a housing cover (16); and an electric drive device (18) for rotationally driving the portioning rotor (30); characterized in that the electric drive device (18) is fastened to the housing cover (16), and the housing cover (16) and the electric drive device (18) are components of a removable portioning module (20) which is mounted on the housing base body (14) in a non-destructive and reversibly detachable manner. Granule portioner (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portioning rotor (30) is a component of the removable portioning module (20).Granule portioner (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the portioning rotor (30) is secured against falling out of the portioning module (20) when the portioning module (20) is removed. Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electric drive device (18) has a drive housing (28) which is fastened to the housing cover (16). Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims. characterized in that the portioning module (20) has a Inlet opening for granules to be portioned by means of the granule portioner (10).

6. Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portioning module (20) comprises at least one wall section (26b) of an outlet channel for granule portions to be discharged from the granule portioner (10).

7. Granule portioner (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by one or more positioning members, by means of which the portioning module (20) for mounting on the housing base body (14) can be positioned with repeatable accuracy in a mounting position on the housing base body (14).

8. Portioning system (50) comprising an air separator (52) into which an air-granulate flow can be introduced and which is configured to separate air from an introduced air-granulate flow; and a granulate portioner (10) connected to the air separator (52) and configured to produce granulate portions from an air-granulate flow that has passed through the air separator (52); characterized in that the granulate portioner (10) is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Portioning system (50) according to claim 8, characterized in that the air separator (52) is connected to the portioning module (20) of the granulate portioner (10).

10. Exchange system for an agricultural spreading machine, with a granulate portioner (10) having a removable portioning module (20); and a belt depositing module (70) comprising a replacement housing cover (72); characterized in that the granulate portioner (10) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 7, and the belt depositing module (70) is configured to be mounted non-destructively and reversibly detachably on the housing base body (14) instead of the portioning module (20) for converting the granulate portioner (10) from a portioning configuration to a belt depositing configuration, and in the mounted state to direct an air-granulate flow without portion formation through the housing (12) of the granulate portioner (10), which comprises the replacement housing cover (72). The exchange system according to claim 10, characterized in that the belt depositing module (70) has an inlet opening for the air-granulate flow to be directed through the granulate portioner (10).The change system according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the belt depositing module (70) comprises a plug receptacle (78) for receiving a connecting plug. The change system according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the belt depositing module (70) comprises at least one wall section (74b) of an outlet channel for an air-granulate flow to be discharged from the granulate portioner (10). A method for operating a change system, in particular a change system according to one of claims 10 to 13, comprising the step: Producing granulate portions by means of a granulate portioner (10) of the exchange system, wherein the granulate portioner (10) has a portioning configuration during the production of granulate portions in which a portioning module (20) is mounted on a housing base body (14) of the granulate portioner (10); characterized by the steps: Converting the granulate portioner (10) from the portioning configuration to a belt depositing configuration by replacing the portioning module (20) with a belt depositing module (70), so that in the belt depositing configuration the belt depositing module (70) is mounted on the housing base body (14); Passing an air-granulate flow through the granulate portioner (10) without portion formation, wherein the granulate portioner (10) has the belt depositing configuration during the passage of the air-granulate flow, in which the belt depositing module (70) is mounted on the housing base body (14) of the granulate portioner (10).

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