Harvesting machine for root crops, and receiving unit for a harvesting machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a harvesting machine for root crops, comprising a machine frame, a sieve path which is designed in particular in the form of a sieve channel, and a changing receiving area for an interchangeable receiving unit, wherein the changing receiving area has a changing frame which is designed to secure the receiving unit and a holding device which is connected to the changing frame in an articulated manner and which extends from the changing frame along the sieve path and supports the changing frame at at least one rear machine frame part when viewed from the front-side starting section of the sieve path.

Description

[0001] Harvester for root crops and receiving unit for a harvester

[0002] The invention relates to a harvesting machine for root crops, in particular in the form of a towed or self-propelled harvesting machine, comprising a machine frame, a screening section designed in particular in the form of a screening channel, and an interchangeable receptacle for an interchangeable receiving unit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a receiving unit for a harvesting machine comprising a receiving frame on which root crop-specific tools for picking up root crops are arranged, and at least one coupling element for fastening the receiving unit to an interchangeable frame of a harvesting machine.

[0003] Harvesters for root crops, for example, are used to harvest different types of potatoes and vegetables. This requires the pickup unit, which is arranged at the front of the harvester, to be adapted to the respective crop. Harvesters are known on the market whose pickup units are mounted on the side facing the front of the harvester and thus forwards. The pickup units are therefore pulled from the front. Viewed from front to back, the pickup unit is followed by the screening section with the screening channel, which is delimited in particular by lateral frames, for example in the form of screen plates, and laterally and downwards, for example by a screening belt or a roller section. The arrangement of the pickup unit between or at the beginning of the screening channel and the front bearing limits the installation space for the pickup unit.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a harvesting machine which has more installation space for different variants of pickup units.

[0005] The object is achieved by an object according to claim 1 and by an object according to claim 16. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims and the following description.

[0006] A harvesting machine according to the invention is characterized in that the interchangeable holder has an interchangeable frame designed to secure the receiving unit and a holding device articulated to the interchangeable frame, which extends from the interchangeable frame along the screening section and mounts the interchangeable frame on at least one rear part of the machine frame, viewed from a front start of the screening section. The receiving unit is thus articulated from the rear via the holding device running from the rear along the screening section, in particular to the side of the screening channel. This means that the receiving unit is not limited in the direction of the front of the machine and receiving units positioned at different distances forward can be mounted on the same interchangeable frame, particularly depending on the root crop and / or depending on the harvesting conditions.Furthermore, the assembly and disassembly of the receiving unit is simplified because it is no longer located between the supporting bearing part of the machine frame, to which it is attached, and the screening section. In particular, the harvester can be driven up to the receiving unit when it is lying on the ground. This further simplifies assembly.

[0007] The front-mounted pickup unit is typically equipped with shares, coulter discs, and other tools that lift and guide the soil and crop. The retaining device, which runs along the screening section and thus at least substantially horizontally from the pickup unit to the rear, introduces tensile and / or compressive forces generated during operation of the pickup unit into the machine frame in a more straight line, resulting in better force absorption and fewer disruptive influences. In a side view, "at least substantially horizontal" includes axes between the bearing points on the interchangeable frame and the machine frame of individual links or parts of the retaining device, which, in particular, are angled no more than ± 30° to the horizontal ground.The holding device extends along the screening section in such a way that it absorbs the forces generated in the receiving unit during operation of the harvesting machine within an angle of ± 30° to the horizontal (corresponding, for example, to a horizontal ground). Due to the holding device running along the screening section, the machine frame-side bearing of the holding device is arranged further towards the end of the harvesting machine than the at least one removable frame-side bearing of the holding device. The longitudinal extent of the holding device does not necessarily run parallel to the screening channel. In particular in the angular ranges described above, but also in other embodiments of the invention, travel paths of the removable frame of 300 mm - 900 mm in height can result for harvesting machines having an additional height guide device for the removable frame.

[0008] The machine frame is the frame that supports the harvesting machine. In the case of towed harvesting machines, for example, it extends from the connection to a tractor to the rear as far as the chassis and transfers the weight of individual functional groups to the chassis or the connection to the tractor.

[0009] To enable the screening channel to pivot simultaneously, according to a further development of the invention, the screening channel is mounted on the front of the interchangeable frame. For this purpose, parts of the screening channel, such as a screening frame, rollers, or other parts forming the screening channel or screening section, can be attached to the interchangeable frame. Raising the interchangeable frame thus simultaneously raises the screening channel, allowing the crop to be transferred from the receiving unit to the screening channel to be properly directed.

[0010] Preferably, the holding device forms a double-arm guide in a side view of the harvesting machine, such that the removable frame is preferably height-adjustable without pivoting. In particular, the double-arm guide implements a parallelogram guide for the removable frame. Due to the longitudinal extension of the holding device along the screening channel, any forces emanating from the receiving unit are nevertheless introduced into the machine frame relatively horizontally. A double-arm guide is a design of the holding device in which at least two links or arms of the double-arm guide are arranged at least partially one above the other in a side view.

[0011] The holding device of the interchangeable holder advantageously has at least three links that run at least substantially horizontally to a base and along the screening section, which are pivotally mounted at one end on the machine frame and at the other end on the interchangeable frame and are connected to one another via the latter. The links, for example in the form of elongated tubes, rods or struts, offer the possibility of transferring the forces acting in the holder unit and on the interchangeable frame further back along the screening section into the machine frame in a structurally simple yet sufficiently stable manner. To connect the links, the interchangeable frame is equipped in particular with a cross member and side parts that are connected to the cross member in one or more parts and are each pivotally connected to the holding device.

[0012] Preferably, again in a side view, at least two of the control arm bearings are arranged at a height offset from one another on the interchangeable frame, resulting in the described double-arm guide. This height offset ensures good absorption of the moments generated during operation in the support unit and the interchangeable frame, with the height difference between the differently heighted control arm bearings being in particular at least 30 cm.

[0013] In side view, the interchangeable frame is preferably designed in such a way that, in addition to an upper, transversely running support, it extends in the side areas both in the direction of travel and vertically, so that a space usable for the receiving unit is provided by the interchangeable frame with overlaps and the possibility is realized of coupling the receiving unit either laterally and / or from above.

[0014] Advantageously, the links with respect to the interchangeable frame comprise at least one upper link and at least one, preferably in particular two lower links. Likewise, instead of just one upper link, two upper links can be used, so that the interchangeable frame is supported by two links both at the top and bottom. The two lower links extend rearward along the left and right of the screening channel, respectively, while the upper link is preferably also located on one side of the interchangeable frame so that the design of the screening channel is impeded as little as possible. The upper link also extends along the screening channel. Due to the forces introduced into the frame due to the orientation of the holding device, there are no high demands on the flexural rigidity of the holding device.

[0015] In particular, the lower links are designed as thrust struts such that a support bearing for the support unit is at least approximately level with the lower link bearing on the interchangeable frame. "At least approximately level" means that, viewed from the side, the height difference between the respective support points relative to the ground does not exceed 10 cm. In particular, the support unit is supported on the interchangeable frame at the same height as the lower link bearing on the interchangeable frame. In this respect, at least a large portion of the thrust forces generated during operation are transferred to the left and right of the screening channel into the machine frame.

[0016] The top link, which contributes to the height control of the removable frame in the double-arm guide, is designed specifically as a tension strut and is therefore subjected to tensile loads during operation. Any torques generated in the receiving unit and the removable frame during operation are absorbed, and the resulting forces are also diverted to the machine frame, with only minimal impact on the height control of the receiving unit.

[0017] The pickup unit advantageously has a height guide device for height control, arranged in particular in a front end of the interchangeable frame. The height guide device is mounted at one end on the interchangeable frame and the other end on the machine frame. In particular, an axis running through the bearing points of the height guide device (in a side view) is advantageously at least approximately perpendicular to an axis running through the bearing points of an upper or lower link of the holding device. This provides optimal decoupling of the pushing and pulling forces generated during operation of the pickup unit due to the forward movement of the harvester and due to the weight and the force exerted by the ground. This improves the height control of the pickup unit.

[0018] For example, the height guide device comprises cylinder rods holding each side part of the interchangeable frame, which are part of double-acting cylinders used for height adjustment.

[0019] Preferably, the upper link is designed as a tension strut to support a torque occurring in the receiving unit and the interchangeable frame during (harvesting) operation of the harvesting machine around an axis running transversely to the direction of travel.

[0020] In particular, a top link bearing on the swap-frame side is positioned forward in the direction of travel, in front of the lower link bearings on the swap-frame side. A height guide, located particularly at the front ends of the swap-frame, is positioned with its bearing point as close as possible to the top link bearing point, ensuring optimal distribution of the applied forces.

[0021] Advantageously, at least some of the parts of the holding device running along the screening channel are designed to be adjustable in length. In particular, one or more of the guide rods are adjustable in length, so that the interchangeable frame can be tilted or pivoted about an axis running transversely to the direction of travel either before or during operation, thus increasing the adjustment options of the receiving unit.

[0022] For example, the length of the top link can be adjusted using a threaded rod. The same applies to the lower links.

[0023] Preferably, a locking device, in particular a self-locking one, is arranged on the interchangeable frame for securing a coupling element of the receiving unit. In particular, this lock holds the coupling element tightly against a bearing of the holding device on the interchangeable frame side. Self-locking is achieved, for example, by a catch hook that is locked in the dead-center or over-dead-center position by one or more levers. Automatic actuation of this locking device makes the receiving unit easier to install.

[0024] Advantageously, a harvesting machine according to the invention according to the embodiments described above or below also comprises a receiving unit for receiving root crops, in particular potatoes, onions or other vegetables.

[0025] Preferably, a receiving frame of the receiving unit and / or the removable frame is provided with a guide surface that enables or defines the relative positioning of the receiving unit to the removable frame. The necessary movement of the removable frame along a guide surface of the receiving unit, or vice versa, defines a coupling movement along which the interlocking of the removable frame and any associated parts of the screening channel occurs smoothly. The receiving unit is optimally guided to the front of the screening channel.

[0026] The object posed at the outset is also achieved by a receiving unit for a harvesting machine as described above or below, wherein the receiving unit comprises a receiving frame on which root crop-specific tools for picking up root crops are arranged, and which comprises at least one coupling element for fastening the receiving unit in a removable frame of a harvesting machine. Such a receiving unit is characterized in that the removable frame has a guide surface with a preferably upper edge in a side view, which slopes down to a storage area of ​​the removable frame delimited by a hook.

[0027] In particular, the storage area of ​​the interchangeable frame is formed by hook-shaped sections on the side parts of the receiving frame, whereby in order to attach the receiving unit to the interchangeable frame, its cross members or any transverse bolts must be pushed along the guide surface into the storage area. A section of the guide surface that is higher in side view means that the storage frame has to be raised to bring it closer to a receiving unit lying on the floor, whereas a sloping section requires it to be lowered to bring the interchangeable frame into the storage area. Overall, the interchangeable frame has to be brought closer to the receiving unit by a combined vertical and forward movement. Such a movement leads to the attachments connected to the interchangeable frame being lifted, which then move into the correct position relative to the receiving unit.

[0028] A receiving bearing for the receiving unit, which is present in the area of ​​the lower links and is preferably designed at the same height as the removable frame-side bearings of the lower links on the removable frame, is located in particular in the effective range of a locking device which, for example, grips coupling elements, for example in the form of bolts, mounted on side struts of the receiving frame with a catch hook and holds them close to the lower link bearing.

[0029] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures. Schematically shown:

[0030] Fig. 1 is a side view of an article according to the invention,

[0031] Fig. 2 shows the object according to Fig. 1 in a partial view,

[0032] Fig. 3 shows the object according to Fig. 2 in a further simplified partial view,

[0033] Fig. 4 shows the object according to Fig. 2 in a further partial view, Fig. 5 shows the object according to the invention in a further partial view,

[0034] Fig. 6 shows the object according to Fig. 5 in a further view,

[0035] Fig. 7 shows another object according to the invention.

[0036] Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also be combined with previously described exemplary embodiments as well as the features of one of the independent claims and any further claims to form subject matter according to the invention. Where appropriate, elements that are at least partially functionally equivalent are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0037] A harvesting machine 2 according to the invention for root crops, in the present case in the form of potatoes, is designed as a trailed potato digging machine. The harvesting machine 2 has a machine frame 4, which has functional elements of the harvesting machine, such as upper separators 6, a bunker 8, and a screening channel 12 formed behind and concomitantly with a side plate 10. The screening channel 12 is delimited by two side plates 10, begins in the region of a receiving unit 14, and runs slightly upwards from the front 16 of the harvesting machine 2 toward the rear end 18 of the harvesting machine 2 (Fig. 1). The receiving unit 14 is secured via an interchangeable support. The interchangeable support comprises an interchangeable frame 20, which is mounted on the machine frame side in bearings 23 and 25 via a holding device comprising an upper link 22 and two lower links 24 and extending rearward along the screening channel 12 from the receiving unit.At the same time, the interchangeable frame is connected to the holding device in an articulated manner.

[0038] The upper link 22 and the lower links 24 form a parallelogram guide in the side view according to Fig. 2, i.e. the link lengths of the upper and lower links are identical in this case, whereby the vertical distances between the bearings 23 and 25 on the machine frame side and the bearings 21 and 27 on the interchangeable frame side, projected onto a perpendicular to the ground, are also the same (cf. Figs. 2 and 3). Axes 32 through the bearings of the respective links run parallel. Nevertheless, within the scope of the invention and any further exemplary embodiments, it can be provided to design the upper and / or lower links with variable length, whereupon the parallelogram guide is reduced to a double-arm guide, which is accompanied by a pivoting of the interchangeable frame 20 and a concomitant pivoting of the receiving unit 14.

[0039] A height guide device 26 comprises a piston rod 28, which is guided in a double-acting cylinder 30 and is also fixed to the machine frame. The axis 32 running through the respective bearings 21 and 23 of the upper link 22 and the axis 34 running through the bearings 31 and 33 of the height guide device 26 are (in a side view) at least approximately perpendicular to one another, i.e. at an angle of 85° to 105°, preferably at an angle of 80° to 100°, which leads to an effective separation of the force flows due to the pickup unit 14 moving through the ground. For this purpose, the holding device is designed as a double-arm guide, with the lower links 24 also having correspondingly extending axes 32.

[0040] In general, the holding device extends from the front towards the rear (relative to a projection onto the ground) over at least 30%, preferably over at least 50% of the screening section, i.e. the length of the screening channel 12 or the screening belt on which it is based, so that even when the height of the receiving unit is adjusted due to the height guide device 26, the holding device formed by the upper links and lower links 22 and 24 continues to transmit the tensile or shear forces present in the receiving unit 14 almost horizontally when the receiving unit 14 is moved through the ground into the machine frame.

[0041] During harvesting operation of a harvesting machine 2 according to the invention provided with a receiving unit 14, a receiving frame 36 is connected to the interchangeable frame 20 via hooks 40 held on a cross member 38 and via coupling elements 44 located in receiving bearings 42 and designed as bolts. In addition to the cross member 38, the interchangeable frame 20 has side parts 48 (cf. Figs. 3 and 4) that connect the upper link 22 and the lower links 24 to one another. The sieve channel 12 runs between the side plates 10, which are mounted on the interchangeable frame 20. In order to enable a height adjustment of generally up to 60% by the height guide device 26 without excessive pressure being exerted on the side plates 10, the latter are floatingly mounted at their end 47 located towards the rear end of the harvesting machine 2. Both the lower links 24 and the upper link 22 run laterally of the screening channel 12, which is limited at the bottom by indicated screening bars 46.The side plates represent a part of the sieve frame, which carries, for example, rollers on which the sieve belts having the sieve bars 46 and not shown in detail here are carried.

[0042] In addition to the cross brace 38, the interchangeable frame 20 comprises side parts 48, at the front end of which the piston rods 28 are mounted. A catch hook 50 is part of a locking device, by means of which the coupling element 44 is held close to the bearing 27 of the lower link 24 in order to enable optimal introduction of the horizontal forces into the machine frame 4 via the lower links 24. The lower links 24 are also designed to absorb transverse forces acting transversely to the direction of travel F, which are transferred from the pickup unit 14 to the interchangeable frame 20, particularly during harvesting.

[0043] The side parts 48 of the interchangeable frame run essentially from bottom to top in a lower area and bend almost horizontally in an upper area in a forward direction towards the cross strut 38 and the bearings of the height guide device 26 and thus overlap a construction space for the receiving unit 14 in a side view (Figs. 2 and 5). The interchangeable frame 20 can thus be brought towards the receiving unit 14 from the rear in the direction of travel F to the front in such a way that the cross strut 38 is guided along a guide surface 54 according to Fig. 6, which is formed by the surface of the side parts 48 and corresponds to an upper edge of the side parts in a side view, in such a way that functional parts are correctly positioned partly within the construction space of the receiving unit 14 in accordance with the movement path 56.Accordingly, the side part 48 is formed in a region that is no longer required statically with a raised edge that slopes down to the bearing region 58 delimited by the hook 40.

[0044] Fig. 7 shows a receiving unit 14 according to the invention, which is designed for attachment to a removable frame 20 of a previously described harvesting machine 2. For this purpose, the receiving frame 36 has a receiving cross member 60 on which receiving side parts 62 are arranged. These support the coupling elements 44 used for attachment to the removable frame and form the hooks 40. Different tools 64, for example in the form of shares, coulter discs, or dam drums, can be attached to the receiving frame 36 depending on the root crop.

Claims

Protection claims 1. Harvesting machine for root crops, in particular in the form of a towed or self-propelled lifting machine, with a machine frame (4), with a screening section designed in particular in the form of a screening channel (12) and with an interchangeable holder for an interchangeable receiving unit (14), characterized in that the interchangeable holder has an interchangeable frame (20) designed to fix the receiving unit (14) and a holding device which is articulated to the latter and which extends from the interchangeable frame (20) along the screening section and mounts the interchangeable frame (20) on at least one rear part of the machine frame (4), viewed from a front-side start of the screening section.

2. Harvesting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the screening channel (12) is mounted on the front of the interchangeable frame (20).

3. Harvesting machine according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the holding device in a side view of the harvesting machine (2) is a double-arm guide, in particular a parallelogram guide, of the interchangeable frame (20) in such a way that the interchangeable frame (20) is preferably height-adjustable without pivoting.

4. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device of the interchangeable holder has at least three links which run at least substantially horizontally to a ground and along the screening section and which are mounted at one end in an articulated manner on the machine frame (4) and at the other end in an articulated manner on the interchangeable frame (20) and are connected to one another via the latter.

5. Harvesting machine according to claim 4, characterized in that in a side view at least two bearings of the control arms are arranged offset in height from one another on the interchangeable frame (20).

6. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the links form at least one upper link (22) and at least one and in particular two lower links (24) with respect to the interchangeable frame.

7. Harvesting machine according to claim 6 with two lower links, characterized in that the lower links (24) are designed as push rods such that in a side view a receiving bearing (42) for the receiving unit (14) is formed at least approximately at the same height as the interchangeable frame-side bearing of the lower links.

8. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the upper link (22) is arranged on one side of the interchangeable frame (20).

9. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the upper link (22) is designed as a tension strut for supporting a torque present in the receiving unit (14) and the interchangeable frame (20) during operation of the harvesting machine about an axis running transversely to the direction of travel.

10. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 9, characterized in that a removable frame-side bearing of the upper link (22) is arranged offset forward in the direction of travel in front of the removable frame-side bearings of the lower links.

11. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a height guide device (26) is arranged in particular at a front end of the interchangeable frame (20).

12. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the parts of the holding device running along the sieve channel (12) are designed to be variable in length.

13. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking device, in particular a self-locking one, is arranged on the interchangeable frame (20) for securing a coupling element (44) of the receiving unit (14).

14. Harvesting machine according to one of the preceding claims with a receiving unit (14) for receiving root crops, in particular potatoes, 15. Harvesting machine according to claim 14, characterized in that a receiving frame (36) of the receiving unit (14) and / or the interchangeable frame (20) have a guide surface (54) for relative positioning to one another.

16. Pick-up unit for a harvesting machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims, with a pick-up frame (36) on which root crop-specific tools (64) for picking up root crops are arranged, and with at least one coupling element (44) for fastening the pick-up unit (14) in a removable frame (20) of the harvesting machine (2), characterized in that the removable frame (20) has a guide surface (54) with an edge which is preferably upper in a side view and which slopes down to a bearing area (58) of the removable frame (20) which is delimited by a hook (40).

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