Pick-up attachment for a harvesting machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a pick-up attachment (10) for a harvesting machine, preferably for a forage harvester, particularly preferably for a self-propelled forage harvester.

Description

[0001] Pick-up attachment for a harvester

[0002] The invention relates to a pick-up attachment for a harvesting machine, in particular having a pre-compressing housing, preferably for a forage harvester, in particular having a pre-compressing housing, particularly preferably for a self-propelled forage harvester, in particular having a pre-compressing housing, wherein the pick-up attachment has a machine frame.

[0003] Forage harvesters are harvesting machines used for harvesting and gathering crops, cutting crops into short, parallel lengths, and conveying the chopped material into containers or separate vehicles. Typical crops include grasses, stalk-like crops such as alfalfa or field grass, pulses, mixtures, and / or row-cropped crops such as corn or millet. The chopped material can either be fed directly to livestock as fodder or stored for silage or drying to be later fed to livestock as fodder. The forage harvester can harvest the crop directly by cutting across its entire width or from single or multiple rows, or by gathering it from the swath. Forage harvesters can be tractor-mounted, tractor-trailed, or self-propelled.

[0004] A harvesting header is a usually removable device for picking up the crop into the harvesting machine, especially a forage harvester. A pick-up header is specifically a device for picking up previously cut crops. The crop can be laid in rows or swaths.

[0005] Self-propelled forage harvesters have now reached engine power levels of over 1,000 hp. Along with engine power, the throughput of forage harvesters has also increased. In addition to the high engine power and throughput required for maize silage, harvesting capacity is also an important factor for high forage quality in grass silage. After mowing, meadows and fields must be cleared within a short time frame in order to ensilage the green fodder with an optimal dry matter content, for example.

[0006] In order to be able to exploit the high throughput of a harvesting machine, especially a forage harvester, it is necessary, among other things, to significantly increase the forward speed of the harvesting machine.

[0007] Increasing the working speed or forward speed of the harvesting machine, especially the forage harvester, as a quasi investment-neutral increase in efficiency or harvesting capacity, is accompanied by negative side effects, which are described in more detail below.

[0008] Drivers of forage harvesters and material handling vehicles require a significantly higher level of concentration at higher forward speeds, so that exhaustion is reached much sooner. As a result, changes in the soil contour, caused, for example, by scours (narrow ditches used for drainage between individual fields), wet patches, or other obstacles, are only detected late, making it difficult to manually adjust the forward speed and the height of the pick-up attachment in a timely manner.

[0009] Known pick-up attachments comprise a particularly rigid, roller-like pickup rotor with pickup tools, for example a particularly rigid tine drum, for picking up crop from the ground. The particularly rigid pickup rotor is firmly, i.e., virtually rigidly, connected to or attached to the machine frame of the pick-up attachment. The machine frame, in turn, can be rigidly connected to the pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester. Such pickup rotors cannot adapt to the contours of the ground separately, i.e., separately from the machine frame of the pick-up attachment. Pick-up attachments are also known which, as such, are rigidly connected to or attached to the machine frame of the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester.Pick-up attachments rigidly attached to the harvester, or those with a rigidly attached rotor, typically exhibit poor ground tracking in hilly terrain. State-of-the-art ground pressure controls for height control react too slowly at high forward speeds. The consequences of poor ground tracking of the pick-up attachment are harvest losses, massive forage contamination, and increased machine wear.

[0010] Also known are pick-up attachments or, in particular, rigid pickup rotors which, together with the intake auger base (also known as the auger floor), are suspended as a swinging unit on the machine frame of the pick-up attachment or as a swinging unit on the intake auger. These ensure significantly better adaptation to the soil contour at high forward speeds of the pick-up attachment, thus ensuring almost exact maintenance of the raking height. A pick-up attachment in which the pickup rotor and auger floor are connected as a single unit via two arms (a left and a right arm as seen in the direction of travel), swinging up and down relative to the machine frame of the pick-up attachment, is known from CLAAS KGaA mbH. The pickup rotor, or the unit comprising the pickup rotor and auger floor, can adapt to rapidly changing soil contours.This type of connection has a rotation axis or pivot point that is positioned relatively low to the ground, which can form arable soil, in order to generate the flattest possible thrust vector.

[0011] The invention is based on the realization that the main disadvantage of this suspension is the resulting relative movement between the pickup rotor and the intake auger, which disrupts the crop flow and can even cause machine damage. This is due to the fact that the auger flights of the pickup auger must have a nearly constant distance from the auger base and that the pivot point of the pickup auger must be positioned higher up, i.e. at a distance from the pivot point of the unit consisting of the pickup rotor and auger base. If the unit or system swings or moves upwards, the intake auger approaches the pickup rotor, predominantly horizontally. As a result, the distance between the pickup tools, in particular the pickup tines, and the auger flight becomes very small, so that the transverse conveyance of the crop flow through the pickup tools, in particular the pickup tines, is impeded. This can even lead to increased tine breakage.If the unit swings or moves downwards, the intake auger moves away from the intake rotor, predominantly horizontally.

[0012] This causes the distance between the intake tools, especially the intake tines, and the auger flight to become very large, hindering the transfer of the crop from the intake rotor to the intake auger. This can cause the crop flow to stall, which in turn leads to uneven feeding of the harvester, especially the forage harvester, reducing chopping performance and quality.

[0013] It is known that harvesting machines, for example forage harvesters, usually have a ground pressure control and a pendulum shield for height control or ground adaptation of the pick-up attachment. The pendulum shield is usually a frame-shaped element that is pivotally attached to the harvesting machine with one side, for example at the front end of the forage harvester as seen in the direction of travel, about a pendulum axis, and that is attached to the pick-up attachment with the other side or is supported on the machine frame of the pick-up attachment. The pendulum shield thus enables a pivoting movement of the pick-up attachment relative to the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, about a horizontal pendulum axis that extends in the direction of travel. The direction of the pendulum movement of the pick-up attachment relative to the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, is therefore transverse to the direction of travel.The pivoting of the pick-up attachment and the pendulum blade around the pendulum axis can be achieved by gravity, or power-operated actuators can be provided that automatically vary or control the pivot angle around the pendulum axis based on signals from sensors distributed across the width of the pick-up attachment to detect the height above the ground and / or the ground pressure. The disadvantage of ground pressure control, however, is that it reacts slowly, meaning it can no longer work effectively and reactively at higher forward speeds. The result is poor ground adaptation of the pick-up attachment, which - as explained in more detail below - in turn leads to harvest losses, massive forage contamination, and increased machine wear.

[0014] If the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, drives through a depression at increased speed, the ground pressure control cannot lower the pick-up attachment in time, so that it is guided too high for a certain time and distance. In this case the picking tools, in particular the raking tines, of the picking rotor no longer reach the turf, which leads to crop losses because the crop material is not collected. The result is crop losses that are left behind in the field because the optimal raking height could not be maintained. Driving through a depression refers here to driving into the depression. Conversely, one could also say that when the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, drives through a depression at increased speed, the ground pressure control cannot raise the pick-up attachment and thus the picking rotor in time, so that it is guided too low for a certain time and distance.Driving through a depression in this case refers to the journey from the depression back to the flat. This causes the collecting tools, especially the raking tines, of the collecting rotor to aggressively comb through the soil or turf, resulting in massive contamination of the crop and thus in forage contamination, reducing forage quality, damaging the turf, and increasing wear on both the pick-up attachment and the harvesting machine, such as the forage harvester, as large amounts of dirt, especially sand and soil, are also picked up. Breakage of the collecting tools, especially the raking tines, and other damage are also possible.

[0015] If the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, drives over a hilltop at high speed, the ground pressure control system cannot raise the pick-up attachment in time, meaning that it is guided too low for a certain time and distance. As a result, the pickup tools, in particular the raking tines, of the pickup rotor aggressively comb through the soil or turf, which leads to massive contamination of the crop and thus to forage contamination and consequently to a reduction in forage quality, damage to the turf and increased wear on both the pick-up attachment and the harvesting machine, for example the forage harvester, as a large amount of dirt, particularly sand and soil, is picked up. Breakage of the pickup tools, in particular the raking tines, is also possible. Driving over a hilltop here refers to driving onto the hilltop.Conversely, one could also say that when the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester, drives over a hill at increased speed, the ground pressure control is not able to lower the pick-up attachment in time, so that it is moved too high for a certain time and distance. In this case, the picking tools, in particular the raking tines, of the picking rotor no longer reach the sward, which leads to crop losses because the crop material is not collected. The result is crop losses that are left behind in the field because the optimum raking height could not be maintained. In this case, driving over a hill refers to the journey from the hilltop back to the level. The raking height is the distance between the raking point and the ground or sward, with the raking point being at the point where the envelope curve of the picking tools, in particular the picking tines, ends.The raking tines of the intake rotor are positioned at the shortest distance from the ground or turf. The raking height or the distance of the intake tools from the ground should always be such that the crop can be completely picked up from the ground, i.e., without loss, and fed to the harvester, especially the forage harvester.

[0016] The invention is based on the object of improving a pick-up attachment for a harvesting machine having in particular a pre-compression housing, preferably for a forage harvester having in particular a pre-compression housing.

[0017] This object is achieved with a pick-up attachment having the features of claim 1. Further developments and advantageous embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0018] The pick-up attachment according to the invention for a harvesting machine having a pre-compression housing, preferably for a forage harvester having a pre-compression housing, particularly preferably for a self-propelled forage harvester having a pre-compression housing, wherein the pick-up attachment has a machine frame, is characterized in that the pick-up attachment has an adapter frame, to the side of which facing forwards, as seen in the direction of travel, the machine frame is articulatedly connected and to the side of which facing rearwards, the pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine or the harvesting machine can be fixedly coupled, wherein the machine frame can be rotated relative to the adapter frame about an axis of rotation or a cross-axis arranged in the lower region of the machine frame and the adapter frame, transverse to the direction of travel.can be swung or tilted downwards and upwards about at least one correspondingly arranged pivot point, wherein at least one rocker arm mechanism is provided, comprising a rotatably mounted rocker arm arranged in the upper region of the adapter frame on the adapter frame, with two rocker arm arms, wherein one rocker arm is connected directly or indirectly, preferably via a drawbar, to the machine frame in the upper region of the machine frame, wherein the other rocker arm is connected via a tension spring and / or the like in the lower region of the machine frame on the machine frame or in the lower region of the adapter frame on the adapter frame.

[0019] Instead of the tension spring, or in addition to the tension spring, other similarly acting energy storage devices, such as hydraulic cylinders, can also be used according to the invention. This explains the term "the like."

[0020] The invention is based on the idea that for optimal adherence or adaptation of the raking elements, especially the intake tools, to the soil contour, especially at higher forward speeds, the pick-up attachment, or at least the intake rotor, must be connected in a way that swings up and down relative to the forage harvester's pre-compression housing. This allows the intake rotor to adapt very directly and responsively to the soil contours, independent of the chopper-side ground pressure control.

[0021] A significant portion of the weight of the pick-up attachment is transferred to the ground, which may be arable soil, by guide elements, particularly feeler wheels or feeler skids.

[0022] The invention is based on the idea of ​​setting the pressure on the ground as low as possible and as high as necessary.

[0023] If the ground pressure is too high, the turf can be damaged, especially on wet and / or boggy ground. The guide elements can sink, making it impossible to reliably maintain the raking height. This can result in increased forage contamination, damage to the turf, and increased wear on the pick-up attachment and the harvesting machine, especially on the forage harvester, leading to broken pick-up tools or tines, or other machine damage. Furthermore, the evasive force that lifts the pick-up attachment via its guide wheels due to changes in the ground contour increases. This impairs the system's responsiveness.

[0024] If the ground pressure is too low, the pick-up attachment can enter a kind of "floating" state. This also reduces the system's responsiveness, so that the pick-up attachment cannot follow contour changes, especially dips, or can only do so very slowly. This can lead to crop losses, especially at high forward speeds.

[0025] The invention is further based on the idea that optimal adjustment of the ground pressure improves the smoothness of running, ground adaptation and reactivity of the pick-up attachment, which has a positive influence on soil protection, crop losses, chopping performance and chopping quality and ultimately the forage quality.

[0026] In order to be able to adjust the optimal ground pressure for the respective harvesting conditions, the machine frame is relieved by at least one tension spring, so that a defined ground pressure can be set. The tension spring is arranged between the adapter frame and the machine frame via a rocker arm mechanism.

[0027] The rocker arm mechanism provided according to the invention, or the rocker arm provided according to the invention, which is operatively connected to the tension spring, ensures that the machine frame is relieved of load in a defined manner. This reduces the pressure exerted on the ground by the guide elements of the pick-up attachment.

[0028] The inventive arrangement of the rocker arm mechanism or rocker arm changes the pivot point distance between the tension vector of the tension spring and the pivot point between the machine frame and the adapter frame, and / or the tension vector angle of the tension spring relative to the pivot point distance, such that, depending on the position or orientation of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame, the pivot point distance and / or tension vector angle increases or decreases, such that, despite the spring force changing with the positional state, the product of spring force, tension vector angle, and / or pivot point distance remains approximately constant. As a result, the ground pressure or the bearing force of the guide elements is always approximately constant, regardless of the position of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame.

[0029] A pick-up attachment according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it reactively adapts to the ground contours even at high driving speeds and simultaneously maintains the transfer geometries between the various process modules of the pick-up attachment, such as the pickup rotor, crop hold-down device, intake auger, and intake auger base, consistently optimal relative to one another, i.e., virtually stationary and in an optimal position relative to one another. According to the invention, optimal and reliable ground guidance of the pickup rotor and thus high raking accuracy are achieved, even at high feed speeds of the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester. Furthermore, optimal crop flow and uniform compression of the crop mat, thus ensuring high chopping performance and chopping quality, are ensured.

[0030] The rocker arm mechanism, as claimed, essentially consists of a drawbar, the rocker arm, and at least one tension spring. The lower end of the tension spring is preferably articulated to the machine frame. Its upper end is preferably articulated to the rocker arm or rocker arm via an adjusting screw, with which a preload of the tension spring can be adjusted according to a further development of the invention. The rocker arm is rotatably connected to the adapter frame on an axis oriented transversely to the direction of travel, which axis is arranged at a distance above the pivot point between the machine frame and the adapter frame. The tension spring acts on the rear rocker arm or the rear end of the rocker arm, i.e. the end pointing opposite to the direction of travel.The drawbar, also known as a push-pull rod, is attached to the front end of the rocker arm, i.e., the end facing in the direction of travel, with its rear end. The front end of the push-pull rod is connected to the machine frame with a hinge.

[0031] The rocker arm mechanism can advantageously be designed so that the product of spring force and pivot point distance describes a progressive, degressive or linear course.

[0032] When the machine frame is in the lower end position relative to the adapter frame, i.e. when the machine frame is tilted completely downwards around the axis of rotation, the resulting ground pressure or the support force of the guide elements becomes small and the machine frame can be pushed upwards relatively easily if the ground contour changes accordingly.

[0033] When the machine frame is in the upper end position relative to the adapter frame, i.e., when the machine frame is pushed all the way up around the rotation axis, the resulting ground pressure or the bearing force of the guide elements becomes large. This allows the machine frame to fall down relatively easily if the ground contour changes. The change in ground pressure between the lower and upper end positions can be progressive, degressive, or linear. A linear progression is preferred.

[0034] It may be advantageous if the rocker arm is tiltable about a rotational axis arranged transversely to the direction of travel or about at least one correspondingly arranged pivot point, wherein the rotational axis of the rocker arm or at least the correspondingly arranged pivot point is arranged at a predetermined distance above the rotational axis formed between the adapter frame and the machine frame.

[0035] It can be advantageous if the pick-up attachment has two rocker arm mechanisms, with one rocker arm being located on the left outside of the adapter frame as seen in the direction of travel and the other rocker arm being located on the right outside of the adapter frame as seen in the direction of travel.

[0036] It may be advantageous if the pick-up attachment comprises a pickup rotor with pickup tools for picking up crop from the ground, at least one guide element resting on the ground which guides the pickup rotor and guides it to the ground, a hold-down device, an intake auger base and an intake auger for evenly delivering the picked-up crop to the harvesting machine.

[0037] It can be advantageous if the machine frame and the adapter frame are coupled via their axis of rotation and the at least one rocker arm mechanism, which has a rocker arm, a tension spring and optionally a drawbar, in such a way that when the machine frame swings downwards about the axis of rotation, in particular when the pick-up attachment is retracted into a depression, the tension spring is pulled apart and its spring force is increased accordingly, and conversely, when the machine frame swings upwards about the axis of rotation, in particular when the pick-up attachment is retracted onto a hilltop, the tension spring is contracted and its spring force is reduced accordingly.

[0038] It can be advantageous if a defined distance or lever is formed between the direction of action of the tension spring and the axis of rotation or the pivot point, which, in operative connection with the spring force of the tension spring, partially guides the weight of the machine frame into the adapter frame in such a way that the ground pressure or the bearing force of the guide elements on the ground is changed, in particular reduced.

[0039] As already explained, the tension spring extends due to the relative movement between the machine frame and adapter frame when the machine frame tilts downwards around the rotation axis, whereby the spring force increases, or the tension spring contracts due to the relative movement between the machine frame and adapter frame when the machine frame is pushed upwards around the rotation axis, whereby the spring force decreases. The rocker arm mechanism allows the distance between the effective direction of the tension spring and the pivot point to be kept variable in a defined manner in any position of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame, so that the product of spring force, tension vector angle and / or pivot point distance is constant. This results in an almost constant ground pressure exerted by the guide elements on the soil, regardless of the position of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame.The value of the ground pressure can be adjusted or changed by changing the preload of the tension spring accordingly.

[0040] It can be advantageous if the tension spring is pre-tensioned, or preferably has a predetermined or pre-determinable pre-tension. This allows the desired value of the pressure exerted by the guide elements on the ground to be specified. It can be advantageous if the pre-tension of the tension spring is adjustable or changeable, preferably by means of an adjustment element, in particular an adjustment screw, on the tension spring. This allows the ground pressure of the guide elements to be adapted to different ground conditions.

[0041] It can be advantageous if the axis of rotation or the pivot point is located at the level of the intake auger bottom.

[0042] It can be advantageous if the pickup rotor, the hold-down device, the intake auger base, and the intake auger are connected to the machine frame and form a machine frame unit with the machine frame. This machine frame unit is suspended so that it can swing up and down relative to the pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester. Since the machine frame is connected to the adapter frame in an articulated manner according to the invention, all of the aforementioned process-related components of the pick-up attachment swing with it, i.e., up and down.

[0043] In other words: The pick-up attachment according to the invention or its pickup rotor advantageously adapts reactively to the soil contour by being attached to a common machine frame together with all process-related components, wherein the machine frame is articulatedly coupled to the adapter frame. The tilting lever system according to the invention makes it possible to keep the support force of the guide elements or the ground pressure exerted by the guide elements on the soil, for example the arable soil, constant regardless of the position of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame. The tilting lever mechanism according to the invention or the tilting lever system according to the invention can also be designed such that the ground pressure increases from the lower end position of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame up to the upper end position of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame.In the lower end position, the ground pressure is relatively low, while in the upper end position, the ground pressure is relatively high, i.e., higher than in the lower end position. The function of the ground pressure change from the lower end position to the upper end position of the machine frame can be progressive, degressive, and / or linear. Advantageously, the function or the ground pressure change is approximately linear.

[0044] When driving through a depression, the pick-up attachment or the intake rotor reactively swings downwards relative to the pre-press housing of the harvester, even at high forward speeds, and thus keeps the set raking height constant so that no crop is left on the ground and no feed is lost.

[0045] When driving over a hill, the pick-up attachment or the machine frame swings upwards reactively relative to the adapter frame or the pre-press housing of the harvester, even at high forward speeds, and thus keeps the set raking height constant so that no dirt gets into the forage and the turf is protected.

[0046] This ensures very good ground contact under all conditions and therefore low-loss and low-contamination pickup of the crop or forage. At the same time as the consistently homogeneous crop flow, this increases the forage quality, chopping quality and harvesting capacity. Furthermore, the rocker arm mechanism allows the ground pressure to be kept constant in all positions. It can be advantageous if the machine frame, which is articulated to the adapter frame, swings around the axis of rotation or the pivot point in such a way that the up and down swinging movement causes little or no changes to the transfer geometry between the pick-up attachment and the pre-compression housing of the harvester. For this purpose - as already explained - the pivot point or axis of rotation between the machine frame and the adapter frame must be adjusted in height, particularly in the area of ​​the highest transfer point, the transfer floor or intake auger floor.snail bottom, arranged.

[0047] This ensures optimal and reliable ground guidance of the intake rotor, resulting in high raking accuracy even at high feed speeds of the harvester, especially the forage harvester. It also ensures optimal crop flow and even compression of the crop mat, thus ensuring high chopping performance and quality.

[0048] It can be advantageous if two guide elements, preferably designed as feeler wheels, are arranged to the left and right of the pickup rotor, viewed in the direction of travel, preferably approximately at the same height as the pickup rotor. These guide elements guide the pickup rotor and thus the machine frame of the pick-up attachment to the ground.

[0049] It can be advantageous if the contact point of the two guide elements, preferably the feeler wheels, with the ground, viewed in the direction of travel, is located approximately next to the contact point of the collecting tools, in particular the collecting tines or raking tines, of the collecting rotor with the ground, the so-called raking point. This ensures that the set raking height of the collecting rotor or the collecting tools, in particular the collecting tines, is always precisely maintained, regardless of the position or angle of the collecting rotor or machine frame relative to the pre-press housing or the soil.

[0050] It can be advantageous if the distance of the collecting tools, in particular the collecting tines or raking tines, of the collecting rotor to the ground or the raking height can be adjusted via the guide elements, preferably feeler wheels, arranged laterally next to the collecting rotor.

[0051] It may be advantageous if the guide elements, preferably feeler wheels, can be moved mechanically, hydraulically and / or electrically in height to adjust the distance of the pickup tools, in particular the pickup tines or raking tines, of the pickup rotor to the ground.

[0052] It can be advantageous if the adjustment of the distance of the pickup tools, in particular the pickup tines or raking tines, of the pickup rotor to the ground can be carried out decentrally on the respective guide element, preferably the feeler wheel, or centrally from the driver's cab of the harvesting machine and preferably for all guide elements simultaneously.

[0053] It may be advantageous if an actuator, preferably a hydraulic cylinder, is provided, by the actuation of which the swing angle or the swing movement of the rocker arm can be overridden, wherein the machine frame can be moved either into an upper end position or into a lower end position, wherein the actuation can preferably be carried out from the driver's cab of the harvesting machine.

[0054] For example, for road transport of the pick-up attachment, the machine frame can be moved to its upper end position relative to the adapter frame, thus generating more ground clearance. With foldable pick-up attachments, the actuator can be used to move the machine frame to its lower end position relative to the adapter frame for the folding process, thus creating more space for folding or moving the machine frame between the pre-compression housing or the cab roof of the harvester, especially the forage harvester, and the pick-up attachment.

[0055] It can be advantageous if the adapter frame is additionally equipped with a pendulum frame, which allows the pick-up attachment to swing transversely to the direction of travel.

[0056] This can significantly improve soil control and thus raking and forage quality, especially in forage harvesters with rigid pre-compression housings, i.e. a pre-compression housing without its own pendulum frame.

[0057] It can be advantageous if one or more than one sensor, preferably an angle sensor, is provided for electronic height control, which sensor, due to the inventive oscillating suspension of the machine frame relative to the adapter frame, detects the relative movement between the machine frame of the pick-up attachment and the adapter frame of the pick-up attachment and converts it into an electrical signal, wherein the signal can then be used to detect the position of the pickup rotor or the machine frame of the pick-up attachment relative to the adapter frame of the pick-up attachment or to the pre-press housing of the harvesting machine, which can be used to control a pre-press housing arranged on the pick-up attachment, which is guided in such a way that the oscillating machine frame returns to a starting position in which the machine frame is in a middle position.The oscillating machine frame adapts directly and reactively to the ground contours, thus keeping the raking height constant even at higher forward speeds. It can be advantageous if the pick-up attachment connected to the harvester can be manually adjusted on the harvester to a constant, specified height above the ground, preferably so that the machine frame is 50% compressed relative to the adapter frame. This allows the oscillating machine frame to adapt to the ground contours even without a controlled attachment height guide provided on the harvester or forage harvester. This is advantageous, for example, with older harvester or forage harvester models. The machine frame can thus adapt to the ground contours within its oscillation range. In the case of extremely uneven ground, the attachment height must be manually adjusted from the driver's cab of the harvester, especially the forage harvester.Therefore, this further development of the invention is more advantageous for use in flat terrain.

[0058] The invention can be implemented on all machines with pick-up attachments.

[0059] In view of all the above, the following advantages of a pick-up attachment according to the invention for a harvesting machine, in particular for a forage harvester, are given compared to the prior art:

[0060] - better ground adaptation, especially with larger working widths and higher forward speeds

[0061] - Highly smooth running of the pickup rotor or the entire pick-up attachment

[0062] - No introduction of load peaks into the pre-press housing of the harvester; the pick-up attachment deflects upwards when the ground contours change rapidly

[0063] - defined ground pressure on the guide elements

[0064] - Protect the turf and maintain the raking height, especially in wet, heavily contoured and boggy areas

[0065] - higher forage quality; less dirt ingress into the forage - less wear on the entire pick-up attachment and the entire harvester

[0066] - thus also lower risk of tine breakage

[0067] - reduced crop losses when harvesting crops from the soil; raking quality

[0068] Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. All features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective specified combination, but also in other combinations or even on their own.

[0069] The invention will now be explained in more detail using preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0070] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pick-up attachment according to the invention, viewed diagonally from the front,

[0071] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pick-up attachment according to the invention shown in Fig. 1, seen diagonally from the rear,

[0072] Fig. 3 is a side view of the pick-up attachment according to the invention shown in Fig. 1,

[0073] Fig. 4 is a perspective detailed view of the pick-up attachment according to the invention shown in Fig. 1, seen diagonally from behind, Fig. 5 is a side view of the pick-up attachment according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 with a machine frame in the upper end position,

[0074] Fig. 6 is a side view of the pick-up attachment according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 with a machine frame in the middle position,

[0075] Fig. 7 is a side view of the pick-up attachment according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 with a machine frame in the lower end position,

[0076] Fig. 8 is a side view of a pick-up attachment according to the invention with an actuator for overriding the swing angle of the rocker arm and

[0077] Fig. 9 is a side view of a pick-up attachment according to the invention with electronic angle Z position detection of the machine frame which can be tilted relative to the adapter frame.

[0078] If the same reference numbers are used in Figs. 1 to 9, they also designate the same parts or areas.

[0079] The subject matter of the invention relates to a pick-up attachment 10 for a harvesting machine, in particular one having a pre-compression housing (not shown here), preferably for a forage harvester, in particular one having a pre-compression housing (not shown here), particularly preferably for a self-propelled forage harvester, in particular one having a pre-compression housing (not shown here). The pick-up attachment 10 comprises a pickup rotor 24 with pickup tools 26 for picking up crop from the ground 28, two guide elements 30 resting on the ground 28 as feeler wheels, which guide the pickup rotor 24 and guide it to the ground 28, a hold-down device 32, an intake auger base 34, and an intake auger 36 for evenly delivering the picked-up crop to the harvesting machine.

[0080] The pick-up attachment 10 also has a machine frame 12 to which the pickup rotor 24, the hold-down device 32, the intake auger base 34 and the intake auger 36 are connected, whereby these form a machine frame unit with the machine frame 12, whereby this machine frame unit is suspended so as to swing up and down relative to the pre-press housing of the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester.

[0081] For this purpose, the pick-up attachment 10 has an adapter frame 14, to the side of which the machine frame 12 is articulatedly connected in the direction of travel FR, and to the side of which the pre-press housing of the harvesting machine can be fixedly coupled, wherein the machine frame can be swung or tilted downwards and upwards relative to the adapter frame 14 about an axis of rotation 16 arranged in the lower region of the machine frame 12 and the adapter frame 14 transversely to the direction of travel FR or about at least one correspondingly arranged pivot point.

[0082] According to the invention, the present pick-up attachment has two rocker arm mechanisms, each comprising a rotatably mounted rocker arm 18 arranged in the upper region of the adapter frame 14 on the adapter frame 14 and having two rocker arm arms 18a, 18b, wherein one rocker arm 18a is connected directly or indirectly, preferably via a drawbar 20, to the machine frame 12 in the upper region of the machine frame 12, wherein the other rocker arm 18b is connected to the machine frame 12 in the lower region of the machine frame 12 via a tension spring 22.

[0083] The rocker arm 18 can be tilted about a rotational axis 44 arranged transversely to the direction of travel FR or about at least one correspondingly arranged pivot point, wherein the rotational axis 44 of the rocker arm 18 or at least one correspondingly arranged pivot point is arranged at a predetermined distance above the rotational axis 16 formed between the adapter frame 14 and the machine frame 12.

[0084] One rocker arm 18 is arranged on the left outer side of the adapter frame 14 as seen in the direction of travel FR and the other rocker arm 18 is arranged on the right outer side of the adapter frame 14 as seen in the direction of travel FR.

[0085] The machine frame 12 and the adapter frame 14 are coupled via their rotational axis 16 and the rocker arm mechanisms, which each have a rocker arm 18, a tension spring 22 and a drawbar 20, in such a way that when the machine frame 12 swings downwards about the rotational axis 16, in particular when the pick-up attachment 10 moves into a depression, the tension spring 22 expands and its spring force is correspondingly increased, as shown in Fig. 7, and conversely, when the machine frame 12 swings upwards about the rotational axis 16, in particular when the pick-up attachment 10 moves onto a hilltop, the tension spring 22 contracts and its spring force is correspondingly reduced, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0086] According to the invention, a defined distance or lever is formed between the direction of action 38 of the tension spring 22, i.e. in the direction in which the spring force acts, and the axis of rotation 16 or the pivot point, which, in operative connection with the spring force of the tension spring 22, partially guides the weight of the machine frame 12 into the adapter frame 16 in such a way that the ground pressure or the bearing force of the guide elements 30 on the ground 28 changes.

[0087] The tension spring 22 is pre-tensioned in a predetermined or pre-determinable manner, wherein the pre-tension of the tension spring 22 can be adjusted or changed by means of an adjusting screw 42.

[0088] The rotation axis 16 is arranged at the level of the intake auger bottom 34.

[0089] The machine frame 12, which is articulated to the adapter frame 14, swings around the axis of rotation 16 or the pivot point in such a way that during the up and down swinging movement no or only slight changes in the transfer geometry between the pick-up attachment 10 and the pre-press housing of the harvesting machine occur.

[0090] The two guide elements 30 designed as feeler wheels 30a, 30b are arranged on the left and right, as seen in the direction of travel FR, laterally next to the receiving rotor 24 and, as seen in the direction of travel FR, approximately at the level of the receiving rotor 24.

[0091] The contact point of the two feeler wheels 30a, 30b with the ground 28 is arranged, as seen in the direction of travel FR, approximately next to the contact point of the pickup tools 26, in particular pickup tines or raking tines, of the pickup rotor 24 with the ground, the so-called raking point.

[0092] The distance of the pickup tools 26, in particular the pickup tines or raking tines, of the pickup rotor 24 from the ground 28, or the raking height, can be adjusted via the guide elements 30 or feeler wheels 30a, 30b arranged laterally next to the pickup rotor 24. As shown in Fig. 8, the pick-up attachment 10 can have an actuator 46, preferably a hydraulic cylinder, by the actuation of which the oscillation angle or the oscillation movement 48 of the rocker arm 18 can be overridden, wherein the machine frame 12 can be moved either to an upper end position or to a lower end position, wherein the actuation can preferably be carried out from the driver's cab of the harvester.

[0093] The adapter frame 14 can, as shown in Fig. 8, additionally be provided with a pendulum frame 50, which allows the pick-up attachment 10 to pendulum transversely to the direction of travel FR.

[0094] For electronic height control, as shown in Fig. 9, an angle sensor 52 can be provided which detects the relative movement between the machine frame 12 of the pick-up attachment 10 and the adapter frame 14 of the pick-up attachment 10 and converts it into an electrical signal, wherein the signal can then be used to detect the position of the pickup rotor 24 or the machine frame 12 of the pick-up attachment 10 relative to the adapter frame 14 of the pick-up attachment 10 or to the pre-press housing of the harvesting machine, which can be used to control a pre-press housing arranged on the pick-up attachment 10, which is guided in such a way that the oscillating machine frame 12 returns to a starting position in which the machine frame 10 is in a middle position.

[0095] Reference numbers list

[0096] 10 Pick-up attachment

[0097] 12 machine frames

[0098] 14 adapter frames

[0099] 16 axis of rotation

[0100] 18 rocker arms

[0101] 18a rocker arm

[0102] 18b rocker arm

[0103] 20 drawbars

[0104] 22 tension spring

[0105] 24 take-up rotor

[0106] 26 Recording tool

[0107] 28 Floor

[0108] 30 guide element

[0109] 32 hold-down device

[0110] 34 Intake auger floor

[0111] 36 intake auger

[0112] 38 Direction of action or longitudinal axis of the tension spring

[0113] 40 straight

[0114] 42 Adjusting screw

[0115] 44 Rotation axis of the rocker arm

[0116] 46 Actuator

[0117] 48 Swinging movement

[0118] 50 pendulum frames

[0119] 52 angle sensor

[0120] FR direction of travel

Claims

P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. Pick-up attachment (10) for a harvesting machine, in particular having a pre-compression housing, preferably for a forage harvester, in particular having a pre-compression housing, particularly preferably for a self-propelled forage harvester, in particular having a pre-compression housing, wherein the pick-up attachment (10) has a machine frame (12), characterized in that the pick-up attachment (10) has an adapter frame (14), to the side of which facing forwards, as seen in the direction of travel (FR), the machine frame (12) is articulatedly connected and to the side of which facing rearwards, the pre-compression housing of the harvesting machine or the harvesting machine can be fixedly coupled, wherein the machine frame can be rotated relative to the adapter frame (14) about an axis of rotation (16) arranged in the lower region of the machine frame (12) and the adapter frame, transversely to the direction of travel (FR).can be swung or tilted downwards and upwards about at least one correspondingly arranged pivot point, in that at least one rocker arm mechanism is provided, comprising a rotatably mounted rocker arm (18) arranged in the upper region of the adapter frame (14) on the adapter frame (14) and having two rocker arm arms (18a, 18b), wherein one rocker arm (18a) is connected directly or indirectly, preferably via a drawbar (20), to the machine frame (12) in the upper region of the machine frame (12), wherein the other rocker arm (18b) is connected via a tension spring (22) or the like in the lower region of the machine frame (12) on the machine frame (12) or in the lower region of the adapter frame (14) on the adapter frame (14).

2. Pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the tilting lever (18) is tiltable about a rotational axis (44) arranged transversely to the direction of travel (FR) or about at least one correspondingly arranged pivot point, wherein the rotational axis (44) of the tilting lever (18) or at least one correspondingly arranged pivot point is arranged at a predetermined distance above the rotation axis (16) formed between the adapter frame (14) and the machine frame (12).

3. Pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pick-up attachment (10) has two rocker arm mechanisms, one rocker arm (18) being arranged on the left outer side of the adapter frame (14) as seen in the direction of travel (FR) and the other rocker arm (18) being arranged on the right outer side of the adapter frame (14) as seen in the direction of travel (FR).

4. Pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pick-up attachment (10) comprises a pickup rotor (24) with pickup tools (26) for picking up crop from the ground (28), at least one guide element (30) resting on the ground (28), which guides the pickup rotor (24) and guides it to the ground (28), a hold-down device (32), an intake auger base (34) and an intake auger (36) for evenly delivering the picked-up crop to the harvesting machine.

5. Pick-up attachment (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine frame (12) and the adapter frame (14) are coupled via their axis of rotation (16) and the at least one rocker arm mechanism, which has a rocker arm (18), a tension spring (22) and optionally a drawbar (20), in such a way that when the machine frame (12) swings downwards about the axis of rotation (16), in particular when the pick-up attachment (10) is retracted into a depression, the tension spring (22) is pulled apart and its spring force is increased accordingly, and conversely, when the machine frame (12) swings upwards about the axis of rotation (16), in particular when the pick-up attachment (10) is retracted onto a Tip, which contracts the tension spring (22) and whose spring force is reduced accordingly.

6. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a defined distance or lever is formed between the direction of action (38) of the tension spring (22) and the axis of rotation (16) or the pivot point, which, in operative connection with the spring force of the tension spring (22), partially guides the weight of the machine frame (12) into the adapter frame (16) in such a way that the ground pressure or the bearing force of the guide elements (30) on the ground (28) changes.

7. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tension spring (22) is pre-tensioned.

8. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pretension of the tension spring (22) is adjustable or changeable, preferably by means of an adjusting element, in particular an adjusting screw (42), which the tension spring (22) has.

9. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation (16) is arranged at the level of the intake auger base (34).

10. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pickup rotor (24), the hold-down device (32), the intake auger base (34) and the intake auger (36) are connected to the machine frame (12) and these form a machine frame unit with the machine frame (12), this machine frame unit being suspended so as to swing up and down relative to the pre-press housing of the harvesting machine, in particular the forage harvester.

11. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine frame (12) which is articulated to the adapter frame (14) swings about the axis of rotation (16) or the pivot point in such a way that no or only slight changes in the transfer geometry between the pick-up attachment (10) and the pre-press housing of the harvesting machine occur during the up and down swinging movement.

12. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two guide elements (30), which are preferably designed as feeler wheels (30a, 30b), are arranged to the left and right, as seen in the direction of travel (FR), laterally next to the pickup rotor (24), preferably as seen in the direction of travel (FR) approximately at the level of the pickup rotor (24).

13. Pick-up attachment (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the contact point of the two guide elements (30), preferably the feeler wheels (30a, 30b), with the ground (28) is arranged, as seen in the direction of travel, approximately next to the contact point of the pickup tools (26), in particular pickup tines or raking tines, of the pickup rotor (24) with the ground, the so-called raking point.

14. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance of the picking tools (26), in particular the picking tines or raking tines, of the picking rotor (24) to the ground (28) or the raking height can be adjusted via the guide elements, preferably feeler wheels (30a, 30b), arranged laterally next to the picking rotor (24).

15. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide elements, preferably feeler wheels (30a, 30b), are mechanically, hydraulically and / or electrically adjustable in height for setting the distance of the receiving tools (26), in particular the receiving tines or raking tines, of the receiving rotor (24) to the ground (28) are movable.

16. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment of the distance of the pickup tools (26), in particular the pickup tines or raking tines, of the pickup rotor (24) to the ground (28) can be carried out decentrally on the respective guide element, preferably feeler wheel (30a, 30b) or centrally from the driver's cab of the harvesting machine and preferably for all guide elements simultaneously.

17. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an actuator (46), preferably a hydraulic cylinder, is provided, by the actuation of which the swing angle or the swing movement (48) of the rocker arm (18) can be overridden, wherein the machine frame (12) can be moved either into an upper end position or into a lower end position, wherein the actuation can preferably be carried out from the driver's cab of the harvesting machine.

18. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter frame (14) is additionally provided with a pendulum frame (50) which allows the pick-up attachment (10) to pendulum transversely to the direction of travel (FR).

19. Pick-up attachment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for electronic height control one or more than one sensor, preferably an angle sensor (52), is provided, which detects the relative movement between the machine frame (12) of the pick-up attachment (10) and the adapter frame (14) of the pick-up attachment (10) and converts it into an electrical signal, wherein the signal is then used to detect the position of the pickup rotor (24) or the machine frame (12) of the pick-up attachment (10) relative to the adapter frame (14) of the pick-up attachment (10) or to the pre-press housing of the harvesting machine, which can be used to control a pre-press housing arranged on the pick-up attachment (10), which is guided in such a way that the oscillating machine frame (12) returns to a starting position in which the machine frame (10) is in a middle position.

20. Pick-up attachment according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pick-up attachment (10) connected to the harvesting machine can be manually adjusted on the harvesting machine to a constant predetermined height above the ground, preferably such that the machine frame is 50% compressed relative to the adapter frame (14).

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