Apparatus for harvesting stalk crops

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (1) for harvesting stalk crops (2), the apparatus comprising: - at least two transverse auger conveyors (5, 6), which are fitted with helices (4) and each rotate about a rotary shaft (3); - a plurality of partially overlapping cutting devices (8), which are mounted below the transverse auger conveyors (5, 6) so as to be rotatable about rotational axes (7) oriented in parallel with one another and vertically to the rotary shaft (3) of the transverse auger conveyors (5, 6), the cutting radius (R) of which cutting devices, when viewed in the direction (F) of travel, extends as far as in front of the transverse auger conveyors (5, 6). The invention consist in the fact that the conveying direction of the transverse auger conveyors (5, 6) runs towards the centre of the apparatus (1), with at least one conveying rotor (9), arranged between the transverse auger conveyors (5, 6), being assigned to each transverse auger conveyor (5, 6), which conveying rotor has at least one conveying disc (11-14) rotating about an axis (10) extending perpendicularly to the rotary shaft (3) of the transverse auger conveyors (5, 6), such that the conveying direction of the stalks of the harvested material (2) is changed by transferring the stalks of the harvested material (2) from the transverse auger conveyors (5, 6) to the assigned conveying rotor (9).

Description

[0001] Device for harvesting stemmed crops

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The invention relates to a device for harvesting stalked crops according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0004] Such devices are already known in very different designs, particularly for harvesting maize, and can be designed as the front of a suitable motor vehicle, as a trailer or as a self-propelled vehicle.

[0005] For example, DE 41 09 064 A1 describes a device designed as a front attachment for a vehicle for harvesting stalked crops grown in rows, in particular for harvesting maize, which device has a cross-conveyor screw equipped with spirals and rotating about an axis of rotation oriented transversely to the direction of travel, and a plurality of cutting devices which are offset in height from one another and overlap in sections and are mounted below the cross-conveyor screw so as to be rotatable about axes of rotation which are parallel to one another and aligned vertically to the axis of rotation of the cross-conveyor screw, the cutting radius of which extends, viewed in the direction of travel, in front of the cross-conveyor screw.The special feature of the solution disclosed in the document relates in particular to the special design of the cutting devices, which are designed as disc-shaped knife carriers, with several knives with a special geometry being arranged on the outer circumference of the knife carriers, which are intended to improve the cutting behavior of the knife carriers.

[0006] DE 10 2013 106 198 A1 further relates to a device for harvesting stalked crops, comprising a transverse conveyor screw equipped with helices that rotates about a rotational axis oriented transversely to the direction of travel of the device, and a plurality of cutting devices that interact with the transverse conveyor screw. The cutting devices consist of a cutting screw and fixedly arranged knives that interact with the cutting screw. Furthermore, the device known from the document has splitter tips that have a geometry that tapers to a point in the direction of travel, with the crop being located between two adjacent splitter tips during the forward movement of the device. According to the disclosure content of the document, the helices of the cutting screw can also have a cutting edge that tapers to a point, viewed in the direction of their outer circumference.

[0007] Furthermore, EP 2 614 698 B2 discloses a mower, such as is used for mowing grass, which is designed as a front-mounted or rear-mounted attachment for a vehicle. The mower disclosed in the document comprises a cross-conveyor auger equipped with spirals which rotates about an axis of rotation oriented transversely to the direction of travel, and a plurality of cutting devices which overlap one another in sections and are rotatably mounted below the cross-conveyor auger about axes of rotation which are parallel to one another and aligned vertically to the axis of rotation of the cross-conveyor auger. The cutting radius of the cutting devices, viewed in the direction of travel, extends in front of the cross-conveyor auger. The cross-conveyor auger is rotatably mounted within a circumferential surface so that the cut-off crop can be conveyed sideways within the circumferential surface. The crop is then left to lie on the ground to the side of the mower in a so-called swath.Furthermore, DE 20 2015 005 648 U1 discloses a device designed as a front attachment for a vehicle, suitable for harvesting stalked crops, in particular for harvesting corn. The device comprises numerous chain-like conveyor devices rotating around two spaced-apart rotation axes. According to the disclosure of the document, several tooth-like conveyor elements are provided one above the other as components of the conveyor links, with the crop being grasped in a free space between two laterally adjacent conveyor elements and transported by the conveyor elements in the conveying direction.Below the conveyor system there are also several cutting devices, offset in height from one another and overlapping in sections, which are rotatably mounted about parallel, vertically extending axes of rotation. The cutting radius of these devices, viewed in the direction of travel, extends in front of the conveyor system. In front of the conveyor system, viewed in the direction of travel, there are also splitter tips with a geometry that tapers to a point in the direction of travel, which merge into guide bars, referred to in the document as guide bars. In the overlap area (gusset area) between two adjacent cutting devices, deflector elements are also provided, whereby the forward movement of the device causes a row of crop to be located between two adjacent splitter tips.

[0008] Cross-conveyor augers have proven particularly advantageous conveying devices due to their simple design and low maintenance and low failure rate. Due to their rotational movement, they are also capable of optimally transporting the harvested crop, i.e., with virtually no loss. The removal usually takes place in a chopper downstream of the device, where the crop is chopped and prepared for further processing. However, it has not yet been possible to harvest stalky crops with minimal or no loss. The object of the invention is to provide a device for harvesting stalky crops that enables harvesting and transport of the crop to a downstream chopper with as little loss as possible.

[0009] The invention solves this problem with the features of patent claim 1. Further embodiments are the subject of the subsequent subclaims.

[0010] A device for harvesting stalked crops with at least two cross-conveyor screws equipped with helices, each rotating about a rotational axis, a plurality of cutting devices which overlap one another in sections and are rotatably mounted below the cross-conveyor screws about rotational axes which are parallel to one another and aligned vertically to the rotational axis of the cross-conveyor screws, the cutting radius of which, viewed in the direction of travel, extends up to the front of the cross-conveyor screws, has been further developed according to the invention in such a way that the conveying direction of the cross-conveyor screws runs towards the center of the device, wherein each cross-conveyor screw is assigned at least one conveying rotor which is arranged between the cross-conveyor screws and has at least one conveying disc which rotates about an axis which runs perpendicular to the rotational axis of the cross-conveyor screws,so that the conveying direction of the crop stalks changes as the crop stalks are transferred from the cross conveyor augers to the associated conveyor rotor.

[0011] The invention in this case consists in the fact that, for the first time, the harvested crop stalks are conveyed from a cross-conveyor screw into a conveyor rotor, which represents a type of star-shaped conveyor device, and the conveying direction of the plant stalks, viewed in the direction of travel of the device, occurs upstream of the device. It is also essential that the conveying direction of the plant stalks is changed during their conveyance within the device, namely from an approximately or predominantly linear direction along the cross-conveyor screws to a rotational movement within the conveyor rotor. While the plant stalks may still exhibit an inclination within the cross-conveyor screw, they are aligned almost vertically in the following conveyor rotor and can thus be transferred to a subsequent chopper device without loss.With the invention, harvest losses can be avoided or at least significantly reduced because the special type of conveying prevents the crop stalks from tipping over and falling out of the device. The plant stalks are first conveyed into the receiving space between two adjacent flights of the cross-conveyor screw, picked up there, and then transported sideways by the rotation of the cross-conveyor screw until they reach the conveyor rotor and are transferred to it. The fundamental advantage of cross-conveyor screws is that they convey the crop at a constant speed and over the entire length of the cross-conveyor screw. Furthermore, cross-conveyor screws are less prone to repair, require little installation space, and are low in maintenance and failure.Overall, the use of the cross conveyor screws according to the invention also allows the weight of the entire device to be reduced, which brings with it further advantages, such as more economical use, which ultimately also serves to protect the environment and is therefore ecologically sensible.

[0012] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the conveying direction of the crop stalks is redirected from a linear conveying direction along the cross conveyor augers to a rotational movement within the conveyor rotor. During the redirection, the crop stalks are aligned, which is a significant advantage for the transfer to the subsequent chopper and helps prevent crop losses.

[0013] In addition to the classic alignment of the cross augers transverse to the direction of travel, very advantageous developments of the invention allow the cross augers to be arranged not only transversely to the direction of travel and coaxially to one another, but also offset from one another, viewed in the direction of travel. Furthermore, an alternative or supplementary solution also includes the arrangement of the cross augers at an acute angle to one another. In particular, the arrangement of the cross augers at an acute angle, i.e., generally speaking, in a V-shape, has the significant advantage that the driver of the device according to the invention, designed as the front end of a vehicle, has a significantly better overview of the rows of crop to be processed, which also contributes to reducing losses.

[0014] A further, very significant advantage of the present invention is that the conveyor rotors and the cross conveyor screws each have a receiving area and a conveying area. The receiving area, based on the diameter of the conveyor rotors and the cross conveyor screws, is located in the area of ​​the outer circumference of the latter, and the conveying area, viewed toward the inner circumference, follows the receiving area. As the terms used already indicate, the stalks of the crop are merely received in the receiving area and then transferred to the conveying area, which enables the alignment of the stalks and their transport, thus enabling a loss-free harvest of the crop.

[0015] Since the conveyor rotor preferably consists of several conveyor discs arranged one above the other, an advantageous embodiment of the invention for optimal reception and conveyance of the crop stalks is that each conveyor disc is designed like a gearwheel and thus has alternating projections and recesses or recesses for receiving, guiding, and conveying the crop stalks, viewed in the circumferential direction of the conveyor discs. The recesses and projections preferably each have the same width and depth dimensions to avoid irregularities in the conveyance of the stalks. The conveyor discs rotate around a common axis and convey the crop stalks so that they are ultimately transferred to the downstream chopper device.

[0016] Accordingly, the conveyor rotor preferably consists of several gear-like or star-shaped conveyor discs arranged coaxially one above the other. It is important that the recesses or recesses of the stacked conveyor discs are congruent with each other, as are the projections. Alternatively, the conveyor rotor can also be designed as a chain conveyor.

[0017] With regard to the structural design of the device according to the invention, it is also particularly important that one rotation of the cross conveyor screws corresponds to the circumferential distance traveled simultaneously by a recess in the conveyor discs of the conveyor rotor, so that there is precise timing between the cross conveyor screws and the conveyor rotor. This measure results in an equal number of stalks of the crop being transferred from the cross conveyor screw to the conveyor rotor at any given time, thus preventing gaps or accumulations of stalks. In particular, an accumulation of stalks could potentially lead to blockage and thus to a loss of crop. In such a case, the device would also have to be stopped in order to clear the resulting blockages and free it of the accumulated stalks, which represents a loss of time that must be avoided.

[0018] In order to improve the feeding of the stalks of the crop to the device, it is further proposed that the device, viewed in the direction of travel, have a plurality of dividing points or guide brackets on the front, which have a geometry that tapers to a point in the direction of travel, wherein the crop is picked up between the points of adjacent guide brackets as the device moves forward. The tapered geometry ensures optimized introduction of the crop into the receiving area of ​​the cross conveyor screws. In this case, it corresponds to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention if the guide brackets, starting from their tapered section, transition into a conveying section that projects approximately at a right angle to it and runs parallel to the axis of rotation of the cross conveyor screws.This special feature creates a special receiving area for the stems of the harvested crop, which significantly improves the transfer to the conveyor area.

[0019] In order to optimize the transport of the stalks of the crop within the device, a further development of the invention provides that at least one guide bar is assigned to the conveyor rotor or at least one of the conveyor discs of the conveyor rotor, and that the at least one guide bar runs above the conveyor rotor and / or between two conveyor discs arranged one above the other. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of this proposed solution, at least one guide bar is located between two conveyor discs arranged one above the other. This guide bar thus ensures that each stalk of the crop is enclosed within the recess of the conveyor discs during its conveyance. Loss of the crop can thus be almost completely ruled out. These measures guarantee a seamless transition from the conveying area of ​​the cross conveyor screws to the conveyor rotor.For example, when considering stalked crops such as corn, it must be taken into account that corn plants can sometimes be quite long, reaching up to 4 meters in certain varieties. Handling such a stalk is made possible in an improved manner with a device according to the invention, particularly due to the special arrangement of the guide bars. The guide bars perform a guiding and stabilizing function for the stalks, preventing them from tipping over during conveying and thus from falling out of the device.

[0020] A very special design of the guide bars of the conveyor rotor can be seen in the fact that the guide bars assigned to the conveyor rotor consist of a straight section running at an increasing angle to the horizontal and an adjoining arc-shaped section that approximately corresponds to the circular shape of the conveyor rotor.

[0021] A further development of the invention consists in the provision of several guide bars in the receiving area of ​​the cross conveyor screws, which, viewed transversely to the direction of travel of the device, are arranged one after the other and spaced apart from each other. These guide bars can preferably be provided and used in addition to the previously described guide bars located in the area of ​​the conveyor rotor. The guide bars located in front of the cross conveyor screws are also designed to prevent crop loss. The spacing between these guide bars serves to transfer the crop stalks from the receiving area to the conveying area.

[0022] A very advantageous design of the previously described guide bars in the area of ​​the cross conveyor screws is that they consist of a section aligned at an increasing angle to the horizontal in the direction of travel, and an adjoining section running parallel to and above the rotational axis of the cross conveyor screws. Due to this design of the guide bars in the area of ​​the cross conveyor screws, the guide bars therefore have an approximately L-shaped configuration when viewed from above.

[0023] The described design of the guide bars in the area of ​​the cross conveyor augers advantageously results in the formation of a channel-like conveying area between the section of the guide bar running parallel to the cross conveyor auger and an additional bar located above the cross conveyor auger, which guides the crop stalks. This channel-like conveying area follows the previously described receiving area, viewed opposite the direction of travel. A further suggestion is that the conveyor discs of the conveyor rotor have different diameters, which is particularly advantageous because it allows the crop stalks to be optimally aligned and transferred to a subsequent chopper. Furthermore, this improves the transfer from the cross conveyor augers to the conveyor rotor.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the diameter of the cutting devices is further provided to be larger than the diameter of the conveyor discs of the conveyor rotor. This allows for safe and reliable separation of the stems before they are taken over by the device and fed for further processing.

[0025] When harvesting stalk-like crops, a problem is often observed that can lead to damage to the cutting devices. Previous designs of such cutting devices are often arranged very close to the ground, which can lead to the cutting devices coming into contact with the ground in the worst case scenario or being damaged by stones lying on the field to be worked, which is not desirable in either case. A further development of the invention therefore consists in the cutting devices having at least one cutting disc rotating about an axis of rotation, which is arranged above a gear system for driving the cutting discs. A spur gear system, for example, can be used as the gear system, which according to this proposal is located close to the ground, while the driven cutting disc rotates above the gear system.

[0026] To ensure that the entire crop is separated at the same height, a further feature of the invention is that the cutting devices have rotating cutting discs, wherein the cutting discs are arranged below the cross-conveyor screws in the same plane as the cutting discs below the conveyor rotor. A further advantage of the invention is that the spirals of the cross-conveyor screws additionally have a stripping surface at their turning edge. This also ensures that the crop separated by the cutting device can no longer receive an impulse from the spiral of the cross-conveyor screw, as was previously the case, which would carry the crop away from the cross-conveyor screw and cause it to be lost.Rather, the stripping surface improves the transport of the separated crop into the receiving space between two adjacent flights of the cross-conveyor screw, where it is subsequently transported laterally away in the conveying area created by the rotation of the cross-conveyor screw. The invention thus offers a significant economic advantage over all previously known designs of such devices for harvesting stalk-like crops.

[0027] During development, it also became clear that it is particularly advantageous if the stripping surface is located at the rear of the helix, relative to the conveying direction of the cross conveyor augers, and extends from the outer circumference toward the rotational axis of the cross conveyor augers. This very special design of the stripping surface results in a blade-like geometry of the helix that tapers to a point towards the outer circumference, thus providing the aforementioned optimal guidance of the crop stems.

[0028] In a device according to the invention for harvesting stalked crops, it is further advantageous to provide a collecting trough behind the cross conveyor augers to prevent crop losses when viewed against the direction of travel. This collecting trough is suitable, for example, for catching falling cobs during the harvesting of corn plants, thus reducing losses.

[0029] In addition, in order to avoid unnecessary losses of the crop in a device for harvesting stalked crops, a slide rail arranged below the cross conveyor augers serves to glide the severed lower ends of the stalks of the crop.

[0030] Another very special feature of the present invention is that the cross-conveyor screws are composed of several coaxially arranged individual cross-conveyor screws. This design has the advantage that, in the event of damage, individual cross-conveyor screw sections can be replaced, eliminating the need to replace the entire cross-conveyor screw. This overall reduces costs and simplifies disassembly and assembly in the event of repairs. Furthermore, this design allows for larger working widths of the device, which can be folded down to permissible transport widths during transport, as required, for example, in road traffic.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiment shown does not represent a limitation to the variant shown, but merely serves to explain a principle of the invention. Identical or similar components are always designated by the same reference numerals. In order to illustrate the inventive mode of operation, the figures only show highly simplified schematic diagrams, in which components not essential to the invention have been omitted. However, this does not mean that such components are not present in a solution according to the invention.

[0032] It shows:

[0033] Figure 1 : a schematically simplified device for harvesting stalked crops in a view from above,

[0034] Figure 2: a section of a cross conveyor screw and a conveyor rotor in a view from above,

[0035] Figure 3: a section of a cross conveyor screw and a conveyor rotor in a view opposite to the direction of travel, according to the arrow III in Figure 2, Figure 4: a side view of the device with one of the

[0036] Cross conveyor screws in partial section, and

[0037] Figure 5: an enlarged section of a section from Figure 4 in

[0038] Area of ​​a slide rail.

[0039] Figure 1 shows a schematically greatly simplified device 1 for harvesting stalk-like crop 2 in a view from above. The entire device 1 is moved in the direction of travel F by means of a chassis 24, so that it can be designed, for example, as the front end of an agricultural vehicle or form a component of such a vehicle. The illustration in Figure 1 shows a device 1 as is preferably used for harvesting corn. Such crop 2 is arranged in rows, which are indicated in Figure 1, and in some cases the existing stalks can be considerable, which can be up to 4 m depending on the variety.The special feature of the device 1 according to the invention is that it has two transverse conveyor screws 5 and 6 equipped with helical spirals 4, each of which is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis 3, and whose conveying device A extends linearly toward the center of the device 1. In the example in Figure 1, the rotational axes 3 of the transverse conveyor screws are aligned coaxially with one another. In the central area of ​​the device 1, there are also two conveyor rotors 9, whose axes 10 run parallel to one another and are aligned perpendicular to the rotational axes 3 of the transverse conveyor screws 5 and 6.It is important to note in this case that the conveyor rotors 9 each have a plurality of conveyor discs 11-14 arranged one above the other, rotating around a common axis 10 running perpendicular to the rotational axis 3 of the cross conveyor screws 5, 6, and that the conveying direction of the stalks of the crop 2 changes when the stalks of the crop 2 are transferred from the cross conveyor screws 5, 6 to the conveyor rotor 9. While the conveying direction of the cross conveyor screws 5 and 6 is straight in the direction of arrow A, i.e., toward the center of the device 1, the conveying direction changes when the stalks of the crop 2 are transferred to the conveyor rotors 9, resulting in a circular movement corresponding to arrow B in Figure 1.In a manner known per se, the device 1 has cutting devices 8 below the cross conveyor screws 5, 6 and below the conveyor rotors 9, which in the embodiment variant in Figure 1 consist of cutting discs 20 which in turn are rotatably mounted about rotation axes 7. The cutting devices 8 serve to sever the stalks of the crop 2 to be harvested during the forward movement of the device 1 in the direction of travel F. The cutting radius of the cutting devices 8 extends up to the cross conveyor screws 5, 6 or up to the conveyor rotors 9. To improve the feeding of the crop 2 to the device 1, numerous guide brackets 17, which are often also referred to as "divider tips", are provided along the entire width of the device at a uniform distance from one another.In the direction of travel F, behind the cross conveyor screws 5, 6, there is also a collecting trough 28 which serves to catch and collect fallen corn cobs, particularly during the harvesting of corn plants.

[0040] Figure 2 shows a section of a portion of the cross auger conveyor 5 from Figure 1 and a conveyor rotor 9 of the device 1 according to the invention in a view from above. The cross auger conveyor 5 with the spirals 4 running helically along the axis of rotation 3 can be seen more clearly here than is apparent from the illustration in Figure 1, whereby the structure shown basically also applies to the cross auger conveyor 6 not shown in Figure 2. The guide brackets 17 aligned in the direction of travel F have a tapered geometry pointing in the direction of travel F, with a row of the crop 2 being picked up between adjacent guide brackets 17 and fed to the cross auger conveyor 5. To support the feed movement, guide brackets 19 are also provided which, when viewed from above, have an approximately L-shaped configuration and are spaced apart from one another, through which the stalks of the crop 2 are guided to the cross auger conveyor 5.The guide bars 19 have a section 19.1 pointing in the direction of travel F, which is designed to rise at an angle to the horizontal and, in the area of ​​the cross conveyor screw 5, merges into a section 19.2 running parallel to the cross conveyor screw 5, thus creating an approximately L-shaped configuration. The guide bars 19, together with part of the cross conveyor screw 5, form a receiving area 30 in which the stalks of the crop 2 are received and initially aligned for conveyance within the device 1.For better illustration, the illustration in Figure 2 also shows several stalks of the crop 2 between the spirals 4 of the cross conveyor screw 3, which in the illustration have moved from the acceptance area 30 into a subsequent conveying area 31, which, viewed against the direction of travel F, is located between the acceptance area 30 and a bracket 26 running parallel to the axis of rotation 3 of the cross conveyor screw 5 and having a supporting function, adjoining the acceptance area 30. Between the bracket 26 and the rear side of the section 19.2 of the guide bracket 19 parallel to the cross conveyor screw 5, the conveying area 31 thus forms a type of channel, ensuring optimal guidance of the stalks of the crop 2, which is also supported and significantly improved by the contact of the stalks of the crop 2 with the spirals 4 of the cross conveyor screw 5.The stalks of the crop 2 move sideways and in a straight line according to the conveying direction A of the cross conveyor screw 5 toward the conveying rotor 9 located in the center of the device 1. The forward movement of the device 1 in the direction of travel F initially receives the stalks of the crop 2 in the receiving area 30 after the cutting devices 8 have severed the stalks. The stalks then come into contact with the spirals 4 of the cross conveyor screw 5 and consequently begin their sideways movement, while at this point they are guided in a sliding manner along the front side of section 19.2 of the guide bars 19 until the distance or gap between two consecutive guide bars 19 is reached. The stalks are then moved through this distance into the conveying area 31 and from this point on are captively held in the channel-like conveying area 31 between the rear of section 19.2 of the guide bracket 19 and the bracket 26 running parallel thereto. At the end of the cross conveyor screw 5, the stalks of the crop 2 are finally transferred to the conveyor rotor 9, which consists of several conveyor discs 11-14 arranged one above the other, which have a star-shaped or gear-like structure and thus alternate between projections 15 and recesses 16. Due to this special geometry of the conveyor discs 11-14, they form pockets in which the stalks of the crop 2 are received and, following the rectilinear movement along the cross conveyor screw 5, now experience a change of direction of approximately 90°, so that the stalks of the crop 2 perform a rotational movement around the axis 10 of the conveyor rotor 9 within the conveyor rotor 9. Guide brackets 18 with a special geometry also serve to receive and guide the stalks of the crop 2 in the area of ​​the conveyor rotor 9.The guide bars 18 present in the area of ​​the conveyor rotor 9 consist of a straight section 18.1 which, starting from the ground, rises towards the horizontal and in this case merges into an arcuate section 18.2 in the area of ​​the conveyor rotor 9. The projections 15 and recesses 16 present on the conveyor discs 11-14, together with the guide bars 18, form pockets in which the stalks of the crop 2 are received and guided reliably and without loss. After being discharged from the conveyor rotor 9, the stalks of the crop 2 are transferred to a downstream chopper which, however, is not shown in Figure 2. A dividing tip 25 is also present between the adjacent conveyor rotors 9.

[0041] Figure 3 shows a view in the direction of arrow III in Figure 2 of a section of a cross-conveyor screw 5 and a conveyor rotor 9, shown in detail in a view opposite to the direction of travel F. More clearly than was possible in the illustration in Figure 2, the structure of the guide bars 19 with their sections 19.1 and 19.2, which together with part of the helix 4 of the cross-conveyor screw 5 define the receiving area 30, can be seen here once again. The structure of the guide bars 18, with their sections 18.1 and 18.2, which interact with the conveyor rotor 9, can also be clearly seen therefrom. A further special feature of a device 1 according to the invention is also evident from Figure 3, which consists in the fact that the guide bars 17, with their geometry tapering to a point in the direction of travel F, form a first section 17.1 and, in the area of ​​the cross-conveyor screw 5, a section 17 projecting at right angles thereto.2, which runs approximately parallel to the axis of rotation 3 of the cross conveyor auger 5 and also performs a guide function or a guiding function, as already described above in connection with the description of the function of sections 19.2 of the guide brackets 19. Since the guide brackets 17, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the cross conveyor auger 5, are also spaced apart from one another, the stalks of the crop 2 can thus also be received by the guide bracket 17 and introduced into the receiving area 30.From Figure 3 and, in an improved form, also in Figure 4, it can be seen that the cutting devices 8 are each set into a rotational movement by means of a drive 21 and by means of a gear 22 coupled to the drive 21. In the present case, this is a spur gear 22 arranged close to the ground so that the cutting discs 20 of the cutting devices 8 are located above the gear 22. The reference numeral 23 designates a gear neck 23 of the spur gear 22 shown. Furthermore, the cutting discs 20 of the cutting devices 8 lie below the cross conveyor augers 5 and 6 and below the conveyor rotors 9 in a common plane in order to achieve a uniform cutting pattern of the crop 2. The illustration in Figure 3 also shows that the conveyor discs 11-14 have different diameters.This results in the stalks of the crop 2 being transferred from the cross augers 5 and 6 to the conveyor rotor 9 and being optimally aligned. The previously described bracket 26, which extends along the entire length of the cross augers 5 and 6 and is spaced apart from the parallel sections 19.2 of the guide brackets 19, also serves to support the guidance of the stalks of the crop 2 along the cross augers 5 and 6. The bracket 26 extends along the entire length of the cross augers 5 and 6 and is spaced apart from the parallel sections 19.2 of the guide brackets 19, thereby forming the channel-like conveying area 31. The bracket 26 is fixed to a holder 27 of the device 1. Figure 4, and an enlarged section in Figure 5, show a side view of the cross auger 6 of the device 1. This clearly shows the arrangement of the guide bracket 19 in a sectional view, with section 19.1 of the guide bracket rising at an angle to the horizontal.Furthermore, it is particularly clear from Figure 4 that the acceptance area 30 extends, opposite to the direction of travel F, up to the upper section 19.2 of the guide bar 19 and that the conveying area 31, viewed opposite to the direction of travel F, adjoins the acceptance area 30. In this position, the stalks of the crop 2 rest against two points on the helix 4 of the cross conveyor auger 6 and are thus optimally guided. In addition, the stalk of the crop 2 slides along a guide rail 29 arranged along the cross conveyor auger 6 and below the same, so that an undesired sinking of the stalk of the crop 2 downwards and thus also a multiple cutting of the stalks of the crop 2 by the cutting devices 8 located below the cross conveyor auger 6 is prevented.During such conveying, the stalk of the crop 2 is initially aligned approximately vertically in the receiving area 30 and is slightly inclined against the direction of travel within the conveying area 31 so that it does not fall forward out of the conveying area 31 of the cross conveyor screw 6 during transport. The stalk moves within the conveying area 31, which here forms a type of channel, i.e. between the bracket 26 and the section of the guide bracket 19.2 parallel to the cross conveyor screw 6. The illustrated structure naturally also applies to the coaxially running cross conveyor screw 5. Behind the cross conveyor screws 5, 6 there is also a collecting trough 28, which primarily serves to catch falling grains or corn cobs, depending on the crop being harvested. This further prevents losses of the crop 2. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS:.

[0042] 1 device

[0043] 2 Harvest

[0044] 3 rotation axis (of the cross conveyor screws)

[0045] 4 spirals

[0046] 5 Cross conveyor screw

[0047] 6 cross conveyor screw

[0048] 7 rotation axis(es) (of the cutting devices)

[0049] 8 cutting devices

[0050] 9 Conveyor rotor

[0051] 10 Axis (of the conveyor rotor)

[0052] 11 Conveyor disc

[0053] 12 conveyor disc

[0054] 13 Conveyor disc

[0055] 14 Conveyor disc

[0056] 15 projections

[0057] 16 recesses or recesses

[0058] 17 guide brackets

[0059] 18 guide bars

[0060] 19 guide bars

[0061] 20 cutting disc

[0062] 21 Drive

[0063] 22 gearboxes

[0064] 23 Gear neck

[0065] 24 chassis

[0066] 25 divider tip

[0067] 26 brackets

[0068] 27 holders

[0069] 28 drip tray

[0070] 29 Slide rail

[0071] 30 Acceptance area

[0072] 31 Funding area CONTINUED LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS:

[0073] F Direction of travel

[0074] A Conveying direction (cross conveyor screws)

[0075] B Conveying direction (conveying rotor)

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crop (2), comprising: -at least two transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) equipped with helices (4) and each rotating about a rotational axis (3), -a plurality of cutting devices (8) which are arranged below the cross-conveyor screws (5, 6) and are mounted so as to be rotatable about axes of rotation (7) which are parallel to one another and oriented vertically to the axis of rotation (3) of the cross-conveyor screws (5, 6), the cutting radius (R) of which cutting devices (8), viewed in the direction of travel (F), extends up to the front of the cross-conveyor screws (5, 6), characterized in that the conveying direction of the cross-conveyor screws (5, 6) runs towards the centre of the device (1), wherein each cross-conveyor screw (5, 6) is assigned at least one conveying rotor (9) which is arranged between the cross-conveyor screws (5, 6) and has at least one conveying disc (11-14) which rotates about an axis (10) which runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation (3) of the cross-conveyor screws (5, 6), so that the conveying direction of the stalks of the harvested crop (2) is changed by the transfer of the stalks of the Crop (2) from the cross conveyor screws (5, 6) to the associated conveyor rotor (9).

2. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crop material according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying direction of the stalks of the crop material (2) is diverted from a straight conveying direction along the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) into a rotational movement within the conveyor rotor (9).

3. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) are arranged transversely to the direction of travel (F) and coaxially to one another, viewed in the direction of travel (F), offset from one another and / or at an acute angle to one another.

4. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor rotors (9) and the cross conveyor screws (5, 6) each have a receiving area (30) and a conveying area (31), wherein the receiving area (30), based on the diameter of the conveyor rotors (9) and the cross conveyor screws (5, 6), is located on the outer circumference and the conveying area (31), viewed in the direction of the inner circumference, follows the receiving area (30).

5. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crop material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each conveyor disc (11-14) of the conveyor rotors (9) is designed like a gear wheel and thus has alternating projections (15) and recesses or recesses (16) for receiving, guiding and conveying the stalks of the crop material (2), viewed in the circumferential direction of the conveyor discs (11-14).

6. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that several gear-like or star-shaped conveyor discs (11-14) arranged coaxially one above the other each form a conveyor rotor (9) or that each conveyor rotor (9) is designed as a chain conveyor.

7. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one revolution of the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) corresponds to the path in the circumferential direction simultaneously covered by a recess (16) of the conveyor discs (11-14) of the conveyor rotor (9), so that a timing is provided between the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) and the associated conveyor rotor (9).

8. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (1), viewed in the direction of travel (F), has a plurality of guide brackets (17) on the front side, which have a geometry tapering to a point in the direction of travel (F), and the crop (2) is introduced between the tips of guide brackets (17) arranged adjacent to one another during the forward movement of the device (1).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide brackets (17) starting from their tapered section (17.1) into a conveying section projecting approximately at right angles thereto and running parallel to the axis of rotation (3) of the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) (17.2) can be skipped.

10. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one guide bar (18) is assigned to the conveyor rotor (9) or at least one of the conveyor discs (11-14) of the conveyor rotor (9), and the at least one guide bar (18) runs above the conveyor rotor (9) and / or between two conveyor discs (11, 12) arranged one above the other.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide brackets (18) assigned to the conveyor rotor (9) are composed of a section (18.1) running in a straight line and at an increasing angle to the horizontal and an adjoining arcuate section (18.2) corresponding to the circular shape of the conveyor rotor.

12. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the intake area of ​​the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) there are several guide brackets (19) which, viewed transversely to the direction of travel (F) of the device (1), are arranged one after the other and at a distance from each other.

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the guide brackets (19) of the cross conveyor screws (5, 6) consist of a section (19.1) aligned in the direction of travel (F) at an increasing angle to the horizontal and an adjoining section (19.2) running parallel to and above the axis of rotation (3) of the cross conveyor screws (5, 6).

14. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crop according to claim 13, characterized in that a conveying area (31) guiding the stalks of the crop (2) is formed between the section (19.2) of the guide bracket (19) running parallel to the cross conveyor screw (5, 6) and a bracket (26) located above the axis of rotation (3) of the cross conveyor screws (5, 6).

15. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor discs (11-14) of the conveyor rotor (9) have different diameters.

16. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diameter of the cutting devices (8) is larger than the diameter of the conveyor discs (11-14) of the conveyor rotor (9).

17. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting devices (8) have at least one cutting disc (20) rotating about a rotation axis (7) which is arranged above a gear (22) provided for driving the cutting discs (20).

18. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting devices (8) have rotating cutting discs (20), wherein the cutting discs (20) are arranged below the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) in a plane with the cutting discs (20) below the conveyor rotor (9).

19. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, viewed opposite to the direction of travel (F), a collecting trough 28 is arranged behind the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6).

20. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crop material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a slide rail (29) for slidingly guiding the severed lower ends of the stalks of the crop material (2) is arranged below the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6).

21. Device (1) for harvesting stalked crops according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transverse conveyor screws (5, 6) are composed of several individual transverse conveyor screws arranged coaxially to one another.

Images