Beet harvesting machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a beet harvesting machine (2) having a machine frame (3), a cleaning device (4), a bunker (12) for temporarily storing dug beets and an elevator (10) which is arranged at least partially laterally next to the bunker (12) and provided in digging mode to transfer the beets into the bunker (12), said elevator having an elevator frame (18) and a conveying element (16, 22) which circulates in digging mode, wherein the elevator (10) is movably connected to the machine frame (3) in such a manner that it can be transferred from a transport position to an operating position in which the elevator (10) projects laterally relative to the transport position.

Description

[0001] Beet harvester

[0002] The invention relates to a beet harvesting machine, preferably for sugar beets, comprising a machine frame, a cleaning device, a bunker for the temporary storage of harvested beets and an elevator arranged at least partially laterally next to the bunker and provided for transferring the beets into the bunker during harvesting operation, said elevator comprising an elevator frame and a conveyor element rotating during harvesting operation.

[0003] Generic beet harvesters, also called beet lifters, have a ring elevator through which the beets discharged at the end of a cleaning device are transported up into a bunker. The ring elevator is located on both sides of the bunker (viewed in the direction of travel) on an axis running perpendicular to a longitudinal center axis of the beet harvester, i.e. in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel to the left and right of it. In the area of ​​the ring elevator, the bunker, which is otherwise designed to the maximum permissible road width of the beet harvester, is tapered so that the elevator can be attached to the machine frame within the permissible vehicle width. This constriction reduces the volume of the bunker and the design also hinders emptying the bunker.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages. This object is achieved by an object according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0005] According to the invention, the elevator is movably connected to the machine frame in such a way that it can be transferred from a transport position into an operating position in which the elevator protrudes laterally relative to the transport position. In the operating position, which corresponds to a position during digging operation in which beets are picked up from the ground, cleaned and temporarily loaded into the bunker, the beet harvester has an enlarged beet harvester width (viewed in the longitudinal direction of the machine), regardless of any bunker walls or any unfolded transfer belts. The bunker and elevator have a greater width during digging or harvesting operation than during a transport position in which the beet harvester or digging machine is approved for road travel. In particular, the width of the beet harvester during digging operation exceeds the maximum 3 m permitted for road travel, for example in Germany.This means that more space is available for the bunker and elevator in the operating position for their functions, on the one hand the storage of beets and on the other hand the transport of beets. In particular, the space available to the elevator in the transport position limits its conveying capacity, although this is not critical since no beets need to be conveyed from the cleaning device into the bunker during road travel. According to the invention, the movement of the elevator in the transverse direction does not refer to the movement of the conveyor element required for operation to transport beets. Rather, the elevator as such with its elevator frame is movable in the transverse direction. The transverse direction is a direction transverse to a longitudinal central axis, viewed from above. When traveling straight ahead, the transverse direction corresponds to a direction transverse to the direction of travel, also viewed from above.

[0006] The at least one conveyor element is designed in particular as a conveyor belt, preferably in the form of a sieve belt. In particular, the elevator has two conveyor belts, preferably in the form of sieve belts. The conveyor element(s) of the elevator are held, clamped, and deflected via support and / or deflection means that are aligned at least approximately, preferably exactly parallel, to the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The vehicle's longitudinal direction is considered here with reference to straight-ahead travel of the vehicle, in which the vehicle does not travel in the so-called crab steer mode, but travels straight ahead with tires and / or tracks arranged one behind the other.

[0007] Accordingly, a position to the side of the vehicle means that the elevator borders the bunker, particularly on one side, at a right angle to the longitudinal center axis, which runs through the bunker in a plan view. Accordingly, in the operating position, it protrudes further outward. In particular, it protrudes beyond any adjacent side walls of the bunker when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. As described above, the transport position is the position in which the beet harvester is permitted to drive on public roads and does not exceed the permissible road width.

[0008] In particular, in a plan view, the parts of the elevator frame located furthest away from the longitudinal center axis are further away from the bunker in the operating position than in the transport position.

[0009] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the elevator frame is movably connected to the machine frame in a transverse direction extending transversely to a longitudinal center axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the beet harvester. This connection can be a direct connection, for example, via an elevator bearing arranged on the machine frame. Alternatively or additionally, the connection to the machine frame can also be indirect, for example, via a bunker frame. Preferably, however, the elevator frame is arranged or connected directly to a machine frame that also supports the bunker.

[0010] The movable connection of the elevator frame to the machine frame is formed in particular by a bearing on the machine frame, which has at least one degree of freedom that allows a movement with a component in the transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis. For example, the mobility of the elevator can be achieved via a linear guide and / or a pivot bearing, so that according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the elevator frame is pivotally and / or displaceably connected to the machine frame for transfer into the laterally protruding operating position. While a pivoting movement results in a simple and comparatively reliable absorption of the forces in the bearing(s), a linear movement can be carried out with comparatively little installation space.

[0011] In particular, the transfer to the transport position involves the movement of a portion of the elevator into the bunker, so that in the transport position, part of the elevator is located in an area that is used for storing beets in the operating position. Part of the installation space in the bunker can thus be used for the elevator, which, in the transport position, preferably does not protrude beyond the bunker either laterally or upwardly. In particular, the bunker side wall is designed to be lower in the elevator area for this purpose.

[0012] Preferably, the bunker has a rectilinear extension in a lower region of the bunker wall, in particular in a lower quarter, so that the emptying of the bunker is well ensured at least in a lowest region above, for example, a sliding floor.

[0013] The elevator pivots, in particular, around a pivot axis that runs parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal direction and thus parallel to the longitudinal center axis. In particular, the beet harvester has actuators and / or adjusting devices for pivoting that connect the elevator frame to the machine frame. These include links for forming, for example, multi-joints that enable lateral movement of the elevator, and hydraulic cylinders or linear drives, for example.

[0014] In particular, the elevator moves in the transverse direction through the superposition of two pivoting movements of the links of a four-bar linkage, with the links being arranged one below the other. One of the links of the four-bar linkage can be arranged laterally at a point on the machine frame, for example, the bunker wall, as a linkage that essentially absorbs the weight force. Its longitudinal extension (between the bearing points) can be aligned more vertically, in particular at an angle of 60 to 90° to the ground. Another linkage, offset downwards and in particular variable in length, causes the elevator frame to move predominantly in the transverse direction.

[0015] To assume the operating position for harvesting, the elevator frame is preferably pivoted partially away from a vehicle's longitudinal axis or a vehicle's longitudinal center axis and subsequently forms part of the bunker wall. The part of the elevator forming the bunker wall comprises, in particular, a cover plate that fits into the rest of the bunker wall. In particular, the elevator is designed as a C-elevator, preferably with at least one inner and one outer conveyor element, at least one of which is designed as a clamping conveyor belt and which, during harvesting, transport the beets upwards in a clamped manner between them.

[0016] By omitting a ring elevator, the side of the bunker opposite the elevator can also be designed as a fold-out and outward-swivelling bunker wall, so that the storage space of the bunker is increased and by increasing the bunker width on the side opposite the elevator, a counterweight is created when the bunker is filled, which at least partially compensates for the weight of the elevator moving out in the opposite direction.

[0017] Preferably, the elevator is positioned laterally offset by at least 10 cm and in particular between 10 cm and 50 cm in the operating position compared to the transport position.

[0018] The conveyor element, designed as a clamping conveyor belt, which is particularly formed by the clamping conveyor belt on the outside relative to a longitudinal center axis, can deflect outwards to the side, allowing sufficiently high throughputs to be achieved. In particular, the outside clamping conveyor belt is equipped with an outer belt storage device, which acts as a tensioning device to apply the tension and conveyor belt length required to clamp the crop against an inside conveyor element. The C-elevator thus has, in particular, two conveyor belts circulating in the elevator frame, which, viewed in a longitudinal direction, form a "C" in a forward or backward direction, depending on their arrangement on one of the two sides.

[0019] In the operating position without beets, the inner and outer conveyor elements can already form a clamping channel through which the beets are transported. In particular, in the operating position without beets, they lie directly against one another in sections, with the inner conveyor belt on the outer side relative to the longitudinal center axis and the outer conveyor belt on the inner side. This simplifies the guidance and storage of the outer conveyor element, as storage can be partially omitted. During operation, beets that get caught between the two conveyor belts are transported upwards in a clamped manner, with the belt speeds being at least approximately the same.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment of a beet harvester having an elevator with an inner and an outer conveyor element, the elevator is provided with an optionally further, in particular spring-loaded, conveyor belt storage device for the inner conveyor element, which is deflected from an initial position when the conveyor element is subjected to a load that changes the belt path. Advantageously, both the outer conveyor belt and the inner conveyor belt have such a conveyor belt storage device, with the outer conveyor belt storage device primarily providing the mobility of the outer conveyor belt for a belt path that changes the outer conveyor belt path when clamping beets.

[0021] The conveyor belt storage unit, in particular, forms a movable mounting for at least one of the conveyor elements on the elevator frame. In particular, the conveyor belt storage unit provided for the outer and / or inner conveyor element is equipped with one or more deflection pulleys or rollers pivotably mounted on one or more guide rods. The respective conveyor belt storage unit serves, in particular, as a tensioning device for tensioning the respective conveyor element.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the inside conveyor element is deflected in the transport position compared to the operating position in such a way that the elevator, at the level of the deflection, has a smaller width in the transport position than in the operating position. The width is related to a parallel to the ground running transversely to the longitudinal center axis. The deflection takes place in particular away from the longitudinal center axis of the vehicle to the outside, so that the elevator is virtually compressed when it is pivoted and / or moved translationally from its protruding operating position in the direction of the longitudinal center axis. Conveyor belt sections of the inside and / or outside conveyor belt that are located at the same height are pressed against one another in the transport position, so that due to the tapering or narrowing described above,Reduction of the width results in space savings, which contribute to a reduction in the width of the elevator, viewed in the direction of the vehicle's longitudinal center axis, in the transport position.

[0023] In particular, the inner conveyor element is deflected by a stop, so that a deflection occurs automatically when the elevator enters the travel position. The stop is preferably formed by a lower part of the hopper, namely its lower side wall or its floor edge. The use of existing parts to compress the elevator optimizes the available installation space. The stop is part of the hopper even if it is attached to the hopper.

[0024] In particular, the height of the stop is less than the distance between two superimposed deflection rollers of the inner conveyor belt, so that deflection involves little strain on the elevator's mechanics. The conveyor belt can be loaded to such an extent in the transport position that the inner conveyor belt section presses against the outer conveyor belt and touches it. Provided the conveyor belt is sufficiently long thanks to the conveyor belt storage, both conveyor belt sections can be deflected further and collide with a part of the outer conveyor belt arranged on the inside, possibly even causing the outer conveyor belt to bulge outwards. It goes without saying that operation of the conveyor belts that are now lying next to one another is only possible when a distance is restored at least between conveyor belts running in opposite directions. This distance is created automatically due to the conveyor belt storage when the belt is extended or retracted.Swinging and extending the elevator frame to the side.

[0025] The deflection of the conveyor belt of the inner conveyor element can be assisted, in particular, by an adjusting device for reducing the frame width of the elevator frame. For example, a hydraulic cylinder or other adjusting device can be retracted, which can be associated with a reduced distance between parts of the elevator frame that are parallel to the ground and move relative to each other. Alternatively or additionally, this or another adjusting device can also be used to transfer the elevator frame from the operating position to the transport position.

[0026] Generally, the elevator has deflection rollers and wheels arranged on the elevator frame for the conveyor elements designed as conveyor belts, which, in particular, are arranged in pairs at the same height, determine the contour and course of the conveyor belt in the unloaded state. Alternatively to the use of two deflection rollers arranged at the same height, it is also possible to use deflection rollers, which are arranged in particular in the end sections of the conveyor belt elevator at its upper and lower ends.

[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, with an elevator designed as a C-elevator, this has a lifting section extending in a vertical direction angled to a subsurface, a receiving section angled at the bottom to the lifting section, and a discharge section angled at the top to the lifting section. The sections are considered to be angled to one another if surface tangents to the conveying elements running in the respective sections intersect in a view in the direction of the longitudinal central axis.

[0028] The lifting section serves in particular to overcome any height difference of the beets from upstream stations. Starting from a cleaning device, the beets are first transferred to the receiving section, via which the beets are introduced, in particular, into the clamping channel of the elevator designed as a clamp elevator. Preferably, the outer-side conveying element represents a lower receiving section, which, towards the end, forms a transition into the clamping area with the inner-side conveying element located there. In particular, the elasticity for receiving the beets into the clamping area is provided by the outer-side conveying element, which is indirectly deflected by the deflection rollers of the inner-side conveying element, at least in the lifting section.In the receiving area, the upper run of the external conveyor element comprises only a first, front deflection, which is sufficiently large so that beets transferred to the upper run do not come into contact with the lower run of the same conveyor element due to their weight and at the same time there is sufficient space for deflection for the purpose of clamping the beets.

[0029] The outer conveyor element forms the receiving section at least as described above, and the portion of the receiving section formed by the outer conveyor element has an extension that, in a transverse direction extending transversely to a longitudinal center axis of the beet harvester, is greater than the extension of the lower portion of the inner conveyor element. Thus, a portion of the outer conveyor element, particularly on the upper side, is not covered by the inner conveyor element and is free for receiving beets from the cleaning device.

[0030] In the lifting section, both the inside and outside conveyor elements preferably run vertically in order to be able to feed the beets into the bunker from above.

[0031] The discharge section preferably in turn comprises a section of the outer conveyor element which, in a lowest operating position, which can also be approximately at the same height as a lowest transport position, extends further to the opposite side of the bunker than the upper section of the inner conveyor element. This prevents the beets from being discharged in an uncontrolled manner, particularly when discharging at different heights, and ensures that they are directed in a preferred direction towards the interior of the bunker. In particular, an elevator frame part carrying the inner conveyor element and a further elevator frame part of the discharge section carrying the outer conveyor element are each designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis that is parallel to the longitudinal center axis or angled at less than 20°. The elevator frame is thus designed to be made up of several parts, and parts of which can be pivoted relative to one another.

[0032] The two upper, pivotable elevator frame sections form an upper pivot head of the elevator. This pivot head can, in particular, be automatically moved into a desired position, for example, folded up, via the transverse movement of the rest of the elevator in its operating position, for which one or more pivoting means can be provided. If each elevator frame section has its own pivoting means, these can be centrally controlled via an associated control device and thus coupled. According to a further development of the invention, pivoting into a folded-up position during movement of the elevator can, alternatively or in addition to actuation by pivoting means, take place via one or more coupling rods, which bring about a positive guidance of the pivot head.

[0033] Advantageously, both the inner conveyor element and the outer conveyor element form the discharge section, with both the part of the discharge section formed by the inner conveyor element and the part formed by the outer conveyor element, as well as the associated elevator frame parts, being designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. In particular, the pivot axes of the elevator frame parts are formed vertically below the upper edge of the hopper, so that in the travel position or orientation, the discharge section can be arranged between the sides of the hopper.

[0034] According to a further development of the invention, the elevator frame parts of the inner and outer conveyor elements are arranged so that they can be pivoted relative to one another and, in particular, can be controlled independently of one another. The flexible positions of the inner and outer conveyor elements allow the discharge of the crop into the bunker to be optimally controlled. It goes without saying that appropriate pivoting means, in the form of hydraulic cylinders, for example, are provided for the different angular positions. In particular, the hydraulic cylinders are arranged on parts of the elevator frame so that they can be pivoted relative to one another. These pivoting means or actuators can also be controlled jointly via an associated control device. For example, this makes it possible to achieve a lower machine height for clearing under trees.

[0035] The elevator, preferably designed as a clamp elevator, is basically "C"-shaped when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the beet harvester, with a lower receiving section forming a lower leg of the "C," the upper part of the elevator forming an upper leg, and the essentially vertically extending middle sections of the frame corresponding to the middle section of the "C." Pivoting the upper sections of the conveyor elements results in varying filling heights, i.e., the distance from the discharge end of the discharge section to the bunker floor can be varied, resulting in more gentle and quieter filling of the bunker.

[0036] In their lower position, the discharge sections of the outer and inner conveyor elements preferably protrude slightly downwards, i.e. with a slight gradient into the bunker, whereby the height of the side walls is not exceeded.

[0037] Viewed in the direction of travel, the discharge section advantageously extends at least one-third of the bunker width, particularly beyond the longitudinal center axis, in a plane perpendicular to the direction of travel, so that filling occurs away from the longitudinal center axis or toward the opposite side of the bunker. This leads to improved storage of the material due to better weight distribution.

[0038] Advantageously, at least the part of a bunker wall opposite the elevator is designed to be foldable in order to increase the bunker volume, which leads to a further improved weight distribution as described above. For this purpose, the bunker wall is arranged so as to be pivotable and / or displaceable, in particular, about an axis parallel to the bunker's longitudinal center axis. In a further advantageous development of the invention, the beet harvester is characterized by a sensor unit which is provided for detecting a quantity of crop transported by the elevator during operation. In particular, the sensor unit has at least one sensor, preferably arranged on a rocker or a guide rod of the pivotably mounted elevator frame. For example, the weight of the transported crop, ieThe amount of beets can be measured, or the harvested quantity can be indirectly determined from the sensor data obtained using an evaluation device. The evaluation device has the necessary IT resources for evaluating, for example, optical sensor data, is part of the sensor unit, and can be integrated, for example, into a control unit of the beet harvester.

[0039] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures. Schematically shown:

[0040] Fig. 1 shows an object according to the invention in a side view,

[0041] Fig. 2 shows the object according to Fig. 1 in a view from behind and in a

[0042] transport position,

[0043] Fig. 3 shows the object according to Fig. 1 in a view from behind,

[0044] Fig. 4 shows a part of the object according to Fig. 4 in a sectional view, Fig. 5 shows the object according to Fig. 4 in a further operating position,

[0045] Fig. 6 shows a part of the article according to Fig. 2 in a sectional view,

[0046] Fig. 7 is a partial view of the article according to Fig. 5,

[0047] Fig. 8 shows the object according to Fig. 7 in an operating position,

[0048] Fig. 9 is a schematic representation of the article according to Fig. 1 in a plan view.

[0049] Individual technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also be combined with previously described exemplary embodiments as well as the features of one of the independent claims and any further claims to form subject matter according to the invention. Where appropriate, elements that are at least partially functionally equivalent are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0050] A beet harvester 2 according to the invention is designed as a self-propelled sugar beet harvester according to Fig. 1. It has a machine frame 3 on which a cleaning device 4 is arranged. The cleaning device comprises a plurality of sieve cores 6, which clean the beets harvested by means of a lifting unit 8. By means of an elevator 10, which in this case is designed as a C-elevator on the left side of the beet harvester 2 in the direction of travel F, the cleaned sugar beets are transferred to a bunker 12 and temporarily stored. By means of a double transfer belt 14, the sugar beets stored in the bunker can be transferred from the bunker 12 onto a loading vehicle or deposited in a pile. A screw conveyor 16 serves to feed the sugar beets toward the double transfer belt 14.

[0051] The elevator 10 has two conveyor elements designed as conveyor and screening belts, of which an external conveyor element 16 can be seen in Fig. 1.

[0052] Both conveyor belts are deflected or guided via a plurality of deflection elements 19 held on an elevator frame 18 (see Fig. 7 and 8).

[0053] In the transport position, in which the vehicle is approved for road travel, the elevator 10 is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 2. As can be seen from a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3, a left side of the elevator 10 does not extend beyond the lateral edge 23 of the additional beet harvester 2. In the present case, the elevator 10 is referred to as being arranged on the left side, despite the fact that part of the upper or lower end of the elevator 10 extends beyond a longitudinal center axis 20.

[0054] A longitudinal center axis 20, which is indicated by a point and generally runs through the center of the vehicle in the direction of its longitudinal direction, protrudes vertically from the plane of the figure in Fig. 2. For lifting operations, the C-elevator is moved out laterally, in this case to the left, and pivoted out of its transport position. In this case, a pivoting cylinder 21, which is mounted on the machine frame 3 and on the elevator frame 18, is actuated at least as an adjusting means or actuator. Due to a link kinematics, the pivoting leads to a movement in the transverse direction, i.e. to a lateral displacement in Fig. 4 in the direction to the right. Alternatively, a purely linear displacement could also take place laterally via corresponding guides out of the machine frame 3 or away from it.

[0055] In general, the movement in the transverse direction can also be accompanied by a displacement of other functional elements, in particular at least one screening star 6, so that these also protrude laterally from the rest of the machine 2 in the operating position during harvesting. If a screening star 6 is displaced outwards, the cleaning path can be extended by the screening stars 6.

[0056] In addition to the outer conveyor element 16, the elevator 10 has an inner conveyor element 22. Both conveyor elements 16, 22, designed as circulating sieve belts, run from a lower receiving section 24 via a lifting section 26 to a discharge section 28. The outer conveyor element 16 forms a large part of the horizontal extent of the receiving section with a table-like receiving area 30. The extent of the outer conveyor element 16 in the transverse direction Q is significantly greater than that of the inner conveyor element 22. Both conveyor elements have tensioning devices or conveyor belt storage devices 32, which, when the respective conveyor element is loaded, can rebound from their initial position against the force of respective springs 34 and provide conveyor belt length.

[0057] The elevator frame 18 has an elevator frame part 36 in the form of an inner frame part, which is pivotally arranged on the further elevator frame 18 and carries a series of deflection rollers 19 for the inner conveyor element 22 (see Figures 4 and 6). An elevator frame part 38 designed as an outer frame part is also pivotally arranged on the further elevator frame 18 and carries a series of deflection rollers 19 for the outer conveyor element 16. Both frame parts 36 and 38 pivot about axes that are perpendicular to the plane of the figures in Figures 4 and 5, respectively. These axes run parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis and the longitudinal central axis 20, respectively. The pivot axes are located below a bunker upper edge 40, which, regardless of any foldable, grid-like wall elevations 42, limits the bunker at the top in the transport position.

[0058] Beets lifted by means of the elevator 10 are transported in the operating position in a lowest discharge position of the inner conveyor element 22 due to the elevator frame part 36 running approximately perpendicular to the ground from the left side as viewed in the direction of travel (right side of Figure 4) across a center of the bunker towards a fold-out wall 44 which is formed on the side of the bunker 12 opposite the elevator 10. In this respect, an advantageous distribution of the root crops in the bunker 12 results due to a shift of the weight of the elevator 10 outwards. In the retracted position of the elevator 10 intended for the transport position of the beet harvester 2, it does not extend beyond the outer sections of the bunker 12 as viewed in the direction of travel (Figure 6).The inside conveyor element is deflected outwards relative to the belt path otherwise indicated by dashed lines 48 by a lower section of the bunker 12 forming a stop 46. The length of the conveyor belt 22 required for this is provided by the associated conveyor belt storage 32. In this transport position, the inside conveyor element 22 is thus deflected in such a way that the elevator 10, at the height H of the deflection above the ground (not shown), has a smaller width than in the operating position. The conveyor belt sections 50 and 51 of the inside conveyor element, which run in opposite directions during operation, are in contact with one another. In addition, the upwardly running section 51 of the inside conveyor element 22 can push the part 52 of the outside conveyor element 16, which is designed as a clamping conveyor belt and is located at the same height, outwards.By moving the elevator 10 into the transport position, the three sections 50, 51 and 52 can be disengaged from their starting position and use the tensioning path provided by the respective conveyor belt storage 32.

[0059] Due to the tapering of the elevator 10 due to the compression of the belts, which is made possible by a sufficiently large distance between the deflection rollers, the bunker can form a straight wall 53 in its lowest area, which facilitates the removal of the sugar beets with the aid of a rolling or sliding floor 54.

[0060] A sensor 58 of a sensor unit records data relating to the weight load of the elevator 10, so that in an associated evaluation device 60, indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 5, conclusions can be drawn about the picked-up crop by means of the conveying speed.

[0061] The transverse movement of the elevator is brought about by a four-bar linkage with two upper bearings 62 of an upper link 64 which is movable by an upper pivoting cylinder 21, and two lower bearings 66 of the further pivoting cylinder 21 which forms a length-adjustable link (Fig. 5). The elevator frame is mounted on the machine frame 3 in the upper of the two bearings 62, in this case indirectly via a sufficiently stable structure of the right-hand bunker wall in Figures 5 and 6. The upper link 64 is mounted with its lower bearing 62 on the elevator frame 18. By retracting the further pivoting cylinder 21, which in Figure 5 for example is the upper one and is mounted at one end on the elevator frame 18 and the other end on the upper link 64, the elevator frame 18 is moved in a first step to be transferred from the operating position into the transport orIn the travel position, the elevator frame 18 is already pivoted counterclockwise around the upper bearing point of the bearing 62 and the pivot axis protruding vertically from the plane of the figure through this bearing point. In a further step, the elevator frame 18 is pivoted into its final transport or travel position by retracting the lower adjusting cylinder 21 in Figure 5. The course of the conveyor elements 16 and 22 in the operating position is shown in Figures 7 and 8 once in the unloaded state and once in the loaded state by beets (not shown). Due to the conveyor belt storage 32, the outer conveyor element 16 is designed as a clamping conveyor belt.The facing sections of the respective conveyor elements 16 and 22, which form a clamping channel 56 during operation with the sugar beets, extend upwards. The left part of the inner conveyor element 22 shown in Figures 7 and 8 and the right part of the outer conveyor element 16 then extend downwards accordingly. Beets transferred to the receiving area 30 are transported upwards to the discharge section 28 while being clamped between the two conveyor elements 16 and 22.

[0062] The longitudinal center axis 20, indicated by a dot in Fig. 2, runs in the center of the beet harvester 2 according to the invention in a plan view (Fig. 9), with the beet harvester 2 being maximally extended longitudinally, i.e., not in a crab-steer position. A bunker longitudinal center axis (not shown) runs above the longitudinal center axis 20 and would cover this longitudinal center axis 20 in the view shown.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Beet harvesting machine (2) with a machine frame (3), a cleaning device (4), a bunker (12) for the intermediate storage of lifted beets and with an elevator (10) which is arranged at least partially laterally next to the bunker (12) and is provided for transferring the beets into the bunker (12) during lifting operation, the elevator having an elevator frame (18) and a conveyor element which rotates during lifting operation, characterized in that the elevator (10) is movably connected to the machine frame (3) in such a way that it can be transferred from a transport position into an operating position in which the elevator (10) projects laterally relative to the transport position.

2. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elevator frame (18) is movably connected to the machine frame (3) in a transverse direction (Q) extending transversely to a longitudinal center axis (20) of the beet harvesting machine (2).

3. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator frame (18) is pivotally and / or displaceably connected to the machine frame (3) for transfer into the laterally projecting operating position.

4. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elevator (10) is designed as a C-elevator, preferably with at least one inner conveyor element (22) and one outer conveyor element (16), at least one of which is designed as a clamping conveyor belt and which, during harvesting operation, transport the beets upwards in a clamped manner between them.

5. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims and with an elevator (10) provided with an inner conveyor element (22) and an outer conveyor element (16), characterized in that the inner conveyor element (22) has a conveyor belt storage device (32), in particular a spring-loaded one, which is deflected from an initial position when the conveyor element (22) is subjected to a load which changes the belt path.

6. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the transport position the inside conveyor element (22) is deflected compared to the operating position in such a way that the elevator (10) at the height (H) of the deflection in the transport position has a smaller width than in the operating position, in particular wherein conveyor belt sections (50, 51, 52) of the inside and / or outside conveyor belt and / or conveyor element (16, 22) located at one height are pressed against one another in the transport position.

7. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the inner conveyor element (22) is deflected due to a stop (46) which is formed in particular by a part of the bunker (12).

8. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims, including claim 4, characterized in that the elevator (10) has a lifting section (26) extending in a height direction angled to a ground, a receiving section (24) angled at the bottom to the lifting section (26) and a discharge section (28) angled at the top to the lifting section (26).

9. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the outer-side conveying element (16) at least co-forms the receiving section (26) and an extension of the part of the receiving section (24) formed by the outer-side conveying element (16) in a transverse direction (Q) running transversely to the longitudinal center axis (20) of the beet harvesting machine (2) is greater than an extension of the lower-side part of the inner-side conveying element (22).

10. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that both the inside conveyor element (22) and the outside conveyor element (16) form the discharge section (28), wherein both an elevator frame part (36) carrying the inside conveyor element (22) and a further elevator frame part (38) of the discharge section (28) carrying the outer conveyor element (16) is also designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal central axis (20) or angled at less than 20°.

11. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the pivot axes of the elevator frame parts (36, 38) are located in the vertical direction below a bunker upper edge (40).

12. Beet harvesting machine according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the elevator frame parts (36, 38) of the inside conveyor element (22) and the outside conveyor element (16) are arranged so as to be pivotable relative to one another and, in particular, can be controlled independently of one another.

13. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the discharge section (28) projects in a plane transverse to the direction of travel at least over one third of a bunker width, in particular beyond the longitudinal center axis (20), in the direction towards the opposite side of the bunker.

14. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the part (44) of a bunker wall of the bunker (12) opposite the elevator (10) is designed to be foldable in order to increase the bunker volume.

15. Beet harvesting machine (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a sensor unit and / or a sensor (58) for detecting a quantity of harvested material transported by the elevator (10) during operation.

Images