Sorting apparatus for harvested crops

Abstract

The invention relates to a sorting apparatus for harvested crops comprising root crops, in particular a root crop sorting apparatus, comprising: an upper feed element; at least one lower discharge element spaced apart from the feed element via a drop stage; and a separating device having a plurality of separating elements which are arranged next to one another across the width of the drop stage and can each be pivoted about a separating-element axis by means of a pivot drive of a drive device, wherein, during operation, each separating element guides a portion of the harvested crops into a separating region that is separate from the discharge element, wherein the separating elements located in the drop stage each have two impact surfaces by means of which, during operation of the sorting apparatus, the harvested crops can be guided either in the direction of the discharge element or in the direction of the separating region, depending on the pivot angle of the separating element.

Description

[0001] Sorting device for crops

[0002] The present invention relates to a sorting device for harvested crops comprising root crops, in particular a root crop sorting device, with an upper feed element, at least one lower discharge element spaced from the feed element by a drop step, a separating device with a plurality of separating elements arranged next to one another across the width of the drop step and pivotable about a separating element axis by means of a respective pivot drive of a drive device, wherein during operation a respective separating element guides a part of the harvested crop into a separation area separate from the discharge element.

[0003] The prior art according to EP 2 893 329 B1 discloses a sorting device in which separating elements engaging laterally and above the crop flow require a separating edge and a comparatively high drop height to cleanly separate the individual elements of the harvested crop. Root crops, especially potatoes, are potentially damaged due to the high drop height, depending on the variety, growth stage, and growth pattern.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to make the separation of the crop stream, in particular the separation of root crops and stones, more gentle on the product. This object is achieved by an article according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0005] A sorting device according to the invention is characterized in that the separating elements arranged in the drop stage each have two impact surfaces, by means of which, during operation of the sorting device, the crop can be or is guided either in the direction of the discharge element or in the direction of the separation area, depending on the pivoting angle of the separating element. The infeed element and the discharge element are designed in particular as infeed and discharge conveyor belts, for example as belt, rod, hedgehog, pocket, strap or segment belts, although the lower discharge element can also be designed as a bunker, receiving or storage container for at least temporarily storing the root crops and thus, if necessary, later conveying the root crops away. In general, the discharge element can be part of a discharge unit that has one or more of the aforementioned elements.

[0006] Furthermore, the removal element can also be designed, for example, as a sack or box for storing the root crops, or as a chute or drop sail for the root crops to slide off. Combinations of such removal elements with different designs are also possible. The separation area can, for example, also be designed by a circulating belt, in particular a belt, rod, belt, or segmented belt, or another element for removal, or as a bunker, sack, or box for storing and later removing the impurities, or as a chute or drop sail for the impurities to slide off. Furthermore, designs of the separation area comprising several of the aforementioned means or combinations thereof are also possible.

[0007] The separation area can also be formed by a circulating belt, in particular a belt. The separation area can also be simply a section of the sorting device through which the separated crop falls toward a subsurface. The separation area can also be a (possibly additional) collection or storage container. The impact surfaces of a separation element are those surfaces from which the crop is directed in the desired direction, in particular by rebounding and / or sliding or sliding.

[0008] The feed element is an upper feed element if it is arranged above the lower discharge element in relation to a perpendicular to the ground. The drop stage thus bridges the space between these two conveyor elements. In particular, the drop stage is characterized by the area in which the individual elements of the product or crop flow formed by the crop during operation, comprising root crops and stones and possibly clods, fall in free fall and accelerated downwards by the feed element. According to the invention, the separating device is now arranged at least in part in the drop stage in such a way that the crop falls onto the same during operation regardless of actuation of the separating element. By arranging the separating elements in the drop stage and thus in the trajectory path of the crop created during operation, the drop stage height is reduced and the crop can be sorted more gently.

[0009] When released from the feed element, for example due to a deflection of the same if this is designed as a belt conveyor, the crop, including root crops, begins to fall freely and is then passed on and in particular deflected by the separating element. The width of the drop step corresponds to the width of the feed element, viewed in a direction transverse to the conveying direction. Therefore, the entire width range in which the crop is transported towards the drop step and into it is relevant for the design of the separating device. The separating elements of the separating device can capture the crop flow across this entire width or are arranged in the crop flow across this entire width. For example, a 20 millimeter wide separating element is arranged next to the next every 25 mm.

[0010] Due to the gravity-induced impact of the crop on the impact surfaces of the separating elements, the crop is either forwarded towards the discharge element or towards a separation area. The separating elements can only have impact surfaces in the sense of passively acting impact surfaces. A change in direction of the resulting crop then only occurs due to the acceleration of the same in free fall and its rebounding from the respective impact surfaces. Alternatively or additionally, the change in direction can also be brought about by an additional movement of the respective separating element. In a further development of the invention, the movement of the separating element can, in addition to the rebounding from the respective impact surface, transmit a further, in particular direction-changing impulse to the crop. In this case, the movement is actively influenced by the crop in the desired direction.This makes it possible to separate the crop into at least three or even four different areas, two areas that can be reached by purely passive rebounding and at least one or two areas that can be reached by active impulse transfer.

[0011] For example, the harvested crop consists exclusively of root crops of different quality classes that need to be separated. The harvested crop may also contain unwanted impurities that need to be separated, such as stones.

[0012] A further development according to the invention preferably comprises a further removal element for this purpose, which is arranged in particular above the first removal element or above the separation area. In particular, small root crops and / or root crops with identified defects are thereby transferred to the further removal element arranged above the removal element or above the separation area, while the desired root crops or those without defects are transferred to the first removal element. Root crops with defects are considered to be, for example, root crops with green, rotten or decaying spots, root crops that have been cut, bruised or eaten, or root crops that are infected with fungal, viral or bacterial pathogens, such as scab, Erwinia or Rhizoctonia. The further removal element can also be designed as a bunker, storage or collection container.The separation area for impurities can also have an impurity storage or impurity collection container.

[0013] Due to the inventive design of the impact surfaces, against which the crop bounces without these surfaces being moved during contact and without an impulse on the crop generated due to the movement of the separating elements, the crop is separated more gently than if the drop step is higher and impurities are removed from the flight path by active movement of the separating elements.

[0014] According to the invention, an impact surface which is effective during operation for forwarding the crop in the direction of the discharge element or in the direction of the separating element is located in the flight path of the crop, so that the crop falls onto the impact surfaces and is forwarded from there by bouncing off.

[0015] Advantageously, the feed and discharge elements are arranged such that, in a side view perpendicular to the conveying direction, they are arranged on different sides of a perpendicular to the ground running through the separating element. The separating element is arranged below the desired trajectory of the root crops, whereby the root crops experience less deflection than the unwanted impurities, which are deflected more strongly. If a separating element according to a further development of the invention additionally accelerates the crop through an active movement of the separating element, the respective impact surface can, if necessary and depending on the size of the impact surface, at least partially exit the trajectory.

[0016] In particular, the separating elements of the separating device are mounted on a common axis or shaft, in particular by means of one or more plain bearings, so that a pivoting of the separating element is effected via an actuating means of a respective separating element arranged offset from a corresponding separating element axis, acting as a pivot drive. The actuating means can be designed as a torque arm and hold the separating element on the possibly rotating shaft. Linear drives, hydraulic cylinders, or pneumatic cylinders, for example, are used as drives. The separating element axis is the axis around which the separating elements pivot.

[0017] In particular, the sorting device has a sensor device designed to detect the crop flow, the data from which can be used to generate control signals for actuating the respective pivot drives. The detection takes place in particular across the width of the crop flow and depends on this width, so that a respective separating element or group of separating elements can be controlled accordingly across the width of the crop flow. In addition to the sensors for detecting the individual elements of the crop flow, the sensor device comprises an associated evaluation device. Using this evaluation device, the crop flow is analyzed, and the individual elements of the crop flow are identified. In particular, a distinction is made as to whether it is root crops or impurities that need to be removed from the crop flow.Accordingly, if, for example, a stone is detected at a specific width position, the separating element or group of separating elements located in the drop stage at this width position is targeted in such a way that it guides the stone toward a separation area, such as a discharge element. For this purpose, the separating element can, for example, remain in its existing position or be pivoted into a position where, due to the interaction between the stone and the impact surface, the stone is guided in the desired direction.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, an acceleration of the identified portion of the crop flow can additionally be achieved by a movement of the separating element, wherein the evaluation device preferably not only differentiates between admixtures and root crops, but also additionally classifies the latter, for example, based on their size, their type of utilization, and / or any defects or, more generally, their quality. For this purpose, the evaluation device has executable instructions in a working memory of the associated data processing system, on the basis of which the crop flow is analyzed using the sensor data and divided or sorted into at least three different areas: a separation area and two discharge elements.

[0019] Preferably, in particular, a classification method is used to determine the components of the harvested material, including impurities and root crops, in the data set recorded by the sensor device, which depicts the harvested material. Based on such a classification, for example, by evaluating the color values ​​of the data set, individual components of the transported material in question can be identified and, if necessary, classified into different sizes, utilization, and / or quality classes. Quality classes are used to select the root crops based on criteria such as cuts, scab, rot, worm damage, or rodent damage.Using a position of the classified crop component identified, for example, in a 2D image and taking into account the feed speed, the evaluation device determines when the crop component hits which impact surface and generates a possible control signal for the separating element to be controlled according to the width position of the crop component.

[0020] Optical sensors, such as cameras, are particularly used as sensors, whose data is evaluated using image recognition algorithms. The evaluation device must be equipped accordingly. For example, suitable RGB cameras often have two-dimensional image sensors in the form of CCD or CMOS sensors. Alternatively or in addition, laser or ultrasonic sensors can also be used, which can determine the underlying element, either the root crop, clods, and / or other impurities, based on characteristic properties of the crop.

[0021] The signaling for moving, in particular for pivoting, the separating element preferably takes into account the conveying speed and the position of the separating element in the drop stage in order to move or pivot the separating element appropriately, if necessary, and so that the correspondingly detected crop bounces off an impact surface in the correct position.

[0022] In particular, the impact surfaces of the separating elements are arranged at an angle to one another, with a tip or corner, by which the impact surfaces of the respective separating element are separated from one another, being pivotable such that, viewed from the side, it can be positioned on one side and the other side of the crop flow's trajectory path, thus deflecting the crop accordingly via the adjacent effective impact surface. A separating effect is achieved by even a slight pivoting of the tip through the trajectory path, in particular a pivoting of less than 90°, preferably less than 60°.

[0023] In particular, the part of the harvested material or harvested material stream consisting of root crops is forwarded in such a way that the root crops are forwarded from the impact surface in the direction of the discharge element, wherein, viewed in a direction perpendicular to a subsoil, the impact surface is arranged between an edge from which the harvested material is released from the upper feed element and an edge of the lower discharge element. By bouncing or sliding on the impact surface and the associated forwarding and possibly deflecting of the harvested material, its acceleration is reduced and damage to the root crops is minimized. In this case, the impact surface of the separating element is in particular not pivoted by its pivot drive. The angular arrangement of the impact surfaces to one another means that they can be connected to one another via a corner of the separating element.This corner of the separating element is formed, in particular, by a thickened curve, so that material (root crops) that accidentally strikes the corner when swinging through an area swept over by the trajectory of the crop flow is not damaged. Furthermore, the thickened curve or another enlarged cross-sectional design of the corner or corner area creates a surface area angled toward the impact surface, particularly for the impurities, which, when the separating element moves, prevents the crop to be separated from moving toward the other impact surface.

[0024] This further leads to improved separation.

[0025] In particular, the impact surfaces are formed on sides of the separating element facing away from each other. The sides are considered to be facing away from each other if any perpendiculars on the impact surfaces are angled to each other. In particular, in a side view of the sorting device, the angle between the perpendiculars of the correspondingly facing away from each other impact surfaces is more than 30°.

[0026] Advantageously, the sorting device according to a further development of the invention is characterized in that the separating elements, in a side view in the direction of the separating element axis, have a substantially triangular basic shape with a further corner, in particular in which the respective separating element is mounted, a first impact surface on a first side adjacent to this further corner, and with a impact surface on a second side opposite this further corner. The use of a triangular basic shape enables a simple arrangement of the separating elements in the material flow existing during operation, wherein the corner separating the two sides with the impact surfaces is arranged at the upper end of the triangle and a sufficiently large deflection towards the discharge element or the separation area is possible by only a slight pivoting of in particular less than 120°.

[0027] In particular, the impact surfaces of the separating elements form, in a side view in the direction of the separating element axis, a substantially triangular shape with a corner that can be pivoted through the trajectory of the crop flow created during operation of the sorting device.

[0028] The separating element is preferably provided with an openable bearing device. In particular, the bearing device, preferably formed in a corner of the separating element, has a bearing seat shell which, together with a further region of the separating element, forms a bearing seat that is preferably circular in a side view, into which a bearing can be clamped or pressed. With the openable bearing device, the separating element, which is arranged on a shaft with a plurality of additional separating elements, can be individually replaced.

[0029] The trajectory path of the crop flow is generally the area that is captured by the crop flow during operation, regardless of the separating device. The separating element is preferably mounted on a side opposite this corner, preferably in a corner. The triangular design, with the corner pivoting along the trajectory path, allows the desired sorting result to be achieved with particularly low force and a correspondingly rapid redirection of the incoming material.

[0030] A further development of the invention is characterized in that the separating elements, when viewed from the side in the direction of the separating element axis, have a substantially triangular basic shape with one corner, wherein a first of the two impact surfaces is arranged on a first side adjacent to this further corner and a further of the two impact surfaces is arranged on a second side opposite this corner. A substantially triangular basic shape exists when an envelope spans a shape that most closely corresponds to a triangle and has three long sides separated from one another by more or less strongly rounded corners. This shape makes storage with a corner pointing in the direction of the material flow and, in particular, by attaching a pivot drive on a side opposite the upper corner moved by the material flow easy to do.

[0031] Preferably, the respective separating element is mounted in a lower corner, namely the further corner, so that sufficient space is available for any swivel drives of the separating element on the side opposite the corner to be moved by the material flow, which is then freer. In particular, the respective swivel drive, e.g., a swivel drive in the form of a pneumatic cylinder, can act on the separating element with a movement that is predominantly vertical to the horizontal base. The separating element can then be arranged with the associated swivel drive in a more space-saving manner between the separating area and the discharge element.

[0032] In an advantageous development of the invention, one of the sides, in particular the side below the impact surface, has an indentation or recess which is particularly suitable for at least partially receiving crop material. This recess creates a separate, smaller receiving area for crop material that slides off or onto the impact surface on the same side or has not yet been forwarded, so that the separating element can be actuated again without the crop material that has not yet been fully forwarded being accelerated in an undesired direction by a movement of the separating element. This increases the separation frequency. The crop material can then be forwarded by any transfer elements. The indentation and / or, alternatively or additionally, a rib-like structure of the separating element also makes it lighter and allows it to be moved with less energy.

[0033] Preferably, in a position of a respective separating element intended for transferring the crop to the discharge element, in particular at a pivot angle of 0° with respect to the starting position, a straight line between the infeed and discharge elements forms an angle of less than 25° to a straight line running along the surface of one of the two impact surfaces. The straight line is the straight line that describes the shortest distance between the infeed and discharge elements. This straight line refers to the conveying surfaces of the infeed and discharge elements and is located in particular in the deflection areas in which the conveying surfaces are deflected via deflection rollers or cylinders. Part of the drop step is thus bridged by the separating element in the manner of a chute, through which the material to be conveyed but not separated is passed on more gently.The straight line running along the surface of one of the two impact surfaces lies directly on the surface of a straight impact surface, and corresponds to a tangent to the impact surface of a curved impact surface, viewed from the side. In particular, the impact surface at an angle of < 25° is the one for the root crops.

[0034] Preferably, the impact surface is in a starting position without pivoting, in which part of the fall step is replaced by a chute for the desired crop to be forwarded, i.e. the root crops.

[0035] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sorting device, as described above, has a sensor device designed to detect the crop flow, the data from which can be used to generate control signals for actuating the respective pivot drives. In combination with the belt speed and the resulting speed of the respective crop components as well as their position on the feed element, control signals are generated during operation for the respective separating element when this is to be pivoted from an initial position, for example, into a position in which impurities, i.e. crop material to be sorted out, are to impact one of the two impact surfaces and then be forwarded towards a separation area.It is understood that such detection takes place across the width of the material flow and that for this purpose a plurality of separating elements arranged next to one another are arranged across the width of the fall step and can be controlled accordingly.

[0036] The classification of the respective crop components is known from the prior art. It is further understood that such a sensor device comprises an evaluation device with conventional data processing means, in particular electronic data processing means comprising processor units and volatile and persistent memory.

[0037] It is also understood that on the side of the respective separating element, the swivel drive is designed to process the control signals and ensures that the respective separating element is swiveled sufficiently quickly.

[0038] The separating device preferably has at least one rotatable cleaning or transfer element in the drop stage, in particular which is arranged on the same shaft on which the separating elements are mounted. A rotatable cleaning or transfer element can counteract any haulm components in the crop stream getting trapped and can forward this haulm. Root crops that slide or slip off the impact surface can also be forwarded via the transfer element in the direction of the discharge element. A sorting device according to the invention is advantageously provided with a plurality of transfer elements, wherein the transfer elements are arranged across the width of the drop stage and in particular evenly and preferably at least partially between the separating elements.In this respect, an arrangement is advantageous in which a separating element is followed by a transfer element, which in turn is followed by another separating element viewed in the direction of the separating element axis, and so on. This ensures optimal further transport across the width of the drop step of any root crops that may only slide off and not bounce in the direction of the discharge element.

[0039] According to a further embodiment of the invention, when viewed in a direction transverse to the width of the drop step, the transfer elements which are rotatable about the separating element axis are partially covered by the impact surfaces of the separating elements, i.e. the separating elements are, for example, arranged at least partially below the impact surfaces of the wasted separating elements in a plan view, so that the device is as compact as possible and at the same time there are no gaps between the separating elements which could lead to jamming of the crop. In particular, the separating elements form a continuous surface across the width of the drop step, apart from the gaps necessary for mobility relative to one another. The transfer elements also serve to clean the spaces between the separating elements of soil build-up or haulms. The transfer elements are preferably each designed as a finger star or profiled disc, which are elements optimised for onward transport of the root crops.

[0040] The drive device preferably comprises a transfer element drive, with which the transfer elements are arranged to rotate, in particular around the same axis on which the separating elements pivot. For this purpose, the transfer elements, which alternate with the separating elements, are arranged on a shaft rotatable by the transfer element drive. The separating elements are then also mounted on this shaft; they do not rotate with the shaft and are held on the rotating shaft during operation by the pivot drive.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, the transfer elements can be arranged on a separate secondary shaft running parallel to the separating element axis and, in particular, offset from it in the direction of the filling element, so that any gaps to the discharge element can be bridged. These separate transfer elements can be arranged on the secondary shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and rotate together without the separating elements being additionally mounted on this secondary shaft, in particular via the pivot drives. This reduces wear in the bearings of the separating elements, which cannot rotate with the transfer elements.

[0042] The at least one transfer element can be designed as a smooth or profiled roller, a belt, a profiled disc, or even a finger star and / or as part of a roller body. The drive device of the separating elements is preferably provided with a pneumatic drive, while transfer elements can be driven in particular by a hydraulic drive.

[0043] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures. Individual details of the depicted objects are not shown in all figures. Schematically shown:

[0044] Fig. 1 shows a sorting device according to the invention in a side view,

[0045] Fig. 2 shows the object according to Fig. 1 in a further operating position,

[0046] Fig. 3 shows a part of the device according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in a detailed view,

[0047] Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a part of the sorting device according to the invention,

[0048] Fig. 5 is a more detailed view of a part of the device according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in a perspective view,

[0049] Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a part of the device according to the invention according to Fig. 1, Fig. 7 shows a further device according to the invention in a side view,

[0050] Fig. 8 shows a part of the object according to Fig. 7 in a more detailed representation,

[0051] Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of the invention in a view analogous to Fig. 1.

[0052] Where appropriate, elements with the same function are provided with identical reference numerals. Individual features of the exemplary embodiments described below, in combination with the features of the independent claim and, where appropriate, further claims, can also lead to subject matter according to the invention.

[0053] A sorting device 2 according to the invention comprises an upper feed element 4 and a lower discharge element 8 spaced from the feed element 4 by a drop step 6. The upper feed element 4 and the lower discharge element 8, which is generally arranged below the upper feed element 4, are designed as belts. A separating device 10 comprises a plurality of separating elements 18 (Fig. 1) arranged side by side across the width of the drop step 6 and pivotable about a separating element axis 16 (Fig. 6) by means of a respective pivot drive 12 of a drive device 14.Each separating element 18 is designed, during operation, to forward the crop material fed in via the feed element along the movement paths indicated by dashed arrows 20, on the one hand the root crops in the direction of the discharge element 8 and, on the other hand, the material to be separated (impurities) in the direction of a separation area formed by a further discharge element 22 in the form of a belt.

[0054] The separating elements 18 arranged in the drop stage 6 each have two impact surfaces in the form of a first impact surface 24 and a second impact surface 26, by means of which, during operation of the sorting device 2, the crop is guided either in the direction of the discharge element 8 or in the direction of the separation area, depending on the pivoting angle of the separating element 18.

[0055] The two impact surfaces 24 and 26 of the separating elements 18 are angled to each other such that straight lines 19 perpendicular to their surfaces intersect (Fig. 7). The side views of the figures show that the separating elements (18) form a substantially triangular basic shape, with the two impact surfaces 24, 26 of the separating elements 18 merging into one another via a corner 28 formed by a thickened rounded portion. In accordance with the basic shape, the impact surfaces 24 and 26 are formed on sides of the separating element (18) facing away from each other (Figs. 1 to 3).

[0056] The corner 28 forms a point or apex of the respective triangular basic shape, which pivots through the trajectory of the crop material created during operation of the sorting device 2. Thus, even slight changes in the pivot angle about the separating element axis 16, which acts as the pivot axis, can cause changes in the trajectory, and the crop material flow can be separated with minimal energy consumption. This is advantageous compared to the devices known from the prior art.

[0057] The separating element axis 16 is arranged in a further corner 30 of the basic shape, which in a side view in the direction of the axis is essentially triangular, wherein the first impact surface 24 is located on the first side adjacent to this corner at least of the triangular envelope or the basic shape and the further impact surface 26 is located on a side of the triangular basic shape opposite this further corner 30 (Figs. 3 and 4).

[0058] On the side of the first impact surface 24, below the impact surface, there is an indentation or recess 42 of the separating element 18, which, as described above, leads to an increase in the clock frequency and, moreover, to material savings and thus to a lighter design of the separating element.

[0059] A bearing device comprises a bearing seat shell 31 forming the corner 30, which, together with a further region of the separating element 18, forms a bearing seat which is circular in side view and into which a bearing can be clamped or pressed (Fig. 3). This bearing can form the bearing on a shaft 46 as a plain bearing (Fig. 8). The bearing seat shell 31 is detachably connected to the adjacent region 35 of the separating element via a screw means 33. In the initial position shown in Fig. 1, the pivot angle is 0°, and in this position with a pivot angle 0 of the separating element 18, the root crops are passed on in the direction of the discharge element 8. Depending on the design of the length of the impact surface 24 and the impact of the harvested material orof the root crops on the impact surface 24, this can also act as a chute, on which the harvested material in the form of root crops is guided further in the direction of the discharge element 8 with as little material damage as possible, in order to be captured at the lower end in the region of the pivot axis by transfer elements 32, by means of which the root crops are guided further in the direction of the discharge element 8. For this purpose, a straight line 31 is formed between the infeed and discharge elements 4, 8 at an angle of less than 25° to a straight line 33 running along the surface of the impact surface 24 (cf. Fig. 7).

[0060] If a sensor device 34 in its associated evaluation unit 36 ​​detects that crop to be sorted is present at a specific position along the width of the feed element 4, a control signal is transmitted to the pivot drive 12 of the appropriate separating element 18, which then extends essentially vertically relative to the horizontal ground and pivots the separating element 18 about the separating element axis 16. The crop to be sorted then impacts the second impact surface 26 and falls from there toward the further discharge element 22 or into the separation area formed thereby (Fig. 2). The separating elements 18 are each designed such that they form an upper, overhanging part with the second impact surface 26 and the first impact surface 24 in the direction of and perpendicular to the separating element or pivot axis 16 (Figs. 3 and 4).Below this overhanging part, the formed free space can be occupied by the transfer element 32, if present. Transfer elements 32 are also arranged on a separate secondary shaft 48, meshing with the transfer elements 32 arranged on the separating element axis 16.

[0061] As an alternative to the design of the separating element with a recess 42 present in the side view, a separating element can also be designed with a rib structure as shown in Fig. 4.

[0062] The part of the sorting device shown in Fig. 5 shows the shafts 46 for the separating elements 18 held in a frame 44 as well as the transfer elements 32 partially overlapped by these separating elements and at least in a wasting position as well as the further transfer elements 32 on the second shaft 48 which mesh with the transfer elements 32 arranged on the shaft 46. Both shafts 46 and 48 are driven by a transfer element drive 50, which is, for example, a hydraulic motor.

[0063] Instead of using profiled disc-shaped transfer elements 32 driven by a shaft, fixed transfer elements 32 in the form of the guide element forming a sliding surface shown in Fig. 7 can also be used according to the embodiment of Fig. 7. In a further embodiment of the invention, the sorting device is provided, in addition to the first discharge element 8, with a further discharge element 52, onto which root crops are transferred along the dashed arrows 20 by means of an impulse originating from the movement of the controlled separating element, indicated by a solid directional arrow P.The sensor device is designed not only to differentiate between harvested material and impurities, but also in particular to detect root crops of different sizes or which require different quality treatment and, after classifying two size fractions with smaller and larger root crops or root crops with and without defects, to preferably divert the small or defective root crops to the further removal element 52.

Claims

Claims 1 . Sorting device for harvested crops comprising root crops, in particular a root crop sorting device, with an upper feed element (4), at least one lower discharge element (8) spaced from the feed element (4) via a drop stage (6), a separating device (10) with a plurality of separating elements (18) arranged next to one another across the width of the drop stage (6) and pivotable about a separating element axis (16) by means of a respective pivot drive (12) of a drive device (14), wherein during operation a respective separating element (18) guides a portion of the harvested crop into a separation area separate from the discharge element (8), characterized in that the separating elements (18) arranged in the drop stage (6) each have two baffles (24, 26) by means of which, during operation of the sorting device (2), the harvested crop can be guided either in the direction of the discharge element (8) or in the direction of the separation area, depending on the pivot angle of the separating element (18).

2. Sorting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the impact surfaces (24, 16) of the separating elements (18) are at an angle to one another.

3. Sorting device according to claim 2, characterized in that a corner (28) of the separating element (18) formed between the impact surfaces (24, 26) is formed by a thickened rounding.

4. Sorting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impact surfaces (24, 26) are formed on sides of the separating element (18) directed away from one another.

5. Sorting device according to claim 4, characterized in that the impact surfaces (24, 26) of the separating elements (18) form, in a side view in the direction of the separating element axis (16), a substantially triangular shape with a corner (28) which can be pivoted through the trajectory of the crop stream created during operation of the sorting device (2).

6. Sorting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the separating elements (18) in a side view in the direction of the separating element axis (18) have the substantially triangular basic shape with a further corner (30), in particular in which the respective separating element (18) is mounted, with a first of the two impact surfaces (24, 26) on a first side adjacent to this corner (30) and with a second of the two impact surfaces (24, 26) on a second side opposite this further corner (30).

7. Sorting device according to claim 6, characterized in that one of the sides, in particular the side below the first impact surface (24), has an indentation (42).

8. Sorting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a for transferring the harvested material to the discharge element (8) provided position of a respective separating element (18), in particular at a pivoting angle of 0°, a straight line (31) between the feed and discharge elements (4, 8) forms an angle of less than 25° to a straight line (33) running along the surface of one of the two impact surfaces (24, 26).

9. Sorting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sorting device (2) has a sensor device (34) designed to detect the flow of material, the data of which can be used to generate control signals for actuating the respective pivot drives (12).

10. Sorting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating device (10) in the drop stage (6) has at least one rotatable transfer element (32), in particular which is arranged on the same shaft (46) on which the separating elements (18) are mounted.

11. Sorting device according to claim 10 with a plurality of transfer elements (32), characterized in that the transfer elements (32) are distributed over the width of the drop step (6) and in particular are arranged at least partially between the separating elements (18).

12. Sorting device according to claim 11, characterized in that at least some of the transfer elements (32) are arranged on a second shaft (48) running parallel to the separating element axis (16) and in particular offset from this in the direction of the discharge element (8).

13. Sorting device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the at least one transfer element (32) is designed as a smooth or profiled roller, as a finger star, profiled disc, belt and / or as part of a roller body.

14. Sorting device according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the drive device has a transfer element drive (50).

15. Sorting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a further discharge element (52), in particular which is arranged above the first discharge element (8) or above the separation area.

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