Spreading machine and row unit for a spreading machine

Abstract

The document relates to a row unit (10) for a spreading machine, said row unit having a fertilizer depositing device (12) for depositing fertilizer on an agricultural land plot. The fertilizer depositing device (12) has a furrow opener (22) for opening a deposition furrow (AF) for the fertilizer. The row unit also has a seed depositing device (14) for depositing seed on the agricultural land plot, the fertilizer depositing device (12) and the seed depositing device (14) being designed to deposit the fertilizer and the seed in a shared deposition line (AL) on the agricultural land plot.

Description

[0001] Dispensing machine and row unit for a dispensing machine

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a series unit for an application machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and an agricultural application machine according to the preamble of claim 14.

[0004] Agricultural spreading machines typically have several row units arranged side-by-side, perpendicular to the direction of travel. On some machine types, both fertilizer and seed can be deposited via these row units. For this purpose, the row units are equipped with a fertilizer placement device and a seed placement device.

[0005] In some applications, it is advantageous for the fertilizer application system and the seed placement system to deposit the fertilizer and seed in a shared application line on agricultural land. This is also referred to as in-line dispensing of fertilizer and seed. The so-called in-line dispensing of fertilizer and seed on a shared application line is described, for example, in publications BR PI 050433 A and BR 202014021456 Y1.

[0006] With known row units for combined in-line seed and fertilizer application, the placement quality is often impaired because entrained organic material obstructs the furrow opening by the fertilizer placement device. Furthermore, these known row units cause ridge formation on the agricultural land, which can negatively impact the harvest yield if the harvester's cutting unit rests on these ridges.

[0007] The object underlying the invention is therefore to improve the in-line delivery of seed and fertilizer. This object is achieved by a row unit of the type mentioned above, wherein the fertilizer placement device of the row unit according to the invention has one or more depth-guiding reflector discs, which are configured to guide the furrow opener of the fertilizer placement device at a working depth and to reflect soil material thrown up by the furrow opener back towards the placement furrow opened by the furrow opener of the fertilizer placement device.

[0008] The application machine can be a precision seeder with combined fertilizer placement. The fertilizer and seed are preferably dispensed in-line by the row unit. The one or more depth control reflector discs serve to maintain the correct working depth and can trap any organic residues carried along, thus helping to clean the furrow opener. Furthermore, the one or more depth control reflector discs reflect disturbed soil, preventing the formation of raised beds. This is particularly important for plants with low-lying lower pod attachments, such as soybeans, as these pod attachments would not reach the harvester's cutting unit if the unit were resting on the raised beds. Consequently, the one or more depth control reflector discs improve the harvesting result.

[0009] The seed placement device preferably has a seed discharge opening through which the seed is deposited towards the soil of the agricultural area. The seed discharge opening can be part of a seed delivery line. The fertilizer placement device preferably has a fertilizer discharge opening through which the fertilizer is released towards the soil of the agricultural area. The fertilizer discharge opening can be part of a fertilizer delivery line.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the in-line unit according to the invention, the one or more depth control reflector discs each have a reflector disc, with rolling elements arranged along the edge region of the reflector disc for rolling the depth control reflector disc on the soil of the agricultural area. The rolling elements provide the one or more depth control reflector discs with a sufficient contact area, thus preventing unintentional penetration of the depth control reflector discs into the soil of the agricultural area. Furthermore, sufficient soil contact is ensured, minimizing slippage at the depth control reflector discs.

[0011] The inventive series unit is further advantageously developed by designing the rolling elements as rolling brackets. The one or more depth-guide reflector discs can be designed as reflector bracket discs. Preferably, several U-shaped rolling brackets are arranged evenly around the circumference of the reflector disc. The rolling elements are preferably arranged on the outside of the reflector disc. If the series unit has two reflector discs, the rolling elements are arranged on the side of the reflector disc facing away from the other depth-guide reflector disc. Alternatively, the depth-guide reflector discs can also be designed as wheels, in particular as walking wheels.

[0012] The inventive series unit is further advantageously developed in that the working depth at which the furrow opener of the fertilizer application device is guided is adjustable. For example, the vertical distance between the lower edge of the furrow opener of the fertilizer application device and the lower edge of one or more depth control reflector discs is adjustable. The fertilizer application device can have an actuator for adjusting the working depth at which the furrow opener of the fertilizer application device is guided. The working depth at which the furrow opener of the fertilizer application device is guided can be controlled or regulated via the actuator.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment of the inventive row unit, two depth-control reflector discs of the fertilizer placement device are arranged laterally to the placement line and / or inclined to the placement line. Because two depth-control reflector discs of the fertilizer placement device are arranged laterally to the placement line, both the soil material thrown to the left by the furrow opener and the soil material thrown to the right by the furrow opener are reflected by the depth-control reflector discs. Because the depth-control reflector discs are inclined to the placement line, the reflected soil material is reflected back towards the placement furrow, thus effectively preventing the formation of ridges on the soil of the agricultural area.

[0014] Furthermore, a series unit according to the invention is preferred in which the two depth-guiding reflector discs are arranged symmetrically with respect to a mirror plane, the mirror plane preferably being a vertical plane extending along the depositing line. The symmetrical arrangement of the two depth-guiding reflector discs results in a homogeneous distribution of the excavated soil material, effectively preventing material accumulation to the side of the depositing furrow.

[0015] Furthermore, a row unit according to the invention is advantageous in which the furrow opener of the fertilizer application device is designed as a tine share. Organic residues are cleared from the application furrow by the tine share. The one or more depth-control reflector discs ensure that the organic material detaches from the tine share again, so that the clearing effect of the tine share does not impair the furrow quality.

[0016] Furthermore, a series unit according to the invention is advantageous in which the fertilizer application device has a cutting disc arranged in the direction of travel upstream of one or more depth control reflector discs and / or upstream of the furrow opener of the fertilizer application device. The cutting disc preferably runs in the application line. The cutting disc serves to break up the soil and to cut organic residues. The cutting disc is particularly advantageous on uneven soils covered with large quantities of organic residues. The distance in the direction of travel between the furrow opener of the fertilizer application device and the cutting disc can be adjustable. It is advantageous if the cutting disc can be adjusted in depth independently of the furrow opener of the fertilizer application device.It is particularly advantageous if the cutting disc is guided at the correct depth by the depth control reflector discs, especially if the fertilizer placement unit does not have a furrow opener. The fertilizer placement unit of the row unit can also be configured without a cutting disc, particularly if the in-line operation is to be eliminated by modification. In this case, a cutting disc is not required in some applications.

[0017] The inventive series unit is further advantageously developed in that the fertilizer application device has a support structure, wherein the one or more depth control reflector discs and / or the furrow opener and / or the cutting disc are supported by the support structure, the support structure preferably being guided via a parallelogram linkage or a linkage arrangement. The parallelogram linkage offers better contour adaptation and kinematics with a smaller installation space requirement.

[0018] Furthermore, a series unit according to the invention is preferred, in which the fertilizer application device for portioning the fertilizer includes a fertilizer portioner for producing fertilizer portions. The fertilizer portions preferably comprise a plurality of fertilizer granules. The fertilizer portioner preferably has a rotating portioning rotor, in particular with one or more portioning blades, which are arranged in a portioning chamber of the fertilizer portioner. With in-line dispensing of fertilizer and seed, contact between fertilizer and seed can thus be effectively avoided.

[0019] Furthermore, a series unit according to the invention is advantageous in which the fertilizer application device is configured to dispense granular fertilizer onto the agricultural land via a granule dispensing device and liquid fertilizer onto the agricultural land via a liquid dispensing device. Preferably, the granular fertilizer is deposited along the common application line. Alternatively or additionally, the liquid fertilizer is deposited on the common application line. The granular fertilizer can be dispensed in portions. The liquid fertilizer can be dispensed in spot applications.

[0020] Furthermore, a row unit according to the invention is preferred in which the seed placement device has a furrow former for forming the placement furrow. The furrow former can be designed to form a placement furrow that tapers to a point at the bottom. The furrow former can be wedge-shaped. The wedge-shaped furrow former creates a wedge-shaped furrow cross-section. Preferably, the seed release opening is aligned transversely centrally to the tip of the furrow former so that the seeds strike both furrow flanks as simultaneously as possible, thus preventing the seeds from jumping around within the placement furrow. Alternatively or additionally, the seed placement device has a furrow opener arranged in the direction of travel in front of the furrow former for opening the placement furrow. The forming depth of the furrow former is preferably greater than the opening depth of the furrow opener.The furrow former therefore preferably works deeper than the furrow opener. The furrow opener can comprise one or more cutting discs. The furrow can collapse between the furrow opener and the furrow former. To prevent furrow collapse before seed placement, the furrow former clears the collapsed furrow. Alternatively or additionally, the seed placement device can have a press element positioned behind a seed discharge opening in the direction of travel. This press element is designed to catch the seeds dispensed from the seed discharge opening and press them into the furrow bottom. The press element firmly presses the seeds into the soil to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. The press element can be a seed fixer or a press wheel.The seed fixer preferably has an underside pressure surface designed to sweep across the furrow bottom of the placement furrow in such a way that seeds dispensed by the seed guide are captured by the underside pressure surface and pressed into the furrow bottom. The pressure element is preferably arranged behind the furrow opener in the direction of travel. The forming depth of the furrow opener is preferably greater than the pressure depth of the pressure element. The pressure depth of the pressure element preferably corresponds to the opening depth of the furrow former. The seed placement device may alternatively or additionally have one or more depth control elements for controlling the depth of the furrow former and / or the furrow opener. The depth control elements may be depth control rollers.

[0021] The inventive row unit, the fertilizer application device and / or the seed placement device can be articulated, particularly on an agricultural spreading machine, in such a way that they can follow the curve of the road to avoid overloading when cornering, especially on an agricultural spreading machine. In particular, they are articulated to follow the curve.

[0022] Furthermore, a series unit according to the invention with a control device is advantageous, wherein the control device is configured to control, in particular to regulate, the contact force of one or more depth control reflector discs of the fertilizer application device on the soil of the agricultural area and / or the contact force of one or more depth control elements of the seed placement device on the soil of the agricultural area. The control device can be an electronic control device. Alternatively, the contact force of one or more depth control reflector discs of the fertilizer application device on the soil of the agricultural area and / or the contact force of one or more depth control elements of the seed placement device on the soil of the agricultural area can be controlled hydraulically or manually.The fertilizer application device can include a pressure generation device by which the contact force of one or more depth control reflector discs of the fertilizer application device on the soil of the agricultural area can be adjusted. For this purpose, the fertilizer application device can have an actuator, e.g., a working cylinder or a motor, by which the contact force of one or more depth control reflector discs of the fertilizer application device can be adjusted. The actuator of the fertilizer application device is controlled by the control unit. The seed placement device can also include a pressure generation device by which the contact force of one or more depth control elements of the seed placement device on the soil of the agricultural area can be adjusted. For this purpose, the seed placement device can have an actuator, e.g., a working cylinder or a motor.The system includes a working cylinder or motor through which the contact force of one or more depth control elements of the seed placement unit can be adjusted. The actuator of the seed placement unit is controlled by the control unit. The contact force of one or more depth control reflector discs of the fertilizer placement unit and the contact force of one or more depth control elements of the seed placement unit can preferably be controlled and / or regulated independently of each other by the control unit. By controlling the contact force, soil compaction that impairs growth, unintentional lifting of the machine, and / or impaired contour adaptation can be effectively avoided. Separate force / pressure application to the cutting disc, fertilizer coulter, and seeding unit further improves contour adaptation and can each serve as overload protection.Furthermore, smooth running is improved. In particular, the contact force of one or more depth control reflector discs of the fertilizer application device and the contact force of one or more depth control elements of the seed placement device are controlled and / or regulated in such a way that the contact force remains constant and / or does not deviate from each other or from a set value by more than a tolerable difference.

[0023] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by an agricultural spreading machine of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein several or all of the row units of the agricultural spreading machine according to the invention are designed according to one of the embodiments described above. With regard to the advantages and modifications of the agricultural spreading machine according to the invention, reference is therefore made to the advantages and modifications of the row unit according to the invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a series unit according to the invention in a schematic side view;

[0025] Fig. 2 Depth guide reflector discs of a series unit according to the invention in a perspective view; and

[0026] Fig. 3 shows the earth ejecta when using a row unit according to the invention in a schematic top view.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a row unit 10 for an agricultural spreading machine, namely for a precision seed drill with combined fertilizer application. The agricultural spreading machine has several row units 10 arranged side by side transversely to the direction of travel F.

[0028] The row unit 10 comprises a fertilizer application device 12 for depositing fertilizer onto agricultural land and a seed placement device 14 for depositing seed onto the agricultural land. The fertilizer application device 12 is arranged in the direction of travel F in front of the seed placement device 14.

[0029] The fertilizer application device 12 comprises a support structure 16, a parallelogram linkage 18 being formed on the support structure 16. A cutting disc 20, a furrow opener 22, a fertilizer delivery line 24 with fertilizer delivery opening 26, and two depth control reflector discs 28a, 28b are also arranged on the support structure 18. The cutting disc 20, the furrow opener 22, and the fertilizer delivery line 24 can be moved vertically via the parallelogram linkage 18.

[0030] The cutting disc 20 is positioned in the direction of travel F in front of the furrow opener 22, the fertilizer discharge opening 26, and the depth control reflector discs 28a, 28b, and runs in a placement line on which the fertilizer and seed are also deposited. The cutting disc 20 serves to break up the soil and cut organic residues. The furrow opener 22 of the fertilizer placement device 12 is designed as a tine share. Immediately behind the tine-share furrow opener 22 is the fertilizer discharge opening 26 of the fertilizer discharge line 24. The depth control reflector discs 28a, 28b are located in the direction of travel F behind the fertilizer discharge opening 26 of the fertilizer discharge line 24.The depth control reflector discs 28a, 28b are designed to guide the furrow opener 22 of the fertilizer placement device 12 at a working depth and to reflect soil material E thrown up by the furrow opener 22 back towards the placement furrow opened by the furrow opener 22 of the fertilizer placement device 12.

[0031] The seed placement device 14 has a support frame 32 articulated via a parallelogram linkage 30. A furrow opener 34, depth control elements 36, a press element 38, and a furrow closer 40 are mounted on the support frame 32. The furrow opener 34 serves to open the placement furrow. The press element 38, located behind a seed discharge opening (concealed) in the direction of travel F, is designed to catch the seeds discharged from the seed discharge opening and press them onto the furrow bottom. The depth control elements 36 serve to control the depth of the furrow opener 34.

[0032] The fertilizer application device 12 includes a fertilizer portioner 42 for producing fertilizer portions, so that the fertilizer can be applied to the agricultural land in portions. The fertilizer portioner 42 has a rotating portioning rotor with several portioning blades. The fertilizer is supplied to the fertilizer portioner 42 from the storage container 44.

[0033] In the depicted row unit 10, fertilizer and seed are placed in-line along a common placement line on the agricultural land.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows depth guide reflector discs 28a, 28b.

[0035] Depth guide reflector discs 28a, 28b each have a reflector disc 46a, 46b, wherein rolling elements 48a, 48b are provided along the edge region of the respective reflector disc 46a, 46b for rolling the respective

[0036] Depth control reflector discs 28a, 28b are arranged on the ground of the agricultural area. The rolling elements 48a, 48b are designed as rolling brackets. The depth control reflector discs 28a, 28b are therefore designed as reflector bracket discs. The depth control reflector discs 28a, 28b serve to control the depth and can trap any organic residues carried along, thus contributing to the cleaning of the furrow opener 22. In addition, the depth control reflector discs 28a, 28b reflect any soil material E thrown up, thus preventing the formation of ridges during the application process.

[0037] Figure 3 shows that the furrow opener 22 throws up soil material E during its movement in the direction of travel F. The thrown-up soil material E is reflected by the depth-guide reflector discs 28a, 28b in the direction of the deposit furrow AF. The depth-guide reflector discs 28a, 28b are arranged laterally to the deposit line AL and are inclined to the deposit line AL. The depth-guide reflector discs 28a, 28b are arranged symmetrically with respect to a mirror plane, the mirror plane being a vertical plane extending along the deposit line AL.

[0038] Reference mark

[0039] 10 row units

[0040] 12 fertilizer placement device

[0041] 14 Seed placement device

[0042] 16 T support structure

[0043] 18 Parallelogram linkages

[0044] 20 cutting discs

[0045] 22 furrow openers

[0046] 24 Fertilizer delivery line

[0047] 26 Fertilizer discharge opening

[0048] 28a, 28b Depth guide reflector discs

[0049] 30 parallelogram linkages

[0050] 32 support frame

[0051] 34 furrow openers

[0052] 36 depth control elements

[0053] 38 Pressure element

[0054] 40 furrow closers

[0055] 42 fertilizer dispensers

[0056] 44 storage containers

[0057] 46a, 46b Reflector disc

[0058] 48a, 48b Rolling links

[0059] AF dropout groove

[0060] AL Filing line

[0061] E Earth material

[0062] F Direction of travel

Claims

Claims 1. Row unit (10) for an application machine, comprising a fertilizer placement device (12) for depositing fertilizer onto an agricultural area, wherein the fertilizer placement device (12) has a furrow opener (22) for opening a placement furrow (AF) for the fertilizer; and a seed placement device (14) for depositing seed onto the agricultural area; wherein the fertilizer placement device (12) and the seed placement device (14) are configured to deposit the fertilizer and the seed in a common placement line (AL) on the agricultural area;characterized in that the fertilizer placement device (12) has one or more depth control reflector discs (28a, 28b) which are configured to guide the furrow opener (22) of the fertilizer placement device (12) at a working depth and to reflect soil material (E) thrown up by the furrow opener (22) back towards the placement furrow (AF) opened by the furrow opener (22) of the fertilizer placement device (12).

2. Row unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the one or more depth control reflector discs (28a, 28b) have a reflector disc (46a, 46b), wherein rolling elements (48a, 48b) for rolling the depth control reflector disc (28a, 28b) on the ground of the agricultural area are arranged along the edge region of the reflector disc (46a, 46b).

3. Row unit (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the rolling elements (48a, 48b) are designed as rolling brackets.

4. Series unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working depth at which the furrow opener (22) of the fertilizer placement device (12) is guided is adjustable.

5. Row unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two depth control reflector discs (28a, 28b) of the fertilizer placement device (12) are arranged laterally to the placement line (AL) and / or are oriented obliquely to the placement line (AL).

6. Series unit (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the two depth guide reflector disks (28a, 28b) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a mirror plane, wherein the mirror plane is preferably a vertical plane extending along the storage line (AL).

7. Row unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the furrow opener (22) of the fertilizer placement device (12) is designed as a tine share.

8. Row unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fertilizer placement device (12) has a cutting disc (20) arranged in the direction of travel (F) in front of one or more depth control reflector discs (28a, 28b) and / or in the direction of travel (F) in front of the furrow opener (22) of the fertilizer placement device (12).

9. Row unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fertilizer application device (12) has a support structure (16), wherein the one or more depth control reflector discs (28a, 28b) and / or the furrow opener (22) and / or the cutting disc (20) are supported by the support structure (16), wherein the support structure (16) is preferably guided via a parallelogram linkage (18) or a linkage arrangement.

10. Row unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fertilizer placement device (12) for portioning the fertilizer has a fertilizer portioner (42) for producing fertilizer portions.

11. Row unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fertilizer application device (12) is configured to dispense granular fertilizer onto the agricultural land via a granule dispensing device and to dispense liquid fertilizer onto the agricultural land via a liquid dispensing device.

12. Row unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seed placement device (14) has a furrow former for forming the placement furrow; and / or has a furrow opener (34) arranged in the direction of travel (F) in front of the furrow former for opening the placement furrow; and / or has a pressure element (38) arranged in the direction of travel (F) behind a seed discharge opening, which is configured to catch the seeds discharged from the seed discharge opening and press them onto the furrow bottom; and / or has one or more depth control elements (36) for depth control of the furrow former and / or the furrow opener (34).

13. Row unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the row unit (10), the fertilizer placement device (12) and / or the seed placement device (14) can follow the curve when driving around curves, wherein it is in particular trailing.

14. Series unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control device which is configured to control the resistance force of one of the several to control, in particular to regulate, the depth control reflector discs (28a, 28b) of the fertilizer placement device (12) on the soil of the agricultural area and / or the ground force of one or more depth control elements (36) of the seed placement device (14) on the soil of the agricultural area.

15. Agricultural spreading machine, with several row units (10) arranged side by side transversely to the direction of travel (F); characterized in that several or all of the row units (10) are designed according to one of the preceding claims.

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