Separating device for a sowing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a separating device (1) for a sowing machine, in particular a pneumatic sowing machine, comprising a housing (2) which has a main part (3) and a cover element (4), which can be released and / or pivoted relative to the main part, and comprising a rotational body (5), which is mounted within the housing so as to be rotatable relative to the housing about a rotational axis (6), for separating seeds, wherein, in particular, the rotational body is rotatably mounted on the main body and / or the cover element. According to the invention, a locking device (23) is provided for securing the rotational body, wherein the locking device is designed and arranged on the housing, in particular the main body and / or the cover element, in such a way that when the locking device is actuated, the rotational body is rotationally fixed relative to the housing.

Description

[0001] Applicant:

[0002] LEMKEN GmbH & Co. KG PCT 637

[0003] singulation device for a seed drill

[0004] The present invention relates to a metering device for a seed drill, in particular a pneumatic seed drill.

[0005] Pneumatic seed drills, especially pneumatic precision seeders, are used for sowing seeds that are to be placed individually and usually in rows. These precision seeders typically have a singulation device for each row to be sown, in which the seeds are separated and dispensed for placement in the soil. Singulation is usually achieved using differential pressure, which acts via a rotating element, such as a seed disc and / or drum.

[0006] A singulation device of this type for a pneumatic precision seeder is known from EP 0193833 A1. The singulation of the seed within the device is achieved by means of a rotating seed disc, which has a series of openings along its circumference. Different air pressures act on the two sides of the rotating seed disc, so that the seed is held against the openings and thus singulated. The axial position of the seed disc can be changed, for example, to ensure reliable singulation. Furthermore, different seed discs can be used for different types of seed due to their varying sizes. To replace or adjust the seed discs, the singulation device must be opened, with seed disc replacement being particularly cumbersome.It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a singulation device for a seed drill which enables simplified handling.

[0007] The problem is solved by a locking device according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] A singling device for a seed drill, particularly a pneumatic one, comprising a housing with a base body and a cover element that is removable and / or pivotable relative to the base body, and a rotating body rotatably mounted within the housing and relative to it about an axis of rotation for singling out seeds, wherein, in particular, the rotating body is rotatably mounted on the base body and / or the cover element. According to the invention, a locking device for securing the rotating body is provided, wherein the locking device is designed and arranged on the housing, in particular the base body and / or the cover element, such that when the locking device is actuated, the rotating body is fixed against rotation relative to the housing.

[0009] The base body and the cover element of the singulation device can form a substantially pressure-resistant housing when assembled and closed. During operation of the singulation device, an overpressure relative to a first area can act within the housing to singulate the seed. The first area can be located on the cover element side of the rotating body and / or within the rotating body. The rotating body can be in the form of a seed disc and / or a drum, to which a seed disc can be detachably connected. The first area can be fluidically connected to the environment of the singulation device, allowing the ambient pressure of the singulation device to act within this area. The second area can be pressurized by a blower to a higher pressure than the ambient pressure, creating a pressure difference across the rotating body.the seed disc can be generated.

[0010] Different rotating bodies or seed discs are typically used for sowing different types of seed. To facilitate changing the rotating body with the housing open, it can be fixed in place by a locking device. This prevents or locks the rotating body. When actuated, the locking device can be moved from an operating position to a locked position. The locking device can be designed and arranged on the housing, particularly the base and / or the cover element, such that when actuated, it contacts the rotating body and fixes or secures it against rotation relative to the housing. Actuation of the locking device can be manual and / or automatic. The rotating body can be locked or secured against rotation by the locking device using a frictional and / or positive locking mechanism.A locking mechanism can act in one or both directions of rotation. The locking device can interact with the seed disc and / or a drum of the rotating body.

[0011] By locking the rotating body, a seed disc and / or drum can be prevented from rotating during their replacement, removal, or installation. This allows the fastening of the rotating body, particularly the seed disc and / or drum, to be loosened or tightened with one hand. This has the advantage that only one hand is required to work in an area of ​​the singulation device that is contaminated, for example, by seed dressing, or that is difficult to access in the case of narrow row spacing. A further advantage is that the handling of the singulation device, especially when changing the rotating body, is simplified.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the locking device is arranged at least partially outside the housing, particularly the cover element, and can be actuated from outside the housing. By arranging it at least partially outside the housing, the rotating body can be locked before or during the opening of the singulation device, without the operator coming into contact with areas of the singulation device that may be contaminated, for example, with pickling solution. The locking device can be designed such that it is moved into a locking position when the housing is opened and locks the rotating body. This could also be achieved automatically by releasing and / or pivoting the housing. For example, when the cover element is pivoted open, a drive profile and / or a profile of the rotating body can wedge itself into a designated locking device.Furthermore, the locking element could be displaced by gravity and moved into a locking position. An advantage is that the locking device is easily accessible and can be operated without much effort.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the housing of the singulation device has a first and a second pressure zone during operation, with the locking device being located at least partially in the first and / or second pressure zone. In overpressure singulation, the pressure in the second pressure zone can be greater than the pressure in the first pressure zone, and in particular, ambient pressure can act in the first pressure zone. Here, the locking device can be located at least partially in the first pressure zone, especially at ambient pressure. In contrast, in underpressure singulation, the pressure in the first pressure zone can be lower than the pressure in the second pressure zone, and in particular, ambient pressure can act in the second pressure zone.

[0014] The locking device can be located at least partially within the second pressure zone, particularly at ambient pressure. Alternatively, the locking device can be located entirely within the first and / or second pressure zone, both in a locked position and in a non-locking operating position. This has the advantage that no sealing of the locking device against the higher pressure in the first or second pressure zone is required. This can enable a simplified and cost-effective design of the locking device.

[0015] Preferably, the locking device has at least one return element. A return element allows the locking device to be returned from a locked position to a non-locking operating position. The return element can be in the form of an elastically deformable element, for example, a spring or an elastically deformable bridge, which can be arranged elastically between the housing and the locking device. The locking device can be designed such that when the housing is closed, in particular when the cover element is moved, the locking device can be moved into the operating position. This has the advantage that unintentional locking of the rotating body can be avoided, thereby preventing malfunctions in the operation of the singulation device.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the locking device is arranged on the housing such that it contacts the rotating body in a locking position at its end face in the axial direction and / or circumferentially in the radial direction. When actuated and moved into the locking position in the axial direction, the locking device can contact the rotating body at its end face and / or circumferentially and lock it in a rotationally fixed manner by force and / or positive locking. When the locking device is displaced in the axial and / or radial direction, it can contact the rotating body circumferentially and / or at its end face and lock it in a rotationally fixed manner by force and / or positive locking. Upon axial or radial displacement of the locking device, it can interact with the rotating body in a locking manner in both the axial and / or radial direction.This can be achieved, for example, by axially bringing the locking device into contact with the rotating body, whereby the locking device interacts with the rotating body in a positive-locking and / or force-locking manner, with a force acting in a radial direction preventing rotational movement. This allows the locking device to be flexibly positioned on the housing, enabling, for example, the selection of an ergonomically advantageous position for actuating the locking device.

[0017] Preferably, the locking device has a locking element for contacting the rotating body, which is arranged in the housing in a force-fit and / or form-fit manner, in particular being radially and / or axially displaceable. The locking element can be elongated, for example pin-shaped, which allows for external actuation of the locking device with a simple geometry.

[0018] Preferably, the rotating body has a profile on its outer surface, particularly on its circumference, into which the locking device engages in a force-fit and / or positive-locking manner when actuated. The profile can extend at least partially along the circumference of the rotating body, especially the drum. For example, a drive structure of the rotating body, such as a gear, can serve as the profile for force-fit and / or positive-locking interaction with the locking device. A profile, for example, annular in shape, can be arranged on the end face of the rotating body, which can interact with the locking device in a force-fit and / or positive-locking manner to prevent rotation of the rotating body. The profile can, for example, be stepped or in the form of recesses in the rotating body.This has the advantage that a cost-effective and space-saving design of the locking device and the profiling that interacts with it can be enabled.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the housing has a cover which is arranged on the outside of the cover element, wherein the locking device is located at least partially outside the housing and, when actuated, penetrates the housing, in particular the cover and / or the cover element, at least partially. The cover allows air exiting the housing or the cover element from the singulation process to be directed, for example, towards the ground. The outer surface of the cover can be kept free of contamination from substances carried in the exiting air, such as seed dressing, thus providing an easily accessible and clean area for arranging the locking device. This has the advantage that the rotating body can be locked without the operator coming into contact with the contaminated areas of the singulation device.

[0020] Preferably, the housing, in particular the cover element and / or the cover, has a guide for the locking device and / or at least one sealing seat for receiving a sealing element. The guide for the locking device, in particular the locking element, can be designed as a positive-locking guide that directs the movement of the locking device into the locking position. Furthermore, the guide can transfer forces occurring when the rotating body is locked from the locking device into the housing. The guide can be designed as a recess, a bore, an elongated hole, or a slot in the housing, in particular the cover element and / or the cover. The locking device or the locking element can be secured against loss and / or unintentional insertion into the housing by means of a locking element, for example, a pin, which can interact with the guide.A sealing seat in the housing can accommodate a sealing element, such as an O-ring, for sealing the locking device. The sealing seat can be formed in the housing, particularly the cover element and / or the cover, for example, in the form of a groove or a projection, especially annular around the locking element. Because the locking device can be located at least partially or completely within the first or second pressure zone, a simpler design of the sealing element is possible, since no pressure resistance against the higher pressure of the second or first pressure zone is required, and only contamination of the locking device or locking element needs to be prevented. For example, in a pressure separator, the first pressure zone can essentially have ambient pressure, with the locking device or locking element being located within this first pressure zone.In a vacuum singulation system, for example, the pressure in the second pressure zone can be essentially ambient pressure, which may be greater than the pressure in the first pressure zone. The locking device or locking element can then be arranged in the second pressure zone. Furthermore, the invention relates to an agricultural implement, in particular a pneumatic seed drill, especially a precision seed drill, with at least one singulation device as described and designed above. An arrangement of the locking device according to the invention allows the locking device to be operated from the outside of the cover element or cover, whether the housing is open or closed. This has the advantage of simplifying the operation of the locking device and, in particular, the replacement of the rotating body of the singulation device.

[0021] Further details of the invention can be found in the figures and the description of the figures, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0022] They show:

[0023] Fig 1: a sectional view of a singulation device with a locking device;

[0024] Fig. 2: a detailed view of the locking device shown in Fig. 1; and

[0025] Fig. 3: a detailed view of the locking device with a guide.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a singulation device 1 for an agricultural implement in the form of a pneumatic seed drill or a precision seeder. For sowing seed requiring singulation, one singulation device 1 is typically used per seed row, resulting in multiple singulation devices 1 being arranged side-by-side on a single implement, depending on the working width. The singulation device 1 comprises a housing 2, which includes a base body 3 and a cover element 4 that is detachable and / or pivotable relative to the base body 3. The base body 3 can be connected to a frame (not shown). A rotating body 5 is arranged inside the housing 2 and is rotatably mounted relative to the housing 2 about an axis of rotation 6 for singulating seed (not shown). The rotating body 5 comprises a drum 8 and a seed disc 7 detachably attached to its end face.On its radial outer side, the rotating body 5 or the drum 8 has a profile 22 or a drive profile 20 in the form of a toothed ring, which can interact with a drive (not shown) to rotate the rotating body 5 about the axis of rotation 6.

[0027] The rotating body 5 forms a first region 9, with a second region 10 formed outside the rotating body 5 and at least partially within the housing 2. A higher atmospheric pressure acts within the second region 10 than within the first region 9, which may be fluidically connected to the environment. The pressure difference between the first and second regions 9, 10 also acts via the seed disc 7. The seed disc 7 has a plurality of openings 16 radially on its outer circumference, to which, due to the pressure difference, seed (not shown) in the second region 10 adheres and can thus be singulated. The rotating body 5 can be displaced within the housing 2 relative to the housing 2 in the axial direction A along the axis of rotation 6 by means of an adjusting device 15.The air from the second area 10 flows at least partially through the openings 16 of the seed disc 7 into the first area 9 and enters the environment through an opening 17 of an actuating element 11 of the adjusting device 15. The air is typically directed towards the ground by a cover 21 of the housing 2, which is arranged on the outside of the cover element 4.

[0028] To simplify the replacement of the rotating body 5, in particular its seeding disc 7, the singulation device 1 according to the invention has a locking device 23, which is at least partially arranged in the cover 21 and the cover element 4. In a locking position (not shown), the locking device 23 can be brought into contact with the rotating body 5 and interact with its profile 20 or its drive profile 22 in a force-fit and / or form-fit manner to lock the rotating body 5, in particular its drum 8, in a rotationally fixed manner. This has the advantage that the seeding disc 7 can be detached from the drum 8 with one hand and, for example, replaced with another. The locking device 23 is arranged completely within the first pressure area 9, which allows for a simple and cost-effective design of the locking device 23.

[0029] The rotating body 5 has a drum 8 which is rotatably mounted on an axially displaceable connecting element 12 of the adjusting device 15 via bearing elements 18. The connecting element 12 is guided in a rotationally fixed manner in the cover element 4 and can be displaced axially in direction A via the adjusting element 11, for example, to adjust the seed disc 7. The adjusting element 11 engages in a thread of the cover element 4 for axial displacement during a rotational movement. The connecting element 12 is connected to the adjusting element 11 via an annular locking element 13, which is mounted in a groove 14 of the adjusting element. A sealing element 1 is arranged between the cover element 4 and the rotating body s or the drum 8, which separates the first and second pressure areas 9, 10 from each other. Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the locking device 23 of the one shown in Fig.Figure 1 shows the singulation device 1 in a non-locking operating position. The locking device 23 has a pin-shaped locking element 24, which is movably mounted in a guide 26 in the cover 21 and at least partially in the cover element 4. A return element 29 in the form of a spring is arranged between the cover 21 and the locking element 24. This has the advantage that the locking device 23 is reliably returned to the non-locking operating position after being released, thus preventing the locking device 23 from being moved into the locked position unintentionally. A locking element 25, which is arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement of the locking element 24, can limit the movement of the locking element 24 and prevent it from falling out, particularly by means of an interaction with the guide 26.In the cover element 4, a sealing seat 27 in the form of a groove is formed around the locking element 24 and a sealing element 28 is arranged therein.

[0030] When the locking device 23 is actuated, the locking element 24 is displaced until it contacts the end face of the rotating body 5 or the drum 8 and engages with a profile 22 of the rotating body 5 in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner, thereby locking the rotating body 5 or the drum 8 against rotation. The end face profile 22 of the rotating body 5 is designed as a projection around the axis of rotation 6, which is stepped in the axial direction. The locking element 24 can engage with this stepped profile 22 at least in a form-locking manner and thus prevent rotation of the rotating body 5. In the view of the locking device 23 shown in Fig. 3, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the locking element 24 is shown in Fig. 2.

[0031] In the singulation device 1 shown in Figure 2, the guide 26 in the cover 21 has a slot-shaped opening into which the locking element 25 of the locking element 24 projects. This prevents the locking element 24 from rotating and limits axial displacement. The locking device 23 is located entirely within the first pressure chamber 9. The first and second pressure chambers 9, 10 are separated by the sealing element 19, which is located between the drum 8 of the rotating body 5 and the cover element 4.

[0032] Singulation device 24 Locking element Housing 25 Securing element Base body 26 Guide Cover element 27 Sealing seat Rotating body 28 Sealing element Rotary axis 29 Return element Seed disc

[0033] drum

[0034] First area

[0035] Second area

[0036] Actuator

[0037] Connecting element

[0038] Safety element

[0039] Nut

[0040] Adjustment device

[0041] Opening of seed disc A Axial direction Opening of adjusting element R Radial direction Bearing element

[0042] Sealing element

[0043] Drive profile

[0044] cover

[0045] Profiling

[0046] Locking device

Claims

Patent claims 1. Singulation device for a seed drill, in particular a pneumatic one, comprising a housing (2) which has a base body (3) and a cover element (4) which is detachable and / or pivotable relative to the base body (3), a rotating body (5) which is rotatably mounted within the housing (2) and relative to it about an axis of rotation (6) for singulating seed, wherein in particular the rotating body (5) is rotatably mounted on the base body (3) and / or the cover element (4), characterized in that a locking device (23) is provided for fixing the rotating body (5), wherein the locking device (23) is designed and arranged on the housing (2), in particular the base body (3) and / or the cover element (4), such that when the locking device (23) is actuated the rotating body (5) is mounted so as to rotate relative to the housing (2).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking device (23) is arranged at least partially outside the housing (2), in particular the cover element (4), and can be actuated from outside the housing (2).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (2) has a first and a second pressure area (9, 10) during operation of the singulation device (1), wherein the locking device (23) is arranged at least partially in the first and / or second pressure area (9, 10).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (23) has at least one return element (29).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (23) is arranged on the housing (2) such that it contacts the rotating body (5) in a locking position at its end face in the axial direction and / or circumferentially in the radial direction.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking device (23) has a locking element (24) for contacting the rotating body (5), which is arranged in the housing (2) in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner, in particular being displaceable radially and / or axially.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotating body (5) has a profile (22) on its outer side, in particular on its circumferential side, into which the locking device (23) engages in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner in an actuated state.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2) has a cover (21) which is arranged on the outside of the cover element (4), wherein the locking device (23) is arranged at least partially outside the housing (2) and, when actuated, at least partially penetrates the housing (2), in particular the cover (21) and / or the cover element (4).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (2), in particular the cover element (4) and / or the cover (21), has a guide (26) for the locking device (23) and / or at least one sealing seat (27) for receiving a sealing element (28).

10. Agricultural implement, in particular pneumatic seed drill, with at least one singulation device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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