Adjustable Stripper Belts for Root Crop Harvester Sorting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing potato harvesting machines face challenges in adjusting to changing harvesting conditions and soil-dependent mixture structures, leading to a high proportion of admixtures reaching the sorting belt.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of individually adjustable stripper belts with variable engagement angles and depths, forming adjustable horizontal stripper planes, allows for optimized sorting by imparting defined conveying impulses and directing tubers, rocks, and clods away from the sorting belt, while keeping admixtures on the feed belt.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If common adjustment of both stripper belts is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different harvesting conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment mechanism complexityVSAvoidadaptability to harvesting conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adjustment mechanism is segmented into two independent parts: one for common adjustment of both stripper belts and another for individual adjustment of each belt. This allows the system to maintain simplicity for routine operations while providing adaptability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static common adjustment mechanism to a dynamic configuration where individual belts can be adjusted independently. This enables the stripper planes to adapt their positions relative to the feed belt based on varying harvesting conditions and mixture structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If individually adjustable stripper belts are implemented, then adaptability to different harvesting conditions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to harvesting conditionsVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Individual adjustment capability is provided only where needed - at each stripper belt's support device - while the overall system maintains a common adjustment framework. This localized enhancement of adjustability minimizes the increase in overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If stripper planes are fixed in position, then device complexity is reduced, but sorting precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment mechanism complexityVSAvoidsorting precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stripper planes transition from fixed positions to dynamically adjustable positions. Each stripper belt can be individually positioned relative to the feed belt, allowing optimal engagement angles and depths to be achieved for different crop conditions, thereby improving sorting precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables changing of geometric parameters (engagement angle, engagement depth, position relative to feed belt) of the stripper planes according to varying harvesting conditions. This parameter adjustability ensures optimal sorting precision across different soil-dependent mixture structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If individual adjustment of stripper belts is implemented, then sorting precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting precisionVSAvoidadjustment operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows operators to make quick individual adjustments to each stripper belt based on observed harvesting conditions, enabling the equipment to self-adapt to varying conditions without requiring complex reconfiguration or specialist intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11684008B2Root crop harvester

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 GRIMME LANDMASCHINENFABRIK SE & CO KG

AI summary

The invention relates to a root crop harvester in the form of a potato harvester (1), comprising a lifting device (2), from which a crop material (E) and also a mixture (G) comprising clods, weeds and similar admixtures (B) can be displaced in the region of screen belts (3) which are arranged downstream thereof. According to the invention, the mixture (G) lying on one of the feed belts (4) reaches a sorting zone, where the crop material (E) is sorted by means of a separating device (6) that is arranged above the feed belt (4) and is acting on the mixture (G) transversely to the direction of feed of the feed belt, in such a manner that two scraper belts (8, 9), which are circulating in the same direction in a scraping direction (7, 7′), capture the crop material (E) by means of respective scraper elements (10, 10; 11, 11′), and feed said crop material in two adjacently arranged scraping planes (12, 13) to a sorting belt (14) that is arranged downstream thereof. Admixtures (B) that remain on the feed belt (4) can be discharged in a discharge direction (5′), which is preferably offset by about 90° from the scraping direction (7, 7′), wherein the two scraper belts (8′, 9′) are in each case individually adjustable in the region of at least one of the supporting devices (17, 18) which hold in each case said scraper belts.