Variable Angle Beet Pick-Up Device Dirt Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pick-up apparatuses for root crops, such as sugar beets, suffer from dirt accumulation under the cleaning members, leading to wear and blockage, which reduces their efficiency and yield.

Innovation Solution

The pick-up apparatus features a variably adjustable hydraulic cylinder for adjusting the position of the pick-up section and cleaning members, including a dirt outlet for evacuating dirt and independent inclinability of the pick-up and supplementary pick-up sections, allowing for optimized cleaning and reduced blockage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pick-up apparatus uses cleaning members to clean root crop, then the root crop is cleaned effectively, but dirt accumulates under the pick-up apparatus causing wear and blockage of cleaning members

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning member performanceVSAvoiddirt accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful dirt accumulation from the system by providing a dirt outlet that allows dirt to be removed from underneath the pick-up apparatus. The cleaning members are designed to facilitate dirt removal, separating the cleaning function from the dirt retention problem, thereby preventing wear and blockage while maintaining effective cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the pick-up apparatus by inclining the pick-up section relative to the intermediate section. This angular parameter change allows dirt to slide off the cleaning members more easily, preventing accumulation while maintaining cleaning effectiveness. The slope angle is optimized to balance cleaning performance with dirt removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the pick-up section and cleaning members are fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the apparatus cannot adapt to different crop conditions and yields are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveyieldVSAvoidadjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transforms the static pick-up section into a dynamic, adjustable component. The pick-up section can be inclined relative to the intermediate section, and cleaning members can be adjusted independently, allowing the apparatus to adapt to different crop conditions and optimize yield while managing dirt accumulation through variable geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment mechanisms provide multi-functionality: the same inclined pick-up section geometry serves both to optimize crop pickup for different conditions and to facilitate dirt removal. The cleaning member adjustment serves both cleaning optimization and dirt outlet alignment, reducing the need for separate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If dirt is allowed to accumulate under the pick-up apparatus, then the structure is simpler without dirt outlets, but cleaning members suffer wear and blockage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning member durabilityVSAvoiddirt outlet structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful dirt from the system through dedicated dirt outlets positioned beneath the pick-up section. This extraction function is integrated into the existing structure, allowing dirt removal without adding major complex subsystems, thereby protecting cleaning members from wear and blockage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The inclination angle of the pick-up section serves dual purposes: optimizing crop handling and facilitating dirt gravity-driven removal. By changing this geometric parameter, the system enables dirt egress without requiring active removal mechanisms, balancing simplicity with reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances the reliability and economic efficiency of the pick-up apparatus by preventing dirt accumulation and maintaining the performance of cleaning members, thereby increasing yield and reducing maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a first linear actuator (33) arranged between the intermediate section (30) and the frame section (40) and adapted to adjust the position of the intermediate section (30) with respect to the frame section (40)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

The pick-up section comprises a dirt outlet through which dirt taken off the harvested root crop is evacuated and which is defined by the or each cleaning member and situated under the or each cleaning member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3510853B1Variable angle beet pick-up device
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 EXEL INDUSTRIES
  • EP3510853B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3510853B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This pick-up apparatus (10) for picking up harvested root crop defines a pick-up plane PP and comprises a pick-up section (20). The pick-up section comprises a pick-up member (22) adapted to pick up the root crop, and a cleaning member (24). The pick-up member (22) defines a pick-up position with respect to the pick-up plane PP. The pick-up apparatus comprises a cleaning adjustment device (32) adapted to adjust the position of the cleaning member (24) between at least two cleaning positions, the cleaning positions being different one from another. In each of the cleaning positions of the cleaning member (24) and while the pick-up member (22) is in the pick-up position, the distance DC1 of the cleaning member (24) with respect to the pick-up plane PP is different from the distance DC2 of the cleaning member (24) with respect to the pick-up plane PP in the other cleaning position.