Harvesting Machine Crop Guide Device for Uniform Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural harvesting machines face challenges in achieving uniform distribution of crops across the width of the crop channel, leading to uneven bale formation and quality issues, especially when dealing with larger quantities of crops.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a guide device with at least one first guide element arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the harvesting machine, which can deflect and centralize the crop before it enters the crop channel, and a second guide device arranged centrally in a V-shape to further distribute the crop evenly, allowing for adjustable operation based on crop quantity and swath geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the width of the pick-up device is increased to pick up larger quantities of crop, then the quantity of crop picked up increases, but the distribution of crop becomes uneven and bale quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of crop picked upVSAvoiduniformity of crop distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A guide device is introduced as an intermediary element between the pick-up drum and the crop channel. This guide device actively redirects crop flow to achieve uniform distribution, serving as a mediator that resolves the conflict between handling large crop quantities and maintaining distribution uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device can be adjusted in position and orientation to change the parameters of crop flow distribution. By modifying the guide device's angular position and location, the system adapts to different crop quantities and swath geometries, maintaining uniform distribution across varying operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If rotatable screw conveyors are used to bring crop together towards the center, then crop convergence is achieved, but the crop becomes unevenly distributed across the crop channel width

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrop convergence capabilityVSAvoidcrop distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using screw conveyors to push crop toward the center (convergence), the guide device works in reverse by redirecting crop from the edges toward the center in a controlled manner. This inverted approach to crop management achieves both convergence and uniform distribution by guiding crop flow rather than forcing it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide device performs preliminary action by redirecting crop flow before it enters the crop channel. This pre-positioning of crop material ensures uniform distribution is established early in the conveying process, preventing uneven distribution that would occur with simple convergence mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the pick-up device width is increased to handle larger crop quantities, then productivity increases, but it becomes difficult to compensate for unevenly formed windrows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharvesting throughputVSAvoidcompensation for uneven windrows
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide device is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing it to adapt to different swath geometries and crop quantities. This dynamic capability enables the system to compensate for unevenly formed windrows while maintaining high productivity, as the guide device can be repositioned to match varying operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the positional and angular parameters of the guide device, the system adapts to different windrow configurations. This parameter adjustment capability allows compensation for unevenly formed windrows even when handling large crop quantities, maintaining both productivity and bale quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3241426B1Harvesting machine with a crop collection device
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 USINES CLAAS FRANCE SAS
  • EP3241426B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3241426B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3241426B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An agricultural harvesting machine (10) has a receiving device (16) for agricultural crops, wherein the receiving device (16) has, in addition to a front-mounted, driveable collecting drum (18) for receiving crops, at least one driveable conveying element (22) for conveying crops to a crop channel (26), in particular a conveying rotor (28) in the crop channel (26), wherein the conveying element (22) is arranged substantially transversely to a longitudinal axis (44) of the harvesting machine (10) and concentrates at least the crops that can be received across the width of the receiving device (16) substantially centrally to the crop channel (26). According to the invention, at least one first guide device (42) is provided between the collecting drum (18) and the crop channel (26), by which at least a portion of the crops can be deflected substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis (44) and/or in the direction of the longitudinal axis (44) of the harvesting machine (10).