Harvested Material Transfer Device for Continuous Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crop collection and transportation methods are inefficient, as they require the collection vehicle to either stop frequently for loading or cannot continue collecting crops while transporting, leading to downtime and potential crop loss, especially when navigating tight curves.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device equipped with a collection unit, cutting unit, intermediate store, and conveying device that allows continuous collection and cutting of crops, which are then temporarily stored and transferred to a transport vehicle laterally, enabling continuous operation and minimizing downtime during transport vehicle changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the collection vehicle stops frequently for loading, then the transport vehicle can be filled, but the collection vehicle loses time and cannot continue collecting crops
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent functional units: a collection vehicle with collection and cutting units that continuously gathers and processes crops, and a separate transport vehicle that receives the material. This segmentation allows the collection vehicle to operate continuously without stopping for loading, as the intermediate storage buffer decouples the collection process from the transport process.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate storage buffer is introduced as a mediator between the collection vehicle and the transport vehicle. This buffer temporarily holds the harvested material, allowing the collection vehicle to continue collecting crops while the transport vehicle is being filled or is away from the field. The buffer acts as a decoupling element that eliminates the need for the collection vehicle to stop during loading operations.
2Productivity
If the collection vehicle continues collecting crops while transporting, then productivity increases, but the vehicle cannot be used to collect further crops during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The collection and transport functions are separated into two distinct vehicles. The collection vehicle is dedicated solely to gathering and processing crops, maintaining continuous operation. The transport vehicle handles material transport independently. This functional segmentation ensures that the collection vehicle's productivity is not reduced by transport operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection vehicle maintains continuous useful action by constantly collecting and cutting crops. The intermediate storage buffer ensures that this continuous collection is not interrupted by the periodic loading operations, as the buffer can supply material to the transport vehicle even when the collection vehicle is fully occupied with gathering crops.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the forage wagon collects and transports crops simultaneously, then one vehicle performs both functions, but it cannot collect further crops while transporting
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-function forage wagon is divided into two separate specialized vehicles: a collection vehicle equipped with collection and cutting units, and a transport vehicle with a loading area. This segmentation allows each vehicle to be optimized for its specific function, with the collection vehicle maintaining continuous collection capability without the constraint of needing to stop for loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate storage buffer serves as an intermediary that enables the collection vehicle to maintain its collection function continuously. By buffering the harvested material, the system allows the collection vehicle to operate independently of the transport vehicle's loading schedule, thus preserving continuous collection capability that the dual-function forage wagon cannot achieve.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a load transfer device (4) for collecting and transferring harvested material, in particular stalk-type biomass, to a transport vehicle (6), comprising a collecting unit (8) for collecting the harvested material from the ground; a cutting unit (9) for comminuting the collected harvested material; a buffer store (10) for receiving the comminuted harvested material; a conveying device for conveying the comminuted harvested material from the buffer store (10) to a load transfer unit (11) of the load transfer device (4), by means of which load transfer unit the comminuted harvested material can be conveyed into a load compartment, arranged laterally adjacent to the load transfer device, of the transport vehicle (6), in particular over a load compartment wall of the load compartment.