Loading Wagon Rotor Blades for Seamless Crop Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing loading wagons face issues with material jams and inefficient crop flow due to gaps between transverse conveyor devices and driver tines, requiring additional drive elements and expensive guide devices to manage the transition area.

Innovation Solution

The design features blades connected to each outer pressing tine on the rotor, eliminating gaps and forming low-resistance conveying channels with shovels arranged to face press tines, ensuring seamless crop flow without additional drive elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If transverse conveyor screws are provided as transverse conveying means in the transition area from the pick-up to the conveying rotor, then the harvested crop picked up from the outside areas of the pick-up can be conveyed to the conveying rotor, but the transverse conveyors require additional space and an additional drive device, increasing device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrop flow managementVSAvoidadditional drive elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transverse conveying function is merged with the pressing tines themselves. The pressing tines are equipped with blades that form conveying channels, eliminating the need for separate transverse conveyor screws. This integration reduces device complexity by removing additional drive elements while maintaining the crop flow management function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing tines perform multiple functions: they press the crop during conveying and simultaneously serve as transverse conveying means through their blades. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated transverse conveyors, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining operational effectiveness.

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

2Device complexity

If gaps remain between the auger windings and the outer drivers, then the structure is simpler, but crop can be drawn uncut into the bale chamber or the crop flow can be severely impeded causing material jams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveyor structureVSAvoidcrop flow continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blades are positioned specifically at the outer pressing tines where gaps previously existed. This localized addition of blades creates conveying channels exactly where needed to prevent crop from being drawn uncut into the bale chamber, while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The potential harm of gaps allowing uncut crop entry is converted into a benefit by using those same gap positions to install blades that form conveying channels. The blades transform the problematic open gaps into controlled conveying pathways that prevent material jams while allowing continuous crop flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If the pick-up is noticeably wider than the rotor and baling channel, then side swaths can be picked up more easily, but guide devices are required to transfer crop from the wider pick-up to the narrower rotor, increasing manufacturing cost and space requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside swath pickup efficiencyVSAvoidguide device cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The transverse guiding function is merged with the pressing tines and their blades. The blades on the outer pressing tines form conveying channels that naturally guide crop from the wider pick-up area toward the narrower baling channel, eliminating the need for separate expensive guide devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing tines with their blades perform self-guiding of the crop flow. The structure of the pressing tines themselves creates the conveying channels that redirect crop laterally, allowing the system to guide its own crop flow without external guide devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2941947B1Loading vehicle with a loading device for crop consisting of stems and leaves
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 B STRAUTMANN & SOHNE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2941947B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2941947B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2941947B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a loading wagon (100) with a loading device (1) for harvested material consisting of straw or leaves, and with a pressing device (3) downstream of a receiving device (2) for conveying the harvested material to a loading space (13). The pressing device (3) comprises a rotor (6, 6') with pressing tines (5) arranged in several spiral rows and transverse conveying means (62) arranged on both sides thereof, which are designed as shovels (7, 8). Each outer press tine (5) on the rotor (6; 6') is connected to one of the blades (7, 8), which extends to the respective tip (9) of the respective press tine (5), so that gaps (14) formed between the blades (7, 8) and free spaces (18) located between the press tines (5) form conveying channels (60), in which crop material (T) supplied by the receiving device (2) can be conveyed transversely to the flow direction of the crop stream (S).