Agricultural Mower Belt Conveyor with Collection Screen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural mower machines face issues with heavy weight, high power consumption, and reduced maneuverability due to existing conveyor systems, which also cause crop turbulence, twisting, and irregular windrows, leading to reduced cutting quality and increased crop losses.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural mower machine with a belt conveyor system where the conveyor rollers' axes are parallel to the cutting rotors' axes, incorporating a collection screen and a transverse conveying channel, and featuring elongated feed elements to improve crop flow and reduce weight and energy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a worm gear conveyor is used, then the crop can be transported, but the machine weight increases significantly requiring heavy linkage structure and more power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy worm gear conveyor mechanism entirely and replaces it with a much lighter belt conveyor system. The belt conveyor is supported by simple rollers mounted on the frame, eliminating the need for complex gear reduction mechanisms while maintaining crop transport functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical worm gear system with a simpler belt-driven conveyor system. The belt conveyor uses a continuous loop belt that runs over rollers, replacing the complex interlocking gears and threads of the worm gear mechanism with a flexible belt system that requires minimal structural support.
2Reliability
If a downward rotating screw conveyor is used, then crop can be transported, but the crop flows back towards the front of the rotors reducing cutting quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by positioning the belt conveyor so that its transport strand moves crop in the same upward direction as the cutting rotors throw the crop. This alignment eliminates the counteracting downward force that causes crop to flow back toward the rotors, thereby maintaining cutting quality.
3Reliability
If a screw conveyor is used, then crop can be transported, but the crop is twisted during rotation causing difficulties in regulating feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rotating screw mechanism that causes crop twisting. Instead, it uses a belt conveyor with a flat or slightly curved surface that transports crop in a straight line without rotational movement, preserving the natural orientation of the crop and enabling easy feeding regulation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a conditioning device is added to the machine, then crop can be processed, but the machine weight and length increase reducing maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the conveyor system to serve multiple functions: it transports crop laterally, supports the collection screen underneath, and works in conjunction with the cutting rotors. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate conditioning devices, maintaining compact machine dimensions.
5Reliability
If the conveyor is positioned to collect crop, then crop can be transported, but crop loss occurs from below between the cutter bar and conveyor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collection screen as an intermediary structure positioned between the cutter bar and the belt conveyor. This screen catches crop that would otherwise fall through the gap, preventing crop loss while allowing the conveyor to operate effectively below.
Data Source
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AI summary
Agricultural machine of the mower type comprising a frame (1) supporting a cutter bar (2) having cutting rotors (2a) driven in rotation, by means of drive means (2b), around respective axes parallel to each other and a belt conveyor (3) having an endless belt (3a) driven in movement and guided between two rollers (3b) animated in rotation around their axis, said conveyor (3) being arranged behind the cutter bar (2) so as to recover the crop cut by the cutter bar (2) and to move it transversely to said direction of advance (A).Such a machine is characterized in that the axes of the rollers (3b) of the conveyor (3) are substantially parallel to the axes of the cutting rotors (2a), in that it further comprises a collection screen, preferably attached to the belt conveyor (3), extending at least partially under the latter and towards the cutter bar (2) by being attached to the latter and in that a space forming a transverse conveying channel is provided above said collection screen between said transport strand (30a) of the belt (3a) and the cutter bar (2).