Pivotable Crop Guide Access for Baler Rotor Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural harvesting machines, such as balers and loading wagons, face difficulties in accessing the rotor for maintenance and removing crop accumulations due to the design of the crop guiding element, which hinders access and complicates maintenance processes.

Innovation Solution

The crop guiding element is pivotably mounted about a transverse axis, allowing it to open and provide access to the rotor, while the knife carrier can be pivoted or moved laterally for maintenance, facilitated by a hydraulic actuator system, enabling easy access and removal of crop accumulations without requiring part disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the crop guiding element is designed to close the crop channel for normal operation, then the cutting function is improved, but access to the rotor for maintenance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting functionVSAvoidaccess to rotor
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The crop guiding element is designed to be movable between a closed position during cutting operation and an open position for maintenance access. This dynamic design allows the same component to serve two opposing functions: protecting the cutting function during operation while enabling easy access to the rotor when needed for maintenance or to remove crop accumulations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the knife carrier is fixed in position, then the cutting structure is stable, but maintenance and knife replacement become complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting structureVSAvoidknife replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The knife carrier is designed to be movable relative to the crop guiding element, allowing it to be positioned for easy access during maintenance while maintaining a stable cutting structure during operation. This mobility enables simple knife replacement and carrier maintenance without requiring complex disassembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2659763B1Harvesting machine with a cutting device
Publication Date: 2015.09.23 USINES CLAAS FRANCE SAS
  • EP2659763B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2659763B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2659763B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A harvesting machine, in particular a baler or forage wagon, with a cutting device (16) for agricultural crops, wherein the cutting device (16) comprises a plurality of knives (8) arranged side by side in a row with respect to a crop channel (9) through which crops flow and which, in an operating state, project into the crop channel (9) through a crop guide element (20) provided with recesses, and a rotatably mounted, driven rotor (7) which, in a combing engagement with at least one of the knives (8), chops the crop (2), is characterized in that the crop guide element (20) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (22) extending transversely to the crop channel (9) from a position closing the crop channel (9) to an open position (Popened), which allows access to the rotor (7).