Segmented Agricultural Roller for Beet Harvester Tool Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural conveyor devices face challenges in adapting to varying harvesting conditions, such as soil moisture, as existing rollers are often optimized for specific conditions and require complete removal and replacement, leading to downtime and potential contamination of bearings.

Innovation Solution

The roller is designed with interchangeable partial shells that can be secured to the roller body via fastening means, allowing for replacement without removing the roller from the frame, enabling operation in the field and minimizing downtime and contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the roller is completely removed from the conveyor device to replace working tools, then the working tools can be replaced, but this causes downtime and potential contamination of bearings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different harvesting conditionsVSAvoiddowntime during tool replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The roller is divided into a roller body and separate shell sections that can be independently removed and replaced. The shell sections are segmented along the longitudinal axis, allowing partial replacement without removing the entire roller from the conveyor device, thus reducing downtime while maintaining adaptability to different harvesting conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The working tools are extracted from the roller body by placing them on removable shell sections. This allows the shell sections with working tools to be taken out and replaced independently, while the roller body remains in place on the conveyor device, minimizing disruption and preventing bearing contamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the roller is completely removed from the conveyor device to replace working tools, then the working tools can be replaced, but this requires loosening and removing bearings which may cause contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different harvesting conditionsVSAvoidcontamination of bearings
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roller is segmented into a stationary roller body containing the bearings and removable shell sections containing the working tools. This segmentation allows tool replacement without disturbing the bearing housing, preventing contamination while maintaining adaptability through interchangeable shell sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shell sections with working tools are extracted and replaced independently from the roller body. This extraction method allows tool changes without accessing or disturbing the bearings, eliminating the risk of contamination while preserving adaptability to different harvesting conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the shell containing working tools is separated into partial shells, then replacement can be done without removing the roller from the frame, but this increases the number of fastening means required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of replacement during operationVSAvoidnumber of fastening means
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shell is segmented into multiple partial shells along the longitudinal axis, allowing replacement of only the necessary sections. While this requires multiple fastening means, it enables localized replacement during operation without removing the entire roller, improving ease of operation by reducing the scope of work required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening means are designed to be universal and standardized, allowing the same fastening mechanism to be used across multiple partial shells. This reduces the variety of components needed and simplifies the overall system, offsetting the increase in fastening quantity with standardization benefits

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

Data Source

PatentEP4218388B1Roller for an agricultural conveyor device, conveyor device and agricultural machine
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 GRIMME LANDMASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4218388B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4218388B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4218388B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a roller for an agricultural conveying device for harvested crops, comprising a longitudinally extended roller body whose longitudinal center axis corresponds to a rotational axis of the roller during operation, and comprising a working tool detachably fixed relative to the roller body for acting on the harvested crop, wherein the working tools are arranged on at least two successive partial shells covering the roller body in the circumferential direction, which are detachably fixed to the roller body by means of at least one fastening element. The invention further relates to a conveying device for agricultural harvested crops, in particular a roller table for a beet harvester, comprising a plurality of rollers held in a frame and provided with parallel longitudinal center axes, and to an agricultural machine comprising a conveying device (Fig. 7).