MOBILE ROCK PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED PLANNING OF A DISCONTINUOUS MATERIAL FEED

Abstract

The invention relates to a rock processing apparatus (12) for crushing and/or sorting granular mineral material (M) according to size, the rock processing apparatus (12) comprising as apparatus components: a material feeding apparatus (22) including a material buffer (24), at least one working unit of at least one crushing apparatus (14) and at least one screening apparatus (16, 18), at least one conveyor apparatus (26, 32) for conveying material between two apparatus components, a control unit (60) for controlling apparatus components, at least one sensor (72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98) for detecting at least one operating parameter, the sensor (72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98) being connected to the control unit (60) for transmitting a detection signal, at least one output device (66) for outputting information, the output device (66) being connected to the control unit (60) for transmitting information. The control unit (60) is designed to ascertain, in an operation with discontinuous material feed, on the basis of the at least one detection signal, a piece of time information about a future material feed, wherein the output device (66) is designed to output the ascertained time information.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A rock processing apparatus for crushing and/or for sorting granular mineral material according to size, the rock processing apparatus comprising: a material feeding apparatus having a material buffer configured to load starting material to be processed; at least one working unit comprising at least one crushing apparatus and/or at least one screening apparatus; at least one conveyor apparatus configured to convey material between apparatus components; at least one sensor configured to transmit a detection signal representing an execution time of a future material feed into the material feeding apparatus; a control unit connected to the at least one sensor and configured to ascertain, in an operation with discontinuous material feed of starting material to be processed, time information based on the at least one detection signal and representing an execution time of a future material feed into the material feeding apparatus, and control apparatus components of the rock processing apparatus; and at least one output device connected to the control unit and configured to transmit output information comprising the ascertained time information.

12. The rock processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to ascertain, in the operation with discontinuous material feed, an individual execution time as time information for at least first and second successive future material feeds and to output the individual execution times respectively via the output device.

13. The rock processing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: an input device operatively connected to the control unit and configured, in the operation with discontinuous material feed, to ascertain the time information based on the at least one detection signal representing an execution time of a future material feed into the material feeding apparatus and information input into the input device.

14. The rock processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect, and to transmit to the control unit detection signals representing, at least one operating parameter from the group consisting of: a fill ratio of the material buffer; a fill ratio of the at least one conveyor apparatus; a conveying speed of the at least one conveyor apparatus; a fill ratio of at least one working unit; a grain shape and/or a grain size and/or a grain size distribution of fed and/or conveyed material; a type of fed and/or conveyed material; a humidity of the fed material; a density of the fed material; a hardness of the fed material; a crushability of the fed material; an abrasiveness of the fed material; a state of the fed material; a quantity of returned oversize grain; a feed quantity of material to be fed or already fed; an operating load of at least one drive apparatus; an operating load of the at least one working unit; a working speed of the at least one working unit; a dimension of a crush gap of the crushing apparatus; a mesh aperture of a screen of the screening apparatus; a size of a loading tool of a loading apparatus discontinuously loading the material buffer; and a quantity or proportion of non-crushable foreign material.

15. The rock processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control unit is configured to ascertain, in the operation with discontinuous material feed, the time information by taking into consideration information input into the input device and selected from the group consisting of: a setpoint fill ratio of the material buffer; a setpoint fill ratio of the at least one conveyor apparatus; a setpoint conveying speed of the at least one conveyor apparatus; a setpoint fill ratio of the crushing apparatus; a setpoint dimension of a crush gap of the crushing apparatus; a setpoint operating load of at least one drive apparatus; a setpoint operating load of the crushing apparatus; a setpoint grain size and/or setpoint grain size distribution of fed and/or conveyed material; a setpoint quantity of returned oversize grain; a setpoint mesh aperture of a screen of the screening apparatus; a type of fed and/or conveyed material; a size of a loading tool of a loading apparatus discontinuously loading the material buffer.

16. The rock processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the output device is configured to output information independently of a receiver in a spatial area surrounding the rock processing apparatus at least partially and/or adjoining the rock processing apparatus.

17. The rock processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to control the discontinuous material feed based at least in part on the ascertained time information.

18. The rock processing apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a receiving device developed separately of a machine body of the rock processing apparatus and movable relative to the machine body and separable or separated from the machine body, the output device configured to transmit output information comprising the time information to the receiving device.

19. The rock processing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the receiving device is a portable receiving device.

20. A machine combination comprising: a rock processing apparatus comprising a material feeding apparatus having a material buffer configured to load starting material to be processed, at least one working unit comprising at least one crushing apparatus and/or at least one screening apparatus, at least one conveyor apparatus configured to convey material between apparatus components, at least one sensor configured to transmit a detection signal representing an execution time of a future material feed into the material feeding apparatus, a control unit connected to the at least one sensor and configured to ascertain, in an operation with discontinuous material feed of starting material to be processed, time information based on the at least one detection signal representing an execution time of a future material feed into the material feeding apparatus, and to control apparatus components of the rock processing apparatus, and at least one output device connected to the control unit and configured to transmit output information comprising the ascertained time information; and a loading apparatus configured to discontinuously load the material buffer of the rock processing apparatus, and comprising a receiving device, wherein the output device is configured to transmit output information comprising the time information to the receiving device.

21. The machine combination of claim 20, wherein the receiving device is configured to output the time information graphically and/or acoustically to a display device of the loading apparatus.

22. The machine combination of claim 20, wherein the receiving device is configured to control a transport-relevant operating component of the loading apparatus based at least in part on the time information.

23. The machine combination of claim 20, wherein the control unit is configured to ascertain, in the operation with discontinuous material feed, an individual execution time as time information for at least first and second successive future material feeds and to output the individual execution times respectively via the output device.

24. The machine combination of claim 20, the rock processing apparatus further comprising: an input device operatively connected to the control unit and configured, in the operation with discontinuous material feed, to ascertain the time information based on the at least one detection signal representing an execution time of a future material feed into the material feeding apparatus, and information input into the input device.

25. The machine combination of claim 20, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect, and to transmit to the control unit detection signals representing, at least one operating parameter from the group consisting of: a fill ratio of the material buffer; a fill ratio of the at least one conveyor apparatus; a conveying speed of the at least one conveyor apparatus; a fill ratio of at least one working unit; a grain shape and/or a grain size and/or a grain size distribution of fed and/or conveyed material; a type of fed and/or conveyed material; a humidity of the fed material; a density of the fed material; a hardness of the fed material; a crushability of the fed material; an abrasiveness of the fed material; a state of the fed material; a quantity of returned oversize grain; a feed quantity of material to be fed or already fed; am operating load of at least one drive apparatus; an operating load of the at least one working unit; a working speed of the at least one working unit; a dimension of a crush gap of the crushing apparatus; a mesh aperture of a screen of the screening apparatus; a size of a loading tool of a loading apparatus discontinuously loading the material buffer; and a quantity or proportion of non-crushable foreign material.

26. The machine combination of claim 24, wherein the control unit is configured to ascertain, in the operation with discontinuous material feed, the time information by taking into consideration information input into the input device and selected from the group consisting of: a setpoint fill ratio of the material buffer; a setpoint fill ratio of the at least one conveyor apparatus; a setpoint conveying speed of the at least one conveyor apparatus; a setpoint fill ratio of the crushing apparatus; a setpoint dimension of a crush gap of the crushing apparatus; a setpoint operating load of at least one drive apparatus; a setpoint operating load of the crushing apparatus; a setpoint grain size and/or setpoint grain size distribution of fed and/or conveyed material; a setpoint quantity of returned oversize grain; a setpoint mesh aperture of a screen of the screening apparatus; a type of fed and/or conveyed material; a size of a loading tool of a loading apparatus discontinuously loading the material buffer.

27. The machine combination of claim 20, wherein the output device is configured to output information independently of a receiver in a spatial area surrounding the rock processing apparatus at least partially and/or adjoining the rock processing apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a rough schematic view of a job site with a specific embodiment of a rock processing apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows the rock processing apparatus of FIG. 1 in an enlarged schematic lateral view.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows the rock processing apparatus of FIG. 2 in an enlarged schematic top view.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a rough schematic view of a receiving device for outputting time information.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows a rough schematic view of a receiving device for outputting location information for a material feed to a material feeding apparatus of the rock processing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] A job site is generally denoted by 10 in FIG. 1. The central implement of the job site 10 is a rock processing apparatus 12 comprising an impact crusher 14 as a crushing apparatus and a pre-screen 16 as well as a post-screen 18 as screening apparatuses. The job site is in the present case preferably a rock quarry but may also be a recycling yard or a demolition site of one or multiple buildings.

[0079] Material M to be processed by the rock processing apparatus 12, that is, to be sorted according to size and to be crushed, is fed discontinuously by being loaded by a backhoe 20 as a loading apparatus of the rock processing apparatus 12 into a material feeding apparatus 22 having a funnel-shaped material buffer 24.

[0080] From the material feeding apparatus 22, a vibrating conveyor in the form of a trough conveyor 26 conveys the material M to the pre-screen 16, which comprises two pre-screen decks 16a and 16b, of which the upper pre-screen deck 16a has a greater mesh aperture and separates and feeds to the impact crusher 14 those grain sizes that require crushing according to the respective specifications for the final grain product to be obtained.

[0081] Grains falling through the upper pre-screen deck 16a are sorted further by the lower pre-screen deck 16b into a usable grain fraction 28, which corresponds to the specifications of the final grain product to be obtained and an undersize grain fraction 30, which has a grain size that is so small that it is unusable as value grain.

[0082] The number of stockpiles or fractions shown in the exemplary embodiment is provided merely by way of example. The number may be greater or smaller than indicated in the example. Moreover, the undersize grain fraction 30 explained in the present example as waste could also be a value grain fraction if the grain size range accruing in the fraction 30 is usable for further applications.

[0083] The usable grain fraction 28 is increased by the crushed material output by the impact crusher 14 and is conveyed to the post-screen 18 by a first conveyor apparatus 32 in the form of a belt conveyor. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the post-screen 18 also has two screen decks or post-screen decks 18a and 18b, of which the upper post-screen deck 18a has the greater mesh aperture. The upper post-screen deck 18a allows value grain to fall through its mesh and sorts out an oversize grain fraction 34 having a grain size that is greater than the greatest desired grain size of the value grain. The oversize grain fraction 34 is returned by an oversize grain conveyor apparatus 36 into the material input of the impact crusher 14 or into the pre-screen 16. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the oversize grain conveyor apparatus 36 takes the form of a belt conveyor.

[0084] The useful grain of the useful grain fraction 28 thus comprises oversize grain and value grain. In contrast to the illustration in the exemplary embodiment, the oversize grain conveyor apparatus 36 may also be swiveled outward from a machine frame 50 of the rock processing apparatus 12, so that the oversize grain fraction 34 is stockpiled instead of being returned.

[0085] The value grain that fell through the meshes of the upper post-screen deck 18a is fractionated further by the lower post-screen deck 18b into a fine grain fraction 38 having a smaller grain size and a medium grain fraction 40 having a greater grain size.

[0086] Via a fine grain discharge conveyor apparatus 42 in the form of a belt conveyor, the fine grain fraction 38 is heaped to build a fine grain stockpile 44.

[0087] Via a medium grain discharge conveyor apparatus 46, likewise in the form of a belt conveyor, the medium grain fraction 40 is heaped to build a medium grain stockpile 48 (not shown in FIG. 1 and shown only in rough schematic fashion in FIG. 2).

[0088] As a central structure, the rock processing apparatus 12 has a machine frame 50, on which the mentioned apparatus components are fastened or supported directly or indirectly. As central power source, the rock processing apparatus 12 has a diesel combustion engine 52 supported on the machine frame 50, which generates the entire energy consumed by the rock processing apparatus 12, unless it is stored in energy stores such as batteries, for example. Additionally, the rock processing apparatus 12 may be connected to job site electrical current, if provided on the job site.

[0089] In the illustrated example, the rock processing apparatus 12, which may be part of a rock processing system having a plurality of rock processing apparatuses situated in a common flow of material, is a mobile, more precisely a self-propelled, rock processing apparatus 12 having a crawler travel gear 54, which via hydraulic motors 56 as drive of the rock processing apparatus 12 allows for a self-propelled change of location without an external towing vehicle.

[0090] A reduction of the value grain stockpiles 44 and 48 and of the stockpile of the undersize grain fraction 30 occurs discontinuously by one or several wheel loaders 58 as an example of a removal apparatus. The stockpile of the undersize grain fraction 30 must also be reduced regularly in order to ensure an uninterrupted operation of the rock processing apparatus 12.

[0091] For an operational control that is as advantageous as possible, the rock processing apparatus 12 includes the apparatus components described below with reference to the larger illustration of FIG. 2:

[0092] The rock processing apparatus 12 comprises a control unit 60, for example in the form of an electronic data processing system with integrated circuits, which controls the operation of apparatus components. For this purpose, the control unit 60 may either control drives of apparatus components directly, for example, or may control actuators which in turn are able to move components.

[0093] The control unit 60 is connected to a data memory 62 in signal-transmitting fashion for exchanging data and is connected to an input device 64 for inputting information. Via the input device 64, for example a touchscreen, a tablet computer, a keyboard and the like, information may be input into the input device 64 and may be stored by the latter in the data memory 62.

[0094] The control unit 60 is furthermore connected in signal-transmitting fashion to an output device 66 in order to output information.

[0095] For obtaining information about its operating state, the rock processing apparatus 12 furthermore has diverse sensors, which are connected in signal-transmitting fashion to the control unit 60 and thus in the illustrated example indirectly to the data memory 62. For better clarity, the sensors are shown only in FIG. 2.

[0096] A camera 70 is situated on a supporting frame 68, which records images of the material feeding apparatus 22 with the material buffer 24 and transmits these to the control unit 60 for image processing. With the aid of camera 70 and by processing the images it records of the material buffer 24 and of the material feeding apparatus 22, the control unit ascertains a local fill ratio of the material buffer 24 by using data relationships stored in the data memory 22.

[0097] Furthermore, a vibration amplitude and vibration frequency of the drive (not shown) of the trough conveyor 26 are detected and transmitted to the control unit 60, which ascertains from this information a conveying speed of the trough conveyor 26 and ascertains a conveying capacity of the trough conveyor 26 toward the impact crusher 14 by considering the local fill ratio of the material buffer 24.

[0098] With the aid of predetermined data relationships, generated and/or developed by methods of artificial intelligence, the control unit 60 is able to detect from image information of camera 70 a grain size distribution in the material M in the material buffer 24 and even detect the type of material.

[0099] In impact crusher 14, an upper impact wing 72 and a lower impact wing 74 are situated in a manner known per se, the rotational position of the upper impact wing 72 being detected by a rotational position sensor 76 and the rotational position of the lower impact wing 74 being detected by a rotational position sensor 78 and being transmitted to the control unit 60. Via the rotational position sensors 76 and 78, the control unit 60 is also able to ascertain a crush gap width of an upper crush gap on the upper impact wing 72 and a crush gap width of a lower crush gap on the lower impact wing 74.

[0100] A speed sensor 80 ascertains the speed of the crushing rotor of the impact crusher 14 and transmits it to the control unit 60.

[0101] On components such as blow bars, impact wings, impact plates and impact bars, for example, which are particularly subject to wear, wear sensors may be provided which register wear progress, normally in wear stages, and transmit this to the control unit 60. In the illustrated example, for better clarity, a wear sensor system 82 is shown only on the lower impact wing 74.

[0102] In the first conveyor apparatus 32, a first belt scale 84 is situated, which detects the weight or the mass of the material of the useful grain fraction 28 transported across it on the first conveyor apparatus 32. Via a speed sensor 86 in a deflection pulley of the conveyor belt of the first conveyor apparatus 32, the control unit 60 is able to ascertain a conveying speed of the first conveyor apparatus 32 and in joint consideration with the detection signals of the first belt scale 84 is able to ascertain a conveying capacity of the first conveyor apparatus 32.

[0103] A second belt scale 88 is situated in the fine grain discharge conveyor apparatus 42 and detects the mass or the weight of the fine grain of the fine grain fraction 38 moved across it on the belt of the fine grain discharge conveyor apparatus 42. In the same way, via the speed sensor 90 in a deflection pulley of the conveyor belt of the fine grain discharge conveyor apparatus 42, a conveying speed of the fine grain discharge conveyor apparatus 42 and in joint consideration with the detection signals of the second belt scale 88, a conveying capacity of the fine grain discharge conveyor apparatus 42 can be ascertained by the control unit 60.

[0104] A third belt scale 92 is situated in the oversize grain conveyor apparatus 36 and ascertains the weight or the mass of the oversize grain of the oversize grain fraction 34 conveyed across it on the oversize grain conveyor apparatus 36. A speed sensor 94 of a deflection pulley of the conveyor belt of the oversize grain conveyor apparatus 36 ascertains the conveying speed of the oversize grain conveyor apparatus 36 and transmits it to the control unit 60, which in joint consideration with the detection signals of the third belt scale 92 is able to ascertain a conveying capacity of the oversize grain conveyor apparatus.

[0105] At the discharge-side longitudinal end of the fine grain discharge conveyor apparatus 42, a first stockpile sensor 96 is situated, which as a camera records images of the fine grain stockpile 44 and transmits these as image information to a control unit 60, which detects contours of the fine grain stockpile 48 by image processing and on the basis of the known image data of the camera of the first stockpile sensor 96 starting from the detected contours ascertains a shape and from that a volume of the fine grain stockpile 48. For this purpose, to simplify its information ascertainment, the control unit 60 may assume an ideal conical shape of the fine grain stockpile 48 and ascertain the volume of an ideal cone approximating the real fine grain stockpile 48 without excessive error. Thus, it may suffice if a stockpile sensor ascertains the diameter D of the base area of a stockpile and the height h of the stockpile, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the example of stockpile 48.

[0106] FIG. 1 shows a second stockpile sensor 98 that can be used alternatively or additionally. The second stockpile sensor 98 comprises a drone capable of flying as a carrier, which may be remote controlled in its movement by control unit 60. The second stockpile sensor 98 is also used to ascertain at least a height of the fine grain stockpile 48, preferably, however, to ascertain its shape and thus its volume. An advantage of using a drone or a sensor installed at an elevated location, for example on a high mast or post, is that one sensor is able to detect more than one stockpile with respect to its height and/or its shape and/or its volume. A number of sensors that is lower than the number of stockpiles to be detected at the rock processing apparatus 12, at a rock processing system or at the job site 10 may then suffice in order to detect every one of the stockpiles to be detected. Preferably, exactly one sensor will then suffice in order to detect all of the stockpiles to be detected.

[0107] Each discharge conveyor apparatus producing a stockpile preferably has at least one stockpile sensor or cooperates with a stockpile sensor.

[0108] The other discharge conveyor apparatuses, such as the medium grain discharge apparatus 46 and an undersize grain discharge apparatus 29, preferably also have belt scale and a speed sensor for detecting the quantity of material transported on the respective conveyor apparatus, the conveying speed and hence the conveying capacity.

[0109] The output device 66 may have a projection device 100, for example on the supporting frame 68, in order to project a marker within the overall feed area 102 shown in FIG. 2, which is identical with the feed opening of the material buffer 24. The overall feed area 102 is chosen is such a way that a grain falling along the direction of the force of gravity reaches the material feeding apparatus 22 without falling directly onto the pre-screen 16.

[0110] The output device 66 further comprises a transmitting/receiving unit 104, which in wireless fashion and in a suitable data protocol is able to transmit data to and receive data from a receiving device set up for communication with it, for example the receiving device 106 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0111] The output device 66 further includes a first display device 108, for example in the form of a monitor, for the externally perceptible display of time information about a next material feed into the material feeding apparatus 22. In the illustrated specific embodiment, the output device 66 also includes a second display device 110, for example again a monitor, for the externally perceptible display of time information and location information about a next stockpile reduction. For this purpose, the display device 110 indicates not only time information as to when a next stockpile reduction should begin, but also location information as to which of the stockpiles should be reduced at the indicated time, and possibly also by what amount the indicated stockpile should be reduced.

[0112] The backhoe 20 further comprises a transmitting/receiving device 112 including a data memory, which is set up for communication with the transmitting/receiving unit 104 of the rock processing apparatus 12. The transmitting/receiving device 112 is thus able to transmit to the transmitting/receiving unit 104 relevant data about the backhoe 20, such as the holding capacity of its bucket 21 as its loading tool and/or its current GPS data.

[0113] The wheel loader 58 accordingly comprises a transmitting/receiving device 114 including a data memory, which is set up for communication with the transmitting/receiving unit 104 of the rock processing apparatus 12. The transmitting/receiving device 112 is thus able to transmit to the transmitting/receiving unit 104 relevant data about the wheel loader 58, such as the holding capacity of its bucket 59 as its removal tool and/or its current GPS data.

[0114] In the illustrated example, the data memory 62 contains multiple data relationships, which link operating parameters and/or material parameters with one another. These data relationships may be ascertained in advance by test operations with specific parameter variations and stored in the data memory 62. In particular for more complex multidimensional data relationships, the use of methods of artificial intelligence is helpful for ascertaining causal relationships between operating parameters and/or material parameters. In the further operation of the rock processing apparatus 12, the data relationships thus ascertained may be continuously verified, refined and/or corrected, again preferably using methods of artificial intelligence.

[0115] The discontinuous material feed naturally results in a surge-like material feed, a surge of fed material being limited by the size of the bucket 21 of the backhoe 20. The time intervals between two discontinuous material feeds are not predictable and will fluctuate.

[0116] To avoid interruptions in the operational sequence of the rock processing apparatus 12, the control unit 60 ascertains on the basis of detection signals of one or multiple of the previously mentioned sensors a piece of time information, which represents an execution time of a future, in particular next, material feed into the material feeding apparatus 22.

[0117] For this purpose, the control unit 60 preferably uses the ascertained locally differentiated fill ratio of the material buffer 24 and takes into consideration the conveying capacities of the trough conveyor 26 and for example of the undersize grain conveyor apparatus 29 as well as of the first conveyor apparatus 32. An analysis of the material streams of the trough conveyor 26 into the impact crusher 14 and of the undersize grain conveyor apparatus 29 and the first conveyor apparatus 32 away from the impact crusher 14 indicates whether the fill ratio of the impact crusher 14 changes over time, for example grows or diminishes, and thus indicates whether the conveying capacity of the trough conveyor 26 can be maintained or must be changed. The conveying capacity of the trough conveyor 26, however, determines how quickly the material buffer 24 is depleted and should be loaded again with material. Alternatively or additionally, a sensor may also be provided on the rock processing apparatus 12 for detecting the fill ratio of the impact crusher 14 directly.

[0118] The control unit 60 also considers the quantity of returned oversize grain, since the oversize grain fraction 34 also contributes to the fill ratio of the material buffer 24.

[0119] A predefined data relationship stored in the data memory 62 may link the detection signals of the camera 70, of the first belt scale 84, of the speed sensor 86, of a belt scale and a speed sensor on the undersize grain discharge conveyor apparatus, of the belt scale 92 and of the speed sensor 94 of the oversize grain conveyor apparatus 36 and of the size of the bucket 21 of the backhoe 20, possibly by taking the distance of the backhoe 20 from the material feeding apparatus 22 into consideration, as input variable with a piece of time information as the output variable, which indicates when a next material feed into the material feeding apparatus 22 is to take place. This time information on the one hand may be displayed on the first output device 108 in a suitable form, for example as an hourglass, waiting time bar, time countdown or analog clock representation, perceptible for anyone within visual range of the rock processing apparatus 20.

[0120] The time information may also be transmitted by the transmitting/receiving unit 104 to a mobile receiving device 106, which is available to the machine operator of the backhoe 20. The mobile receiving device 106 may be a portable mobile device, such as a mobile telephone, a tablet computer and the like, or may be permanently installed in the backhoe as part of its control unit and may remain in the backhoe 20.

[0121] FIG. 4 shows by way of example a representation of a piece of time information on the receiving device 106 both graphically in the upper half by indicator representation 107a as well as alphanumerically in the lower half by time countdown 107b. In the illustrated case, a next material feed is desired in 00 minutes and 45 seconds.

[0122] The control unit 60 is thus able successively to control the discontinuous material feed and able to ensure a good flow of material in the rock processing apparatus 12 in spite of the discontinuity of the material feed.

[0123] Due to the local or regional resolution of the fill ratio in the material feeding apparatus 22 or in material buffer 24, the control unit 60 on the basis of a further data relationship stored in the data memory 62 is also able to control the next material feed not only in terms of time, but also spatially within the overall feed area 102 of the material buffer 24 or material feeding apparatus 22 or to indicate a piece of location information about a preferred material feed location within the overall feed area 102.

[0124] For the specific construction type of the material feeding apparatus 22 and the rock processing apparatus 12 as a whole, which may be identified parametrically in the data memory 62 so as to be usable for the control unit 60, the control unit 60 is thus able to advance the loading of the material buffer 24 in the most advantageous manner possible over the entire operating time of the rock processing apparatus 12.

[0125] Local overfilling of the material buffer 24 may thus be avoided as well as a direct feed of material onto the pre-screen 16. Furthermore, in places where locally the fill ratio within the material buffer 24 has fallen sharply, material may be fed to ensure an advantageous material bed in the material feeding apparatus 22.

[0126] On the basis of a predetermined data relationship, the control unit 60 is thus able to output location information to the machine operator of the backhoe 20 indicating where a next material feed should be provided within the overall feed area 102.

[0127] Via the projection device 100, the output device 66 is able to output this location information in a manner that is visible for everyone in that the projection device 100 within the overall feed area 102 or within the material buffer 24 projects a marker at the location at which the next material feed should take place.

[0128] Additionally or alternatively, the location information, as previously already the time information for the next material feed, may be output via the receiving device 106 to the machine operator of the backhoe 20. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment for a location information output. The receiving device 106 displays a schematic rendering 197c of the material buffer 24 with the overall feed area 102 and marks therein by a suitable marker 116 the desired feed location within the overall feed area 102 for the next material feed. Additionally, a preferred discharge height or a discharge height range may be indicated quantitatively, for example in meters and/or centimeters, or qualitatively, for example by indicating qualitative discharge height parameters such as low, medium and high. Particularly when communicating the location information to a, possibly partially automatic, backhoe control, the additional height information may be readily implemented.

[0129] Using the first stockpile sensor 96 and/or the second stockpile sensor 98 at the respective discharge conveyor apparatuses 29, 42 and 46, the control unit 60 is able to detect a growth of the stockpiles 30, 44 and 48 produced by the rock processing apparatus 12 by considering material parameters such as the type of the fed material, the grain size and grain size distribution and the bulk density possibly resulting therefrom, and is able above all to detect a rate of change or growth rate of the respective stockpile and, by using a previously produced and stored data relationship, to ascertain a piece of reduction time information indicating when a particular stockpile should be reduced by the wheel loader 58. This makes it possible to prevent the stockpile from growing excessively and from blocking a discharge via the discharge conveyor apparatus producing the respective stockpile.

[0130] Furthermore, by taking into consideration material parameters, such as the grain size and grain size distribution as well as the density, the control apparatus, by using a data relationship ascertained for this purpose, is able to ascertain a further piece of reduction information, which indicates to what extent a reduction is to take place.

[0131] If the rock processing apparatus 12, as in the present case, produces multiple stockpiles, then the output device 66 additionally outputs a further piece of reduction information, which identifies the stockpile to which the reduction time information pertains.

[0132] The control unit 60 is able to display the reduction time information and the further pieces of reduction information on the second display device 110 so as to be perceptible to anyone within the visual range of the rock processing apparatus 12. Additionally or alternatively, the output device 66 may transmit, via the transmitting/receiving unit 104, the pieces of information about the next stockpile reduction to the receiving device 106, where it is output to the machine operator of the wheel loader 58 in graphical and/or alphanumerical fashion.

[0133] Finally, from detection signals of suitable sensors, the control unit 60 is able to control operating parameters of the rock processing apparatus 12 in such a way that a predetermined desired ratio of fine grain quantity and medium grain quantity is obtained in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. In the same way, on the basis of appropriately prepared data relationships, the control unit 60 is able to control the rock processing apparatus 12 in such a way that its energy consumption per unit of quantity of processed mineral material reaches or is reduced to at least a local minimum. Additionally or alternatively, by using appropriately prepared data relationships, the control unit 60 is able to control the rock processing apparatus 12 in such a way that a quantity of oversize grain advantageous for the respective crushing process is returned so that a sufficient amount of support grain is present in the crush gap or in the crush gaps in the form of pre-crushed oversize grain. Indeed, an operation with the aim of minimizing or eliminating the amount of oversize grain is not necessarily the most economical operation of the rock processing apparatus 12 due to the advantageous effects of oversize grain as support grain in the crush gap. Frequently, a very small amount of oversize grain implies an excessively large amount of material that is crushed too finely, which is normally not desired. If the amount of returned material decreases, the quality of the final product often decreases along with it, since the final product then contains less repeatedly crushed material.

[0134] On the basis of the available data relationships ascertained in advance by test operations with specific parameter variation, the control unit 60 may also aim for an operation of the rock processing apparatus 12 on the basis of multiple target variables or one target variable with further specified boundary conditions, such as for example the production of value grain having different grain sizes in a predetermined quantitative proportion at lowest possible energy consumption and at the most advantageous amount of returned oversize grain.

[0135] For setting the operation of the rock processing apparatus 12 in accordance with the output variables of the at least one utilized data relationship, the control unit 60 may change the conveying speed of one or multiple conveyor apparatuses, may change the crush gap width, in particular of the upper and/or of the lower crush gap, may change the rotor speed, may control the material feed into the material feeding apparatus 22 spatially and temporally, etc.

[0136] The input variables used for optimizing the operation may be the size and/or the height and/or the growth of value grain stockpiles, presently for example the value grain stockpiles 44 and 48, the size and/or the height and/or the growth of the stockpile of the undersize grain fraction 30, the quantity of returned oversize grain, the fed grain size and fed grain size distribution, which are primarily ascertainable via the material parameters input via the input device 64. The input material parameters may comprise at least one material parameter of: the type of material, degree of humidity, hardness, density, crushability, abrasiveness, proportion of foreign substances in the fed and/or processed material, etc., the grain size and grain size distribution in the individual discharge conveyor apparatuses. The enumeration is not conclusive. In the discharge conveyor apparatuses, the grain size and grain size distribution, possibly also the grain shape, may be ascertained by cameras with subsequent image processing. The grain size and the grain size distribution in a discharge conveyor apparatus may be ascertained additionally or alternatively by the occupancy of a screening device upstream of the respective discharge conveyor apparatus in the flow of material. Additionally or alternatively, the desired setpoint quantity of a respective final product may be used as input variable for optimizing the operation.

[0137] By application of methods of artificial intelligence, the control unit 60, if desired with the involvement of powerful external data processing devices, is able continuously to improve the targeted precision of the stored data relationships by its daily operation and the data and findings gathered in the process.

[0138] The rock processing apparatus 12 itself is thus not only able to improve its own operation but is basically able successively to take over the organization of the entire job site in the vicinity of the rock processing apparatus 12.