FIELD PROCESSING MACHINE WITH A PICKUP DEVICE WHICH HAS A PICKUP ROTOR AND A TRANSFER ROTOR

Abstract

A field cultivating machine (1) having at least one pickup device (10), having a pickup rotor (11) and a transfer rotor (14), which can be driven about axes of rotation (A, B) along a transverse axis (Y), wherein the pickup rotor (11) can pick up agricultural crop material from the ground (70) with pickup prongs (12), to lift it in relation to a vertical axis (Z) and to transfer it to the transfer rotor (14), which is configured to take over the crop material by means of transfer prongs (15) and to transfer it to a downstream device (30), at least in part behind the pickup device (10) in relation to a longitudinal axis (X), wherein the transfer prongs (15) engage between the pickup prongs (12) so that the that ranges of movement (C, D) of the transfer prongs (15) and the pickup prongs (12) overlap when viewed along the transverse-axis (Y).

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A field cultivating machine (1) comprising of: at least one pickup device (10), which has a pickup rotor (11) and a transfer rotor (14), which can be driven in the same direction about axes of rotation (A, B) which extend at least predominantly along a transverse axis (Y), wherein the pickup rotor (11) is configured to pick up agricultural crop material from the ground (70) by means of pickup prongs (12), to lift it in relation to a vertical axis (Z) and to transfer it to the transfer rotor (14), which is configured to take over the crop material by means of transfer prongs (15) and to transfer it to a downstream device (30), which is arranged at least in part behind the pickup device (10) in relation to a longitudinal axis (X), wherein the transfer prongs (15) engage between the pickup prongs (12) in such a way that ranges of movement (C, D) of the transfer prongs (15) and the pickup prongs (12) overlap when viewed along the transverse axis (Y), wherein the pickup device (10) has a stripping device (20) with pickup-prong stripper sections (23) and pickup-prong gaps (25), which are formed therebetween in relation to the transverse axis (Y) and through which the pickup prongs (12) at least partially project, wherein the stripping device (20) has transfer-prong stripper sections (24) and transfer-prong gaps (26) formed therebetween, through which the transfer prongs (15) at least partially project, wherein the transfer-prong stripper sections (24) are designed in such a way that, as the transfer rotor (14) rotates, the transfer prongs (15) enter between them.

20. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, wherein the transfer rotor (14) is arranged at least in part higher than the pickup rotor (11) and is configured to lift the crop material taken over from the pickup rotor (11) at least initially in relation to the vertical axis (Z).

21. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, wherein the transfer prongs (15) have a transfer conveying profile (19) which is arranged at the front in the direction of rotation and slopes rearwards, such that it recedes tangentially in a radially outward direction, and the pickup prongs (12) have a pickup conveying profile (17) which is arranged at the front in the direction of rotation and slopes forwards to a greater extent, at least in some region or regions, than the transfer conveying profile (19).

22. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, wherein the transfer prongs (15) are designed in such a way that, in the course of the movement of the transfer rotor (14) along the stripping device (20), a stripping angle (b.sub.1, b.sub.2) between a respective part of the transfer conveying profile (19) which is adjacent to the stripper and the adjacent transfer-prong stripper section (24) is at least 80? throughout.

23. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, wherein the transfer prongs (15) have a transfer conveying profile (19) which slopes rearwards, wherein an angle of inclination (a.sub.1, a.sub.2) relative to a radial direction (R) increases radially towards the outside.

24. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, wherein the at least one pickup-prong gap (25) merges into a transfer-prong gap (26) in a transitional region (27).

25. The field cultivating machine according to claim 24, wherein the transitional region (27), the stripping device (20) has a guide edge (28), which delimits a pickup-prong gap (25) and is inclined towards the axis of rotation (A) in the direction of the transfer-prong gap (26), relative to a rotation plane (E) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (A) of the pickup rotor (11), wherein the inclination relative to the rotation plane (E) is preferably between 20? and 70?.

26. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, wherein the machine is designed as a windrower (1), having at least one windrower unit (8), which has a pickup device (10) and, as a downstream device, a transverse conveyor (30), which is configured to receive the crop material transferred by the transfer rotor (14) on a conveying surface (33), to convey it along the transverse axis (Y) and to deposit it in windrows on the ground (70).

27. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, wherein the transfer rotor (14) is configured to discharge at least some of the crop material above the conveying surface (36) in relation to the vertical axis (Z) and to throw it onto the said surface.

28. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, further comprising an entry region (29), in which the transfer prongs (15) enter completely between the transfer-prong stripper sections (24), is arranged above a region (34) of the conveying surface (33) which is adjacent to the pickup device (10).

29. The field cultivating machine according to claim 26, wherein the transverse conveyor (30) can at least be arranged in such a way that the conveying surface (33) is tilted relative to the horizontal plane towards the pickup device (10).

30. The field cultivating machine according to claim 19, further comprising a hold-down device (40) having a rotatable hold-down roller (41), which is arranged at least in part in front of the pickup rotor (11) in relation to the longitudinal axis (X), and a guide cover (46), which is arranged at least in part behind it in relation to the longitudinal axis (X) and defines a conveying duct (18) for crop material between itself and at least one of the rotors (11, 14).

31. The field cultivating machine according to claim 30, wherein the hold-down device (40) is preferably suspended in such a way by means of at least one hold-down device carrier (55) that it is at least vertically movable relative to the rotors (11, 14).

32. The field cultivating machine according to claim 30, wherein the hold-down roller (41) and/or the guide cover (46) are individually adjustable relative to the hold-down device carrier (55).

33. The field cultivating machine according to claim 30, further comprising a plurality of guide prongs (48), which extend along the longitudinal axis (X) and are configured to guide the crop material discharged by the transfer rotor (14) in the direction of the downstream device (30), wherein an inclination of the guide prongs (48) relative to the longitudinal axis (X) is adjustable in the direction of the transverse axis (Y).

34. The field cultivating machine according to claim 30, wherein the hold-down device (40) has a plurality of guide prongs (48), which extend along the longitudinal axis (X) and are configured to guide the crop material discharged by the transfer rotor (14) in the direction of the downstream device (30).

35. The field cultivating machine according to claim 33, further comprising an inclination of the guide prongs (48) relative to the longitudinal axis (X), is adjustable in the direction of the vertical axis (Z).

36. A pickup device (10) for a field cultivating machine (1) comprising: a pickup rotor (11) and a transfer rotor (14), which can be driven in the same direction about axes of rotation (A, B) which extend at least predominantly along a transverse axis (Y), wherein the pickup rotor (11) is configured to pick up agricultural crop material from the ground (70) by means of pickup prongs (12), to lift it in relation to a vertical axis (Z) and to transfer it to the transfer rotor (14), which is configured to take over the crop material by means of transfer prongs (15) and to transfer it to a downstream device (30), which is arranged at least in part behind the pickup device (10) in relation to a longitudinal axis (X), wherein the transfer prongs (15) engage between the pickup prongs (12) in such a way that ranges of movement (C, D) of the transfer prongs (15) and the pickup prongs (12) overlap when viewed along the transverse axis (Y), wherein the pickup device (10) has a stripping device (20) with pickup-prong stripper sections (23) and pickup-prong gaps (25), which are formed therebetween in relation to the transverse axis (Y) and through which the pickup prongs (12) at least partially project, wherein the stripping device (20) has transfer-prong stripper sections (24) and transfer-prong gaps (26) formed therebetween, through which the transfer prongs (15) at least partially project, wherein the transfer-prong stripper sections (24) are designed in such a way that, as the transfer rotor (14) rotates, the transfer prongs (15) enter between them.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Several embodiments in which the present invention can be practiced are illustrated and described in detail, wherein like reference characters represent like components throughout the several views. The drawings are presented for exemplary purposes and may not be to scale unless otherwise indicated. Further details and advantages of the invention can be found in the schematic figures described below.

[0049] The invention is described below with reference to figures. The figures are purely illustrative and do not limit the general concept of the invention. More specifically:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a field cultivating machine according to the invention designed as a windrower;

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a windrower unit of the windrower from FIG. 1;

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a sectional illustration from the side of part of the windrower unit from FIG. 2;

[0053] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a pickup device of the windrower unit from FIG. 2;

[0054] FIG. 5 shows another view of the pickup device from FIG. 4;

[0055] FIG. 6 shows a sectional illustration of part of the pickup device from FIG. 4; and

[0056] FIG. 7 shows a perspective illustration of part of a hold-down device of the windrower unit from FIG. 2.

[0057] An artisan of ordinary skill in the art need not view, within isolated figure(s), the near infinite number of distinct permutations of features described in the following detailed description to facilitate an understanding of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0058] The present disclosure is not to be limited to that described herein. Mechanical, electrical, chemical, procedural, and/or other changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. No features shown or described are essential to permit basic operation of the present invention unless otherwise indicated. The hereinafter elucidated features may also be an aspect of the invention individually or in combinations other than those shown or described, but always at least in combination with the features of the claims. Where appropriate, functionally equivalent parts are provided with identical reference numbers.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a field cultivating machine according to the invention, in this case, a windrower 1, which is provided for towing by a tractor (not illustrated here). The windrower 1 has a main frame 2, which can be supported on the ground 70 via two wheels of an undercarriage 4. In addition, the main frame 2 has a drawbar 3, which points forwards in a direction of travel F, which extends along a longitudinal axis X, and via which it is coupled to the tractor. Two side arms 5, on each of which a windrower unit 8 is arranged, extend parallel to a transverse axis Y on both sides of the main frame 2. The two windrower units 8 and their connection to the main frame 2 are identical or mirror-symmetrical, for which reason only one windrower unit 8 is considered below in each case.

[0060] The windrower unit 8 has a pickup device 10 and a transverse conveyor 30, which is arranged behind the latter in relation to the longitudinal axis X. When the windrower 1 is towed in the direction of travel F, the pickup device 10 picks up crop material from the ground 70 and transfers it to the transverse conveyor 30. The transverse conveyor 30 has a transverse conveyor frame 31 and a conveyor belt 32, which can be driven in revolution on the said frame. By means of this conveyor belt 32, the crop material is received on a conveying surface 33, conveyed sideways in relation to the transverse axis Y, and deposited in windrows on the ground 70. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of the windrower 1, which is provided for deposition of the crop material on the inside, i.e., towards the central plain of the windrower 1. In this case, the two windrower units 8 are clearly spaced apart along the transverse axis Y, and the conveyor belts 32 are driven in such a way that they each convey the crop material towards the center. In an alternative working configuration (not illustrated here), the windrower units 8 can be adjusted towards the center on the side arms 5, such that they are arranged directly adjacent to one another. The windrower unit 8 is suspended in such a way that it can be moved relative to the main frame 2 in a manner not explained specifically here. In particular, it is vertically movable and can sense and follow the profile of the ground 70 by means of ground guidance elements 37.

[0061] The pickup device 10 has a pickup rotor 11, which can be driven in rotation about a first axis of rotation A and is guided along close to the ground 70, and a transfer rotor 14, which can be driven in rotation in the same direction as the pickup rotor 11 about a second axis of rotation B and is offset rearwards in relation to the longitudinal axis X and upwards in relation to a vertical axis Z relative to the pickup rotor 11. In the figures, the axes of rotation A, B extend parallel to the transverse axis Y, corresponding to alignment on level, horizontal ground 70. Owing to the mentioned mobility of the windrower unit 8, the alignment of the axes of rotation A, B may temporarily deviate from the transverse axis Y but normally by at most 20?. It is also possible that not only the windrower unit 8 as a whole is movable but that the pickup device 10 is split along the transverse axis Y into two subunits which can tilt relative to one another in order to adapt to irregularities in the ground. In this case, each of the axes of rotation in the two subunits can extend differently, although deviations of less than 20? are likewise typical.

[0062] The function of the pickup device 10 is to pick up crop material from the ground 70 and to transfer it to the transverse conveyor 30. To be more precise, the pickup rotor 11 picks up the crop material and transfers it to the transfer rotor 14, which, for its part, transfers it to the transverse conveyor 30. The pickup rotor 11 has a plurality of pickup prongs 12, which in the present case are formed from spring wire. They are arranged on a rotor core 13, which is visible in FIG. 2. As can be seen, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pickup prongs 12 are grouped in a plurality of prong rings, which are spaced apart along the transverse axis Y. The transfer rotor 14 has a plurality of transfer prongs 15, which can be formed by segments made of sheet metal or else of plastic. These too are grouped into prong rings and arranged on a rotor core 16. In FIG. 1, instead of the respective prongs 12, 15, only the cylindrical enveloping surfaces of their ranges of movement C, D are illustrated for the sake of clarity. As is apparent from FIG. 3, a first range of movement C of each pickup prong 12 overlaps with a second range of movement D of a transfer prong 15 in the direction of the transverse axis Y (which is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 3). This is made possible by the fact that the transfer prongs 15 are arranged offset relative to the pickup prongs 12 in the direction of the transverse axis Y and can thus engage in gaps between the respective pickup prongs 12. This state of affairs is apparent, especially in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0063] The pickup device 10 furthermore has a stripping device 20, which is formed from metallic stripping elements 21, 22. The stripping device 20 defines pickup-prong stripper sections 23 arranged between the pickup prongs 12 along the transverse axis Y and defines transfer-prong stripper sections 24 arranged between the transfer prongs 15 along the transverse axis Y. In this embodiment, the respective pickup-prong stripper section 23 is formed substantially by a first stripping element 21, while the respective transfer-prong stripper section 24 is formed substantially by a second stripping element 22, which in each case adjoins a first stripping element 21 almost seamlessly. However, some other embodiment would also be possible. The pickup prongs 12 each move through pickup-prong gaps 25, which are formed between two pickup-prong stripper sections 23. The transfer prongs 15 each move through transfer-prong gaps 26, which are each formed between two transfer-prong stripper sections 24. The pickup-prong gaps 25 are offset from the transfer-prong gaps 26 in relation to the transverse axis Y. This corresponds to the arrangement of the pickup prongs 12, which are likewise arranged offset from the transfer prongs 15 in relation to the transverse axis Y. Each pickup-prong gap 25 merges into a transfer-prong gap 26 in a transitional region 27. In the course of their rotary motion, the pickup prongs 12 retract to an inner side of the stripping device 20 in the transitional region 27, while the transfer prongs move towards the outer side from the inner side of the stripping device 20 in the transitional region 27. In the transitional region 27, the stripping device 20 has a guide edge 28, which delimits the pickup-prong gap 25. This guide edge 28 is inclined, relative to a rotation plane E perpendicular to the first axis of rotation A of the pickup rotor 11, towards the axis of rotation A in the direction of the adjacent transfer-prong gap 26. Thus, crop material, which is located between the pickup prong 12, which is retracting to the inner side, and the guide edge 28 is guided sideways in the direction of the transfer-prong gap 26 and thus in the direction of the transfer rotor 14. In this example, the inclination relative to the rotation plane E is about 45?, but other angles of inclination would also be possible, e.g. between 30? and 60?. The crop material is taken up and conveyed onwards by the transfer prongs 15. In an entry region 29, which is arranged to the rear of the stripping device 20 in relation to the longitudinal axis X, the transfer prongs 15 are retracted again fully between the transfer-prong stripper sections 24.

[0064] As can be seen especially in FIG. 6, the transfer prongs 15 have a transfer conveying profile 19, which is arranged at the front in the direction of rotation and slopes rearwards, with the result that it recedes tangentially in a radially outward direction. Here, the corresponding angle of inclination a.sub.3, a.sub.4 relative to a radial direction R is between 33? and 40?. The pickup prongs 12 have a pickup conveying profile 17, which is arranged at the front in the direction of rotation and likewise slopes rearwards, but at a shallower angle throughout than the transfer conveying profile 19. In this example, the angle of inclination a.sub.3, a.sub.4 relative to the radial direction R is between 6? and 16?. The relatively shallow rearward slope of the pickup conveying profile 17 is optimized for picking up the crop material from the ground 70. To further enhance this, the angle of inclination a.sub.3, a.sub.4 also decreases from the inside outwards, such that on the inside, it corresponds to a first angle of inclination a.sub.3 of 16? and on the outside corresponds to a second angle of inclination a.sub.4 of 6?. For stripping off the crop material, on the other hand, the comparatively steep rearward slope of the transfer conveying profile 19 is advantageous since it facilitates the interaction with the stripping device 20. The angle of inclination a.sub.3, a.sub.4 decreases radially from the inside outwards from a third angle of inclination a.sub.3 of 33? to a fourth angle of inclination a.sub.4 of 40?. By virtue of this rearward slope, a stripping angle b.sub.1, b.sub.2 between the transfer conveying profile and the stripping device 20 is always over 100? in this example. The stripping angle b.sub.1, b.sub.2 changes in the course of the rotation of the transfer rotor 14 and is, in each case, measured between a part of the transfer conveying profile 19, which is adjacent to the stripping device 20, and the adjacent transfer-prong stripper section 24. In the case of the uppermost transfer prong 15 in FIG. 6, a first stripping angle b.sub.1 is 106?. In the case of the next transfer prong 15 in the direction of rotation, a stripping angle b.sub.2 is 108?, that is to say, the stripping angle increases until, finally, it reaches its maximum value in the entry region 29 (in this example 1180). This increase in the stripping angle b.sub.1, b.sub.2 is substantially promoted by the above-described increase in the angle of inclination a.sub.3, a.sub.4. The fact that the stripping angle is constantly significantly above 900 ensures that the crop material is always subject to a radially outward-directed force component, such that it cannot be trapped and squashed between the transfer prongs 15 and the stripping device 20. The increase in the stripping angle b.sub.1, b.sub.2 increasingly intensifies the stripping effect towards the entry region 29.

[0065] Since the transfer rotor 14 is arranged at least in part higher than the pickup rotor 11, the crop material is lifted in a total of two stages in relation to the vertical axis Z. The crop material lying in a certain depth on the ground 70 is first of all taken up by the pickup prongs 12 and conveyed by these upwards and proportionally rearwards along the longitudinal axis X. Some of it is stripped off by the stripping device 20, but some of it is also taken over directly by the transfer prongs 15 of the transfer rotor 14. In all cases, the crop material is ultimately taken over by the transfer rotor 14, which in turn lifts the crop material in relation to the vertical axis Z and conveys it rearwards in relation to the longitudinal axis X. Overall, the crop material can be brought to a relatively great height above the ground 70, while the pickup rotor 11 can be kept comparatively small, wherein the range of movement C of a pickup prong 12 has a diameter of 60 cm, for example. This, in turn, has the effect that the pickup prongs 12 take up the crop material in a phase of movement in which they are already moving predominantly upwards and not primarily forwards in the direction of travel F. This therefore very largely prevents the pickup rotor 11 from flinging the crop material forwards or merely pushing it ahead of itself. The great conveying height achieved overall in this way is in turn, advantageous for the transfer of the crop material to the transverse conveyor 30, as explained below. The conveying height is also achieved by virtue of the fact that the transfer rotor is arranged at least in part above the conveying surface. In particular, a point P of the range of movement D of the transfer prongs 15, which is uppermost in relation to the vertical axis Z can be arranged about 70% of the diameter of the range of movement D higher along the vertical axis Z than a lowermost region 34 of the conveying surface 33 adjacent to the pickup device 10.

[0066] Both the rotational speed of the pickup rotor 11 and that of the transfer rotor 14 can be adjusted, more specifically independently of one another. In particular, the rotational speed of the pickup rotor 11 can be adjusted as a function of the speed of travel of the windrower 1 and of the quantity and possibly the characteristics of the crop material on the ground 70. The rotational speed of the pickup rotor 11 normally results in a sensible minimum rotational speed of the transfer rotor 14, which is necessary to transport the accepted crop material onwards with sufficient speed. In addition, the rotational speed of the transfer rotor 14 can be selected in accordance with further factors. In particular, it is advantageously selected so that some of the crop material can detach itself from the transfer rotor 14 by virtue of the centrifugal force and is thus not simply stripped off but is thrown or flung. As a result, the crop material does not simply fall down where it would land on a region 34 of the conveying surface 33, which is adjacent to the pickup device 10. On the contrary, the crop material is also, and, in particular, preferentially, thrown predominantly towards the center of the conveying surface and also in part towards the opposite end from the pickup device 10. Thus, uniform distribution of the crop material on the conveying surface 33 is achieved, and possible accumulation leading to damage to the crop material can be prevented. To prevent the crop material from getting too far back in relation to the longitudinal axis X, the conveying surface 33 is, on the one hand, tilted forwards in the direction of the pickup device 10 in relation to a horizontal plane. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the angle of inclination is about 20?, but other angles of inclination are also possible and expedient. As an additional measure, the windrow unit 8 has a baffle 35 at the rear of the transverse conveyor 30. It should be noted that, even the entry region 29, in which at the latest any crop material still adhering to the transfer prongs 15 is stripped off, is arranged clearly above the region 34 of the conveying surface 36 adjacent to the pickup device 10. That is to say that even this crop material is thrown off and not simply pushed or pressed onto the conveying surface 33, which would, in turn, increase the risk of damage.

[0067] In order to promote efficient pickup and conveying of the crop material, the windrower unit 8 furthermore has a hold-down device 40. This is connected to the transverse conveyor frame 31 by means of a hold-down device carrier 55. In FIG. 1, the hold-down device 40 and the hold-down device carrier 55 are illustrated only schematically, while their precise structure is apparent from FIGS. 2, 3, and 6. The hold-down device 40 has a hold-down roller 41, which is rotatably mounted on a roller carrier 42, which, for its part, is connected via an intermediate element 43 to the hold-down device carrier 55. In this case, a position of the carrier 42 on the hold-down device carrier 55 can be varied. On the one hand, a first adjustment guide 44 is provided for this purpose, the said guide being formed by a slotted hole in the roller carrier 42 and a screw passed through this hole and connected to the intermediate element 43. Loosening the screw enables the roller carrier 42 to be pivoted relative to the intermediate element 43, thereby essentially enabling a position of the hold-down roller 41 to be changed in the direction of the longitudinal axis X before the screw is tightened again. By means of a second adjustment guide 45, the intermediate element 43 can be adjusted in height together with the roller carrier 42 and the hold-down roller 41. On the one hand, the hold-down roller 41 ensures that the crop material cannot pile up too high in front of the pickup rotor 11, and, on the other hand, it forms a counter-holder for crop material that has already been taken up by the pickup rotor 11. Above the hold-down roller and behind it in relation to the longitudinal axis X there is an adjoining guide cover 46, which is designed as a guide plate. The guide cover 46 is impenetrable for crop material and defines a conveying duct 18 between itself and the rotors 11, 14. It prevents crop material from becoming detached prematurely from one of the rotors 11, 14. The guide cover 46 is also adjustably connected to the hold-down device carrier 55, for which purpose third adjustment guides 47 are provided. Finally, the hold-down device carrier 55 together with the hold-down device 40 is pivotable as a whole relative to the transverse conveyor frame 31 about a pivoting axis G. Its pivoting position can be influenced by means of a hydraulic cylinder 56. Adaptation to the current quantity or characteristics of the crop material, for example, is thereby possible. A freedom of movement of the hold-down device carrier 55 can be adjusted by means of a pivot limiter 57, which is arranged between the hold-down device carrier 55 and the transverse conveyor frame 31.

[0068] A plurality of guide prongs 48, which extend rearwards in relation to the longitudinal axis X, is connected to the guide cover 46. They can be formed by a wire, e.g. spring wire. They are arranged in their entirety on a prong carrier 49, which is pivotable relative to the guide cover about a pivoting axis H running parallel to the transverse axis Y. This is implemented in turn by means of fourth adjustment guides 50. By changing the inclination of the guide prongs 48 relative to the horizontal plane, the throwing distance of the crop material can be significantly influenced. In FIG. 2, a solid line is used to illustrate a minimum inclination, which, given otherwise identical parameters, produces the shortest throwing distance, and a dotted line is used to illustrate a maximum inclination, which leads to a maximum throwing distance. The respectively suitable setting depends on various parameters, in particular, the rotational speed of the transfer rotor 14 and the characteristics of the crop material. By virtue of their parallel, elongate structure, which is clearly apparent in FIG. 6, the guide prongs not only limit the trajectory of the crop material in relation to the vertical axis Z but also influence the movement of the crop material along the transverse axis Y. In FIG. 6, each guide prong is arranged parallel to a longitudinal plane defined by the longitudinal axis X and the vertical axis Y. However, its inclination in the direction of the transverse axis Y is variable. In the embodiment illustrated here, two adjacent guide prongs 48 are, in each case, connected integrally to one another and fastened to the prong carrier 49 by means of a hose clip 51. The hose clip 51 is pivotable about a pivoting axis I. Each guide prong 48 is guided, on the one hand, by a slotted hole 52 formed on the prong carrier 49 and extending parallel to the transverse axis Y and, on the other hand, by a hole (not visible in the figures) in an adjusting plate 53, which can be locked on the prong carrier 49 by means of screws. By shifting the adjusting plate 53 parallel to the transverse axis Y, it is possible to simultaneously adjust the inclination of a plurality of pairs of guide prongs 48. In this case, the inclination can be adapted to the currently selected conveying direction of the transverse conveyor 30. That is to say that, when the transverse conveyor 30 is currently conveying to the left when viewed in the direction of travel F, the inclination of the guide prongs 48 is adapted in such a way that their tips shift to the left. This ensures that a speed component in the intended direction is imparted to the crop material even before it reaches the conveying surface 33, assisting and accelerating removal by the transverse conveyor 30.

[0069] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of the stated objectives.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0070] The following table of reference characters and descriptors are not exhaustive, nor limiting, and include reasonable equivalents. If possible, elements identified by a reference character below and/or those elements which are near ubiquitous within the art can replace or supplement any element identified by another reference character.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 List of Reference Characters 1 Windrower 2 Main frame 3 Drawbar 4 Undercarriage 5 Side arms 8 Windrower unit(s) 10 Pickup device 11 Pickup rotor 12 Pickup prong(s) 13 Rotor core 14 Transfer rotor 15 Transfer prong(s) 17 Pickup conveying profile 18 Conveying duct 19 Transfer conveying profile 20 Stripping device 21 First stripping element 22 Second stripping element 23 Pickup-prong stripper sections 24 Transfer-prong stripper sections 25 Pickup-prong gap(s) 26 Transfer-prong gap(s) 27 Transitional region 28 Guide edge 29 Entry region 30 Transverse conveyor 31 Transverse conveyor frame 32 Conveyor belt(s) 33 Conveying surface 34 Region 35 Baffle 37 Ground guidance elements 40 Hold-down device 41 Hold-down roller 42 Roller carrier 43 Intermediate element 44 Adjustment guide 45 Second adjustment guide 46 Adjoining guide cover 47 Third adjustment guides 48 Guide prong(s) 49 Prong carrier 50 Fourth adjustment guides 51 Hose clip 52 Slotted hole 53 Adjusting plate 55 Hold-down device carrier 56 Hydraulic cylinder 57 Pivot limiter 70 Ground A First axis of rotation B Second axis of rotation C First range of movement D Second range of movement E Rotation plane F Direction of travel G Pivoting axis H Pivoting axis I Pivoting axis R Radial direction X Longitudinal direction Y Transverse axis Z Vertical axis a.sub.3, a.sub.4. Angle of inclination b.sub.1, b.sub.2 Stripping angle

Glossary

[0071] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used above have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the present invention pertain.

[0072] The terms a, an, and the include both singular and plural referents.

[0073] The term or is synonymous with and/or and means any one member or combination of members of a particular list.

[0074] The terms invention or present invention are not intended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular invention but encompass all possible embodiments as described in the specification and the claims.

[0075] The term about as used herein, refers to slight variations in numerical quantities with respect to any quantifiable variable. Inadvertent error can occur, for example, through the use of typical measuring techniques or equipment or from differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of components.

[0076] The term substantially refers to a great or significant extent. Substantially can thus refer to a plurality, majority, and/or a supermajority of said quantifiable variable, given proper context.

[0077] The term generally encompasses both about and substantially.

[0078] The term configured describes a structure capable of performing a task or adopting a particular configuration. The term configured can be used interchangeably with other similar phrases, such as constructed, arranged, adapted, manufactured, and the like.

[0079] Terms characterizing sequential order, a position, and/or an orientation are not limiting and are only referenced according to the views presented.

[0080] The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The scope of the invention is further qualified as including any possible modification to any of the aspects and/or embodiments disclosed herein which would result in other embodiments, combinations, subcombinations, or the like that would be obvious to those skilled in the art.