Device for Harvesting Stalk-Like Stem Crops

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (2) for harvesting stalk-like stem crops, having a number of picking units (10) which are arranged alongside one another on the frame of the device (2) and each have at least one picking rotor (12), picking plates laterally delimiting a picking gap, and conveying units which are assigned thereto and are configured as continuous conveyors (14) that are driven in circulation, a series gearbox (26) that drives the members of each picking unit (4), longitudinal beams (22), in arranged between the picking gaps, for supporting members of the picking units (10), a transverse beam (8) to which the picking units (10) are fastened, and a transverse conveying device (24) arranged downstream of the conveying units. In order to design the known devices such that they can be operated with a shallower setting angle of the picking units without pushing residual harvested material into heaps with their undersides, it is proposed that the picking units (10) be connected to the transverse beam (8) at their rear sides via the series gearbox (26) and/or via a longitudinal beam (22) and that the transverse beam (8) be arranged in a horizontal plane in which the series gearbox (26) of the picking units (10) is also arranged

Claims

1. A device (2) for harvesting stalk-like stem crops, the device comprising a number of picking units (10), which are arranged side by side on the frame of the device (2) and each have at least one picking rotor (12), picking plates that laterally delimit a picking gap, and conveying units that are assigned to said plates and are configured as continuous conveyors (14) that are driven in circulation, said device also having a series gearbox (26) for each picking unit (4) for driving the elements thereof, longitudinal beams (22) arranged between the picking gaps for supporting elements of the picking units (10), a transverse beam (8) to which the picking units (10) are attached, and a transverse conveying device (24) located downstream of the conveying units, characterized in that the picking units (10) are connected to the transverse beam (8) at their rear sides via the series gearbox (26) and/or via a longitudinal beam (22) and the transverse beam (8) is located in the same horizontal plane in which the series gearboxes (26) of the picking units (10) are located.

2. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse beam (8) is embodied as a double tube composed of two tubes arranged spaced from one another vertically.

3. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse beam (8) is designed as a sheet metal structure, which is connected to the sheet metal trough of the transverse conveying device (24).

4. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that each series gearbox (26) is attached to one or to two adjacent longitudinal beams (22), and these longitudinal beams (22) are attached to the transverse beam (8).

5. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the longitudinal beams (22) is suspended on the transverse beam (8) via at least one hook-like bracket (32).

6. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that at the rear end of the longitudinal beam (22), one hook-like bracket (32) is formed in the upper region of the longitudinal beam (22) and an additional hook-like bracket (32) and/or a clamping element is formed in the lower region of the longitudinal beam (22), and the two hook-like brackets (32) and/or the bracket (32) of the longitudinal beam (22) and the clamping element connected to the longitudinal beam (22) encompass the transverse beam (8) in a positive connection.

7. The device (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the hook-like brackets (32) is an integral part of the longitudinal beam (22), which is formed from a piece of sheet metal.

8. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal beams (22) have openings (28) in their side walls, in the region of the series gearboxes (26), through which a shaft can be fed.

9. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse beam (8), as part of the frame, connects longitudinal braces (4) to one another transversely at their forward-facing ends, said longitudinal braces extending forward from a rear transverse tube (6), underneath the transverse conveying device (24) and through to the front.

Description

[0021] Further modifications and embodiments of the invention can be found in the following subject matter description and in the set of drawings.

[0022] The invention will be described below in reference to an exemplary embodiment. The figures show:

[0023] FIG. 1: a side view of a device,

[0024] FIG. 2: an oblique frontal view of a part of the device shown in FIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 3: a side view of a series module,

[0026] FIG. 4: a view from above of two series modules suspended from the transverse beam,

[0027] FIG. 5: a view from below of two series modules suspended from the transverse beam, and

[0028] FIG. 6: an oblique rear view of two series modules suspended from the transverse beam.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device 2. The device 2 described as an exemplary embodiment is a corn picker, the frame of which is composed of longitudinal braces 4 and transverse tubes 6 assembled to form a framework. The longitudinal braces 4 extend forward from the two rear transverse tubes 6, and are connected to one another in the transverse direction at their forward facing, unattached ends via the transverse beam 8. In the exemplary embodiment, transverse beam 8 is a double-tube structure, in which two tubes that are round in cross-section are connected, spaced a vertical distance from one another, to the longitudinal braces 4.

[0030] A number of picking units 10 are attached to transverse beam 8. Each picking unit is equipped with a picking rotor 12, located beneath an associated picking plate. Above the picking plate are circulating conveyors 14, which in FIG. 1 are beneath a covering hood 16 and are not visible. On the side of device 2 is a rotatably driven crop divider 18. Upstream of the picking units 10 are picker fingers 20, which serve to guide the incoming plant stalks toward the respective picking gaps.

[0031] The picking units 10 are attached to longitudinal beams 22. The picking units 10 convey the harvested ears of corn rearward to the transverse conveying device 24, which uses its auger to collect the ears of corn centrally and deliver them rearward to a combine harvester, which acts as a carrier vehicle.

[0032] Each of picking units 10 is driven via a series gearbox 26, which is located between io the longitudinal beams 22. Longitudinal beams 22 are equipped on their side walls with openings 28, through which a shaft 30 is fed, which transmits mechanical drive power to the series gearboxes 26. Longitudinal beams 22 are connected to transverse beam 8 via brackets 32.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows an oblique, frontal view of a part of device 2 shown in FIG. 1. As is clear from this three-dimensional perspective, the series modules can be easily pushed onto transverse beam 8 from the side. Picking units 10 are not more clearly visible in this view, because they are hidden by covering hoods 16.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a series module. The series module is composed of longitudinal beams 22, between which a series gearbox 26 is located. On the series gearbox 26 and on the longitudinal beam 22, a circulating conveyor 14 is mounted.

[0035] A picking rotor 12 is partially concealed by longitudinal beam 22. A shaft coupling 34 for establishing a force fit between two adjacent series gearboxes 26 is placed on shaft 30. As is clear from the side view of FIG. 3, longitudinal beam 22 has a hook-like bracket 32 at its rear end in the upper region of longitudinal beam 22, and has an additional hook-like bracket 32 in the lower region of longitudinal beam 22. Each of the two brackets 32 partially encompasses one of the two tubes that form transverse beam 8, one from above and one from below. The form-fitting design of the brackets 32 holds longitudinal beam 22 securely and free of play on transverse beam 8. Not shown in FIG. 3 is the attachment of transverse beam 8 to the frame of device 2.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a view from above of two series modules suspended from transverse beam 8. This view from above shows two picking rotors 12 per series module, the unattached ends of which point forward, and which are mounted toward the rear in respective series gearboxes 26. The two series gearboxes 26 are located between adjacent longitudinal beams 22. In the series module shown in FIG. 4, the circulating conveyors 14 have not yet been installed. Only the sprockets 36 are visible, which are attached to the series gearboxes 26 for the purpose of driving the circulating conveyors 14. Sprockets 36 are arranged obliquely at an angle from horizontal and protrude laterally slightly beyond the housing of the series gearbox. In the space between the oblique branches for sprockets 36, shaft couplings 34 can be accommodated at the level of shaft 30.

[0037] This is also clear from FIG. 5, which shows a view from below of two series modules suspended from the transverse beam.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows an oblique rear view of two series modules suspended from the transverse beam. As is clear from the oblique rear view, the two tubes of transverse beam 8 are arranged in a horizontal plane to the series gearboxes 22 of picking units 10. The branches on which sprockets 36 for driving the circulating conveyors 14 on shafts are mounted protrude beyond the transverse beam 8, the housing of series gearbox 26, the shaft couplings 34 located therebetween, and the brackets 32 with which longitudinal beams 22 are attached to transverse beam 8.

[0039] The exemplary embodiment described above is intended merely to illustrate the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown. A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty modifying the exemplary embodiment in a way that seems suitable for him to adapt it to a specific application.