Chopping and distributor device

The inventions relates to a method and an apparatus for operating a with a cutter-equipped self-propelled harvester according to The preambles of claims 1 and 8. FIG.

From EP 0212337 a device for combine harvesters for distributing straw and chaff known. In this device two oppositely driven Rotors with multiple adjustable, blade-like leaves in the back Discharge area of ​​the combine adjacent to parallel axes rotatably mounted. Both rotors have a mechanically on the outside adjustable on partial casing, with the limits of the variation range of the device becomes. Both rotors are jointly via a gear at the same speed driven.

A disadvantage of this device is that the spreading width behind the combine only through the manually adjustable alignment of the rotors and the Partial casings or the adjustment of the rotational speed of the rotor blades changeable , where the straw and chaff are not evenly distributed on the field.

The invention is therefore the object of such a combine further, that the spread of the automatically to the working width Cutting unit is adjusted and the distribution of the crop material flow at each Spread spread in a uniform layer thickness on the field.

This object is achieved according to the characterizing features of Claims 1 and 8 is released.

Other beneficial effects of the subject invention will become apparent from the Subclaims.

By the drive for adjusting the at least one tear-off edge, depending is regulated by the working width of the cutterbar, the spread in simple manner are automatically adjusted to the working width.

Advantageously, the adjustment of the trailing edge via a electro-hydraulic actuator, which is connected to a control unit so that on the one hand, the adjustment and the adjustment of the trailing edge can be controlled.

By the adjustment of the actuator is advantageously a Rotation angle sensor is detected, which is connected to the control unit, receives the Control continuously information about the Positibh the tear-off edge.

Thus entrusted with various tasks driver is relieved, the Cutting advantageously via a related with the control sensor detects that a working width of the cutterbar corresponding Cutterbar width signal indicates to the control unit.

A stored in the control unit map includes advantageously multiple functional curves for various reapers. With which the Cutting width of the header corresponding cutterbar width signal the associated function curve is automatically selected from the map. The optimum operating parameters are thus adjusted without the driver emulate what means the driver further relief.

The actuator is advantageously controlled by the appropriate function curve, so that an optimum distribution of the harvested crop on automatically adjusted spreading width results.

To consider other external influences in the function curves, the influence on the spread have such. as the wind direction and wind strength, can with the function curves and the disturbance distorted function curves in the Control unit are calculated.

To a very uniform distribution of the crop material on the floor achieve, the drive for adjusting the at least one tear-off edge in Depending on the distribution of the crop material flow controlled on the ground.

Advantageously, the adjustment of the trailing edge takes place in this process via an electro-hydraulic actuator, which is connected to a control unit, so that on the one hand, the adjustment and the adjustment of Spoiler lip can be controlled.

By the adjustment of the actuator is advantageously a Rotation angle sensor is detected, which is connected to the control unit, receives the Control continuously information about the current position of the tear-off edge.

To determine the distribution of the harvested crop is an advantageously determined film thickness profile of the distributed crop stream on a discharge surface, that can werdeh viewed as a measure of the distribution.

To measure the distribution immediately after spreading online, the Distribution of the crop on the ground by means of a wireless Sensiereinheit determined.

In one embodiment, to determine the distribution of the chopped material added an infrared image of the discharge surface of an infrared camera and from a temperature profile created by the distribution is controlled. The Infrared image has the advantage that the surface profile of the soil into account becomes.

Thus, the actuator, the movement of the tear-off edge immediately after measurement adapts, in a further development of the embodiment is the transmitted temperature profile to the controller that the profile by a is surface profile generated, which to control the actuator is used.

In an alternative embodiment, the Sensiereinheit is a laser sensor, of the Egress scans and create a surface profile. The laser sensor provides a less expensive compared to the infrared camera equipment with sufficient Accuracy.

In order also in this alternative embodiment, the movement of the trailing edge immediately adapt to the measurement of the distribution, the Surface profile transmitted to the control unit which evaluates the profile and regulates the surface profile actuator dependent.

Further advantageous embodiments are subject matter of further dependent claims and are of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in several figures described.

Show it:<sl><li>1 is a schematic plan view of a combine harvester during the harvesting operation,</li><li>2 shows a side view of a rear section of a combine harvester,</li><li>3 shows a rear view of a combine harvester</li></sl>

In Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a combine harvester 1 is in the harvesting travel shown. With a front on the combine 1 arranged cutting 2 with a working width 3, the crop is mowed in the field and then per se known and therefore not explained in detail here working organs in Combine 1 fed. The working units in combine harvester 1 separate the crop in cereal grains, chaff and straw. On the rear of the combine harvester 1 is a Chopping and distributing device 4 is arranged, which consists of a Häckselorgan 5 to which a distributor 6 connects. The distributor 6 is made of two impeller blowers 7 that the supplied from the crop stream Häckselorgan 5 8 distributed radially. The impeller blowers 7 are back and herschwenkenden separation edges 10 is provided, which are each driven separately by an actuator 12th Emerging from the impeller blowers 7 Emtegutstrom 8 is the driven separation edges 10 as it exits the distributor 6 diverted and distributed. The adjustment range of the separation edges 10 determines one hand, a spreading width of the crop stream 13 8 and the speed of the Trailing edge 10 on the other hand, a distribution V of the crop material flow 8 on the floor 19 (Fig. 3). Behind the impeller blowers 7 are multiple trajectories 14 of the distributed Crop material 8 is shown wherein the ends of the outer trajectories 14, the Spreading width 13 limit outward. In harvesting direction FR behind the Spreading width 13 is the discharge surface 15 on which the crop stream 8 distributed gleichschichtig located. In this discharge surface 15 is at the rear of Combine 1 installed infrared camera 17 directed.

The impeller blower 7 superimposed on a frame 33 of the outside of the Chopper housing 25 is mounted on the Häckslerwelle 29th With the frame 33 a rearward cantilevered shroud 35 (see Fig.2) connected, in which the Rotational axes 36 are mounted drivable. The rotational axes 36 are connected flexible throwing vanes 38 occupied, the co-rotating underside of a disc 41 are limited. Between the two out of the top cover plate 35, the rotating axis 36, the throwing vanes 38 and the discs 41 formed Impeller blowers 7 is a V-shaped Guttrennblech located 42 whose tip 43 against the coming of the chopping and spreading device 6 crop stream 8 is addressed. The two legs 44 of 42 Guttrennblechs include a space between them and form rigid partial casings 46 for the impeller blower 7. At these rigid partial casings 46 close movable partial casings 48, which consist of a further wall part 50th The wall part 50 is fastened to an angle lever 52 which is mounted rotatably on a pin 53rd The latter is rigidly connected to a crossbar 55, the longitudinal beams by means of lateral 56 is fixed to the frame 33rd is at the other end of the angle lever 52 an actuator 12 is hinged, which in turn hinged to the cross traverse 55 is connected and the partial casings drives 48th Both driven Partial casings 48 form a current in the direction of rotation trailing edge 10 an outlet opening of the impeller blower. 7

2 shows a side view of the rear section of the combine. 1 The here not explained in detail and known working units in Combine 1 separated from crop straw 20 passes via straw walker 21 1 in the rear region of the combine harvester of a back of the casing wall 23 Chopper housing 25 is pivotable in two positions Schwadklappe 27 appropriate. In the windrowing SW (shown in phantom) slips from the Straw walkers 21 incident on the Schwadklappe 27 straw 20 on the chopping and distributing 4 away and is swathed in the field (not shown). In an HA Häckselstellung the Schwadklappe 27 the straw 20 falls on the Häckselorgan 5. The Häckselorgan 5 has a rotating shaft shredder 29, which is mounted in the cutter housing 25th The chopper shaft 29 is moving blades 30 occupied, integral with the housing 25 in the shredder arranged fixed knives 31 mesh. These blades 30, 31, the straw is 20 crushed to 11 chopped and conveyed radially into two impeller blowers. 7

The combine shown in Figure 1 has at various points different sensors. These include on the one hand, a sensor 57, of the Working width 3 of the cutterbar 2 recognizes. In the area of ​​the impeller blower 7 Rotary position sensors 58 arranged that the position of the separation edges 10 detect. On the rear side of the combine 1 is still a Sensiereinheit 16 installed.

In a first embodiment, the working width of the cutterbar 3 2 automatically detected by the sensor 57 on the combine. 1 The sensor 57 generates a dependent of the working width of the cutterbar 3 2 Cutterbar width signal Y once a cutter 2 is mounted. The Cutterbar width signal Y is connected to a to the sensor 57 Control unit 40 transferred.

The position of the trailing edge 10 is measured by the rotation angle sensor 58 is connected to the control unit 59th The rotation angle sensor 58 generates a signal X, which is proportional to the angle A of the bell crank 52 to the Rotational axis 36 changes.

In the control unit 59, a map 60 having a plurality of function curves 61 is for different reapers 2 stored which the position-dependent speed and the adjustment of the actuator 12 controls. With the Cutterbar width signal Y is an associated function curve 61 from the Map 60 selected and made dependent on the signal X, a control command Z the function curve set 61 and transmitted to the actuator 12th

To account for the influence of other disturbances 62, can use the defined function curves 61 and the further interference 62 distorted Function curves 63 are calculated by the control unit 59th The disturbances 62 include crop parameters such as the amount of straw, the traveling speed, Windstärkel or direction, the inclination.

3 shows a rear view of a combine harvester 1 comprising a on the Egress 15 directional infrared camera 17. On the discharge surface 15 is the distributed crop stream on the bottom 19. The bottom 19 with the distributed Crop stream is shown in cross section, so that a layer thickness profile SD of crop stream is shown on the spread. 13 On the layer thickness profile SD can be seen a distribution V of the harvested crop.

The mounted on the rear of the combine harvester 1, the discharge surface 15 looking infrared camera 17 generates an image signal B of the discharge surface 15. The B image signals are associated with the infrared camera 17, control unit 59 supplied.

The control unit 59 created using the image signals B and the signals X a Temperature profile T. The temperature profile T is proportional to the layer thickness profile SD, where the distribution of the V straw / chaff mixture to the discharge surface 15 can be seen.

based The comparability of the temperature profile T with the layer thickness profile SD on the basis that different Erntegutmengen in the field to different surface temperatures lead on the field.

The control unit 59 evaluates the temperature profile T made by a surface profile O is generated. The control unit 59 transmits a control command to the Z Actuator 12, the actuator 12 depending on the surface profile O such stipulates that the distribution V is amended with the aim that the temperature on the Egress 15 at all points is the same.

Both methods can be combined, said cutting 2 For example, the pivoting range of the trailing edge 10 and thus the spreading width 13 regulates while the distribution V for controlling the speed of the moving Spoiler lip is 10 used.

The surface of the discharge surface 15 may in a further embodiment are scanned with a laser sensor 18 to detect the distribution. Out the recorded measurement data is created a surface profile O.

The control unit 59 evaluates the surface profile O and received a Z control command to the actuator 12 of the actuator 12 in dependence on the Surfaces regulates such that the distribution V is amended with the aim that the Surface of the discharge surface 15 is as flat as possible.

The comparability of the surface profile O with the layer thickness profile SD possible under the assumption that the base 19 placed on the crop stream the is is approximately plane and both are proportional interdependent.

The surface profile of O is transmitted to the control unit 59, the profile of the evaluates, and the actuator 12 controls depending on the surface profile O.

The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but can be used at any harvesting equipment to the to achieve effects described.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

<dl tsize="2" compact="compact"><dt>1</dt><dd>harvester</dd><dt>2</dt><dd>Header</dd><dt>3</dt><dd>working width</dd><dt>4</dt><dd>Chopping and distributing device</dd><dt>5</dt><dd>Häckselorgan</dd><dt>6</dt><dd>distributor</dd><dt>7</dt><dd>impeller blower</dd><dt>8th</dt><dd>harvested crop</dd><dt>10</dt><dd>spoiler lip</dd><dt>11</dt><dd>drive</dd><dt>12</dt><dd>actuator</dd><dt>13</dt><dd>spread</dd><dt>14</dt><dd>trajectories</dd><dt>15</dt><dd>egress</dd><dt>16</dt><dd>Sensiereinheit</dd><dt>17</dt><dd>Infrared camera</dd><dt>18</dt><dd>laser sensor</dd><dt>19</dt><dd>ground</dd><dt>20</dt><dd>straw</dd><dt>21</dt><dd>A straw walker</dd><dt>23</dt><dd>Rear wall</dd><dt>25</dt><dd>chopper housing</dd><dt>27</dt><dd>Schwadklappe</dd><dt>29</dt><dd>Häckslerwelle</dd><dt>30</dt><dd>Retracting blade</dd><dt>31</dt><dd>Fixed knife</dd><dt>33</dt><dd>frame</dd><dt>35</dt><dd>Abdeckblech</dd><dt>36</dt><dd>axis of rotation</dd><dt>38</dt><dd>throwing vanes</dd><dt>41</dt><dd>disc</dd><dt>42</dt><dd>Guttrennblech</dd><dt>43</dt><dd>tip</dd><dt>44</dt><dd>leg</dd><dt>46</dt><dd>Rigid part shell</dd><dt>48</dt><dd>Movable part shell</dd><dt>50</dt><dd>wall part</dd><dt>52</dt><dd>bell crank</dd><dt>53</dt><dd>spigot</dd><dt>55</dt><dd>crossbeam</dd><dt>56</dt><dd>longitudinal beams</dd><dt>57</dt><dd>sensor</dd><dt>58</dt><dd>Rotation angle sensor</dd><dt>59</dt><dd>control unit</dd><dt>60</dt><dd>map</dd><dt>61</dt><dd>function curves</dd><dt>62</dt><dd>disturbances</dd><dt>63</dt><dd>Distorted function curves</dd><dt>V</dt><dd>distribution</dd><dt>B</dt><dd>image signal</dd><dt>X</dt><dd>Demolition edge signal</dd><dt>Y</dt><dd>Working width signal</dd><dt>Z</dt><dd>Actuator command</dd></dl>