BE1031090B1 - Root crop separator and root crop harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

Root crop separating device, in particular for a potato harvester, with a feed conveyor belt for feeding in crops, wherein the feed conveyor belt has deflection axes running at least substantially parallel to a horizontal surface, with at least one roller which is arranged above the feed conveyor belt, and with a discharge conveyor belt which is provided for conveying away crops, wherein above the feed conveyor belt there are a plurality of rollers arranged next to one another as viewed in the feed direction and designed as separating rollers, the axes of rotation of which are at an angle to a belt plane of the feed conveyor belt which is formed in particular by deflection axes, and root crop harvesting machine.

Description

-1- BE2022/5969

Root crop separator and root crop harvester

The present invention relates to a root crop separating device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a root crop harvesting machine, in particular a

Potato harvester.

Current root crop separators, for example, have separating devices that transfer the crop on a feed belt to a conveyor belt via rotating finger belts, whereby undesirable impurities in the form of stones, for example, are to be separated. Clods, the shape and size of which can resemble those of potatoes under difficult operating conditions, are difficult to filter out.

In difficult operating conditions, particularly wet, heavy soils, roller separators are used first. These separate some of the unwanted impurities from the crop, but it is not possible to sort the crop stream for subsequent processing. In this respect, sorting devices based on rotating finger belts must be used for downstream sorting processes in which the width of the conveyor belt should be used as far as possible. However, due to their design, these also only distribute the crop over a small area of the discharge conveyor belt.

From DE 20 2018 103 716 U1 an article according to the preamble of claim 1 is known. DE 2847698 U1 discloses a separating device for potato

-2- BE2022/5969 harvesting machines which have, above a rotating separating belt, a number of stop members which can be moved back and forth vertically in and against the conveying direction of the separating belt and transversely thereto.

US 9212006 B1 discloses vertically standing

Distribution rollers for redirecting the articles being conveyed.

It is the object of the present invention to further develop a root crop separating device in such a way that it enables the harvested crop to be separated into root crops and admixtures as efficiently as possible.

The object is achieved by an object according to claim 1 and by an object according to claim 14. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subclaims and the following description.

A root crop separating device, in particular for a potato harvester, comprises a

Feed conveyor belt, in particular in the form of a hedgehog belt, via which crop material comprising root crops and unwanted impurities is fed in during operation. The feed is carried out in the direction of a roller of the root crop separating device, which is arranged above the feed conveyor belt. The feed conveyor belt is provided with deflection axes running at least essentially parallel to a horizontal base, via which the feed conveyor belt can be deflected. Furthermore, the root crop separating device has a discharge conveyor belt, in particular in the form of a hedgehog belt, which is intended for the discharge of crop material. The inventive chopping

-3- BE2022/5969 fruit separating device is characterized in that above the feed belt a plurality of the rollers are arranged next to one another in the feed direction and are designed as separating rollers whose axes of rotation are at an angle to a belt plane of the feed belt formed in particular by the deflection axes.

When the root crop separator is in operation, the large number of gaps between the respective rollers separates unwanted

The majority of the rollers arranged at an angle next to each other above the feed belt with the gaps also at an angle to the belt plane results in a greater dynamic in the separation process than with the rollers available in the state of the art, since the forces generated by the rollers and between the moving

The gaps formed between the two parts (feed belt and separating rollers) are constructed in a grid-like manner, with a gap that only runs parallel to the conveyor plane. In addition, the gaps running vertically between the respective separating rollers are provided with surfaces on both sides that rotate in opposite directions and act on the crop over a greater height, which also improves the separating performance.

Furthermore, when the separating rollers rotate in the appropriate direction, they transport the crop in the direction of the conveyor belt during operation, so that in addition to improved separation performance, the non-separated crop is also transported better. During operation, the surface of the separating rollers facing the incoming crop moves preferentially in the direction of the conveyor belt, so that incoming crop is transported better.

-4- BE2022/5969

The separating rollers are not so far away from the conveyor belt above it that root crops are conveyed away between the conveyor belt and the separating rollers. A gap formed between the conveyor belt and the separating rollers is dimensioned in such a way that unwanted impurities in the form of soil, for example, can still partially be trapped between the conveyor belt and the lower conveyor belt, i.e. the conveyor belt facing the conveyor belt.

through the roller face, even if any crop in

form of root crops is safely transported towards the conveyor belt.

In particular, the distance between the roller face and the surface of the

Conveyor belt not larger than 3 cm. The surface of the conveyor belt is considered to be a flat envelope of the conveyor belt in the working section. This can also be considered the conveyor level.

In particular, the feed and discharge conveyor belts can be arranged directly next to each other so that, when viewed from above, separating rollers positioned next to each other transversely or at an angle to the feed direction quickly convey the crop to the discharge conveyor belt.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, at least one and in particular a plurality of rollers designed as distribution rollers are arranged above the conveyor belt, which are arranged next to one another when viewed in the conveyor direction, wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one distribution roller is at an angle to a further belt plane formed in particular by deflection axes of the conveyor belt. In the case of a plurality of rollers designed as distribution rollers

Rollers which are arranged above the conveyor belt and whose axes of rotation are at an angle to the belt plane are, viewed in the conveyor direction, arranged in such a way

-5- BE2022/5969 arranged next to each other, such that the rotation axes of the distribution rollers are not congruent. Preferably, the distribution rollers are the same rollers that are also used as separating rollers, whereby the

Surfaces can, but do not have to, distinguish.

Even with a roller designed as a distributor roller, a very good

distribution on the conveyor belt. This applies in particular to narrow conveyor belts with a width between 800 and 1000 mm.

The diameter of a separating or distributing roller is in particular in the range between 100 and 200 mm.

It is understood that the rollers arranged above the feed conveyor belt and the discharge conveyor belt are designed to act on the crop while it is being transported on these belts.

The deflection axes are those of an upper load or working strand of the respective conveyor belt. Between the deflection axes, crops are transported via the respective

In particular, the rotation axes of the respective rollers are at an angle of between 45° and 90° to the respective belt plane of the feed or discharge belt. It is advantageous to align the rotation axes of the rollers at an angle to a

Belt plane, which corresponds to a conveyor plane formed by the conveyor belt. This is parallel to a plane formed by the deflection axes of the conveyor belt with the same deflection radii.

-6- BE2022/5969 belt plane formed by the respective belt. In particular, the separating rollers and the distribution rollers are each aligned in the same way to the belt plane.

The at least one distribution roller distributes the material from the separating rollers in the direction of the

The crop is transported as evenly as possible across the width of the

conveyor belt in order to ensure the subsequent sorting or further separation of

Width of the conveyor belt. If there are multiple distribution rollers, the distance between the distribution rollers is greater than the distance between the separating rollers, so that root crops are conveyed further on the conveyor belt between the distribution rollers. The distance between the last separating roller above the feed conveyor belt and the first distribution roller above the conveyor belt can also be greater than the distance between the respective separating rollers.

For the purpose of the invention, those rollers which are positioned so close to each other above the feed conveyor belt that the desired crop cannot get caught between the

Rollers are referred to as separating rollers. The distribution rollers are those rollers, particularly above the conveyor belt, which allow individual desired parts of the harvested material in the form of root crops to pass through and mainly ensure distribution across the width of the conveyor belt.

Depending on the arrangement of the feed conveyor belt and the discharge conveyor belt, there are advantageous arrangements of the rollers above the respective feed and discharge conveyor belt.

-7- BE2022/5969 In particular, the rollers are arranged in a row at an angle, i.e. between 45° and 90°, to the conveying direction of the respective belt.

If the root crop separator is installed in a root crop harvester or a

If a crop transport device is installed which stands on a horizontal surface, the deflection axes run parallel to this.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the root crop separating device is provided with a sensor arrangement for detecting the crop to be transported on the conveyor belt, including a control unit and a separating device arranged at the end of the conveyor belt, which, viewed in the conveying direction, comprises a plurality of separating elements arranged next to one another and which can be controlled individually via the control unit.

When activated, these are designed to give an impulse to crops that are moving away from the conveyor belt during operation, particularly crops that are falling.

The sensor arrangement is designed to detect waste that is being transported on the conveyor belt and is to be sorted out. Taking into account its position and the conveyor belt speed, the appropriate separating element is then controlled and the waste from the crop flow is thrown onto a waste conveyor, while the desired crop can fall onto another conveyor belt. Due to the parts of the crop being distributed across the width of the conveyor belt, such a device in combination with the distribution and separating rollers can achieve very good and very high accuracy, since the crop flow is distributed as widely as possible across the conveyor belt into the area of effect of the separating device.

-8- BE2022/5969 arrives. For this purpose, a number of up to 20 distribution rollers are provided, which are distributed over the width of the conveyor belt. The

The maximum width of a conveyor belt is 2500 mm, and possibly even 2800 mm.

In particular, the crop flow is optically recorded and evaluated based on image data recorded by a camera in the control unit.

The latter includes the necessary IT resources such as a processor, RAM and memory as well as the necessary interfaces.

Advantageously, the distance between the conveyor belts arranged above the

Separating rollers are equal to one another in order to treat the incoming crop equally across the entire width of the feed belt. The distance from one another is understood here as the distance between the envelopes of the rollers in operation. If the separating rollers are those with surfaces whose profiles partially interlock, the distance would be negative according to the above definition. This is possible, but it is advantageous to use rollers whose rotation causes the outer envelopes to be at least 0.5 to 1 cm apart and preferably up to 3 cm apart. This spacing produces good separation results even under difficult conditions.

The direction of rotation of the rollers is such that on the side of the incoming material flow the direction of rotation points in the direction of the discharge conveyor belt.

-9- BE2022/5969

Preferably, the distance between at least two adjacent distribution rollers above the discharge conveyor belt is different. In particular, the distance increases with the distance between the distribution rollers and the feed conveyor belt, so that initially smaller root crops and then increasingly larger root crops or impurities are allowed through the gap and positioned accordingly on the discharge conveyor belt. This also facilitates subsequent separation of the size fractions.

When using a sensor arrangement, such as that described below, the distance between the distributor rollers can be adjusted, particularly above the

The distance can be set automatically above the conveyor belt, but optionally also above the feed conveyor belt. The distance can be set using at least one associated adjusting means, such as an adjusting cylinder of a holding device, based on the object size, i.e. in particular the potato size.

The object size is determined, for example, by image analysis in an associated

Computer unit determines optically. Alternatively or additionally, the speed of the rollers driven by a drive device and/or their height above the respective belt can also be adjusted, in particular automatically.

When using the previously described separating device with sensor arrangement and control unit, it is particularly advantageous to

The width of the separating elements also increases with increasing distance, so that an improved effect of the separating elements and their impulse delivery on increasing amounts of debris or root crops can be achieved.

-10- BE2022/5969

According to a further development of the invention, the axes of rotation of at least some of the rollers are preferably aligned at right angles to the respective belt plane of the feed and/or discharge conveyor belt, so that when using at least approximately cylindrical rollers, a good positioning of the rollers to the surface of the feed and discharge belts is possible via an associated holding device.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the axes of rotation of the rollers above the feed belt are arranged in a straight line in a top view, so that a uniform further transport in the direction of the conveyor belt is achieved. Alternatively or additionally, the axes of rotation of the rollers above the conveyor belt are also arranged in a straight line in a top view, in order to easily achieve a uniform distribution there.

Preferably, the rotation axes of the rollers are arranged in a line across the feed and discharge conveyor belts, which is particularly advantageous for fastening the rollers in an associated holding device and enables uniform treatment of the crop flow. This applies in particular to the use of

Deflection axes (of the feed conveyor belt and the discharge conveyor belt) that run parallel so that the conveyor belts are conveyed in the same direction and the corresponding conveyor belts are next to each other. The crop flow is transferred from the feed conveyor belt directly to the discharge conveyor belt, which is arranged close to the feed conveyor belt. The effective surfaces of the conveyor belts and the

- 11 - BE2022/5969 The conveying levels thus formed are preferably arranged at the same height.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the root crop separating device has at least one drive device for the rollers, in particular wherein the drive device is designed such that during operation of the

Rolls the direction of rotation and/or the rotation speed of at least some of the distribution and separating rollers is or are different. To achieve a different direction of rotation of the separating and distribution rollers, the drive device can be provided with two drives, in particular, for example, hydraulic drives, which rotate differently. Alternatively, the drive device can have a

Have a transmission ratio that changes the direction of rotation. The drive device is preferably designed to drive the rollers alone and is therefore independent of a drive or the speed of the drive of the feed and discharge conveyor belts. This allows the separation and distribution of the crop to be set particularly well.

When using a drive unit for the separating rollers and another drive unit for the distribution rollers, for example in the form of a hydraulic or electric motor, a drive train is formed, in particular at the upper end of the roller body.

Preferably, the rollers are, except for the first and last roller of the respective

Group of distribution rollers or separating rollers each with two gears

-12- BE2022/5969, through which a drive torque is introduced on the one hand and diverted on the other. For this purpose, the gears are coupled to one another, for example, via chains, which are each additionally deflected via a tensioning wheel. It can also be pulleys and belts that can be tensioned via a tensioning roller. If the distance between individual distributor and/or

Separating rollers according to a development of the invention are variable from one another, any drive belt can be tensioned appropriately via a correspondingly movably arranged tension roller of a unit consisting of two rollers.

Advantageously, the rollers are mounted at their upper end in at least one holding device, in particular wherein at least a part of the rollers is supported by means of the

Holding device is designed to be height and/or inclination adjustable. In the area of the harvested crop, there is no need for a holder or bearing for the rollers. This is important for the implementation in the machine and thus for the sorting and/or

The height and/or inclination adjustability of a respective roller device is implemented, for example, by arranging it in a pivot bearing or by arranging the pivot bearing in a corresponding frame. The adjustment can be motor-assisted by electromotive or hydraulic adjusting means.

In particular, the holding device comprises a frame in which all the rollers of the root crop separating device are mounted. This can, for example, be metal sheets arranged one above the other, which accommodate a bearing for a respective roller between them.

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In order to enable the adjustment of the distance between the distribution rollers and/or the separating rollers, the holding device can have a scissor mechanism, whereby the holding device can additionally be adjusted above the conveyor belts by a distance to the

Belt levels, especially vertical axis can be swiveled. By the

If the distances are changed while the number of rollers remains the same, they can extend next to each other at a different angle over the corresponding belt using a pivoting holding device.

The task posed at the beginning is also solved by a root crop harvesting machine, which has a root crop separating device as described above or below. This has the respective advantages of the above or below described

Root crop separator.

Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the following description of the figures. Schematically shown:

Fig. 1 shows an object according to the invention in a side view,

Fig.2 is a schematic representation of another inventive

object in a top view,

Fig. 3 shows another object according to the invention in a plan view,

"14 - BE2022/5969

Fig. 4 the object according to Fig. 1 in a view in the feed direction,

Fig. 5 shows a part of an object according to the invention in a perspective view,

Fig. 6 shows a part of the article according to Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows another object according to the invention in a perspective view,

Fig. 8 shows the object according to Fig. 7 in a plan view.

Individual technical features of the embodiments described below can also be used in combination with the previously described embodiments and the

Features of one of the independent claims and any further claims can be combined to form subject matter according to the invention. Where appropriate, elements that are at least partially functionally equivalent are provided with identical reference numbers.

A harvesting machine 2 according to the invention is designed as a potato harvester to be pulled over a horizontally running ground 3. The

Potato harvester has a root crop separating device 4 according to the invention, from which the root crops are transported via a sorting belt 6 to a bunker 8 (Fig. 1). In general, the root crop separating device 4 can be installed at various

-15- BE2022/5969

Positions in the root crop harvester 2. However, it is particularly advantageous to use the root crop separating device as the last separating device immediately before the transfer of the root crops to the sorting table or belt 6.

The root crop separating device 4 has a feed conveyor belt designed as a hedgehog belt and a discharge conveyor belt 12 designed as a hedgehog belt. The discharge conveyor belt 12 designed as a hedgehog belt has a discharge direction 14 that runs parallel to the feed conveyor direction 16 or corresponds to it (Fig. 2). The feed conveyor belt 10 10 and the discharge conveyor belt 12 are located directly next to each other in such a way that the

Crop flow, indicated by a plurality of dashed arrows 18 from the

Infeed conveyor belt 10 can be transferred to the discharge conveyor belt 12.

Both the feed conveyor belt 10 and the discharge conveyor belt 12 run around deflection axes 20 and 22, respectively. Individual deflection axes 20 and 22 of the conveyor belts form

Conveyor belt has at least one belt plane which extends parallel to the surfaces 21 and 23 of the respective conveyor belt (see Fig. 4). Above the

In the present case, on the plane formed by deflection axes 20 there are six rollers designed as separating rollers 24 and having rotation axes 25, by means of which impurities are separated from the crop flow 18, while the further crop flow 18 of the conveyor belt 12 is deflected.

Above the conveyor belt 12 there are a plurality of distribution rollers 26 arranged next to one another in the conveyor direction 14. Their axes of rotation 27

- 16 - BE2022/5969 are also perpendicular to the plane formed by the deflection axes 22 of the conveyor belt. The crop flow 18 is distributed over the entire width of the conveyor belt 12 by the distribution rollers 26 arranged at a distance from one another. Accordingly, simple sorting can be carried out, for example on the picking belt 6.

According to a further development of the invention, a sensor arrangement 28 is assigned to the conveyor belt 16, the data of which is evaluated by a control unit 30 and via which a plurality of separating elements 32 of a separating device 34 can be controlled. These are arranged next to one another when viewed in the conveying direction 14 and thus cover the entire width of the conveyor belt 16. They are designed to give a direction-changing impulse to crop material moving away from the conveyor belt, in particular falling crop material, during operation, for which purpose they can be transferred, for example as pressurized fingers, from a resting position to a contact position engaging in the _ trajectory of the crop material. Both the

Rollers 24 and 26 of the embodiment according to Fig. 2 as well as of the embodiment in Fig. 3 are provided with a counterclockwise direction of rotation (in plan view) during operation and thus guide the crop arriving in their area further to the right in the illustration shown in Fig. 4. Both the deflection axes 25 of the separating rollers 24 and the deflection axes 27 of the distribution rollers 26 are perpendicular to the conveying planes or surfaces 21 and 23.

The distance between the distribution rollers 26 also increases towards the right side of the figure, so that in the illustration shown from left to right on the conveyor belt

“17 - BE2022/5969 increasing crop is distributed (Fig. 4). The rotation axes of the separating and

Distributor rollers 24 and 26 are located on a line 38, so that all separating and

Distribution rollers can be easily held in a common holding device.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided with a

Drive device comprising two drive elements 40 in the form of hydraulic motors. Both the separating rollers 24 and the distribution rollers 26 are each driven by a drive element 40. For this purpose, a drive train is formed starting from the drive shaft of a respective hydraulic motor, which connects adjacent rollers to one another. In addition, each

Each pair of rollers is assigned a tensioning roller over which a respective tensioning belt 42 can be tensioned (Fig. 5).

All rollers are held in a common holding device. The holding device has two supports 46 running transversely to the conveying direction 16, which are

In the direction of travel, in front of and behind the rollers, they extend across the entire width of the feed conveyor belt 10 and the discharge conveyor belt 12. Between these two

Supports 46 are provided with retaining plates 48 which are firmly connected to the supports 46 and serve as bearings for an upper part of the shaft 50 of a respective roller.

The bearings 52 can, for example, be barrel bearings (Fig. 6).

At its upper end, a shaft 50 has two gears 54, via which an incoming torque is absorbed on the one hand and an outgoing torque

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Torque on the other hand is transmitted. For better fastening of the holding device in a machine frame in a root crop harvester 2, rods 56 are also provided, via which the holding device in a

frame of the harvester 2. For example, the

Holding rods 56 may be arranged with adjusting means, by means of which an inclination and/or a

Height adjustment of the rollers is realized.

The rollers themselves can be designed as finger, lip and/or segment rollers, whereby the surface can also be selected differently to carry out the respective primary function (separating and guiding with the separating rollers 24 and distributing with the distributor rollers 26). For example, in a simple

In this embodiment, the surface of all rollers should be the same and each should be provided with flexible, undercut tabs 58, via which the harvested crop in the form of root crops can be treated gently and any remaining leaves can be drawn into a gap between the separating rollers. The diameter of the rollers is in particular in a range between 120 mm and 130 mm.

In the embodiment of Fig. 7 and 8, the holding device shown in Fig. 5 is arranged above two conveyor belts 10 and 12. Both belts 10 and 12 are designed to rise and thus bent relative to the horizontally running base 3. Accordingly, the axes of rotation 25 and 27 of the

Separating and distribution rollers 24 and 26 also angled to the substrate 3, but at the same time angled or angled at an angle between 45° and

-19- BE2022/5969 90° and not parallel to the belt plane, which in this case corresponds to the conveying plane and is formed by the surfaces 21 and 23. At the same time, the axes of rotation 25 and 27 of the rollers are also at an angle of between 45° and 90° to a belt plane formed by the respective deflection axes 20 and 22.

The cleaning effect is intensified by the rising conveyor belts 10 and 12, as the crop can accumulate on the rollers and thus also be transported over the

Height of the slots or gaps between the rollers can be separated.

Claims (14)

-20- BE2022/5969 Patent claims 1. Root crop separating device, in particular for a potato harvester, with a feed conveyor belt (10) for feeding in crops, the feed conveyor belt (10) having deflection axes (20) running at least substantially parallel to a horizontal base, with at least one roller which is arranged above the feed conveyor belt (10), and with a discharge conveyor belt (12) which is provided for conveying away crops, characterized in that above the feed conveyor belt (10), a plurality of the rollers are arranged next to one another as viewed in the feed direction (16) and are designed as separating rollers (24), the axes of rotation (25) of which are at an angle to a belt plane of the feed conveyor belt (10) which is formed in particular by deflection axes (20). 2. Root crop separating device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one and in particular a plurality of rollers designed as distribution rollers (26) are arranged above the conveyor belt (12), which are arranged next to one another as viewed in the conveyor direction (14), wherein the rotation axis (27) of the at least one distribution roller (26) is at an angle to a further belt plane of the conveyor belt, which is formed in particular by deflection axes (22) of the conveyor belt (12). - 21 - BE2022/5969 3. Root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the root crop separating device has a sensor arrangement (28) provided for detecting the crop to be transported on the conveyor belt (12), including a control unit (30), and a separating device (34) arranged at the end of the conveyor belt (12), which, viewed in the conveying direction (14), comprises a plurality of separating elements (32) arranged next to one another and individually controllable via the control unit (30), which, when controlled, are designed to give a direction-changing impulse to crop moved away from the conveyor belt (12) during operation. 4. Root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the separating rollers arranged above the feed belt is the same. 5. Root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims including claim 2, characterized in that the distance between at least two adjacent distribution rollers (26) is different. 6. Root crop separating device according to claim 5, characterized in that the distance between adjacent distribution rollers (26) increases with distance from the feed conveyor belt (10). 7. Root crop separating device according to claim 6 and including claim 3, characterized in that viewed in the discharge direction (14) the width te of the separating elements (32) increases with increasing distance from the feed element (10). 8. Root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axes of rotation (25, 27) of at least some of the rollers are aligned at right angles to the belt plane. 9. Root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a plan view the axes of rotation (25) of the rollers above the feed conveyor belt (10) are arranged in a straight line (38) and/or in a plan view the axes of rotation (27) of the rollers above the discharge conveyor belt (12) are arranged in a straight line (38). 10. Root crop separating device according to claim 9, characterized in that the axes of rotation (25, 27) of the rollers are arranged in a line (38) across the feed and discharge conveyor belts (10, 12). 11. Root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deflection axes (20, 22) of the feed conveyor belt (10) and the discharge conveyor belt (12) run parallel. 12. Root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one drive device of the rollers, in particular wherein the drive device is designed such that during operation of the rollers the direction of rotation and/or the rotational speed of at least some of the distribution and separating rollers (24, 26) is or are different. 13. Root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rollers are mounted at their upper end in at least one holding device, in particular wherein at least some of the rollers are designed to be adjustable in height and/or inclination by means of the holding device. 14. Root crop harvesting machine, in particular potato harvester, characterized by a root crop separating device according to one of the preceding claims.