CA2880556C

CA2880556C - Cutting unit

Info

Publication number: CA2880556C
Application number: CA2880556A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rolf Zurn
Original assignee: Zuern Harvesting GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Zuern Harvesting GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2012-08-08
Filing date: 2013-07-31
Publication date: 2020-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-31
Also published as: CA2880556A1; UA114515C2; RU2015107577A; RU2631685C2; EP2863729A1; EP2863729B1; WO2014023632A1; DE102012214079A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cutting unit (11) for a harvester comprising a cutting-blade assembly (17) for cutting a crop to be harvested and a conveying device (19), which conveys the cut crop to be harvested away from the cutting-blade assembly in order to feed the cut crop to be harvested to a processing device. A detecting device (27) is provided for determining at least one parameter of the crop to be harvested, wherein a control device connected to the detecting device (27) is designed to adjust a cutting-unit parameter of the cutting unit (11) in dependence on the determined parameter of the crop to be harvested.

Description

Cutting unit The present invention relates to a cutting unit for a harvester, in particular for a combine harvester, having a cutting knife arrangement for the reaping of a crop and having a conveying device which conveys the reaped crop away from the cutting knife arrangement to supply it to a processing device, in particular to a threshing unit.
Cutting units of this kind are used in the machine harvesting of agricultural crop plants such as cereals, rape or sunflowers. It is important for an even and continuous intake of the cut crop plants into the harvester that specific parameters of the cutting unit such as the spacing between the cutting knife blades and the conveying device are adapted to the kind and the state of the crop actually to be processed. For example, on the harvesting of rye, which has relatively long stalks, a different spacing between the cutting knife blades and the conveying device should be selected than on the harvesting of barley, which has relatively short stalks. A particularly large spacing is required for an efficient harvesting of rape. The cutting unit can be adapted to different harvesting situations by an adjustment of the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device. In a similar manner, the rotational speed or the position of a combine harvester reel, the cutting speed of the cutting knife blades or other cutting unit parameters can be adjustable for adapting to the crop.
For this purpose, the operator of the associated harvester typically has to evaluate the kind and the state of the crop before the start of the harvesting process and has to select a value for the respective cutting unit

2 parameter which is as favorable as possible on this basis. After a corresponding actuation of the operating element by the operator, the adaptation can then take place in that e.g. a hydraulic adjustment of the cutting knife arrangement is triggered.
This procedure generally carries the risk of a misjudgment which can result in a restricted harvesting performance. It is furthermore bothersome for the operator of a harvester to carry out a manual setting at the cutting unit before every harvesting procedure. A further problem is that the conditions decisive for the ideal setting can also change during the harvesting. It is practically not possible for the operator to react to such a change.
A detection device can be provided for determining at least the height of the crop before the reaping as a harvesting parameter. ''Height of the crop"
here means the height of the crop above the ground. Cutting units having such detection devices are disclosed in DE 24 11 153 and in EP 1 271 139 A2.
DE 34 07 812 Al discloses a combine harvester having a continuously adjustable cutting platform.
A sugar cane harvester is disclosed in US 2005/0081498 Al which provides a cutting off of the sugar cane stalks by means of laser beams. A
vertical control mechanism on an optical basis or on an ultrasound basis in this respect controls the cut-off height.
It is an object of the invention to improve a cutting unit of the named kind with respect to the harvesting performance and to the operability.

3 In accordance with the invention, the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device is adjustable by means of an adjustment apparatus, wherein a control device in connection with the detection device and with the adjustment apparatus is configured to adjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device in dependence on the determined height of the crop. The control device can provide that the spacing between the cutting knife arrangement and the conveying device is automatically adapted to the current crop. Misjudgments such as can occur on the assessment by an operator are precluded due to the objective determination of the crop parameter by means of the detection device. The operator of the harvester is furthermore liberated from the bothersome tasks of assessing the crop before each harvesting procedure or even during the harvesting, that is, for example, of estimating its length and of setting the cutting unit accordingly. The adjustment of the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device in dependence on the determined height of the crop takes the circumstance into account that the ideal cutting unit platform length depends on whether the crop rather is rather standing or is rather lying. It can, for example, be favorable with a long crop which is, however, largely lying to select a relatively short spacing between the cutting knife arrangement and the conveying device even though a longer spacing would rather have to be selected due to the length of the crop.
Further developments of the invention are set forth in the description and in the enclosed drawing.

4 The control device is preferably configured to readjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device during the operation of the cutting unit. The harvesting performance can hereby be considerably increased since an ideal cutting unit setting is also ensured .. on a change of the crop parameter during the harvesting procedure. The readjustment can take place continuously, for example. To reduce the control effort, provision can, however, also be made to readjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device only at specific, e.g. regular, time intervals. It is equally possible to carry out the readjustment as required, that is only to readjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device when the change of the crop parameter exceeds a predefined threshold value.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the adjustment apparatus is configured to adjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement and/or of the conveying device in and against a harvesting direction of the harvester. It is namely decisive for ideal harvesting results that the horizontal spacing between the cutting knife arrangement and the conveying device matches the current crop.
The adjustment apparatus is preferably configured to adjust the cutting knife arrangement relative to a base frame of the cutting unit. In other words, it is preferred to leave the conveying device, for example an intake auger or an arrangement of conveying belts conveying transversely to the harvesting direction, stationary and only to move the cutting knife arrangement e.g. by means of a hydraulic or electric motor actuating drive. This can be effected more simply construction-wise than an active movement of the conveying device. If the application should require, the adjustment arrangement could, however, also be configured to adjust the conveying device relative to the base frame of the cutting unit. For example, the position of the intake auger could be adjusted in the vertical direction in this manner. Both the cutting knife arrangement and the conveying device could equally be moved relative to the base frame of the cutting unit in the adjustment procedure.

5 In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a support surface for the crop is provided which extends between the cutting knife arrangement and the conveying device, wherein the adjustment apparatus is configured to adapt the extent of the support surface to the current spacing between the cutting knife arrangement and the conveying device.
Such a support surface is also called a "header floor" or a ''header platform" in the technical field. It is important to achieve ideal harvesting results that the length of this cutting unit platform is adapted to the length or to the height of the crop.
The conveying device can furthermore comprise an intake auger rotating about a rotational axis extending transversely to the harvesting direction of the harvester, wherein the adjustment apparatus is configured to adjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the intake auger in dependence on the determined crop parameter. It is decisive for a continuous intake of the crop that the spacing between the blades of the cutting knife arrangement and the position of the first engagement of the conveying plant is coordinated with the properties of the crop.
An alternative embodiment of the invention provides that the conveying device comprises at least one belt conveyor conveying transversely to the harvesting direction of the harvester, wherein the adjustment apparatus is configured to adjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the belt conveyor in dependence on the determined crop parameter.

6 The control device can additionally be configured to adjust a cutting speed of the cutting knife arrangement and/or a conveying speed of the conveying device in dependence on the determined crop parameter.
The cutting unit can also comprise a rotatably driven reel, wherein the control device is configured to adjust a rotational speed of the reel and/or a position of the reel relative to a base frame of the cutting unit in dependence on the determined crop parameter.
The detection device can furthermore be configured to determine the length of the crop as a further crop parameter. The length of the crop is a decisive criterion in the fixing of the ideal cutting unit platform length.
The control device can, where required, take account both of the length and of the height of the crop as well as optionally further crop parameters and can calculate the ideal cutting unit setting therefrom, e.g. by means of an algorithm. The control device can equally be configured to adjust a plurality of cutting unit parameters simultaneously or successively.
The detection device preferably works in a contactless manner, in particular on an optical basis or on an ultrasound basis. The crop is thus not impaired by the detection device. In accordance with a specific embodiment, the detection device comprises an image detection system, in particular a camera. Crop parameters can be determined in a variety of ways using an image detection system. Alternatively or additionally, the detection device can also comprise a light sensor, a light barrier or a laser scanner.
The invention also relates to a harvester, in particular to a combine harvester, which has a cutting unit as described above.

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7 The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to the drawing.
Fig. 1 shows a simplified, partly broken away side view of a cutting unit in accordance with the invention.
In Fig. 1, a cutting unit 11 is shown in simplified form for a combine harvester which is not shown and which is configured to reap crop plants 13 such as rye, wheat, barley or rape along a harvesting direction E and subsequently to subject them to a threshing procedure. The cutting unit 11 comprises in a manner known per se a reel 15 which is rotatably driven about a first rotational axis R1 extending transversely to the harvesting direction E and comprises a cutting knife arrangement arranged beneath the reel 15 in the form of a cutter bar 17 arranged transversely to the harvesting direction E. An intake auger 19 which is rotatably driven about a second rotational axis R2 extending in parallel with the first rotational axis R1 is arranged at a spacing L behind the cutter bar 17. The intake auger 19 serves to convey the reaped cereals 13 into an intake shaft 21 from where the supply of the crop into the interior of the combine harvester and to the corresponding threshing unit takes place using further conveying means, not shown.
A support for the reaped cereals 13 in the form of a cutting unit platform 23 which is divided into a front platform part 23a and a rear platform part 23b extends between the cutter bar 17 and the intake auger 19. The rear platform part 23b is in this respect, just like the intake auger 19, fixedly attached to a base frame 24 of the cutting unit 11. The front platform part 23a can be moved into and against the harvesting direction E relative to the rear platform part 23b by means of a hydraulic adjustment apparatus 25 in order thus to change the cutting platform length L.

8 An optoelectronic sensor 27, e.g. a camera, is attached to the cutting unit 11 and serves to detect the crop height H, i.e. the height of the cereals 13 before the reaping. The optoelectronic sensor 27 outputs a corresponding signal via a corresponding signal line 30 to an electronic control device 29 which is arranged at the cutting unit 11 or in the interior of the associated combine harvester. The control device 29 determines the ideal cutting unit platform length L for this crop height H with respect to the harvesting performance using a predefined algorithm from the crop height H detected by the optoelectronic sensor 27. The control device 29 then outputs a corresponding signal via a control line 31 to the hydraulic adjustment apparatus 25 which thereupon sets the position of the front platform part 23a in accordance with the determined ideal cutting unit platform length L. In this manner, the cutting unit platform length L is continuously adapted to the crop height H during the harvesting procedure so that no problems occur in the intake of the cereals 13 even with a change of the crop height H and a maximum harvesting performance is thus ensured.
The operator of the combine harvester does not have to deal with questions of the cutting unit platform adaptation since the setting of the cutting unit platform length L takes place fully automatically.
The electronic control device 29 can also take account of further crop parameters as required and even of complex relationships between the individual crop parameters. The control device 29 can, for example, distinguish between standing cereal and lying cereal. The electronic control device 29 can furthermore also instigate the adjustment of further cutting unit parameters, e.g. an adaptation of the rotational speed and/or of the position of the reel 15, of the rotational speed of the intake auger 19 or of the cutting speed of the cutter bar 17.

9 The invention has only been described by way of example with reference to a combine harvester cutting unit. The automatic adjustment of a cutting unit parameter such as the position of the cutter bar 17 relative to the intake auger 19, however, also products advantages with other cutting units, for example with cutting units for field choppers or for swath reapers.
Since the setting of the cutting unit platform length L takes place so-to-say "online", a simple and comfortable operation of a harvester and an optimization of the average harvesting performance is possible.

Reference numeral list 11 cutting unit 13 cereal 5 15 reel 17 cutter bar 19 intake auger 21 intake shaft 23 cutting unit platform

10 23a front platfoim part 23b rear platform part 24 base frame 25 adjustment apparatus 27 optoelectronic sensor 29 control device 30 signal line 31 control line harvesting device R1 first rotational axis R2 second rotational axis cutting unit platform length crop height

Claims

1 . A cutting unit for a harvester, comprising:
a cutting knife arrangement for reaping a crop; and a conveying device which conveys the reaped crop away from the cutting knife arrangement to supply it to a processing device, wherein a detection device is provided for determining at least the height of the crop before the reaping, and the position of the cutting knife arrangement is adjustable relative to the conveying device by means of an adjustment apparatus, wherein a control device in connection with the detection device and with the adjustment apparatus is configured to adjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device in dependence on the determined height of the crop.

2. The cutting unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to readjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the conveying device during the operation of the cutting unit.

3. The cutting unit in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the adjustment apparatus is configured to adjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement and/or of the conveying device in and against a harvesting direction of the harvester.

4. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a support surface for the crop is provided which extends between the cutting knife arrangement and the conveying device, wherein the adjustment apparatus is configured to adapt the extent of the support surface to the current spacing between the cutting knife arrangement and the conveying device.

5. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the conveying device comprises an intake auger rotatable about a rotational axis extending transversely to the harvesting direction of the harvester, wherein the adjustment apparatus is configured to adjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the intake auger in dependence on the determined height of the crop.

6. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the conveying device comprises at least one belt conveyer conveying transversely to the harvesting direction of the harvester, wherein the adjustment apparatus is configured to adjust the position of the cutting knife arrangement relative to the belt conveyor in dependence on the determined height of the crop.

7. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control device is configured to adjust a cutting speed of the cutting knife arrangement and/or a conveying speed of the conveying device in dependence on the determined height of the crop.

8. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cutting unit comprises a rotatably driven reel, wherein the control device is configured to adjust a rotational speed of the reel and/or a position of the reel relative to a base frame of the cutting unit in dependence on the determined height of the crop.

9. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the detection device is configured to determine a length of the crop as a further crop parameter.

10. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the detection device works in a contactless manner.

11. The cutting unit in accordance with claim 10, wherein the detection device works on an optical basis or on an ultrasound basis.

12. The cutting unit in accordance with claim 10, wherein the detection device comprises an image detection system.

13. The cutting unit in accordance with claim 12, wherein the detection device comprises a camera.

14. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cutting unit is for a combine harvester.

15. The cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the processing device is a threshing unit.

16. A harvester, comprising:

the cutting unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. The harvester of claim 16, wherein the harvester is a combine harvester.