GB2195873A

GB2195873A - Pick-up device for an agricultural machine such as a forage harvester

Info

Publication number: GB2195873A
Application number: GB08719966A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erwin Reber; Fritz Schollhorn
Original assignee: Claas Saulgau GmbH
Current assignee: Claas Saulgau GmbH
Priority date: 1986-10-10
Filing date: 1987-08-24
Publication date: 1988-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-24
Also published as: GB2195873B; DE3634577A1; DE3634577C2; GB8719966D0

Abstract

A pick-up device for an agricultural machine comprises a conveyor screw (6) swingable on arms (3) and a pick-up drum (9) swingable on arms (8) and having rotating lines (10) and a conveyor plate (12). In the operative position the spacing a between the conveyor screw (6) and the conveyor plate (12) is small and similar to the spacing b between the conveyor screw (6) and the curved path (11) of the rotating tines (10). So that the spacings a and b are maintained in the lifted position or in a position of being lowered further than the normal operative position, a roller (14) and cooperating cam means (15) are disposed between the arms (3 and 8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pick-up device for an agricultural machine such as a forage harvester The invention relates to a pick-up device for an agricultural machine such as a forage harvester.

Such a pick-up device is disclosed in German patent specification No. 2902500 which discloses a conveyor screw swingably movable in respect of height on a frame structure and a pick-up drum fitted with controlled tines and also mounted swingably on the frame structure. The pick-up drum has a conveyor plate which in the operative position is at a small spacing from the periphery of the conveyor screw and the spacing between the conveyor screw and the conveyor plate is maintained substantially constant by a quadrangular link assembly in the event of movement in respect of height of the pick-up drum.

However with that arrangement it is not possible to ensure that the spacing between the path of the tips of the tines in the upper region of the pick-up drum and the conveyor screw also remains approximately the same. It is therefore necessary for the pick-up drum to be displaced forwardly to such an extent that even in a condition of maximum lift of the pick-up drum, the path of the tips of the tines does not impinge on the periphery of the conveyor screw. In normal operation of the pickup device however there is then a large spacing between the path of the tines in the upper region of the pick-up drum and the conveyor screw, which impairs transfer of the crop material from the pick-up drum to the conveyor screw.

According to the invention, there is provided a pick-up device for an agricultural machine, the device comprising a conveyor screw swingably movable in respect of height on arms mounted on a frame structure, a pick-up drum swingably movable in respect of height on further arms mounted on the frame structure and having controlled tines and a conveyor plate which in a normal operation position is at a small spacing from the periphery of the conveyor screw, and control means effective in all operative positions to maintain the spacing between the path of the tips of the tines at the upper region of the pick-up drum and the periphery of the conveyor screw at a similar magnitude to the spacing between the conveyor plate and the periphery of conveyor screw and at a maximum of 40 mm.

Preferably the control means is connected between the arms on which the pick-up drum is mounted and the arms on which the conveyor screw is mounted and comprise a control cam and a cooperating control roller.

Advantageously the control cam is provided on the underneath side of the arms on which the conveyor screw is mounted and the control roller is provided at the upper side of the arms on which the pick-up drum is mounted.

An embodiment of the invention, given by way of example, is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a diagrammatic side view of a pick-up device according to the invention.

Mounted on a frame structure 1 of a pickup device on an axis 2 are forwardly directed rocking arms 3. Mounted rotatably between the free ends of the rocking arms 3 is a conveyor screw 6 comprising a core portion 4 and screw flights 5. Mounted on the frame structure 1 on an axis 7 are rocking arms 8 which are also directed forwardly and which at their front ends carry a pick-up drum 9.

The pick-up drum 9 has spring tines 10 which are mounted controllably on bearers (not shown). The tips of the tines 10, in operation ot the arrangement, follow a path 11 shows by a broken line. The path 11 extends in a substantially arcuate configuration in the lower and front regions and penetrates into the peripheral circle of the pick-up drum 9, in its upper region. A conveyor plate 12 extends in alignment with the upper region of the pick-up drum 9. Disposed on the upper side of each of the rocking arms 8 is an upright 13 which is fixedly connected thereto and which at its upper end, mounts a rotatable control roller 14. Each control roller 14 cooperates with a control cam 15 provided on the underside of a respective one of the rocking arms 3. The pick-up drum 9 is supported on the ground by means of wheels 16.

In operation, with the pick-up device in a position as shown in the drawing, the peripheral contour of the conveyor screw 6 is at a small spacing a from the conveyor plate 12 and in the upper region of the pick-up drum 9 is at an approximately equal spacing b from the path 11 of the tines 10. If the rocking arms 3 and 8 were to be connected for example by a coupling member, then, when the pick-up drum 9 was lifted, the spacing b would decrease in such a way that the tines 10 would impact upon the screw flights 5. On the other hand, when travelling through a trough in the ground, there would be the risk of the spacing a becoming excessively small.

That is prevented and the spacings a and b are kept substantially at the desired size, by the cooperation and interaction of the control roller 14 and the control cam 15.

1. A pick-up device for an agricultural machine, the device comprising a conveyor screw swingably movable in respect of height on arms mounted on a frame structure, a pick-up drum swingably movable in respect of height on further arms mounted on the frame structure and having controlled tines and a conveyor plate which in a normal operative position is at a small spacing from the peri

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Pick-up device for an agricultural machine such as a forage harvester The invention relates to a pick-up device for an agricultural machine such as a forage harvester. Such a pick-up device is disclosed in German patent specification No. 2902500 which discloses a conveyor screw swingably movable in respect of height on a frame structure and a pick-up drum fitted with controlled tines and also mounted swingably on the frame structure. The pick-up drum has a conveyor plate which in the operative position is at a small spacing from the periphery of the conveyor screw and the spacing between the conveyor screw and the conveyor plate is maintained substantially constant by a quadrangular link assembly in the event of movement in respect of height of the pick-up drum. However with that arrangement it is not possible to ensure that the spacing between the path of the tips of the tines in the upper region of the pick-up drum and the conveyor screw also remains approximately the same. It is therefore necessary for the pick-up drum to be displaced forwardly to such an extent that even in a condition of maximum lift of the pick-up drum, the path of the tips of the tines does not impinge on the periphery of the conveyor screw. In normal operation of the pickup device however there is then a large spacing between the path of the tines in the upper region of the pick-up drum and the conveyor screw, which impairs transfer of the crop material from the pick-up drum to the conveyor screw. According to the invention, there is provided a pick-up device for an agricultural machine, the device comprising a conveyor screw swingably movable in respect of height on arms mounted on a frame structure, a pick-up drum swingably movable in respect of height on further arms mounted on the frame structure and having controlled tines and a conveyor plate which in a normal operation position is at a small spacing from the periphery of the conveyor screw, and control means effective in all operative positions to maintain the spacing between the path of the tips of the tines at the upper region of the pick-up drum and the periphery of the conveyor screw at a similar magnitude to the spacing between the conveyor plate and the periphery of conveyor screw and at a maximum of 40 mm. Preferably the control means is connected between the arms on which the pick-up drum is mounted and the arms on which the conveyor screw is mounted and comprise a control cam and a cooperating control roller. Advantageously the control cam is provided on the underneath side of the arms on which the conveyor screw is mounted and the control roller is provided at the upper side of the arms on which the pick-up drum is mounted. An embodiment of the invention, given by way of example, is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a diagrammatic side view of a pick-up device according to the invention. Mounted on a frame structure 1 of a pickup device on an axis 2 are forwardly directed rocking arms 3. Mounted rotatably between the free ends of the rocking arms 3 is a conveyor screw 6 comprising a core portion 4 and screw flights 5. Mounted on the frame structure 1 on an axis 7 are rocking arms 8 which are also directed forwardly and which at their front ends carry a pick-up drum 9. The pick-up drum 9 has spring tines 10 which are mounted controllably on bearers (not shown). The tips of the tines 10, in operation ot the arrangement, follow a path 11 shows by a broken line. The path 11 extends in a substantially arcuate configuration in the lower and front regions and penetrates into the peripheral circle of the pick-up drum 9, in its upper region. A conveyor plate 12 extends in alignment with the upper region of the pick-up drum 9. Disposed on the upper side of each of the rocking arms 8 is an upright 13 which is fixedly connected thereto and which at its upper end, mounts a rotatable control roller 14. Each control roller 14 cooperates with a control cam 15 provided on the underside of a respective one of the rocking arms 3. The pick-up drum 9 is supported on the ground by means of wheels 16. In operation, with the pick-up device in a position as shown in the drawing, the peripheral contour of the conveyor screw 6 is at a small spacing a from the conveyor plate 12 and in the upper region of the pick-up drum 9 is at an approximately equal spacing b from the path 11 of the tines 10. If the rocking arms 3 and 8 were to be connected for example by a coupling member, then, when the pick-up drum 9 was lifted, the spacing b would decrease in such a way that the tines 10 would impact upon the screw flights 5. On the other hand, when travelling through a trough in the ground, there would be the risk of the spacing a becoming excessively small. That is prevented and the spacings a and b are kept substantially at the desired size, by the cooperation and interaction of the control roller 14 and the control cam 15. CLAIMS

1. A pick-up device for an agricultural machine, the device comprising a conveyor screw swingably movable in respect of height on arms mounted on a frame structure, a pick-up drum swingably movable in respect of height on further arms mounted on the frame structure and having controlled tines and a conveyor plate which in a normal operative position is at a small spacing from the peri phery of the conveyor screw, and control means effective in all operative positions to maintain the spacing between the path of the tips of the tines at the upper region of the pick-up drum and the periphery of the conveyor screw at a similar magnitude to the spacing between the conveyor plate and the periphery of conveyor screw and at a maximum of 40 mm.

2. A pick-up device according to claim 1, in which the control means is connected between the arms on which the pick-up drum is mounted and the arms on which the conveyor screw is mounted and comprise a control cam and a cooperating control roller.

3. A pick-up device according to claim 2, in which the control cam is provided on the underneath side of the arms on which the conveyor screw is mounted and the control roller is provided at the upper side of the arms on which the pick-up drum is mounted.

4. A pick-up device for an agricultural machine substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.