NZ760712B2 - Load transfer device for collecting and transferring harvested material to a transport vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a load transfer device (4) for collecting and transferring harvested material, in particular stalk-type biomass, to a transport vehicle (6), comprising a collecting unit (8) for collecting the harvested material from the ground; a cutting unit (9) for comminuting the collected harvested material; a buffer store (10) for receiving the comminuted harvested material; a conveying device for conveying the comminuted harvested material from the buffer store (10) to a load transfer unit (11) of the load transfer device (4), by means of which load transfer unit the comminuted harvested material can be conveyed into a load compartment, arranged laterally adjacent to the load transfer device, of the transport vehicle (6), in particular over a load compartment wall of the load compartment. The problem this invention solves is to provide a solution by means of which harvested material can be collected and transported away in an efficient manner. Once the harvested material is collected and cut it can then be conveyed in an upward and lateral conveying method to the load compartment of an adjacent transport vehicle. ed harvested material; a buffer store (10) for receiving the comminuted harvested material; a conveying device for conveying the comminuted harvested material from the buffer store (10) to a load transfer unit (11) of the load transfer device (4), by means of which load transfer unit the comminuted harvested material can be conveyed into a load compartment, arranged laterally adjacent to the load transfer device, of the transport vehicle (6), in particular over a load compartment wall of the load compartment. The problem this invention solves is to provide a solution by means of which harvested material can be collected and transported away in an efficient manner. Once the harvested material is collected and cut it can then be conveyed in an upward and lateral conveying method to the load compartment of an adjacent transport vehicle.

Description

Load transfer device for collecting and transferring harvested al to a transport vehicle DESCRIPTION: The invention relates to a load transfer device for collecting and transferring harvested material to a transport vehicle.

In agriculture, a wide variety of harvested material must be collected and transported away. Inter alia, frequently stalk-type biomass, in particular in the form of straw or other grass types, need to be ted from the fields and transported away.

Stalk-type biomass of this type can be wet, wilted and dry grass, that is hay, but also grain straw.

It is widely practised to collect grain straw or other stalk-type by means of socalled round balers and to compress them to bales. Round balers of this sort are usually drawn by a r and driven via a PTO shaft of the tractor. Such round balers are for example shown in DE 10 2011 109 890 A1 or in DE 33 13 883 A1.

In addition, it is also quite common to collect stalks directly by means of drawn loading vehicles suitable therefor, usually by means of drawing machines in the form of tractors or similar, from the ground and then to transport them away with the same g e. In order to facilitate this, such loading vehicles y have collecting units for ting the harvested material from the ground and frequently also cutting units for comminuting the connected harvested al. A disadvantage of this procedure is that while the loading vehicle is used to transport the retained harvested al away, it can no longer be used to collect further ted material.

It is the task of the present invention to provide a solution by means of which harvested material, in particular stalk-type biomass, can be collected and transported away in an especially efficient manner.

This task is solved by a load transfer device, having the characteristics of claim 1, for collecting and erring harvested material, in particular stalk-type biomass, to a transport vehicle. ageous embodiments with suitable and non-trivial further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The load transfer device according to the invention for collecting harvested material, in particular stalk-type biomass, and transferring it to a transport vehicle comprises a collecting unit for collecting the harvested material from the ground.

Furthermore, the load transfer device has a cutting unit for comminuting the ted harvested material. In addition, the load transfer device has a buffer store for receiving the uted harvested al and a conveying device for conveying the comminuted harvested material out of the buffer store to a load transfer unit of the load transfer device, by means of which the uted harvested material can be conveyed into a load compartment, arranged laterally adjacent to the load transfer device, of the transport vehicle, in particular over a load compartment wall of the load compartment. Laterally adjacent to the load transfer device denotes that the load transfer unit is ed to convey the harvested material laterally, in respect of a use- appropriate drive direction of the load transfer device, in particular a ds drive direction, onto a separate vehicle in the form of the ort vehicle. The load transfer device is thus neither a part of the transport e nor a part of a rig to which the transport vehicle s. The transport vehicle itself includes preferably no loading or receiving function of its own for harvested material.

According to an alternative independent aspect of the invention, it can also be provided that the load transfer device does not include the g unit. In this case, the conveying unit can convey the harvested material into the buffer store without it being cut. In this case, the uncut harvested material is then conveyed by means of the load transfer device by means of the conveying device out of the buffer store to the load transfer unit and by means of this into the load compartment of the transport vehicle.

In the solution according to the invention it is thus provided that the load er device assumes the collecting and transfer of the harvested material, wherein a transport vehicle, which during the load transfer procedure drives next to the load transfer device, can assume the actual transporting away of the harvested material. The load transfer device according to the invention can thus be used quasi uously for collecting harvested material for example from a field, comminuting it and storing it temporarily, in particular in the form of stalk-like biomass. Inasmuch as a transport vehicle should happen to the in the vicinity, this can drive parallel to the load transfer device and be filled by means of the load transfer unit of the load transfer device. If the transport vehicle concerned, in particular its load compartment, is tely filled, then the next transport vehicle can be driven up to the load transfer device in order to be filled. During the exchange of the transport vehicles, the collecting unit and the cutting unit of the load transfer device can be operated r, such that the harvested material can be further collected from the floor, comminuted and conveyed into the buffer store of the load transfer device. Only the conveying device and the load transfer unit are d during the exchange of the transport vehicles, wherein the harvested al can still be retained and temporarily stored. Thus there are no stand times or downtimes when the transport vehicles are exchanged. In other words, by means of the solution according to the invention it is thus possible for the load transfer device to be operated continuously, for example drawn or carried by a tractor or another drawing e, in order to collect harvested material from the ground, to comminute it and to store it temporarily in its buffer store. By avoiding unnecessary stand times or downtimes of the load transfer device, very high surface performances are possible.

In addition, the solution according to the invention offers a further advantage. For example, when driving narrow cornerings, a transport vehicle to be loaded by means of the load transfer device does not need to drive close to the load transfer device, since the load er is preferably halted prior to narrow ings, especially preferably thus already during the driving on the straight, wherein the harvested material is further taken up by means of the load transfer device and temporarily stored. As soon as the load transfer device is again located on a straight path, the conveying device and the load transfer unit can be again activated in order to transfer the temporarily stored and comminuted harvested al to the transport vehicle. Thus it can be ensured that virtually no or absolutely no harvested material is lost, even when the most tight ings need to be travelled by means of the load transfer device. All in all, it is thus le by means of the load transfer device according to the invention simultaneously to collect harvested material, to cut it into the desired length, to store it temporarily and to transfer it to a transport vehicle.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the activation of the conveying device and the tion of the load er device are coupled to one another. The coupling can be realised both ically and also with control technology. “Coupled” means that as soon as the conveying device is ted, that is, is switched on, the load transfer unit is automatically also activated. Thus, if comminuted harvested material taken up by activating the conveying device in the buffer store is conveyed into an access area of the load transfer unit, thus the comminuted harvested material is automatically conveyed r as fast as le in the direction of the relevant transport e by reason of the coupled activation of the load transfer unit. In the same way, also the deactivation of the conveying device can be coupled to a deactivation of the load er unit, wherein this can in the same way be realised mechanically or with control logy. An unnecessary operation of the load transfer unit can thereby be prevented, since when the conveying device is deactivated, at the latest after a certain time there will be no uted harvested material present in the access area of the load transfer unit.

A further advantageous ment of the invention provides that the operation of the collecting unit and cutting unit is decoupled from the operation of the ing device and the load transfer unit. As previously already mentioned, it is thus possible for the load transfer device to be able to continuously t harvested material from the ground and comminute it and thereby supply it to the buffer store, without the conveying device and the load transfer unit needing to be activated. As in the initially mentioned example, it is thus for example le for a change from a transport vehicle onto the other transport vehicle to be undertaken simply, wherein the load transfer device further collects and comminutes harvested material during the exchange. As soon as the exchange of the transport vehicles has been completed, the ing device and load transfer unit, which can be operated independently from the collecting unit and cutting unit, can be ted, such that the harvested material which has meanwhile been temporarily stored in the buffer store and comminuted can be ed in the direction of the load transfer unit and by means thereof can be conveyed into the load compartment of the transport vehicle. The load erring of the temporarily stored harvested al into a transport vehicle can thus be stopped at any time when required, wherein the load transfer device can furthermore be continuously used to t harvested material from the ground, to comminute it and to arily store it in its buffer store. The load transfer device can thus be continuously used to collect harvested material from the ground, to comminute it and to temporarily store it, as a result of which very high surface performances are possible with the load transfer device.

According to a r advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the load transfer unit has a detecting device, which is configured to detect whether the load transfer unit is disposed in a designated load transfer positioning relatively to the load compartment of the transport vehicle. The detecting device can for example have an optical sensor, a radar sensor, an ultrasound sensor or the like, by means of which it can be determined in a reliable manner whether the load transfer unit has been disposed in a designated load transfer positioning relatively to the load compartment of the ort vehicle, in which harvested material can be ed from the load transfer device into the load compartment of the transport e without loss or at least with as little loss as possible by means of the load transfer unit. Thus, it can be ensured in a reliable manner that no harvested material is lost at the load er into the load compartment of the transport vehicle. Preferably, the activating of the load transfer unit for conveying the comminuted harvested material into the load compartment is coupled thereto, that the load transfer unit has been disposed in its designated load transfer positioning relatively to the load compartment of the transport vehicle. The detecting device, which is configured to detect whether the load transfer unit is ed in its designated load er positioning, can for example be coupled using signal technology with a control of the load transfer , which control is configured to activate the load transfer unit only when it has been detected that the load transfer unit is disposed in its designated load transfer positioning relatively to the load compartment of the transport vehicle. In on, the control device can also be ured to deactivate the load transfer unit as soon as it is determined that the designated load transfer positioning relatively to the load compartment of the transport e has been left. It can thereby be ensured that the load transfer of the retained harvested material from the load transfer device into the load compartment of the transport vehicle starts only when the load transfer unit has also been correctly oned, n preferably the load transfer of the harvested material into the load compartment is halted as soon as it is detected that the designated load transfer positioning of the load er unit relatively to the load compartment of the transport vehicle has been left.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the load transfer device has a detecting device which is configured to detect whether the buffer store has reached a predetermined m fill level. Furthermore, this detecting device can also quite lly be configured to detect a filling level of the buffer storage per se. For the detecting of the fill level of the buffer store, the detecting device can have for example optical sensors, such as a camera system or the like, also other sensors suitable therefor. Preferably, a control device of the load transfer device is suitable for transmitting a signal to a drawing vehicle pulling the load transfer device or otherwise transporting it, e.g. to a tractor, when the maximum fill level has been reached. The signal can in the simplest case be a warning signal, as a result of which an optical and/or acoustic warning is outputted by means of the drawing vehicle. A driver of the drawing vehicle is thus made aware that the maximum fill level in the buffer store has been reached and this should at the moment not further be filled until it has been emptied to some extent. For example, as a warning signal it can be outputted that the driver should first stop the drawing vehicle. Alternatively, or additionally, the signal can also have the effect that the drawing vehicle is automatically stopped or decelerated. If, thus, the maximum fill level in the buffer store should have been reached, it is also possible that the drawing vehicle is automatically stopped or at least decelerated. Thus, an overflow of the buffer store can be ly prevented. By means of the mentioned measures it can be d that – if the buffer store is actually full - no further harvested material is collected from the ground and/or comminuted and therewith ed to the buffer store.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the load transfer unit can be positioned in a folded-in non-use position and in a folded-out load transfer position. Preferably, the load er unit is designed such that in its folded-out load transfer position, load transfer heights of 4.5 m can be d, such that also correspondingly high load compartment walls of load compartments of transport vehicles can be me. In that the load transfer unit can be positioned preferably between its -in non-use position and its folded-out load transfer position, the road traffic regulations can be complied with. For in the folded-in non-use position, the load er unit is preferably ed lower than in the folded-out load er position, wherein in the folded-in non-use position the load transfer unit is also laterally folded in so far that a m width permissible in road traffic is not exceeded.

According to a r advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the load er unit has a conveyor belt, a worm conveyor and/or a blower having a conveying pipe connected thereto for conveying the comminuted harvested material into the load compartment of the transport vehicle. Preferably, the load transfer unit for conveying the comminuted ted material has only one type of conveying means – be it a conveyor belt, a worm conveyor or a blower. Alternatively, however, it is also possible for these conveying possibilities to be ed with one another. By means of conveying means suited to the harvested material to be collected and erred, an especially ent operation of the load transfer device can be d.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conveying device has at least one scraper floor disposed in the region of a loading surface of the buffer store, by means of which scraper floor the comminuted harvested al retained in the buffer store can be conveyed in the direction of the load transfer unit. The scraper floor consists preferably of in each case two chain strands, which are moved on a load receiving side by a pocket wheel. On two evenly driven chains, carrier strips are mounted at regular intervals for conveying the harvested material. By means of such scraper floors, in particular loose, geneous harvested goods can be especially well conveyed.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conveying device has at least one metering roller disposed on a side, facing the load transfer unit, of the buffer store, by means of which metering roller the comminuted harvested material in the buffer store can be conveyed in the direction of the load transfer unit. Preferably, several of these metering rollers are disposed above one another in vertical direction of the load transfer device. By means of the metering rollers disposed above one another, it is possible in a reliable manner, in particular with an increasing fill level of the buffer store, to convey the comminuted harvested material in the direction of the load er unit.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the conveying device has a wall delimiting the buffer store, which wall can be extended and retracted in the direction of the load transfer unit. ably, the wall is mounted bly about an axis which s in transverse direction of the load transfer device. For example, the wall can be pivoted by means of hydraulic cylinders such that it is pivoted either away from the load transfer unit or towards it. Thus, in an ally simple manner, the load compartment of the buffer store can be varied. If the ble wall is d in the direction of the load transfer unit, the harvested material stored in the buffer store and comminuted is pressed into the access area of the load transfer unit. Alternatively, it is also possible for the limiting wall to be translationally movable for e as a whole in the form of a type of displacement wall, in order to bring the comminuted harvested material retained in the buffer store into the access area of the load transfer unit. Preferably, it is provided that either the r floor or the limiting wall is used, which can be extended and retracted in the direction of the load transfer unit. The ng rollers are preferably used in both cases. Basically, however, it is also le for scraper floors, metering rollers and extendable and retractable walls to be used in combination.

Furthermore, it is provided according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention that the load transfer device has for the supply of energy an interface for a power take-off of a drawing vehicle. Thus, all units which need to be supplied with energy can be supplied with energy via the power ff of the drawing vehicle.

The load transfer device can be a trailer, an assembly which can be mounted on a motor vehicle, or a motor vehicle. It is thus possible for the load transfer device to have a chassis and a drawbar but no drive of its own, and to be drawn by means of a g vehicle, for example by means of the tractor. In addition, it is also possible for the device to have no chassis of its own and for example to be carried by a r or another driven vehicle, e.g. by means of a device r present on the vehicle concerned. For this case, the load transfer device can have corresponding mechanical aces, such that it can be mounted e.g. on a three-point power lift, also known as a three-point hydraulic, such that the load transfer device as auxiliary equipment can for example be coupled onto a tractor and lifted up. Furthermore, the load transfer device can also have its own chassis and its own drive, that is be in the form of a motor vehicle and therewith a self-driving machine. For the case that the load transfer device is in the form of a trailer or a motor vehicle, it can be provided that one wheel of the load transfer device is laterally extendable and table. In particular when the load transfer device is laterally extendable, the extendable wheel is an age. A shifting of the centre of gravity of the load transfer device caused by the extending of the load transfer unit can thus be compensated.

Further advantages, characteristics and details of the invention result from the following description of preferred embodiment examples and with reference to the drawing. The characteristics and characteristic combinations mentioned in the description and the characteristics and characteristic combinations shown in the description of the figures and/or in the s alone are usable not only in the respectively given combination, but also independently or also in other combinations, without straying beyond the t of the invention.

The drawing shows in: figure 1 a schematic top view onto a transfer device drawn by a first tractor, which follows a swath, and a transport vehicle driven by means of a further tractor, which is filled by means of the load transfer device with retained harvested material; figure 2 a ctive view of a first embodiment of the load er device drawn by means of the tractor; figure 3 a perspective back view of the first embodiment of the load transfer device; figure 4 a side view of the first embodiment of the load transfer device drawn by means of the tractor; figure 5 a back view of the first embodiment of the load transfer device, wherein a load transfer unit of the load transfer device is positioned in its folded-out load transfer position; figure 6 a further back view of the first embodiment of the load transfer device, wherein the load transfer unit is shown in its folded-in non-use position; figure 7 a further perspective view of the first embodiment of the load transfer device drawn by means of the tractor, wherein a wall delimiting a buffer store of the load transfer device has been folded in the direction of the load transfer device; figure 8 a perspective view of a second embodiment of the load er device, wherein this embodiment has no wall which can be folded in the direction of the load transfer unit; figure 9 a side view of the second embodiment of the load transfer device, wherein this has in the interior a scraper floor for conveying ed and comminuted harvested al in the direction of the load transfer unit; figure 10 a back view, in which the second embodiment of the load transfer device and a transport vehicle during the filling ure of the transport vehicle are shown; figure 11 a perspective back view of a third embodiment of the load er device, wherein its load er unit has a blower and a conveying pipe disposed thereon ing the ed and comminuted harvested material in the direction of the transport vehicle; figure 12 a perspective back view of a fourth embodiment of the load transfer device, wherein its load transfer unit has two pipes and at least one worm conveyor for conveying the retained and comminuted harvested al in the direction of the transport vehicle; and in figure 13 a top view onto the tractor which draws the second embodiment of the load transfer device in a laterally offset manner.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are labelled with the same reference signs.

Two rigs 1, 2 are shown in a perspective top view in figure 1. The first rig 1 includes a tractor 3 by means of which a load transfer device 4 in the form of the trailer is drawn along a swath 5. The term "swath" is used to describe the crop that is harvested in rows, in which grass or grain, in particular, but also other crops, are harvested together or deposited ed), for example when sugar beet leaves are used as feed. The swath 5 is preferably heaped-up stalk-type ted material which is taken up by means of the load transfer device 4, is comminuted, temporarily stored and transferred to a transport vehicle 6, more precisely to a load compartment of the transport vehicle 6 of the second rig 2. The transport vehicle 6 can for example be a tipper or push-off truck, which is drawn by means of a r tractor 7.

By means of the load transfer device 4, ted material can be collected continuously along the swath 5, comminuted and temporarily stored. ably, the temporarily stored and comminuted harvested material is transferred by means of the load transfer device 4 over a lateral load compartment wall of the load tment of the transport vehicle 6, as long as the two rigs 1, 2 drive next to one another in a straight line. As soon as there is a particularly tight cornering ahead, the load transfer of the comminuted ted material to the transport vehicle 6 is halted, wherein the load transfer device 4 is moved further along the swath 5 and continuously collects, comminutes and temporarily stores the harvested material.

In figure 2 is shown a first ment of the load er device 4 and a perspective view, while it is drawn by means of the tractor 3. The load transfer device 4 includes a collecting unit 8 for collecting ted material, preferably stalk-type biomass, from the ground. The collecting unit 8 is usually also described as a so-called pick-up. The connecting unit 8 can have a roller or roll, not seen in more detail here, on which several radially protruding tines can be fastened, which can be set into rotational movement in order to collect harvested material along the swath 5 shown in figure 1.

Alternatively, the collecting unit, unlike in the present representation, can also be a mowing device by means of which fresh fodder can be mowed and collected up. rmore, the load transfer device 4 includes a cutting unit 9 which can have for example a cutting and conveying rotor. The cutting unit 9 can inter alia have a further cutting mechanism, e.g. in the form of an adjustable knife mechanism, wherein this can ably be jacked in or jacked out via a corresponding mechanism. In the jacked-in state, the cutting mechanism can comminute the supplied harvested material, n in the jacked-out state the harvested material is not comminuted. The cutting mechanism acts together with the cutting and conveying rotor.

By means of the collecting unit 8, collected ted material is supplied to the cutting unit 9, by means of which the retained harvested material can be cut to a desired length. Furthermore, the load transfer device 4 has a further buffer store 10 for the reception of the comminuted harvested material. By means of the cutting unit 9, comminuted harvested al automatically reaches the buffer store 10.

At the rear end of the load transfer device 4 is located a load er unit 11 which serves to convey the comminuted and retained harvested material laterally over a load tment wall of the load compartment into the transport vehicle 6. In the presently shown embodiment of the load transfer device 4, the load transfer unit 11 includes a conveyor belt, not shown in more detail, or several conveyor belts, in order to convey the comminuted harvested material in the ion of the transport vehicle 6.

In addition, the load transfer device 4 has several metering s 12 disposed above one another, which serve to convey comminuted harvested material retained in the buffer store 10 in the direction of an access area 13 of the load transfer unit 11.

Thus, as soon as for example the two rigs 1, 2 drive next to one another parallel and in a straight line, the ng rollers 12 can be activated, as a result of which harvested material ed in the buffer store is conveyed in the direction of the load transfer unit 11, wherein by means of the said conveyor belts the harvested material is conveyed into the transport vehicle 6.

The load transfer device 4 has in the present case only one axle, wherein a left wheel 28, mounted on the axle, which is disposed on the same side on which the load transfer unit 11 protrudes laterally beyond the load transfer device 4, can be laterally extended and retracted. As is described in still more detail hereinafter, the load transfer unit 11 can be moved between the folded-out load transfer position shown here and a folded-in non-use position. By means of laterally extending the wheel 28, the centre of y of the load transfer device 4, which is here d when the load transfer device is folded-out, can be compensated. This lly extendable and retractable wheel 28 can be used in all embodiments of the load transfer device 4.

In figure 3 is shown the rig 1 in a perspective back view. In the present representation, inter alia, the arrangement of the metering rollers 12 can again easily be seen, which quasi delimit the buffer store 10 to the rear. The previously already ned access area 13 of the load transfer unit 11 forms for its part a type of reservoir into which the comminuted harvested al retained in the buffer store 10 can be conveyed by means of the metering rollers 12. In the access area 13, for example, can be disposed one of several conveyor belts which s to the load transfer unit 11.

In figure 4 is shown the first embodiment of the load transfer device 4 er with the tractor 3 serving as drawing vehicle, shown in a side view. As can be seen, the load transfer device 4 is relatively high in particular by reason of the load transfer unit 11. By means of the load transfer unit 11, load transfer heights of preferably maximum 4.5 m can be overcome. Thus, tippers or push-off trucks in the form of the transport vehicle 6 can be loaded ly from above over a lateral load tment wall from above by means of the load transfer unit 11.

In figure 5, the load transfer device 4 is shown in a back view, wherein the load transfer unit 11 is positioned in its folded-out load transfer position. The load transfer unit 11 includes inter alia two segments 14, 15 which are connected with one r able to be pivoted in relation to one another. The segment 15 is in addition mounted pivotably on the remaining load transfer device 4. The pivot axes of the segments 14, 15 all extend in the longitudinal direction of the load transfer device. By means of several lic cylinders 16, it is possible to pivot the segments 14, 15 relatively to one another and in addition to pivot the segment 15 in relation to the load transfer device 4.

As a result, the load er unit 4 can be positioned in the -out load transfer position shown here. The wheel 28 is shown here still in its inner position, wherein this can be extended laterally as already described above. In the present representation it can easily be seen that in this folded-out load position of the load transfer unit 11, the centre of gravity of the entire load transfer device is not located between the left wheel 28 and the right wheel 29. The left wheel 28 can be extended so far to the left that the centre of gravity of the load transfer device 4 in regard of the erse direction of the load transfer device 4 is located at least substantially centrally between the two wheels 28, 29. As a result, the load transfer device 4 stands and drives in an especially stable manner.

In figure 6 is shown the load transfer device in a further back view, wherein the load transfer unit 4 has now been ed in its folded-in non-use position. As can be seen, the two ts 14, 15 can be folded to one r by operating the lic cylinder 16, wherein the entire load transfer unit 11, in particular the segment 15, can be folded-in laterally in the direction of the load transfer device 4. In the folded-in nonuse position shown here, the load transfer unit 11 does not protrude laterally beyond the rest of the load transfer device and is in addition disposed lowered. The folded-in non-use position can in particular be assumed when the load transfer device 4 is to be moved via public roads. The left wheel 28 can then be retracted further to the inside, since in the folded-in non-use position the centre of gravity of the entire load transfer device 4 is substantially situated between the two wheels 28, 29 when the left wheel 28 has been laterally retracted.

In figure 7, the first ment, drawn by the tractor 3, of the load transfer device 4 is shown in a further perspective view, wherein a pivotable wall 17, which delimits the buffer store 10 in the direction of the tractor 3 has been folded in the direction of the load transfer unit 11. In addition to the previously already mentioned metering rollers 12, the wall 17 is also a part of a conveying device of the load transfer device 4, which serves to convey harvested material buffer store 10 to the access area 13 of the load transfer unit 11. The wall 17 ting the buffer store 10 is at its bottom end pivotably mounted about an axis extending in transverse direction of the load transfer device 4. On the left side and on the right side are ed hydraulic cylinders by means of the operation of which the wall 17 can be folded in the direction of the tractor 3 and in the direction of the load transfer unit 11. By the pivoting or folding of the wall 17, ted material retained in the buffer store 10 can in a simple manner be ed into the access area 13 of the load transfer unit 11.

In figure 8 is shown a second embodiment of the load transfer device 4 driven by the tractor 3 in a ctive view. The embodiment, shown here, of the load transfer device 4 differs from the first embodiment of the load transfer device 4 inter alia by the fixed wall 19. The load transfer device 4 thus no longer has the pivotable wall 17.

In figure 9 is shown the second embodiment of the load transfer device 4 in a partially cut side view. As can be seen, also the second embodiment of the load er device 4 has a plurality of metering rollers 12 disposed above one another, by means of which harvested al retained in the buffer store 10 can be conveyed in the direction of the load transfer unit 11. In addition, the embodiment shown here of the load transfer device 4 includes a scraper floor 20 disposed in the region of a loading surface, not specified in more , of the buffer store 10. By means of the scraper floor 20, harvested material retained in the buffer store 10 can be transported in the direction of the load transfer unit 11. The ng rollers 12 disposed above one another t the conveying of the ted material from the buffer store 10 into the access area 13 of the load transfer unit 11.

An area A of the buffer store 10 is additionally shown in an enlarged view. In the area A is mounted a fill level sensor 21 which is configured to monitor a fill level of the buffer store 10 or at least to establish if the buffer store 10 has reached a ermined m fill level. The fill level sensor 21 thus serves as a detecting device which is configured to detect how full the buffer store 10 has currently been filled. For example, the fill level sensor 21 can send data concerning the actual fill level of the buffer store 10 to a receiving unit 22. Where necessary - that is if the buffer store is full - this can send e.g. a signal to the tractor 3, as a result of which this is automatically halted or decelerated. Alternatively or additionally, the receiving unit 22 can send for example also a warning signal to the tractor 3, as a result of which an optical and/or acoustic warning is outputted in the cabin of the tractor 3 which indicates to the driver that the buffer store 21 has just reached its maximum fill level.

In figure 10 is shown the second embodiment of the load transfer device 4 in a back view, while it is used to fill the transport vehicle 6. On the segment 14 of the load transfer unit 11 is defined an area B, which is shown onally again enlarged. On the segment 14 of the load transfer unit 11 is mounted a detecting device 23 which can have a position sensor By means of this can be established whether the load transfer unit 11, more ely the segment 14, is disposed in a designated load transfer positioning relatively to the load compartment of the transport vehicle 6.

In addition, the detecting device 23 can alternatively or additionally have one further receiver which can receive signals from a sender, not specified in any more detail, which is mounted on the transport vehicle. For example, by evaluating the signal strength of the retained signals, the receiver of the ing device 23 can determine how close to the transport vehicle the second 14 of the load transfer device 11 is disposed. It is especially advantageous when it receiver and the position sensor are utilised in combination with one another. As a position sensor, for example, a relatively inexpensive ultrasound sensor can be used instead of a camera system. By means of the position sensor, it needs only to be detected r the segment 14 of the of the load transfer unit 11 has been disposed per se above the rig 1, in st to which the receiving unit can determine by evaluating the retained signal whether the load transfer unit 11 is also disposed ly above load compartment of the transport e 6.

If, on the other hand, the position sensor is to be used alone, an optical marker can be applied e.g. to the right load wall, not specified here in more detail, of the transport vehicle 6, which can be ed by means of the on . The position sensor can for example be an optical sensor e.g. in the form of a camera system or r. Other sensor types are however also possible, by means of which it can be detected in a reliable manner whether the load transfer unit 11 has been positioned correctly with respect to the transport vehicle 6.

The load transfer device 4 can for example have a control device which is coupled with the position sensor and/or the receiver. If the position sensor and/or receiver signal that the load transfer unit 11 has been tly positioned with respect to the transport vehicle 6, thus the control device can for example automatically activate the said conveyor belts of the load transfer unit 11, as a result of which the ort vehicle 6 is loaded with harvested material so long as the load transfer unit 11 is correctly positioned with respect to the transport vehicle 6. Should it be determined that the designated load transfer positioning has been left, thus, for example, they conveyor belts of the load transfer unit 11 can be automatically stopped. y it can be ensured that no harvested material is lost.

The fill level sensor 21, the receiving unit 22 and the detecting device 23 having the position sensor and/or the receiving unit have admittedly been described only in connection with the second embodiment of the load transfer device 4. However, these elements or units can also be combined with the other ments of the load transfer device 4.

In figure 11 is shown a third embodiment of the load transfer device 4, drawn by means of the tractor 3, in a perspective back view. This embodiment is distinguished by the load transfer unit 11 having instead of conveyor belts a blower 24 and a conveying pipe 25 disposed thereon. By activating the blower 24, harvested material can be conveyed out of the buffer store 10 into the conveying pipe 25 and thereby conveyed also into the transport e 6.

In figure 12 is shown a fourth embodiment, drawn by means of the tractor 3, of the load transfer device 4 in a perspective back view. This ment is distinguished by the load transfer unit 11 having two pipes 26, 27 pivotable to one another instead of or belts or the blower 24, and a worm conveyor which is not ied in more detail. The worm conveyor can for example be formed in two parts and extend within the pipes 26, 27.

In figure 13 is shown the rig 1 in a top view, wherein the tractor 3 draws the second embodiment of the load transfer device 4 already shown in figures 8 to 10. As can be seen, the load transfer device 4 is disposed laterally offset to the tractor 3. On a r 30, a hydraulic cylinder, not specified in more detail here, or also another actuator can engage, by means of which the drawbar 30 can be pivoted in relation to the tractor 3. The hydraulic cylinder can be part of the load transfer device 4. The possibility of thereby letting the tractor 3 drive laterally offset to the load transfer device is for example ageous when the load transfer device 4 is equipped with a mowing device not shown here in more detail, in order first to mow and then to take up harvested material which is to be taken up. In this case, it can be ensured by means of the laterally offset driving that the r 3 does not flatten the harvested material to be mown and to be taken up. If, in the case described, on the other hand the tractor 3 and the load transfer device 4 were not to drive laterally offset to one another but rather flush in direction of travel, the tractor 3 would flatten the ted material, and the mowing device on the load transfer device 4 would no longer be able to cut the flattened harvested material in an orderly manner. The pivotable drawbar 30 can be utilised also in the case of the other embodiments of the load er device.

List of reference signs 1 rig 2 rig 3 tractor 4 load transfer device swath 6 ort e 7 tractor 8 collecting unit 9 cutting unit buffer store 11 load transfer unit 12 metering roller 13 access area of the load transfer unit 14 segment segment 16 hydraulic cylinder 17 pivotable wall 18 hydraulic cylinder 19 fixed wall scraper floor 21 fill level sensor 22 receiving unit 23 detecting device with position sensor and/or receiving unit 24 blower conveying pipe 26 pipe 27 pipe 28 left wheel 29 right wheel drawbar A area B area

Claims (14)

Claims 1.

1. Load transfer device (4) for collecting and erring harvested material to a transport e (6), in particular stalk-type biomass, comprising 5 - a ting unit (8) for collecting the harvested material from the ground; - a cutting unit (9) for comminuting the collected harvested material: - a buffer store (10) for receiving the comminuted harvested material; - a conveying device for ing the comminuted harvested material from the buffer store (10) to a load transfer unit (11) of the load transfer device (4), by means 10 of which load er unit the comminuted harvested material can be conveyed in on to the vertical direction and lateral direction of the load transfer device (4) obliquely upwards and thereby into a load compartment of the transport e (6) arranged laterally nt to the load transfer device (4), in particular over a load compartment wall of the load compartment.

2. Load transfer device (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the activation of the conveying device and the activation of the load transfer device (11) are coupled to one another.

3. Load transfer device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the ion of the collecting unit (8) and of the cutting unit (9) is decoupled from the operation of the conveying device and of the load transfer unit (11).

4. Load transfer device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load transfer unit (11) has a detecting device (23) which is configured to detect whether the load transfer unit (11) is disposed in a designated load transfer 30 positioning relatively to the load compartment of the transport vehicle (6).

5. Load transfer device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load transfer device (4) has a detecting device (21) which is configured to detect whether the buffer store (10) has achieved a predetermined maximum fill level.

6. Load er device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, 5 characterised in that the load transfer unit (11) can be positioned in a folded-in non-use position and in a folded-out load transfer position.

7. Load er device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, 10 characterised in that the load transfer unit (11) for conveying the comminuted harvested material into the load compartment of the transport vehicle (6) has a conveyor belt, a worm conveyor and/or a blower (24) having a conveying pipe (25) connected thereto. 15

8. Load transfer device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conveying device has at least one r floor (20) disposed in the region of a loading surface of the buffer store (10), by means of which scraper floor the comminuted harvested material retained in the buffer store (10) can be conveyed in the 20 direction of the load er unit (11).

9. Load er device (4) ing to any of the ing claims, characterised in that the conveying device has at least one metering roller (12) disposed on one side, 25 facing the load transfer unit (11), of the buffer store (10), by means of which metering roller the comminuted harvested material retained in the buffer store (10) can be conveyed in the direction of the load transfer unit (11).

10. Load transfer device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, 30 characterised in that the conveying device has a wall (17) delimiting the buffer store (10), which wall can be ed and retracted in the direction of the load transfer unit (11).

11. Load transfer device (4) ing to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load transfer device (4) has for the supply of energy an interface for a power take-off of a drawing vehicle (3).

12. Load transfer device (4) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load transfer device (4) is a trailer or a motor vehicle. 10

13. Load transfer device (4) according to claim 12, terised in that in the case of a chassis of the load transfer device (4) at least one wheel can be extended laterally. 15

14. Load transfer device (4) according to any of claims 1 to 11, terised in that the load transfer device (4) is a structure which can be mounted on a motor vehicle. [Annotation] clemente