US20050124263A1 - Grinding arrangement - Google Patents
Grinding arrangement Download PDFInfo
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- US20050124263A1 US20050124263A1 US10/978,717 US97871704A US2005124263A1 US 20050124263 A1 US20050124263 A1 US 20050124263A1 US 97871704 A US97871704 A US 97871704A US 2005124263 A1 US2005124263 A1 US 2005124263A1
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- Prior art keywords
- arrangement
- grinding
- grinding stone
- chopper
- knives
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01F—PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE
- A01F29/00—Cutting apparatus specially adapted for cutting hay, straw or the like
- A01F29/09—Details
- A01F29/22—Arrangement of knife sharpening devices
Definitions
- the invention concerns a grinding arrangement with a grinding stone for grinding at least one knife of a chopper arrangement, a movement arrangement for moving the grinding stone along the chopper arrangement, a measurement arrangement for the provision of a signal that contains information regarding the force applied by the grinding stone of the knife during the grinding process and a control arrangement that controls the movement arrangement as a function of the signal of the measurement arrangement.
- the knives fastened to the chopper arrangement wear over time. It is possible that individual knives wear at different rates. While the knives around the circumference of the chopper arrangement as a ruled wear at approximately uniform rates, the wear along the width of the chopper arrangement may vary considerably. Thereby, the diameter of the enveloping circle described by the cutting edges of the knives can vary in the axial direction of the shaft of the chopper arrangement.
- a cylindrical or slightly concave shape is desired as a target shape in order to simplify the automatic repositioning of the shearbar or in order to make this possible depending upon the repositioning system.
- a parallel and precise in-feed of the shearbar towards the circumference of the chopper arrangement is indispensable for a effective chopper process.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,135 proposes that the actual shape of the enveloping circle described by the knives of a chopper arrangement be detected before a grinding process and to thereupon move the grinding stone on the basis of the results of the measurement in such a way that a desired shape of the enveloping circle is attained.
- the shape of the enveloping circle is detected by means of a knock sensor or by a magnetic sensor associated with the grinding stone or with the shearbar.
- the force applied to the shearbar is measured.
- an improved grinding arrangement for grinding knives of a chopper arrangement there is provided an improved grinding arrangement for grinding knives of a chopper arrangement.
- An object of the invention is to provide a grinding stone arrangement which has its movement relative to cutting knives controlled by signals representing the force applied by the grinding stone to the knives.
- the invention proposes that a force measurement cell be attached to any desired location in the connecting line or power flux connection between the grinding stone and the chopper arrangement.
- the force measurement detects the load or the pressure exerted by the grinding stone on the knife or knives of the chopper arrangement during the grinding process.
- the value measured by the force measurement cell is all the greater when the enveloping curve of the knives is closer to the grinding stone and the smaller when the knives are separated from the grinding stone.
- the chopper arrangement can be brought into an optimum shape tat makes possible the repositioning to a sufficiently small cutting gap. Thereby the energy required for the chopper operation can be reduced or at a constant energy level a higher throughput can be attained. Furthermore, the quality of the chopper operation or the length of cut is improved (that is, the uniformity and precision of the cut). The proportion of uncut components, such as husks or leaves, is sharply reduced or even eliminated.
- the movement arrangement for the grinding stone is controlled by the control arrangement in such a way that the grinding stone brings the cutting edge of the knife into a certain target shape which may be a predetermined shape or a shape that can be selected from several inputs or from any desired input shape.
- the control arrangement can perform a comparison between the information made available by the measurement arrangement regarding the actual present shape of the cutting edge and the target shape and control the movement arrangement as a function of the result of the comparison.
- the grinding stone is controlled by the movement arrangement that transports the grinding stone across the width of the chopper arrangement and provides an in-feed as a function of the signal of the measurement arrangement and brings about a movement of the grinding stone in such a way that any deviation in the shape of the cutting edges of the knives is automatically equalized.
- the chopper arrangement may include a chopper drum in open or closed form to which several knives are attached.
- the chopper drum is arranged on a shaft that is brought into rotation during the grinding and in its normal operation, as a rule, rotates in the opposite direction compared to the normal chopper operation.
- the measurement arrangement detects information about the distance between the shaft and the cutting edges of the knives, that is, the radius of the enveloping circle described by the cutting edges.
- the invention can also be applied to chopper arrangements with web disk wheel choppers. There it is not the radius of the cutting edges of the knives that is detected, but their axial position.
- the force measurement cell can be attached between the grinding stone retainer of the grinding stone and a frame to which the grinding stone retainer is fastened and that also carries the chopper arrangement.
- the grinding stone retainer can be traversed across the width of the chopper arrangement and is supported in bearings on a shaft.
- the force measurement cell may be arranged between the shaft and the frame or between the shaft and the grinding stone retainer.
- control arrangement can make an error signal available in case the measured force that is applied to the grinding stone exceeds a threshold value.
- This error signal can be provided to the operator optically or acoustically and points to a knife projecting too far outward.
- the grinding process can be stopped automatically. Thereby, damage (breaking out) or unusual wear of the grinding stone can be avoided, since in the case of excessive force between the grinding stone and the drum countermeasures are taken.
- the present invention can be applied to a multitude of arrangements with knives that must be sharpened. It can be used in particular on self-propelled or towed harvesting machines with chopper drums or web disk wheel choppers.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic left side view of a harvesting machine with a chopper arrangement.
- FIG. 2 is a front view of a first embodiment of a grinding arrangement.
- FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of a grinding arrangement.
- the harvesting machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a self-propelled forage harvester is supported on a frame 12 that is carried by front and rear wheels 14 and 16 .
- the harvesting machine 10 is controlled from an operator's cab 18 from which a harvested crop take-up arrangement 20 can be seen.
- Crop taken up from the ground by means of the take-up arrangement 20 can be seen.
- Crop taken up from the ground by means of the take-up arrangement 20 for example, corn, grass or the like, is conducted to a chopper arrangement 22 in the form of a chopper drum, which chops it into small pieces and delivers it to a conveyor arrangement 24 .
- a post-chopper reduction arrangement 28 extends (during the corn harvest) between the chopper arrangement 22 and the conveyor arrangement 24 through which the crop to be conveyed is conducted tangentially to the conveyor arrangement 24 .
- FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a chopper arrangement 22 and a grinding arrangement 26 associated with it, as it is seen when looking at the harvesting machine 10 in FIG. 1 from the front (relative to the direction of operation).
- the chopper arrangement 22 is provided with a number of knives 38 distributed over its width at its circumference which cut harvested crop taken up by the harvested crop take-up arrangement 20 in interaction with a rigid shearbar 46 .
- the chopper arrangement 22 includes a central shaft 32 , that can be driven in rotation by means of a belt pulley 36 at its end face and belts, not shown, by a motor of the harvesting machine 10 .
- the shaft 32 is supported by two rolling contact bearings 56 arranged on both sides of the chopper arrangement 22 on the frame 12 of the harvesting machine 10 .
- the grinding arrangement 26 is provided above the chopper arrangement 22 near the enveloping circle described by the knives 38 .
- the grinding arrangement 26 essentially includes a grinding stone 42 , a grinding stone retainer 40 associated with it and a support shaft 44 oriented parallel to the shaft 32 , on which the grinding retainer 40 is supported in bearings, free to slide.
- the chopper arrangement 22 is brought into rotation, as a rule in the opposite direction of rotation and/or at a reduced rotational speed, compared to the normal chopper operation.
- the grinding stone retainer 40 with the grinding stone 42 attached to it is shifted across the entire width of the chopper arrangement 22 by means of a movement arrangement 48 from a rest or park position, not shown, in which it is arranged at the side alongside the chopper arrangement 22 . Thereby, the underside of the grinding stone 42 is in contact with the knives 38 and sharpens them.
- the grinding stone 42 traverses several times across the width of the chopper arrangement 22 .
- the end points of this sliding movement are illustrated in FIG. 2 by the grinding stone retainers with the part number call-out 40 at the left reversal point and 40 ′ at the right reversal point.
- an in-feed of the grinding stone 42 can be performed, that is a small movement of the grinding stone 42 towards the knives 38 .
- a mechanical element (ratchet wheel) is used that interacts with an element fixed to the frame when one or both of the reversal points of the grinding stone retainer 40 are reached.
- the rotation of the mechanical element is converted into a sliding movement by means of a screw thread, so that the grinding stone 42 is provided with an in-feed towards the chopper arrangement 22 .
- the movement arrangement 48 of the grinding arrangement 26 is controlled by a control arrangement 52 , shown schematically in FIG. 2 which controls the shifting of the grinding stone 42 by the movement arrangement 48 as well as the in-feed in the manner described above.
- the control arrangement 52 is supplied with information about the immediate position of the grinding stone 42 , this can be provided by a corresponding sensor 58 , which detects the immediate position of the movement arrangement 48 , or that the control arrangement 52 has been supplied with information into which position it has brought the grinding stone retainer 40 .
- the number of impulses can be stored in memory that have been delivered to a stepper motor of the movement arrangement 48 .
- the control arrangement 52 can control the drive of the chopper arrangement 22 .
- the in-feed could also be performed by a separate motor, particularly an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, that would also have to be connected with the control arrangement 52 .
- a separate motor particularly an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, that would also have to be connected with the control arrangement 52 .
- the entire grinding stone retainer 40 or the shaft 44 could be moved in the in-feed direction.
- the control arrangement 52 is connected with a memory 54 and with two force measurement cells 50 , that are used as a measurement arrangement.
- the force measurement cells 50 are arranged close to both ends of the shaft 44 between the shaft 44 and the frame 12 or an element connected to it.
- the force measurement cells 50 may be of any desired configuration, such as piezo-electric sensors or strain gages. They deliver a measurement value to the control arrangement 52 , that is proportional to the force applied to the knives 38 by the grinding stone 42 or the reverse. this force contains information regarding the enveloping curve described by the knives 38 on the immediate position of the grinding stone 42 .
- each of the shafts 44 can be associated with two force measurement cells 50 at the ends, or the two shafts 44 are connected to each other at both ends and supported in each case on the frame over a single force measurement cell 50 .
- the use of a single shaft 44 is also conceivable that has a non-circular cross section (for example, a rectangular cross section).
- a grinding process can take place as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,135.
- the control arrangement 52 brings about a traverse across the width of the chopper arrangement 22 by the grinding stone 42 by means of the movement arrangement 48 , and then is again traversed back into the original position.
- the grinding stone 42 can remain in the position into which it was brought during the preceding grinding process, or, if necessary, provided with an in-feed towards the chopper arrangement 22 .
- This process can be used to determine whether an in-feed of the grinding stone 42 is required. This is the case if no signal (or a relatively minor signal) is generated by the force measurement cell 50 in at least one location of the chopper arrangement 22 .
- the force measurement cell 50 During the traverse of the width of the chopper arrangement 22 , the force measurement cell 50 generates a signal that is a function of the spacing between the cutting edges of the knives 38 and the grinding stone 42 .
- the control arrangement 52 is supplied with information over an appropriate analog digital converter about the amplitude of this signal.
- the grinding stone 42 is not in-fed any further and is brought to a first position at the chopper arrangement 22 , as a rule at the left or right outside. It remains in this position until the force measurement cell 50 generates an output signal that corresponds to a desired force between the grinding stone 42 and the cutting edges of the knives 38 , so that a sufficient sharpness is attained by the parts of the knives 38 that interact with the grinding stone 42 .
- the grinding stone 42 is transported by the movement arrangement 48 through a distance corresponding to its width further to the left or the right and grinds the knives there. In this way, the entire width of the chopper arrangement 22 is processed successively. As a rule, the process described is repeated and/or performed multiple times at a reversed direction of movement. At the conclusion of the grinding process, a normal grinding and/or honing of the entire chopper arrangement 22 can be performed in a manner known in itself. Finally, the grinding stone 42 is brought into its park position.
- a grinding process alternative to that described above is performed in such a way that the grinding stone 42 continuously traverses the entire width of the chopper arrangement 22 , until a constant spacing between the shaft 32 and the cutting edges of the knives 38 is attained.
- the control arrangement 52 can recognize from the output signal of the force measurement cell 50 , whether a constant spacing between the shaft 32 and the cutting edges of the knives 38 has been reached, and that corresponding thereto the grinding process can be ended. In this move, and in-feed of the grinding stone 42 can be performed, if the force measurement cell 50 does not detect a contact between the grinding stone 42 and the knives 38 at one or more places of the chopper arrangement 22 .
- the control arrangement can traverse the grinding stone retainer 40 one more time before the honing or during a subsequent normal grinding process across the width of the chopper arrangement 22 and detect the space in between the shaft 32 and the cutting edges of the knives 38 by means of the force measurement cell 50 . If the shape of the cutting edges of the knives 38 is unsatisfactory here, a new grinding process is performed in the manner described above.
- FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a grinding arrangement 26 according to the invention. Components that correspond to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same part number call-outs. There is a difference regarding the force measurement cell 50 that is arranged between the grinding stone 42 and the grinding stone retainer 40 in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 . Here the force measurement cell 50 also delivers information regarding the force applied by the grinding stone 42 to the knives 38 . The control arrangement 52 controls the movement arrangement 48 as a function of this information in the manner described above.
- the electrical connection between the force measurement cell 50 and the control arrangement 52 can be performed by a flexible cable or by a contact strip located on the shaft 44 connected with the control arrangement 52 , which is fixed to the frame and electrically insulated from the shaft 44 , with which a second contact strip on the grinding stone retainer 40 interacts, this is connected with the force measurement cell 50 .
- a radio frequency connection is provided between the force measurement cell 50 and the control arrangement 52 .
Abstract
A grinding arrangement for sharpening knives carried by a chopper drum includes a movement arrangement for moving a grinding stone along the chopper drum during a grinding process. A force measurement arrangement is provided which measures the force applied to the knife by the grinding stone, during the grinding process, and provides a signal representing this force for controlling a movement arrangement which moves the grinding stone as a function of the signal received from the force measurement arrangement. The manner of measuring the force is by way of a force measurement cell inserted in the power flux connection between the grinding stone and the chopper drum.
Description
- The invention concerns a grinding arrangement with a grinding stone for grinding at least one knife of a chopper arrangement, a movement arrangement for moving the grinding stone along the chopper arrangement, a measurement arrangement for the provision of a signal that contains information regarding the force applied by the grinding stone of the knife during the grinding process and a control arrangement that controls the movement arrangement as a function of the signal of the measurement arrangement.
- During the operation of a forage harvester, the knives fastened to the chopper arrangement wear over time. It is possible that individual knives wear at different rates. While the knives around the circumference of the chopper arrangement as a ruled wear at approximately uniform rates, the wear along the width of the chopper arrangement may vary considerably. Thereby, the diameter of the enveloping circle described by the cutting edges of the knives can vary in the axial direction of the shaft of the chopper arrangement. A cylindrical or slightly concave shape is desired as a target shape in order to simplify the automatic repositioning of the shearbar or in order to make this possible depending upon the repositioning system. A parallel and precise in-feed of the shearbar towards the circumference of the chopper arrangement is indispensable for a effective chopper process.
- To avoid this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,135 proposes that the actual shape of the enveloping circle described by the knives of a chopper arrangement be detected before a grinding process and to thereupon move the grinding stone on the basis of the results of the measurement in such a way that a desired shape of the enveloping circle is attained. The shape of the enveloping circle is detected by means of a knock sensor or by a magnetic sensor associated with the grinding stone or with the shearbar. As an alternative, the force applied to the shearbar is measured.
- The disadvantage of a measurement of the spacing between the shearbar and the knives by means of magnetic sensors, knock sensors or force sensors is seen I the fact that an additional information about the immediate angle of rotation of the chopper arrangement is required in order to be able to associate the immediate measurement value of the spacing with the particular knife. Moreover, at high rotational speeds, the association with the proper knife may be problematic. In addition, an improper positioning of the shearbar that is not parallel to the shaft of the chopper arrangement may adversely affect the validity of the measurement. If the spacing at the grinding stone is detected inductively or by a knock sensor, there are problems with the association of the measurement values with an actual spacing, since the vibratory performance of the grinding stone and the noises generated by it are a function of its worn condition. Inductive measurement processes depend upon the condition of the knives and are therefore also problematic.
- The problem underlying the invention is seen in the need to make available a grinding arrangement that is improved relative to the state of the art, in which the problems cited above do not exist or do so only to a lesser degree.
- According to the present invention, there is provided an improved grinding arrangement for grinding knives of a chopper arrangement.
- An object of the invention is to provide a grinding stone arrangement which has its movement relative to cutting knives controlled by signals representing the force applied by the grinding stone to the knives.
- The invention proposes that a force measurement cell be attached to any desired location in the connecting line or power flux connection between the grinding stone and the chopper arrangement. The force measurement detects the load or the pressure exerted by the grinding stone on the knife or knives of the chopper arrangement during the grinding process. The value measured by the force measurement cell is all the greater when the enveloping curve of the knives is closer to the grinding stone and the smaller when the knives are separated from the grinding stone.
- In this way, the result is an absolute and exact measurement value that contains information about the actual shape of the knife. The chopper arrangement can be brought into an optimum shape tat makes possible the repositioning to a sufficiently small cutting gap. Thereby the energy required for the chopper operation can be reduced or at a constant energy level a higher throughput can be attained. Furthermore, the quality of the chopper operation or the length of cut is improved (that is, the uniformity and precision of the cut). The proportion of uncut components, such as husks or leaves, is sharply reduced or even eliminated.
- The movement arrangement for the grinding stone is controlled by the control arrangement in such a way that the grinding stone brings the cutting edge of the knife into a certain target shape which may be a predetermined shape or a shape that can be selected from several inputs or from any desired input shape. In order to attain the target shape of the cutting edge of the knife, the control arrangement can perform a comparison between the information made available by the measurement arrangement regarding the actual present shape of the cutting edge and the target shape and control the movement arrangement as a function of the result of the comparison. Thereby, the grinding stone is controlled by the movement arrangement that transports the grinding stone across the width of the chopper arrangement and provides an in-feed as a function of the signal of the measurement arrangement and brings about a movement of the grinding stone in such a way that any deviation in the shape of the cutting edges of the knives is automatically equalized.
- The chopper arrangement may include a chopper drum in open or closed form to which several knives are attached. The chopper drum is arranged on a shaft that is brought into rotation during the grinding and in its normal operation, as a rule, rotates in the opposite direction compared to the normal chopper operation. In the case of chopper drums of this type, the measurement arrangement detects information about the distance between the shaft and the cutting edges of the knives, that is, the radius of the enveloping circle described by the cutting edges. However, the invention can also be applied to chopper arrangements with web disk wheel choppers. There it is not the radius of the cutting edges of the knives that is detected, but their axial position.
- The force measurement cell can be attached between the grinding stone retainer of the grinding stone and a frame to which the grinding stone retainer is fastened and that also carries the chopper arrangement. As a rule, the grinding stone retainer can be traversed across the width of the chopper arrangement and is supported in bearings on a shaft. The force measurement cell may be arranged between the shaft and the frame or between the shaft and the grinding stone retainer.
- Alternatively, or in addition, there is the possibility of arranging the force measurement cell between the grinding stone and the grinding stone retainer.
- Furthermore, the control arrangement can make an error signal available in case the measured force that is applied to the grinding stone exceeds a threshold value. This error signal can be provided to the operator optically or acoustically and points to a knife projecting too far outward. Moreover, in this case the grinding process can be stopped automatically. Thereby, damage (breaking out) or unusual wear of the grinding stone can be avoided, since in the case of excessive force between the grinding stone and the drum countermeasures are taken.
- The present invention can be applied to a multitude of arrangements with knives that must be sharpened. It can be used in particular on self-propelled or towed harvesting machines with chopper drums or web disk wheel choppers.
- The drawings show two embodiments of the invention that shall be described in greater detail in the following.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic left side view of a harvesting machine with a chopper arrangement. -
FIG. 2 is a front view of a first embodiment of a grinding arrangement. -
FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of a grinding arrangement. - The
harvesting machine 10 shown inFIG. 1 in the form of a self-propelled forage harvester is supported on aframe 12 that is carried by front andrear wheels 14 and 16. Theharvesting machine 10 is controlled from an operator'scab 18 from which a harvested crop take-up arrangement 20 can be seen. Crop taken up from the ground by means of the take-up arrangement 20 can be seen. Crop taken up from the ground by means of the take-up arrangement 20, for example, corn, grass or the like, is conducted to achopper arrangement 22 in the form of a chopper drum, which chops it into small pieces and delivers it to aconveyor arrangement 24. The crop leaves theharvesting machine 10 to an accompanying trailer over adischarge duct 25 mounted for being selectively rotated about an upright axis. Apost-chopper reduction arrangement 28 extends (during the corn harvest) between thechopper arrangement 22 and theconveyor arrangement 24 through which the crop to be conveyed is conducted tangentially to theconveyor arrangement 24. -
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of achopper arrangement 22 and agrinding arrangement 26 associated with it, as it is seen when looking at theharvesting machine 10 inFIG. 1 from the front (relative to the direction of operation). Thechopper arrangement 22 is provided with a number ofknives 38 distributed over its width at its circumference which cut harvested crop taken up by the harvested crop take-up arrangement 20 in interaction with arigid shearbar 46. Thechopper arrangement 22 includes acentral shaft 32, that can be driven in rotation by means of abelt pulley 36 at its end face and belts, not shown, by a motor of theharvesting machine 10. Theshaft 32 is supported by tworolling contact bearings 56 arranged on both sides of thechopper arrangement 22 on theframe 12 of theharvesting machine 10. - In order to be able to sharpen the
knives 38 after a certain operating time, without having to disassemble theindividual knives 38 or theentire chopper arrangement 22, thegrinding arrangement 26 is provided above thechopper arrangement 22 near the enveloping circle described by theknives 38. The grindingarrangement 26 essentially includes a grindingstone 42, a grindingstone retainer 40 associated with it and asupport shaft 44 oriented parallel to theshaft 32, on which the grindingretainer 40 is supported in bearings, free to slide. - If the
knives 38 are to be sharpened, thechopper arrangement 22 is brought into rotation, as a rule in the opposite direction of rotation and/or at a reduced rotational speed, compared to the normal chopper operation. The grindingstone retainer 40 with the grindingstone 42 attached to it is shifted across the entire width of thechopper arrangement 22 by means of amovement arrangement 48 from a rest or park position, not shown, in which it is arranged at the side alongside thechopper arrangement 22. Thereby, the underside of the grindingstone 42 is in contact with theknives 38 and sharpens them. During the grinding process, the grindingstone 42 traverses several times across the width of thechopper arrangement 22. The end points of this sliding movement are illustrated inFIG. 2 by the grinding stone retainers with the part number call-out 40 at the left reversal point and 40′ at the right reversal point. - Between the sliding traverse movements, an in-feed of the grinding
stone 42 can be performed, that is a small movement of the grindingstone 42 towards theknives 38. In the embodiment shown for this purpose, a mechanical element (ratchet wheel) is used that interacts with an element fixed to the frame when one or both of the reversal points of the grindingstone retainer 40 are reached. The rotation of the mechanical element is converted into a sliding movement by means of a screw thread, so that the grindingstone 42 is provided with an in-feed towards thechopper arrangement 22. When the grindingstone 42 is shifted only over a limited sideways shift region, an in-feed movement can be avoided, since then the mechanical element does not come into contact with the stationary element. A grinding of this type without in-feed is appropriate for the honing at the end of the grinding process. - The
movement arrangement 48 of the grindingarrangement 26 is controlled by acontrol arrangement 52, shown schematically inFIG. 2 which controls the shifting of the grindingstone 42 by themovement arrangement 48 as well as the in-feed in the manner described above. Thecontrol arrangement 52 is supplied with information about the immediate position of the grindingstone 42, this can be provided by a correspondingsensor 58, which detects the immediate position of themovement arrangement 48, or that thecontrol arrangement 52 has been supplied with information into which position it has brought the grindingstone retainer 40. For this purpose, for example, the number of impulses can be stored in memory that have been delivered to a stepper motor of themovement arrangement 48. In addition, thecontrol arrangement 52 can control the drive of thechopper arrangement 22. - It should be noted that the in-feed could also be performed by a separate motor, particularly an electric motor or a hydraulic motor, that would also have to be connected with the
control arrangement 52. In place of an in-feed by moving the grindingstone 42, the entire grindingstone retainer 40 or theshaft 44 could be moved in the in-feed direction. - The
control arrangement 52 is connected with amemory 54 and with twoforce measurement cells 50, that are used as a measurement arrangement. Theforce measurement cells 50 are arranged close to both ends of theshaft 44 between theshaft 44 and theframe 12 or an element connected to it. Theforce measurement cells 50 may be of any desired configuration, such as piezo-electric sensors or strain gages. They deliver a measurement value to thecontrol arrangement 52, that is proportional to the force applied to theknives 38 by the grindingstone 42 or the reverse. this force contains information regarding the enveloping curve described by theknives 38 on the immediate position of the grindingstone 42. If the grindingstone retainer 40 is supported on twoparallel shafts 44, each of theshafts 44 can be associated with twoforce measurement cells 50 at the ends, or the twoshafts 44 are connected to each other at both ends and supported in each case on the frame over a singleforce measurement cell 50. The use of asingle shaft 44 is also conceivable that has a non-circular cross section (for example, a rectangular cross section). - A grinding process can take place as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,135. After the beginning of the grinding process, the
control arrangement 52 brings about a traverse across the width of thechopper arrangement 22 by the grindingstone 42 by means of themovement arrangement 48, and then is again traversed back into the original position. Thereby, the grindingstone 42 can remain in the position into which it was brought during the preceding grinding process, or, if necessary, provided with an in-feed towards thechopper arrangement 22. This process can be used to determine whether an in-feed of the grindingstone 42 is required. This is the case if no signal (or a relatively minor signal) is generated by theforce measurement cell 50 in at least one location of thechopper arrangement 22. In this case, there is an indentation, recess or the like in theknives 38, that cannot be removed or equalized without an in-feed. This process can also be omitted, particularly if a control is performed subsequently to determine whether the grinding process was successful. - During the traverse of the width of the
chopper arrangement 22, theforce measurement cell 50 generates a signal that is a function of the spacing between the cutting edges of theknives 38 and the grindingstone 42. Thecontrol arrangement 52 is supplied with information over an appropriate analog digital converter about the amplitude of this signal. - At first, the grinding
stone 42 is not in-fed any further and is brought to a first position at thechopper arrangement 22, as a rule at the left or right outside. It remains in this position until theforce measurement cell 50 generates an output signal that corresponds to a desired force between the grindingstone 42 and the cutting edges of theknives 38, so that a sufficient sharpness is attained by the parts of theknives 38 that interact with the grindingstone 42. After that, the grindingstone 42 is transported by themovement arrangement 48 through a distance corresponding to its width further to the left or the right and grinds the knives there. In this way, the entire width of thechopper arrangement 22 is processed successively. As a rule, the process described is repeated and/or performed multiple times at a reversed direction of movement. At the conclusion of the grinding process, a normal grinding and/or honing of theentire chopper arrangement 22 can be performed in a manner known in itself. Finally, the grindingstone 42 is brought into its park position. - A grinding process alternative to that described above is performed in such a way that the grinding
stone 42 continuously traverses the entire width of thechopper arrangement 22, until a constant spacing between theshaft 32 and the cutting edges of theknives 38 is attained. Thecontrol arrangement 52 can recognize from the output signal of theforce measurement cell 50, whether a constant spacing between theshaft 32 and the cutting edges of theknives 38 has been reached, and that corresponding thereto the grinding process can be ended. In this move, and in-feed of the grindingstone 42 can be performed, if theforce measurement cell 50 does not detect a contact between the grindingstone 42 and theknives 38 at one or more places of thechopper arrangement 22. - To control the success of the operation or since the grinding
stone 42 wears down during the grinding, which can result in an unsatisfactory result of the grinding process, the control arrangement can traverse the grindingstone retainer 40 one more time before the honing or during a subsequent normal grinding process across the width of thechopper arrangement 22 and detect the space in between theshaft 32 and the cutting edges of theknives 38 by means of theforce measurement cell 50. If the shape of the cutting edges of theknives 38 is unsatisfactory here, a new grinding process is performed in the manner described above. -
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a grindingarrangement 26 according to the invention. Components that correspond to those of the first embodiment are designated by the same part number call-outs. There is a difference regarding theforce measurement cell 50 that is arranged between the grindingstone 42 and the grindingstone retainer 40 in the embodiment according toFIG. 3 . Here theforce measurement cell 50 also delivers information regarding the force applied by the grindingstone 42 to theknives 38. Thecontrol arrangement 52 controls themovement arrangement 48 as a function of this information in the manner described above. The electrical connection between theforce measurement cell 50 and thecontrol arrangement 52 can be performed by a flexible cable or by a contact strip located on theshaft 44 connected with thecontrol arrangement 52, which is fixed to the frame and electrically insulated from theshaft 44, with which a second contact strip on the grindingstone retainer 40 interacts, this is connected with theforce measurement cell 50. Alternatively, a radio frequency connection is provided between theforce measurement cell 50 and thecontrol arrangement 52. - Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
Claims (7)
1. In a grinding arrangement including a grinding stone for the grinding of knives of a chopper arrangement, a movement arrangement coupled to the grinding stone and operable for selectively moving the grinding stone along said chopper arrangement, a measurement arrangement that makes available a signal that contains information about a force applied by the grinding stone to said knives during a grinding process, and a control arrangement that controls said movement arrangement as a function of said signal of said measurement arrangement, the improvement comprising: said measurement arrangement including a force measurement cell that is inserted into a power flux connection between said grinding stone and said chopper arrangement.
2. The grinding arrangement, as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control arrangement for controlling the movement arrangement includes a memory in which is stored a representation of a desired target shape of a profile of said knives when properly sharpened; and said control arrangement controlling said movement arrangement in such a way that cutting edges of said knives are brought into said desired target shape during said grinding process.
3. The grinding arrangement, as defined in claim 1 , wherein said grinding arrangement includes a grinding stone retainer holding said grinding stone; said grinding stone retainer being mounted to a support frame; and said force measurement cell being inserted between said grinding stone retainer and said support frame.
4. The grinding arrangement, as defined in claim 3 , wherein said grinding arrangement further includes a support shaft; said support shaft being mounted to said frame; said grinding stone retainer being mounted fro movement along said support shaft; and said force measurement cell being mounted between said support shaft and said frame.
5. The grinding arrangement, as defined in claim 1 , wherein said grinding arrangement includes a grinding stone retainer holding said grinding stone; and said force measurement cell being inserted between said grinding stone retainer and said grinding stone.
6. The grinding arrangement, as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control arrangement includes a memory and a threshold force value being stored in said memory; and said control arrangement making an error signal available in the event that a measured value of said force measurement cell exceeds said threshold value.
7. The grinding arrangement, as defined in claim 1 , wherein said chopper arrangement is that of a forage harvester.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE10357177.9 | 2003-12-06 | ||
DE10357177A DE10357177A1 (en) | 2003-12-06 | 2003-12-06 | grinder |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20050124263A1 true US20050124263A1 (en) | 2005-06-09 |
Family
ID=34442493
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/978,717 Abandoned US20050124263A1 (en) | 2003-12-06 | 2004-11-01 | Grinding arrangement |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20050124263A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1537772B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE352196T1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2488977A1 (en) |
DE (2) | DE10357177A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070271893A1 (en) * | 2006-05-29 | 2007-11-29 | Manfred Pollklas | Agricultural harvesting machine |
US20140215985A1 (en) * | 2013-02-07 | 2014-08-07 | Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen Gmbh | Agricultural harvesting machine |
US11350569B2 (en) | 2017-01-06 | 2022-06-07 | Cnh Industrial America Llc | Forage harvester comprising a monitoring mechanism for shear bar and cutting drum |
US11963483B1 (en) * | 2022-12-26 | 2024-04-23 | Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, CAAS | Straw crushing device capable of driving sharpening structure |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102009011035A1 (en) | 2009-03-02 | 2010-09-09 | Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen Gmbh | Agricultural harvester |
EP3738427B1 (en) | 2019-05-16 | 2023-10-04 | CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH | Cutter sharpness detection device |
DE102021104158A1 (en) | 2021-02-22 | 2022-08-25 | Deere & Company | Grinding device for a forage harvester chopper drum provided with a number of knives |
DE102021112650A1 (en) * | 2021-05-17 | 2022-11-17 | Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen Gmbh | Method for determining the need for grinding chopper knives of a chopping device |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US5072550A (en) * | 1989-11-27 | 1991-12-17 | Nippon Seiko Co., Ltd. | Grinding method and grinding machine with controlled grinding force |
US6468132B2 (en) * | 2000-07-22 | 2002-10-22 | Deere & Company | Grinding arrangement |
US6503135B2 (en) * | 2000-07-22 | 2003-01-07 | Deere & Company | Grinding device |
US6852005B2 (en) * | 2001-07-19 | 2005-02-08 | Ernst Thielenhaus Gmbh & Co. Kg | Device for processing the finish of work pieces |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE10017719A1 (en) * | 2000-04-11 | 2001-10-18 | Knecht Maschb Gmbh | Knife sharpening device |
-
2003
- 2003-12-06 DE DE10357177A patent/DE10357177A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2004
- 2004-11-01 US US10/978,717 patent/US20050124263A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-11-29 EP EP04106139A patent/EP1537772B1/en active Active
- 2004-11-29 AT AT04106139T patent/ATE352196T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2004-11-29 DE DE502004002754T patent/DE502004002754D1/en active Active
- 2004-12-02 CA CA002488977A patent/CA2488977A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5072550A (en) * | 1989-11-27 | 1991-12-17 | Nippon Seiko Co., Ltd. | Grinding method and grinding machine with controlled grinding force |
US6468132B2 (en) * | 2000-07-22 | 2002-10-22 | Deere & Company | Grinding arrangement |
US6503135B2 (en) * | 2000-07-22 | 2003-01-07 | Deere & Company | Grinding device |
US6852005B2 (en) * | 2001-07-19 | 2005-02-08 | Ernst Thielenhaus Gmbh & Co. Kg | Device for processing the finish of work pieces |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070271893A1 (en) * | 2006-05-29 | 2007-11-29 | Manfred Pollklas | Agricultural harvesting machine |
US7533516B2 (en) | 2006-05-29 | 2009-05-19 | Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen Gmbh | Agricultural harvesting machine chopper drum sharpening device |
US20140215985A1 (en) * | 2013-02-07 | 2014-08-07 | Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen Gmbh | Agricultural harvesting machine |
US9288941B2 (en) * | 2013-02-07 | 2016-03-22 | Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen Gmbh | Agricultural harvesting machine with device for maintaining a comminution assembly |
US11350569B2 (en) | 2017-01-06 | 2022-06-07 | Cnh Industrial America Llc | Forage harvester comprising a monitoring mechanism for shear bar and cutting drum |
US11963483B1 (en) * | 2022-12-26 | 2024-04-23 | Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, CAAS | Straw crushing device capable of driving sharpening structure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1537772A1 (en) | 2005-06-08 |
DE502004002754D1 (en) | 2007-03-15 |
CA2488977A1 (en) | 2005-06-06 |
ATE352196T1 (en) | 2007-02-15 |
DE10357177A1 (en) | 2005-07-14 |
EP1537772B1 (en) | 2007-01-24 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DEERE & COMPANY, ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CLAUSS, STEFFEN;REEL/FRAME:015956/0245 Effective date: 20041022 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |