Machine train composed of road milling machine and road finisher, and method for operating road milling machine and road finisher

A method of operating a road milling machine that travels in front and comprises a first machine frame supported by crawler tracks or wheels and a milling drum arranged on the first machine frame that is for milling away material from a road surface, wherein the crawler tracks or wheels are fastened to the first machine frame via lifting columns, and a road finisher that travels behind and comprises a second machine frame which is supported by crawler tracks or wheels and on which are arranged a reservoir for material to be laid and a screed for laying material, wherein a position of the screed is adjustable in relation to a reference line or reference surface, the method comprising:

• measuring a distance of a reference point on the road milling machine to a surface of unprocessed ground on a first side of the milling drum as seen in a working direction;
• determining a sequence of distance data in accordance with measured distances of the reference point on the road milling machine to a surface of unprocessed ground on a second side of the milling drum as seen in a working direction;
• measuring transverse inclines of the first machine frame while the road milling machine advances;
• generating height profile data based on the sequence of distance data;
• controlling the lifting columns such that when the road milling machine advances, a milling depth on the first side of the milling drum as seen in the working direction and a transverse incline of the first machine frame are controlled to respective target values, regardless of a ground surface condition, wherein the measured distances of the reference point on the road milling machine to the surface of unprocessed ground on the second side of the milling drum change with movement of the road milling machine in a manner corresponding to a profile of unprocessed road surface, and wherein the height profile data accordingly changes with movement of the road milling machine in a manner corresponding to the profile of the unprocessed road surface;
• and
• transmitting the height profile data with a data transmission device to the road finisher.

A machine train comprising:

• a road milling machine for milling away material from a road surface, comprising:
• a first machine frame supported by a first set of tracks or wheels,
• a milling drum arranged on the first machine frame,
• wherein the first set of tracks or wheels are fastened via lifting columns to the first machine frame,
• a first sensor configured to measure a distance of a reference point on the road milling machine to a surface of unprocessed ground on a first side of the milling drum as seen in a working direction as the road milling machine advances,
• a second sensor configured to generate signals corresponding to a sequence of distance data in accordance with distances of the reference point on the road milling machine to a surface of unprocessed ground on a second side of the milling drum as seen in the working direction, and
• a transverse incline sensor configured to measure transverse inclines of the first machine frame while the road milling machine advances;
• and
• a road finisher for laying new material on the milled road surface, comprising:
• a second machine frame which is supported by a second set of tracks or wheels,
• a reservoir on the second machine frame for material to be laid,
• a screed for laying material,
• at least one actuator for changing the position of the screed, and
• a controller configured to generate a control signal for controlling the at least one actuator and change the position of the screed in relation to a reference line or reference surface, based at least in part on height profile data obtained from the sequence of distance data and which accordingly changes with movement of the road milling machine in a manner corresponding to the profile of the unprocessed road surface, wherein the screed is controlled in accordance with the height profile data to level off uneven areas in the profile of the unprocessed road surface.