# US 2014/0190711 A1 · Towed agricultural machine with packer unit and method for operating such a machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190711 A1 - Document ID: US20140190711A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/236,291 - Filed: 2012-08-28 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-30 - Assignees: Horsch Maschinen GmbH - Inventors: Michael Horsch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190711A1 ## CPC - A01B 63/24: Tools or tool-holders adjustable relatively to the frame - A01B 49/027: {with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller} - A01B 63/16: with wheels adjustable relatively to the frame - A01B 73/00: Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width (arrangements of lifting devices for soil working implements A01B63/00) - A01B 73/048: {the axis being oriented in transverse direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence)} - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) ## Abstract A towed agricultural machine for tillage purposes and/or for sowing seeds is disclosed. The machine comprises a running gear, tillage tools, and a packer unit, the latter being coupled to the running gear and forming a constructional and/or functional unit therewith. In a first operating position, the running gear is in an active position for road traffic and the packer tools are brought outside the engagement range with the ground. In a second operating position, the running gear, or at least parts thereof, are in an inactive position out of contact range with the ground, while the packer tools are in an active mode in engagement with the ground. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A towed agricultural machine for tilling and/or for sowing seeds, the machine comprising a machine frame and tillage tools arranged thereon, and further comprising a packer unit arranged subsequent to the tillage tools in the driving direction of the machine and hinged pivotally and height adjustably on the machine frame, which packer unit is assigned a running gear comprising at least two rear support wheels, which are arranged in the area of the rear end of the machine, the machine being characterized in that the packer unit, which is pivotally and height adjustably journaled on the machine frame, comprises a module with a running gear and/or rear support wheels as well as packer tools arranged thereon, which module is journaled to be pivotal in relation to the packer unit between two stop positions, wherein either the running gear or the packer tools face toward the ground and/or are in engagement or in contact with the ground in the respective stop positions, and wherein the packer unit and the module journaled thereon are each assigned separate adjustment devices, which are controllable independently from each other and which are employed for adjusting and/or pivoting the packer unit and the module arranged thereon. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The machine as recited in claim 1 wherein the packer unit, which is hinged onto the machine frame, comprises a pivotal and height adjustable packer frame, which is coupled to the machine frame by means of at least one first adjustment device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The machine as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one first adjustment device lowers or lifts the packer unit as a whole, said packer unit being hinged on the frame and movable about an approximately horizontal swivel axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) The machine as recited in one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the module comprises a module frame arranged pivotally on the packer frame, with the packer tools and the running gear and/or the rear support wheels being hinged or journaled onto the said module frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3) The machine as recited in one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the stop positions of the module, which is pivotally arranged on the packer frame, are defined by a pivoting movement around an approximately horizontally positioned swivel axis, and wherein the stop positions are controllable by means of adjustment movements of at least one second adjustment device that is hinged onto the packer frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) The machine as recited in one of the claims 1 to 5 wherein the combined functional unit of running gear and packer unit each comprises a horizontal swivel axis journaled on the machine frame and positioned transverse to the direction of driving, with cantilever arms for the running gear or for the packer unit arranged on the swivel axis, wherein the constructional unit comprising swivel axis and cantilever arms is in itself formed to be rigid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The machine as recited in claim 6 wherein the first and second operating positions of the machine are each assigned the lockable stop positions of the pivoting range of the swivel axis with the cantilever arms for the running gear and the packer unit arranged thereon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) The machine as recited in claims 1 to 7 wherein the combined functional unit or module comprising the running gear and the packer unit is arranged approximately in the middle of the implement in a transverse direction, and wherein the running gear serves for transport purposes in a first operating position. ### Claim 9 A method for the conversion and/or functional change of a towed agricultural machine, the conversion and/or functional change being effected between a first operating mode for tilling and/or for sowing seeds and a second operating mode for road traffic, wherein the machine comprises a machine frame and tillage tools arranged thereon and further a packer unit arranged subsequent to the tillage tools in the driving direction of the machine, the packer unit being hinged pivotally and height adjustably on the machine frame and the packer unit being assigned a running gear comprising at least two rear support wheels, which are arranged in the area of the rear end of the machine, characterized in that the packer unit is pivotally and height adjustably journaled on the machine frame and comprises a module with a running gear and/or rear support wheels as well as packer tools arranged thereon, which module is journaled to be pivotal between two stop positions, wherein either the running gear or the packer tools face toward the ground and/or are in engagement or in contact with the ground in the respective stop positions, and wherein the packer unit together with the module journaled thereon are height adjustable and/or pivotal in relation to the machine frame by means of a first adjustment device, and wherein the module is switchable between its two stop positions for driving on the road and for driving on the field by means of at least one second adjustment device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the at least one first adjustment device lowers or lifts the packer unit as a whole, said packer unit being hinged on the frame and movable about an approximately horizontal swivel axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9, 10) The method as recited in claim 9 or 10 wherein an adjustment or a pivoting movement of the module arranged pivotally on the packer frame around an approximately horizontally positioned swivel axis defines the stop positions of said module, and wherein the stop positions are controllable by means of adjustment movements of the second adjustment device that is hinged onto the packer frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9, 10, 11) The method as recited in claims 9 to 11 wherein, in a first operating position, the running gear and/or the rear support wheels arranged at the rear end of the machine are brought into an active position for road traffic and the packer unit is brought outside the engagement range with the ground, and wherein, in a second operating position, the running gear, or at least parts of the running gear, are brought into an inactive position out of contact range with the ground and the packer unit is in an active mode in engagement with the ground. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12) The method as recited in claims 9 to 12 wherein, in a first operating position, the running gear and/or the rear support wheels arranged at the rear end of the machine are brought into an active position for road traffic and the packer tools are brought outside the engagement range with the ground, and wherein, in a second operating position, the running gear, or at least parts of the running gear, are brought into an inactive position out of contact range with the ground and the packer tools are in an active mode in engagement with the ground.