Grinding device and grinding method wherein a grinding unit can operate on-board as well as off-board
AssigneeForage Company B.V.
InventorThomas DREIER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grinding device and a grinding method for grinding at least one knife. The grinding device includes a frame with a knife holder and a grinding unit comprising a grinding head, a grinding head holder, and a grinding head drive assembly. The grinding unit can selectively be connected with the frame or can be disconnected from the frame and can be placed on a cutting assembly with knives to be ground. In both operating modes the grinding head drive assembly rotates the grinding head and moves the rotating grinding head with respect to the grinding head holder.
Claims18
A grinding device for subsequently grinding at least two knives of an agricultural harvester, wherein the grinding device comprises
- a frame comprising a knife holder and
- a grinding unit, wherein the grinding unit comprises
- a grinding head arranged for contacting at least one knife to be ground,
- a grinding head holder holding the grinding head, and
- a grinding head drive assembly, wherein the knife holder is arranged to hold at least one knife to be ground,
- wherein the grinding head drive assembly is arranged to move the grinding head with respect to the grinding head holder, and wherein the grinding device is arranged to grind
- at least one knife held by the knife holder and to grind at least one further knife positioned outside of the knife holder,
- wherein the grinding unit
- is implemented as a portable unit and
- is at least temporarily releasably connected with the frame, wherein the grinding head drive assembly is arranged to move the rotated grinding head with respect to the grinding head holder, thereby sharpening a cutting edge of at least one knife, and
- wherein the grinding head drive assembly is arranged to move and to rotate the grinding head
- when the grinding unit is connected with the frame, thereby causing one knife to be held by the knife holder to be ground as well as
- when the grinding unit is disconnected from the frame, thereby causing at least one knife positioned outside of the knife holder to be ground.
A method for subsequently grinding at least two knives,
- wherein the method is performed by using a grinding device comprising
- a frame with a knife holder and
- a grinding unit,
- wherein the grinding unit comprises
- a grinding head,
- a grinding head holder holding the grinding head, and
- a grinding head drive assembly,
- wherein the method comprises at least two grinding procedures each performed for at least one knife,
- wherein every grinding procedure comprises the steps that
- the grinding head contacts the or at least one knife to be ground and
- the grinding head drive assembly moves at least temporarily the grinding head while the grinding head contacts the knife,
- wherein the method comprises further the step that at least one knife to be ground is placed in the knife holder such that the knife holder holds the knife,
- wherein at least one grinding procedure is performed for at least one knife held by the knife holder with the grinding unit being connected with the frame,
- wherein the method comprises the further step that at least one further grinding procedure is performed for at least one knife positioned outside of the knife holder,
- wherein the grinding unit is portable,
- wherein the or every grinding procedure for at least one knife comprises the further step that the grinding head drive assembly moves the rotated grinding head with respect to the grinding head holder such that a cutting edge of the knife is sharpened
- wherein the step that the or one further grinding procedure is performed for at least one knife positioned outside of the knife holder comprises the steps that the grinding unit
- is disconnected from the frame and
- is releasably connected with a cutting assembly comprising at least one knife to be ground, and
- the further grinding procedure is performed for at least one knife of the cutting assembly with the grinding unit being connected with the cutting assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.