Device and method for crumbling root crops and for determining components in root crops
The invention relates to a device for crumbling root crops into substantially equal sized pieces, comprising: a main frame having an inlet side and an outlet side; a root crop supply at the inlet side; at least one crumbling shaft rotatable supported in the main frame, the crumbling shaft being provided with a plurality of curved hooks, which are curved into a direction of rotation of the crumbling shaft; and a non-rotating cutting rake having a plurality of protrusions and recesses and forming a counter blade for the hooks, wherein the hooks are arranged for interlaced movement with said recesses of the non-rotating rake. The invention moreover concerns a system and a corresponding method.
1. A device for crumbling root crops, preferably into substantially equal sized pieces, comprising:
a main frame having an inlet side and an outlet side;
at least one crumbling shaft rotatable supported in the main frame, the crumbling shaft being provided with a plurality of curved hooks, preferably curved into a direction of rotation of the crumbling shaft;
a non-rotating cutting rake having a plurality of protrusions and recesses arranged for interlaced movement with the hooks; and
a cleaning rake adjacent to or opposite the cutting rake for stripping off root crop pieces from the hooks,
wherein the cutting rake is adjustable in height for adjusting a vertical distance to said crumbling shaft.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks comprise a sharp edge at the tip.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein a back face of the curved hooks is curved about an angle of 45° to 90° from a base portion of the hook to a terminal end of the hook.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks are displaced to each other provided about the circumference of the crumbling shaft.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks taper towards the tip.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks have a length in a range of 20 mm to 80 mm, measured along a center line of the hooks.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks have a cross section in a range of 100 mm 2 , measured at a foot portion and/or in a middle portion of the hooks.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks are axially offset to each other by a value in the range of 10 mm to 100 mm.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks are removably fixed to the crumbling shaft.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the crumbling shaft is connected to a drive for driving the crumbling shaft.
11. The device of claim 1 , comprising a de-clogging device for de-clogging clogged root crops from the rake.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the de-clogging device comprises a first de-clogging element for the cutting rake.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first de-clogging element is in the form of a bar with a longitudinal extension parallel to said crumbling shaft and movable upwardly for raising clogged root crops or root crop pieces.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the de-clogging device comprises a second de-clogging element for the cleaning rake.
15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the second de-clogging element is in the form of a bar with a longitudinal extension parallel to said crumbling shaft and movable upwardly for raising clogged root crops or root crop pieces.
16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the first de-clogging element is connected to a drive for intermittently driving the first de-clogging element.
17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the second de-clogging elements is connected to a drive for intermittently driving the second de-clogging element.
18. The device of claim 1 , comprising a set of first and second crumbling shafts supported in said frame, which are arranged for counter-rotating, wherein one rake is provided between the shafts having opposingly arranged protrusions and recesses.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the shafts are formed identical to each other.
20. The device of claim 18 , comprising a second set of third and fourth crumbling shafts.
21. A device for determining components in root crops, comprising:
the device for crumbling root crops according to claim 1 for providing a stream of root crop crumbles;
a transport device for transporting the stream of root crop crumbles;
an equalizing roller for homogenizing the stream of root crop crumbles; and
a measuring device for identification and quantification of ingredients.
22. A method for crumbling root crops into substantially equal sized pieces, comprising:
crumbling the root crops into substantially equal sized fine pieces using a device according to claim 1 .
23. A method for determining components in root crops, comprising the following sequence of steps:
crumbling the root crops into substantially equal sized fine pieces using a device according to claim 1 ;
generating a stream of fine pieces of root crop, and transporting the fine pieces of root crop with the aid of a transport device;
homogenizing or evenly distributing the fine pieces of root crop in the stream;
irradiating the stream of fine pieces of root crop with light of the near infrared range;
recording the reflected and/or absorbed radiation;
converting radiation into a spectral signal; and
processing of the spectral signal for determination of the components.
24. The device of claim 1 , wherein a front face of the curved hooks is curved about an angle of 30° to 80° from a base portion of the hook to a small protrusion of the hook.