Device and method for crumbling root crops and for determining components in root crops

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;

a hopper at the inlet side of the main frame for collecting root crops;

at least one crumbling shaft rotatable supported in the main frame, the crumbling shaft being provided with a plurality of curved hooks comprising a sharp edge, 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;

a de-clogging device for de-clogging clogged root crops from the cutting rake; 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 a back face of the curved hooks is curved about an angle of 30° to 90° from a base portion of the hook to a terminal end of the hook.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks are displaced to each other provided about the circumference of the crumbling shaft.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the curved hooks are removably fixed to the crumbling shaft.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the de-clogging device comprises a first de-clogging element for the cutting rake.

9. The device of claim 8 , 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.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the de-clogging device comprises a second de-clogging element for the cleaning rake.

11. The device of claim 10 , 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.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first de-clogging element is connected to a drive for intermittently driving the first de-clogging element.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the second de-clogging elements is connected to a drive for intermittently driving the second de-clogging element.

14. 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.

15. The device of claim 14 , comprising a second set of third and fourth crumbling shafts.

16. 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.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein a support is provided below the transport device for supporting the pressure of the roller.

18. 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 .

19. 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.

20. The method of claim 19 , comprising:

evenly supplying the root crops to the device for crumbling root crops, such that the root crops are free to move and spring on the cutting shafts.