Grinding arrangement

Abstract

A grinding arrangement for sharpening knives carried by a chopper drum includes a movement arrangement for moving a grinding stone along the chopper drum during a grinding process. A force measurement arrangement is provided which measures the force applied to the knife by the grinding stone, during the grinding process, and provides a signal representing this force for controlling a movement arrangement which moves the grinding stone as a function of the signal received from the force measurement arrangement. The manner of measuring the force is by way of a force measurement cell inserted in the power flux connection between the grinding stone and the chopper drum.

1 . In a grinding arrangement including a grinding stone for the grinding of knives of a chopper arrangement, a movement arrangement coupled to the grinding stone and operable for selectively moving the grinding stone along said chopper arrangement, a measurement arrangement that makes available a signal that contains information about a force applied by the grinding stone to said knives during a grinding process, and a control arrangement that controls said movement arrangement as a function of said signal of said measurement arrangement, the improvement comprising: said measurement arrangement including a force measurement cell that is inserted into a power flux connection between said grinding stone and said chopper arrangement.  
   
   
       2 . The grinding arrangement, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said control arrangement for controlling the movement arrangement includes a memory in which is stored a representation of a desired target shape of a profile of said knives when properly sharpened; and said control arrangement controlling said movement arrangement in such a way that cutting edges of said knives are brought into said desired target shape during said grinding process.  
   
   
       3 . The grinding arrangement, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said grinding arrangement includes a grinding stone retainer holding said grinding stone; said grinding stone retainer being mounted to a support frame; and said force measurement cell being inserted between said grinding stone retainer and said support frame.  
   
   
       4 . The grinding arrangement, as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said grinding arrangement further includes a support shaft; said support shaft being mounted to said frame; said grinding stone retainer being mounted fro movement along said support shaft; and said force measurement cell being mounted between said support shaft and said frame.  
   
   
       5 . The grinding arrangement, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said grinding arrangement includes a grinding stone retainer holding said grinding stone; and said force measurement cell being inserted between said grinding stone retainer and said grinding stone.  
   
   
       6 . The grinding arrangement, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said control arrangement includes a memory and a threshold force value being stored in said memory; and said control arrangement making an error signal available in the event that a measured value of said force measurement cell exceeds said threshold value.  
   
   
       7 . The grinding arrangement, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said chopper arrangement is that of a forage harvester.