R-Trim and R-Contour

Automatic defoliator height adjustment and ground contour sensor system for better quality of the harvested beets combined with a significant ease of operation

Both systems adapt their working depth to the changing conditions in the beet crop throughout the field. The automatic systems react to different crown heights or to ground unevenness crosswise to the direction of travel. The measuring system on the scalper has been extended by an additional measuring system with ultrasonic sensors to record the ground contour directly at the beet rows.

A powerful on-board computer on the lifting unit of the Panther 2S reads all measured values within a split second and changes the topper height or the lifting depth for the individual rows. The combination and interaction of both systems significantly relieve the driver. Topping losses are avoided despite the reduction in the size of cut-off leaf stalks without any stress for the driver. This prevents not only the unnecessary pickup of soil by the lifting share and increased fuel consumption due to excessively deep lifting, but also root fracture of the beet if harvesting too flat.

R-Trim - automatic defoliator height adjustment

1. Normal sugar beets - medium crown height;    2. Large sugar beets - high crown height;    3. Normal sugar beets - medium crown height;    4. Small sugar beets - low crown height;    5. Angle transmitter;    6. Defined scalper height

The Micro-Topper comb detects the crown height of the topped beets. A height profile (blue line in the chart) is calculated from the average values of these crown heights. The height of the defoliator shaft is constantly adjusted to this profile. This prevents too intensive topping of the beet crowns, e.g. when the beet crop changes from small to large. Furthermore, too large leaf stalks are avoided when the beet size changes from large to small.

 

R-Trim

The driver uses the menu to set the desired height of the defoliator shaft above the cutting height of the scalper knife (red arrow in graphic). This setting defines the average length of the stalks remaining on the beet after the defoliator knives. An angle sensor on each Micro-Topper records the crown height of each beet row. In the case of differences in the crop growth (e.g. dry areas) the activated R-Trim automatically corrects the height guide of the defoliator shaft depending on the highest beet.

R-Contour; automatic share depth adjustment; of the individual rows at the RR lifting unit

Automatic share depth adjustment with uneven ground contour Ultrasonic sensors beside every beet row record the ground surface contour

The machine operator uses the joystick to set the lifting depth as required and thus defines how deep the lifter share will penetrate the soil. Ultrasonic sensors beside every beet row record the ground surface contour. Powerful on-board computers process the measured values and ensure that the lifting depth is maintained in accordance with the ground contour. Compared to the previous systems for automatic adjustment of single rows, this system has many advantages, particularly with higher growth in beet rows beside roads.

R-Contour

The driver activates the R-Contour (ground contour sensor system) on the terminal. Thus, the share depth adapts to the ground contours. The activated R-Contour prevents root fracture of the beet if harvesting too flat or unnecessary pickup of soil if harvesting too deep. The share depth adjustment is displayed synchronously on the terminal.

Defoliator

ROPA integral defoliator

Standard model for normal harvesting conditions

Leaves from the beet crowns are mulched with robust defoliator knives and spread between the rows. This process spreads the beet leaves with all their nutrients evenly over the soil, forming the optimal basis for the subsequent cultivation for quick conversion of the green waste to humus. The integral defoliator is available with depth-control wheels and manually foldable leaf sensor or without depth-control wheels with a hydraulically foldable leaf sensor.

Also available with combined shaft

ROPA all-round topper

Integral leaf-layer or leaf ejector

The integral leaf layer shreds the beet leaves and deposits them between the rows. A press of the button in the cabin switches the machine. When operating with leaf ejection the shredded beet leaves are spread over the harvested area by a leaf-spreader with a leaf auger feeding the leaves to it. Optionally, it can have 4 rigid depth-control wheels without switch-over function as well as a leaf pile conveyor for harvesting beet leaves (biogas or dairy cattle).

ROPA rubber-topper

The speed and height of the two fully hydraulically powered and counter-rotating cleaning rotors can be independently adjusted – unique! The front shaft as a combined shaft is fitted with steel blades and cleaning rubbers, the second defoliator shaft is fitted with cleaning rubbers only.

RES - ROPA defoliator

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Contractor and farmer Sören Kremeike reports about his experiences with the ROPA Tiger 6S with defoliator

Sören Kremeike operates his own farm with biogas system in Brome (eastern Lower Saxony) and serves as an agricultural contractor, who has specialized in sugar beets – from sowing to harvesting. Starting in 2015, sugar beet harvesting was done with a euro Tiger V8-4 with defoliator. For the 2020 harvest, the team selected a new Tiger 6S, also with defoliator. The reasons for the defoliator are the own biogas system and the demand for this process from various customers. When set correctly, very good defoliating results can be achieved. Service is provided by Palandt.

Micro-Topper 2

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The comb of the Micro-Topper scans every beet crown individually. For large beets, the trimming gap is wider so that more is cut off. For small beets, the trimming gap is reduced accordingly, so that nothing is lost, no sugar beet is trimmed too much.

Maximum revenue with no additional effort

RR lifting unit

RR lifting unit with automatic share depth adjustment of the individual rows and hydraulic stone protection

The RR lifting unit is equipped with counter-rotating oscillating shares, seven lifting rollers, welded as standard with extremely abrasion-resistant, carbide containing hard-coated wire "Ropa Screwtec", completely maintenance-free hydraulic stone protection and single-row adjustment of the share depth. Simple and fast exchange of the lifting rollers for varying conditions (different diameters, outfeed, infeed, etc.). The 850 mm large depth-control wheels combined with the intelligent three-point suspension guarantee accurate depth control of the lifter. Maintenance costs are minimized with adjustable taper roller bearings in transmissions and the oscillating share drive.

Details

Convenient maintenance position

Maintenance position of the RR lifting unit

The defoliator and the lifter assembly can be raised hydraulically up to 90° above the lifting unit for service (scalper flails, lifting shares). It is raised from the cabin by pressing a button without requiring the driver to leave the cabin, or from the ground using the push buttons.

Start engine

The diesel engine can be started and switched off by pushing a button on the lifting unit.

Cleaning

Gentle, efficient and individually adjustable

The hydraulically tensioned sieve conveyor efficiently transports the beets to the first strainer wheel. The portal axis enable maximum throughput without slowing the beet flow or damaging the beets. The driver can steplessly adjust the sieve conveyor speed and reverse it if necessary from the cabin. The beet flow monitoring prevents the beets from overflowing the machine. Three strainer wheels equipped with forged tines, which have improved speed adjustment (a separate pressure sensor for each strainer wheel), clean the beets with extreme efficiency and care. The offset carrier tines ensure fast forwarding even at low strainer wheel rotation speeds.

The Panther 2S has enormous cleaning power

After the first strainer wheel with 68-inch diameter, two more follow, each with a diameter of 61 inches, before the beets are moved gently into the 39-inch wide bunker elevator.

Practical details

Rotating transfer tube at the strainer wheel intake prevents soil accumulation

Offset strainer wheel tines

Agitator at the transition to the second strainer wheel

(optional)

Rotating transfer tube at the elevator intake prevents soil accumulation

View from above

Rotating transfer tube at the elevator intake prevents soil accumulation

View from below