GB2087206A - Implement for taking animal feed from a horizontal silo - Google Patents

Abstract

An implement for taking animal feed from a horizontal silo comprises an unloader having tools which in alternation enter the body of silage and leave the same, and a transport container or a conveyor which extends near the ground. The unloader comprises a plurality of rods 6, which carry tools 4 and are engageable with the body of silage from above and adapted to be operated by a crank drive or cam drive. A separate motor mounted on the unloader is provided for driving the crank drive or cam drive. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Implement for taking animal feed from a horizontal silo This invention relates to an implement for taking animal feed from a horizontal silo, comprising an unloader provided with tools which are movable into and out of the body of silage, a transport container, which is preferably adapted to be tipped, or a conveyor, which is disposed nearthe ground and cooperates with a movable bottom member or bottom plate. Implements for taking animal feed from horizontal silos are known from German Published Application 2,225,783 and Austrian Patent Specification 330,497 and comprise a rotating cutting drum, which is guided by means of sliders in laterally disposed vertical guides and is adapted to be moved up and down along the guides by drive means.Hydraulically operated pivoted arms are provided to move the cutting drum up and down and are pivoted to move along arcuate paths or provided with telescopic arms which carry the cutting drum. In that known implement the silage which has been removed is fed to an impeller blower by a conveyor screw disposed on the ground.

The cutting drums moved over the body of silage must be forced against the body of silage under high pressure so that the drum requires also a correspondingly strong drive and the several elements must be strong too. The cutting drum rotating at high speed strongly loosens the end face of the body of silage so that air and moisture can enter the body of silage to a relatively large depth as a large surface is presented. This is undesirable for the quality of the silage. Besides, the cutting drum rotating at high speed scatters silage around, which is either lost or must be collected in a time-consuming manual operation.

In other unloaders, reciprocating cutters, such as chain saws or sawblades, are used to cut blocks of silage out of the body of silage. Whereas these unloaders generate smooth surfaces of cut, they have only a limited unloading capacity and their use involves an additional expenditure for the subsequent disintegration of the blocks of silage which have been sawn off.

The unloader described in German Published Application 2,204,832 comprises two cutting tools, which include an angle of 60 to 120 degrees and are used to cut parallelpipedic or rhomboid-shaped blocks of silage out of the body of silage so that the body of silage is formed with a zigzag-shaped end face. For this reason two cutters are sufficient for cutting off a block of silage. The blocks of silage which have been cut off are received and carried off by tines disposed underneath. The blocks of silage removed by means of that implement must also be disintegrated subsequently. Besides, the zigzagshaped end face of the body of silage presents a much larger area for the ingress of atmospheric oxygen.

The implement disclosed in Austrian Patent Specification 354,357 for unloading animal feed from a horizontal silo comprises an unloader which acts throughout the height of the body of silage. That unloader consists of crank-drivers rods, which are driven by means of crankshafts and carry working tools. A conveyor is associated with the unloader and disposed near the ground and consists, e.g., of a conveyor screw and an impeller blower or of a conveyor belt. As the unloader extends throughout the height of the body of silage, the crank-drivers rods are quite long so that they require expensive drive means and a high drive power. On the other hand, that unloader has a higher unloading capacity than other known implements.

Special difficulties are involved in the loading of a dump box, a feed trailer or a feed-mixing trailer with animal feed from a horizontal silo.

It is an object of the invention to provide an unloader which has an improved unloading function because the unloader enters the body of silage from above, and which disintegrates the silage as it removes the same. Besides, the unloader should be structurally simple and light in weight and require only a low drive power and should easily be controlled.

The essential feature which is to be embodied in the unloader and transport container according to the invention in order to accomplish said objects resides in that the unloader consists of a plurality of rods, which carry tools that are adapted to be engaged with the body of silage from above and adapted to be revolved by a crank drive or cam drive, and a separate motor mounted on the unloader is provided to drive the crank drive or cam drive.

An essential part of the implement according to the invention isthe unloader, which in one embodiment comprises at least two crank-drivers rods, which enter the body of silage alternatively in a downward movement and carry tines and extend over the body of silage along the same in a length of about 1 meter as seen from the end face. In operative position the crank-drivers rods are approximately parallel to the ground and are driven at least at one end by a crank drive. Those ends of the rods which face the end face of the body of silage are either pivoted to pivoted levers or are preferably also mounted on crank shafts. The length in which the crank-drivers rods protrude and the position of the unloader in engagement with the body of silage will determine the depth to which the silage will be removed.The width of the unloader will be determined by the number of crank-drivers rods. A plurality of laterally spaced apart rows of tines may be mounted on each crank-drivers rod. As a rule, the width of the unloader is equal to the width of a feed trailer or feed-mixing trailer or, in case of an attachment to a tractor, approximately as large as the width of the tractor. But the unloader may be much narrower and in that case will be slidably guided transversely to the implement.

In accordance with the invention, animal feed can be taken from a horizontal silo in substantially vertical, approximately parallelepipedic elements having a base area which corresponds to the length and width of the unloader, and can be delivered directly to the transport container, i.e., into a dump box, a feed trailer or a feed-mixing trailer, or onto a conveyor. Owing to its nature, the unloader loosens the feed so that it can be fed to animals immediately after it has been loaded.

In one embodiment of the invention the unloader is movable downwardly in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the body of silage along in general vertical guides in order to take the silage, and is adapted to perform an idle upward stroke and is characterized in that the unloader is connected in known manner to a slidable or wheeled carriage, which is movable along the in general vertical guides, which are combined in a frame, the frame is attached by a three-point hydraulic linkage to a tractor or is provided with a self-propelled chassis, and the frame is connected to a conveyor, which preferably consists of a transverse conveyor screw disposed above the bottom member or bottom plate, an impeller blower, a rising conveyor belt and a conveyor belt extending over the tractor.The unloader is engaged with the body of silage and returned to the initial position by means of a rope winch or by an hydraulic system. The crank drive is operated by the motor, which is disposed over the unloader, through a corresponding speed-reducing transmission. The motor may consist of an electric motor or a gasoline motor. Instead of vertical guides, pivoted arms may be provided to control the downward movement of the unloader in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the body of silage for a taking of silage and a movement of the unloader in said orientation to a position over the body of silage in transverse and longitudinal directions, as well as the upward idle stroke of the unloader.Within the scope of the invention the unloader is mounted at the free end of the pivoted arms, the motor is also mounted on the pivoted arms, the latter are pivoted to a chassis frame at that end thereof which is remote from the unloader, and said chassis frame has a supporting wheel, which may be driven and steerable, and running wheels. In that case the unloader will be inclined toward the ground as silage is removed from the uppermost portion of the body of silage; this will not adversely affect the unloading.

The detaching and removal of the particles of silage from the body of silage is effected as described in Austrian Patent Specification 357,104. The tines entering the body of silage alternatively tear off the silage and push it beyond the edge of the end face of the body of silage. Depending on the design of the succeeding conveyor, the silage then falls loosely onto a bottom plate and is forwarded from there.

An important advantage afforded by the invention resides in that the silage is removed approximately parallel to the ground and in a downward direction and that the silage is detached by tines which enter and leave the body of silage in alternation. This results in a high unloading rate. This concept is based on the recognition that stalk material in a compacted body can be most easily detached from the top.

The silage is removed from the body of silage in a width and depth which corresponds to the dimensions of the unloader and the desired unloading rate can be selected within wide limits. When one strip of the body of silage has been removed from top to bottom, the unloader is laterally shifted by one working strip and the unloading operation is repeated, until the body of silage has been removed throughout its width. The unloader is then advanced toward the body of silage and the unloading operation is then repeated as described hereinbefore.

The unloader according to the invention may be designed for different unloading rates, which will depend on the size of the silo, the number of animals, and the nature of the stable or the like building and may consist of an implement to be attached to the lifting gear of a tractor or of a self-propelled implement.

Further features and details of the unloading system will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the system embodying the invention are shown diagrammatically and by way of example. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a first embodiment, Figure 2 a top plan view related to Figure 1, Figure 3 a side elevation showing a second embodiment, Figure 4 a side elevation showing a third embodiment in unloading position, Figure 5 a side elevation showing the third embodiment in discharging position and Figure 6a side elevation showing a fourth embodiment in unloading position, Figures 7 and 8 are side elevations showing a fifth embodiment in unloading and discharging positions, respectively.

Figures 9 to 12 are side elevations showing four different unloaders.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3 the implement embodying the invention for taking animal feed from a horizontal silo comprises an unloader 1, which removes the animal feed from the top of a body of silage and delivers the feed to a conveyor 15, which forwards the feed to a feed trailer or feed-mixing trailer or the like. The unloader 1 is movable up and down along vertical guides 2, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2, or is mounted on pivoted arms 3, as is shown in Figure 3. In both cases the unloader is transversely and longitudinally movable into engagement with the body of silage and for this purpose may be attached to a tractor 10, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2, or may be provided with a self-propelled chassis 11, as is shown in Figure 3.

In both cases the unloader 1 comprises tools 4, which are attached to crank-drivers rods 6 and are caused to revolve by means of a crank drive 5. A drive motor 7 is provided, which may be an electric motor, a hydraulic motor or an internal combustion engine.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the unloader is provided with a slidabie or wheeled carriage 8, which is movable along the vertical guides 2 and carries the motor 7 and a speed reducing transmission. The guides 2 are connected in a mounting frame, which is welded or screwed to the main frame of the apparatus. The mounting frame is attached to the tractor 10 by a three-point hydraulic linkage and is movable by said tractor. A rope winch 14 is provided to lift the unloader 1 and is driven from the power take-off 12 of the tractor 10 by means of a universal-joint shaft 13.

The feed which has been removed from the body of silage falls down onto a bottom plate 16 of the conveyor 15 and is moved on said bottom plate by means of a one-part or two-part transverse conveyor screw 17 and is then forwarded by an impeller blower 18 to a rising conveyor belt 19. The conveyor belt 19 may be disposed laterally of a one-part transverse conveyor screw 17 or in the middle of a two-part transverse conveyor screw 17. The conveyor belt 19 forwards the feed to a conveyor belt 20, which extends over the tractor 10 laterally of the driver's seat and delivers the feed to a transport vehicle, such as a feed trailer. The width of the unloader and of the conveyor 15 conforms to the width of the transport vehicle, e.g., the feed trailer.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 comprising a self-propelled chassis 11, the unloader 1 is mounted on the pivoted arms 3 and is designed and driven like the one described with reference to Figure 1 and 2. The unloader 1 is connected to the pivoted arms 3 in such a manner that the unloader 1 is parallel to the ground when it is near the ground so that it is slightly inclined from the horizontal at the beginning of the unloading operation. At those ends which are remote from the unloader 1, the pivoted arms 3 are pivoted to a chassis frame 21 of the self-propelled chassis 11. The pivoted arms 3 have a substantial length sothatthe unloader can be pivotally moved on a large radius.

The conveyor 15 is designed as in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. On both sides of the bottom plate 16 of the conveyor 15, the self-propelled chassis 11 comprises running wheels 23. The self-propelled chassis 11 also comprises a supporting wheel 22, which is spaced from the running wheels and is driven by a motor 24 and pivotally movable by means of a steering handle 25. The supporting wheel serves to move the implement into and out of engagement with the body of silage. The conveyor belt of the conveyor extends over the chassis frame 21. The conveyor 15 is driven by the motor 24 via a universal-joint shaft 26. A hydraulic lifting gear 27 for lifting the unloader 1 at the beginning of the unloading operation is provided and acts on the pivoted arms 3.

The embodiments shown and described have been selected only for an explanation of the nature of the invention. For instance, the conveyor which has been described may be replaced by an impeller blower.

The embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 8 comprise a transport container 1, which in Figures 4 and 5 consists of a dump body and in Figures 6 to 8 consists of a body of a two-wheeled trailer.

In all embodiments shown in Figures 4to 8, an unloader 202 for taking animal feed from a horizontal silo comprises crank-driven rods 205, which carry tools 203 and are revolvable by a crank drive 204.

Offset crank-driven rods 205 are provided, which are parallel to each other and distributed throughout the width of the feed trailer or feed-mixing trailer. The unloader is driven by an electric motor, an internal combustion engine or a hydraulic motor, preferable a gearmotor 206.

The unloader may be moved downwardly by gravity or by a mechanical drive (screw, rope drive) or a hydraulic device. If it is moved into engagement with the body of silage by gravity, supporting plates which are adjustable in height are provided between the crank-driven rods to limit the depth of penetration of the tools.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, the implement comprises a transport container 201 consisting of a dump box and the unloader 202 comprises crank-driven rods 205, which carry tools 203 and are driven by the motor 206 via the crank drive 204. The unloader 202 is engaged with the body of silage in a horizontal silo from above and for this purpose is mounted on pivoted arms 209, which can be raised by a hydraulic lifting gear 211. The unloader 202 is moved downwardly by gravity or by mechanical or hydraulic means. When the unloader 202 is moved down by gravity, supporting plates which are adjustable in height are provided between the crank-driven rods 205 so that the depth of penetration of the tools 203 can be controlled.The unloader 202 and the pivoted arms 209 are so designed and pivoted to the frame 207 that the unloader 202 is approximately parallel to the ground in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The pivoted arms 209 carry guide plates 210, which are disposed behind the unloader 202 and prevent a lateral scattering of the feed which has been removed so that the unloader 202 can deliver the feed into the dump box. The hydraulic cylinders 211 are connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor by a hydraulic coupling 212 and a hose conduit 213.

The transport container 201 consisting of a dump trough is pivoted to a frame 207 and in its loadreceiving and transport positions (Figure 4) is locked to the frame 207 by a gravity latch 215, which is operable by a pulling rope 214. When it is desired to discharge the feed from the transport container 201, the frame 207 is lifted by means of the three-point linkage 208 connecting the transport container 201 and the unloader 202 to a tractor, and the gravity latch 215 is actuated by means of the pulling cord 214 so that the dump box can then swing to the position shown in Figure 2.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 6 to 8, the transport container 201 is pivoted on the wheel axle 216 of a two-wheel chassis 217 and is pivotally movable mechanically or by means of a hydraulic lifting gear 218 so that its rear edge 219 contacts the ground during the unloading operation.

The transport container 201 has side walls 220, an end wall 221 and a scraper bottom 222. A discharge screw 223 is provided at the forward end of the transport container 201. The scraper bottom 222, the discharge screw 223 and the hydraulic lifting gear 218 are driven from a tractor, to which the feed trailer or feed-mixing trailer can be connected by a hitch 224.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the unloader 202 together with the motor 206 mounted thereon is secured to arms 209, which are pivoted to the forward edge portions of the side walls 220 of the transport container 201. A hydraulic lifting gear 211 driven by the tractor is provided to move the pivoted arms 209. For unloading, the unloader 202 is raised and the transport container 201 is moved close to the horizontal silo. Then the transport container 201 is lowered until its rear edge 219 contacts the ground.

When the motor 206 has been started, the unloader 202 is engaged with the body of silage in the horizontal silo from above so that the tools 203 detach the feed, which now falls downwardly onto the scraper bottom 222. As a result, the feed is loosened so that it can be fed to the animals. After the unloading operation, the unloader 202 is held in an intermediate position, the feed trailer or feedmixing trailer is moved into the stable or the like and the feed is distributed by means of the discharge screw 223 among the feed tables.

The embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 comprises a feed trailer or feed-mixing trailer including a transport container 201 on a chassis 217 and an unloader 202. These components are designed like those described with reference to Figure 3. The unloader 202 and its motor 206 are secured to a slidable wheeled carriage 225, which is not shown in detail and movable along guides 226. The guides 226 are pivoted to the rear edge portions of the side walls 220 of the transport container 201 and are connected to the chassis 217 by a linkage 227, which has an intermediate rod that is movable mounted on the side walls 220.A comparison of Figures 7 and 8 will reveal that a lifting of the transport container 201 from the silage-receiving position shown in Figure 7 to the transport position shown in Figure 8 will automatically result in a pivotal movement of the guides 226 toward the top edges of the side walls 220 so that the loaded feed trailer can be moved through entrances of stables and the like. On the other hand, as the transport container 201 is lowered to its silage-receiving position shown in Figure 7, the guides 226 are moved to their vertical position. A screw driven by the motor 206 or a rope drive or a hydraulic lifting gear adapted to be connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor may be provided for moving the unloader 202 along the guides 226.

These parts are not shown in more detail.

Just as the unloaders described hereinbefore, those shown in Figures 9 to 12 can be moved by gravity or by a rope drive or the like from above into a body of feed in a horizontal silo and downwardly to the bottom. They may be moved substantially vertically or when carried by a jib can be moved along a circular path to remove a corresponding part of the body of feed.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, a crank drive 302 is mounted on a jib 301 and is driven by a chain drive or belt drive 303. The embodiment shown comprises three angularly spaced apart crank arms 304. A rod 305 which carries tines 306 or the like is pivoted to each arm 304. At its other end, each rod 305 is pivoted to a pendulum lever 307, which is suspended from the jib 301. In this arrangement, these ends oscillate along an arc of a circle, indicated by dash and -dot lines during the rotation of the crank drive 302. During that pivotal movement these ends perform an upward stroke which will improve the detaching of the feed from a body of feed. At the same time, the tines 306 or the like provided at the ends of the rods 305 near the crank will enter the body of feed from above.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 10 a crank drive 302 is also mounted on the jib 301 and is driven by a chain drive or belt drive 303. Arms 308 are movably mounted on opposite sides of a crank or an eccentric disc and carry rods 305, which like a rake are provided with tines 306 or the like. The arms 308 are rigidly connected to constraining levers 309, each of which is linked by a constraining link 310 to a fixed point 311. During a rotation of the crank drive 302, said linkage constrains the tines 306 or the like to move along elongated oval paths, such as are indicated by dash-dot lines. At the beginning of the movement, the tines 306 enter the body of feed from above; this is succeeded by a vertical movement to remove the feed from the surface silo.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 11, rods 305 which like rakes carry tines 306 or the like are mounted between crank arms 304 of a crank drive 302, which is revolved by a chain drive or belt drive 303. A constraining lever 312 is connected to each rod 305 and at its free end carries a cam follower roller 313, which engages a cam slot 314, By means of said cam slot 314 the tines 306 or the like are caused to revolve around an axis 320 as is indicated by dash-dot lines so that the tines again enter the body of feed from above and this is followed by a horizontal movement to convey the feed outwardly.

In the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 12, the jib 301 is provided with crank arms 304, which carry a starlike array of rods 305 set with tines 306 or the like. The crank arms 304 and the rods 305 are arranged in drums 316, which are caused to revolve about an axis 320 by a chain drive or belt drive 317,318. These drums 316 have openings 319, through which the tines 306 or the like emerge so that the revolution of the drums 316 causes the tines 306 or the like to move along the paths indicated by dash-dot lines. The tines emerge downwardly from the drums in a working stroke and are retracted into the drums in the upper portion of the orbit. In this embodiment the tines or the like 306 also enter a body of feed as desired and move the feed outwardly to a conveyor or a transport container.

The embodiments shown and described have been selected onlyforan explanation of the nature of the invention, which is not restricted to details. For instance, two or more unloaders can be arranged one beside the other and/or one behind the other in the working direction and each crank drive may be replaced by a cam drive.

Claims (18)

1. An implement for taking animal feed from a horizontal silo, comprising an unloader provided with tools which are movable into and out of the body of silage, and, in association with the unloader, a transport container, which is preferably adapted to be tipped, or a conveyor which extends near the ground and cooperates with a movable bottom member or bottom plate, characterized in that the unloader consists of a plurality of rods, which are adapted to be engaged with the body of silage from above and carry tools, which are adapted to be revolved by a crank drive or cam drive, a separate motor is provided to drive the crank drive or cam drive, and the unloader and motor are mounted on a common carrier.

2. An implement according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the unloader equals the inside width of the transport container and the latter is designed so that its rear edge facing the unloader is adapted to be lowered to the ground.

3. An implement according to claim 2, characterized in that the transport container consists of a dump box, which is pivoted to a mounting frame that is connected to a three-point linkage, the unloader is connected by pivoted arms to the mounting frame and is adapted to be lifted and, if desired, lowered by hydraulic cylinders, which are pivoted at one end to the mounting frame and at the other end to the pivoted arms and are connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor, the pivoted arms carry guide plates or rubber flaps, which are disposed laterally of the unloader and closely spaced therefrom, and a gravity latch adapted to be disengaged by a pulling cord is provided to lock the dump box in its silage-receiving and transport positions.

4. An implement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a transport container is provided, which is connected to the chassis of a trailer and has a rear edge that is adapted to be lowered to the ground, and the unloader and its motor are secured to pivoted arms, which are pivoted to the side walls of the transport container and its forward end and are adaptedto be moved by a hydraulic lifting gear.

5. An implement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a transport container is provided, which has a rear edge that is adapted to be lowered to the ground, and the unloader and its motor are connected to a slidable or wheeled carriage, which is movable along vertical guides, which are connected to the side walls of the transport container and preferably can be swung to said side walls.

6. An implement according to claim 5, characterized in that the guides are connected to the chassis of the trailer by a linkage, which is pivoted to the side walls of the transport container, and the guides are swung to their vertical position as the transport container is lowered and are swung toward the transport container as the latter is raised.

7. An implement according to claim 1, in which the unloader is movable downwardly in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the body of silage along preferably vertical guides in order to take the silage and is adapted to perform an idle upward stroke, characterized in that the unloader is connected in known manner to a slidable or wheeled carriage, which is movable along the preferably vertical guides, which are combined in a frame, which is attached by a three-point hydraulic linkage to a tractor or is provided with a self-propelled chassis, and the frame is connected to a conveyor, which preferably consists of a transverse conveyor screw disposed above the bottom or bottom plate, an impeller, a rising conveyor belt and a conveyor belt extending over the tractor.

8. An implement according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that a rope winch is provided, which serves to lift the unloader and is adapted to be driven by power take-off shaft of the tractor via a universal joint shaft.

9. An implement according to claim 1, wherein pivoted arms are provided to control the downward movement of the unloader in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the body of silage for a taking of silage and a movement of the unloader in said orientation into engagement with the body of silage in transverse and longitudinal directions, as well as the idle upward stroke of the unloader, characterized in that the unloader is mounted at the free end of the pivoted arms, the motor is also mounted on the pivoted arms, the latter are pivoted to a chassis frame at that end thereof which is remote from the unloader, and said chassis frame is provided with a supporting wheel, which may be driven and steerable, and with running wheels.

10. An implement according to claim 9, characterized in that a conveyor is connected to the chassis frame and consists preferably of a transverse conveyor screw disposed above the bottom or bottom plate, an impeller, a rising conveyor belt and a conveyor belt which extends over the chassis frame.

11. An implement according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that a hydraulic lifting gear is provided for lifting the unloader.

12. An implement according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a plurality of rods which carry tines or the like are arranged one beside the other and at one end are pivoted to preferably staggered crank arms of a crank shaft whereas the other end of each rod is pivoted to a pivoted lever which is suspended like a pendulum.

13. An implement according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that rakelike rods which carry tines or the like are arranged one beside the other, preferably in pairs, and secured to arms arranged on opposite sides of a crank drive, and each of the arms is connected to a constraining lever, which is adapted to be oscillated by a constraining link winch is pivoted to a fixed point.

14. An implement according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that rakelike rods which carry tines or the like are mounted between crank arms, and a constraining lever is secured to at least one end of the rods and at its free end is provided with a cam follower roller, which engages a cam slot.

15. An implement according to any of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that said rods are adapted to be revolved by said crank drive or cam drive.

16. An implement according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said rods are rakelike and carry tines or the like in a starlike configuration and each rod is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of an associated drum, which has openings for the passage of the tines or the like, which are pivotally movable around the rods.

17. An implement according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that two or more of the unloaders are arranged one beside the other and/or one behind the other in the working direction.

18. An implement according to claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or Figures 4 and 5 or Figure 6 or Figures 7 and 8 or Figure 9 or Figure 10 or Figure 11 or Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.