Method for monitoring crop flow and harvester

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a crop flow in a conveying device for crop material of a harvester and a harvester having a conveying device for crop material and a device for monitoring a crop flow in the conveying device.

Description

[0001] describe

[0002] The application relates to a method for monitoring a crop flow in a conveying device for crop material of a harvester and a harvester.

[0003] In combine harvesting operations, uniform crop feed is the basis for uniform crop flow in the threshing unit and therefore for optimal utilization of the harvester.

[0004] EP3714674 A1 describes a system and method for controlling a combine harvester. The method comprises the steps of receiving grain flow sensor signals from a plurality of grain flow sensors, determining a current load on a shaking screen section based on the received grain flow sensor signals, and adjusting an aggressiveness setting of a threshing and separating section of the combine harvester based on the current load. The grain flow sensors are disposed below and close to a crop conveying surface of a shaking screen section of the combine harvester and are distributed over the length of the shaking screen section.

[0005] Short-term changes in harvesting conditions in the field and foreign matter or soil picked up by the cutting equipment can disturb the crop flow. In combine harvesting, observation of the crop flow by the machine operator is the most common way to detect disturbances in the crop flow in the cutting equipment. The trend towards wider working widths and higher forward speeds makes this task more difficult for the driver.

[0006] One task is to improve monitoring of crop flows.

[0007] This problem is solved by a method according to claim 1 and a harvester according to claim 10. Embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] In a method for monitoring a crop flow in a conveying device for crop material of a harvester, the electrical conductivity or dielectric conductivity of the crop flow of the conveyed crop material is measured with at least one conductivity sensor in the conveying device and a signal representing the measured conductivity is generated. The signal is analyzed with an evaluation device, wherein the crop flow is evaluated based on the development of at least one of the following properties of the signal: noise frequency, noise amplitude and base signal. The base signal corresponds to the average conductivity of the crop flow. The currently measured conductivity varies greatly due to movement, which is called noise. The noise amplitude and noise frequency also vary within certain limits. Once a predetermined threshold value of the change is reached, the change of the noise amplitude and noise frequency within the meaning of the application is given.

[0009] The method of monitoring the crop flow allows for automatic detection of crop flow disturbances and offers the following benefits. On the one hand, the burden on the operator of the harvester is reduced, since he does not have to constantly concentrate on monitoring the crop flow across the entire working width under difficult harvesting conditions. This increases comfort and eliminates driver fatigue. On the other hand, early detection of crop flow disturbances makes it possible to counteract disturbances. For example, in the case of soil buildup, the cutting height can be adjusted at any time to prevent crop material from piling up and allow the pile to subside. Crop flow disturbances are detected earlier and are smaller. Ultimately, harvester downtime is reduced. The identification of fluctuating crop flows by changing straw length makes it possible to automatically adjust the length of the cutting table in the so-called Vario cutting device. This ensures a more even crop flow and better machine utilization.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the following sensors can be used to detect crop flow disturbances. The working width of the cutting device is divided into several sections. Each section is monitored by a sensor system. All signals from the sensors in the sections are fed to a central evaluation unit and analyzed. For example, a conductivity sensor is used as a sensor in contact with the material flow. The cutting table is suitable for positioning the sensor, allowing the material flow to be guided over the sensor. The conductivity sensor can be based on methods for measuring conductivity, dielectric conductivity or capacitive conductivity.

[0011] The conductivity of crop material depends strongly on its water content. The conductivity and dielectric constant of water are significantly higher than those of dry biomass. Furthermore, the conductivity measurement is influenced by the density of the material to be measured and the distance from the material to the sensor or from the contact surface to the sensor. Changes in the material density in turn depend on the amount of crop material and the compression of the crop material. Density and sensor contact vary with high dynamics in the crop flow. The signal of the expected conductivity sensor consists of a basic signal level and a noise component.

[0012] According to another embodiment, a decrease in the frequency of the noise indicates a decrease in the flow rate of the crop flow.

[0013] According to another embodiment, a decrease in the noise amplitude and a simultaneous increase in the base signal indicate a higher moisture content in the crop flow, thereby indicating soil accumulation in the conveying device, in particular when limit values ​​of the decrease in the noise amplitude and / or the increase in the base signal are reached.

[0014] According to a further embodiment, the conductivity of the crop flow of the conveyed crop material is measured with a plurality of conductivity sensors spaced apart from one another, wherein a signal representing the measured conductivity is generated for each conductivity sensor, and wherein the signals are analyzed and compared with one another by the evaluation device.

[0015] According to another embodiment, a first portion of the plurality of conductivity sensors is arranged on the conveying device, and a second portion of the plurality of conductivity sensors is arranged on other crop material processing and / or conveying components of the harvester.

[0016] According to another embodiment, a property of the first signal of at least one of noise frequency, noise amplitude and deviation of the base signal relative to the at least two second signals indicates an irregularity in crop flow in the area of ​​the sensor generating the first signal.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, at least one throughput signal is taken into account in the analysis of the at least one signal, which throughput signal is characteristic of the throughput of the crop material by the conveyor device, for example a drive speed or a cutting power of a harvester.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the conductivity of a crop flow of transported crop material is measured using a multidimensional array of conductivity sensors in a conveying device, wherein in particular a signal record of a conductivity sensor at a first measuring point is compared with a corresponding signal of a conductivity sensor at one or more second measuring points, and wherein if the record matches the signal of a conductivity sensor at one of the second measuring points, the direction and / or speed of the crop flow between the first measuring point and the second measuring point is determined.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the speed of the crop flow between the first and second measuring points is determined by correlating the distance between the first and second measuring points with the time between detection of a recording at the first and second measuring points.

[0020] A harvester having a conveying device for crop material and a device for monitoring the crop flow in the conveying device, by which the task is achieved, has at least one conductivity sensor, which is used to generate a signal on the conveying device, which signal is representative of the conductivity of the crop flow of the conveyed crop material, and the device for monitoring the crop flow has an evaluation device for analyzing the signal.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the transport device is associated with a cutting device of a harvester, wherein the transport device has a cutting deck and wherein at least one conductivity sensor is arranged on the cutting deck. In particular, the conductivity sensor can be arranged on a fall-back edge of the cutting deck or on a restraining device.

[0022] According to one embodiment, it is provided that the restraining device has an extension, wherein the extension is arranged substantially parallel to the surface of the cutting table, and wherein the conductivity sensor is arranged on the extension.

[0023] According to one embodiment, a plurality of conductivity sensors are provided which are arranged on the cutting table, wherein the conductivity sensors are spaced apart from one another, wherein each conductivity sensor generates a signal which is representative of the conductivity of the crop flow, and wherein the evaluation device compares the signals with one another. At least some of the conductivity sensors may be distributed along the width of the cutting device. At least some of the conductivity sensors may be distributed along a conveying direction of the crop flow through the conveying device.

[0024] Alternatively, the conveying device can, for example, be assigned to a separator device of a harvester. At least one conductivity sensor can be arranged in the separator rotor and at least one further conductivity sensor can be arranged downstream of the separator rotor, at the inlet of the straw chopper. If crop material accumulates in the straw chopper, the evaluation device detects this according to the method described above by means of a changed noise behavior of the second conductivity sensor. Crop flow disturbances are detected and a favorable response can be made before the separator rotor is also blocked. Monitoring using conductivity sensors has the advantage of being fast and sensitive.

[0025] The method and the harvester are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the features of the method can also be appropriately adapted to the harvester, and wherein the features of the harvester can also be appropriately adapted to the method.

[0026] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of a harvester according to the invention is shown.

[0027] Figure 2 The cross-sectional view shows the Figure 1 A transport device for the conductivity sensor of the harvester;

[0028] Figure 3 The signal recorded by the conductivity sensor is shown in a graphical form;

[0029] Figure 4 and Figure 5 A schematic diagram explaining conductivity measurement of a crop flow in a conveying plant is shown.

[0030] Figure 1A schematic embodiment of a harvester 20 according to the invention is shown, wherein only a part of the harvester 20 is shown. The direction of travel 16 of the harvester 20 is indicated by an arrow. The harvester 20 has a conveying device 21 for crop material 18 and a device 22 for monitoring the crop flow in the conveying device 21. At least one conductivity sensor 23 is arranged on the conveying device 21 for generating a signal representing the conductivity of the crop flow of the conveyed crop material 18. An evaluation device 24 is provided for analyzing the signal in the device 22 to monitor the crop flow. The conveying device 21 can be associated with a cutting device 6 of the harvester 29, wherein the cutting device 6 has a cutting table 5 and wherein at least one conductivity sensor 23 is arranged on the cutting table 5. In the embodiment shown, the conveying device 21 comprises a screw conveyor 26. Alternatively, a conveyor belt (not shown) can be provided. The conductivity sensor 23 can be arranged on the restraining device 7 of the cutting table 5, which will be referred to in detail. Figure 2 For a more detailed explanation.

[0031] Figure 2 The schematic cross-sectional view shows Figure 1 Detail of a conveying device 21 of a harvester 20. The restraining device 7 prevents the crop material 18 from falling off the cutting table 5 and has the shape of a barrier. The restraining device 7 is also called a falling edge 7. For example, the cross section of the restraining device 7 shown in the figure can be triangular. The restraining device 7 can have an extension 8 parallel to the surface of the cutting table 5, whereby the conductivity sensor 23 can be arranged on the extension 8. The corresponding sensor installation space 9 on the extension 8 of the restraining device 7 is schematically shown. As an alternative or in addition, the sensor installation space 9' can be arranged on the end face of the restraining device 7, i.e. at the front in the travel direction 16 of the harvester 20. Conventional cutting devices and Vario cutting devices usually provide both installation spaces 9 and 9'. Depending on the design, the belt cutter only provides the installation space 9', because the conveyor belt runs behind the falling edge 7. When the crop material 18 falls onto the conveyor belt, straw matting and clogging on the cutting table 5 tend not to occur. This means that for these cutting devices only the monitoring of soil displacement on the cutting system and obstruction of the crop flow is relevant, which can be detected by the conductivity sensor 23 in the mounting space 9. A plurality of conductivity sensors 23 can be arranged on the cutting table 5, wherein the conductivity sensors 23 are spaced apart from each other, wherein each conductivity sensor generates a signal 3, 4 ( Figure 3 ), and wherein the evaluation device 24 ( Figure 1 ) compares the signals 3, 4 to each other. At least some of the conductivity sensors 23 may be distributed along the width of the cutting table 5 (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and the direction of travel 16). At least some of the conductivity sensors 23 may be distributed along the conveying direction 17 ( Figure 4) are arranged in a distributed manner, in the case of the cutting table 5 shown, the conveying direction 17 is perpendicular to the drawing plane and the travel direction 16. The conductivity sensor 23 is arranged on the cutting table 5 below the crop layer 18. When the rearward edge 7 extends in the flow direction in the area of ​​the measuring point, an installation space 9 is created. The extension 8 creates a plane parallel to the crop layer 18, which provides an installation space 9 for placing the conductivity sensor 23. The parallel installation space 9 above the cutting table 5 ensures good contact with the crop material 18 in the area where the lower half of the stalk falls on the cutting table 5. In normal harvesting operation, the crop layer 18 is most uniform in this area. The rearward edge 7 is located directly behind the cutting device 6. If soil is pushed onto the cutting device 6, the soil must be pushed further onto the rearward edge 7 to reach the center of the cutting table 5. Therefore, the end face of the cutting edge 7 is very suitable as an installation space 9' for the conductivity sensor 23, which can be used to detect the accumulation of soil at an early stage. The mounting space 9' is also suitable for measuring straw piles, but due to the inclined arrangement, the contact of the crop material is subject to higher scattering, which increases the noise component. A method for monitoring a crop flow in a conveying device 21 of crop material 18 is described below. The conductivity of the crop flow of the conveyed crop material 18 is measured by at least one conductivity sensor 23 in the conveying device 21. The conductivity sensor 23 generates a signal 3, 4 representing the measured conductivity, which is analyzed by an evaluation device 24. The crop flow is evaluated based on the development of at least one of the following properties of the signals 3, 4: noise frequency, noise amplitude and base signal.

[0032] Figure 3An exemplary recorded signal of a conductivity sensor 23 is shown in diagram form. Time is plotted on the abscissa 1, while the ordinate represents the curve of the signal over time. The base level 3 of the signals 3, 4 is formed by the moisture and amount of the crop material. These variables change relatively slowly. Due to the high dynamics of the sensor contact and the density of the crop material 18, the noise component 4 of the signals 3, 4 changes relatively quickly. Depending on how the material is positioned at the measuring point, the noise amplitude of the signals 3, 4 will be higher or lower. Depending on the crop material and the harvesting situation, the amplitude of the noise component 4 is significantly higher than the amplitude of the base signal 3. It can be expected that the speed of change of the noise component 4 shows the same direction as the crop flow rate. The faster the crop layer 18 flows through one of the conductivity sensors 23, the faster the noise component 4 changes. Therefore, the frequency of the noise component 4 depends on the crop flow rate. For example, the noise frequencies of the individual sections of the cutting device 6 can be compared with each other to detect disturbances in the crop flow. If the noise frequency drops in one of the sections, for example due to the formation of tangles of crop material 18, it can be concluded that the crop flow in this section has stopped. If soil accumulation occurs at the conductivity sensor 23, the basic signal 3 increases to a high degree, while the noise component 4 decreases sharply. The reason for this is that soil has a higher density, a higher water content and is more uniform than straw. In this way, soil accumulation can be detected separately from straw entanglements. In order to better compare the frequency changes with throughput fluctuations, the drive speed of the harvester 20 can also be incorporated into the evaluation in addition to the comparison of the noise frequency. This makes it easier to distinguish between frequency changes over most of the 6 partial widths of the cutting equipment and large-area crop flow disturbances. In addition, harvesting situations can occur in which the working width of the cutting equipment 6 is not fully utilized. In these cases, it makes sense to include the signal from the partial width control in the evaluation. The partial width control signal can be provided manually by the driver or by an automatic system such as GPS and optical systems.

[0033] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Schematic diagrams are shown respectively explaining conductivity measurement of a crop flow in a conveyor 21. The conductivity sensor 23 can be installed at a single or multiple measuring points within the sensor installation space 9, 9'. The sensor installation space 9, 9' is schematically shown as a plane spanned by the travel direction 16 of the harvester 20 and the conveying direction 17 of the harvested crop material 18 in the conveying device 21. Figure 4 A sensor installation space 9 or 9 ′ is shown with a single measuring point 10 . Figure 5A sensor installation space 9 with several measuring points 13, 13', 14, 14' is shown. The measuring points 13 and 13' are located on the front axis 11, seen in the direction of travel 16. The rear axis 12 is located behind it. The axes 11, 12 can be inclined by an angle 15 relative to the conveying direction 17. On the cutting table 5, the crop material flow 18 first enters in the direction of travel 16 and is subsequently deflected into the conveying direction 17. Assuming that the crop layer 18 is not mixed or circulated within the sensor installation space 9, the moisture measurement of the crop layer 18 at one of the measuring points 13, 13', 14, 14' generates a reproducible signal amplitude. If the signal amplitudes between the measuring points 13, 13', 14, 14' within the sensor installation space 9 are compared over time, the correlation in the signal curves 3, 4 of the two measuring points is shifted in time due to the deflection of the good current. Possible correlation pairings are:

[0034] The measuring point 13 is used as the first measuring point, and the measuring point 14' is used as the second measuring point;

[0035] The measuring point 13' is used as the first measuring point, and the measuring point 14 is used as the second measuring point;

[0036] The measuring point 13 is used as the first measuring point, and the measuring point 13' is used as the second measuring point;

[0037] The measuring point 14' is used as the first measuring point, and the measuring point 14 is used as the second measuring point;

[0038] The measuring point 13 serves as the first measuring point, and the measuring point 14 serves as the second measuring point.

[0039] The known distance and time offset of the correlation signals 3, 4 can be used to determine crop flow rate. This allows for more accurate and precise adjustments between fluctuations in the various sections and with the drive speed of the harvester 20. The effects of alignment of the cutting equipment sections, such as throughput fluctuations, are reduced.

[0040] The method can be used, for example, for agricultural harvesting attachments, in particular for combine harvester headers. The following processing steps can be performed:

[0041] - separating the crop material 18 from the field,

[0042] - the cutting table 5 picks up the crop material 18,

[0043] - redirecting the harvested crop material 18 from the travel direction 16 into the conveying direction 17 in order to convey the harvested crop material 18 further into the harvester 20,

[0044] - transporting harvested crop material 18,

[0045] The conveying direction 17 can also correspond to the travel direction 16. The harvesting attachment is characterized in that at least two conductivity sensors 23 are mounted across the working width of the attachment, which are networked with a central evaluation device 24. The evaluation device 24 can be arranged to detect irregularities and disturbances in the crop flow during the pickup, deflection and further conveying of the crop material. An application for monitoring the crop flow in a conveying device 21 associated with a cutting device 5 is described here. As a supplement or alternative, the described method can be used to monitor blockages in a harvester 20. This expands the application possibilities of sensor technology using the same hardware. For example, the conductivity sensor 23 can be arranged in the separator rotor. Another conductivity sensor 23 can be arranged downstream of the separator rotor, at the inlet of the straw chopper. If crop material accumulates in the chopper, the evaluation unit detects this by the changed noise behavior of the second conductivity sensor 23. Crop flow disturbances are detected and can be responded to before the separator rotor is also blocked.

[0046] The conductivity sensor 23 can work according to the principle of conductivity measurement, dielectric conductivity measurement or capacitive conductivity measurement. The conductivity sensor 23 and the evaluation device 24 can be networked via analog signals or a digital bus system. The evaluation unit 24 can be arranged separately from the conductivity sensor 23 or integrated into one or more conductivity sensors 23.

[0047] The method may have the following steps to determine crop flow disturbance within a harvesting header:

[0048] - Picking up crop materials 18;

[0049] - directing the crop flow of the crop material 18 via the conductivity sensor 23;

[0050] - Generation of conductivity signals 3, 4;

[0051] - merging of at least two conductivity signals 3 , 4 in the evaluation device 24 ;

[0052] - comparing the signal curves 3, 4 with one another and / or comparing the signal curves 3, 4 with characteristic values ​​over a period of time;

[0053] -Detection of crop flow disturbances by signal comparison:

[0054] A signal indicative of a crop flow disturbance is generated and output by the evaluation device 24 .

[0055] The output signal of the conductivity sensor 23 depends on the crop density, the crop moisture and the contact between the crop and the conductivity sensor 23, as well as the density, moisture and sensor contact of the foreign material soil. Material density is affected by the amount of material and material compression. The moisture content and amount of the crop material can change relatively slowly. Due to the fluctuation of the crop layer, the contact of the crop material with the conductivity sensor 23 and the density of the crop material 18 can change relatively quickly. Through these signal influences, the noise component 4 is superimposed on the basic signal 3. The rate of change of the noise component 4 changes proportionally with the crop flow rate. The comparison of at least two signals from the conductivity sensor 23 can be performed using the rate of change of the noise component over a period of time. If the rate of change of the conductivity sensor 23 decreases compared to the other conductivity sensors 23, there is a lower crop flow rate at this measurement point. Foreign materials such as soil have a higher conductivity and a more constant density. Compared with the crop material, the soil at one of the conductivity sensors 23 generates a higher basic signal and a lower noise component. By comparing the sensor signals 3, 4 with characteristic values ​​over a period of time, soil accumulation at the conductivity sensor 23 can be detected. The signal evaluation can include a travel speed signal, whereby changes in travel speed have a proportional effect on the rate of change of the noise component 4 and can therefore better indicate crop flow disturbances in all sub-areas. The evaluation can also take into account throughput-dependent signals, such as cutting power, in order to compensate for the influence of the density of the raw material on the noise component 4 of the conductivity sensor 23. The evaluation can take into account a signal of the number of working sections of a multi-segment cutting device, which is used to exclude sections of the cutting device that are not in the crop material from the evaluation of crop flow disturbances. The segment signal can be manually input by the machine operator or automatically provided by a GPS system or light field monitoring. The evaluation can take into account a headland signal indicating whether the cutting device is in a raised state, which is used to perform a zero calibration and thus compensate for the influence caused by contamination of the conductivity sensor 23. The signal value of the zero calibration can be used to evaluate which cutting device sections are not in the crop and are excluded from the evaluation.

[0056] The accumulation of soil in the trough of the cutting equipment can be caused by incorrect guidance of the cutting equipment on the ground. Rigid cutting equipment has a sensor bracket for ground guidance, which detects the ground contour. The lateral inclination and height of the cutting equipment are adjusted using buttons. If there are mounds of soil, undulations in the ground contour or furrows in the field that are not detected by the sensor bracket, soil can enter the trough of the cutting equipment through contact with the ground. Another reason for soil accumulation in the cutting equipment is when harvesting with the cutting equipment close to the ground, for example in stored grain. Torn plant roots and straw residues can get in front of the chute of the cutting equipment and push up the soil. In addition, fingers or lifters wrapped in straw can push up the soil. The pushed soil passes over the straw tangle and enters the cutting equipment, where it is deposited.

[0057] The accumulation of soil in the cutting equipment leads to poor friction between the crop material and the cutting equipment groove. In addition, an obstruction is created for the crop material. The crop material can no longer be transported through the cutting equipment, but accumulates in or in front of the cutting equipment. The cutting equipment cannot pick up new crop material at the obstruction point. As the harvester continues to move forward, more crop material is usually flattened and pushed under the cutting equipment.

[0058] Machine operators often recognize soil accumulations relatively late. On the one hand, soil accumulations occur below the straw tangles and cannot be directly seen. Second, these often occur on parts of the cutting device that cannot be simultaneously observed by the driver. Blockages caused by soil accumulations are often only detected when material is no longer fed into the cutting device at the point in question. In order to eliminate said crop flow disturbance, harvesting must be interrupted and the material removed manually. The later soil accumulations are discovered, the more material has to be removed, which increases downtime.

[0059] Wrapping of tough straw or green plants such as burdock can also cause disturbances in the crop flow. The material can get tangled around the fingers or ear lifters and block the path of other crop material into the cutter bar or the slot of the cutting equipment. As a result, more material is pushed up or flattened by the cutting equipment and sent under the cutting equipment. It is possible that after a large pile of crop material has formed, the blockage releases itself and the pile is fed into the machine in a pile. If the process is repeated on the same section of the cutting equipment or on another section, the harvester encounters an uneven and fluctuating crop flow, which can cause the threshing equipment to block. If the blockage does not clear itself, the driver must interrupt harvesting and clear the blockage as soon as it is detected.

[0060] Uneven growing conditions in the field cause the height of the plants and the length of the straw to vary. When using conventional cutting equipment or Vario cutting equipment, the cutting height or the table length must be adjusted to the straw length. In addition, the reel as a conveying element must also be adapted to the straw length. This ensures that the crop material falls on the cutting table at the correct distance from the feed auger and is then picked up by the auger and conveyed further. If the straw length is shorter, the crop material falls on the cutting table too far in front of the feed auger and is not sucked in by the auger. More and more crop material accumulates on the cutting table and forms a straw tangle. If this tangle is large enough, the material is pushed to the feed auger by the reel or the crop material in front of the tangle. The accumulation and sudden conveying of crop material creates an abrupt crop flow, which prevents the harvester from working optimally and increases the risk of the harvester getting blocked. If the straw length becomes longer, the straw falls onto the egg-shaped auger with the middle of the stalk. If the crop material is pressed from the front, the stalks stand up on the cutting table and the crop material forms a tangle. The upright stalks are either pulled into the auger in the wrong way (cut side first) or fall off the side and are subsequently bent or conveyed across the auger. This ensures an uneven crop flow. In addition, if the crop material is fed in the wrong way, it will be more difficult to thresh in the threshing drum or the threshing unit needs to be adjusted differently.

[0061] Reference numerals list

[0062] 1 horizontal axis, time axis

[0063] 2 Vertical axis, signal strength

[0064] 3 Basic signals

[0065] 4 Noise component of the signal

[0066] 5 Cutting table

[0067] 6 Cutting equipment

[0068] 7 Restraint equipment, tilt edge

[0069] 8 Extension of restraint device

[0070] 9 Constraints on the sensor installation space on the extension of the equipment

[0071] 9' Constraint Sensor Mounting Space on the Front of the Device

[0072] 10 single measuring points

[0073] 11 Front Axis

[0074] 12 Rear axis

[0075] 13 measuring points

[0076] 13' measuring point

[0077] 14 measuring points

[0078] 14' measuring point

[0079] 15 Axis angle

[0080] 16 Direction of travel

[0081] 17 Conveying direction

[0082] 18 Harvested crop materials

[0083] 20 Harvester

[0084] 21 Conveying equipment

[0085] 22 Equipment for monitoring crop flows

[0086] 23 Conductivity sensor

[0087] 24 Evaluation Equipment

[0088] 26 Screw Conveyor

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the crop flow in a conveying device (21) of crop material (18) of a harvester (1), wherein The electrical conductivity or dielectric conductivity of the crop flow of the transported crop material is measured with at least one conductivity sensor (23) in the transport device and a signal (3, 4) representing the measured conductivity is generated, and the signal is analyzed with an evaluation device (24), Wherein the crop flow is assessed based on development of at least one of the following characteristics of the signal: noise frequency, noise amplitude, and base signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The reduction in the noise frequency is interpreted as a reduction in the flow rate of the crop stream.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A reduction in the noise amplitude and a simultaneous increase in the base signal are interpreted as an indication of a higher moisture content in the crop material flow, and in particular, extreme values ​​of the reduction in the noise amplitude and / or the increase in the base signal are interpreted as an indication of soil accumulation in the conveying device (21).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The conductivity of the crop flow of the conveyed crop material is measured using a plurality of conductivity sensors (23) spaced apart from one another, a signal (3, 4) representing the measured conductivity is generated for each conductivity sensor, and the signals are analyzed and compared with one another using the evaluation device (24).

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that A first portion of the plurality of conductivity sensors (23) is arranged on the conveying device (21), and a second portion of the plurality of conductivity sensors (23) is arranged on other crop material processing and / or conveying components of the harvester (1).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 4 or 5, characterized in that In case at least one of the properties of a first signal: noise frequency, noise amplitude and base signal deviates relative to at least two second signals, it is inferred that the crop flow in the area of ​​the conductivity sensor (23) generating the first signal is abnormal.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In the analysis of the at least one signal (3, 4), at least one throughput signal is taken into account which characterizes the throughput of the crop material (18) through the conveying device (21), for example the drive speed or the cutting power of the harvester (1).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The conductivity of the crop flow of the transported crop material (18) is measured using a multidimensional array of conductivity sensors (23) in the conveying device (21), wherein, in particular, a signal record of the conductivity sensor at a first measuring point is compared with a corresponding signal of one or more conductivity sensors at one or more second measuring points, and wherein if the record matches the signal of one of the second measuring points, the direction and / or speed of the crop flow between the first measuring point and the second measuring point is determined.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that The speed of the crop flow between the first measuring point and the second measuring point is determined by correlating the distance between the first measuring point and the second measuring point with the time between detection of the recording at the first measuring point and the recording at the second measuring point.

10. A harvester (20) comprising a conveying device (21) for crop material (18) and a device (22) for monitoring the crop flow in the conveying device, wherein at least one conductivity sensor (23) for generating a signal (3, 4) representing the electrical conductivity or dielectric conductivity of a crop flow of the transported crop material is arranged on the transport device, and The device for monitoring the crop flow has an evaluation device (24) for analyzing the signal.

11. The harvester according to claim 10, characterized in that: The conveying device (21) is assigned to a cutting device (6) of the harvester (20), wherein the conveying device has a cutting table (5) and wherein the at least one conductivity sensor (23) is arranged on the cutting table.

12. The harvester according to claim 11, characterized in that: The conductivity sensor (23) is arranged on a restraining device (7) of the cutting table (5).

13. The harvester according to claim 12, characterized in that: The restraining device (7) has an extension (8) parallel to the surface of the cutting table (5), and the conductivity sensor (23) is arranged on the extension.

14. A harvester according to any one of the preceding claims 10 to 13, characterized in that A plurality of conductivity sensors (23) are arranged on the cutting table (5), wherein the conductivity sensors are spaced apart from one another, wherein each of the conductivity sensors generates a respective signal (3, 4) representative of the conductivity of the crop flow, and wherein the evaluation device (24) compares the signals with one another.

15. The harvester according to claim 14, characterized in that: At least some of the conductivity sensors (23) are distributed along the width of the cutting table (5), and / or at least some of the conductivity sensors are distributed along the conveying direction (17) of the crop flow through the conveying device (21).

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