METHOD FOR OPERATING A PORTIONING DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a portioning device according to the preamble of claim 1, a portioning device for granules or seeds according to the preamble of claim 11 and an agricultural machine according to the preamble of claim 14.

[0002] From the publication DE 10 2013 215 183 B3 a method for dosing granular material and a dosing device for granular material is known.

[0003] When sowing some plant varieties, it is necessary to combine granules or seeds into portions before placing them on agricultural land, so that the granules or seeds can be dispensed in measured amounts. Granules can contain fertilizer and / or other plant protection products, such as insecticides or fungicides. Portioning devices are used to divide the granules or seeds, but their operation is currently complex and often results in imprecise dispensing.

[0004] It has been found that portioning devices with a rotary-driven portioning element allow for comparatively precise control of portion formation while simultaneously enabling high placement accuracy. In such portioning devices, the portioning element, during a rotational movement within a portioning chamber, gathers the granules or seeds located in the chamber into a single portion, allowing the granules or seeds to be placed in portions onto agricultural land.

[0005] However, when using a corresponding portioning device, it is currently not possible to record specific operating states of the device during operation. Since the operating state of such portioning devices cannot be monitored, their use in a large number of agricultural machines is therefore not possible.

[0006] The object underlying the invention is therefore to enable monitoring of the operation of a portioning device for granules or seeds.

[0007] The problem is solved by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the evaluation of the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive is carried out within the framework of the method according to the invention to determine the quantity of granules or seeds portioned by the portioning device during an application period.

[0008] The invention utilizes the knowledge that by evaluating the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive, torque curves and / or torque patterns or parameter curves and / or parameter patterns can be determined. The torque curves and / or torque patterns or the parameter curves and / or parameter patterns can be assigned to specific operating states. Thus, evaluating the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive allows monitoring of the operation of the portioning device. Specific operating states of the portioning device can also be determined by monitoring whether drive torque limits or parameter limits are exceeded or fallen below using the evaluation device. Furthermore, the torque curves or parameter curves can be used to determine the operating state of the device.Different portioning states are recorded in the parameter profiles. During portioning, i.e., during the rotational movement of the portioning element, the following portioning states are passed through, for example: . i) Collecting the granules or seeds located in a region of the portioning chamber by the rotating portioning element to produce a portion of seeds; ii) Guiding the collected granules or seeds forming a portion of seeds over a rotational angle range by means of the portioning element; iii) Dispensing the produced portion of seeds by the portioning element; iv) Executing a free rotational movement of the portioning element without interaction with granules or seeds.

[0009] The portioning chamber is preferably located in a housing of the portioning device. The evaluation device is preferably an electronic data processing device, which can be part of the portioning device or an agricultural machine. Preferably, the evaluation device also detects the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive.

[0010] The method according to the invention is advantageously further developed in that the detection of a specific operating state of the portioning device is achieved by detecting one or more profile patterns of the drive torque of the rotary drive or of the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive. The one or more profile patterns of the drive torque of the rotary drive or of the parameter related to the drive torque preferably relate to the time-dependent profile of the drive torque or to the time-dependent profile of the parameter. Alternatively or additionally, the detection of a specific operating state of the portioning device is achieved by detecting one or more instances where the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive exceeds and / or falls below a limit value.The limit value can be a drive torque limit or a parameter limit. For example, exceeding a drive torque limit may indicate that the portioning element is blocked or its rotation is impaired. Falling below a torque limit may indicate that there are no or not enough granules or seeds in the portioning chamber, resulting in no or only excessively small portions being formed during operation of the portioning device.

[0011] The method according to the invention is further advantageously developed in that, when evaluating the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive, a drive torque curve or a parameter curve over a rotational angle range, in particular over at least one revolution, of the portioning element is compared with a target curve. If the drive torque curve or the parameter curve deviates from the target curve by more than a tolerance value, it can be assumed that the portioning device is not operating correctly. If the drive torque curve or the parameter curve corresponds to the target curve, it can be assumed that the portioning device is operating correctly.

[0012] In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive is evaluated to detect a blockage of the portioning element and / or to detect an impairment of the rotational movement of the portioning element. A blockage of the portioning element can occur, for example, if one or more foreign bodies become wedged between the portioning element and the wall of the portioning chamber in such a way that rotational movement of the portioning element is prevented. An impairment of the rotational movement of the portioning element can be caused, for example, by contamination of the portioning chamber.If a blockage of the portioning element and / or an impairment of the rotational movement of the portioning element is detected, cleaning of the portioning chamber may be necessary, for example.

[0013] The method according to the invention is further advantageously developed by evaluating the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive to detect the contamination level of the portioning chamber. In this way, contamination monitoring of the portioning chamber can be implemented. This contamination monitoring allows for demand-based cleaning of the portioning chamber. Thus, it is possible to avoid cleaning the portioning chamber at regular cleaning intervals unnecessarily.

[0014] In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive is evaluated to determine the quantity and / or portion size of the produced grain portions. The drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive increases, for example, with an increasing quantity of granules or seeds in a grain portion or with an increasing portion size. If the quantity of granules or seeds in the produced grain portions and / or the portion size of the produced grain portions deviates from expected values, the grain conveying upstream of the portioning device or the grain portion conveying downstream of the portioning device may be impaired. For example, a conveying line may be blocked or contaminated.If the grain conveyance upstream of the portioning device is impaired, an insufficient number of granules or seeds reach the portioning chamber, causing a decrease in the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to its drive torque. Conversely, if the grain portion conveyance downstream of the portioning device is impaired, some or all of the grain portions remain in the portioning chamber, increasing the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to its drive torque. Furthermore, the uniformity of the grain portions produced by the portioning device can be monitored. This allows for monitoring and control of whether the portion dispensing is quantitatively homogeneous along the length of the agricultural field during transport.When several or all of the agricultural machine's metering units are operated using this method, it is possible to verify whether grain conveyance and placement occur in all rows. Furthermore, the quantities of granules or seeds, or the portion sizes of the grain portions produced by the different metering units, can be monitored and compared. This allows for monitoring and control of whether the grain portion delivery is quantitatively homogeneous in the transverse direction while driving across the agricultural field. If the grain portions produced by the individual metering units differ, the grain metering can be adjusted at an upstream metering unit, such as a distribution head. This can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the opening and closing cycles of the distribution flaps.

[0015] According to the invention, the drive torque of the rotary drive, or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive, is evaluated to determine the quantity of granules or seed dispensed by the metering device during an application period. Assuming that the generated granule portions are deposited on the agricultural land, the quantity of granules or seed dispensed in a row during the application period can thus be calculated. By considering all metering devices of an agricultural machine, the total quantity of granules or seed dispensed during the application period can then be determined. Calibration of the agricultural machine is therefore no longer necessary. Furthermore, the quantity of granules calculated from the granule portions can be compared with the quantity of granules or seed dispensed by a central or decentralized metering device.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the rotational drive of the portioning element is automatically interrupted by a control device when a specific operating state of the portioning device is detected. Alternatively or additionally, the control device automatically triggers the output of an acoustic or visual warning when a specific operating state of the portioning device is detected. By automatically interrupting the rotational drive of the portioning element and / or automatically triggering the output of an acoustic or visual warning, damage to the portioning device during operation can be prevented.For example, the rotational drive of the portioning element is interrupted or an acoustic or visual warning is triggered if a blockage of the portioning element and / or an impairment of the rotational movement of the portioning element is detected.

[0017] Furthermore, a method according to the invention is advantageous in which the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive is evaluated to determine the dispensing times of the produced grain portions and / or the remaining conveying time of the produced grain portions until they are deposited onto the agricultural land. When a produced grain portion is dispensed by the portioning element, there is an abrupt drop in the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive. The movement and / or conveying speed of the grain portions upon exiting the portioning chamber or the portioning device can also be determined by evaluating the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive.

[0018] Furthermore, a distribution-oriented method according to the invention is performed in which at least one calibration process is carried out in which no granules or seeds are fed into the portioning chamber and thus are not combined into a portion of grain by means of the portioning element. As a result of this embodiment, the drive torque of the rotary drive can be recorded and considered for evaluation during idle operation. The idle drive torque can be temperature-dependent and / or change over time, e.g., due to increasing contamination. This measure improves the accuracy of the interpretation by basing it on the actual drive torque occurring during the calibration process.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the rotary drive is an electric rotary drive, and the parameter evaluated to detect a specific operating state of the portioning device, and related to the drive torque of the rotary drive, is the current consumption of the rotary drive. The current consumption of the electric rotary drive allows conclusions to be drawn about the torque applied to the portioning element. Current consumption curves and patterns can thus be assigned to specific operating states of the portioning device. Exceeding and / or falling below current consumption limits can also be characteristic of specific operating states of the portioning device. The different portioning states described above can also be detected in the current consumption curve of the rotary drive.Preferably, the evaluation unit also records the current consumption of the electric rotary drive. The electric rotary drive can be an electric motor.

[0020] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by a portioning device of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the evaluation device of the portioning device according to the invention is configured to evaluate the drive torque of the rotary drive or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive in order to detect the quantity of granules or seeds portioned by the portioning device during an application period.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the portioning device according to the invention, the rotary drive is an electric rotary drive, and the evaluation device is configured to evaluate the current consumption of the rotary drive in order to detect a specific operating state of the portioning device. The current consumption of the rotary drive thus represents the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive.

[0022] Furthermore, a portioning device according to the invention is advantageous which is configured to be operated according to the method of one of the embodiments described above. Regarding the advantages and modifications of such a portioning device, reference is made to the advantages and modifications of the method according to the invention.

[0023] The problem underlying the invention is further solved by an agricultural machine of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein one, several, or all portioning devices of the agricultural machine according to the invention are designed according to one of the embodiments described above and / or are configured to be operated according to the method according to one of the embodiments described above. With regard to the advantages and modifications of the agricultural machine according to the invention, reference is made to the advantages and modifications of the portioning device according to the invention and the advantages and modifications of the method according to the invention.

[0024] The agricultural machine can be a seed drill, a seed drill with a granule placement device, or a granule spreading machine without a seeding function.

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the portioning device according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 2 shows the one in the Fig. 1 Fig. 3 shows a portioning device in a lateral sectional view; and Fig. 3 shows several current consumption curves of an electric rotary drive of the portioning device recorded during the operation of a portioning device according to the invention.

[0026] The Fig. 1 and 2 Figure 10 shows a portioning device designed as a granule portioner. The portioning device 10 serves to produce granule portions from a substantially continuous stream of granules which is fed to the portioning device 10.

[0027] The portioning device 10 has a multi-part housing 12. The housing 12 includes a removable housing cover, the housing cover covering a portioning chamber 18 located in the housing 12.

[0028] The housing 12 also includes an inlet channel 16, the inlet channel 16 having an inlet opening 14 for granules 100. The granules 100 can be transported into the portioning device 10 by an airflow loaded with the granules 100 or fall into the portioning device 10 under the influence of gravity.

[0029] The grain portions 102 formed within the portioning chamber 18 can be discharged from the housing 12 of the portioning device 10 via the outlet channel 20 and the outlet opening 22.

[0030] Within the portioning chamber 18, a portioning element 24, designed as a portioning wing, is arranged and is driven by an electric rotary drive 28. The electric rotary drive 28 is an electric motor. The portioning element 24 is configured to combine granules 100 located in the portioning chamber 18 into a granule portion 102 by means of a rotational movement about the axis of rotation 26.

[0031] The electric rotary drive 28 is connected to an evaluation unit (not shown) which is configured to evaluate the current consumption I in order to detect a specific operating state of the portioning device 10. The evaluation unit is an electronic data processing device which can be part of the portioning device 10 or of an agricultural machine in which the portioning device 10 is installed. The evaluation unit also detects the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 during operation of the portioning device 10.

[0032] The current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 allows conclusions to be drawn about the torque applied to the portioning element 24. Torque curves, and thus also current consumption curves 30a-30e, can be assigned to specific operating states of the portioning device 10, thus enabling monitoring of the operation of the portioning device 10.

[0033] The Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows five current consumption curves 30a-30e, which were recorded and evaluated during the operation of a portioning device 10. The diagram plots the current consumption I of an electric rotary drive 28 of the portioning device 10 against the rotation angle φ of a portioning element 24 of the portioning device 10. The current consumption curves 30a-30e shown represent the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 during one revolution of the portioning element 24, i.e., over a rotation angle φ of 360°.

[0034] The current consumption curve 30a refers to a properly functioning portioning device 10. Different portioning states i-iv can be derived from the current consumption curve 30a.

[0035] In a first rotational angle range, the portioning state i exists, in which the granules 100 located in a region of the portioning chamber 18 are collected by the rotating portioning element 24 to produce a granule portion 102. Due to the increasing number of collected granules 100, the rotational resistance at the portioning element 24 increases. This also results in a substantially constant increase in the drive torque and thus also in the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28.

[0036] The subsequent portioning stage ii involves guiding the collected granules 100, forming a granule portion 102, over a rotational angle range by means of the portioning element 24. Within this rotational angle range, no or only a small number of new granules 100 are collected by the portioning element 24. Consequently, the drive torque and thus also the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 remain essentially constant.

[0037] Subsequently, in portioning state iii, the generated grain portion 102 is dispensed by the portioning element 24. Upon dispensing the generated grain portion 102, the rotational resistance at the portioning element 24 decreases abruptly. This also results in a significant drop in the drive torque and thus also in the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28.

[0038] After the generated grain portion 102 has been specified, the portioning element 24 performs a free rotary movement in the portioning state iv without interaction with granules 100. Since no granules are pushed in front of the portioning element 24, the rotational resistance at the portioning element 24 is minimal. Consequently, the drive torque and the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 are also at a low, constant level.

[0039] During operation of the portioning device 10, the recorded current consumption curves 30a-30e are compared by the evaluation unit with a target curve in order to determine whether the portioning device 10 is functioning correctly. In this case, the target curve essentially corresponds to the current consumption curve 30a.

[0040] Current consumption curve 30b was recorded during operation of the portioning device, at which time the portioning chamber 18 of the portioning device 10 was dirty. The current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 is increased due to the contamination of the portioning chamber 18, with the curve pattern corresponding to the curve pattern of current consumption curve 30a, except for a substantially constant deviation in the value. An evaluation of current consumption curve 30b thus reveals that there is an impairment of the rotational movement of the portioning element 24, which leads to an increased current consumption I at the electric rotary drive 28. However, since the curve pattern of current consumption curve 30b shows the different portioning states i-iv, it can be assumed that the portioning process in the portioning chamber 18 continues to function correctly.

[0041] The current consumption curve 30c was recorded during operation of the portioning device 10, during which time the portioning chamber 18 was blocked. An evaluation of the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 shows that it is far above the expected target values. Furthermore, no portioning states can be derived from the current consumption curve 30c. This suggests that the portioning chamber 18 is blocked.

[0042] The current consumption curve 30d was also recorded and evaluated during operation of the portioning device 10. During this period, a feed line upstream of the portioning device 10 was blocked, preventing any granules 100 from entering the portioning chamber 18 of the portioning device 10. The current consumption curve 30d can also result from a calibration process in which no granules or seeds 100 are fed into the portioning chamber 18 and thus are not combined into a grain portion by the portioning element 24. Such a calibration process serves to determine the drive torque at idle. Calibration processes are expediently carried out before the start of actual operation and / or repeatedly during operation, preferably when the dispensing of grain portions is not required, such as at the headland.Since the portioning element 24 experiences no resistance from the carrying of granules 100 during its rotation, the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 remains at a substantially constant low level throughout the entire rotation. Because there are no granules 100 in the portioning chamber 18, the portioning element 24 can rotate essentially freely, resulting in the low current consumption level shown. Therefore, by evaluating the current consumption curve 30d, it can be determined that no granules 100 enter the portioning chamber 18.

[0043] The current consumption curve 30e was also recorded during operation of the portioning device 10. The abrupt increase in the current consumption I of the electric rotary drive 28 of the portioning device 10 indicates that a blockage or jamming of the portioning element 24 is present. A blockage can be caused, for example, by jamming of the portioning element 24 due to a foreign body located in the portioning chamber 18.

[0044] If the evaluation unit identifies current consumption profiles 30b-30e that deviate from a target profile, a control unit can deactivate the electric rotary drive 28 or initiate the output of an acoustic or visual warning so that the machine operator is informed of the detected operating status of the portioning unit 10. The operator can then initiate appropriate countermeasures, for example, cleaning the portioning chamber 18. Reference symbol list

[0045] 10 Portioning device 12 Housing 14 Inlet opening 16 Inlet channel 18 Portioning chamber 20 Outlet channel 22 Outlet opening 24 Portioning element 26 Rotation axis 28 Rotation drive 30a-30e Current consumption curves 100 granules 102 grain portion Current consumption φ Rotation angle i-iv portioning states

Claims

1. Method for operating a portioning device (10) for granules or seeds (100), comprising the steps of: - rotary driving of a portioning element (24) of the portioning device (10) by means of a rotary drive (28), the portioning element (24) being arranged in a portioning chamber (18) and, by means of a rotary movement, combining granules or seeds (100) located in the portioning chamber (18) to form a grain portion (102); and - evaluating the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or a parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) by an evaluation device in order to detect a specific operating state of the portioning device (10); characterized in that the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) is evaluated in order to detect the quantity of granules or seed portioned by the portioning device (10) during an application period.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a specific operating state of the portioning device (10) is detected by detecting one or more curve patterns of the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28), and / or by detecting one or more instances of the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) exceeding and / or failing to meet a limit value.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, when evaluating the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter associated with the drive torque of the rotary drive (28), a drive torque curve or a parameter curve over a rotation angle range, in particular over at least one revolution, of the portioning element (24) is compared with a target curve.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) is evaluated in order to detect at least one of the following specific operating states of the portioning device (10): - a blockage of the portioning element (24); - an impairment of the rotational movement of the portioning element (24).

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) is evaluated in order to detect the state of contamination of the portioning chamber (18).

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) is evaluated in order to determine grain quantities of the produced grain portions (102) and / or portion sizes of the produced grain portions (102).

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one of the following steps: - automatic interruption of the rotary drive (28) of the portioning element (24) by a control device when a specific operating state of the portioning device (10) is detected; - automatic initiation of the output of an acoustic or visual indication by a control device when a specific operating state of the portioning device (10) is detected.

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) is evaluated in order to determine the delivery times of produced grain portions (102) and / or a remaining conveying duration of the produced grain portions (102) until they are deposited on an agricultural area.

9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one calibration process is carried out in which no granules or seeds (100) are fed into the portioning chamber (18) and thus are not combined to form a grain portion by means of the portioning element (24).

10. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary drive (28) is an electric rotary drive and the parameter evaluated in order to detect a specific operating state of the portioning device (10) and related to the drive torque of the rotary drive is the power consumption (I) of the rotary drive (28).

11. Portioning device (10) for granules or seeds (100), comprising - a portioning element (24) which is arranged in a portioning chamber (18) of a housing (12) of the portioning device (10) and is designed to combine granules or seeds (100) located in the portioning chamber (18) to form a grain portion (102) by means of a rotational movement; - a rotary drive (28) which is designed to drive the portioning element (24) in a rotary manner; and - an evaluation device which is designed to evaluate the drive torque of the rotary drive or a parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) in order to detect a specific operating state of the portioning device (10); characterized in that the evaluation device is designed to evaluate the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) or the parameter related to the drive torque of the rotary drive (28) in order to detect the quantity of granules or seed portioned by the portioning device (10) during an application period.

12. Portioning device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the rotary drive (28) is an electric rotary drive and the evaluation device is designed to evaluate the current consumption (I) of the rotary drive (28) in order to detect a specific operating state of the portioning device (10).

13. Portioning device (10) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the portioning device (10) is designed to be operated in accordance with the method according to any of claims 1 to 10.

14. Agricultural machine, comprising - one or more portioning devices (10) for granules or seeds (100); characterized in that one, a plurality of, or all portioning devices (10) are designed according to any of claims 11 to 13 and / or are designed to be operated in accordance with the method according to any of claims 1 to 10.