AGRICULTURAL HARVESTING MACHINE WITH MEANS FOR DETERMINING THE THOUSAND-GRAIN WEIGHT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an agricultural harvesting machine and a method for determining the thousand-grain mass of a quantity of grains in an agricultural harvesting machine.

[0002] From DE29619012U1 a laboratory system for determining a thousand grain mass is known.

[0003] A combine harvester with a counting sensor is known from DE102016105488A1.

[0004] From US patent 5,957,773 A, a combine harvester is known which includes, on the one hand, a mass sensor for determining the mass of a grain container and, on the other hand, a counting sensor that enables the determination of a number of grains.

[0005] The object of the invention is to determine the thousand-grain mass on a harvesting machine.

[0006] The problem is solved by an agricultural harvesting machine according to claim 1.

[0007] From the mass and number of grains, it is possible to determine the thousand-grain mass directly on the harvester. The thousand-grain mass is the mass of one thousand grains. It is therefore equivalent to the average grain mass multiplied by a factor of one thousand. Accordingly, the thousand-grain mass can be determined from any number of grains by dividing the total grain mass by the number of grains and multiplying by one thousand. It is not necessary to determine the mass of exactly one thousand grains. Since the thousand-grain mass is equivalent to the average grain mass, this can also be used.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the mass sensor is designed as an optical component sensor and is configured to measure the optical transmission of the grains. Determining the mass from the optical transmission of the grains enables a particularly fast and continuous mass determination.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the mass sensor is designed and configured to measure in the near-infrared range, preferably in the wavelength range between 750 nm and 2700 nm, and particularly preferably between 750 nm and 1100 nm. In the range between 750 nm and 2700 nm, specific properties of the grains, especially the masses of a multitude of constituents, can be determined particularly well using optical transmission. Therefore, this wavelength range is well suited for mass determination via optical transmission. The range between 750 nm and 1100 nm can be measured with inexpensive silicon detectors and offers good determination of specific grain properties. Therefore, the range between 750 nm and 1100 nm is particularly cost-effective.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the mass sensor is designed and configured to measure mass-proportional absorption spectra and to determine the mass of one, several, or all of the grain constituents—water, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats—from these spectra. The mass of the grains can then be easily deduced from the mass of the constituents.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the mass sensor is designed and configured to determine the mass of the grains from the masses of the constituents using a calibration model. The calibration model outputs the mass of the unmeasured constituents of the grains in relation to the measured constituents. Using the calibration model, the total mass of the grains can be deduced from a measurement of one or more constituents. The unmeasured constituents can, in particular, include trace elements.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the mass sensor comprises a glass tube, the glass tube being connected at one end to the counting sensor. The grains can be measured in the transmission through the glass tube. Due to the direct connection with the counting sensor, the same grains that are measured by the mass sensor are counted.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the mass sensor includes a load cell. A load cell can be used as an alternative to an optical sensor. A load cell measures the weight force acting on the grains inside the load cell.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the counting sensor includes an impact plate. The impact plate counts the grains that fall onto it. Each grain generates vibrations upon impact. These vibrations can be measured, for example, with a percussion sensor, and the number of grains can be deduced from the vibrations.

[0015] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the counting sensor includes a light barrier. A counting sensor can be designed in an alternative manner using a light barrier. Each grain that passes the counting sensor briefly interrupts the light barrier, and this interruption is detected and counted by the counting sensor.

[0016] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for determining the thousand-grain mass of a quantity of grains in an agricultural harvesting machine according to claim 10. This method can be carried out with the disclosed harvesting machine.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment. The figures show in Fig. 1: an agricultural harvesting machine, Fig. 2: an optical ingredient sensor as a mass sensor and a counting sensor with a baffle plate.

[0018] Figure 1Figure 1 shows an agricultural harvesting machine 1. In this example, the harvesting machine 1 is a combine harvester. The combine harvester 1 takes in crop 16 with a header 15. The crop 16 is conveyed to the threshing unit 13 by an inclined conveyor 14. In the threshing unit 13, separator 12, and cleaner 11, the grains are separated from the remaining crop. In this example, the separator 12 is designed as a straw walker; other designs, such as rotor separation, are possible. The cleaner 11 consists of several aerated sieve stages in this example. The grains are transported by an elevator 10 into a collection container 9. The remaining parts of the crop 16 exit the combine harvester 1 at the rear. The parts of the crop 16 discharged by the separator 12 are then fed through a chopper 17. The remaining part of the harvested crop 16 is guided over deflector plates 4. In the remaining part of the harvested crop 16, if necessary...Existing grains are counted with the impact plates 4 behind the separation 12 and the cleaning 11.

[0019] Elevator 10 is equipped with a mass sensor 3 and a counting sensor 2. A small portion of the grains conveyed by elevator 10 exits through an outlet opening and falls through a tube 8 into mass sensor 3. Mass sensor 3 measures the mass of the grains within it. The grains from mass sensor 3 then fall into counting sensor 2. Counting sensor 2 counts the grains falling from mass sensor 3. The grains then fall back into elevator 10 through another tube 7 and an inlet opening.

[0020] The mass of the grains, determined by mass sensor 3, and the number of grains, determined by counting sensor 2, are transmitted to a processing unit 6. In this example, the processing unit 6 is located in a driver's cab. The processing unit 6 calculates the thousand-grain mass from the mass and number of grains. The thousand-grain mass can be displayed to the driver, in this example via a screen 5 in the driver's cab, saved, transmitted to external systems, e.g., a farm management system, and / or used to control working units, e.g., the threshing unit 13, the separation unit 12, and / or the cleaning unit 11.

[0021] Figure 2Figure 3 shows an optical ingredient sensor as a mass sensor 3 and a counting sensor 2 with a baffle plate 4. The mass sensor 3 comprises a light source 20, a light sensor 21, and a hollow chamber 22. The light source 20 emits light, particularly in the near-infrared range. In this example, the light source 20 is a filament. The light sensor 21 is particularly sensitive in the wavelength range of 750 nm to 1100 nm. The hollow chamber 22 is highly reflective on the inside, especially in the wavelength range of 750 nm to 1100 nm. In this example, the hollow chamber is coated on the inside with polytetrafluoroethylene. A spherical shape is advantageous for homogeneous reflections in the hollow chamber 22. The hollow chamber 22 thus corresponds to an integrating sphere. A tube 8 leads through the hollow chamber 22. The tube 8 is transparent, at least within the hollow chamber 22, particularly in the wavelength range of 750 nm to 1100 nm.Furthermore, optical covers 23 are located within the hollow chamber 22 in front of the light source 20 and the light sensor 21. The covers 23 in front of the light source 20 and / or the light sensor 21 are optional. The covers 23 prevent light from passing directly from the light source 20 to the light sensor 21, thus improving the measurement signal of the light sensor 21. Preferably, at least one cover 23, and particularly preferably two covers 23, are present.

[0022] The grains fall through the hollow chamber 22 inside the tube 8. The grains absorb specific wavelengths of the light emitted by the light source 20. The light modulated in this way is measured by the light sensor 21. The measurement signal from the light sensor 21 is forwarded to a processing unit 6. The processing unit 6 determines the mass of the grains inside the hollow chamber 22 from the measurement signal of the light sensor 21 using a calibration model.

[0023] The grains fall from mass sensor 3 through tube 8 into counting sensor 2. Counting sensor 2 includes a baffle plate 4. Each grain that falls onto the baffle plate causes it to vibrate. These vibrations are evaluated by the counting sensor, and the count is transmitted to the processing unit 6. If the falling velocity of the grains and the geometric dimensions of sensors 2, 3, and tube 8 are known, the count from counting sensor 2 can be correlated with a measurement signal from mass sensor 3. The processing unit 6 determines the thousand-grain mass of the grains from their mass and the corresponding count. Reference symbol list

[0024] 1 Harvester 2 Counting sensor 3 Mass sensor 4 Baffle plate 5 Screen 6 Calculation unit 7 Pipe 8 Pipe 9 Collection container 10 Elevator 11 Cleaning 12 Separation 13 Threshing unit 14 Inclined conveyor 15 Cutting unit 16 Crop 17 Chopper 20 Light source 21 Light sensor 22 Hollow chamber 23 Cover

Claims

1. Agricultural harvesting machine (1), namely a combine harvester, wherein the harvesting machine (1) comprises a counting sensor (2), wherein the counting sensor (2) is provided and set up to determine a number of grains, wherein the harvesting machine (1) comprises a mass sensor (3), wherein the mass sensor (3) is provided and set up to determine a mass of the grains, wherein the mass sensor (3) and the counting sensor (2) are mounted on an elevator (10), wherein the harvesting machine (1) is provided and set up to determine the thousand-grain mass of the grains from the number of grains and the mass of the grains by virtue of the mass of the grains determined by the mass sensor (3) and the number of grains determined by the counting sensor (2) being transmitted to a computing unit (6) and this computing unit (6) determining the thousand-grain mass from the mass of the grains and the number of grains, wherein the thousand-grain mass is output, stored, transmitted to external locations and / or used to control working units.

2. Agricultural harvesting machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the mass sensor (3) is designed as an optical ingredient sensor and is provided and set up to measure an optical transmission of the grains.

3. Agricultural harvesting machine (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the mass sensor (3) is provided and set up to carry out measurements in the near-infrared range, preferably in the wavelength range between 750 nm and 2700 nm, particularly preferably between 750 nm and 1100 nm.

4. Agricultural harvesting machine (1) according to either of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the mass sensor (3) is provided and set up to measure mass-proportional absorption spectra and to use the absorption spectra to determine the mass of one, a plurality or all of the following ingredients: water, carbohydrates, proteins and fats of the grains.

5. Agricultural harvesting machine (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the harvesting machine (1) is provided and set up to determine the mass of the grains from the masses of the ingredients by means of a calibration model.

6. Agricultural harvesting machine (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the mass sensor (3) comprises a glass tube (8), wherein the glass tube (8) is connected at one end to the counting sensor (2).

7. Agricultural harvesting machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the mass sensor (3) comprises a load cell.

8. Agricultural harvesting machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counting sensor (2) comprises a baffle plate (4).

9. Agricultural harvesting machine (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the counting sensor (2) comprises a light barrier.

10. Method for determining a thousand-grain mass of a quantity of grains in an agricultural harvesting machine (1), namely a combine harvester, wherein a counting sensor (2) of the agricultural harvesting machine (1) determines a number of grains, wherein a mass sensor (3) of the agricultural harvesting machine (1) determines a mass of the grains, wherein the mass sensor (3) and the counting sensor (2) are mounted on an elevator (10), wherein the thousand-grain mass of the grains is determined from the number of grains and the mass of the grains by virtue of the mass of the grains determined by the mass sensor (3) and the number of grains determined by the counting sensor (2) being transmitted to a computing unit (6) and this computing unit (6) determining the thousand-grain mass from the mass of the grains and the number of grains, wherein the thousand-grain mass is output, stored, transmitted to external locations and / or used to control working units.

11. Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the mass sensor (3) is designed as an optical ingredient sensor and measures the grains in optical transmission.

12. Method according to either of Claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the mass sensor (3) carries out measurements in the near-infrared range, preferably in the wavelength range between 750 nm and 2700 nm, particularly preferably between 750 nm and 1100 nm.

13. Method according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the mass sensor (3) measures mass-proportional absorption spectra and the absorption spectra are used to determine the mass of one, a plurality or all of the following ingredients: water, carbohydrates, proteins and fats of the grains.

14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that the mass of the grains is determined from the masses of the ingredients by means of a calibration model.

15. Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the mass sensor is designed as a load cell and measures the weight of the grains.