Addition work support system

Abstract

To provide a technology for preventing omission of addition of a silage additive.SOLUTION: An addition work support system includes: a flow rate measurement unit that is disposed in the middle of a flow path for adding a silage additive to forage crops discharged from a discharge chute of a harvester and that measures an instantaneous flow rate of the silage additive; and a flow rate display unit that displays the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit, the flow rate display unit being disposed at a position visible to an operator of the harvester.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an additive operation assistance system. [Background technology]

[0002] Silage is known, produced by fermenting forage crops such as grass and corn. Silage is widely used as livestock feed. In silage production, a method is adopted in which a silage conditioner containing formic acid is added when forage crops are harvested with a harvester to lower the pH and prevent the silage from spoiling. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a silage harvester equipped with a silage additive spray pump. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-108570 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] At forage crop harvesting sites, harvester operators need to operate equipment for adding silage conditioners when harvesting forage crops. However, if the operator forgets to add the silage conditioner due to human error, the silage conditioner may not be added to the forage crops.

[0005] The technology of the present disclosure aims to provide a technology for preventing the omission of addition of a silage conditioner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (Aspect 1) a flow rate measuring unit that is disposed midway through a flow path for adding a silage conditioner to the forage crops discharged from a discharge chute of a harvester that collects the forage crops, and that measures the instantaneous flow rate of the silage conditioner; a flow rate display unit that displays the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit, the flow rate display unit being arranged in a position visible to an operator of the harvester; An additive work assistance system comprising: (Aspect 2) The addition operation assistance system according to aspect 1, An alarm device that warns of inactivity of a liquid feed pump that feeds the silage conditioner or of a remaining amount of the silage conditioner when the flow rate measuring unit does not measure the predetermined amount of instantaneous flow rate within a predetermined time after receiving a descending signal from the pickup device of the harvester. The device may also include: (Aspect 3) The addition operation assistance system according to aspect 1, The flow rate measuring unit measures an integrated flow rate of the silage conditioner, An alarm device that warns of the remaining amount of the silage conditioner when the cumulative flow rate indicates that the remaining amount of the silage conditioner loaded on the harvester is about 10% of the tank capacity. The device may also include: (Aspect 4) The addition operation assistance system according to aspect 1, The silage adjusting agent may be provided with an alarm device that warns that the power supply to the liquid supply pump that supplies the silage adjusting agent is turned off. (Aspect 5) The addition operation assistance system according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, a timer device that starts operation of a liquid delivery pump that delivers the silage conditioning agent after a predetermined time has elapsed since receiving a lowering signal from the pickup device of the harvester; The device may also include:

[0007] The contents described in the means for solving the problems can be combined as much as possible within the scope of the problems and technical ideas of this disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the omission of addition of a silage conditioner. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a harvester on which an addition amount adjusting system according to an embodiment is mounted. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the addition operation assistance system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control sequence relating to the operation of adding an adjuster in the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process of adding the adjuster in the comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each configuration and combination thereof in each embodiment is an example, and addition, omission, substitution, and other modifications of the configuration are possible as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention. The present disclosure is not limited by the embodiments, but is limited only by the claims.

[0011] <Embodiment> 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a harvester (forage harvester) 100 equipped with an addition amount adjustment system according to an embodiment is harvesting cut-down grass 201 in a farm field. In this embodiment, an example of a system in which the harvester 100 adds a silage conditioner when harvesting grass will be described, but the feed crop is not limited to grass and may be corn or the like.

[0012] The harvester 100 is a self-propelled harvesting machine that has a drive engine such as a diesel engine inside a vehicle body 101 and is operated by an operator 200 inside a control room 101A. The harvester 100 collects grass 201 from a harvesting mouth at the tip of a pickup device 102 attached to the front of the vehicle body 101 while self-propelled. The pickup device 102 is a mechanism that moves the harvesting mouth up and down, and is capable of reciprocating between an initial position and a grass collection position. The grass 201 has been cut in advance, and furrows of the grass 201 have been formed in the field. The harvester 100 collects the grass 201 by self-propelling over the furrows, cuts the collected grass 201 into small pieces, and then discharges the grass 201 into the bed of a dump truck traveling alongside. Specifically, the harvester 100 uses a blower to blow the grass 201 into a discharge chute 103 attached to the upper side of the vehicle body 101 , and discharges the grass 201 from a discharge outlet 103 A provided at the tip of the discharge chute 103 .

[0013] The addition operation assistance system according to this embodiment prevents forgetting, due to human error, the operation of adding a silage conditioner (hereinafter referred to as "conditioner") to grass 201 discharged from the discharge port 103A of the discharge chute 103. The conditioner 105 contains formic acid and water. The conditioner 105 is relatively acidic. Adding the conditioner 105 to the forage crop lowers the pH of the forage crop, thereby preventing the silage from spoiling. A tank 104 for the conditioner is mounted at the rear of the vehicle body 101 of the harvester 100, and the tank 104 is filled with the conditioner 105. The vehicle body 101 also carries a liquid feed pump 106 that sucks up and discharges the conditioner from the tank 104, and pipes 107 and 108 that carry the conditioner 105 to a discharge outlet 103A. One end of the pipe 107 is connected to the inlet side of the liquid feed pump 106, and the other end of the pipe 107 extends into the tank 104. One end of the pipe 108 is connected to the outlet side of the liquid feed pump 106, and the pipe 108 extends above the discharge chute 103, with a tip opening 108A (the other end) of the pipe 108 being located above the discharge outlet 103A. The driving power for the liquid supply pump 106 may be supplied from electricity generated by the operation of the drive engine of the harvester 100, or from a battery mounted on the vehicle body 101 for driving the liquid supply pump 106.

[0014] The addition operation assistance system according to this embodiment includes a flow rate measurement unit 1 and a flow rate display unit 2 that displays the flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit 1. The flow rate measurement unit 1 and the flow rate display unit 2 form a separate head amplifier type flow meter. The flow rate measurement unit 1 is disposed midway through the flow path for adding the regulator 105 to the grass 201. In this embodiment, it is disposed midway through the pipe 108 and measures the instantaneous flow rate and cumulative flow rate of the regulator 105 flowing through the pipe 108. The flow rate display unit 2 is disposed in the cockpit 101A so that the display contents can be seen by the operator 200 while operating the machine. The flow rate display unit 2 can simultaneously display two types of flow rate: the instantaneous flow rate and the cumulative flow rate. In this embodiment, the instantaneous flow rate is set to the flow rate per second.

[0015] The addition operation assistance system according to this embodiment also includes an alarm device 3 that issues an alarm to the operator 200 to prevent any omissions in the addition of the adjuster. The alarm device 3 can be, for example, a speaker that emits an alarm or a lamp that emits light in a predetermined color. The addition operation assistance system also includes a timer device 4 that starts operating the liquid feed pump 106 a predetermined time after receiving a descent signal indicating that the pickup device 102 has descended to a position where the grass 201 is to be collected. The control device of the harvester 100 outputs a signal (a voltage value of 12 V) indicating whether the pickup device 102 is located at the initial position or the collection position. The timer device 4 starts operating the liquid feed pump 106 a predetermined time after receiving this signal. The control room 101A also includes a volume box 106A that can adjust the on / off and output volume of the liquid feed pump 106. The operator 200 can adjust the on / off and output volume of the liquid feed pump 106 by operating the operation system of the volume box 106A. The timer device 4 is also electrically connected to the volume box 106A, and can operate the liquid feed pump 106 in response to a control signal that starts the operation of the liquid feed pump 106.

[0016] 1, the alarm device 3 and the timer device 4 are arranged in the cockpit 101A, but they can be arranged in any position in the vehicle body 101. The alarm device 3 is preferably arranged in the cockpit 101A or in a position visible to the operator 200 so that the operator 200 can be aware of the warning sound and the illumination of the lamp.

[0017] In this embodiment, each device is controlled by a relay sequence circuit configured to include a timer device 4. The relay sequence circuit receives signals from the flow rate measurement unit 1, the flow rate display unit 2, and the control device of the harvester 100, and controls the notification device 3. This allows the addition work assistance system to issue a notification using the notification device 3.

[0018] Next, the operation of adding the adjusting agent 105 using the adding operation assist system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the outline of the adding operation assist system according to this embodiment. 2 is a conceptual diagram. In Figure 2, the explanation will focus on the flow of grass 201 and the flow of conditioner 105. The grass 201 is collected from a harvesting mouth attached to the tip of the pickup device 102 and sent to the discharge outlet 103A of the discharge chute 103 via the pickup device 102. After the timer device 4 receives a descent signal indicating that the pickup device 102 has descended to a position to collect the grass 201, the timer device 4 controls the volume box 106A to delay the start of liquid supply by the liquid supply pump 106 so that the conditioner 105 is sprayed from the tip port 108A in time with the grass 201 reaching the discharge outlet 103A. The timer device 4 performs delay control to start the operation of the liquid supply pump 106 after the above-mentioned predetermined time has elapsed.

[0019] The flow rate measuring unit 1 measures the instantaneous flow rate and cumulative flow rate of the adjuster 105 delivered by the delivery pump 106 and transmits the information to the flow rate display unit 2. The flow rate display unit 2 displays the instantaneous flow rate and cumulative flow rate. If the flow rate measuring unit 1 does not measure a predetermined amount of instantaneous flow rate, the alarm device 3 notifies the operator 200 of an abnormality. For example, in this embodiment, if a predetermined amount of instantaneous flow rate is not measured within a predetermined time after receiving a descending signal from the pickup device 102, it is assumed that the adjuster in the tank 104 has run out. In this case, the alarm device 3 notifies the operator 200 of a shortage of adjuster 105.

[0020] If the alarm device 3 detects that the drive power supply for the liquid feed pump 106 in the volume box 106A remains off even though the signal indicating that the pickup device 102 has descended to the recovery position for the grass 201 is on, the alarm device 3 will notify the operator 200 that the liquid feed pump 106 is not operating and that the adjuster 105 is not being fed, thereby making the operator 200 aware that the liquid feed has been forgotten to start. The alarm device 3 is controlled by the above-mentioned relay sequence circuit.

[0021] Next, the adjuster addition operation flow by the addition work support system according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control sequence related to the adjuster addition operation. In step S101, the setting of the flow meter measurement unit 1 is performed. For example, the lower limit value L of the instantaneous flow rate is set. In this embodiment, when the instantaneous flow rate falls below the lower limit value L, it is determined that a predetermined amount of instantaneous flow rate is not measured, and the notification device 3 is set to notify an abnormality.

[0022] In the next step S102 after step S101, the flow rate measurement of the head amplifier flow meter is branched into instantaneous flow rate measurement and integration end measurement. These flow rate measurements are performed simultaneously and in parallel.

[0023] In the next step S103 after step S102, the instantaneous flow rate of the adjuster 105 is measured by the flow meter measurement unit 1. In the next step S104 after step S103, it is determined whether the instantaneous flow rate U is smaller than the lower limit value L (U < L). This determination is made by the flow meter measurement unit 1. When the instantaneous flow rate U is larger than the lower limit value L (U > L, NO), the process returns to the process of step S103. On the other hand, when the instantaneous flow rate U is smaller than the lower limit value L (U < L, YES), the process proceeds to the process of step S105. In the process of step S105, an abnormality by the notification device 3 is notified. The notification device 3 warns of the inoperation of the liquid feed pump 106 or the exhaustion of the adjuster when a predetermined amount of instantaneous flow rate is not measured.

[0024] Meanwhile, in step S106, which follows step S102, the flow rate measuring unit 1 measures the integrated flow rate of the regulator 105. In step S107, which follows step S106, it is determined whether the integrated flow rate PV has reached 90% of the tank capacity SV. In this embodiment, the threshold value for issuing a warning is set to 90% of the tank capacity SV, and a warning is issued about the remaining amount of regulator 105 just before the integrated flow rate reaches 90% of the tank capacity SV and the regulator 105 runs out. This threshold value can be set arbitrarily. The integrated flow rate PV is the sum of the instantaneous flow rates U. This determination is made by the flow rate measuring unit 1. If the integrated flow rate PV is less than 90% of the tank capacity SV, the process returns to step S106, and the integrated flow rate P When V becomes equal to 90% of the tank capacity SV, the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, an abnormality is notified by the alarm device 3. The alarm device 3 issues a warning about the remaining amount of the adjuster 105 just before the adjuster 105 runs out, in this embodiment, when the remaining amount of the adjuster 105 reaches about 10% of the tank capacity.

[0025] Furthermore, in step S201, the pickup device 102 is lowered, and collection of the grass 201 begins. In step S202, which is the next step after step S201, delay control is executed by the timer device 4, and as described above, delay control is executed to start operation of the liquid feed pump 106 after a predetermined time has elapsed. In step S203, which is the next step after step S202, the liquid feed pump 106 is controlled to be on / off by switching the primary power supply of the volume box 106A on and off using a contact in a relay sequence circuit. Note that the power switch of the volume box 106A is set to the on state in advance, and the liquid feed pump 106 can be controlled to be on / off by controlling the primary power supply of the volume box 106A within the relay sequence circuit. In step S204, which is the next step after step S203, it is determined whether or not an output signal to turn on the liquid feed pump 106 is present. If the signal is present, the process returns to step S203, and if the signal is not present, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, which follows step S204, the notification device 3 notifies that the liquid feed pump 106 is not operating. This allows the notification device 3 of the addition operation assist system to warn that the power to the liquid feed pump 106 is off.

[0026] In the addition operation assistance system according to this embodiment, a flow rate measuring unit 1 that outputs a digital output signal is provided, thereby measuring the instantaneous flow rate of the adjuster 105 and monitoring whether the adjuster 105 is being added to the grass 201. This makes it possible to eliminate empty addition of the adjuster 105 and prevent omission of addition of the silage adjuster.

[0027] The flow rate measuring unit 1 can also measure the integrated flow rate, and when the integrated flow rate becomes equal to the capacity of the tank 104, it can issue a warning that the conditioner in the tank 104 has run out. This makes it possible to prevent the silage conditioner from being omitted from addition.

[0028] Furthermore, if the flow rate measuring unit 1 does not measure the instantaneous flow rate within a predetermined time after receiving the descending signal from the pickup device 102, the alarm device 3 issues a warning that the liquid supply pump 106 is not operating. When the conditioner 105 in the tank is used up, the grass collection operation can be interrupted and the conditioner 105 can be replenished.

[0029] Furthermore, the timer device 4 can delay the start of the liquid feed pump 106. This allows the regulator 105 to be added from the time the grass 201 reaches the discharge port 103A, preventing unnecessary consumption of the regulator 105 and reducing adhesion of the regulator to the harvester 100. Because the regulator 105 is acidic, reducing adhesion of the regulator to the harvester 100 can prevent corrosion of the harvester 100.

[0030] Next, the addition of a regulator in a comparative example will be described using Figure 4. Figure 4 is a flow chart relating to the addition of a regulator in the comparative example. In the comparative example, the addition operation assistance system according to this embodiment is not used. In Figure 4, the explanation will focus on the flow of grass 201 and the flow of regulator 105. Grass 201 is collected from the cutting opening at the tip of the pickup device 102 and sent to the discharge outlet 103A of the discharge chute 103. When the volume box 106A receives a down signal indicating that the pickup device 102 has descended to a position to collect the grass 201, the volume box 106A controls the start of liquid supply by the liquid supply pump 106. In the comparative example, the liquid supply pump 106 is turned on in conjunction with the pickup device, so that the regulator 105 is sprayed before the grass 201 reaches the discharge outlet 103A. This sprayed regulator 105 is not added to the grass 201 and is wasted or is not harvested. It adheres to Star 100 and causes corrosion.

[0031] Furthermore, since there is no alarm device that notifies whether or not the addition of the adjusting agent 105 has started, the operator 200 has no choice but to check whether or not the liquid supply pump 106 is operating by visually checking the operating system of the volume box 106A, which may result in the operator not realizing that the liquid supply pump 106 is not operating.

[0032] Furthermore, a flow meter 110 is provided to measure the flow rate of the conditioner 105 sent from the liquid sending pump 106, but this flow meter 110 is a float type and measures the instantaneous flow rate, but the operator 200 cannot visually check the flow meter 110 installed in the discharge chute 103 and cannot monitor the addition of the conditioner 105 by the flow meter 110. The operator 200 does not notice the empty addition because he fails to visually check the flow meter 110, and this results in the generation of pasture 201 to which the conditioner 105 has not been added.

[0033] Furthermore, the operator 200 can confirm that the adjuster 105 in the tank 104 has run out by visually inspecting the inside of the tank 104 or by checking the state of the adjuster 105 being sprayed, but neglecting to do so may result in the adjuster 105 not being added.

[0034] Furthermore, if the liquid delivery pump 106 is turned off during operation and then forgotten to start delivery again, an addition leak will occur.

[0035] On the other hand, according to the addition work assistance system of this embodiment, by using a head amplifier type flow meter equipped with a flow rate measuring unit 1 and a flow rate display unit 2, the operator 200 can visually check the flow rate display unit 2 from the cockpit 101A and can monitor the instantaneous flow rate of the adjuster 105, thereby preventing empty addition of the adjuster 105.

[0036] Furthermore, when the capacity of the tank 104 and the cumulative flow rate become the same, a warning can be given that the conditioner in the tank 104 has run out. This makes it possible to prevent the silage conditioner from being omitted from addition.

[0037] Furthermore, the operator 200 can now be made aware that the main power supply to the liquid feed pump 106 has been forgotten to be turned on. In step S204 described above, the presence or absence of an output signal from the liquid feed pump 106 is monitored, thereby monitoring the power supply to the liquid feed pump 106 output from the volume box 106A, and it is possible to detect that the power switch of the volume box 106A has been forgotten to be turned on. This makes it possible to prevent forgetting to add the adjusting agent 105 due to forgetting to start the operation of the liquid feed pump 106.

[0038] Furthermore, by making it possible to delay the start of the liquid sending pump 106 using the timer device 4, it is possible to prevent unnecessary consumption of the adjusting agent 105.

[0039] <Other> Although the embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described above, each aspect disclosed in this specification can be combined with other features disclosed in this specification. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1: Flow measurement section 2:Flow rate display section 3: Alarm device 4: Timer device 100: Harvester 101: Body 101A: Cockpit 102: Pickup device 103: Discharge chute 103A: Outlet 104: Tank 105: Silage conditioner 106: Liquid transfer pump 107: Pipe 108: Pipe 108A:Tip opening 200: Operator 201: Grass

Claims

1. a flow rate measuring unit that is disposed midway through a flow path for adding a silage conditioner to the forage crops discharged from a discharge chute of a harvester that collects the forage crops, and that measures the instantaneous flow rate of the silage conditioner; a flow rate display unit that displays the instantaneous flow rate measured by the flow rate measurement unit, the flow rate display unit being arranged in a position visible to an operator of the harvester; An additive work assistance system comprising:

2. An alarm device that warns of inactivity of a liquid feed pump that feeds the silage conditioner or of a remaining amount of the silage conditioner when the flow rate measuring unit does not measure the predetermined amount of instantaneous flow rate within a predetermined time after receiving a descending signal from the pickup device of the harvester. The addition operation assistance system according to claim 1 , comprising:

3. The flow rate measuring unit measures an integrated flow rate of the silage conditioner, An alarm device that warns of the remaining amount of the silage conditioner when the cumulative flow rate indicates that the remaining amount of the silage conditioner loaded on the harvester is about 10% of the tank capacity. The addition operation assistance system according to claim 1 , comprising:

4. An alarm device is provided that warns that the power supply of the liquid supply pump that supplies the silage adjusting agent is off. The addition operation assist system according to claim 1 .

5. a timer device that starts operation of a liquid delivery pump that delivers the silage conditioning agent after a predetermined time has elapsed since receiving a lowering signal from the pickup device of the harvester; The addition operation assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:

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