combine

Abstract

To provide a combine harvester which comprises grain detection means detecting amount of grain in a grain tank, and which can accurately detect with simple structure, the amount of the grain stored in the grain tank.SOLUTION: A combine harvester comprises: a reaping unit; a threshing device; a grain tank; grain amount detection means detecting amount of grain stored in the grain tank; and a control unit. The grain amount detection means has a first accumulation height detection sensor installed in the upper portion of the grain tank, and emitting light in the vertical direction, and a second accumulation height detection sensor installed below the first accumulation height detection sensor, and emitting light obliquely downward. The control unit calculates amount of grain stored in the grain tank based on accumulation height detected by the first accumulation height detection sensor, and accumulation height detected by the second accumulation height detection sensor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a combine harvester configured to be able to detect the amount of grain in a grain tank. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally known combine harvesters include those described in Patent Document 1, which is equipped with a harvesting section provided in front of the running body and which harvests the stalks in the field, a threshing device which threshes and sorts the harvested stalks harvested by the harvesting section, a grain tank which stores the grains threshed by the threshing device, and a grain detection means which detects the amount of grains stored in the grain tank, and which are disclosed in Patent Document 2, which uses an ultrasonic sensor as a sensor to detect the amount of grains in the grain tank, and Patent Document 3, which is equipped with a weight sensor which detects the weight of the grain tank in which the grains are stored.

[0003] According to the combine harvester of Document 1 above, the height of grain piled up at a predetermined position in the grain tank can be accurately detected, but the sensor device installed in a columnar shape inside the grain tank acts as a barrier, making it easy for the grains in the grain tank to pile up unevenly. As a result, when calculating the amount of grain harvested in the grain tank based on the detected pile height, there is a problem that there may be a large error between the calculated amount of grain and the actual amount of grain, or the grain filling rate may be poor when the grain tank is full.

[0004] In addition, according to the combine harvester of Document 2 above, the amount of grain in the grain tank can be detected by detecting the position and shape of the upper surface of the grains piled up in the grain tank. However, there was a problem that the detection accuracy of the ultrasonic sensor was easily deteriorated by vibrations and noise generated when the combine harvester is traveling while performing harvesting and threshing operations, making it difficult to maintain sufficient detection accuracy.

[0005] Furthermore, according to the combine harvester of Document 3 above, the amount of grain in the grain tank can be continuously and accurately detected, but there is a problem that the sensor that detects the weight of the grain tank is expensive and the structure for accurately detecting the amount of grain is complicated, resulting in high costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-11545 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-169942 [Patent Document 3] JP 2020-114214 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a combine harvester equipped with a grain detection means for detecting the amount of grain in the grain tank, which can accurately detect the amount of grain stored in the grain tank with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, firstly, the present invention comprises a harvesting unit provided in front of a traveling body for harvesting stalks in a field, a threshing device for threshing and sorting the harvested stalks harvested by the harvesting unit, a grain tank for storing grains threshed by the threshing device, a grain amount detection means for detecting the amount of grains stored in the grain tank, and a control unit, wherein the grain amount detection means has a first pile height detection sensor provided at the top of the grain tank and irradiating light in an upward and downward direction, and a second pile height detection sensor provided below the first pile height detection sensor and irradiating light diagonally downward, and the control unit is configured to calculate the amount of grains stored in the grain tank based on the pile height detected by the first pile height detection sensor and the pile height detected by the second pile height detection sensor.

[0009] Secondly, a bottom conveying device is provided on the bottom side of the grain tank for conveying the grains stored in the grain tank toward a lifting device that discharges the grains stored in the grain tank outside the machine, and in a side view of the grain tank perpendicular to the conveying direction of the bottom conveying device, the first pile height detection sensor and the second pile height detection sensor are installed in a position closer to the outside than the center of the grain tank, and the position of light irradiation by the second pile height detection sensor is closer to the center of the grain tank than the position of light irradiation by the first pile height detection sensor, so that the light beam irradiated by the first pile height detection sensor and the light beam irradiated by the second pile height detection sensor intersect.

[0010] Thirdly, a bottom conveying device is provided on the bottom side of the grain tank for conveying the grains stored in the grain tank toward a lifting device which discharges the grains outside the machine, and when viewed from the side of the grain tank perpendicular to the conveying direction of the bottom conveying device, the second pile height detection sensor is provided on the opposite side of the lifting device and is installed so as to irradiate light toward the lifting device.

[0011] Fourthly, the grain tank is provided with a leveling means for leveling the grains stored in the center, The first pile height detection sensor and the second pile height detection sensor are characterized in that they are installed so that the light they emit avoids the leveling means. Effect of the Invention

[0012] By providing a first pile height detection sensor that is installed at the top of the grain tank and irradiates light in a vertical direction, and a second pile height detection sensor that is installed below the first pile height detection sensor and irradiates light diagonally downward as the grain amount detection means, the pile height of the grains piled up in a mountain shape in the grain tank can be detected at two different locations, so that the amount of grains stored in the grain tank can be accurately detected with a simple and low-cost configuration. Even if the amount of grains stored in the grain tank is small (the pile height is low), which causes a lot of dust and the like to be present between the first optical level sensor and the grain surface layer, making it easy for the detection accuracy of the first optical level sensor to decrease, the pile height of the grains can be detected accurately by using the second optical level sensor to detect the pile height of the grains.

[0013] Further, a bottom conveying device is provided on the bottom side of the grain tank for conveying the grains stored in the grain tank toward a lifting device that discharges the grains outside the machine. In a side view of the grain tank perpendicular to the conveying direction of the bottom conveying device, the first pile height detection sensor and the second pile height detection sensor are installed at a position closer to the outside than the center of the grain tank, and the position of light irradiation by the second pile height detection sensor is closer to the center of the grain tank than the position of light irradiation by the first pile height detection sensor. When the light beam irradiated by the first pile height detection sensor intersects with the light beam irradiated by the second pile height detection sensor, the second pile height detection sensor can cover blind spots where the first pile height detection sensor cannot detect the amount of grains, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the amount of grains stored in the grain tank. In addition, by positioning the position of light irradiation by the first pile height detection sensor closer to the outside than the center of the grain tank, detection errors caused by the sensor detecting grains being fed toward the center of the grain tank can be reduced.

[0014] In addition, a bottom conveying device is provided on the bottom side of the grain tank for transporting the grains stored in the grain tank toward a lifting device that discharges the grains outside the machine, and in a side view of the grain tank perpendicular to the conveying direction of the bottom conveying device, the second stacking height detection sensor is provided on the opposite side of the lifting device, and this makes it easier to detect grains remaining near the lifting device when discharging the stored grains, thereby efficiently preventing a situation in which grains are not detected by the grain quantity detection means even though grains remain in the grain tank.

[0015] In addition, the grain tank is provided with a leveling means for leveling the grains stored in the center, and the first pile height detection sensor and the second pile height detection sensor are installed so that the light they emit avoids the leveling means.This makes it possible to level the grains that have been piled up in a mountain shape in the grain tank, improving the accuracy of detecting the amount of grain, while preventing times when the light emitted by the pile height detection sensor is blocked and the amount of grain cannot be accurately detected. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view of a general-purpose combine to which the present invention is applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view of a general-purpose combine to which the present invention is applied. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a general-purpose combine to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a right-side cross-sectional view of a main portion of the grain tank. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a rear cross-sectional view of the main part of the grain tank. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of a main portion of the grain tank. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing pile height detection control. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] 1 to 3 are a left side view, a right side view, and a plan view of a general-purpose combine harvester to which the present invention is applied. The general-purpose combine harvester shown in the figures includes a traveling body 2 supported by a pair of left and right crawler-type traveling devices 1, 1 which are the traveling parts, and a reaping part 3 connected to the front of the traveling body 2 so as to be able to rise and fall.

[0018] The traveling body 2 has a control unit 4 located to the rear and right of the harvesting unit 3, where an operator rides and operates the machine, and a threshing device 6 is installed diagonally to the rear and left of the control unit 4, which performs tasks such as threshing the stalks harvested by the harvesting unit 3, and a grain tank (grain tank) 7 is located behind the control unit 4 and to the right of the threshing device 6, which stores the grains that are threshed by the threshing device 6, and a discharge unit 8 is provided behind the threshing device 6 for cutting and discharging straw and other materials after threshing.

[0019] The control unit 4 is equipped with a seat 15 for an operator to sit on, a multi-steering lever 16 for steering the traveling body 2 and raising and lowering the reaping unit 3, a main shift lever 17 for operating the traveling HST, an LCD monitor 66 for displaying the state of the traveling body 2 and the state of the grain stored in the grain tank 7, and a side panel for performing various operations. The side panel is equipped with a power clutch switch 61 for switching on and off the transmission of engine power to the reaping unit 3 and the threshing device 6, a grain discharge switch 62 for switching on and off the transmission of power to the discharge auger 36 (described below) that discharges grain in the grain tank 7 outside the machine, and a crop selection switch 58 for selecting the type of grain to be harvested.

[0020] The harvesting section 3 comprises a feeder 9 that transports the harvested stalks backward toward the threshing device 6, a harvesting frame 11 connected to the front end of the feeder 9 and extended forward, a pair of left and right dividers 12 provided on the front end of the harvesting frame 11, a pair of left and right support arms 13 extending forward from the upper rear end side which forms the base of the harvesting frame 11, and a raking reel 14 supported and rotatable between the front ends of the pair of support arms 13, 13.

[0021] According to this configuration, the reaping unit 3 divides the culms in the field into a reaping side between the pair of left and right dividers 12, 12 and a non-reaping side on the left and right outside of the reaping side by the divider 12, and while raking the planted culms on the reaping side into the reaping unit 3 side by the raking reel 14, the reciprocating cutting blade 10 provided behind the divider 12 can reaper the root side of the culms. The culms reaped by the reaping unit 3 are sent to the front end side of the feeder 9 by the conveying auger 18 on the reaping frame 11 side. The reaped culms conveyed backward to the rear end side of the feeder 9 are fed into the upper front end side of the threshing device 6.

[0022] The threshing device 6 is equipped with a threshing section 21 at the upper side of the threshing device 6 which threshes the harvested stalks transported from the feeder 9, and a sorting section 22 at the lower side of the threshing device 6 which sorts the processed material threshed by the threshing section 21 into grains and waste materials such as straw dust, and is configured so that the waste materials after sorting can be discharged outside the machine from the discharge section 8 at the rear end of the threshing device 6.

[0023] The threshing section 21 comprises a threshing chamber 23 into which all of the harvested straw is fed from the rear end of the feeder 9, a cylindrical threshing drum 24 which rotates around a front-to-rear rotation axis formed over the entire front-to-rear direction of the threshing chamber 23, and a receiving net (not shown) which is positioned below the threshing drum 24 and is formed into an arc-like shape with a concave center when viewed from behind, in accordance with the shape of the threshing drum 24 (see Figure 1).

[0024] With this configuration, the harvested stalks, whole of which have been fed into the threshing chamber 23 by the feeder 9, are threshed and processed (threshed) by the rotating threshing drum 24 to become waste straw, which is discharged outside the machine from the discharge section 8 at the rear of the threshing chamber 23. On the other hand, the processed material threshed and processed by the threshing drum 24 includes grains such as rice and straw chips, and of the material received by the receiving net, the material that has leaked downward is introduced to the sorting section 22.

[0025] The sorting section 22 is equipped with an oscillating sorting body 27 consisting of a chaff sieve and a straw rack etc. that oscillates and sorts the processed material that has leaked through the receiving net, a winnowing fan 28 that is arranged at the front lower side of the oscillating sorting body 27 and blows sorting air toward the rear upper side, a second sorting fan 29 that discharges the waste dust after sorting outside the machine, a first spiral 31 that collects the first grains that have been wind-screened by the winnowing fan 28 etc., and a second spiral 32 that collects the second grains (see Figure 1).

[0026] With this configuration, the processed material (de-grained material) that falls from the receiving net into the oscillating sorting body 27 leaks further downward while being oscillated and sorted by the oscillating sorting body 27, and the processed material that leaks from the oscillating sorting body 27 has the grains winnowed by the sorting wind from the winnowing fan 28, and is also winnowed into second-grade material and waste material by the sorting wind from the second sorting fan 29.

[0027] The first helical screw 31 extends in the left-right direction behind the winnowing fan 28 and transports the selected first grains to the left and right sides of the threshing device 6 (the right side in the example shown), and the second helical screw 32 extends in the left-right direction behind the second sorting fan 29 and transports the selected second grains to the right side of the threshing device 6.

[0028] In addition, on the right side of the threshing device 6, there is provided a vertical grain conveying device 33 that conveys the first grain transported by the first helix 31 upward toward the grain tank 7, and a vertical return conveying device (not shown) that conveys the second grain transported by the second helix 32 back to the threshing section 21 or the sorting section 22.

[0029] The grain conveying device 33 comprises an upper conveying section 33A (bucket conveying type) in the vertical direction which conveys grains upward from the conveying terminal end side of the first spiral 31, a horizontal conveying section 33B (spiral conveying type) in the left-right direction which conveys grains conveyed to the upper end side of the upper conveying section 33A into a grain tank, and a downward opening 33C formed at the conveying terminal end side of the horizontal conveying section 33B, and is configured so that the grains conveyed by the first spiral 31 can be put into the grain tank 7 (see Figure 5, etc.).

[0030] As a result of the above, the grains obtained by the threshing and sorting process by the threshing device 6 can be loaded into the grain tank 7 from the upper side of the grain tank 7 and stored in the grain tank 7.

[0031] At this time, the grain tank 7 is provided with a discharge auger 36 for discharging the grains stored in the grain tank 7 to the outside of the machine, a leveling device 41 for leveling the grains stored in the grain tank 7, and a grain pile height detection device (pile height detection means) 42 for detecting the pile height of the grains stored in the grain tank 7. The internal configuration of the grain tank 7 will be described later.

[0032] The discharge auger 36 is composed of a front-to-rear recovery screw (bottom conveying device) 46 provided at the lower end of the grain tank 7, a vertical cylinder (lifting device) 47 provided at the rear end of the grain tank 7 and incorporating a vertical spiral for conveying upward the grains conveyed rearward by the recovery screw 46, a horizontal cylinder 48 connected to the upper end of the vertical cylinder 47 and incorporating a horizontal spiral supported so as to be capable of being raised and lowered and rotated horizontally, and a discharge section 49 for discharging the grains conveyed to the end side of the horizontal cylinder 48 outside the machine (see Figures 1 to 5, etc.).

[0033] The recovery screw 46 is covered with a grain guide plate 45, which is a plate-like part bent with an L-shaped (mountain-shaped) cross section, directly above it, and is configured so that the grain guide plate 45 can guide the grains put into the grain tank 7 to both the left and right sides of the recovery screw 46. At this time, the grain guide plate 45 is configured to vibrate by the power that rotates the recovery screw 46, and it is possible to prevent the bridge phenomenon, in which grains are not discharged from the gap between the grain guide plate 45 and the bottom of the grain tank 7.

[0034] In addition, the discharge section 8 is configured so that, with the above-mentioned configuration, relatively large waste straw, etc. that falls from the rear end of the receiving net of the threshing section 21 and is cut by the cutter device, and waste material such as fine straw chips that is discharged from the rear end of the sorting section 22 can be discharged from the rear end of the threshing device 6.

[0035] A general-purpose combine equipped with the reaping unit 3 and the thresher 6 as described above can harvest not only rice but also other crops such as wheat and soybeans, and store the threshed grains in the grain tank 7. Incidentally, the control unit 50 is configured to automatically switch the drive speeds of the reaping unit 3 and the thresher 6, as well as the method of calculating the amount of grain stored in the grain tank 7 (to be described later), to the most suitable ones by selecting in advance the type of grain to be harvested using the crop selection switch 56.

[0036] Next, a grain amount detection means for detecting the amount of grains stored in the grain tank will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. Figures 4 to 6 are a right sectional view, a back sectional view, and a plan sectional view of the main part of the grain tank.

[0037] The grain tank 7 has a top plate 7a covering the upper surface, a front wall 7b covering the front surface, a rear wall 7c covering the rear surface, a right wall 7d covering the right side surface and having a lower end inclined toward the recovery screw 46, an upper left wall 7e covering the upper left side surface, and an inclined wall 7f inclined from the lower end of the upper left wall 7e toward the recovery screw 46, and is formed long in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view, and is formed like a box long in the up-to-down direction with a funnel-shaped lower side in a front-to-back direction in a front view (see FIG. 5, etc.). As a result, the recovery screw 46 provided at the lower end side in the grain tank 7 in the front-to-rear direction is provided at a position closer to the outer (right) side than the left-to-right center of the grain tank 7 in a front view (see FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, etc.).

[0038] In addition, the upper side of the grain tank 7 is arranged so that the horizontal conveying section 33b of the grain conveying device 33 can be inserted therethrough, and the grains threshed and sorted by the threshing device 6 are loaded into the grain tank 7 from the upper part (see Figures 4 to 6, etc.).

[0039] Further, provided within the grain tank 7 are the leveling device 41 for leveling the grains stored in the grain tank 7 in a mountain shape, and the pile height detection device (pile height detection means) 42 for detecting the amount of grains stored in the grain tank 7. The following will explain them.

[0040] The leveling device 41 comprises a vertical drive shaft 51 supported rotatably within the grain tank 7, a drive unit 55 having a leveling motor 52 that drives the drive shaft 51, and multiple rod-shaped levelers 53 (six in the illustrated example) arranged in a vertical direction and protruding horizontally from the drive shaft 51.

[0041] The drive unit 55 is provided on the upper surface side of the grain tank 7, and has the leveling motor 52 housed in a cover body, an output gear 52a driven by the leveling motor 52, and a driven gear 54 provided to rotate integrally with the drive shaft 51, and is configured so that the drive shaft 51 can be rotated by the leveling motor 52 (see FIG. 5, etc.). The drive of the leveling motor 52 can be controlled by the control unit 50, which will be described in detail later.

[0042] The drive shaft 51 is a shaft-shaped member extending vertically from the upper end to the lower end of the grain tank 7 at approximately the center in the front-rear and left-right directions within the grain tank 7, with its upper end journaled on the top plate 7a and its lower end journaled on the lower part of the inclined wall 7f. As a result, the lower end of the drive shaft 51 is journaled above the recovery screw 46 when viewed from the front (rear) (see Figures 4 to 6, etc.).

[0043] The leveling body 53 has a fixed cylinder 53a inserted and supported in a left-right fixing hole formed in the drive shaft 51, and a leveling bar 53b inserted into the fixed cylinder 53a and fixed with a bolt, and the leveling bar 53b is attached and fixed in a configuration that allows it to be detached and replaced in a direction perpendicular to the drive shaft 51.

[0044] In addition, the levellers 53 are arranged in a row at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction along the drive shaft 51 (six in the illustrated example), and the leveller bars 53b are attached and fixed in a state rotated 90° in a planar view relative to the adjacent leveller bar 53b above (below) (see Figures 4 to 6, etc.).

[0045] Furthermore, the leveling bars 53b are formed to a length that does not interfere with the side walls 7d, 7e of the grain tank 7 in a front view. Since the lower side of the grain tank 7 is formed in a funnel shape that narrows downward in a front view, the leveling bar on the lower end side (lower end leveling bar 53b1) is formed shorter than the other leveling bars 53b so as not to interfere with the inclined wall 7f (see FIG. 5, etc.).

[0046] According to this configuration, the leveling device 41 (leveling body 53) can act on the grains that are piled up directly below the opening 33C (near the drive shaft 51) when the grains are poured into the grain tank 7 through the opening 33C, thereby leveling the surface of the grains.

[0047] Specifically, when grains are loaded into the grain tank 7 by the grain conveying device 33, the grains are piled up in a mountain shape on the side of the inclined wall 7f, which is the left side of the drive shaft 51 when viewed from behind, and on the side of the recovery screw 46, which is the right side of the drive shaft 51 when viewed from behind, where the opening of the horizontal conveying section 33B is formed (when viewed from the side, the grains are piled up so that the side closer to the rear in the fore-and-aft direction (closer to the vertical cylinder 47) forms a mountain shape (see Figure 4)).The leveling device 41 uses the leveling bar 53, which rotates around the drive shaft 51, to break down the surface layer of the grains piled up in a mountain shape, thereby leveling the grains piled up in the grain tank 7 (see Figure 5, etc.).

[0048] At this time, since the leveling bars 53b are arranged in a vertical direction, as the grains pile up in the grain tank 7, the leveling bar 53 arranged on the upper side can perform the work of leveling the grains. As a result, the grains in the grain tank 7 can be leveled up to the position where the horizontal conveying unit 33B is installed in the grain tank 7.

[0049] Incidentally, when the leveling bars 53b are buried below the surface layer of the grains accumulated in the grain tank 7, they move the grains slightly to break up the pile, but when they are buried deeply, they no longer perform their leveling function, and if they are driven around the drive shaft 51 in this state, a large load will be placed on the leveling motor 52. For this reason, each leveling bar 53b may be configured to be attached to the drive shaft 51 side via a torque limiter, such as a friction type, so that driving around the drive shaft 51 will be stopped when a torque of a predetermined value or more is received from the buried grain side.

[0050] The pile height detection device (pile height detection means) 42 comprises a first optical level sensor (first pile height detection sensor, laser type level sensor) 56 which is a TOF type optical sensor that detects the pile height of the grains piled in the grain tank 7 from the upper side to the lower side of the grain tank 7, a second optical level sensor (second pile height detection sensor, laser type level sensor) 57 which is a TOF type optical sensor that detects the pile height of the grains piled in the grain tank 7 that are piled on the lower side of the grain tank 7, and a control unit 50 which will be described in detail later.The control unit 50 is configured to be able to calculate the amount of grain in the grain tank 7 based on the pile height of the grains in the grain tank 7 detected based on the values ​​detected by these sensors.

[0051] The first optical level sensor 56 is an optical sensor installed on the top plate 7a side, which is the upper part of the grain tank 7, so as to emit light in an upward and downward direction within the grain tank 7, and is configured to be able to detect the pile height of the grains piled up in the grain tank 7 from the upper end (upper part) to the lower end (lower part) of the grain tank 7.

[0052] Specifically, the first optical level sensor 56 is provided at a position overlapping the recovery screw 46 (the grain guide plate 45) in a plan view and toward the front in the front-rear direction of the grain tank 7 (see FIG. 6, etc.). The first optical level sensor 56 is also disposed at a position not overlapping the rotation trajectory of the leveling bar 53b in a plan view (see FIG. 6).

[0053] Incidentally, the first optical level sensors 56 may be arranged in a row in the front-rear or left-right direction on the side of the top plate 7a so as to detect the shape (unevenness) of the surface layer of the grains accumulated in the grain tank 7. In this way, the control unit 50 can be configured to be able to execute leveling control for driving the leveling device 41 only when the plurality of first optical level sensors 56 detect that the grains in the grain tank 7 are accumulated in a mountain shape having a height difference of a predetermined level or more.

[0054] The second optical level sensor 57 is an optical sensor installed on the vertical center side of the front wall 7b in the grain tank 7 or below the vertical center, and is configured to emit light diagonally downward and rearward from the installation position of the front wall 7b.

[0055] Specifically, the second optical level sensor 57 is installed on the front wall 7b side opposite to the rear wall side where the auger 36 (vertical cylinder 47) is arranged, and is therefore located further outward (front) from the center than the first optical level sensor 56, which is installed forward from the center in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the second optical level sensor 57 is configured to emit light diagonally downward and rearward toward the conveying end of the recovery screw 46 (the auger 36 (vertical cylinder 47) on the rear end side of the grain tank 7).

[0056] This means that the light emitted by the first optical level sensor 56, which emits light in an upward and downward direction, and the light emitted by the second optical level sensor 57, which emits light diagonally downward and rearward, intersect when viewed in cross section from the right side of the grain tank 7 (a side cross section perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, which is the conveying direction of the recovery screw 46) (see Figure 4, etc.).

[0057] According to this configuration, the second optical level sensor 57 can cover the rear side of the grain tank 7, which is a blind spot where the first optical level sensor 56 cannot detect the amount of grain, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the amount of grain stored in the grain tank 7.

[0058] In addition, because the second optical level sensor 57 emits light toward the transport end (rear) end of the recovery screw 46, it can detect the amount of grain in the grain tank 7 (piling height) even when, for example, as shown by X in Figure 4, a large amount of grain is blown toward the rear of the grain tank 7 when harvesting work begins, or when the recovery screw 46 (auger) discharges grains that have been sufficiently stored in the grain tank 7 outside the machine, causing the amount of grain in the grain tank 7 to decrease from the front (see X in Figure 4).

[0059] According to this configuration, in particular, as the work of discharging grains stored in the grain tank 7 outside the machine progresses, the grains in the grain tank 7 become piled up in a mountain shape at the rear (see X in Figure 4), and the first optical level sensor 56 is unable to adequately detect the height of the grain pile. Even if this occurs, the second optical level sensor 57 can accurately detect the amount of grains in the grain tank 7 and can prevent a situation in which all the grains in the grain tank 7 have been discharged when there are still grains remaining in the grain tank 7 (see Figure 4, etc.).

[0060] In addition, when grains start to be stored in the grain tank 7 and begin to pile up mainly at the rear side of the grain tank 7 (see X in Figure 4), since the second optical level sensor 57 is provided on the front wall 7b side, it is possible to prevent the second optical level sensor 57 from becoming buried in the stored grains too early.

[0061] In addition, the second optical level sensor 57 is configured so that the light emitted diagonally downward and rearward is at an angle that does not come into contact with the rotation trajectory of the lower end leveling bar 53b1 when viewed in cross section from the right side (so as to avoid the leveling device 41) (see Figure 4).

[0062] This configuration makes it possible to achieve both a configuration in which the leveling device 41 flattens the surface of the grains to improve the detection accuracy of the grain quantity, and a configuration in which the irradiation direction of the second optical level sensor 57 is set diagonally backward to cover blind spots in the detection range and prevent a deterioration in detection accuracy under specified conditions.

[0063] The second optical level sensor 57 is not limited to being installed on the front wall 7b, but may be installed on the rear wall 7c, the right wall 7d, or the upper left wall 7e as long as it is on a side wall constituting the grain tank 7. In this case, it is preferable that the second optical level sensor 57 is installed so that the direction of light irradiation intersects with the light irradiated in the vertical direction by the first optical level sensor 56 when viewed from the side or from the front (rear).

[0064] According to the pile height detection device 42 described above, when the amount of grains stored in the grain tank 7 is small (the pile height is low), the detection accuracy of the first optical level sensor 56 is likely to decrease due to the distance to the grain surface becoming far and the presence of dust or the like, but by using the second optical level sensor 57, the pile height of grains when the storage amount is small can be detected with high accuracy. Incidentally, when rice or wheat is harvested by the general-purpose combine, dust is likely to fly around inside the grain tank 7, which is more likely to affect the detection accuracy of the pile height of grains by the first optical sensor 56.

[0065] At this time, the pile height detection device 42 is configured such that the detection range of the grain pile height detectable by the first optical level sensor 56 overlaps, in part or in whole, with the detection range of the second optical level sensor 57 on the lower side.

[0066] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the control unit 50 is configured to execute pile height detection control to calculate the pile height (amount of grains) in the grain tank 7 by using the detection result by the second optical level sensor 57 most suitable for detecting the pile height within the range of the first pile height H1 when the pile height of the grains stored in the grain tank 7 is lower than a predetermined value (hereinafter, in the range of the first pile height H1), and by using the detection result by the first optical level sensor 56 most suitable for detecting the pile height within the range of the second pile height H2 when the pile height of the grains in the grain tank 7 is higher than the upper end of the pile height H1 (in the range of the second pile height H2) (see FIG. 6). Details will be described later.

[0067] As described above, the pile height detection device 42 has sensors appropriate for the pile height of the grains in the grain tank 7, and by having each sensor share the detection range of the pile height, it is possible to maintain high detection accuracy throughout the grain tank 7 with a simple configuration.

[0068] Next, the pile height detection control will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 is a block diagram of a control unit. The input side of the control unit 50 is connected to the power clutch switch 61, the crop selection switch 58, the grain discharge switch 62, the overflow sensor 63, a moisture meter 64 that samples and measures the moisture content of the grains put into the grain tank 7, the first optical level sensor 56, and the second optical level sensor 57.

[0069] On the other hand, connected to the output side of the control unit 50 are the LCD monitor 66, a buzzer (warning buzzer) 67 that generates an alarm sound to alert the operator, the leveling motor 52, a power clutch motor 68 that operates a harvesting clutch that controls the on / off of power to the harvesting unit 3 and a threshing clutch that controls the on / off of power to the threshing device 6, and a grain discharge clutch motor 69 that operates a grain discharge clutch that controls the on / off of power to the recovery screw 46.

[0070] The pile height detection control by the control unit 50 is configured to detect the pile height of the grains in the grain tank 7 using the pile height detection device 42, and the control unit 50 is configured to calculate the amount of stored grains based on the detected pile height of the grains in the grain tank 7. Specifically, the control unit 50 determines the amount of stored grains by the volume of the grain tank 7 that corresponds to the pile height, and the volume of the grain tank 7 is stored in advance in a table for each pile height, and the control unit 50 is configured to be able to instantly obtain the accurate amount of stored grains by referring to this table (see FIG. 7).

[0071] In addition, the control unit 50 is configured to calculate the weight of the grains stored in the grain tank 7 using the type of crop selected by the crop selection switch 58, the moisture content of the grains detected by the moisture meter 64, the specific gravity of the grains prepared in advance, and the above-mentioned stored amount of grains.

[0072] Since the specific gravity of the grains varies depending on the crop and variety selected by the crop selection switch 58, the control unit 50 can smoothly and easily calculate the accurate weight of the grains by previously registering data on the specific gravity of the grains for each type of crop that can be selected.

[0073] In addition, the control unit 50 can calculate the dry weight of the grains when all of the grains are dried, using the weight and moisture content of the grains stored in the grain tank 7 calculated as described above.

[0074] Furthermore, the control unit 50 counts the actual harvesting work time excluding the grain discharge time and rest time after the start of harvesting work, and the actual harvesting work time from after the grains in the grain tank 7 are discharged outside the machine, and can calculate the grain harvest amount per unit time from the total amount of grains stored during that time. In other words, the control unit 50 can also calculate a predicted time until the grain tank 7 becomes full from the available volume obtained by subtracting the current amount of grain stored from the maximum volume that can be stored in the grain tank 7.

[0075] At this time, the control unit 50 is configured to be able to display the various information calculated as above in real time on the liquid crystal monitor 66 (see FIG. 7). Furthermore, the control unit 50 can store the total harvest amount and work time per field in a non-volatile memory, extract this information and use it for future work management, and if the control unit 50 is capable of acquiring work trajectories using a real-time kinematic global navigation satellite system (RTK-GNSS) or the like, it can map the harvest amount in each area obtained by further dividing the field and use it for future agricultural work.

[0076] Incidentally, the control unit 50 may be configured to exchange information via long-distance communication with the drying facility or management center where the grain drying work is performed, via a mobile communication terminal capable of short-distance communication, thereby systematizing the availability of dryers within the facility and the dispatch of trucks to transport the grain to the facility.

[0077] The liquid crystal monitor 66 is configured to display a model diagram of the grain tank 7 divided vertically into a plurality of tables (layers) (a total of 10 levels from 0 to 9 in the illustrated example) so that the pile height (grain amount) of the grains stored in the grain tank 7 can be intuitively grasped (see FIG. 7). This allows the control unit 50 to easily visualize on the liquid crystal monitor 66 the pile height of the grains detected by pile height detection control, which will be described later.

[0078] 8 is a flow diagram showing the pile height detection control. When the flow of the pile height detection control is started, the control unit 50 proceeds to step S1. In step S1, the control unit 50 obtains detection values ​​of each sensor (first optical level sensor 56, second optical level sensor 57, etc.), and proceeds to step S2.

[0079] In step S2, it is confirmed whether the pile height of the grains in the grain tank 7 detected by each sensor is within the range of the first pile height H1, and if it is detected that the grains in the grain tank 7 are within the range of the first pile height H1, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0080] In step S3, the control unit 50 employs the detection value detected by the second optical level sensor 57 as the pile height H of the grains in the grain tank 7 to calculate the amount of grains, and then returns.

[0081] Furthermore, in step S2, if the grains in the grain tank 7 detected by the sensors are not within the range of the first pile height H1, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0082] In step S4, it is confirmed whether the pile height of the grains in the grain tank 7 detected by each sensor is within the range of the second pile height H2, and if it is detected that the grains in the grain tank 7 are within the range of the second pile height H2, the process proceeds to step S5.

[0083] In step S5, the control unit 50 uses the detection value detected by the first optical level sensor 56 as the pile height H of the grains in the grain tank 7 to calculate the amount of grains, and then returns.

[0084] Furthermore, in step S4, if the grains in the grain tank 7 detected by the sensors are not within the range of the second pile height H2, the process proceeds to step S6.

[0085] In step S6, the detection value of the grain pile height in the grain tank 7 is reset, and then the process returns.

[0086] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the control unit 50 can calculate the grain pile height H (grain amount) by adopting the detection result of an appropriate sensor depending on the grain pile height H in the grain tank 7, so that high detection accuracy can be maintained throughout the grain tank 7 with a simple configuration.

[0087] In particular, when the pile height of grains in the grain tank 7 becomes low, the pile height (grain amount) of grains that tend to pile up in a mountain shape toward the rear side of the grain tank 7 can be accurately detected by using the detection result of the second optical level sensor 57 that irradiates light diagonally downward and rearward from the lower front end side of the grain tank 7. In other words, the blind spot of the detection range of the pile height detection device can be efficiently reduced.

[0088] Incidentally, the pile height detection control may be configured to calculate the amount of grain in the grain tank 7 by taking into account both the pile height detected by the first optical level sensor 56 and the pile height detected by the second optical level sensor 57, depending on the pile height of the grains stored in the grain tank 7. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 2 Running body 3 Reaping part 6. Threshing Equipment 7 Grain Tank 41 Leveling device (leveling means) 46 Recovery screw (bottom transport device) 47 Vertical cylinder (grain frying device) 50 Control section 56 First optical level sensor (first pile height detection sensor, grain amount detection means) 57 Second optical level sensor (second pile height detection sensor, grain amount detection means)

Claims

1. A reaping unit is provided in front of the traveling body and performs reaping work of grain stalks in a field; A threshing device that performs threshing and sorting of the reaped stalks reaped by the reaping unit; A grain tank for storing grains threshed by the threshing device; A grain amount detection means for detecting the amount of grain stored in the grain tank; A control unit. The grain amount detection means includes a first pile height detection sensor that is installed in an upper portion of the grain tank and irradiates light in an up-down direction, and a second pile height detection sensor that is installed below the first pile height detection sensor and irradiates light obliquely downward, The control unit is configured to calculate the amount of grain stored in the grain tank based on the pile height detected by the first pile height detection sensor and the pile height detected by the second pile height detection sensor. combine.

2. A bottom conveying device is provided on the bottom side of the grain tank to convey the grains stored in the grain tank toward a lifting device that discharges the grains outside the machine, In a side view of the grain tank perpendicular to the conveying direction of the bottom conveying device, The first pile height detection sensor and the second pile height detection sensor are installed at a position closer to the outside than the center of the grain tank, The position of light irradiation by the second pile height detection sensor is closer to the center of the grain tank than the position of light irradiation by the first pile height detection sensor, so that the light irradiated by the first pile height detection sensor and the light irradiated by the second pile height detection sensor intersect. The combine according to claim 1.

3. A bottom conveying device is provided on the bottom side of the grain tank to convey the grains stored in the grain tank toward a lifting device that discharges the grains outside the machine, In a side view of the grain tank perpendicular to the conveying direction of the bottom conveying device, The second stacking height detection sensor is provided on the opposite side of the lifting device and is installed so as to irradiate light toward the lifting device. A combine harvester according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The grain tank is provided with a leveling means for leveling the grains stored in the center, The first pile height detection sensor and the second pile height detection sensor are installed so that the light irradiated thereto avoids the leveling means. A combine harvester according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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