Automated End Divider Control for Harvesters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural harvester systems require manual operation to adjust end dividers, which is inefficient and prone to ear loss during harvesting, as operators must exit the compartment to change the position of end dividers, limiting their ability to control ear loss effectively.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that includes an actuator and actuator controller to automatically control the position of end dividers based on sensor inputs and operator commands, allowing for real-time adjustment of end dividers to prevent ear loss during harvesting operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If end dividers are adjusted manually, then operators can control the position of end dividers, but operators must exit the compartment which reduces efficiency and responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the end divider adjustment mechanism to serve itself through automated sensing and actuation. Sensors detect crop conditions and automatically trigger actuators to adjust end divider positions without requiring operator intervention, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for operators to exit the compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated electromechanical system. Sensors detect crop conditions and automatically trigger actuators to adjust end divider positions, substituting the manual mechanical operation with an automated sensing-actuation loop that improves both ease of operation and productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If end dividers are adjusted manually, then operators can respond to ear loss conditions, but the response time is delayed due to requiring operator intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback through sensors that monitor crop conditions and ear loss. When sensors detect increased ear loss or specific crop conditions, the system automatically adjusts end divider positions in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that responds immediately to changing conditions without delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system performs preliminary adjustments by detecting early signs of ear loss conditions and proactively adjusting end divider positions before significant loss occurs. The sensors continuously monitor conditions and trigger adjustments in advance, preventing rather than merely responding to problems.
3Device complexity
If end dividers remain in fixed positions, then the system is simple to operate, but ear loss increases due to inability to adapt to varying crop conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static end divider system into a dynamic one where positions can automatically adjust based on real-time crop conditions. Sensors detect variations in crop density, height, and ear loss patterns, triggering automated adjustments to end divider positions to optimize performance for each specific harvesting condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically changes the positional parameters of end dividers based on detected crop conditions. When sensors identify specific conditions such as varying crop density or ear loss patterns, the control system adjusts the position parameters of end dividers to optimize harvesting efficiency and minimize ear loss for each unique situation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
An agricultural system includes a head configured to be mounted to an agricultural harvester, an end divider, and an actuator configured to actuate the end divider. The agricultural system further includes an actuator controller that identifies a control action, corresponding to the end divider, to take based on an end divider action criterion detected by an input mechanism. The agricultural system also includes a control signal generation system that automatically generates a control signal to control the actuator to actuate the end divider based on the identified control action.