Agricultural Baler Cutting Control for RFID Tag Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing agricultural round balers often inadvertently damage electronic identifiers, such as RFID tags, during the baling process due to the severing apparatus, which can lead to loss of valuable data associated with each bale.

Innovation Solution

A control system that determines a cutting strategy based on the position and spacing of electronic identifiers to avoid damaging them during the cutting operation, using a severing apparatus that adjusts the number of wrapping material layers and communicates this strategy to the operator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the severing apparatus cuts the wrapping material continuously, then the baling operation is efficient and productive, but the electronic identifiers are damaged or destroyed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebaling operation efficiencyVSAvoidelectronic identifier integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system reads the position of electronic identifiers from the wrapping material before the cutting operation begins. Based on this pre-acquired information, the system calculates and sets an adjusted cutting timing that avoids the identifiers. This preliminary detection and planning action allows the severing apparatus to cut efficiently without damaging identifiers, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the severing apparatus is positioned to cut the wrapping material, then the cutting operation can be performed, but the electronic identifiers located at the cutting position are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting operation capabilityVSAvoiddamage to electronic identifiers
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts the cutting timing based on the real-time position of electronic identifiers detected in the wrapping material. Instead of using a fixed cutting schedule, the system continuously monitors identifier positions and modifies the cutting operation accordingly. This dynamic adjustment allows the severing apparatus to maintain its cutting function while avoiding damage to identifiers, balancing ease of operation with protection of sensitive components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If electronic identifiers are placed at regular intervals along the wrapping material, then the tracking system can identify each bale, but the identifiers are more vulnerable to damage during cutting operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebale tracking accuracyVSAvoididentifier damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors the position of electronic identifiers in the wrapping material and uses this feedback information to adjust the cutting timing. The system reads identifier positions, compares them with the planned cutting schedule, and modifies the cutting operation to avoid damaging identifiers. This feedback mechanism maintains accurate bale tracking while protecting identifiers from damage, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and vulnerability to harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4260680A1Agricultural baler
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 AGCO INT GMBH
  • EP4260680A1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP4260680A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4260680A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A control system for controlling a cutting operation performed by one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler on a wrapping material incorporating a plurality of electronic identifiers is disclosed. The control system ensures that an electronic identifier is not damaged when the cutting operation is performed.