Baler Ejection Control via Inclination Sensor Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to prevent round bales from rolling after ejection, particularly on inclined surfaces, as existing solutions do not provide a specific mechanism to ensure safe placement.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural machine equipped with an inclination sensor and a controller that determines the ejection of bales based on the inclination of the bale ejecting part, allowing ejection only when the inclination is within specified threshold values and after a stable level state is maintained for a predetermined time, ensuring the bale is not ejected on sloped or uneven ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the baler ejects the bale at high speed to improve productivity, then the baling efficiency increases, but the bale may roll on inclined surfaces causing safety problems
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of ground inclination using an inclination sensor before the bale ejection occurs. The controller evaluates the inclination data in advance and determines whether the current position is safe for bale ejection, preventing rolling hazards before they can occur while maintaining efficient baling operations
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the inclination threshold is set low to prevent bale rolling, then safety improves, but ejection is restricted on moderately inclined surfaces reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the inclination threshold parameter based on bale characteristics and ejection conditions. The controller modifies the threshold value to allow ejection on moderately inclined surfaces when safe, while preventing ejection on steep slopes, thereby optimizing both safety and productivity through adaptive parameter adjustment
3Device complexity
If the inclination sensor is positioned at the tractor to simplify installation, then device complexity decreases, but the measured inclination does not accurately represent the bale ejection point
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct mechanical measurement at the ejection point with indirect measurement at the tractor position, using computational methods to calculate the ejection point inclination from the sensor data. This substitution maintains installation simplicity while achieving accurate inclination assessment through mathematical transformation
4Measurement precision
If the system waits for stable inclination reading before ejection to ensure accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but ejection is delayed increasing time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic sampling of inclination data at predetermined time intervals before the scheduled ejection moment. By taking multiple measurements over time and evaluating their consistency, the system determines when a stable reading has been achieved, balancing measurement accuracy with minimal ejection delay
Data Source
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AI summary
An aspect of the present invention prevents a bale from rolling from a place where the bale has been ejected. An agricultural machine (30) includes a baler controller (200) configured to: obtain an ejection part inclination value from a positional relation between an inclination sensor (300) configured to detect an inclination of a tractor (10) and a bale ejecting part (240) of a baler (20), the ejection part inclination value being a sensor value of the inclination sensor (300), the sensor value corresponding to the bale ejecting part (240); and allow ejection of the bale in a case where (i) a size of the bale in the baler (20) is larger than a first threshold value and (ii) the ejection part inclination value is less than a second threshold value.