Square Baler Ejector Control System with Bale Position Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ejector systems for square balers require manual inspection and manual selection of dogs to determine which bales to eject, making it inconvenient and time-consuming, especially when needing to raise the discharge chute during tasks like driving on public roads.
Innovation Solution
An automated control system using a sensor to determine the position of bales within the baler case, allowing for the automatic selection of the appropriate number of dogs to eject either the last completed bale or all bales, independent of the compacting plunger's movement, enabling partial or complete emptying of the bale case without operator intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual inspection and manual selection of dogs is used to determine which bales to eject, then the operator can control which bales are ejected, but the process becomes inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing sensor associated with the knotter to automatically determine which bales need to be ejected. The sensor output indicates the position of the last completed bale, and the control system automatically selects the appropriate number of dogs without requiring operator inspection or manual selection, making the system serve itself
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives feedback from the sensor that detects bale position and movement. This feedback is used to automatically determine how many dogs should be engaged to eject the appropriate bales, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual bale positions
2Measurement precision
If the operator leaves the tractor cab to inspect the baler, then manual inspection of bale position can be performed, but operator safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system automatically performs the inspection function that would otherwise require the operator to leave the cab. The sensor associated with the knotter continuously monitors bale position and provides this information to the control system, eliminating the need for manual inspection and keeping the operator safely in the cab
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor acts as an intermediary between the bale position and the operator. Instead of the operator directly observing the bales, the sensor detects bale position and transmits this information to the control system, which then determines the appropriate number of dogs to engage, serving as a safe intermediary that eliminates direct exposure to hazardous conditions
3Productivity
If all dogs are engaged to eject bales, then complete emptying of the bale case is achieved, but interference with incomplete bales may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different levels of ejection force to different regions of the bale case by selectively engaging only the necessary number of dogs based on sensor feedback. If only one bale needs to be ejected, only one dog is engaged; if multiple bales need ejection, more dogs are engaged accordingly, creating a localized and precise ejection action that avoids affecting incomplete bales
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action by engaging only the minimum number of dogs required to eject the necessary bales, rather than always engaging all dogs. The control system calculates the exact number of dogs needed based on sensor information about bale positions, ensuring complete ejection of required bales while avoiding excessive action that would interfere with incomplete bales
Data Source
AI summary
In the invention, a control system is provided to select the number of dogs (24) automatically in dependence of the position of the last completed bale (18) in the bale case (10) as indicated by the output of a sensor (20) responsive to movement of the bales (16,18) in the bale case (10).