Conveyor Outlet Alignment Control for Harvesters

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing calibration processes for aligning the conveyor outlet of a harvester with a storage compartment in agricultural product transportation systems often result in uneven distribution of agricultural products and increased loss due to misalignment, leading to inefficiencies in the harvesting process.

Innovation Solution

A control system with a processor and memory that determines the position of the conveyor outlet relative to the storage compartment, selects a target unloading area from multiple candidate zones, and controls product flow to ensure alignment and efficient transfer of agricultural products during unloading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual calibration is performed to align the storage compartment with the conveyor outlet, then alignment is achieved, but product distribution becomes uneven and product loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidproduct loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The storage compartment is divided into multiple zones (front zone, rear zone, left zone, right zone) with different target unloading areas. The controller selectively directs product flow to different zones based on real-time alignment conditions, ensuring balanced product distribution and preventing product loss by adapting to varying alignment states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the target unloading area based on the determined position of the conveyor outlet relative to the storage compartment. The controller continuously monitors alignment and modifies product flow direction in real-time, transitioning between different zones as the haul vehicle moves, thereby maintaining optimal product distribution and minimizing loss throughout the unloading process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If manual calibration is performed to align the storage compartment with the conveyor outlet, then alignment is achieved, but product distribution becomes uneven

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidproduct distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the target unloading area parameter based on the determined position of the conveyor outlet. By adjusting which zone receives product flow according to real-time positional data, the system maintains uniform product distribution despite variations in alignment during the unloading process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If automatic control is implemented to maintain alignment during unloading, then product loss is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct lossVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller continuously determines the position of the conveyor outlet relative to the storage compartment and uses this feedback information to adjust the target unloading area. This closed-loop control system automatically maintains optimal alignment and product flow distribution, reducing product loss while managing complexity through intelligent algorithms rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The controller serves multiple functions: determining conveyor outlet position, selecting appropriate target unloading areas, and directing product flow to different zones. By consolidating these functions into a single control system, the patent reduces overall system complexity while achieving automatic alignment and product loss prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10966369B2System and method for calibrating alignment of work vehicles

Publication Date: 2021.04.06 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A control system for a work vehicle includes a controller configured to determine a position of a conveyor outlet relative to a storage compartment, and to select a target unloading area from a set of candidate target unloading areas. The set of candidate target unloading areas includes a target circle having a center at an unloading point and a radius corresponding to a threshold range from the unloading point, a bounding shape within the storage compartment, and a selected zone of a set of non-overlapping zones within the bounding shape. In addition, the controller is configured to engage product flow from the conveyor outlet to the storage compartment while the position of the conveyor outlet is within the target unloading area, and to terminate product flow from the conveyor outlet to the storage compartment while the position of the conveyor outlet is outside of the target unloading area.