Conveyor Throughput Estimation for Windrow Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural systems lack an efficient method for estimating the throughput of crop material by windrowers, which affects the uniformity and efficiency of windrow formation and collection.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a conveyor system with sensors and a processor that estimates the weight or mass of crop material and calculates the throughput based on this information and the conveyor speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional agricultural systems operate without throughput estimation, then operational simplicity is maintained, but windrow formation uniformity and collection efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual estimation and mechanical measurement methods with electronic sensors and computational processing. Load cells, optical sensors, and processors automatically measure and calculate crop material throughput, eliminating the need for manual intervention while improving windrow formation uniformity through precise, real-time data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate measurement devices (load cells, optical sensors) and computational intermediaries (processors, controllers) between the crop material and the windrow formation process. These intermediaries provide real-time throughput information that enables precise control of windrower operations, achieving uniform windrow formation without direct manual measurement.
2Productivity
If manual throughput estimation is used, then device complexity is low, but productivity and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous throughput measurement using load cells and optical sensors that operate throughout the entire windrow formation process. This continuous data flow enables real-time adjustments and optimizations, maintaining high productivity without interruption while the automated system handles all measurement and calculation tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-measurement and self-adjustment through integrated sensors and processors that automatically monitor crop material throughput and provide feedback for optimizing windrow formation. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external manual estimation while maintaining high operational efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If no real-time throughput data is collected, then measurement complexity is low, but windrow collection uniformity and baling quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback loops where sensors continuously measure crop material throughput and provide real-time data to controllers. This feedback enables dynamic adjustments to windrower operations, ensuring precise throughput measurement and improving windrow collection uniformity and baling quality through continuous optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual measurement methods with electronic sensing systems (load cells, optical sensors) and computational processing. This substitution achieves high measurement precision for crop material throughput while the automated processing eliminates the complexity of manual measurement and calculation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for estimating throughput of a crop material and controlling a belt speed of a cross conveyor. A conveyor can convey, and discharge, cut crop material from a merger device. A first sensor coupled to the conveyor provides information indicative of a weight or mass of the crop material on the conveyor, while another sensor can provide information regarding the speed at which the conveyor is operating. Such speed and weight or mass information can, along with calibration factors, be used to estimate a throughput of the crop material, including a rate at which crop material is being discharged from the merger device. The throughput estimation and information relating to the location and speed of travel of the associated agricultural vehicle, location of another windrow, target location for the discharged crop material, and selected windrow parameters can also be used to control the speed of the conveyor.