Crop Sample Processing Device for Reliable Spectral Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crop flow measuring devices struggle with larger crop particles or cut lengths, resulting in unrepresentative spectra, clogged samplers, and unreliable measurements due to unprocessed surfaces and cavities, especially when dealing with larger crop materials.
Innovation Solution
A measuring arrangement with a branch channel and processing device that crushes or comminutes the sample, connected to a computer controlling the processing device to optimize spectra quality, ensuring sufficient comminution and preventing clogging, using conveyor devices and rollers to adjust grain size and cutting length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a measuring device is used to analyze crop flow without additional processing, then the measurement process is simple and fast, but the measured values are unreliable when dealing with larger crop particles or cut lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device performs preliminary chopping, crushing, or grinding of the crop sample before it reaches the measuring device. This preliminary action ensures that even large crop particles are reduced to a suitable size for accurate spectral analysis, resolving the contradiction by preparing the sample in advance rather than requiring complex post-processing or rejection of unsuitable samples
Solution Approach 2:
A processing device is introduced as an intermediary element between the crop flow channel and the measuring device. This intermediary component transforms the crop material into a measurement-suitable state, allowing the simple and fast measuring process to continue while ensuring reliable measured values through the intermediate processing step
2Measurement precision
If the sample is processed by crushing or comminuting, then the spectra quality is improved, but the processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device applies partial processing only when necessary - specifically when large crop particles or cut lengths are detected that would compromise measurement quality. The processing intensity and duration are adjusted to achieve sufficient comminution for accurate spectra without unnecessary over-processing, thus balancing spectra quality with processing time efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The processing device operates dynamically, adjusting its processing intensity and duration based on the actual characteristics of the crop sample. This dynamic adjustment ensures that processing is applied only to the extent needed for measurement precision, avoiding excessive processing time while maintaining high spectra quality when required
3Productivity
If larger crop particles are measured without processing, then the sample throughput remains high, but cavities form and unrepresentative material flow is sampled
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device performs preliminary size reduction of large crop particles before they enter the measuring chamber. This prevents cavity formation and ensures that the sampled material flow is representative of the entire crop, maintaining both high throughput and sample reliability by addressing the particle size issue before measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The processing device acts as an intermediary that transforms large crop particles into a uniform size distribution suitable for accurate representation of the material flow. This intermediate processing step eliminates cavities and ensures representativeness while allowing continuous operation and high sample throughput
4Manufacturing precision
If the processing device operates with high intensity, then the crop particles are sufficiently comminuted, but the risk of clogging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device operates dynamically with adjustable intensity levels. The processing intensity is optimized to achieve sufficient grain size uniformity for measurement accuracy while avoiding excessive force or narrow gaps that would cause clogging. The system adapts processing parameters in real-time to balance comminution quality with clogging prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The processing device utilizes controllable parameters such as processing intensity, gap size, and rotation speed to achieve optimal grain size uniformity. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system attains sufficient comminution for measurement precision while maintaining operating conditions that prevent clogging, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and harmful effects
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures reliable ingredient determination even with larger crop materials, maintaining high sample throughput and preventing clogging by automatically adjusting processing intensity based on measurement quality, providing qualitative detection of crop components.
Implementation Method 1
irradiates it with broadband light in the visible wavelength range or near infrared and uses the spectra of the reflected light to identify the ingredients
Implementation Method 2
uses the spectra of the reflected light to identify the ingredients
Implementation Method 3
the processing device can (crush) and/or comminute the sample, in particular chopping, splitting or grinding
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The monitor (104), to measure the composition of a sample (116) taken from a harvested flow at a thresher or chaff cutter, has a meter (110) in the channel (106) diverting the sample from the main flow channel (94). The sample flow channel has a sample preparation unit (126) between its entry (108) and the meter, with rollers (128), to chop and/or compress the sample.