Harvesting Machine Cross Conveyor Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting machines face challenges in maintaining a uniform swath, especially in headlands or when encountering slopes and uneven crop amounts, leading to unnecessary additional work steps to collect and rework the harvested crop.
Innovation Solution
The method introduces multiple working modes for transverse conveyor units with adjustable conveying speeds, allowing for adaptive swath formation and deposition, even under varying conditions, by adjusting the speed of one unit relative to the other, thereby preventing discarding of the swath and reducing the need for additional processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If both transverse conveyor units operate at the same conveying speed, then the machine structure and control system are simple, but the swath becomes warped or discarded when operating on slopes or with uneven crop distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveying speed of the transverse conveyor units variable rather than fixed. The control system dynamically adjusts the conveying speed of individual transverse conveyor units based on real-time operating conditions such as slope detection and crop distribution, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining swath uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of conveying speed from a constant value to a variable parameter that can be independently adjusted for each transverse conveyor unit. This allows the system to optimize swath formation by modifying conveying speed parameters in response to detected operating conditions, directly resolving the technical contradiction between swath uniformity and system complexity
2Productivity
If the transverse conveyor units operate at fixed speeds, then the control system is simple, but additional work steps and time are required to rework discarded swaths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting operating conditions (such as slopes and uneven crop distribution) before swath discarding occurs and proactively adjusting the conveying speed of transverse conveyor units to prevent the problem. This preventive approach eliminates the need for subsequent corrective work steps, thereby improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor operating conditions and use this information to automatically adjust conveyor speeds. The control system receives feedback from sensors detecting slope and crop distribution, then modulates the conveying speed accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal performance without manual intervention
3Manufacturing precision
If individual transverse conveyor units are adjusted to handle uneven crop amounts, then swath uniformity is maintained, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the transverse conveyor units to automatically adjust their own conveying speeds based on detected operating conditions without requiring manual intervention. The control system autonomously manages the speed variations needed to maintain swath uniformity, making the system self-regulating and easy to operate despite its adaptive capabilities
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
The machine i.e. self propelled mowing-machine (1), has swathing units (6, 7) i.e. swathing belts (8, 9), conveying mowed crops in a conveyor direction, which is aligned transverse to a driving direction (F). The units are adjustable between working and transport positions. The both units include a conveyor speed in a working mode. One of the units (7) includes another conveyor speed in another working mode. The latter conveyor speed is smaller than the former conveyor speed. The units are pivoted from the working position into an intermediate position in the latter working mode.