Grass Discharge Control Using Prohibited Field Positions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grass management systems lack the ability to easily set prohibited discharge positions for formed materials, particularly in agricultural settings where terrain and field boundaries need to be considered to prevent unsafe or unauthorized discharge.

Innovation Solution

A grass management system equipped with a prohibition setting unit that utilizes position detectors, inclination sensors, and topographical information to set and enforce prohibited discharge areas, ensuring that formed materials are not discharged in unsafe or restricted locations, integrating with the forming machine's control system to prevent discharge when the machine is at a prohibited position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a system discharges grass while collecting the grass with a round baler using conventional discharge position setting techniques, then the discharge position can be controlled to some extent, but the system lacks the ability to easily set prohibited discharge positions, making it difficult to prevent discharge in unsafe or restricted locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of setting prohibited discharge positionVSAvoidsystem complexity for prohibition setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining prohibited discharge positions and areas before the actual discharge operation. The control unit stores prohibited position information in advance, and the discharge control unit checks whether the current discharge position falls within prohibited areas before allowing discharge, thus preventing unsafe discharge in advance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the current discharge position using position detection units (GPS, inertial sensors) and comparing it with stored prohibited position information. The discharge control unit receives feedback about the current position and automatically controls the discharge mechanism to prevent discharge when the position falls within prohibited areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system continuously monitors position data to prevent discharge in prohibited areas, then discharge safety is improved, but the processing load and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of preventing discharge in prohibited areasVSAvoidcomplexity of position monitoring and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the monitoring function into independent modules: position detection units (GPS receivers, inertial measurement units) that collect position data, a control unit that stores prohibited position information and processes data, and a discharge control unit that executes discharge decisions. This modular segmentation reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliable monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by using the forming machine's existing position detection capabilities and integrating them with the discharge control system. The control unit automatically compares current position with prohibited positions and controls discharge without requiring external intervention, reducing the need for additional complex monitoring infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3417698B1Grass management system and a method for operating a forming machine
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3417698B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3417698B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3417698B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a grass management system capable of making a setting regarding discharge of a formed material in a forming machine capable of forming and discharging grass of a farm field, the grass management system comprising a prohibition setting unit configured to set a prohibited position at which the discharge of the formed material is prohibited.