Harvesting Machine NIR Transmission for Pin-Free Constituent Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting machines and analysis methods for ensilable crops are costly and inefficient, particularly due to the use of expensive photodetectors and the occurrence of 'pinholes' in reflectance measurements, which affect the accuracy and reliability of moisture and other constituent detection.
Innovation Solution
A harvesting machine equipped with a bypass device using a silicon photodiode array for transmission measurements, combined with a comminution device to reduce particle size and a dividing device to control sample flow, allowing for cost-effective detection of moisture and other constituents like proteins and sugars, while minimizing pinholes and clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If reflectance measurement with Si photodiode array is used, then cost is reduced, but measurement precision is limited to moisture detection only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from reflectance to transmission mode, enabling Si photodiode arrays to detect multiple constituents (moisture, proteins, sugars, fats) across the 700-1050 nm wavelength range, not just moisture. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining low cost while expanding detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If transmission measurement is used, then detection capability for multiple constituents is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive Si photodiode arrays instead of expensive InGaAs photodiode arrays, achieving multiple constituent detection through transmission measurement at wavelengths 700-1050 nm. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining detection capability while reducing device complexity and cost.
3Productivity
If crop material is not comminuted, then processing time is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to pinholes and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements comminution of crop material before transmission measurement to reduce particle size and eliminate pinholes (gaps where light passes unattenuated). This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by improving measurement accuracy through uniform particle distribution while maintaining acceptable processing time.
4Measurement precision
If bypass device is added for sample removal, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass device serves multiple functions: removing sample material for transmission measurement, controlling sample flow rate, and enabling representative sampling. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving improved measurement accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity through a single integrated component.
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
The solution provides accurate and cost-effective online analysis of ensilable crop constituents, ensuring representativeness and statistical quality by eliminating pinholes and reducing particle size variability, thus improving measurement accuracy and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
A bypass device (8) has an NIR measuring device (9) for detecting ingredients of the removed sample flow (12), wherein the NIR measuring device (9) is designed as a transmission device
Implementation Method 2
which uses a silicon photodiode array (Si photodiode array) for conducting online transmission measurements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a harvesting machine (1) with at least one working unit (2) for processing silage-ready crop (4), which passes through the harvesting machine (1) as a crop stream (5) guided along a crop transport path (6), a bypass device (8) configured for taking and returning a sample stream (12) from the crop stream (5), and a control unit (10), wherein the bypass device (8) comprises an NIR measuring device (9) for detecting constituents of the taken sample stream (12), wherein the control unit (10) is configured to evaluate signals generated by the NIR measuring device (9), and wherein the NIR measuring device (9) is designed as a transmission device (15, 29).