Sensor-Controlled Root Crop Separation on Sloped Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional root crop harvesters inadequately separate additional materials from harvested crops, especially on slopes, often damaging the crop and unintentionally separating it along with the additional materials.
Innovation Solution
A root crop harvester equipped with a separating device featuring multiple individually actuable separating elements, controlled by an EDP evaluation unit based on conveyable material data from sensors like cameras or ultrasound, to precisely separate additional materials without damaging the harvested crop, and an inclination compensation system to maintain consistent operation on uneven terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional separating device is used, then the structure is simple, but the separation effectiveness is insufficient and crop damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The separating device is divided into multiple individually controllable separating elements (e.g., air blowers, mechanical ejectors) arranged along the conveyor path. Each element can be independently activated based on real-time sensor detection of additional materials, enabling precise localized separation without requiring a complex overall structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The separating device transitions from a static, continuously operating mechanism to a dynamic, selectively actuated system. The control unit activates specific separating elements only when and where additional materials are detected, adapting the separation action to the actual material distribution and reducing unnecessary crop handling that causes damage.
2Reliability
If the separating device operates continuously, then all additional materials can be addressed, but harvested crop is unintentionally separated or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
Optical sensors continuously scan the conveyed material stream and provide real-time feedback to the control unit. The control unit processes this information and selectively activates separating elements only when additional materials are detected, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents unnecessary separation actions on harvested crop and minimizes damage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying continuous separation action across the entire conveyor, the system applies partial action only at specific locations and times when additional materials are present. This selective activation ensures complete separation of contaminants while avoiding excessive handling of harvested crop that would cause damage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sensor-based selective separation is implemented, then crop damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system replaces complex mechanical switching mechanisms with electronic control. Optical sensors and a microprocessor-based control unit manage the activation of separating elements, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling precise selective separation that reduces crop damage compared to mechanical timing mechanisms.
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 system achieves more reliable and efficient separation of additional materials from harvested crops, reducing damage and improving overall harvesting efficiency by using sensor-controlled separating elements and adaptive chassis adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
the conveyable material sensor is in particular an optical conveyable material sensor
Implementation Method 2
the conveyable material sensor is preferably designed as ultrasound sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A root crop harvester is provided, including a feed conveyor device for conveying conveyable material consisting of harvested crop and additional materials in a feed conveying direction. The root crop harvester also includes a separating device having at least one separating element for separating the additional materials from the harvested crop. The separating device has a conveyable material sensor, which is coupled to a first EDP evaluation unit and, during operation, is directed toward the conveyable material, and which is intended for recording conveyable material data. The conveyable material sensor may be directed toward the feed conveyor device during operation. In addition, the conveyable material sensor may be an optical conveyable material sensor.