Sod Harvester Stacking Head Orientation Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Sod harvester systems often result in vertically misaligned stacks due to changes in pallet orientation and terrain, leading to difficulties during transport and potential stack instability.

Innovation Solution

A control system that continuously senses the orientation of the pallet and adjusts the stacking position of the sod harvester's stacking head to ensure vertically aligned stacks, using sensors to detect deflections and slope changes, allowing for dynamic adjustments to maintain stack integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the stacking head maintains a fixed stacking position, then the device complexity is reduced, but vertical misalignment occurs due to pallet orientation changes and terrain variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical alignment of sod stacksVSAvoidstacking position adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stacking head position is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control system continuously adjusts the stacking head's horizontal position based on real-time pallet orientation data from sensors, allowing the system to adapt to terrain variations and maintain vertical alignment without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where sensors detect pallet orientation changes, the control system processes this information, and automatically adjusts the stacking head position accordingly. This closed-loop control maintains vertical alignment while keeping the mechanical structure relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the stacking head continuously adjusts position based on pallet orientation, then vertical alignment is maintained, but the ease of operation decreases due to automated control complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical alignment of sod stacksVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system is self-regulating through automated feedback control. The sensors, control system, and stacking head work together autonomously to maintain vertical alignment without requiring manual intervention or complex operational procedures from the operator

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual positioning operations are replaced with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors and actuators to adjust the stacking head position, simplifying the operator's task while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If sensors and control systems are added to detect and adjust stacking position, then stack stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestack stability during transportVSAvoidsensing and control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Sensors detect pallet orientation and feed this information to the control system, which automatically adjusts the stacking head position. This feedback mechanism ensures stack stability by compensating for orientation changes without requiring overly complex system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the stacking head, processing sensor data and generating appropriate adjustment commands. This modular approach manages complexity by separating sensing, processing, and actuation functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11528854B2Adjusting a sod harvester's stacking position to form vertically aligned stacks

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 FIREFLY AUTOMATIX

AI summary

A sod harvester's stacking position can be dynamically adjusted to form vertically aligned stacks. More particularly, a sod harvester's control system can be configured to automatically adjust the stacking position as a stack is being formed based on a sensed orientation of the pallet. In this way, the control system can ensure that a slab of sod that is dropped from the stacking head will fall into the intended location on the stack regardless of the orientation of the pallet relative to the stacking head.