Spray Machine Control via Mediator Substance Flowrate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray machines lack a simple configuration for accurately acquiring the spray rate of the spray matter, which is essential for efficient chemical application in agricultural and construction settings.
Innovation Solution
A control method and program that acquire flowrate information from the supply and return routes of the spray matter, combined with the open and close state of multiple spray nozzles, to calculate the spray rate, enabling precise control of the spray process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If spray rate measurement is implemented using conventional methods, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator substance (dye or fluorescent agent) mixed with the spray liquid to enable indirect measurement of spray rate. Instead of directly measuring the spray rate which requires complex instrumentation, the concentration of the mediator substance in the collected liquid is measured using simple spectrophotometric or fluorometric methods, from which spray rate is calculated. This intermediary approach achieves precise measurement while keeping the device configuration simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic spray rate measurement systems with chemical/biological measurement methods. By using the concentration of mediator substance (dye or fluorescent agent) as a proxy for spray rate, the system substitutes direct physical measurement with chemical analysis, which can be performed with simpler, more accessible equipment while maintaining high measurement precision.
2Productivity
If multiple spray nozzles are used for simultaneous spraying, then productivity is improved, but control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spray system into multiple independent nozzle units, each capable of being controlled separately. The spray nozzles are classified into multiple systems (e.g., left side nozzles, right side nozzles, or individual nozzles) that can be operated independently or in combination. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity through parallel spraying while simplifying control by managing each segment separately based on the mediator substance concentration measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the concentration of mediator substance in the spray liquid is continuously measured, and this information is used to adjust the operation of multiple spray nozzles. The measured concentration data provides feedback to the control system, which then optimizes nozzle operation to maintain uniform spray rates across all nozzles, enabling coordinated control of multiple nozzles while maintaining high productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide, by a relatively simple configuration, a spray machine control method, a spray machine control program, and a spray machine which are capable of acquiring a spray rate of a spray matter. [Solution] A control method of a spray machine provided with a machine body capable of running and multiple spray nozzles 41 supported to the machine body and classified into multiple systems U1, U2, U3 for spraying a spray matter. The method includes: acquiring flowrate information on a flowrate of the spray matter in at least one of a supply route 401 of the spray matter from a tank 64 to the multiple spray nozzles 41 and a return route 402 of the spray matter from the supply route 401 to the tank 64. The control method further includes: acquiring spray rate information on a spray rate of the spray matter, based on the flowrate information and based on an open and close state of the multiple spray nozzles 41 for each of the multiple systems U1, U2, U3.