Agricultural Spreading Machine Material Quantity Calculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining the necessary amount of application material for agricultural areas are imprecise, leading to inefficiencies and residual materials in spreading machines, which are time-consuming and costly to empty.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a data processing device to calculate the required application material by distinguishing between interior and border areas of the agricultural field, accounting for varying application rates and restrictions, ensuring precise filling and zero-residual material in the machine post-process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a uniform amount of spreading material is applied across the entire agricultural area, then the interior areas receive adequate material, but border areas receive excessive material that cannot be evenly distributed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of material spreadingVSAvoidtotal amount of spreading material
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different spreading rates to different zones within the agricultural area. Interior areas receive a first spreading rate while border areas receive a second, lower spreading rate. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring uniform distribution where needed while reducing excess application at boundaries where even distribution is physically impossible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If the spreading machine is filled with a large amount of material to cover the entire area, then complete coverage is achieved, but residual material remains in the machine after completion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidresidual material in spreading machine
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of the exact material quantity needed by integrating the area of interior zones multiplied by the first spreading rate and the area of border zones multiplied by the second spreading rate. This preliminary determination allows precise filling of the spreading machine, ensuring complete area coverage while minimizing residual material through accurate quantity planning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the spreading machine is filled with a small amount of material to avoid residuals, then refilling frequency increases, but coverage completeness is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial quantity controlVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback through precise calculation of total material requirements based on mapped interior and border areas, their respective spreading rates, and the spreading machine's capacity. This feedback loop enables optimal filling that maximizes operational efficiency by minimizing refilling frequency while maintaining complete coverage and avoiding residuals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If border spreading is excluded to avoid material loss, then material precision improves, but border areas remain uncovered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial application accuracyVSAvoidcovered area
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the spreading rate parameter for border areas compared to interior areas. By applying a reduced second spreading rate to border zones rather than excluding them entirely, the system maintains coverage of all areas while improving material application accuracy through localized parameter adjustment that accounts for the physical constraints of border spreading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3616510B1Method for determining a required amount of applied material
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 AMAZONEN WERKE H DREYER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3616510B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3616510B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3616510B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining the quantity of application material required for an application process on an agricultural area, comprising the steps of: identifying the boundaries of an agricultural area and determining the necessary quantity of application material for an application process on the agricultural area, wherein, when determining the necessary quantity of application material for the application process on the agricultural area, the boundary application within areas near the boundaries of the agricultural area, which deviates from the substantially uniform material application within interior areas far from the boundaries of the agricultural area, is taken into account.