Swath-Sensing Harvester Gap Control for Blockage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural harvesting machines struggle to adapt quickly to changing harvesting conditions, leading to blockages and inefficiencies due to uneven crop swaths and varying crop densities, which are not effectively detected by existing sensors.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine equipped with a swath detection device, including optical sensors and control systems, adjusts the width of the crop passage gap in real-time based on detected crop properties and conditions to prevent blockages and optimize crop flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are arranged within the harvester along the crop conveying line to detect crop properties, then crop throughput can be determined, but the response to changes in crop flow is always delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The swath detection device detects crop properties (moisture content, density, speed) before the crop enters the conveying line, allowing the control device to prepare appropriate post-acceleration settings in advance. This preliminary detection eliminates the time delay inherent in measuring crop properties after they enter the harvester.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary swath detection device that measures crop properties in the swath before it enters the conveying line. This intermediary measurement system provides advance information to the control device, enabling proactive adjustment of post-acceleration settings rather than reactive adjustment based on delayed feedback from sensors within the conveying line.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the post-acceleration device is adjusted based on crop throughput determined by sensors in the conveying line, then variable acceleration can be achieved, but the increasing driving speed leads to further reduction in response time
Solution Approach 1:
The swath detection device performs preliminary detection of crop properties before the crop enters the conveying line, allowing the control device to pre-adjust the post-acceleration device settings. This eliminates the need for rapid adjustments at high speeds, as the system is already optimized when the crop arrives.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention shifts the detection dimension from within the conveying line (spatial dimension) to before the crop enters the conveying line (temporal dimension). By detecting crop properties in advance in a different temporal dimension, the system gains sufficient response time even at increased driving speeds.
3Reliability
If the crop passage gap width is adjusted to handle varying crop densities, then blockages can be prevented, but the existing sensor system reacts too slowly to changing harvesting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The swath detection device detects crop density and other properties before the crop enters the conveying line, allowing the control device to adjust the crop passage gap width in advance. This preliminary adjustment ensures the gap is optimally configured before crops with varying densities arrive, preventing blockages without the time delay of reactive adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device receives feedback from the swath detection device about upcoming crop conditions and proactively adjusts the crop passage gap width accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to anticipate and prepare for changing harvesting conditions, maintaining reliable blockage prevention with sufficient response time.
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 proactively adjusts to changing harvesting conditions, minimizing blockages and optimizing energy consumption by precisely controlling the crop passage gap, thus enhancing operational efficiency and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor (21) for detecting an apron area
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural harvesting machine (1), in particular a forage harvester, with at least one post-acceleration device (12) for variable acceleration of the harvested crop and with an unloading device (13) downstream of the post-acceleration device (12) for ejecting the harvested crop into a loading container (30), wherein the width of a crop passage gap (31) of the post-acceleration device (12) can be adjusted by means of a gap-changing device (37) for variable acceleration of the harvested crop, wherein a control device (14) is associated with the gap-changing device (37), which controls the gap-changing device (37) by means of a generated control signal, wherein the control device (14) is configured to evaluate data generated by a swath detection device (20) arranged on the harvesting machine (1).which properties of the crop to be picked up by the harvesting machine (1) in the form of a swath (23) include, and depending on the evaluation of the data from the swath detection device (20) to generate the control signals for adjusting the width of the crop passage gap (31).