Virtual Trip Line Bale Deposition for Harvester Accumulator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural baling using round and/or square balers results in bales being discharged randomly across the field, requiring operators to drive extensively for collection and relocation, leading to soil compaction, potential crop damage, and excessive wear on equipment.
Innovation Solution
A virtual trip line system utilizing GPS, laser, sonar, or light beam technology is established to automatically or manually activate a bale accumulator for precise bale deposition along predetermined lines, allowing for efficient bale collection and storage while reducing field traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If bales are discharged randomly from the baler onto the field, then the baling operation is simple and quick, but the operator must drive all over the field to collect and relocate bales, causing time consumption, soil compaction, crop damage, and equipment wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes virtual trip lines at predetermined locations where bales should be deposited. The GPS unit and ECU are configured in advance to automatically activate the accumulator discharge system when the vehicle approaches or crosses these pre-defined lines, eliminating the need for post-harvest bale collection and relocation operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically controlling the accumulator discharge timing based on GPS position data. The ECU monitors the vehicle's location relative to virtual trip lines and autonomously activates the discharge system without requiring operator intervention, thereby eliminating the need for separate bale collection operations
2Productivity
If the operator drives extensively to collect and relocate bales, then bales can be gathered at final storage location, but additional soil compaction and potential crop damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-plans bale deposition locations using virtual trip lines established during the harvesting operation. By automatically discharging bales at these predetermined locations rather than collecting them afterward, the system eliminates repeated vehicle traffic over the field, thereby preventing additional soil compaction and crop damage
3Ease of operation
If bales are discharged at random locations, then the baler operation is straightforward, but excessive wear on transport equipment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically controls the accumulator discharge timing based on GPS position data and virtual trip line proximity. The ECU monitors location and autonomously activates the discharge system, eliminating the need for operator-driven bale collection operations that cause excessive wear on transport equipment
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 enables efficient and organized bale deposition, reducing collection time, soil compaction, and equipment wear by allowing bales to be automatically or manually dumped at defined locations, facilitating easier retrieval and storage.
Implementation Method 1
At least one virtual trip line is established using a Global Positioning System ('GPS') unit
Implementation Method 2
a laser sender and receiver
Implementation Method 3
a sonar sender and receiver
Implementation Method 4
a light beam sender and receiver
Data Source
AI summary
A harvester and a crop accumulator combination. The harvester is configured to transfer a harvested crop to the crop accumulator. The crop accumulator comprises at least one actuator to selectively discharge the harvested crops onto a field. A GPS unit is configured with at least one virtual trip line. An ECU is in communication with the GPS unit. The ECU is configured to selectively command the actuator of the crop accumulator to discharge harvested crop onto the field when the ECU receives a signal from the GPS unit when at least one of the virtual trip line is being approached, the virtual trip line is being crossed, and the virtual trip line has been crossed.