Windrower Headland Control via Conveyor Timing Offset

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swather technologies face challenges in achieving a clean swath deposit at the end or beginning of a new lane while ensuring complete raking up of scattered crop, often resulting in unwanted swath placement in undesired field areas due to inefficient timing and positioning of conveyor drives and excavation devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a headland control mode where the conveyor drive is switched off or on with a predetermined time and path offset relative to the swath unit's position, allowing for intermediate storage of crop on conveyors and precise control of lifting and lowering to avoid crop loss or placement errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the swathing unit is lifted out early to avoid damaging the swath lying in the headland area, then the already lying swath is protected, but crop remains on the ground without being swathed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to already lying swathVSAvoidcrop processing completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor means is switched off before the swathing unit is lifted out of the headland area. This preliminary action allows crop already on the conveyor to be deposited in the desired swath position before lifting occurs, preventing both crop loss and damage to existing swaths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device coordinates the switching off of the conveyor means in advance of the lifting action, creating a buffer period where crop is safely deposited before the swathing unit enters the headland area. This timing cushion prevents harmful overlap between crop deposition and swath damage risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Productivity

If the swathing unit is lifted out late to ensure complete crop pickup, then all scattered crop is collected, but the swath lying in the headland area is damaged or scraped over

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop pickup completenessVSAvoiddamage to already lying swath

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device monitors the position of the swathing unit and coordinates the switching off of the conveyor means based on this feedback. This ensures the conveyor is stopped at the optimal moment when the swathing unit reaches the headland area, balancing complete crop pickup with protection of existing swaths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If the conveying speed of the cross conveyor is increased to deposit uniform swath despite reduced pickup quantity, then swath uniformity is improved, but crop may be deposited in undesired headland area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswath uniformityVSAvoidunwanted swath placement in headland area

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor means is switched off before the swathing unit is lifted out of the headland area. This extraction of the conveying function at the critical moment prevents crop from being deposited in the headland area, while allowing uniform swath formation to continue in the productive area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If the receiving device is lowered early to start swathing a new tramline, then swathing can begin promptly, but crop still lying on the cross conveyors may be deposited in undesired area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswathing start timingVSAvoidunwanted crop deposition in headland area

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor means is switched off before the swathing unit is lowered into the working position for a new tramline. This ensures any crop remaining on the conveyors is prevented from being deposited in the headland area, while the receiving device can be lowered promptly to begin new swathing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3804497B1Windrower and method for controlling such a windrower

Publication Date: 2024.04.03 ALOIS POETTINGER MASCHFAB

Figure 1
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AI summary

The present invention relates to a rake for raking agricultural crops, comprising at least one raking unit with conveying means for laterally displacing the crop, a conveying drive for powering the conveying means, a lifting device for raising at least part of the raking unit into a headland and/or transport position, and a control device for controlling the conveying drive and the lifting device. The invention further relates to a method for controlling such a rake. According to the invention, the rake's control device has a headland control mode in which, to end an ongoing raking cycle, the conveying drive is first switched off and/or stopped while the raking unit is in the working position, and only after a predetermined time and/or distance delay is the lifting device actuated to raise the raking unit.