A method of calibrating a yield sensor of a harvesting machine. The yield sensor generates a grain force signal as clean grain piles are thrown by the elevator flights against the sensor surface of the yield sensor. A grain height sensor is disposed to detect a height of the clean grain pile on each passing elevator flight. Each grain height signal is associated with a corresponding grain force signal by applying a time shift to account for a time delay between the time the grain height signal is generated and the time at which the impact signal is generated. The grain force signal is corrected by multiplying the grain force signal by a correction factor. The correction factor is the sum of the grain height signals divided by the sum of the grain force signals over a predetermined period.

A method of calibrating a yield sensor of a harvesting machine. The yield sensor generates a grain force signal as clean grain piles are thrown by the elevator flights against the sensor surface of the yield sensor. A grain height sensor is disposed to detect a height of the clean grain pile on each passing elevator flight. Each grain height signal is associated with a corresponding grain force signal by applying a time shift to account for a time delay between the time the grain height signal is generated and the time at which the impact signal is generated. The grain force signal is corrected by multiplying the grain force signal by a correction factor. The correction factor is the sum of the grain height signals divided by the sum of the grain force signals over a predetermined period.

A reel weight measurement system is shown and described herein. In some embodiments, the reel weight measurement system comprises strategically placed position and load sensors for measuring an orientation of a reel-carrying unit and measuring loads in the reel-carrying unit. The loads may be indicative of forces due to the weight of the reel when the reel is supported by a carriage of the reel-carrying unit. The weight of the reel may be determined by summing the forces and moments in the system while the carriage is in motion or static. Further, the weight of the reel may be determined by comparing the force measurements and orientation of the carriage to stored calibration data.

A reel weight measurement system is shown and described herein. In some embodiments, the reel weight measurement system comprises strategically placed position and load sensors for measuring an orientation of a reel-carrying unit and measuring loads in the reel-carrying unit. The loads may be indicative of forces due to the weight of the reel when the reel is supported by a carriage of the reel-carrying unit. The weight of the reel may be determined by summing the forces and moments in the system while the carriage is in motion or static. Further, the weight of the reel may be determined by comparing the force measurements and orientation of the carriage to stored calibration data.

A sensor system for determining crop yield. The sensor system comprises a mounting structure mounted to a housing of a grain elevator of an agricultural work machine and has at least one aperture formed therein. A fulcrum assembly is arranged on the mounting structure. A rocker arm is pivotal about a pivot axis of the fulcrum assembly and extends between a first end and a second end. An engagement member is coupled to the second end of the rocker arm and extends through the at least one aperture of the mounting structure. At least one gap distance sensor is mounted to the fulcrum assembly and is configured to detect an inclination of the rocker arm relative to the fulcrum assembly. A processing device is coupled to the gap distance sensor and is configured to correlate the detected inclination of the rocker arm to an applied force.

In a dynamic scale for flat goods on their sides, and a control method therefor, flat goods are transported with a continuous counting of encoder pulses, and a weight measurement of a moving flat good is started when the trailing edge of the flat good has reached a first sensor. A first count state of the counter is stored when the leading edge of the flat good reaches a second sensor but a valid weight measurement result is not present. A weight measurement takes place with a transport velocity reduced in steps. After a step-down of the transport velocity of the flat good a subsequent weight measurement is performed with a next lowest transport velocity, and the current counter state is then queried if neither a valid weight measurement result exists, nor can it be established that the trailing edge of the flat good has reached the first sensor, although the leading edge of that flat good has reached the second sensor, as well as a check shows the current counter state corresponds to the sum of the stored counter state and a predetermined count value. The querying steps after the check are repeated as long as the current counter state has not yet reached the sum, and with an additional step-down of the transport velocity of the flat good and weight measurement result, until the check shows the current counter state has reached the sum.

In a dynamic scale for flat goods on their sides, and a control method therefor, flat goods are transported with a continuous counting of encoder pulses, and a weight measurement of a moving flat good is started when the trailing edge of the flat good has reached a first sensor. A first count state of the counter is stored when the leading edge of the flat good reaches a second sensor but a valid weight measurement result is not present. A weight measurement takes place with a transport velocity reduced in steps. After a step-down of the transport velocity of the flat good a subsequent weight measurement is performed with a next lowest transport velocity, and the current counter state is then queried if neither a valid weight measurement result exists, nor can it be established that the trailing edge of the flat good has reached the first sensor, although the leading edge of that flat good has reached the second sensor, as well as a check shows the current counter state corresponds to the sum of the stored counter state and a predetermined count value. The querying steps after the check are repeated as long as the current counter state has not yet reached the sum, and with an additional step-down of the transport velocity of the flat good and weight measurement result, until the check shows the current counter state has reached the sum.

A weighing conveyor system, a checkweigher, and a method for weighing conveyed objects with a checkweigher comprising LIM-driven rollers positioned in a conveying line and position sensors for determining the objects' weights from the motion of the objects across the rollers. The LIM drives the rollers with a constant torque. The acceleration of an object driven by the rollers is inversely proportional to the object's weight. So an object's weight can be determined by the effect of the rollers on its motion.

A weighing conveyor system, a checkweigher, and a method for weighing conveyed objects with a checkweigher comprising LIM-driven rollers positioned in a conveying line and position sensors for determining the objects' weights from the motion of the objects across the rollers. The LIM drives the rollers with a constant torque. The acceleration of an object driven by the rollers is inversely proportional to the object's weight. So an object's weight can be determined by the effect of the rollers on its motion.

A method of determining a mass flow rate, volumetric flow and test weight of grain during harvesting operations. A sensor is disposed in the harvesting machine against which clean grain piles are thrown by the clean grain elevator flights. The sensor changes the direction of the clean grain pile such that each clean grain pile compresses into a substantially discrete, contiguous shape producing discrete grain forces resulting in discrete signal pulse magnitudes generated by the sensor. The mass flow rate is calculated by summing the signal magnitudes and dividing the summed magnitudes by the sampling period. The volumetric flow rate is calculated by multiplying the pulse width generated by the sensor by a multiplier which relates pulse width to volumetric flow. The test weight of the clean grain is calculated by dividing the mass flow rate by the volumetric flow rate.