A01D41/1208

AUTOMATED GRAINS INSPECTION
20200349692 · 2020-11-05 ·

An automated grains inspection apparatus for a production line comprises an inlet to receive the grains and an outlet from which the grains are discharged. A feeder configured to receive the grains from the inlet and release the grains aligned in a line formation is provided while at least one camera is positioned sideway beneath the feeder to capture images of the grains while they fall. At least one background surface positioned sideway beneath the feeder and opposite the camera is also provided in an inspection zone so that the grains are configured to be aligned between the camera and the background surface.

WEATHER STATION MOUNTING FOR HARVESTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF DEPLOYMENT THEREOF
20200340285 · 2020-10-29 ·

A harvesting machine includes a chassis, a ground-engaging mechanism for supporting the chassis, and a tank assembly mounted to the chassis for storing a crop material. The tank assembly includes a retractable door for at least partially covering an opening formed in a top of the tank assembly. A mobile sensor assembly includes a rod and a sensor for detecting a weather condition, such that the rod includes a first end coupled to the retractable door and a second end to which the sensor is coupled. The retractable door is operably moved between an open position and a closed position, and the mobile sensor assembly is rotatably moved between a deployed position and a stowed position as the door is moved between the open and closed positions, respectively.

Harvesting Machine, Travel Distance Limit Calculation Program, Recording Medium Having Travel Distance Limit Calculation Program Recorded Thereon, Travel Distance Limit Calculation Method, Agricultural Work Vehicle, Turning Control Program, Recording Medium Having Turning Control Program Recorded Thereon, Turning Control Method, Combine Control System, Combine Control Program, Recording Medium Having Combine Control Program Recorded Thereon, And Combine Control Method

A harvester includes: a crop tank that stores a crop harvested by a harvesting device; a weight detection unit that detects a storage weight, which is a value indicating the weight of the crop stored in the crop tank; a maximum weight calculation unit that calculates a maximum weight, which is a value indicating the weight of the crop at the maximum storage amount of the crop tank; a unit harvest weight calculation unit calculates a unit harvest weight that indicates the weight of the crop harvested per unit of harvest-travel distance; and a maximum travel distance calculation unit that calculates a maximum travel distance, which is the maximum distance that can be traveled during traveling harvesting before the amount of the crop stored in the crop tank reaches the maximum storage amount, based on the storage weight, the maximum weight, and the unit harvest weight.

HARVESTING MACHINE AND CONVEYOR SCREW THEREFOR

A harvesting machine has a crop tank and a conveyor screw inside the tank which extends from a material inlet opening on a wall of the crop tank into the interior of the crop tank. The conveyor screw comprises at least one proximal portion adjacent to the material inlet opening and one distal portion spaced apart from the material inlet opening at least by the proximal portion. The proximal portion and distal portion are rotatable around conveying axes running in different directions. The conveyor screw can be operated in a work position in which the conveying axis of the distal portion is oriented to be steeper than the conveying axis of the proximal portion.

Combine harvester unloading system

A combine harvester including a grain tank having an auger trough in which a screw conveyor of an unloading system is disposed. The screw conveyor is operable to define an upturning side and a downturning side. The grain tank includes a floor section that covers the upturning side to prevent back flow and the formation of a stagnation zone in the vicinity thereof.

Modular sensor array for bulk material detection

A combine having a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a grain tank for storing the separated grain, a grain tank level sensor for detecting a level of grain in the grain tank, and a controller that controls the combine. The controller is configured to receive the level of grain from the grain tank level sensors, determine a volume of a grain base from the level of the grain, determine a volume of a grain heap above the grain base, determine a total volume by combining the volume of the grain base with the volume of the grain heap.

ELEVATOR ASSEMBLY FOR AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER WITH A STORAGE HOPPER HAVING A CONVEYOR THEREIN AND RELATED METHODS

In one aspect, an elevator assembly for a harvester may include an elevator housing and an elevator extending within the elevator housing between a proximal end and a distal end. As such, the elevator may be configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. Furthermore, the elevator assembly may include a storage hopper extending from the elevator housing at a location adjacent to the distal end of the elevator. The storage hopper may include a conveyor extending within the storage hopper between a first end and a second end, with the conveyor configured to carry the harvested crops between its first and second ends towards a discharge opening of the storage hopper.

Predicting grain tank levels when on slopes or hills

An embodiment includes a combine including a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a grain tank for storing the separated grain, a grain tank level sensor for detecting a level of grain in the grain tank, an inclination sensor for detecting inclination of the combine, and a controller that controls the combine. The controller configured to receive the grain tank level from the grain tank level sensor, receive an inclination value from the inclination sensor, adjust the grain tank level based on the inclination value, and alert an operator of the adjusted grain tank level.

Elevator Assembly for an Agricultural Harvester with a Storage Hopper having a Conveyor Therein

An elevator assembly for a harvester may include an elevator housing and an elevator extending within the elevator housing between a proximal end and a distal end. As such, the elevator may be configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. Furthermore, the elevator assembly may include a storage hopper extending from the elevator housing at a location adjacent to the distal end of the elevator, The storage hopper may include a conveyor extending within the storage hopper between a first end and a second end, with the conveyor configured to carry the harvested crops between its first and second ends towards a discharge opening of the storage hopper.

Elevator Assembly for an Agricultural Harvester with a Distal Storage Hopper and Related Methods

An elevator assembly for a harvester may include an elevator extending within between proximal and distal ends. The elevator may be configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends. The elevator assembly may also include a storage hopper at a location adjacent to the distal end of the elevator. The storage hopper may include a rear deflector and a hopper gate. The hopper gate may be movable between a discharge position, at which the hopper gate exposes a discharge opening of the storage hopper, and a storage position, at which the hopper gate covers the discharge opening to prevent harvested crops from being discharged from the elevator assembly. Additionally, when the hopper gate is moved to the storage position, the hopper gate and the rear deflector may at least partially define a storage volume adjacent to the distal end of the elevator for storing the harvested crop.