A roll gap optimization process is performed in conjunction with a roller conditioner system containing conditioner rolls. In embodiments, the process includes receiving, at a processor architecture, pre-conditioned crop images of a forage crop captured at a visually-sampled field location prior to intake of the forage crop into the roller conditioner system. The pre-conditioned crop images are analyzed to estimate an average stem dimension of the forage crop, and a roll gap width target is determined as a function of the average stem dimension. The processor architecture further performs one or more of: (i) automatically adjusting a width of the roll gap to substantially match the roll gap width target utilizing a roller adjustment mechanism included in the roller conditioner system, and (ii) displaying the roll gap width target on a display device contained in or otherwise coupled to the processor architecture for operator viewing.

A harvester implement includes a crop processor positioned to receive the crop material from a head unit and process the crop material to alter a characteristic of the crop material, e.g., a cut length or a kernel processing score. An image sensor assembly is positioned downstream of the crop processor along a flow path of the crop material. The image sensor assembly is operable to capture a post-processing image of the crop material. A computing device is operable to execute a crop processing analysis algorithm to receive the post-processing image of the crop material from the image sensor assembly, and to analyze the post-processing image to determine an actual degree of processing to the characteristic of the crop material achieved by the crop processor. The computing device may then communicate a notification signal to an output indicating the actual degree of processing to the characteristic of the crop material.

A method for controlling one or more operating parameters of a forage harvester includes picking up harvested crop from a field by means of a harvesting attachment, processing the harvested crop by means of a chopping device and/or a post-processing device, and ejecting the processed harvested crop onto a loading container. An image of the processed ground-borne harvested crop is recorded by a camera, and an operating parameter of the forage harvester is set or adjusted with a control unit using the image.

A crop conditioning device for an agricultural harvesting machine. The crop conditioning device includes a frame, a first conditioning roll connected to the frame, and a second conditioning roll connected to the frame such that the second conditioning roll is movable relative to the first conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension mechanism connected to the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a roll-gap mechanism connected to the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a controller which is configured for automatically setting at least one of an initial tension force and an initial roll gap dependent upon at least one of a type of crop material and at least one operational setting.

A crop conditioning device for an agricultural harvesting machine. The crop conditioning device includes a frame, a first conditioning roll, and a second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension member operably connected to the second conditioning roll. The tension member is configured for applying a tension force on the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension actuator operably connected to the tension member. The tension actuator is configured for adjusting the tension force applied by the tension member. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of control rods respectively connected to the pair of lateral ends of the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of roll-gap actuators respectively and operably connected to the pair of control rods. The pair of roll-gap actuators are configured for pivoting the second conditioning roll to adjust the roll gap.

A crop conditioning device for an agricultural harvesting machine. The crop conditioning device includes a frame, a first conditioning roll, and a second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension member operably connected to the second conditioning roll. The tension member is configured for applying a tension force on the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a tension actuator operably connected to the tension member. The tension actuator is configured for adjusting the tension force applied by the tension member. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of control rods respectively connected to the pair of lateral ends of the second conditioning roll. The crop conditioning device also includes a pair of roll-gap actuators respectively and operably connected to the pair of control rods. The pair of roll-gap actuators are configured for pivoting the second conditioning roll to adjust the roll gap.

An agricultural machine includes a cutting assembly, a forming assembly including a swathboard and/or a forming shield, at least one actuator, and a controller. The actuator is configured to change a position of the forming assembly. The controller is in communication with the actuator, and is configured to change the position of the forming assembly responsive to an expected or measured crop density. A method of operating an agricultural machine includes propelling an agricultural machine through a field and changing a position of the forming assembly based at least in part on an expected or measured crop density. The forming assembly may be adjusted to maintain an approximately constant windrow height or to produce windrows that are expected to be ready for baling or raking at the same time (e.g., after a period of drying).

A harvester implement includes a crop processor operable to process a crop material to alter a characteristic of the crop material, such as a percent fracture of a kernel. A moisture sensor is operable to sense data related to a moisture content of the crop material. A computing device receives the data from the moisture sensor and determines an actual moisture content of the crop material. The computing device may then adjust the crop processor based on the actual moisture content of the crop material to achieve a desired level of alteration to the characteristic of the crop material. For example, the computing device may adjust a roll gap of the kernel processor based on the moisture content of the crop material.

An agricultural system for harvesting a forage crop material, includes: a first agricultural work equipment for controllably harvesting the forage crop material, the first agricultural work equipment including: a first forage processing assembly; a first control system including: a first forage processing assembly condition sensor configured for sensing a first actual condition of the first forage processing assembly and thereby for outputting a first actual condition signal associated with the first actual condition of the first forage processing assembly; a first controller operatively coupled with the first forage processing assembly condition sensor and the first forage processing assembly and configured for: receiving the first actual condition signal; determining a first adjustment signal based at least in part on the first actual condition signal and at least one first predicted forage crop material condition associated with a first forage processing operation; outputting the first adjustment signal and thereby for initially adjusting, prior to beginning the first forage processing operation, a first device of the first forage processing assembly.

A method and system for identifying, using a computing unit, lengths of a particle in a material flow is disclosed. The computing unit is configured to analyze images of the material flow (13) in an analytical routine and to derive particle lengths of particles of the material flow contained in the images. The particle length derived in the analytical routine may comprise an excess length, with the analytical routine being based on a machine learning method trained to find or identify particles with the excess length.