CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL BALER

Abstract

A system and method for controlling operation of one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler. A deposit strategy is determined. One or more operational components associated with the baler are controlled in dependence on the determined deposit strategy to control the deposit of one or more formed bales in accordance with the determined deposit strategy.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling operation of one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler, the control system comprising one or more controllers, and configured to: receive data indicative of a machine parameter of the agricultural baler; determine, in dependence on the machine parameter, a deposit strategy for depositing one or more formed bales from the agricultural baler, the deposit strategy including an indication of a deposit mode; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the determined bale deposit strategy.

2. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the deposit strategy may comprise executing one or more of a linear deposit mode and a quarter turn deposit mode.

3. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is operable to determine a deposit strategy based on a moisture content of the one or more formed bales.

4. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more operational components comprises a user interface operable to provide information indicative of the determined deposit strategy to an operator of the baler.

5. A control system according to claim 4, wherein the control system is configured to generate and output the one or more control signals for controlling operation of the user interface to display the determined deposit strategy to an operator of the agricultural baler.

6. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the operational component comprises an ejection chute for automating deposit of one or more formed bales in accordance with the determined deposit strategy.

7. A control system according to claim 6, wherein the control system is configured to generate and output the one or more control signals for automatically controlling the ejection chute to deposit the one or more formed bales.

8. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to: receive sensor data from a moisture sensor associated with the agricultural baler; and determine a moisture level of a formed bale in dependence thereon.

9. A control system according to claim 8, wherein the moisture sensor comprises one or more of: an infrared sensor, a resistive sensor, an optical sensor; and a capacitive sensor.

10. A control system according to claim 8, wherein the moisture sensor is mounted or otherwise coupled to the agricultural baler and configured to monitor material collected into the agricultural baler.

11. A control system according to claim 10, the moisture sensor is mounted or otherwise coupled to the agricultural baler and configured to monitor material being collected by a crop pick-up of the agricultural baler and/or material within a baling chamber of the baler.

12. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to determine an expected moisture level in dependence on data indicative of the operating environment of the agricultural baler.

13. A control system according to claim 12, wherein the operating environment data comprises a mapped environment comprising information indicative of a measured or expected moisture level for material at one or more locations within the mapped environment.

14. A control system according to claim 12, wherein the operating environment data comprises an indication of one or more environmental conditions, including one or more of: a temperature, a time of year; a time of day; a rainfall measurement; and a humidity.

15. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to receive a user input indicative of a moisture level provided by an operator of the baler and determine the deposit strategy in dependence thereon.

16. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is operable to determine a deposit strategy based on bale length, bale weight or flake count of the one or more formed bales within the ejection chute.

17. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system is operable to determine a deposit strategy based on one or more of the determined protein content, fibre content, nitrate content, ash content, moisture content, nitrate content or ash content of the one or more formed bales within the ejection chute.

18. An agricultural baler comprising a control system according to claim 1.

19. The baler of claim 18 further comprising an ejection chute for depositing a plurality of formed bales, wherein said control system controls operation of the ejection chute in accordance with a determined deposit strategy.

20. A method of controlling operation of one or more controllable components of an agricultural baler, comprising: receiving data indicative of a machine parameter relating to one or more formed bales formed by the agricultural baler; determining, in dependence on the machine parameter, a deposit strategy for depositing the one or more formed bales, the deposit strategy including an indication of a deposit mode for each formed bale; and controlling one or more operational components associated with the baler in dependence on the determined deposit strategy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a view of an agricultural baler including an ejection chute in accordance with the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a section thorough a first embodiment of an ejection chute for use with the present invention with selectively displaceable first and second panels in a first position and a bale within the ejection chute;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a section thorough the ejection of chute FIG. 2 with the selectively displaceable panels in a second position and a bale beginning to exit the the ejection chute;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a section thorough the ejection chute of FIG. 2 with the selectively displaceable panels in a third position and a bale further exiting the ejection chute;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a section thorough the ejection chute of FIG. 2 with the selectively displaceable panels in a fourth position and a bale further exiting the ejection chute;

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a section thorough the ejection chute of FIG. 2 with the selectively displaceable panels in a fifth position and a bale further exiting the ejection chute;

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a section thorough the ejection chute of FIG. 2 with the selectively displaceable panels in a sixth position and a bale further exiting the ejection chute;

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a section thorough the ejection chute of FIG. 2 with the selectively displaceable panels in a final position and a bale on the ground;

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a view similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 to 8 in which the ejection chute is controlled to execute a quarter turn deposit of a formed bale;

[0038] FIG. 10 shows a section thorough a second embodiment of an ejection chute for use with the present invention again illustrating a quarter turn deposit of a formed bale;

[0039] FIG. 11 shows a section thorough a third embodiment of an ejection chute for use with the present invention illustrating again illustrating a quarter turn deposit of a formed bale;

[0040] FIG. 12 shows a section thorough a fourth embodiment of an ejection chute arrangement for use with the present invention illustrating linear deposit of parallel formed bales;

[0041] FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of elements of an aspect of the present invention; and

[0042] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a control system in accordance with the invention; and

[0043] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a tractor-baler combination embodying aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0044] The invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description.

[0045] With reference to FIG. 1, an agricultural baler 2 is shown. The baler 2 has a wheeled chassis or frame including an axle 4 and a pair of laterally spaced wheels 6 that support the chassis above the ground. The baler 2 is provided with a forwardly extending tongue 8 for connecting the baler 2 to a towing vehicle, such as a tractor 80 (FIG. 16).

[0046] The baler 2 additionally comprises a baling chamber 10, extending generally in a fore-and-aft direction and which are supported on the chassis. The baler 2 is provided with a pick up apparatus 12 by which harvested crop material arranged in a windrow on a ground surface may be lifted and directed towards the baling chamber 10. The harvested crop material is directed to a stuffer chute at a forward end of the baling chamber 10. The harvested crop material there forms a flake of harvested crop material. The baler 2 is further provided with a reciprocating plunger that compresses the flake of harvested crop and pushes it rearwards into the baling chamber 10 to generate a forming bale within the baling chamber. Movement of the plunger is enabled by a drive connection 14 adapted to be connected to a Power Take Off (PTO) of the towing vehicle.

[0047] The baler 2 additionally comprises a plurality of knotter units 16 immediately downstream of the baling chamber 10 for tying one or more strands of binding material (such as twine, wire, cord or the like) around the bales of crop material being formed in the baling chambers.

[0048] Once the forming bale has been formed, the formed bale is directed to a discharge or ejection chute 18. In practice the baling chamber 10 and the discharge chute 18 may be formed as a single channel. Alternatively, the discharge chute 18 may be coupled to the baling chamber 10 in any suitable manner. The preference is to form the ejection chute of the present invention as part of the channel forming the baling chamber to avoid lengthening this channel. However, certain advantages may still be obtained by forming the ejection chute of the present invention as a “bolt-on” component to existing ejection chutes.

[0049] Turning to FIG. 2, a section of an ejection chute 18 for use with the invention is shown. The ejection chute 18 comprises a channel having a base wall 20 and first and second side walls 22,24 extending upwards from either side of the base wall 20. The base wall 20 conveniently includes an outwardly extending flange 26 extending to one side of the ejection chute 18. The ejection chute 18 may optionally include an upper wall extending between the first and second side walls 22,24.

[0050] A region of the base wall is provided with an opening or window 30. The window 30 is suitable shaped and sized to allow a formed bale B to pass though the window 30. A first selectively displaceable panel 32 is adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis 34 located to a first side of the window 30. In the illustrated embodiment the longitudinal axis 34 of the first selectively displaceable panel 32 extends along a distal end of the flange 26. A second selectively displaceable panel 36 is adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis 38 located at a second side of the window. In the illustrated embodiment the longitudinal axis 38 of the second selectively displaceable panel 36 extends along a base of the second wall 24.

[0051] The first and second selectively displaceable panels 32,36 are operable between a first position in which travel of a formed bale through the window 30 is prevented by the first and second selectively displaceable panels 32,36 and a second position in which controlled egress of the formed bale through the window is permitted (as described below). As such, operation of the first and second selectively displaceable panels 32,36 provides a deposit mechanism for controlled deposit of the formed bales through the window 30.

[0052] It is not necessary for the first and second selectively displaceable panels 32,36 to extend across the window 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second selectively displaceable panels 32,36 only extend part way across the window 30 and are sufficient to retain the formed bale B within the ejection chute 18.

[0053] The first and second selectively displaceable panels 32,36 are each provided with suitable actuators 40,42, for example hydraulic actuators. A controller 44 is provided to control movement of the actuators 40,42 and so movement of the first and second selectively displaceable panels 32,36. A sensor 46 in communication with the controller 44 may optionally be provided to determine when the formed bale B is in position above the window 30.

[0054] The ejection chute 18 is also provided with a second window 50 is provided in the second side wall 24 (FIG. 9). The second window 50 is again sized and shaped to allow passage of a formed bale B. A lower edge of the second window 50 is contiguous with the first window 30 to form a single large opening.

[0055] In a first deposit strategy, the first and second selectively displaceable panels 32,36 are actuated together to perform a linear deposit of formed bale from within the ejection chute 18.

[0056] As seen in FIG. 3, and the actuator 40 allows a relatively small angular movement of the first selectively displaceable panel 32 and the actuator 42 allows a relatively large angular movement of the second selectively displaceable panel 36. The formed bale B is allowed to descend a short distance though the window 30.

[0057] Once the second selectively displaceable panel 36 is arranged to depend substantially vertically the actuator 40 ceases to move the second selectively displaceable panel 36. The actuator 42 continues to control movement of the first selectively displaceable panel 32 about the longitudinal axis 38 so as allow the formed bale B to descend from the ejection chute 18 in a controlled manner (FIG. 4).

[0058] Continued movement of the first selectively displaceable panel 32 about the longitudinal axis 34 under the action of the actuator 40 then removes the first selectively displaceable panel 32 from the path of the formed bale B (FIG. 5) allowing the formed bale B to drop out of the ejection chute 18 (FIG. 6) toward the ground (FIG. 7 before the formed bale B lands on the ground beneath the ejection chute 18 of the baler 2 (FIG. 8).

[0059] In this way the bale the formed bale B is falling freely for a shorter distance than when ejected from the rear of the ejection chute. As a result, the formed bale B is deposited to the ground in a far more controlled manner.

[0060] A second deposit strategy may be adopted as illustrated in FIG. 9. In this strategy, the actuators 40, 42 are operated only to permit movement of the first selectively displaceable panel 32 about the longitudinal axis 34, with the second selectively displaceable panel 36 being held in position extending horizontally beneath the window 30. In this embodiment the formed bale B will topple over the second selectively displaceable panel 36 and as it passes through the first and second windows 30,50 perform a quarter turn. The substantially vertically depending first selectively displaceable panel 32 will act as a guide such that the formed bale B is directed to be deposited on the ground G on a shorter side (FIG. 9).

[0061] Other arrangements or constructions of the second selectively displaceable panel may be considered. For example, the second selectively displaceable panel 36′ may be formed as an angled plate comprising a first portion extending from the longitudinal axis 38 and a second portion extending downward at an angle to the first portion (FIG. 10). It will be understood that in this embodiment greater control of the quarter turn of the formed bale B is provided for as the second portion of the second selectively displaceable panel 36′ and the substantially vertically depending first selectively displaceable panel 32 together provide greater guidance for the movement of the formed bale as it is deposited from the ejection chute 18 to the ground.

[0062] A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 11. While the first selectively displaceable panel 32 takes the form of the first embodiment, the ejection chute 18 is further provided with a deflector element 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the deflector element 60 is substantially L-shaped. A first limb of the deflector 60 extends substantially vertically from the second selectively displaceable panel 36 and the second limb extends substantially horizontally inward beneath the ejection chute 18. The second limb extends further than the second selectively displaceable panel 36. In practice movement of the lower end of the toppling formed bale B is further guided or constrained between a distal end of the second limb and the substantially vertically depending first selectively displaceable panel 32.

[0063] It will be appreciated that in these embodiments both the first and second selectively displaceable panels 32, 36 may be operated as in the first embodiment so to allow the formed bale B to drop and be deposited on a longer side. The operator may select which of the drop methods is to be utilised by way of a Human Machine Interface 48 in electronic communication with the controller 44. The Human Machine Interface 48 my be provided on the baler 2 such that a selection may be made prior to baling or incorporated into the towing vehicle, for example by being located within the driver’s cab, allowing the operator to select the chosen deposit method while baling.

[0064] The electronic controller 44 may communicate with the other elements by way of a suitable communications network 52.

[0065] A still further embodiment is shown in FIG. 13. In this embodiment a second ejection chute 118 is shown alongside the first. The second ejection chute 118 is provided with a first selectively displaceable panel 132 and a second selectively displaceable panel 136 to selectively obstruct a window 130 in a base wall of the second ejection chute 118. Additional actuators 140,142 are provided in electronic communication with the controller 44. An additional sensor 146 in communication with the controller 44 may optionally be provided to determine when the formed bale B′ is in position above the window 130.

[0066] It will be understood that the second ejector chute 118 is of similar construction to the first and second embodiments save that the constructions are reversed such that the second selectively displaceable panel 36 of the first ejection chute 18 is located adjacent the second selectively displaceable panel 136 of the second ejection chute 118. It will be understood that the controller 44 operates so that formed bales B, B1 may be ejected vertically (linear deposit mode) or rotated during deposit (quarter turn deposit mode) as desired.

[0067] It will be understood that should the actuators 40,42,140,144 cease to operate for any reason the formed bales B, B′ will remain supported within the ejection chute 18 or chutes 18,118 such that continued operation of the reciprocating plunger to form further bales will simply lead to the ejection of the formed bale B or bales B,B′ from the rear of the ejection chute 18 or chutes 18,118 as is currently known.

[0068] A moisture level for each formed bale may be determined. For example, the baler 2 may include one or more moisture sensors for monitoring a moisture level associated with the crop material collected by the pick up apparatus 12. In an illustrated embodiment (FIG. 15) the moisture sensor comprises a capacitive moisture sensor 150 mounted on an interior wall of the baling chamber 10. The capacitive sensor 150 has a sensing element which contacts the crop material within the baling chamber 10 in use to obtain a measurement of the moisture level associated with the crop material, as is known in the art. The moisture sensor 150 is used by a control system 100 of the baler 2, to determine a moisture level associated with each formed bale and determine therefrom an appropriate deposit strategy for each formed bale.

[0069] The deposit strategy may be used by the control system 100 for controlling operational components of the baler 2, including the ejection chute for automating deposit of each formed bale in accordance with the determined deposit strategy, and/or control over a user interface 54 associated with the baler 2, e.g. provided as a display terminal of a coupled tractor 80 or indeed a handheld terminal, to provide an indication of the determined deposit strategy to an operator of the baler 2.

[0070] FIG. 15 illustrates the example control system 100 further. As shown, the control system 100 comprises a controller 102 having an electronic processor 104, an electronic input 106 and electronic outputs 108, 110. The processor 104 is operable to access a memory 112 of the controller 102 and execute instructions stored therein to perform the steps and functionality of the present invention discussed herein, e.g. by controlling the user interface 54, to indicate, e.g. to an operator of the baler 2, information indicative of the determined deposit strategy, and/or controlling operation of the ejection chute 18 through generation and output of one or more control signals thereto, or to a local control unit of the ejection chute 18, e.g. control unit 72.

[0071] The processor 104 is operable to receive sensor data via input 106 which, in the illustrated embodiment, takes the form of input signals 105 received from the moisture sensor 150. Utilising this data, the processor 104 is configured to analyse the data and determine therefrom a measure of a moisture level associated with the material collected by the baler 2. As discussed herein, the determined moisture level is used to determine a deposit strategy for the baler 2, and in particular an indication of the deposit mode. A notification indicative thereof can be presented to an operator of the baler 2 via the user interface 54.

[0072] As described above, the controller 102 includes an electronic output 108 configured output control signals 109 generated by the processor 104 for controlling operation of the ejection chute 18. Specifically, processor 104 is operable to generate, and the controller 102 operable to then output via electronic output 108, control signals 109 for controlling operation of the ejection chute 18 in the manner described herein, e.g. through selection of the appropriate deposit mode (as determined by the deposit strategy), controlling movement of the displaceable panels 32, 36 as required. As will be appreciated, the controller 102 may output the control signals 109 to a local processing unit, e.g. the control unit 72 of the ejection chute 18 for controlling operation thereof.

[0073] Electronic output 110 is operably coupled to the user interface 54 of the baler 2. Here, the control system 100 is operable to control operation of the user interface 54, e.g. through output of control signals 111 in order to display data to an operator of the baler 2 relating to the operation of the control system 100. Specifically, the control system 100 is operable to control the user interface 54 to display to the operator an indicator of the deposit strategy.

[0074] The electronic input may additionally or alternatively receive data representative of other machine parameters including for example receiving sensor data based on bale length, bale weight or flake count of the one or more formed bales within the ejection chute to determine a deposit strategy. Where the moisture sensor is a NIR (near infra-red) sensor the machine parameter may include one or more of the determined protein content, fibre content, nitrate content, ash content, moisture content, nitrate content or ash content of the formed bale.

[0075] By way of example the deposit strategy may be determined to separate the bales deemed to have an overly high moisture content, by configuring the baling strategy to deposit such bales in a first mode and all remaining bales in a second mode to show the stacker or operator that that any individual bale deposited meets or does not meet the predetermined moisture criteria. Alternatively, a deposit strategy may be implemented to alert a stacker or operator of a different condition such as bale length (if the bale was too long or too short), weight (if the bale was too heavy or light), or flake count (if there were too many or too few flakes in a given formed bale). Such a strategy could be set by the operator in the user interface 54.

[0076] FIG. 16 illustrates an agricultural vehicle in the form of a tractor 1 operably coupled to baler 2. It will be appreciated that, in use, the tractor 1 and baler 2 may be operably coupled at tow hitch 16 of the baler 2, although other couplings are envisaged and will be appreciated by the skilled reader.

[0077] From reading the present disclosure, other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such modifications may involve other features which are already known in the field of square balers and component parts therefore and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein.