A DEVICE FOR ESTIMATING AT LEAST ONE PROPERTY OF FODDER, A KIT, A CONTAINER COMPRISING THE DEVICE, AND A METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AT LEAST ONE PROPERTY OF FODDER

Abstract

A device for estimating at least one property of fodder includes a screw at least partially installed in a cylinder bore configured for transporting a part of the fodder, an electromagnetic radiation source configured for irradiating the part of the fodder transported by the screw by radiation with wavelengths longer than 780 nm, and a photonic sensor configured for detecting electromagnetic radiation transmitted through, reflected by or emitted by the part of the fodder transported by the screw, and for outputting an output signal representing the detected electromagnetic radiation.

Claims

1. A device for estimating at least one property of fodder, the device comprising: a feeder configured for transporting a part of the fodder into and/or through a bore; an electromagnetic radiation source configured for irradiating the part of the fodder transported in the bore by the feeder by radiation with wavelengths longer than 780 nm; a photonic sensor configured for detecting electromagnetic radiation transmitted through, reflected by or emitted by the part of the fodder transported in the bore by the feeder, and for outputting an output signal representing the detected electromagnetic radiation; and a processing unit configured for calculating at least one property of the fodder based on the output signal.

2. (canceled)

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the feeder is a screw, and wherein the bore is a cylinder bore.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a dispersive element configured for spreading the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through, reflected by or emitted by the part of the fodder transported by the feeder onto the photonic sensor.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the photonic sensor is a 1-dimensional array or a 2-dimensional array of MOSFETs or other electromagnetic radiation sensitive sensors.

6. The device according to a claim 3, wherein the screw has an outer diameter and the cylinder bore has an inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter is between 1 mm and 50 mm, or between 2 mm and 30 mm, between 3 mm and 15 mm, or between 4 mm and 8 mm larger than the outer diameter.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the screw has an outer diameter and a pitch and wherein the ratio of the pitch to the outer diameter is equal to or less than 1.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bore has a window that is transparent to at least some wavelengths longer than 780 nm.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the photonic sensor is positioned at the window on the outside of the bore.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bore has two openings.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the feeder is hydraulically operated by a hydraulic fluid.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the device comprises a hydraulic bypass valve for bypassing the feeder.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a processing unit connected to the photonic sensor configured for measuring the content of dry matter, starch, protein, fat, and/or one or more minerals of the fodder, wherein the processing unit is configured for: receiving the output signal about the content of dry matter, starch, protein, fat, and/or one or more minerals of the fodder; and being connected to a scale for receiving weight data of the weight of the fodder in a container; and for calculating dry weight of the fodder measured by the scale; and/or percentage of starch, protein, fat, and/or one or more minerals of the fodder measured by the scale.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the device comprises an input unit configured for receiving input data about the fodder to be served to animals, and wherein the processing unit is configured for activating at least a first feeder and a second feeder, wherein activation of the first feeder allows entrance of a first fodder and activation of the second feeder allows entrance of a second fodder into the container.

17. (canceled)

18. A container for carrying fodder, the container comprising the device according to claim 1.

19. The container according to claim 18, wherein the container comprises at least one mixer configured for mixing the fodder.

20. The container according to claim 18, wherein the container comprises a scale for estimating the weight of fodder in the container.

21. The container according to claim 18, wherein the feeder and the bore are positioned below the container.

22. A method for estimating at least one property of fodder, the method comprising: compressing and/or structuring fodder; irradiating the compressed and/or structured fodder by radiation with wavelengths longer than 780 nm; detecting radiation transmitted through, reflected by or emitted by the compressed and/or structured fodder; and analysing an output signal representing the detected radiation for estimating the at least one property of fodder.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one property is percentage of water in the fodder.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the step(s) of compressing and/or structuring the fodder, and/or irradiating the fodder, and/or detecting the radiation and/or analysing the output signal is/are performed using the device comprising: a feeder configured for transporting a part of the fodder into and/or through a bore; an electromagnetic radiation source configured for irradiating the part of the fodder transported in the bore by the feeder by radiation with wavelengths longer than 780 nm; a photonic sensor configured for detecting electromagnetic radiation transmitted through, reflected by or emitted by the part of the fodder transported in the bore by the feeder, and for outputting an output signal representing the detected electromagnetic radiation; and a processing unit configured for calculating at least one property of the fodder based on the output signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0082] The disclosure will in the following be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0083] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a screw positioned in a cylinder bore;

[0084] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the screw and the cylinder bore from another angle; and

[0085] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the cylinder bore and the screw positioned in a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0086] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a structuring and/or a compressing device 2 in the form of a screw 4 with a helical ridge 5 positioned in a cylinder bore 6. The screw is rotated in the cylinder bore by a motor 8 preferably a hydraulic motor, since hydraulic power is nearly always provided by a modern tractor. The motor 8 has as shown in FIG. 2 an inlet 8a and an outlet 8b for the driving hydraulic fluid e.g. from the tractor.

[0087] The device comprises a bearing 10 for reducing friction between the rotating screw 4 and the stationary cylinder bore 6. The cylinder bore 6 has a window 12 at least substantially transparent for at least one wavelength range above 780 nm for allowing access for a radiation source (not shown) and a sensor (not shown) to the fodder inside of the cylinder bore for studying and characterising the fodder. The window 12 is preferably made of sapphire glass.

[0088] FIG. 2 shows that the cylinder bore 6 has a first opening 14 for receiving fodder into the cylinder bore so that the fodder can be transported by the screw 4 towards and out of a second opening 16.

[0089] The window 12 is preferably positioned close to the second opening 16. If the screw 4 is made shorter than the cylinder bore 6 so that the last fourth of the cylinder bore does not have the screw, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the helical ridge 5 will not influence the measurements by the sensor. If the screw extends past the window, the sensor can be triggered by the rotation of the screw to measure and characterise the fodder when the helical ridge is at least partly not blocking the window.

[0090] That the window 12 is positioned within the last fourth of the cylinder bore with or without the screw extending past the window has the advantage that the fodder has been treated by the screw so that the result measured by the sensor is independent by time (does not vary with time) as long as the fodder is the same.

[0091] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the window 12 is positioned on the side of the cylinder bore 6 and not on top of the cylinder bore 6. The advantage is that there will not be an air pocket between the window and the fodder. The window could of course also be positioned in any position on the lower half of the cylinder bore.

[0092] For measuring transmission or absorption a second window (not shown) would preferably be positioned on the cylinder bore opposite the window 12, where the second window can have all the feature of the window 12. To avoid that the signal from the radiation source is not totally absorbed before the signal reaches the sensor, the end of the cylinder bore can be made bore narrow so that the distance between the window 12 and the second window is reduced. How much the distance between the window 12 and the second window may be reduced will depend on the fodder and the wavelength(s) studied. At the part of the cylinder bore, where the cylinder bore is narrowed there cannot be a screw, unless the cylinder bore as well as the screw are tapered.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows a container 22 with a floor 24 and walls 26. FIG. 3 shows the container 22 from the inside, where the container 22 has an inner corner 28 forming an indentation in the container 22. FIG. 3 shows the screw 4 in the cylinder bore 6, where the cylinder bore is connected to the container 22. The cylinder bore is arranged so that the first opening 14 is an opening in the floor 24 so that fodder will always fill the cylinder bore under the first opening. The second opening 16 is arranged in one of the walls 26. The second opening 16 could also be arranged in the floor 24. In both situations the fodder transported by the screw through the second opening into the container 22.

EXAMPLES

First Example

[0094] In a first example, 4000 kg of corn silage and 6000 kg of grass silage are to be mixed and served to the cattle in a stable. The weights given are for the dry matter of the corn silage and of grass silage. The corn silage contains a lot of starch and the grass silage has a high percentage of protein.

[0095] Other complementary types of fodder can also be contemplated within the context of the present disclosure. With complementary types of fodder is meant that compositions regarding nutrition like especially starch, fat and protein of the two or more complementary types of fodder are such that an ideal compositions of nutrition can be achieved for a type of animal when the types of fodder are mixed together in a certain mixture. If all three of starch, fat and protein are to served to the animals at certain concentrations, it will be advantageous to mix three types of preferably complementary fodderif we have three equations we should have three unknowns.

[0096] First, something like 80% by weight of 6000 kg or 4800 kg of the grass silage is poured into a container with an assumed dry matter concentration (DMC) of e.g. 35%, which means a weight of grass silage including the moisture of around 14000 kg. (The number given is just an example. Other starting amounts are also possible.) A machine like a loader for filling the container can have a scale for weighing the grass silage before the corn is poured into the container or the container itself has a scale for weighing the grass silage after the grass silage has been poured into the container. The container comprises a feeder that transfers at least part of the fodder into a bore. The container also comprises an electromagnetic radiation source and a photonic sensor so that the fodder in the bore can be analysed. The feeder can be a screw and the bore can be a cylindrical bore.

[0097] A spectrum showing the measured absorbance of the fodder is shown in FIG. 4a. Water absorbs in the ranges 960-980 nm and 1410-1440 nm in the shown range. Other molecules absorb in the shown range and some molecules absorb also in the ranges, where water absorbs. Therefore it is an advantage to cover two ranges, where water absorbs, since the ratio of the absorbance of the two ranges are fixed for water, and contributions from other molecules can be eliminated. Alternatively, the analysis about the amount of water and thus the concentration of water in the fodder can be based on the first derivative of the absorbance, which is shown in FIG. 4b. The first derivative of the absorbance will generally provide a more reliable calculation about the water content. Based on e.g. PLS (Partial Least Squares regression) or another regression method like e.g. PCR (Principal Component Regression), the water content in the fodder can be extracted from the absorbance and with a higher precision from the first derivative of the absorbance.

[0098] Based on the absorbance of (or detected radiation transmitted through, reflected by or emitted by) the fodder in the bore the DMC of the grass silage is determined. If the water content is determined to be e.g. 60% in the fodder, the DMC is then 40% in the fodder. If the measured data from the photonic sensor indicate that the DMC in the grass silage is 30% by weight, the weight of dry matter of the silage is 4200 kg and not as assumed 4800 kg. By mixing the grass silage in the container by a mixer and measuring the DMC in the grass silage, maybe continuously, more grass silage can be poured into the container until the dry matter of grass silage is 6000 kg. The total weight with the DMC in the grass silage being 30% by weight is then 20000 kg.

[0099] A processing unit receiving the signal from the photonic sensor can continuously calculate the water content in the grass silage. If the processing unit also receives data about the weight of the grass silage in the container from the scale of the container, the dry matter weight of the grass silage can continuously be calculated. The dry matter weight of the grass silage can advantageously be presented on a display on the outside of the container or sent wirelessly to e.g. a smart phone of the driver of the loader so that the driver always knows how much of grass silage there is in the container and how much more has to be poured into the container.

[0100] Then something like 80% by weight of 4000 kg or 3200 kg of corn silage is poured into the container with an assumed DMC of e.g. 25%, which means a weight of corn silage including the moisture of around 12800 kg.

[0101] If the DMC of the corn silage and the DMC of the grass silage differ from each other, the water content measured by the photonic sensor will vary until the mixture is homogenous. This will be a good indicator whether two or more fodders are homogenously mixed so that each animal receives the intended mixture. If the DMC of the corn silage and the DMC of the grass silage is essentially the same, the operator will have to let the fodder mix for a certain time. An operator, who knows the container and the mixer will know how long time that is needed to achieve a well-mixed fodder.

[0102] Before the corn silage and the grass silage are well mixed it is difficult to determine the DMC of the corn silage. Since we know the weight and the DMC of the grass silage we can easily calculate the water/moisture content and the DMC of the corn ensilage when we know the weight and the water/moisture content of the mixture. If the photonic sensor measures DMC of 28% by weight (72% moisture) of the mixture and the total weight is 20000 kg of grass silage including moisture and 12800 kg of corn silage including the moisture, we have an equation about the DMC as i.0.3*20000 kg+x*12800 kg=0.28*(20000+12800) kg,

[0103] where x can be determined to be 0.249 so that the DMC of the corn ensilage is 24.9% or 25% by weight, which in this case was the assumed DMC. Based on that information, if the total amount of dry matter of corn ensilage is supposed to be 4000 kg, the weight of the added corn ensilage including moisture will be 16000 kg so that a further 3200 kg of corn silage has to be added to the container (16000 kg-12800 kg).

[0104] Alternatively, the 6000 kg of grass silage and the 4000 kg of corn silage to be given to the cattle in this example could be with a certain DMC, like e.g. with 35% by weight, so that the weight of the dry matter of grass silage would be 2100 kg and of corn silage would be 1400 kg. With the data from the photonic sensor indicating the DMC is 30% by weight of the 4800 kg (80% of the 6000 kg), as in this example, that corresponds to 1440 kg dry matter, and another 660 kg of dry matter of grass silage or 2200 kg of grass silage with 70% moisture/30% DMC would have to be added. The container is filled up with the grass silage at the observed DMC. If the weight of the grass silage was intended to be 6000 kg with 35% DM and DM was determined to be 30% by weight, the total weight of the silage to be loaded will be 7000 kg.

[0105] Of course, when stored the surface of the grass ensilage can vary so that grass ensilage closer to the surface of the stored grass ensilage has another water content compared to the grass ensilage further away from the surface. This can be true for corn silage, too. For this reason, it will be a good idea to continuously measure the water content of the mixture.

[0106] In addition to fat, starch and protein, the animals may need minerals like e.g. calcium, phosphorus, potassium and salt. If these minerals also need to achieve certain limits, more than two different types of fodder should be mixed. The calculations of how large quantities of each type of fodder to achieve these limits without exceeding the limits too much can easily be done by a processing unit.

Second Example

[0107] In a second example, 10000 kg of dry matter of a mixture of corn silage and of grass silage are to be mixed and served to the cattle in a stable. The corn silage contains a lot of starch and the grass silage has a high percentage of protein. The operator does not know the exact percentage of fat, protein and starch of the corn silage and especially of the grass silage, but the operator knows that the mixture to be served should have 16% by weight crude protein of the dry fodder and 20% by weight starch of dry fodder. The photonic sensor can interchangeably measure the water content, the protein content and the starch content in the fodder in the container and present the protein content of dry fodder and the starch content of dry fodder together with the weight of the dry fodder in the container measured by a scale on a display visible to the operator for guiding the operator how much of the corn silage and of the grass silage to further add to the container.

[0108] The moisture of each of the corn silage and of grass silage has to be determined as in example 1 so that the right amount of dry matter can be given the animal.

[0109] Corn silage may turn out to have 10% by weight of crude protein and 35% by weight of starch, while grass silage mixed with clover may turn out to have 15% by weight of crude protein and 1% by weight of starch. With this mixture of corn silage and grass silage we cannot reach the 16% by weight crude protein, and it will be beneficial to add e.g. soybean meal as a third ingredient, since soybean meal may turn out to have 52% by weight of crude protein and 3% by weight of starch. The DMC of soybean meal will also have to be determined.

Third Example

[0110] In an alternative to the second example, the device comprises a processing unit connected to the scale for receiving data about the weight of the fodder in the container, connected to an input unit for receiving from the operator data about the starch, protein, fat, one or more minerals, and/or dry weight of the fodder to be served to the animals, connected to the photonic sensor for receiving data, preferably continuously, about content of the starch, protein, fat, one or more minerals, and/or dry weight of the fodder, and connected to at least a first feeder and a second feeder for controlling the first feeder and the second feeder, wherein activation of the first feeder and the second feeder allows entrance of the corn silage and of the grass silage, respectively.

[0111] When the data about the fodder to be served to the animals have been received from the operator through the input unit, the processing unit activates the first feeder so that corn silage can enter the container. The photonic sensor measures the DM, starch, protein, fat, and/or one or more minerals of the corn silage and sends the measured data to the processing unit. The processing unit activates the second feeder so that grass silage can enter the container. The photonic sensor measures the DM, starch, protein, fat, and/or one or more minerals of the mixture of corn silage and grass silage and sends the measured data to the processing unit. Since the DM, starch, protein, fat, and/or one or more minerals of the corn silage has/have already been determined, the DM, the starch, protein, fat, and/or one or more minerals, of the grass silage can now be determined.

[0112] Since the DM of the corn silage and of the grass silage have now been determined, the dry weight of the corn silage and of the grass silage can also be determined. The processing unit can control the first and second feeders to fill up the container to the desired dry weight of fodder with the percentage of starch, protein, fat, and/or one or more minerals as indicated by the operator.