IDENTIFICATION TAGGING SYSTEM FOR HARVESTING MACHINES AND METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

The present disclosure is for a bale tag assembly for coupling to a baled crop that has twine formed of a plurality of fibers and a bale tag at least partially embedded in the twine. The bale tag has an embedded antenna configured to provide an identification number associated with the bale tag.

Claims

1. A bale tag assembly for coupling to a baled crop, comprising: twine formed of a plurality of fibers; and a bale tag at least partially embedded in the twine; wherein, the bale tag has an embedded antenna configured to provide an identification number associated with the bale tag.

2. The bale tag assembly of claim 1, further wherein the plurality of fibers substantially surrounds the bale tag.

3. The bale tag assembly of claim 1, further wherein the plurality of fibers substantially encloses the bale tag.

4. The bale tag assembly of claim 1, further wherein the bale tag is substantially entirely surrounded by twine.

5. The bale tag assembly of claim 1, further wherein the bale tag is coupled to the twine to limit movement there along.

6. The bale tag assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second bale tag at least partially embedded in the twine, the second bale tag having an embedded antenna configured to provide a second identification number associated with the second bale tag.

7. The bale tag assembly of claim 1, further wherein the bale tag is embedded into the twine as the plurality of fibers are combined to form the twine.

8. The bale tag assembly of claim 7, further wherein the bale tag is embedded into the twine as part of an intertwining process.

9. The bale tag assembly of claim 7, further wherein the bale tag is embedded into the twine as part of an enveloped process.

10. The bale tag assembly of claim 1, further wherein the twine is visually altered near where the bale tag is embedded.

11. The bale tag assembly of claim 10, further wherein the visual alteration is a paint.

12. The bale tag assembly of claim 1, further wherein the identification number of the bale tag provides information regarding one or more of moisture of the crop, length of the crop, and weight of the crop when the bale tag assembly is tied to a bale.

13. A system for identifying characteristics of a bailed crop, comprising: a baler having a knotter system; twine formed of a plurality of fibers and configured to be utilized by the knotter system to bind bales formed by the baler; and a plurality of bale tags at least partially embedded in the twine; wherein, each bale tag has an embedded antenna configured to provide an identification number associated with the bale tag; further wherein, the identification number of each bale tag provides information regarding one or more of moisture of the crop, length of the crop, and weight of the crop associated with the bale to which the twine is tied.

14. The system of claim 13, further wherein the plurality of fibers substantially surrounds each of the plurality of bale tags.

15. The system of claim 13, further wherein the plurality of fibers substantially encloses each of the plurality of bale tags.

16. The system of claim 13, further wherein each of the plurality of bale tags is coupled to the twine to limit movement there along.

17. The system of claim 13, further wherein the twine is visually altered near where each of the plurality of bale tags are embedded.

18. The system of claim 17, further wherein the visual alteration is a paint.

19. The system of claim 13, further wherein each of the plurality of bale tags are sized to allow the twine to pass through the knotter assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above-mentioned aspects of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example baler towed by an agricultural vehicle;

[0014] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the baler of FIG. 1, which portions of the cover of the baler removed;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a baled crop;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of a bale tag;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the bale tag of FIG. 3;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a side view of another bale tag;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the bale tag of FIG. 3 and a twine knot;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a side view and cross-sectional view of a combination of twine and a bale tag; and

[0021] FIG. 8 is a side view and cross-sectional view of another combination of twine and a bale tag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1A, large square baler 12 may be towed across a field by agricultural vehicle 10. (It will be understood that various other configurations are also possible, For example, the disclosed sensor assembly and method may be utilized with a variety of balers or other equipment.) Baler 12 may include housing 14, which may generally shield various internal components of baler 12. As baler 12 moves across a field (e.g., as towed by vehicle 10 via connection 10a) and encounters a windrow or other arrangement of material (not shown), pick-up assembly 16 may gather the material and move it up and into housing 14 for processing. As a result of this processing, as described in greater detail below, bale 18 may be formed and may be ejected from the rear of baler 12.

[0024] In various embodiments, baler 12 (or vehicle 10) may include one or more computing devices, such as controller 34. Various alternative locations for controller 34 are depicted in FIG. 1A, including locations on vehicle 10 and baler 12. It will be understood that one or more controllers 34 may be employed and that controller 34 may be mounted at various locations on vehicle 10, baler 12, or elsewhere. Controller 34 may be a hardware, software, or hardware and software computing device, and may be configured to execute various computational and control functionality with respect to baler 12 (or vehicle 10). As such, controller 34 may be in electronic or other communication with various components and devices of baler 12 (or vehicle 10). For example, controller 34 within baler 12 may be in electronic communication with various actuators, sensors, and other devices within (or outside of) baler 12. Controller 34 may communicate with various other components (including other controllers) in various known ways, including wirelessly. The baler 12 and related embodiments thereto are further described in U.S. Publication Ser. No. 2015/0208586, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0025] Referring now also to FIG. 1B, various internal components of an example configuration of baler 12 are depicted. It will be understood that various other configurations may also be possible. Pick-up assembly 16, for example, may include rotary tine pick-up 22 for gathering crop material from windrow (not shown). Material gathered by rotary tine pick-up 22 may be routed to feed auger 24, which may further direct the material toward baling chamber 38 for compaction into a baler.

[0026] Baling chamber 38, which is depicted with upper panel 38a in place, may be a chamber of generally rectangular cross section extending axially along baler 12 in a generally front-to-back direction. Chamber 38 may be configured in various ways to receive material gathered by pick-up assembly 16, hold the material for compaction, then release the resulting bale from the back (or other portion) of baler 12 (e.g., as depicted for bale 18, in FIG. 1A).

[0027] Baling chamber 38 may be bounded on one or more sides (e.g., to the right and left, from the perspective of the forward direction of baler 12) by tension panels 52, which may be movable in order to control various aspects of a baling operation. For example, various actuators (not shown) may be mounted to baler 12 and one or more of tension panels 52 such that the actuators may cause tension panels 52 to vary the cross-sectional area of baling chamber 38. In certain embodiments, for example, hydraulic pistons (not shown) may be configured to pivot tension panels 52 into (or out of) baling chamber 38, in order to decrease (or increase) the cross-sectional area of chamber 38 and thereby increase (or decrease) the force required to push a given amount of compacted crop material through chamber 38 (e.g., the pressure required for plunger 54 to move the bale through chamber 38). In this way, for example, tension panels 52 may be utilized to vary the density of the resulting bale 18.

[0028] Compaction of crop material within baling chamber 38 may be driven in various ways. For example, as depicted in the various figures, plunger 54 (not shown in FIG. 1B) may be driven by a crank arm assembly. As depicted in FIG. 1B, power take off (PTO) connection shaft 26 may be configured to receive rotational power from PTO shaft of vehicle 10 (e.g., via connection 10a, as shown in FIG. 1A). In certain embodiments, accordingly, whenever the PTO output of vehicle 10 is engaged, PTO connection shaft 26 may be receiving rotational power from vehicle 10. (It will be understood that various other configurations are also possible, such as configurations in which shaft 26 (or various other components of baler 12) may be selectively disengaged even if the PTO output of vehicle 10 is engaged.) In various embodiments, PTO connection shaft 26 may provide rotational power to gear box 28. Through one or more internal gears (not shown in FIG. 1B), this power may be routed through gear box 28 to crank arms 30, which may be connected to plunger 54 via connecting rod(s) 32. (Connecting rods 32 have been partially removed in FIG. 1B, for clarity of presentation.) In this way, rotational power may be provided from vehicle 10 to crank arms 30. Crank arms 30, accordingly, may then drive the reciprocating motion of plunger 54, via connecting rod(s) 32, in order to compact material within baling chamber 38 into formed bales 18. It will be understood that various other configurations may be possible. For example, in certain embodiments, gear box 28 may be powered by an electrical or hydraulic machine rather than by direct mechanical power from a PTO interface.

[0029] In various embodiments, rotation of PTO connection shaft 26 (e.g., as powered by the PTO output of vehicle 10) may additionally (or alternatively) provide rotational power to various components of baler 12. For example, the motion of various components of pick-up assembly 16, various tying mechanisms (not shown), pumps for hydraulic actuation of tension panels 38 (not shown), and so on, may be driven via power connections of various known types (e.g., chain or belt drives) to PTO connection shaft 26 or associated components.

[0030] A twine tying arrangement (not shown) may be provided for wrapping and tying multiple loops of twine about a completed bale. The bale tying cycle may be initiated by a bale length sensor arrangement (not shown) including a toothed metering wheel (not shown) mounted on a shaft (not shown) extending horizontally across and being rotatably mounted to the top of the baling chamber 38. The metering wheel may have a toothed periphery which extends into the baling chamber 38 and is contacted by a forming bale so as to be rotated as the bale grows in length. The rotation of the metering wheel is sensed and converted into a signal representing bale length, with a control signal being sent to initiate the tying cycle when the forming bale reaches a length corresponding to a desired bale length. An example of a twine tensioner or knotter system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,617,834 to Deere & Company, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0031] As the baled crop is formed in the baler 100, certain parameters or qualities of the crop may be measured or determined, e.g., moisture quality, baling time, bale weight, bale length, etc. The ability to trace or track baling parameters can be useful to an end user. Baled products, such as hay or silage, may be fed to livestock, and the quality of the feed may be important to the diet of the livestock. To achieve this traceability of the baled product, a tagging system may be employed for storing or otherwise retaining the parameters or quality of the crop. For example, a higher quality feed may be fed to certain livestock, whereas feed with lesser quality may go to a different type of livestock (e.g., dairy cow versus a dry cow).

[0032] In the organic food industry, for example, traceability of feed quality is desired. Many in the industry want to know where food products (such as milk) come from, what the livestock ate while it was being raised, etc. As a result, the tagging system may be employed in the baling process to provide this type of information to the consumer.

[0033] Referring now to FIG. 2 of the present disclosure, one embodiment of a baled crop 200 is shown. In this embodiment, a bale of hay 200 is shown formed in a rectangular shape with twine 202 wrapped around and fastened about the crop. The twine 202 may be fastened or tied along the length of the crop 200, and there may be one or more pieces of twine 202 coupled thereto. As also shown, a first bale tag 204 and a second bale tag 206 may be coupled to the twine 202 at different locations along the length thereof. Each bale tag may include a different identification number, or in some instances, the identification number may be the same. Moreover, in at least one embodiment, only one bale tag may be coupled to the twine 202.

[0034] In at least one embodiment, the bale tag may be coupled to or integrated into the twine before the bale is made. This may happen, for example, by the twine manufacturer to improve or simplify the ease of use during the baling process (i.e., tagging issues may be avoided). The bale tag may be coupled to the twine via an adhesive, mechanical clamping or coupling, heat, or otherwise integrated in other known manners. In FIGS. 3 and 4, an example of a bale tag 300 is shown. The bale tag 300 may be formed by an elongated body 306 having an overall length, L, defined between a first end 302 and a second end 304. The bale tag 300 may be formed of a nylon, polymer or elastomer material.

[0035] In FIG. 3, the body 306 may include a first portion 308, a second portion 310, and a third portion 312. The first portion 308 and the second portion 310 may be tapered, whereas the third portion 312 is disposed between the first and second portions. For instance, the first portion 308 may taper from where it adjoins the third portion 312 to the first end 302. Likewise, the second portion 310 may taper from where it adjoins the third portion 312 to the second end 304.

[0036] A central bore or channel 314 is defined in the body 306 from the first end 302 to the second end 304. The bore or channel 314 may be sized such that twine can pass therethrough. The bore or channel 314 may have an outer diameter, D.sub.B, whereas the body 306 may have a larger dimension, D. As shown in FIG. 4, the overall cross-section of the body 306 may be oval and the cross-section of the bore or channel 314 is circular. In other embodiments, the cross-section of the body 306 and bore 314 may take a different shape including circular, oval, square, rectangular, polygonal, etc. In FIG. 4, the oval-shaped body 306 may have a first dimension D and a second dimension, D.sub.x. As shown, the second dimension, D.sub.x, may be greater than the first dimension, D.

[0037] The first portion 308 may have a defined length, L.sub.1, as shown in FIG. 3. The combined length of the second portion 310 and third portion 312 may be the same as the length of the first portion 308, although this is only one example. In other examples, the lengths may differ. In the example of FIG. 3, the length of the second portion is L.sub.3 and the length of the second portion is L.sub.2. Here, the length L.sub.2 is closer to the length L.sub.1 of the first portion 308 than the length L.sub.3 of the second portion 310.

[0038] As noted above, the first portion 308 of the bale tag 300 tapers from the third portion 312 to the first end 302. The taper angle, .sub.1, may be less than 20 in one example. In a different example, the angle may be less than 10. Further, in a third example, the angle may be less than 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the second portion 310 may also taper from the third portion 312 to the second end 304. Here, the taper angle, .sub.2, may be less than 60. In another example, the taper angle, .sub.2, may be less than 45. Moreover, in a further example, the taper angle, .sub.2, may be greater than the first taper angle, .sub.1, but less than 35. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the bale tag 300 may be designed such that the first taper angle, .sub.1, is less than the second taper angle, .sub.2. In other embodiments, however, this may be different.

[0039] In FIG. 5, for example, a second bale tag 500 is shown. The second bale tag 500 is structured similar to the first bale tag 300 of FIG. 3 in that each tag envelopes or is designed in a collar-like fashion for coupling to a piece of twine 502. As shown, the tag 500 includes a bore or channel through which the twine 502 passes when coupled. The tag 500 may be adhered or otherwise fastened to the twine 502 to limit its movement along a length of the twine 502.

[0040] The bale tag 500 may include a body 504 having a first end 506 and a second end 506. The body 506 may have a smaller dimension at the first end 506 and second end 508, and a larger dimension at a location therebetween. For example, in FIG. 5, the tag 500 may include a first portion 510 near the first end 502, a second portion 512 near the second end 504, and a third portion 514 disposed between the first portion 510 and the second portion 512. In this embodiment, the bale tag 500 has an overall length of L. The first portion 510 and the second portion 512 may have a length, L.sub.B, and the third portion 514 may have a length, L.sub.A.

[0041] In a non-limiting example, the overall length, L, of the bale tag 500 may be approximately 30 mm. The length, L.sub.B, of the first and second portions may be approximately 5 mm, and the length, L.sub.A, of the third portion may be approximately 20 mm. This, however, is only an example and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. The size of the bale tag may differ in other embodiments, and thus the lengths in FIGS. 3 and 5 are non-limiting.

[0042] As previously described, the body 504 in FIG. 5 may define an inner bore or channel through which the twine 502 is fed through during the twine manufacturing process. The twine 502 may have an outer diameter, D.sub.3, as shown in FIG. 5. The third portion 514 may have an outer diameter or dimension, D.sub.1, and the first and second portions may have an outer diameter or dimension, Dz. Each of the first and second dimensions, D.sub.1 and D.sub.2, are greater than the outer diameter, D.sub.3, of the twine 502. Moreover, the first portion 510 and second portion 512 may taper from the first dimension, D.sub.1, to the respective first end 506 and second 508. As shown in FIG. 5, the taper angle, , may be less than 45 in one embodiment. In a second embodiment, the taper angle, , may be less than 30. In a further embodiment, the taper angle, , may be less than 25. In other embodiments, however, the taper angle may be less than 90.

[0043] In a non-limiting example, the twine 502 may have a diameter of approximately 4 mm. The first or largest dimension, D.sub.1, of the bale tag 500 may be approximately 10 mm, and the second or smallest dimension, D.sub.2, may be approximately 6 mm. This, however, is only an example and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. The size of the bale tag may differ in other embodiments, and thus the dimensions or diameters in FIGS. 3 and 5 are non-limiting.

[0044] As previously described, the material of the bale tag can vary depending upon the embodiment. The material may include nylon, a polymer, or an elastomer. In FIG. 5, for example, the bale tag 500 may be formed of polypropylene. In FIG. 3, the first portion 308 of the bale tag 300 may be formed of a flexible yet resilient material, whereas the second portion 310 and third portion 312 may be formed of a more rigid or semi-rigid material compared to the first portion 308. In this embodiment, the second and third portions may be formed of a more rigid material for encasing a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip and an antenna (not shown). In other embodiments, visual identification mechanisms such as a quick response (QR) code, bar code, identification number, alpha-numeric code, or color may be printed or formed on the second and third portions of the bale tag 300.

[0045] The outer surface of the third portion 312 of the bale tag 300 may include a low friction surface. This low friction outer surface may also be the case with the first and second portions as well. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the size of the bale tag 300 includes at least two dimensions, D and D. The larger dimension, D.sub.x, is sized so that a bar code, for example, may be affixed or displayed on the surface of the tag.

[0046] While the bale tag 300 in FIG. 3 may include various shapes and sizes, it may be adhered to the twine to limit its movement therealong. Moreover, the twine manufacture may color-code the twine to provide a visual identification as to a location of the bale tag on the twine. For example, the twine may include a first color indicative of a location where a bale tag is located on the twine, and the rest of the twine may be a second color where no bale tag is located. This allows for easy location of the bale tag after the baled crop is extruded from the rear of the baler.

[0047] In FIGS. 3-5, the bale tag is depicted as including tapered ends with a non-tapered section therebetween. In a further embodiment, however, the bale tag may include a first portion and a second portion. In this embodiment, only the first portion may be tapered and the second portion is non-tapered. When coupled to or integrated into the twine, the bale tag may be coupled to the twine such that the first portion functions as the leading end and the second end functions as the trailing end. With the tapered, leading end, the bale tag may pass more easily through the twine tensioners compared to a tag that does not include a leading tapered end. Thus, this embodiment may take the form, for example, of the bale tag 300 in FIG. 3 without having the second portion 310. In other words, the bale tag 300 of FIG. 3 may be redesigned to include only the tapered, first portion 308 and the non-tapered third portion 312, where the first portion 308 passes through the twine tensioners before the third portion 312.

[0048] During the baling process, opposite ends of a piece of twine may be tied into a knot. As shown in FIG. 6, a comparison 600 between a bale tag 602 and a twine knot 604 is shown. Here, it may be desirable for the outer dimension of the bale tag 602 to be less than an outer dimension of the bale knot 604. As shown, the bale knot 604 may have an outer dimension that is greater than an outer diameter of a piece of twine 606. As the twine is fed through the baler, wrapped around the baled crop, and tied thereto, the bale tag 602 may pass through tight spaces or around tight corners such that its relatively smaller outer dimension is desirable. This can reduce possible damage to the bale tag during the baling process. Moreover, the flexible first portion 308 may pass through the tight spaces or corners first before the more rigid second and third portions to provide better protection to the tag.

[0049] Another example of a bale tag and twine arrangement 700 is shown in FIG. 7. Here, a bale tag 702 may be inserted into a piece of twine 704. For example, the bale tag 702 may be embedded into the fibers of the twine 704. In other words, the twine 704 surrounds or encloses the bale tag 702.

[0050] In a further example, another bale tag and twine arrangement 800 is shown in FIG. 8. The arrangement 800 may include a bale tag 802 and a piece of twine 804. As shown, the bale tag 802 and twine 804 are intertwined with one another for coupling the bale tag 802 to the twine 804. In other words, the bale tag 802 may be looped or intertwined between the fibers of the twine 804.

[0051] Other arrangements may be possible for coupling a bale tag to twine besides the illustrated embodiments. For instance, a bale tag may be clamped, snapped, fastened, adhered, or coupled using any number of fasteners. In at least one embodiment, the bale tag is coupled to the twine in such a way that there is limited movement of the tag along the length of the twine. In other embodiments, however, the bale tag may freely move along the twine.

[0052] In a simplified bale forming process, twine may be provided in the form of a roll or other manner by a twine manufacturer. In addition, a plurality of bale tags may be provided. Each bale tag may include a unique identification number, a bar code, a QR code, an embedded RFID chip and antenna, etc. The bale tag may take the form of any design including those shown in FIGS. 3-6. As the twine is manufactured, one or more of the plurality of bale tags may be coupled to the twine. This may happen in accordance with any of the previously described embodiments, e.g., via an embedding process, an intertwining process, an enveloped process, etc.

[0053] During the manufacturing process, the twine may be visually altered at the location at or near each bale tag to provide a means to locate the bale tag once it is disposed about the baled crop. The visual alteration may include a coloring (e.g., paint) process or any other known method.

[0054] Once the bale tags have been assembled to the twine, the twine may be delivered and installed in a baler according to any known method. During the baling process, crop may be collected by the baler according to known methods and the baled crop is formed in the baler, e.g., the baling chamber. Once the baled crop is formed, the twine may be assembled and tied according to any known process. As the twine is assembled to the baled crop, one or more bale tags may be disposed along the crop. If the twine is visually altered at locations near or at the bale tag, the location of the bale tag may be readily identified via the twine. In any event, the bale tags are already assembled to the baled crop once the twine is tied. The one or more bale tags may thus be used for associating certain information about the baled crop to an end user, including moisture of the crop, length or weight of the crop, etc. Moreover, other information such as about the twine may also be associated to the baled crop via the bale tag.

[0055] While embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been disclosed hereinabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.