METHOD FOR MATCHING THE OPERATION OF AN INDIVIDUALIZING DEVICE AND THE OPERATION OF A PORTIONING DEVICE TO EACH OTHER

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for matching the operation of an individualizing device (26) and the operation of a portioning device (14) of an agricultural dispensing machine to each other in order to achieve a specified local depositing ratio (x) when depositing seeds (K) individualized by the individualizing device (26) and fertilizer portions (P) produced by the portioning device (14) on a usable agricultural area (N), having the steps of: depositing individualized seeds (K) and produced fertilizer portions (P) onto the usable agricultural area (N) using the agricultural dispensing machine as part of a calibration drive and detecting the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) deposited during the calibration drive and/or the local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) thereof using a mobile testing device (54).

Claims

1. A method for matching the operation of an individualizing device (26) and the operation of a portioning device (14) of an agricultural dispensing machine to each other in order to achieve a specified local depositing relationship (x) when depositing seeds (K) individualized by the individualizing device (26) and fertilizer portions (P) produced by the portioning device (14) on a usable agricultural area (N), characterized by the steps of: depositing individualized seeds (K) and produced fertilizer portions (P) onto the usable agricultural area (N) using the agricultural dispensing machine as part of a calibration drive; and detecting the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) deposited during the calibration drive and/or the local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) thereof using a mobile testing device (54); wherein a control system (52) that is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the individualizing device (26) and/or portioning device (14) provides an operating behavior at least temporarily for the individualizing device (26) and/or portioning device (14) to achieve the specified local depositing relationship (x) of seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P), which operating behavior is determined by the control system (52) on the basis of the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) detected by means of the testing device (54) and/or on the basis of the local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the seeds (K) individualized by the individualizing device (26) are dispensed by the individualizing device (26), in particular into a grain conveyor line, at grain discharge times that are spaced apart from one another; and/or the fertilizer portions (P) produced by the portioning device (14) are dispensed by the portioning device (14), in particular into a fertilizer conveyor line, at fertilizer discharge times that are spaced apart from one another; wherein the operating behavior specified by the control system (52) preferably causes an adjustment of the time offset between the grain discharge times and the fertilizer discharge times.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that depositing parameters can be set on the agricultural dispensing machine, which influence the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the deposited seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) and/or the local depositing relationship (x) thereof, wherein the depositing parameters correspond during the calibration drive and a dispensing process following the calibration drive.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that depositing parameters can be set on the agricultural dispensing machine, which influence the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the deposited seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) and/or the local depositing relationship (x) thereof, wherein at least one depositing parameter, in particular the driving speed, deviate from one another during the calibration drive and a dispensing process following the calibration drive.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that depositing parameters can be set on the agricultural dispensing machine, which influence the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the deposited seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) and/or the local depositing relationship (x) thereof, wherein at least one depositing parameter is changed during the calibration drive.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control system (52) determines the operating behavior, which is specified at least temporarily to the individualizing device (26) and/or portioning device (14), as a function of at least one calibration value, wherein the at least one calibration value is determined by the control system (52) and/or testing device (54) from the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) and/or from their local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) detected by means of the testing device (54).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile testing device (54) comprises an electronic measuring wheel (60) and an actuator (62), wherein the measuring wheel (60) is moved along a depositing path by an operator and the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) and/or the local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) thereof are detected by manual actuation of the actuator (62).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile testing device (54) is an electronic image recording device, wherein the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) deposited during the calibration drive and/or the local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) thereof are detected by evaluating one or more images of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) deposited during the calibration drive and recorded by the mobile testing device (54).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) deposited during the calibration drive, the local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) thereof and/or a calibration value determined therefrom are transmitted from the mobile testing device (54) to the control system (52) by data transmission.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individualized seeds (K) are deposited onto the usable agricultural area (N) during the calibration drive by a grain deposition device of the agricultural dispensing machine, wherein the grain deposition device can be moved into a dispensing configuration in which coverage of the deposited seeds (K) with soil takes place, and into a calibration drive configuration in which at least approximately no coverage of the deposited seeds (K) with soil takes place, wherein the grain deposition device is in the calibration drive configuration during the calibration drive.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the produced fertilizer portions (P) are deposited onto the usable agricultural area (N) during the calibration drive by a fertilizer deposition device of the agricultural dispensing machine, wherein the fertilizer deposition device can be moved into a dispensing configuration in which coverage of the deposited fertilizer portions (P) with soil takes place, and into a calibration drive configuration in which reduced coverage of the deposited fertilizer portions (P) with soil takes place, wherein the fertilizer deposition device is in the calibration drive configuration during the calibration drive.

12. A calibration system (50) for an agricultural dispensing machine for achieving a specified local depositing relationship (x) when depositing individualized seeds (K) and produced fertilizer portions (P) onto a usable agricultural area (N), having an individualizing device (26) for individualizing seeds (K); a portioning device (14) for producing fertilizer portions (P), a mobile testing device (54), by means of which the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) deposited during a calibration drive and/or the local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) thereof can be detected; and a control system (52) which is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the individualizing device (26) and/or portioning device (14) and is configured to match the operation of the individualizing device (26) and the operation of the portioning device (14) to each other; characterized in that, in order to achieve the specified local depositing relationship (x), the control system (52) is configured to at least temporarily provide an operating behavior to the individualizing device (26) and/or portioning device (14), which operating behavior is determined by the control system (52) on the basis of the depositing positions (P.sub.K, P.sub.P) of the seeds (K) and fertilizer portions (P) detected by means of the testing device (54) and/or on the basis of the local depositing relationship (x.sub.K) thereof.

13. The calibration system (50) according to claim 12, characterized in that the calibration system (50) is configured to be used to perform the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

Description

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a dispensing unit in which the operation of the individualizing device and the operation of the portioning device can be matched to each other by means of the method according to the invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the calibration system according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of another exemplary embodiment of the calibration system according to the invention; and

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a dispensing unit, the grain deposition device of which can be moved into a dispensing configuration.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a dispensing unit 10 of an agricultural dispensing machine, by means of which fertilizer can be dispensed in the form of fertilizer portions P and seed can be dispensed in the form of individualized seeds K, in a coordinated manner, on a usable agricultural area N. The agricultural dispensing machine preferably has several of the illustrated dispensing units 10, which are arranged next to one another in the transverse direction, i.e., transversely to the direction of travel.

[0029] The illustrated dispensing unit 10 has a holder 12 which comprises a parallelogram linkage and by means of which the dispensing unit 10 can be fastened to a crossbeam of the agricultural dispensing machine.

[0030] The dispensing unit 10 further comprises a portioning device 14, by means of which fertilizer portions P can be produced. The portioning device 14 has a drive which rotationally drives a portioning element 16 designed as a portioning wing. The drive of the portioning device 14 can be an electromotive, hydraulic or pneumatic drive.

[0031] The portioning element 16 rotating in the housing of portioning device 14 collects the fertilizer continuously entering the housing of portioning device 14 and thus produces a fertilizer portion P during each rotation. The fertilizer portions P produced by the portioning device 14 are discharged from the portioning device 14 into a fertilizer conveyor line 18 due to the rotational movement of the portioning element 16 at fertilizer discharge times that are spaced apart from one another. The fertilizer conveyor line 18 is an ejection channel via which the produced fertilizer portion P is first conveyed, within the machine, in the direction of the usable agricultural area N. After leaving the fertilizer conveyor line 18, the produced fertilizer portion P is initially in a flight phase before the fertilizer portion P reaches the base of a fertilizer furrow. The fertilizer furrow is produced by means of a fertilizer coulter 22, wherein the fertilizer coulter 22 can be a double disk coulter having two cutting disks 20.

[0032] The dispensing unit 10 further comprises an individualizing device 26, by means of which the seeds K stored in the storage container 24 can be individualized. For this purpose, the individualizing device 26 has a drive which rotationally drives the individualizing element 28 of the individualizing device 26, which individualizing element 28 is designed as an individualizing disc. The drive of the individualizing device 26 can be an electromotive, pneumatic or hydraulic drive.

[0033] The individualizing element 28 designed as an individualizing disc has grain receiving recesses, which each receive one seed grain, thus individualizing them. The individualized seeds K are then discharged from the individualizing device 26 into a grain conveyor line 30 at grain discharge times that are spaced apart from one another. The grain conveyor line 30 is an ejection channel and serves to convey the individualized seeds K in the direction of the usable agricultural area N. After leaving the grain conveyor line the individualized seeds K are initially in a flight phase before they reach the base of a seed furrow. The seed furrow is produced by one or more cutting disks 32 of the seed drill coulter 34.

[0034] The produced fertilizer portions P can have different machine-internal conveying durations in the dispensing machine and different machine-external flight times after dispensation by the dispensing machine, depending on the properties of the fertilizer. For example, the size, the weight and the surface properties of the fertilizer grains can have a bearing on the machine-internal conveying duration and the machine-external flight time of the fertilizer portions. The individualized seeds K can also have different machine-internal conveying durations in the dispensing machine and/or different machine-external flight times after dispensation by the dispensing machine, depending on the properties of the seed. For example, the size, the weight and the surface properties of the seeds K can have a bearing on the machine-internal conveying duration and the machine-external flight time of the individualized seeds K.

[0035] To achieve a specified local depositing relationship x of the seeds K and the fertilizer portions P on the usable agricultural area N, the operation of the individualizing device 26 and the operation of the portioning device 14 must be matched to each other. The specified depositing relationship x can be, for example, a specified longitudinal distance between the fertilizer portions P and the seeds K, wherein the specified longitudinal distance can also be zero, so that the individualized seeds K and the produced fertilizer portions P show no distance from one another in the longitudinal direction. To adjust the longitudinal distance x between the deposited individualized seeds K and the deposited produced fertilizer portions P, an operating behavior is specified at least temporarily to the portioning device 14 and/or the individualizing device 26 by a control system 52 (cf. FIGS. 2 & 3). By means of the operating behavior specified to the portioning device 14 and/or the individualizing device 26 by the control system 52, an adjustment of the time offset between the grain discharge times at the individualizing device 26 and the fertilizer discharge times at the portioning device 14 is initiated. In the illustrated dispensing unit 10, this can take place in that a temporary deviation from an intended speed ratio of the individualizing element 28 and portioning element 16 is initiated via the operating behavior specified by the control system 52, so that the longitudinal distance x between the fertilizer portions P and the seeds K changes.

[0036] FIGS. 2 and 3 show calibration systems 50, the control systems 52 of which at least temporarily specify an operating behavior to a portioning device 14 and/or individualizing device 26, in order to achieve a specified local depositing relationship x of seeds K and fertilizer portions P on the usable agricultural area N.

[0037] To achieve the specified local depositing relationship x of seeds K and fertilizer portions P on the usable agricultural area N, it is first necessary to perform a calibration drive by means of the agricultural dispensing machine. During the calibration drive, seeds K individualized by the individualizing device 26 and fertilizer portions P produced by the portioning device 14 are deposited onto the usable agricultural area N. FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a deposition pattern of seeds K and fertilizer portions P, which pattern was produced as part of a calibration drive. Depositing parameters can be set on the agricultural dispensing machine which influence the depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the deposited seeds K and fertilizer portions P. These depositing parameters are, for example, the driving speed, the sowing strength, the individualizing air pressure at the individualizing device 26 and the fertilizer volume of a fertilizer portion P. The deposition parameters of the dispensing machine that are set during the calibration drive and during a dispensing process following the calibration drive correspond, except for the driving speed. However, the calibration drive is carried out at a driving speed which deviates from the planned driving speed during the dispensing process following the calibration drive. A plurality of different driving speeds are set during the calibration drive. The grain deposition device of the agricultural dispensing machine designed as a seed drill coulter 34 and the fertilizer deposition device of the agricultural dispensing machine designed as a fertilizer coulter 22 are in a calibration drive configuration during the calibration drive. When the seed drill coulter 34 is in the calibration drive configuration, only slight coverage of the deposited seeds K with soil takes place. When the fertilizer coulter 22 is in the calibration drive configuration, reduced coverage of the deposited fertilizer portions P with soil takes place. Due to the calibration drive configuration of the seed drill coulter 34 and fertilizer coulter 22, less soil must be moved to expose the deposited seeds K and fertilizer portions P so that the exposure of the deposited seeds K and fertilizer portions P is simplified.

[0038] After depositing the seeds K and fertilizer portions P during the calibration drive, the seeds K and fertilizer portions P are to be initially exposed such that the depositing positions P.sub.K of the seeds K and the depositing positions P.sub.P of the fertilizer portions P can be optically or visually detected. As a result of the depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P now being visible, the local depositing relationship x.sub.K, in this case the longitudinal distance, between the deposited seeds K and fertilizer portions P can be optically or visually detected. The depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P deposited during the calibration drive and/or the local depositing relationship x.sub.K thereof are detected by means of a mobile testing device 54.

[0039] In the calibration system 50 shown in FIG. 2, the mobile testing device 54 is an electronic image recording device, namely a smartphone. After performing the calibration drive, one or more image recordings of the deposited seeds K and fertilizer portions P are generated by means of the mobile testing device 54. The depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P deposited during the calibration drive and the local depositing relationship x.sub.K thereof are detected by evaluating the image recordings of the mobile testing device 54. An application is installed on the mobile testing device 54, which application performs an image analysis of the image recordings generated with the mobile testing device 54 in order to detect the depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P. The application can identify the seeds K and fertilizer portions P either independently or require a previous marking of the corresponding depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P by an operator. In order to determine the longitudinal distance x.sub.K, it may be necessary for the application on the mobile testing device 54 to require a reference strip 58 arranged in the vicinity of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P, which reference strip 58 has markings serving as a length or distance reference.

[0040] The depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P deposited during the calibration drive, the local depositing relationship x.sub.K thereof and/or a calibration value determined therefrom are subsequently transmitted from the mobile testing device 54 to the control system 52 by data transmission via the signal-conducting connection 56. In principle, the transmission can be wireless or wired, wherein, for example, Bluetooth, W-LAN and the Internet can be used for data transmission. The data are transmitted from the mobile testing device 54 either first to a terminal of the control system 52 or directly to an electronic control unit of the control system 52, which is part of the agricultural dispensing machine.

[0041] The control system 52, which is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the individualizing device 26 and portioning device 14, determines an operating behavior for the individualizing device 26 and/or portioning device 14 on the basis of the depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P and/or the local depositing relationship x.sub.K thereof detected by means of the testing device 54, via which operating behavior the specified local depositing relationship x of seeds K and fertilizer portions P can be achieved. The specified local depositing relationship x of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P can relate, for example, to the longitudinal distance thereof, wherein the specified longitudinal distance between the seeds K and fertilizer portions P can also be zero.

[0042] To achieve the specified local depositing relationship x of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P, the control system 52 can, for example, initiate a temporary deviation from an intended speed ratio of the individualizing element 28 of the individualizing device 26 and the portioning element 16 of the portioning device 14.

[0043] In the calibration system 50 shown in FIG. 3, the mobile testing device 54 has an electronic measuring wheel 60 and an actuator 62. The measuring wheel 60 is moved by an operator along a depositing path in order to detect the depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P deposited during a calibration drive and the local depositing relationship x.sub.K thereof by manual actuation of the actuator 62. The actuator 62 has two buttons 64a, 64b. The depositing positions P.sub.K of the seeds K can be detected with the first button 64a. The depositing positions P.sub.P of the fertilizer portions P can be detected with the second button 64b. The testing device 54 can furthermore have a display 66, via which the longitudinal distance x.sub.K between the fertilizer portions P and seeds K deposited during the calibration drive is displayed during position detection.

[0044] The mobile testing device 54 can then calculate a calibration value on the basis of the detected depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P, which calibration value can then be used by the control system 52 to match the operation of the individualizing device 26 and the operation of the portioning device 14 to each other. During calibration value calculation, the mobile testing device 54 can consider spots where no seed or twice as much seed has been dispensed and can consider the coefficient of variation for depositing seed and fertilizer. The determined calibration value is then either transmitted via the signal-conducting connection 56 to the control system 52 or input manually by the operator on a terminal of the control system 52. In this case, the display 66 can also be used to represent the determined calibration value so that it can be read from the display 66 by the operator.

[0045] The control system 52 determines the operating behavior, which is specified to the individualizing device 26 and portioning device 14, as a function of the calibration value calculated by the testing device 54. Alternatively, the calibration value can also be calculated directly by the control system 52. In this case, the depositing positions P.sub.K, P.sub.P of the seeds K and fertilizer portions P detected by the testing device 54 are transmitted from the testing device 54 to the control system 52.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a dispensing unit 10 which has a clearing device 36 in the region of the seed drill coulter 34. The clearing device comprises two clearing sheets 38a, 38b, each arranged laterally of the cutting disks 32 of the seed drill coulter 34, which serve to remove thrown-up soil from the seed furrow in the manner of a snowplow. The clearing device 36 is used during the calibration drive in order to avoid excessive coverage of the deposited seeds with soil. The dispensing unit 10 furthermore has an adjustment device 42, by means of which a furrow closer 40 can be lifted off the usable agricultural area N and locked in the lifted state. By lifting the furrow closer 40, active furrow closing during a calibration drive is avoided.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0047] 10 Dispensing unit [0048] 12 Holder [0049] 14 Portioning device [0050] 16 Portioning element [0051] 18 Fertilizer conveyor line [0052] 20 Cutting disk [0053] 22 Fertilizer coulter [0054] 24 Storage container [0055] 26 Individualizing device [0056] 28 Individualizing element [0057] 30 Grain conveyor line [0058] 32 Cutting disk [0059] 34 Seed drill coulter [0060] 36 Clearing device [0061] 38a, 38b Clearing sheets [0062] 40 Furrow closer [0063] 42 Adjustment device [0064] 50 Calibration system [0065] 52 Control system [0066] 54 Testing device [0067] 56 Connection [0068] 58 Reference strip [0069] 60 Measuring wheel [0070] 62 Actuator [0071] 64a, 64b Buttons [0072] 66 Display [0073] P Fertilizer portions [0074] P.sub.P Depositing positions [0075] P.sub.K Depositing positions [0076] N Usable area [0077] K Seeds [0078] x Depositing relationship [0079] x.sub.K Depositing relationship