GRAIN LOSS SENSING

Abstract

A header for a harvesting machine which includes one or more crop-engaging components and a sensing unit positioned within a flowpath of material and downstream of at least one of the one or more crop-engaging components. The sensing unit is configured, in use, to measure an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on a detection surface of the sensing unit in order to determine a measure of grain loss associated with the header.

Claims

1. A header for a harvesting machine, the header comprising: one or more crop-engaging components; and a sensing unit positioned within a flow path of material and downstream of at least one of the one or more crop-engaging components; wherein the sensing unit is configured, in use, to measure an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on a detection surface of the sensing unit; and wherein the crop-engaging component/s include a plurality of belts configured such that an interface is formed therebetween, the interface forming a gap through which at least some of the conveyed crop material may fall and wherein the sensing unit is positioned adjacent said gap such that material falling through the gap impacts the detection surface of the sensing unit.

2. The header of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is positioned adjacent to the crop-engaging component(s).

3. The header of claim 1, wherein the crop-engaging components includes an auger and/or one or more belts configured to convey cut crop material inwardly towards the centre of the header; and wherein the sensing unit is positioned behind the auger/s or belt/s such that crop material which passes over the auger/s or belts and not conveyed substantially transversely towards the centre of the header is incident on the detection surface of the sensing unit.

4. The header of claim 1, wherein: the crop-engaging components comprise a plurality of belts, including at least one belt configured to convey material in a substantially transverse direction across a width of the header and at least one belt configured to convey material in a substantially longitudinal direction; the plurality of belts are configured such that an interface is formed therebetween where conveyed crop material is passed from one belt to another; the interface forms a gap through which at least some of the conveyed crop material may fall, in use; and the sensing unit is positioned adjacent said gap such that material falling through the gap may impact the detection surface of the sensing unit.

5. The header of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is coupled to a table of the header.

6. The header of claim 5, wherein sensing unit is positioned within the header, in a position with respect to the table of the header such that material falling into or otherwise being directed into the table may impact the detection surface of the sensing unit.

7. The header of claim 1, wherein the sensing unit comprises an acoustic-electric sensing means configured to output an electrical signal which is proportional to the force of material incident on the detection surface of the sensing unit.

8. A control system for controlling operation of one or more systems of an agricultural machine, the control system comprising one or more controllers configured to: receive an impact signal from a sensing unit of the header of claim 1, the impact signal comprising a measurement of an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on a detection surface of the sensing unit; determine, in dependence on the received impact signal, a measurement of grain loss associated with the agricultural machine; and generate and output one or more control signals for controlling operation of one or more systems of the agricultural machine in dependence on the determined grain loss.

9. The control system of claim 8, operable to control operation of a user interface associated with the machine to provide an indication to the operator of the machine of the determined grain loss associated with the measured impact parameter.

10. The control system of claim 8, operable to control an operational speed of the machine or one or more components thereof.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the operational speed comprises a forward speed of the machine.

12. The control system of claim 8, operable to control an operational speed of the header or components thereof, including one or more of: a reel, auger(s), conveyor(s), and belt(s), in dependence on the determined grain loss.

13. The control system of claim 8, operable to control one or more of: a height, a position and/or an orientation of the header, or one or more components thereof, in dependence on the determined grain loss.

14. The control system of claim 8, wherein the control system is: communicable with one or more further control units associated with the operation of the header, its component(s) and/or the agricultural machine; operable to receive, from the one or more further control units, one or more operational signals indicative of one or more operational parameters of the header, component/s and/or the agricultural machine; and operable to determine the measurement of grain loss in dependence on the received operational signal/s.

15. The control system of claim 14, wherein the one or more operational parameters include one or more of: a forward speed of the agricultural machine; an operational speed of the header; and/or an operational speed of one or more components of the header.

16. A method of controlling operation of one or more systems of an agricultural machine, comprising: receiving an impact signal from a sensing unit of the header of claim 1, the impact signal comprising a measurement of an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on a detection surface of the sensing unit; determining, in dependence on the received impact signal, a measurement of grain loss associated with the agricultural machine; and controlling operation of one or more systems of the agricultural machine in dependence on the determined grain loss.

17. An agricultural machine comprising or being coupled to the header of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an agricultural machine embodying aspects of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a plan schematic view of an embodiment of a harvesting header of the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of a harvesting header;

[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a control system in accordance with the invention;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method in accordance with the invention; and

[0040] FIGS. 6 to 10 are a series of photographs illustrating aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate an agricultural machine in the form of a combine harvester 10 and implement in the form of a header 12 coupled to the harvester 10 embodying aspects of the present invention.

[0042] The harvester 10 has the header 12 coupled in a known manner to a feederhouse 14 of the harvester 10. The harvester 10 also includes an operator cab 16, unloading auger 18 and a crop processing mechanism, indicated generally at 20, which is operable to separate grain and other crop material from the supporting plant matter. Various different configurations for the crop processing mechanism 20 are known, and will be apparent to the person skilled in the art so will not be described in detail herein. The invention is not limited in this sense.

[0043] The header 12 has a frame comprising a table (alternatively termed a bed or floor) 22, a rear wall 24 and two side walls 26. A standing crop such as cereals or maize is cut by a cutter bar 28 which is disposed on a leading edge of the table 22 as the harvester 10 advances in a forward direction across a crop field. A reel 30 is provided which guides the cut crop into the header 12. The reel 30 includes a plurality of guide bars 32, here six, which are mounted on (hexagonal) wheels which rotate around a transverse axis above the cutter bar 28. As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the illustrated header 12 comprises two crop gathering mechanisms or sub-assemblies (respectively identified by the suffixes A and B) 12A, 12B each having a respective reel 30A, 30B.

[0044] In FIG. 1, each sub-assembly 12A, 12B comprises an auger 36 which is suspended transversely across the width of the respective sub-assembly 12 in close proximity to the rear wall 24 and table 22. The auger 36 comprises a rotor core 38 supported for rotation by a support shaft (not shown). Screw-flighting 40 is secured to the rotor core 38. In operation, the auger 36A rotates and the flighting 40 engages the cut crop material so as to convey the crop material inwardly toward the centre of the header 12 e.g. in the direction of respective arrow X shown in FIG. 2.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows an alternative means for conveying the cut crop across the table 22 of the respective sub-assemblies 12A, 12B in the form of draper belts 42A, 42B which are driven conveyors extending across the respective portions of table 22 and which convey the cut crop inwardly in the direction of arrows X towards an opening 34.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 2, the header 12 includes a further belt 44 in a central section between the sub-assemblies 12A, 12B. This further belt 44 operates transversely to the draper belts 42A, 42B (having received cut crop deposited by the draper belts) and carries the cut crop through the opening 34 and into the feederhouse 14 for onward handling by the crop processing mechanism 20.

[0047] Here, the crop gathering mechanisms (reels 30 and draper belt 42 or auger 36) of one header sub-assembly are operable independently of the (or each) other.

[0048] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, mechanical drive is provided by two separate (and independently driven) driveshafts 46A, 46B extending from the harvester 10 (suitably supported along respective sides of the feeder housing 14) to the header 12. Via one or more universal joints 48A, 48B and intermediate driveshafts 50A, 50B, the rotation of the driveshafts is transferred to drive rotation of the respective reels 30A, 30B. Further driveshafts (or driven spurs off the driveline to the reels) suitably power the draper belts 42A, 42B (or augers 36A in the embodiment of FIG. 1). The drive to the crop gathering components 30, 36, 42 may suitably be supplied at the laterally outermost points of each sub-assembly as shown, with a central support, indicated generally at 51, supporting and journaling the inward end of the crop gathering components. Providing drive to the inward ends of the components, with support at the outward ends, is also possible.

[0049] As an alternative to mechanical drive, one or more of the crop gathering components may be provided with electric drive through one or more electric motors mounted on the header and driving the components directly. This arrangement is preferred where there are e.g. four or more sub-assemblies as the control connections become simpler than having multiple mechanical drive shafts, and the (generally shorter) header sections and sub-assemblies will require less power to drive.

[0050] The illustrated embodiments additionally include an imaging sensor in the form of a camera 60 is mounted on a foremost point of the operator's cab 16 and has a field of view F which encompasses the header 12, and in particular an operating region of the header 12 including each sub-assembly 12A, 12B, although the present invention is not limited in this sense.

[0051] As detailed herein, aspects of the present invention relate to determining a measurement of grain loss associated with the harvester 10, and in particular that associated with the header 12 when coupled to the harvester 10. To achieve this, sensing units 62A, 62B, 62C and 62D are provided (see FIGS. 2 and 3, specifically) which comprise respective detection surfaces 64. In use, the sensing units 62 are configured to measure an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on the detection surface 64. Grain can be distinguished from other material incident on the detection surface 64 through analysis of the signal produced upon impact of material therewith (see below discussion). In general, due to the kernels of grain being much harder than the straw and chaff, impacts of the kernels with a detection surface have a characteristic sensor response, namely a fast rise time, with a generally higher amplitude when compared with sensor response associated with the impact of straw and/or chaff with the detection surface 64 of the sensing unit 62. Therefore, by measuring the force and/or frequency of such impacts, and in particular those associated with grain incident on the detection surface 64, it is possible to determine a measurement or at least a prediction of the amount of grain present in the material.

[0052] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the sensing units 62 are positioned behind the draper belts 42A, 42B, and specifically are mounted to the rear wall 24 of the table 22 of the header 12. In this position, at least some of the crop material which passes over the belts 42A, 42B and is not conveyed substantially transversely towards the centre of the header 12 (in the direction of arrow X as described herein) is incident on the detection surface of the sensing units 62. Accordingly, a measurement can be taken relating to the amount of grain present in material which is falling into the table 22 and which would likely be lost.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates the position of a sensing unit 62 positioned downstream of the auger 36. Here, the sensing unit 62 is again mounted to the rear wall 24 of the table 22 and in a location where material which passes over the auger 38 and is not conveyed substantially transversely towards the centre of the header 12 and instead travels substantially along direction Y shown in FIG. 3 is incident on the detection surface 64 of the sensing unit 62. As above, a measurement can be taken relating to the amount of grain present in material which is falling into the table 22 and which would likely be lost.

[0054] As discussed herein, sensing unit(s) 62 comprises a piezoelectric sensor configured to output an electrical signal which is proportional to the force of material incident on the detection surface 64. In variants, the sensing unit(s) may instead comprise electrical, optical and/or mechanical sensors, for example, configured to measure an impact parameter associated with the impact of material with a detection surface.

[0055] An embodiment of a method 200 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0056] At step 202, an impact signal is received from the sensing unit 62 and is utilised to determine a grain loss associated with the harvesting process, and specifically associated with the header 12 (steps 204-208). At step 204, the impact signal is analysed to extract an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on the detection surface 64 of the sensing unit. As discussed herein, through analysis of the sensor response from sensing unit 62 individual grain impacts on the detection surface 64 of the sensing unit 62 can be identified, and a measure of grain loss determined therefrom. Using the measurement of grain loss, one or more systems of the harvester 10 and/or the header 12 are controlled based thereon (steps 206 and 208). Specifically, in step 206, a control signal is generated for controlling operation of the one or more systems in a desired manner, and at step 208, this control signal is output to, for example, a control unit (120A, 120B) associated the relevant system(s) to be controlled for controlling operation of those system(s) in the desired manner.

[0057] To reduce the grain lost during a harvesting process, the method 200 and in particular step 208 of the method 200 may include controlling an operational speed of one or more systems of the harvester 10. For example, the method 200 may include reducing a forward speed of the machine in dependence on the determined grain loss. The method 200 may include controlling an operational speed of the header 12 or components thereof, e.g. the reel(s) 30, auger(s) 36, conveyor(s) 42, belt(s) 44 and the like, or other implement suitably coupled to the harvester 10 in dependence on the determined grain loss. Additionally or alternatively, the method 200 may include controlling a height, position, orientation, etc. of the header 12 or one or more components thereof in dependence on the determined grain loss.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a control system 100 in accordance with the invention, and its functionality within a wider system for agricultural machines (e.g. combine harvester 10). As discussed herein, the control system 100 is operable to control one or more operational parameters of an agricultural machine and/or one or more components thereof (e.g. header 12, or components of header 12) in dependence on a determined grain loss, as determined in the manner described herein using sensing units 62.

[0059] Here, the control system 100 comprises a controller 102 having an electronic processor 104, an electronic input 106, an electronic output 108 and memory 110. The processor 104 is operable to access the memory 110 and execute instructions stored therein to perform given functions, specifically to cause performance of the method 200 of FIG. 5 in the manner described hereinabove, and ultimately generate and output a control signal(s) 114 from output 108 for controlling operation of one or more operational parameters of the harvester 10 or header 12 following analysis of data from one or more sensing units (e.g. units 62). In the illustrated embodiment, the processor 104 is operable to receive an impact signal from the sensing units 62, where the impact signal comprises a measurement of an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on a detection surface 64 of the sensing unit 62. The impact signal here is in the form of input signals 112 received at electronic input 106 of controller 102. The control signals 114 are output via electronic output 108 to respective control units 120A, 120B associated with one or more operational parameters of the harvester 10 or the header 12. For example, in this embodiment, control unit 120A is associated with motion of the harvester 10 and may be utilised to control a forward speed of the harvester 10, for example. Control unit 120B is associated with the operation of header 12, and may be utilised to control operation of one or more components of the header 12, including the reel/s 30, the auger/s 36 and/or draper belt/s 42.

[0060] FIGS. 6 to 10 further illustrate different locations for the sensing units 52.

[0061] For example, FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate header 12 with the sensing unit 62 positioned at a front edge of the central belt 44, specifically for capturing a measure of material falling through the gap between the front edge of the belt 44 and the table 22.

[0062] FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate a second embodiment, here header 12′ which includes a series of longitudinal belts 44a′, 44b′, 44c′ for transferring crop to one of two (or more) transverse augers 42′. In this embodiment, sensing units 62 are positioned at a front edge of the belts 44a′, etc. as illustrated in FIG. 9, and/or between adjacent belts 44a′, 44b′, e.g., as shown in FIG. 10. This may provide a measure of the material loss through gaps between adjacent belts.

[0063] Any process descriptions or blocks in flow diagrams should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.

[0064] It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention can be realised in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a ROM, whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, RAM, memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium such as, for example, a CD, DVD, magnetic disk or magnetic tape. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are embodiments of machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a program or programs that, when executed, implement embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing a system or method as set out herein and a machine readable storage storing such a program. Still further, embodiments of the present invention may be conveyed electronically via any medium such as a communication signal carried over a wired or wireless connection and embodiments suitably encompass the same.

[0065] It will be appreciated that the above embodiments are discussed by way of example only. Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present application.