Unloading Systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016249533-A1
Application number	US-201415030800-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Oct 28, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A controller for an unloading system. The unloading system comprises an unloading vehicle having an unloading apparatus and a collection vehicle having a container. The unloading apparatus is configured to direct material to the container driven in the vicinity of the unloading vehicle. The controller is configured to: receive image data representative of at least a portion of the container; receive a path information signal representative of a path that is to be followed by the unloading vehicle or the collection vehicle; and set an attribute of the unloading apparatus, the unloading vehicle, or the collection vehicle in accordance with the image data and the path information signal in order to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to the container.

First claim

1 . A controller for an unloading system, the unloading system comprising an unloading vehicle having an unloading apparatus and a collection vehicle having a container, wherein the unloading apparatus is configured to direct material to the container driven in the vicinity of the unloading vehicle, the controller is configured to:
receive image data representative of at least a portion of the container; receive a path information signal representative of a path that is to be followed by the unloading vehicle or the collection vehicle; and set an attribute of the unloading apparatus, the unloading vehicle, or the collection vehicle in accordance with the image data and the path information signal in order to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to the container.

2 . The controller according to claim 1 , further configured to:
process the path information signal in order to determine a relative positioning characteristic representative of how the unloading apparatus is expected to move relative to the container as the unloading vehicle or the collection vehicle follows the path; and set an attribute of the unloading apparatus, the unloading vehicle, or the collection vehicle in accordance with the image data and the relative positioning characteristic.

3 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the path information signal is representative of a location of a predetermined path that is to be followed by the unloading vehicle or the collection vehicle.

4 . The controller according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined path comprises a series of GPS coordinates.

5 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the path information signal is representative of a location of material that is to be collected by the unloading vehicle.

6 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the path information signal comprises an indication of an upcoming turn, and the controller is further configured to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to a different region of the container in advance of the turn.

7 . The controller according to claim 6 , further configured to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to a region of the container that is either further forwards or backwards in advance of the turn.

8 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the path information signal is further representative of the amount of material per unit area that is to be collected.

9 . The controller according to claim 8 , further configured to:
increase a speed of the container or set the attribute of the unloading apparatus in order to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to a region of the container that is further forwards, if the path information signal is indicative of a reducing amount of material that is to be collected, and decrease the speed of the container or set the attribute of the unloading apparatus in order to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to a region of the container that is further backwards, if the path information signal is indicative of an increasing amount of material that is to be collected.

10 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the path information signal is representative of the slope of a predetermined path that is to be followed by the unloading vehicle.

11 . The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the image data comprises 3-dimensional image data.

12 . An unloading system comprising:
the controller according to claim 4 ; and a material location sensor configured to detect a location of material that is to be collected in order to provide the path information signal.

13 . An unloading system comprising:
the controller according to claim 7 ; and a material amount sensor configured to detect an amount of material that is to be collected in order to provide the path information signal.

14 . A method of controlling an unloading system, the unloading system comprising an unloading vehicle having an unloading apparatus and a collection vehicle having a container, wherein the container is driven in the vicinity of the unloading vehicle, the method comprising steps of:
receiving image data representative of at least a portion of the container; receiving a path information signal representative of a path that is to be followed by the unloading vehicle or the collection vehicle; and setting an attribute of the unloading apparatus, the unloading vehicle, or the collection vehicle in accordance with the image data and the path information signal.

15 . A computer program stored on a tangible computer-readable medium, the computer program, when executed by a computer, is configured to cause the computer to perform steps of:
receiving image data representative of at least a portion of the container; receiving a path information signal representative of a path that is to be followed by the unloading vehicle or the collection vehicle; and setting an attribute of the unloading apparatus, the unloading vehicle, or the collection vehicle in accordance with the image data and the path information signal.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising steps of:
processing the path information signal in order to determine a relative positioning characteristic representative of how the unloading apparatus is expected to move relative to the container as the unloading vehicle or the collection vehicle follows the path; and setting an attribute of the unloading apparatus, the unloading vehicle, or the collection vehicle in accordance with the image data and the relative positioning characteristic.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising a step of:
further configured to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to a region of the container that is either further forwards or backwards in advance of the turn.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising steps of:
increasing a speed of the container or setting the attribute of the unloading apparatus in order to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to a region of the container that is further forwards, if the path information signal is indicative of a reducing amount of material that is to be collected, and decreasing the speed of the container or setting the attribute of the unloading apparatus in order to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to a region of the container that is further backwards, if the path information signal is indicative of an increasing amount of material that is to be collected.

19 . The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the computer program, when executed by the computer, is further configured to cause the computer to perform steps of:
processing the path information signal in order to determine a relative positioning characteristic representative of how the unloading apparatus is expected to move relative to the container as the unloading vehicle or the collection vehicle follows the path; and setting an attribute of the unloading apparatus, the unloading vehicle, or the collection vehicle in accordance with the image data and the relative positioning characteristic.

20 . The computer program of claim 15 , wherein the computer program, when executed by the computer, is further configured to cause the computer to perform steps of:
increasing a speed of the container or setting the attribute of the unloading apparatus in order to direct the material from the unloading apparatus to a region of the container that is further forwards, if the path information signal is indicative of a

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Byttebier Ward M R
• Depestel Bernard E D
• Vanysacker Pieter
• Viaene Karel M C

Classifications

• A01D90/10 Primary

  Unloading means · CPC title

• A01D90/12

  with additional devices or implements (arrangements of coupling devices A01B59/00) · CPC title

• B65G67/24

  Unloading land vehicles · CPC title

• A01D43/087 Primary

  with controllable discharge spout · CPC title