Controlling bale weights

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024155977-A1
Application number	US-202318389339-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 14, 2023
Priority date	Nov 15, 2022
Publication date	May 16, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of controlling the weight of bales made by an agricultural baler. The method includes: receiving a bale weight setpoint; receiving crop parameter data; and, while a bale is being made: receiving baler operating data relating to baling parameters; inputting the crop parameter data and baler operating data into a weight prediction model to generate a predicted final weight of the bale; and changing a baling parameter setpoint of one of the baling parameters based on the predicted final weight of the bale and the bale weight setpoint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of controlling the weight of bales made by an agricultural baler, the method comprising:
receiving a bale weight setpoint; receiving crop parameter data; and,
while a bale is being made:
receiving baler operating data relating to baling parameters;
inputting the crop parameter data and baler operating data into a weight prediction model to generate a predicted final weight of the bale; and
changing a baling parameter setpoint of one of the baling parameters based on the predicted final weight of the bale and the bale weight setpoint.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the baler operating data comprise an average chamber load in a chamber of the baler, an average plunger torque of a plunger in the baler, a slice thickness variation parameter representing the variation in a thickness of slices of the bale and a number of slices per bale.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crop parameter data comprises crop type data and crop moisture level data.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the baling parameter setpoint of one of the baling parameters comprises:
calculating a difference between the predicted final weight of the bale and the bale weight setpoint; calculating a setpoint correction using the weight prediction model based on the difference; multiplying the setpoint correction by a gain factor to generate a modified setpoint correction; and applying the modified setpoint correction to the baling parameter setpoint.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the gain factor is between zero and one.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the baling parameter setpoint is selected from the group comprising a chamber load setpoint, a slice thickness setpoint and a number of slices per bale.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of changing the baling parameter setpoint comprises changing either the chamber load setpoint or the slice thickness setpoint, or the number of slices per bale.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of changing the baling parameter setpoint comprises changing the chamber load setpoint if the current values of the chamber load setpoint and a plunger torque of a plunger in the baler are within respective threshold operating ranges.

9 . The method of claim 1 , comprising repeating the steps of the method carried out while the bale is being made.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the steps of the method carried out while the bale is being made are repeated every time n slices of the bale have been completed, and wherein the baler operating data is received for the previous m slices of the bale, wherein n is greater than or equal to m.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the weight prediction model, wherein adjusting the weight prediction model comprises:
measuring a final weight of the bale using a bale weight sensor; calculating a difference between the measured final weight of the bale with the predicted final weight of the bale; calculating a model offset in dependence on the difference between the measured and predicted final weights of the bale; and applying the model offset to the weight prediction model.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the model offset is calculated using a Kalman filter.

13 . An agricultural baler comprising a controller configured to perform the method of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Belgium Nv

Inventors

• Nona Kenny
• Beck Rian

Classifications

• A01F15/08 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• A01F15/0825 Primary

  Regulating or controlling density or shape of the bale · CPC title

• A01F15/101

  Feeding at right angles to the compression stroke (A01F15/106 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01F2015/0891

  Weighing the finished bale before falling to ground · CPC title