Automatic seeding system motor reversal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9635802-B2
Application number	US-201514874208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 2, 2015
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A motor drives a seeding system. A sensor senses a characteristic of the motor and a motor jam is detected based on the sensed characteristic. The motor is momentarily reversed, when a jam is detected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile planting machine, comprising:
a seeding system configured to meter and deliver seed from the mobile planting machine, the seeding system comprising:
a motor that drives the seeding system; and
a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of the motor and generate a sensor signal indicative of the characteristic;

a jam detection component configured to receive the sensor signal and compare the sensor signal to a predefined range, wherein predefined range indicates a normal operating characteristic of the motor, and, based on the comparison, detect a jam in the seeding system and generate a jam signal; and
a motor control system configured to receive the jam signal and reverse an operating direction of the motor based on the jam signal.

2. The mobile planting machine of claim 1 and further comprising:
a user interface component configured to display information related to the mobile planting machine, wherein the user interface component is configured to receive the jam signal and provide a jam indication based on the jam signal.

3. The mobile planting machine of claim 2 wherein the seeding system comprises a seed metering system in a row unit.

4. The mobile planting machine of claim 3 , wherein the seed metering system comprises:
a rotatable metering component, configured to meter seed, wherein the motor is a metering motor configured to drive the rotatable metering component, and wherein the jam detection component is configured to generate the jam signal indicative of a jam in the rotatable metering component.

5. The mobile planting machine of claim 1 wherein the seeding system comprises:
a seed delivery system and wherein the motor drives the seed delivery system.

6. The mobile planting machine of claim 5 wherein the seed delivery system comprises:
a brush belt comprising a plurality of bristles configured to receive metered seeds, and wherein the motor is a conveyance motor configured to drive the brush belt, wherein the jam detection component is configured to generate the jam signal indicative of a jam in the seed delivery system.

7. The mobile planting machine of claim 5 wherein the seed delivery system comprises a flighted belt delivery component.

8. The planting machine of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:
a motor speed sensor that detects a motor speed of the motor.

9. The planting machine of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:
a torque sensor that detects a torque generated by the motor.

10. A method of controlling a mobile planting machine, the method comprising:
sensing a characteristic of a motor that drives a seeding system;
generating a sensor signal indicative of the sensed characteristic of the motor;
detecting whether a jam occurs in the seeding system based on a comparison of the sensor signal to a predefined range, wherein the predefined range indicates a normal operating characteristic of the motor;
upon detecting the jam, controlling the motor to move in a reverse direction; and
controlling the motor to move in a forward direction.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein sensing a characteristic of the motor comprises:
sensing a motor speed of the motor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein sensing a characteristic of the motor comprises:
sensing a torque generated by the motor.

13. The method of claim 10 and further comprising:
repeating the step of detecting whether a jam is present in the seeding system; and
if so, controlling the motor to momentarily reverse the direction of the motor a predetermined number of times.

14. The method of claim 13 and further comprising:
if the steps are repeated the predetermined number of times, then generating an operator jam notification.

15. A method for resolving a detected jam in a mobile planting machine, the method comprising:
receiving a signal based on a sensed characteristic of a motor driving a seeding system in the planting machine;
detecting a jam within the seeding system, based on a comparison of the signal to a predefined range indicating a normal operating characteristic of the motor;
controlling the motor to operate in a reverse direction based on the detected jam;
controlling the motor to operate in a forward direction;
receiving the signal indicative of the characteristic of the motor; and
determining, based on the received signal, whether the jam is still detected.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the seeding system comprises a metering system with a metering motor, and wherein receiving the signal comprises:
receiving the signal from a sensor sensing the characteristic of the metering motor.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the seeding system comprises a seed delivery system with a conveyance motor, and wherein receiving the signal comprises:
receiving the signal from a sensor sensing the characteristic of the conveyance motor.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the signal comprises a motor speed signal indicative of motor speed, and wherein detecting a jam comprises:
comparing the motor speed to the predefined range, wherein the predefined range is a threshold motor speed;
determining whether the motor speed is less than the threshold motor speed; and
if so, detecting a jam.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the signal comprises a torque signal indicative of a torque generated by the motor and wherein detecting a jam comprises:
comparing the torque to the predefined range, wherein the predefined range is a threshold motor torque;
determining whether the torque is greater than the threshold motor torque; and
if so, detecting a jam.

20. The method of claim 15 , and further comprising:
in response to determining that the jam is still detected, repeating the steps of controlling the motor to operate in the reverse direction;
controlling the motor to operate in the forward direction;
receiving the signal; and
determining, based on the signal, whether the jam is still detected.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Rains Gerald E
• Frasier Michael E

Classifications

• A01C7/0443

  Seed singulators · CPC title

• A01C7/0445

  Seed ejectors · CPC title

• A01C7/046 Primary

  with perforated seeding discs · CPC title

• A01C19/02 Primary

  by a motor · CPC title

• A01C21/00

  Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting} · CPC title