Density control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844187-B2
Application number	US-201314443923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2013
Priority date	Nov 19, 2012
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

Density control system for an agricultural baler having a baling chamber including a plurality of walls with at least one movable wall section, an intake duct leading into the baling chamber, and a plunger for compressing charges of crop material to a package in the chamber, an actuator for adjusting the position of the at least one movable wall section in response to an output of the density control system to vary the density of said package, wherein the density control system has a sensor for measuring the position of the at least one movable wall section, a comparator for comparing said position with a threshold position and a decision module configured to stop the movement of the actuator means when the position exceeds the threshold position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A density control system for an agricultural baler, which comprises a baling chamber comprising a plurality of walls including at least one movable wall section, an intake duct leading into the baling chamber, and a plunger for compressing charges of crop material to a package in the chamber, an actuator for adjusting a position of the at least one movable wall section in response to an output of the density control system in order to vary a density of said package, wherein the density control system comprises
a sensor configured for measuring the position of the at least one movable wall section, a comparator configured for comparing said position with a threshold position and a decision module configured to stop the movement of the actuator when the position exceeds the threshold position.

2. The density control system according to claim 1 , wherein the threshold position represents a predetermined final inward position of the movable wall section.

3. The density control system according to claim 1 , wherein a further sensor configured for measuring a further position of a further movable wall section is provided, and wherein the threshold position is the further position to thereby determine a deviation of position of one with respect to another movable wall section, whereby the decision module is further configured to steer the actuator to decrease said deviation.

4. The density control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a load sensor measuring a reaction force of the crop material on the baling chamber and generating an output indicative of said reaction force, and comprising a steering module for steering the actuator to move the at least one movable wall section in response to said output.

5. The density control system according to claim 1 , wherein the agricultural baler is a high density square baler.

6. An agricultural baler comprising:
a baling chamber comprising a plurality of walls including at least one movable wall section, a crop feeder for introducing charges of crop material into the baling chamber, a plunger for compressing the charges to a package of the crop material in the chamber, a density control system configured to vary a density of said package, and an actuator for adjusting a position of the at least one movable wall section in response to an output of the density control system,
wherein the density control system comprises a sensor configured for measuring the position of the at least one movable wall section, a comparator configured for comparing said position with a threshold position and a decision module configured to stop the movement of the actuator when the position exceeds the threshold position.

7. A method for controlling a density of packages of crop material in an agricultural baler, which comprises:
a baling chamber comprising a plurality of walls including at least one movable wall section,
a crop feeder for introducing charges of crop material into said baling chamber a plunger for compressing the charges to a package of the crop material in the chamber,
an actuator for adjusting a position of the at least one movable wall section in response to an output of a density control system in order to vary the density of said package;

the method comprising the steps of
monitoring a position of said at least one movable wall section via a position sensor,
comparing said position with a predetermine threshold position;
deciding to stop the movement of the actuator when the position exceeds the threshold position.

8. Method according to claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
measuring a reaction force of the crop material on the movable wall section via a load sensor,
generating an output indicative of said reaction force, and
steering the actuator in response to the generated output.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Demon Frederik

Classifications

• B30B9/3025

  Extrusion chambers with adjustable outlet opening · CPC title

• A01F15/0825 Primary

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

• A01F15/08 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• B30B9/3007

  Control arrangements · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title