Adjusting bale density setting based on bale weight and/or moisture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9854744-B2
Application number	US-201414567612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2014
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A bale density adjustment system for adjusting the density pressure on bale during formation comprising: a bale chamber, at least a first density adjuster, at least a first weight sensor, at least a first diameter sensor, at least a first operator interface, and a controller, in operable communication with and configured to process digital and/or analog information from the at least first weight sensor, the at least first diameter sensor, the at least first density adjuster, and the at least first operator interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bale density adjustment system comprising:
a baling mechanism comprising:
a bale chamber; and
at least a first density adjuster configured to adjust of the density of a bale in the bale chamber;

at least a first weight sensor, located in or proximate to the bale chamber, configured to measure a bale weight of a bale in the bale chamber;
at least a first diameter sensor, located in or proximate to the bale chamber, configured to measure a bale diameter of a bale in the bale chamber;
at least a first operator interface configured to receive and/or store a diameter trigger value, a predetermined bale weight value and a predetermined bale diameter value from an operator; and
a controller, in operable communication with and configured to process digital and/or analog information from the at least first weight sensor, the at least first diameter sensor, the at least first density adjuster, and the at least first operator interface;
wherein the controller is configured to collect a measurement corresponding to the bale diameter from the at least one first diameter sensor, and compare the measurement corresponding to the bale diameter to the diameter trigger value, and
(i) if the measurement corresponding to the bale diameter is less than the diameter trigger value, the controller is configured to repeat collection of the measurement corresponding to the bale diameter; and
(ii) if the measurement corresponding to the bale diameter is greater than the diameter trigger value, the controller is configured to collect a measurement corresponding to the bale weight from the at least one first weight sensor, and compare the measurement corresponding to the bale weight to the predetermined bale weight value.

2. The bale density adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least first density adjuster is in fluid communication with at least a first hydraulic circuit, positioned within or proximate to the bale chamber, configured to adjust the position and/or tension of at least a first baling belt during the formation of a bale.

3. The bale density adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least first density adjuster is in fluid communication with at least a first hydraulic circuit, positioned within or proximate to the bale chamber, configured to adjust the width and/or volume of at least a first crop collection channel during the formation of a bale.

4. The bale density adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least first density adjuster is in fluid communication with at least a first hydraulic circuit, positioned within or proximate to the bale chamber, configured to adjust the position of at least a first movable roller during the formation of a bale.

5. The bale density adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least first density adjuster is in fluid communication with at least a first hydraulic circuit, positioned within or proximate to the bale chamber, configured to adjust the position of at least a first movable roller during the formation of a bale; whereupon, in a first operational mode, hydraulic fluid is in fluid communication with at least a first hydraulic tension actuator, located in or proximate to a bale chamber and mechanically linked to the at least first movable roller, such that the at least first density adjuster sends a signal to a potentiometer on the at least first hydraulic circuit that allows hydraulic fluid sent to the rod-side of the at least first hydraulic actuator to move the at least first movable roller.

6. The bale density adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least first operator interface is configured to receive and/or display a measurement from the at least first weight sensor and/or the at least first diameter sensor.

7. The bale density adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in continuous operable communication with the at least first weight sensor, the at least first diameter sensor, the at least first density adjuster, and/or the at least first operator interface.

8. The bale density adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to command the density adjuster to adjust the density of a bale in the bale chamber if one or a combination of the bale weight and/or bale diameter are different or substantially different than the predetermined bale weight value and/or the predetermined bale diameter value.

9. The bale density adjustment system of claim 1 further comprising at least a first moisture sensor, positioned within or proximate to the bale chamber, configured to measure moisture levels in a bale in the bale chamber;
wherein the at least first operator interface is configured to receive and/or store a predetermined bale moisture value from an operator; and
wherein the controller is in continuous operable communication with and configured to process information from the at least first moisture sensor.

10. The bale density adjustment system of claim 9 , wherein the at least first operator interface is configured to receive and/or display a measurement from the at least first moisture sensor.

11. The bale density adjustment system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to command the density adjuster to adjust the density of a bale in the bale chamber if one or a combination of the bale weight, bale diameter, and/or moisture levels are different or substantially different than the predetermined bale weight value, the predetermined bale diameter value, and/or the predetermined bale moisture value.

12. A computer-implemented method of adjusting the density of a bale, in a system comprising a baling mechanism, at least one density adjuster, and a controller, said method comprising:
(a) in the controller, receiving a diameter trigger value, a bale diameter value and/or a bale weight value from at least a first operator interface, prior to the complete formation of the bale; and
(b) in the controller, collecting a real-time measurement corresponding to a bale diameter from at least one diameter sensor, and comparing the measurement corresponding to the bale diameter to the diameter trigger value, prior to complete formation of the bale;
wherein if the measurement corresponding to the bale diameter is less than the diameter trigger value, the method comprises, in the controller, repeating collection of the measurement corresponding to the bale diameter;
wherein if the measurement corresponding to the bale diameter is greater than the diameter trigger value, the method comprises, in the controller, collecting a real-time measurement corresponding to a bale weight from at least one weight sensor, and comparing the measurement corresponding to the bale weight to the bale weight value; and
wherein if the measurement corresponding to the bale weight is different from the bale weight value, commanding the at least one density adjuster to adjust the density during the formation of a bale in the baling mechanism.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the system further comprises at least a first operator interface in electronic communication with the controller, the density adjuster, and the baling mechanism, such that the controller is configured to receive and send digital information to and from the density adjuster and the at least first operator interface; and wherein the method comprises:
(a) in a controller, receiving an upper bale weight value, a lower bale weight value, a bale diameter value, and a density step value from the at least first operator interface;
(b) in a controller, collecting the real-time measurement corresponding to the bale weight from at least one weight sensor, and comparing the measurement corresponding to

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Smith Kevin M

Classifications

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• A01F15/0833 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01F2015/077

  Pressing chamber formed by belts and rollers · CPC title