Optical grain evaluation device and combine harvester provided with optical grain evaluation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9857296-B2
Application number	US-201515312320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2015
Priority date	Oct 15, 2014
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

An optical grain evaluation device is provided with: a light-projecting part 58 through which light from a light source is projected to grain; a light-receiving part 59 on which light transmitted through the grain is incident; a grain evaluation unit 60 configured to evaluate the grain based on information relating to the received light; and a shielding part SH that separates an area between the light source 50 and the light-projecting part 59 from an area between the light-receiving part 59 and the grain evaluation unit 60 , and prevents light from the light-projecting part 58 from directly entering the light-receiving part 59 . The area between the light source 50 and the light-projecting part 58 , and the area between the light-receiving part 59 and the grain evaluation unit 60 are configured, over the entirety of the areas, as air transmission areas in which light is transmitted through air.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical grain evaluation device comprising:
a light source;
a light-projecting part through which light from the light source is projected to stored grain;
a light-receiving part on which light that has been projected to the grain through the light-projecting part and transmitted through the grain is incident, the light-receiving part being lined up with the light-projecting part at a distance;
a grain evaluation unit configured to evaluate the grain based on information relating to the light received by the light-receiving part;
a shielding part that separates an area between the light source and the light-projecting part from an area between the light-receiving part and the grain evaluation unit, so as to prevent light from the light-projecting part from directly entering the light-receiving part; and
a shutter that is provided separate from the shielding part so as to be switchable between an open state in which the light from the light source is allowed to pass through the light-projecting part, and a closed state in which the light is prevented from passing through the light-projecting part,
wherein the area between the light source and the light-projecting part, and the area between the light-receiving part and the grain evaluation unit are configured, over the entirety of the areas, as air transmission areas in which light is transmitted through air.

2. The optical grain evaluation device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source and the light-projecting part are arranged linearly.

3. The optical grain evaluation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a correction mechanism configured to take in the light from the light source and obtain light information for correction for use in correcting an evaluation result regarding the grain when the shutter is in the closed state,
wherein the shutter and the correction mechanism are provided as one piece.

4. The optical grain evaluation device according to claim 3 , wherein the correction mechanism is provided with a correction optical filter through which the light from the light source passes to enter the grain evaluation unit.

5. The optical grain evaluation device according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a light reflector configured to reflect the light from the light source and guide the light to the correction mechanism when the shutter is in the closed state.

6. The optical grain evaluation device according to claim 5 , wherein the shutter is also used as the light reflector.

7. The optical grain evaluation device according to claim 3 , wherein the shutter and the correction mechanism are lined up on the same plane, and are provided so as to be movable together to switch between a state in which the shutter operates, and a state in which the correction mechanism operates.

8. The optical grain evaluation device according to claim 7 ,
wherein the shutter and the correction mechanism are provided integrally with a rotation body that rotates about an axis that is orthogonal to a mounting surface on which the light-projecting part and the light-receiving part are mounted, and
the optical grain evaluation device is configured to be switched between a measurement state in which the shutter is in the open state, and a correction state in which the correction mechanism operates, by rotating the rotation body.

9. The optical grain evaluation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cooling fan configured to generate cooling air for cooling the light source; and
a ventilation casing in which the light source and the cooling fan are arranged, and through which the cooling air is passed,
wherein the ventilation casing is formed such that an air supply port for supplying the cooling air and an air discharge port for discharging the cooling air to the outside are located on the same plane.

10. A combine harvester provided with the optical grain evaluation device according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Kubota Kk

Inventors

• Morimoto Susumu
• Soe Masao

Classifications

• G01J2003/042

  Slit wheel · CPC title

• G01N21/85

  Investigating moving fluids or granular solids · CPC title

• G01N33/10

  Starch-containing substances, e.g. dough · CPC title

• G01N21/3554 Primary

  for determining moisture content · CPC title

• G01N2021/8592

  Grain or other flowing solid samples · CPC title