Method for controlling upload of a mobile farm implement

• US 10,028,434 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Mill, Michael D., Gerdeman, Shawn W., Schlimgen, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Yuen H
• Application Number:
  US15/428,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20170150679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 90/10 Unloading means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/416 characterised by control of velocity, acceleration or deceleration G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37095 Digital handheld device with data interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45017 Agriculture machine, tractor

Abstract

A method of unloading mobile farm implements is presented. Unloading the mobile farm implement is accomplished by transmitting commands to unfold an auger arm and to open a container door and by monitoring weight measurements from the implement.

Claims

1. A mobile farm implement coupled to a controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the controller being used for automating unloading of the mobile farm implement, the controller configured to:

receive a first command to assist the unloading of agricultural material from the mobile farm implement;

determine whether weight measurements from the mobile farm implement have reached a steady value;

open a container door, in response to a determination that the weight measurements have reached a steady value;

determine whether a subsequent weight measurement from the mobile farm implement is below a first threshold; and

close the container door, in response to a determination that the subsequent weight measurement is below the first threshold.

2. The mobile farm implement of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a user selection before the first command to assist the unloading of the mobile farm implement is received.

3. The mobile farm implement of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to receive user input specifying the first threshold before the first command to assist the unloading of the mobile farm implement is received.

4. The mobile farm implement of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to engage an auger of the auger arm with a power takeoff.

5. The mobile farm implement of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to record subsequent weight measurements from the mobile farm implement in response to the determination that the weight measurements from the mobile farm implement has reached a steady value.

6. A mobile farm implement coupled to a controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the controller being used for automating unloading of the mobile farm implement, the controller configured to:

receive a first command to assist the unloading of agricultural material from the mobile farm implement;

determine whether a power takeoff speed is above a first threshold;

open a container door, in response to a determination that the power takeoff speed is above the first threshold;

determine whether a weight measurement from the mobile farm implement is below a second threshold; and

close the container door, in response to a determination that the subsequent weight measurement is below the second threshold.

7. The mobile farm implement of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a user selection before the first command to assist the unloading of the mobile farm implement is received.

8. The mobile farm implement of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to receive user input specifying the first threshold, or the second threshold, before the first command to assist the unloading of the mobile farm implement is received.

9. The mobile farm implement of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to engage an auger of the auger arm with a power takeoff.

10. The mobile farm implement of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether weight measurements from the mobile farm implement have reached a steady value and to record subsequent weight measurements from the mobile farm implement in response to the determination that the weight measurements from the mobile farm implement has reached a steady value.