System and method for analyzing agricultural products on harvesting equipment
First Claim
1. A system for analyzing agricultural products on harvesting equipment that creates a flow of harvested agricultural product, said system comprising:
- a housing capable of being mounted on the harvesting equipment;
a test chamber disposed within said housing and having a first open end adapted to receive a sample from the flow of harvested agricultural product and a second open end adapted to allow the sample to exit from the test chamber;
a first door disposed between the flow of harvested agricultural product and said first open end;
a second door disposed adjacent said second open end;
a source of near infrared radiation disposed in said housing adjacent said test chamber so as to emit near infrared radiation into said test chamber, wherein said source comprises infrared emitting diodes and a narrow bandpass filter disposed between each of said diodes and said test chamber;
a near infrared detector disposed in said housing adjacent said test chamber so as to receive near infrared radiation exiting said test chamber; and
a computer in signal communication with said first and second doors, said source, and said detector, wherein said computer is programmed to;
(a) cause movement of said first door between open and closed positions to control the flow of harvested agricultural product into said test chamber;
(b) to cause movement of said second door between open and closed positions to control the flow of harvested agricultural product from said test chamber;
(c) to open said first door when said second door is closed in order to collect a sample for analysis in said test chamber;
(d) to close said first door when there is a prescribed amount of agricultural product in said test chamber; and
(e) to receive data from said detector for analysis while said second door is closed and after the prescribed amount of agricultural product is collected in said test chamber and to open said second door to expel the sample when the analysis is complete.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for analyzing agricultural products on harvesting equipment includes a test chamber and a near infrared spectrometer disposed within a housing capable of being mounted on the harvesting equipment. A source of near infrared radiation is disposed in the housing adjacent the test chamber so as to emit near infrared radiation into the test chamber, and a near infrared detector is disposed in the housing adjacent the test chamber so as to receive near infrared radiation exiting the test chamber. The spectrometer is mounted on vibration damping elements. A computer controls operation of first and second doors for controlling ingress and egress of product samples from the test chamber and can also be used to process signals from the spectrometer.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for analyzing agricultural products on harvesting equipment that creates a flow of harvested agricultural product, said system comprising:
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a housing capable of being mounted on the harvesting equipment;
a test chamber disposed within said housing and having a first open end adapted to receive a sample from the flow of harvested agricultural product and a second open end adapted to allow the sample to exit from the test chamber;
a first door disposed between the flow of harvested agricultural product and said first open end;
a second door disposed adjacent said second open end;
a source of near infrared radiation disposed in said housing adjacent said test chamber so as to emit near infrared radiation into said test chamber, wherein said source comprises infrared emitting diodes and a narrow bandpass filter disposed between each of said diodes and said test chamber;
a near infrared detector disposed in said housing adjacent said test chamber so as to receive near infrared radiation exiting said test chamber; and
a computer in signal communication with said first and second doors, said source, and said detector, wherein said computer is programmed to;
(a) cause movement of said first door between open and closed positions to control the flow of harvested agricultural product into said test chamber;
(b) to cause movement of said second door between open and closed positions to control the flow of harvested agricultural product from said test chamber;
(c) to open said first door when said second door is closed in order to collect a sample for analysis in said test chamber;
(d) to close said first door when there is a prescribed amount of agricultural product in said test chamber; and
(e) to receive data from said detector for analysis while said second door is closed and after the prescribed amount of agricultural product is collected in said test chamber and to open said second door to expel the sample when the analysis is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of analyzing agricultural products on harvesting equipment that creates a main flow of harvested agricultural product, said method comprising the steps of:
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selectively diverting a portion of the harvested agricultural product from the main flow of harvested agricultural product without stopping the main flow of agricultural product;
collecting and holding the diverted portion of the agricultural product in a test section disposed on the harvesting equipment; and
analyzing the diverted portion of the agricultural product in the test section using near infrared spectrometry while the diverted portion is held stationary in the test section. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification