Intelligent grain bag loader

• US 8,789,563 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Wenzel, Craig Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNETT, NICOLAS ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US12/902,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20120085458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 141/10, 141/98, 141/114, 141/231, 141313-317, 56/166, 564/735
• US Class Current: 141/114
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 2025/145 Bagging machines for loose materials making some kind of "sausage" on the field making sausage-like groups of bales A01F2025/142
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 25/14 Containers specially adapted for storing
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0291 Fleet control monitoring fleets in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/127, G08G1/127

Abstract

A system for controlling the loading of grain in a grain bag is described. The system includes a grain cart, a tractor attached to the grain cart, and a grain bagger with an attached grain bag. The grain bagger further comprises a steering and steering control systems and a braking and braking control system. A hopper connected to the grain bagger receives grain from an auger connected with the hopper and auger and defines a loading position in which a distal end of the auger is positioned relative to the hopper such that grain transfers from the auger into the hopper. A controller provides velocity and steering commands to the tractor and a coordinated movement system connected to the controller receives position information as to the auger and hopper and provides course adjusting information so as to maintain the auger and hopper in the loading position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for aligning a platform and a source of grain, comprising:

a platform;

a movement system associated with the platform, wherein the movement system is configured to operate steering and braking of the platform;

a channel in the platform and a first opening configured to receive grain and a second opening configured to receive a bag;

a controller configured to control the platform by the movement system to maintain an alignment of the first opening with an outlet for the source of the grain such that grain is received in the bag; and

a sensor system configured to provide bag stretch information of the bag to the controller, and the controller is configured to provide braking commands to the braking system responsive to the bag stretch information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor system is also

configured to provide location data to the controller, wherein the controller uses the location data to control the movement system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the location data comprises a location of the platform and a location of the source of the grain.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the platform, the movement system, the channel, and the controller forms a grain bagger that receives the grain.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the source of the grain comprises a grain cart.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a propulsion system associated with the grain bagger.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the grain bagger further comprises a steering system and a braking system.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the grain bagger is self-propelled.

9. The apparatus of 1, where the sensor system senses a physical stretch of the bag.