System and method for improvement of harvest with crop storage in grain bags

• US 9,072,227 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Wenzel, Craig Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga X
• Application Number:
  US12/900,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20120087771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/99, 414/240, 414/809, 414/222.01, 460/114, 460/119, 460 5- 7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/50 Sack-filling devices; Counting or weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/60 Grain tanks for combines A01D41/1208

Abstract

A method for the debottlenecking of grain harvesting and grain bagging comprises a set of steps. Grain is transported in a grain cart from a harvester at a harvesting location to an accumulation site. Grain is bulk unloaded crop from the grain cart at an accumulation site by, for example, gravity dumping through a rear door of the grain cart. The cart returns to the harvester; and the grain at the accumulation site is transferred into a silo storage bag. The steps of transporting the grain, bulk unloading the grain, and returning the cart comprise a first process. The step of transferring the grain from the accumulation site into a bag comprises a second process. The first process and second process proceed in parallel.

Claims

1. A method for managing the movement and storage of grain using a data processing system comprising a processing device and memory, the method comprising the steps of:

transporting grain in a grain cart from a harvesting location to an accumulation site;

unloading the grain from the grain cart at the accumulation site to form unloaded grain;

returning the grain cart to the harvesting location; and

transferring the unloaded grain from the accumulation site into a grain bag, wherein the step of transferring the unloaded grain from the accumulation site into the grain bag further comprises;

loading grain into the grain bag attached to a grain bagging unit, the loading thereby providing a propelling force and stretching force to the grain bagging unit;

responsive to stretching of the grain bag information, the data processing system controlling braking of the grain bagging unit;

responsive to sensed course of the grain bagging unit information, the data processing system controlling steering of the grain bagging unit;

sensing relative positions of a grain transferor and a receiving hopper so as to obtain a sensed relative position;

responsive to the sensed relative position, the data processing system controlling a position of the grain cart and a tractor assembly relative to the grain bagging unit such that the grain transferor connected to the grain cart maintains a loading position with respect to the receiving hopper disposed on the grain bagging unit; and

loading grain from the grain cart through the transferor into the receiving hopper.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unloading grain further comprises bulk unloading of the grain from the grain cart.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of bulk unloading is selected from the group consisting of bottom dumping, side dumping, and rear dumping from the grain cart.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unloading grain further comprises unloading the grain on the ground.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unloading grain further comprises unloading the grain below ground.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising a liner positioned between the grain and the ground.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unloading the grain further comprises unloading grain into a bin selected from the group consisting of:

a storage bin, a mobile storage bin, a hopper, a truck grain bin, and a grain rail car.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the grain cart further comprises a bulk unloading grain cart.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising transferring the grain into the bulk unloading grain cart from a grain harvester utilizing grain transfer equipment positioned in the harvester.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the bulk unloading grain cart is characterized by not having an auger.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the transfer equipment comprises an auger.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of unloading further comprises rear gravity dumping from the bulk unloading grain cart, and wherein the bulk unloading grain cart comprises a hydraulic piston and cylinder.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the bulk unloading grain cart further comprises at least one from the group consisting of a gate, a door, a sliding door, and a window.

14. A method for managing crop harvesting and crop bagging using a data processing system comprising a processing device and memory, comprising:

transporting a crop product in a cart from a harvester to an accumulation site;

bulk unloading the crop product from the cart at the accumulation site;

returning the cart to the harvester; and

transferring the crop product from the accumulation site into a bag;

wherein a first process comprises transporting the crop product, bulk unloading the crop product, and returning the cart;

wherein a second process comprises transferring the crop product from the accumulation site into a bag;

wherein the first process and second process proceed in parallel, wherein the step of transferring the crop product from the accumulation site into the bag further comprises;

loading the crop product into a bag attached to a bagging unit, the loading thereby providing a propelling force and stretching force to the bagging unit;

responsive to stretching of the bag information, the data processing system controlling braking of the bagging unit;

responsive to sensed course of the bagging unit information, the data processing system controlling steering of the bagging unit;

sensing the relative positions of a crop product transferor and a receiving hopper so as to obtain a sensed relative position;

responsive to the sensed relative position, the data processing system controlling a position of a crop product loading cart and tractor assembly relative to the bagging unit such that the crop product transferor connected to the crop product loading cart maintains a loading position with respect to the receiving hopper disposed on the bagging unit; and

loading the crop product from the crop product loading cart through the transferor into the receiving hopper.