INTELLIGENT GRAIN BAG LOADER

• US 20120085458A1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Wenzel, Craig Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/10
• 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; and

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor system 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 at least one of a location of the platform and a location of the source of the grain.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform, the movement system, the channel, and controller forms a grain bagger.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the source of the grain wherein the source of the grain comprises a tractor and a grain cart.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a propulsion system associated with the movement system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement system further comprises a steering system and a braking system.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a wheeled vehicle frame, the frame configured to receive attachment of a grain bag;

a hopper disposed on the vehicle, the hopper configured to receive grain;

a grain distributor connected to the frame and configured to transfer grain from the hopper to the grain bag;

a prime mover configured to provide power to the grain distributor;

a braking system;

a steering system;

a controller configured to control the braking system and the steering system;

a braking control system comprising a sensor configured to provide bag stretch information to the controller, and the controller configured to provide braking commands to the grain bagger braking system responsive to stretch information; and

a steering control system comprising a course sensor configured to provide course information to the controller and the controller configured to provide steering commands to the grain bagger steering system responsive to course information.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a remote starter for the prime mover.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sensor configured to provide bag stretch information is selected from the group consisting of resistance sensors, visual readers, potentiometers, mechanical sensors, torque detector, hydraulic pressure sensor, and belt tension sensor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the steering controller further comprises a global positioning satellite system receiver configured to receive global positioning satellite system course information.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the prime mover comprises an engine.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sensor configured to provide bag stretch information senses physical stretch of the bag.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the sensor configured to provide bag stretch information senses force of the grain distributor.

15. A system for controlling the loading of grain in a grain bag, the system comprising:

a grain cart;

a vehicle attached to the grain cart;

a grain bagger configured so as to receive attachment of a grain bag and to load grain into the grain bag;

a prime mover connected to the grain bagger and configured to power the grain bagger;

a hopper connected to the grain bagger and configured to receive grain;

a grain transferor configured to transfer grain from the grain cart to the hopper, and wherein the hopper and grain transferor define a loading position; and

a coordinated movement system configured so as to receive position information as to the grain transferor and the hopper and further configured to provide course adjusting information so as to maintain the grain transferor in the loading position relative to the hopper.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the coordinated movement system provides course adjusting information to the vehicle.

17. The system according to claim 15 further comprising a controller configured to control the coordinated movement system.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the grain bagger comprises a braking system and braking control system and further comprising a grain bagger controller, and wherein the grain bagger braking control system comprises a bag stretch sensor configured to provide bag stretch information to the controller, and the controller configured to provide braking commands to the grain bagger braking system.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the bag stretch sensor is selected from the group consisting of resistance sensors, visual readers, potentiometers, mechanical sensors, torque detector, hydraulic pressure sensor, and belt tension sensor.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the grain bagger further comprises a steering system and steering control system, and the system further comprises a grain bagger controller, and wherein the grain bagger steering control system comprises a course sensor configured to provide course information to the controller and the controller configured to provide steering commands to the grain bagger steering system.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the steering controller further comprises a global positioning satellite system receiver configured to receive global positioning satellite system course information.

22. The system according to claim 15, wherein the grain transferor comprises an auger.

23. A method for controlling the loading of grain in a grain bagging unit, the method comprising the steps of:

loading grain into a 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, controlling the braking of the grain bagging unit;

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

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

responsive to the sensed relative position, controlling the position of a grain cart and 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 hopper disposed on the grain bagging unit; and

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

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of loading grain bag stretches to approximately maximum capacity.

25. The method according to claim 23 further comprising the step of remotely starting the prime mover of the grain bagging unit.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of controlling the position of a grain cart and tractor assembly relative to the grain bagging unit further comprises controlling the movement of the tractor connected to the grain cart.

27. The method according to claim 23, wherein the stretching of the grain bag information includes a sensed physical stretch of the grain bag.

28. The method according to claim 23, wherein the stretching of the grain bag information includes sensed mechanical force of a grain distributor loading grain into the grain bag from the grain bagging unit.

29. A system comprising:

a first vehicle;

a second vehicle;

the first vehicle configured to transfer matter to the second vehicle;

the second vehicle configured to bag the material received from the first vehicle; and

a coordinated movement system configured so as to receive position information as to the first vehicle and the second vehicle and further configured to provide course adjusting information so as to maintain the first vehicle in a defined position relative to the second vehicle.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the defined position of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle is a position to effect the transfer of material from the first vehicle to the second vehicle.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein the second vehicle bags the material received from the first vehicle so as to propel the second vehicle.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the second vehicle further comprises a movement control system.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the second vehicle further comprises a propulsion system.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the propulsion system is configured to adjust propulsion in response to a sensed signal.