# US 10,945,378 B2 · Method of controlling bale size based on bale weight

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- Number: US 10,945,378 B2
- Document ID: US10945378B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/988,684
- Filed: 2018-05-24
- Published: 2019-04-04
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-02
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Applicants: Deere & Company
- Inventors: Timothy J. Kraus
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945378B2

## CPC

- A01F 15/0833: {for round balers}
- A01F 15/07: Rotobalers, i.e. machines for forming cylindrical bales by winding and pressing
- A01F 15/0883: {for round balers}
- A01F 2015/0891: {Weighing the finished bale before falling to ground}
- A01F: PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE (devices for topping or skinning onions or flower bulbs A23N15/08)

## Abstract

A system includes a baler configured to produce a first bale and a second bale succeeding the first bale. The first bale is configured to include a first surface defining a first dimension. The second bale is configured to include a second surface corresponding to the first surface of the first bale. The system also includes a sensor configured to weigh at least the first bale. The system further includes a control processor configured to receive a desired bale weight of the first bale, receive an actual bale weight of the first bale from the sensor, compare the desired bale weight to the actual bale weight of the first bale, and adjust a second dimension of the second surface of the second bale based on the comparison of the desired bale weight to the actual bale weight of the first bale.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a baler configured to produce a first bale and a second bale succeeding the first bale, the first bale configured to include a first surface defining a first dimension, the second bale configured to include a second surface corresponding to the first surface of the first bale;
a sensor configured to weigh at least the first bale; and
a control processor configured to
receive a desired bale weight of the first bale,
receive an actual bale weight of the first bale from the sensor,
compare the desired bale weight to the actual bale weight of the first bale, and
adjust a second dimension of the second surface of the second bale based on the comparison of the desired bale weight to the actual bale weight of the first bale.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second dimension of the second bale is adjusted based upon a density of the first bale.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the control processor is configured to calculate the density of the first bale with the following equation:
The
⁢
⁢
density
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
first
⁢
⁢
bale
=
The
⁢
⁢
actual
⁢
⁢
bale
⁢
⁢
weight
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
first
⁢
⁢
bale
An
⁢
⁢
actual
⁢
⁢
volume
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
first
⁢
⁢
bale
.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the control processor is configured to determine the actual volume of the first bale with the following equation:
The
⁢
⁢
actual
⁢
⁢
volume
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
first
⁢
⁢
bale
=
(
π
*
D
a
2
4
)
*
W
wherein the first dimension of the first bale is a first diameter, and wherein Da is the first diameter of the first bale, and wherein W is a width of the first bale oriented transverse to the first diameter of the first bale.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the control processor is configured to determine a difference between a desired volume of the first bale and the actual volume of the first bale with the following equation:
The
⁢
⁢
difference
⁢
⁢
in
⁢
⁢
volumes
=
The
⁢
⁢
difference
⁢
⁢
between
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
desired
⁢
⁢
weight
and
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
actual
⁢
⁢
weight
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
first
⁢
⁢
bale
The
⁢
⁢
density
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
first
⁢
⁢
bale
.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and wherein the system further comprises a second sensor configured to measure the first diameter of the first bale, and wherein the control processor is configured to determine a difference between a desired diameter of the first bale and the measured first diameter of the first bale with the following equation:
A
⁢
⁢
difference
⁢
⁢
in
⁢
⁢
diameters
=
2
*
(
The
⁢
⁢
difference
⁢
⁢
in
⁢
⁢
volumes
W
*
π
)
1
2
.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the control processor is configured to adjust the second dimension of the second bale by a quantity determined by the difference between the desired diameter of the first bale and the measured first diameter of the first bale.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second dimension of the second bale is adjusted based upon a ratio of the actual bale weight to the desired bale weight of the first bale.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, and wherein the system further comprises a second sensor configured to measure the first dimension of the first bale, wherein the second dimension of the second bale is calculated by the following equation:
The
⁢
⁢
second
⁢
⁢
dimension
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
the
⁢
⁢
second
⁢
⁢
bale
=
D
a
2
W
r
wherein the first dimension of the first bale is a first diameter, and wherein Da is the measured first diameter of the first bale, and wherein Wr is the ratio of the actual bale weight to the desired bale weight of the first bale.

### Claim 10

A method of adjusting a size of a bale produced by a baler, the method comprising:
forming a first bale within the baler, the first bale configured to include a first surface defining a first dimension;
determining an actual weight of the first bale by a sensor;
receiving, via a control processor, a desired bale weight of the first bale;
receiving, via the control processor, the actual weight of the first bale from the sensor;
ejecting the first bale from the baler;
comparing the desired bale weight of the first bale to the actual bale weight of the first bale;
forming a second bale within the baler succeeding forming the first bale, the second bale configured to include a second surface corresponding to the first surface of the first bale; and
adjusting a second dimension of the second surface of the second bale based on the comparison of the desired bale weight to the actual bale weight of the first bale.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the second dimension of the second bale includes adjusting the second dimension of the second bale based upon a density of the first bale.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the second dimension of the second bale includes adjusting the second dimension of the second bale based upon a ratio of the actual bale weight to the desired bale weight of the first bale.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the second dimension of the second bale includes adjusting a diameter of the second bale.