Automated grain filling system and related methods
AssigneeJ. & M. Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsDustan Grieshop, Sean Kahlig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated grain filling system including a sensor and a processor. The sensor is configured to detect at least a portion of an upper perimeter of a receiving container and at least a portion of an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container. The processor is configured to compare the detected portion of the upper perimeter and the detected portion of the upper surface, and direct the operation of a grain transfer element. The grain transfer element is configured to transfer grain from a supplying container to the receiving container. The directed operation of the grain transfer element is based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the detected portion of the upper perimeter and the detected portion of the upper surface.
Claims44
An automated grain filling system for directing the operation of a grain transfer element with a movable spout to transfer grain from a supplying container to a receiving container, the automated grain filling system comprising:
- one or more sensors configured to detect at least a portion of an upper perimeter of the receiving container and at least a portion of an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- compare the detected portion of the upper perimeter and the detected portion of the upper surface, and
- direct the operation of the grain transfer element and control the movement of the movable spout to direct the grain into the receiving container based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the detected portion of the upper perimeter and the detected portion of the upper surface;
- wherein the movable spout is movable to direct the grain laterally farther away from the supplying container and laterally nearer to the supplying container, and to direct the grain generally longitudinally toward a forward end of the receiving container and toward a rearward end of the receiving container.
A method of operating an automated grain filling system to direct the operation of a grain transfer element with a movable spout to transfer grain from a supplying container to a receiving container, the method comprising:
- detecting at least a portion of an upper perimeter of the receiving container;
- detecting at least a portion of an upper surface of a grain mound within the receiving container;
- directing the operation of the grain transfer element to transfer grain from the supplying container to the receiving container based at least in part on a comparison of the detected portion of the upper perimeter and the detected portion of the upper surface of the grain mound;
- controlling the movement of the movable spout to direct the grain into the receiving container by directing the grain laterally farther away from the supplying container and laterally nearer to the supplying container, and directing the grain generally longitudinally toward a forward end of the receiving container and toward a rearward end of the receiving container.
A grain cart comprising:
- a supplying container;
- a grain transfer element configured to transfer grain from the supplying container to a receiving container;
- a movable spout coupled to the grain transfer element, the movable spout is movable to direct the grain generally laterally farther away from the grain cart and generally laterally nearer to the grain cart, and to direct the grain generally longitudinally toward a forward end of the receiving container and longitudinally toward a rearward end of the receiving container;
- a spout articulation mechanism to control the movement of the movable spout;
- a spout position sensor configured to detect at least one of a position or orientation of the movable spout;
- one or more sensors configured to detect at least a portion of an upper perimeter of the receiving container and at least a portion of an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container;
- and
- a processor configured to control the spout articulation mechanism based at least in part on the detected portion of the upper perimeter, the detected portion of the upper surface, and at least one of the detected position or detected orientation of the movable spout, and the processor is configured to control the spout articulation mechanism to control the movement of the movable spout.
An automated grain filling system configured to direct the operation of a grain transfer element with a movable spout to transfer grain from a supplying container to a receiving container, the automated grain filling system comprising:
- one or more sensors configured to detect at least a portion of an upper edge of a wall of the receiving container and an interface between an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container and the wall of the receiving container;
- and
- a processor configured to compare the detected portion of the upper edge and the detected interface, and direct the operation of the grain transfer element and control the movement of the movable spout based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the detected portion of the upper edge and the detected interface;
- wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect at least a portion of a near upper perimeter edge of the receiving container and at least a portion of a far upper perimeter edge of the receiving container,
- wherein the processor is configured to determine a location of a longitudinal centerline of the receiving container based at least in part on the detected portion of the near upper perimeter edge and the detected portion of the far upper perimeter edge, and
- wherein the processor is configured to direct the operation of the grain transfer element and control the movement of the movable spout to direct the grain generally along the longitudinal centerline of the receiving container.
An automated grain filling system configured to direct the operation of a grain transfer element with a movable spout to transfer grain from a supplying container to a receiving container, the automated grain filling system comprising:
- one or more sensors configured to detect at least a portion of an upper edge of a wall of the receiving container and an interface between an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container and the wall of the receiving container;
- and
- a processor configured to compare the detected portion of the upper edge and the detected interface, and direct the operation of the grain transfer element and control the movement of the movable spout based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the detected portion of the upper edge and the detected interface;
- wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect at least a portion of a left upper perimeter edge of the receiving container, at least a portion of a right upper perimeter edge of the receiving container, and at least a portion of an intermediate upper edge between the left upper perimeter edge and the right upper perimeter edge,
- wherein the processor is configured to distinguish the intermediate upper edge from the left upper perimeter edge and the right upper perimeter edge, and
- wherein at least one of the directed operation of the grain transfer element or the controlled movement of the movable spout is based at least in part on the detected portion of the intermediate upper edge.
An automated grain filling system configured to direct the operation of a grain transfer element with a movable spout to transfer grain from a supplying container to a receiving container, the automated grain filling system comprising:
- one or more sensors configured to detect at least a portion of an upper edge of a wall of the receiving container and an interface between an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container and the wall of the receiving container;
- and
- a processor configured to compare the detected portion of the upper edge and the detected interface, and direct the operation of the grain transfer element and control the movement of the movable spout based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the detected portion of the upper edge and the detected interface;
- wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect at least a portion of a left upper perimeter edge of the receiving container, at least a portion of a right upper perimeter edge of the receiving container, and at least a portion of a partition between the left upper perimeter edge and the right upper perimeter edge,
- wherein the processor is configured to distinguish the partition from the left upper perimeter edge and the right upper perimeter edge, and
- wherein at least one of the directed operation of the grain transfer element or the controlled movement of the movable spout is based at least in part on the detected portion of the partition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.