# US 2018/0021796 A1 · System and method for marking bales of hay based on parameters collected during baling

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- Number: US 2018/0021796 A1
- Document ID: US20180021796A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/544,718
- Filed: 2015-02-09
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-09
- Assignees: Harvest Tec, Inc.
- Inventors: Jeffrey S. Roberts; Blake Holt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021796A1

## CPC

- B05B 12/12: responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature {position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus (B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence)}
- A01F 15/08: Details
- B05B 9/0406: {with several pumps}
- B05B 9/0423: {for supplying liquid or other fluent material to several spraying apparatus}
- B05B 12/1472: {separate supply lines supplying different materials to separate outlets of the spraying apparatus (B05B12/1454 takes precedence)}
- G01N 33/02: Food
- A01F 2015/0891: {Weighing the finished bale before falling to ground}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- 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)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Variable marks are applied to the outside of bales of hay that assign each bale to a group based on pre-selected parameters collected during baling.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system and method where a processor receives inputs on the properties of a hay bale as it is baled from sensors, groups the value of those input based on multiple selected ranges and applies a variable mark to the outside of the bale that represents the group to which that bale belongs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A system and method as in claim 1 where a sensor or sensors inputs moisture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A system and method as in claim 1 where a sensor or sensors inputs weight.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A system and method as in claim 1 where a sensor inputs global position of the bale as it is finished being formed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A system and method as in claim 1 where a sensor or sensors input moisture, a sensor or sensors inputs weight and a processor adjusts the weight to 100% dry matter and calculates a dry matter density.

### Claim 6

A system and method where a processor receives input on the properties of hay as it is baled from sensors, groups the values of those inputs based on based on multiple selected ranges and gives an output to multiple pumps connected to multiple spray devises and supplied by individual reservoirs of differing colors of liquid dye and activates a pump to mark the outside of the bale based on the group to which it belongs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A system and method as in claim 6 where the sensor or sensors input moisture.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A system and method as in claim 6 where a sensor or sensors input weight.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

A system and method as in claim 6 where a sensor inputs global position of the bale as it is finished being formed.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

A system and method as in claim 6 where a sensor or sensors input moisture, a sensor or sensors input weight and the processor adjusts the weight to 100% dry mater and calculates a dry mater density.

### Claim 11

A system and method where a processor receives input on the properties of hay as it is baled from sensors, groups the values of those inputs based on multiple selected ranges and gives an output to multiple pumps connected to individual spray devises and supplied by a single reservoir with a liquid dye and activates one or more of the multiple pumps to mark the outside of the bale based on the group to which they belong.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A system and method as in claim 11 where the sensor or sensors input moisture.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A system and method as in claim 11 where a sensor or sensors input weight.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

A system and method as in claim 11 where a sensor inputs global position of the bale as it is finished being formed.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

A system and method as in claim 11 where a sensor or sensors input moisture, a sensor or sensors input weight and the processor adjusts the weight to 100% dry mater and calculates a dry mater density.