Round baler implement having forming belt pin wear detection system
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsUMESH B. JADHAO, MOHAN A. VADNERE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A round baler implement includes a forming belt having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end coupled together by a retaining pin to secure the forming belt in an endless loop. An image sensor is positioned and operable to capture an image of the retaining pin. A baler controller receives a current image of the retaining pin from the image sensor and determines a wear condition of the retaining pin therefrom. The baler controller may then communicate a notification signal to a communicator providing the wear condition of the retaining pin, thereby notifying user of the condition of the retaining pin so that the user may decide to replace the retaining pin when necessary.
Claims18
A round baler implement comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of rollers rotatably supported by the housing;
- a forming belt supported by the plurality of rollers and movable in a continuous circuit about the plurality of rollers;
- wherein the forming belt includes a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end disposed opposite the first longitudinal end along a longitudinal extent of the forming belt, and a retaining pin interconnecting the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end together to secure the forming belt in an endless loop;
- an image sensor positioned and operable to capture an image of the retaining pin;
- a baler controller disposed in communication with the image sensor, wherein the baler controller includes a processor and a memory having a pin monitoring algorithm stored therein, wherein the processor is operable to execute the pin monitoring algorithm to:
- receive a current image of the retaining pin from the image sensor;
- determine a wear condition of the retaining pin from the received current image of the retaining pin;
- and
- communicate a notification signal to a communicator, wherein the notification signal includes the wear condition of the retaining pin.
A round baler implement comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of rollers rotatably supported by the housing;
- a forming belt supported by the plurality of rollers and movable in a continuous circuit about the plurality of rollers;
- wherein the forming belt includes a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end disposed opposite the first longitudinal end along a longitudinal extent of the forming belt, and a retaining pin interconnecting the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end together to secure the forming belt in an endless loop;
- a baler controller including a processor and a memory having a pin monitoring algorithm stored therein, wherein the processor is operable to execute the pin monitoring algorithm to:
- track a total number of bales completed with the retaining pin;
- and
- communicate a maintenance request signal to a communicator after completion of a pre-defined number of bales, wherein the maintenance request signal includes a notification recommending replacement of the retaining pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.