US 4,765,235 A · Monitoring system for detecting malfunction of knotting mechanism on a crop baler

Abstract

During the process of binding a bale of crop material with binding twine in a crop baler, malfunction of the knotter is checked once upon completion of the binding sequence for one bale, and then a second time after the twine has been prepared by the knotter for formation of the next bale. The monitoring system is particularly appropriate for a double knotting mechanism in which each knotter operates through two complete operating cycles during each actuation thereof, a first cycle to complete a knot associated with the just finished bale, and a second cycle to complete a knot in two separate strands of twine to prepare the same for the next successive bale. The position of a slack takeup arm moved by the binding twine between a number of positions during the double knotting sequence is monitored by the electronic portion of the system, including a computer, so that if the takeup arm is located improperly at one of the critical checking times in the sequence, such condition is reported to the operator through a visual display in the tractor which tows the baler.

Claims24

Dependent claims

In combination with a crop baler having a mechanism for binding crop bales produced by the baler with at least one strand of binding material, the binding mechanism including:

a shiftable, yieldably biased slacker arm engaged with the strand for taking up slack in the strand,
a knotter for attaching together respective strand ends, and
needle means for bringing respective strand ends into juxtaposition for attaching together by the knotter, the binding mechanism cycling through a binding cycle during which the slacker arm shifts between first and second positions, the arm normally shifting from the first to the second position immediately after the knotter attaches together the strand ends and subsequently shifting from the second to the first position,
a means for monitoring the operation of the binding mechanism, said monitoring means comprising:
means for detecting slacker arm position;
means for sensing the cycling of the binding cycle;
means operably coupled with said detecting means and with said sensing means for determining whether there has been a failure of the slacker arm to shift between the first and second positions during the binding cycle;
and
means operably coupled with said determining means for displaying a visual representation indicative of said failure upon the occurrence of said failure.

6 more elements

In combination with a crop baler having a mechanism for binding crop bales produced by the baler with at least one strand of binding material, the binding mechanism cycling through a binding cycle during which the strand progresses from a first slack condition to a second slack condition and returns to the first slack condition, means for monitoring the operation of the binding mechanism comprising:

means for detecting the slack condition of the strand;
means for sensing the cycling of the binding mechanism;
means operably coupled with said detecting and sensing means for determining whether there has been a failure of the strand to progress between the first and second slack conditions during the binding cycle, and
means operably coupled with said determining means for displaying a visual representation indicative of said failure upon the occurrence of said failure.

1 more element

In combination with a crop baler having a mechanism for binding crop bales produced by the baler from charges of crop material with at least one strand of binding material, the strand progressing to an abnormal condition in the event of certain abnormal occurences associated with the operation of the binding mechanism, means for monitoring the condition of the strand comprising:

a computer;
means for detecting said abnormal strand conditions including means operably coupled with said computer for producing and sending a first signal indicative of said abnormal strand condition to said computer;
and
means operably coupled with said computer for displaying a visual representation indicative of said abnormal strand condition,
said computer being responsive to said first signal for producing and sending a second signal to said displaying means,
said displaying means being responsive to said second signal for displaying said visual representation.

3 more elements

In a crop baler having a mechanism for binding crop bales produced by the baler from charges of crop material with at least one strand of binding material, the strand progressing to an abnormal strand condition in the event of certain abnormal occurrences associated with the operation of the binding mechanism, a method of monitoring the condition of the strand comprising:

detecting said abnormal strand condition;
producing and sending a first signal indicative of said abnormal stand condition to a computer;
producing a second signal in said computer and sending said second signal to a display means in response to reception of said first signal by said computer, and
displaying a visual representation indicative of said abnormal strand condition with said display means in response to reception of said second signal.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Monitoring system for detecting malfunction of knotting mechanism on a crop baler

Life of this patent

Monitoring system for detecting malfunction of knotting mechanism on a crop baler

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24