Near infrared spectrometer used in combination with an agricultural implement for real time grain and forage analysis

A method of measuring constituents of cut up agricultural product comprising the steps of:

• providing an implement for harvesting the agricultural product by cutting up the agricultural product;
• providing a monochromator, the monochromator including a photodiode array and a fixed dispersive element;
• providing a moving stream of the cut up agricultural product;
• providing a radiation source near the moving stream of the product harvested by the implement;
• applying radiation to the moving stream of product;
• sensing radiation that is reflected off of or passed through the moving stream of the product;
• and
• analyzing the sensed radiation to determine various constituents or characteristics of the agricultural product.

An apparatus for measuring constituents of a harvested product on an agricultural implement comprising:

• a sensor coupled to the implement at a location proximate a flow of the harvested product;
• a light source for irradiating the product as the product flows past the sensor, the light source being positioned such that light irradiated toward the product is sensed by the sensor;
• a monochromator having no moving optical components located in the implement, the monochromator being operatively connected to the sensor such that light sensed by the sensor is transmitted to the monochromator;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to the monochromator for identifying and determining the presence and/or amount of constituents in or characteristics of the product.

An apparatus for measuring constituents of a harvested product comprising:

• a device having an inlet and outlet and a mechanism to receive harvested product at the inlet and move it in a flow to the outlet;
• a sensor coupled to the implement at a location proximate the flow of the harvested product;
• a light source for irradiating the products as the product flows past the sensor, the light source being positioned such that light irradiated toward the product is sensed by the sensor;
• a monochromator having no moving optical components positioned at or near the sensing locations, the monochromator being operatively connected to the sensor such that light sensed by the sensor is transmitted to the monochromator;
• and
• a processor operatively connected to the monochromator for identifying and determining the amount of constituents in the product.