Strategic crop placement using a virtual trip line for a harvester and crop accumulator combination

摘要

A harvester and a crop accumulator combination. The harvester is configured to transfer a harvested crop to the crop accumulator. The crop accumulator comprises at least one actuator to selectively discharge the harvested crops onto a field. A GPS unit is configured with at least one virtual trip line. An ECU is in communication with the GPS unit. The ECU is configured to selectively command the actuator of the crop accumulator to discharge harvested crop onto the field when the ECU receives a signal from the GPS unit when at least one of the virtual trip line is being approached, the virtual trip line is being crossed, and the virtual trip line has been crossed.

主权项

1. A method for discharging one or more bales from a crop accumulator, the method comprising:
establishing at least one virtual trip line, defined by a line; commencing a harvest operation with a baler; transferring one or more bales from the baler to the crop accumulator one at a time; communicating that at least one of: the virtual trip line is being approached, the virtual trip line is being crossed, and the virtual trip line has been crossed; determining whether the transfer of each bale from the baler to the crop accumulator is complete by using a sensor associated with one of the baler and the crop accumulator; temporarily pausing the transfer of any remaining bales from the baler to the crop accumulator until the transfer of the previously transferred bale from the baler to the crop accumulator is complete; actuating a discharge system of the crop accumulator, in response to the communication, to selectively discharge one of: one bale and more than one bale; and depositing the one or more bales substantially on the virtual trip line.