A harvester which has a global-positioning system is used to harvest crops. Fields to be harvested are divided into individual field areas for crop quality assessment selected by the farmer. Values representing the location of the selected individual field areas or crop management areas are loaded into storage on a computer or recorded. The harvester also includes a dispenser of crop markers. Each crop marker has a unique identifier when compared to the other crop markers used during the harvest. The global-positioning system determines actual field location during the harvest and when an actual field location is close or matches one of the selected field locations, a trigger signal is sent to the dispenser and a crop marker is inserted into the harvested crop stream. A table of selected field locations and the crop markers inserted into the crop stream from that field location is stored. Later on in processing, the crop marker is detected and a sample of the crop is taken from around the crop marker. A similar system is used for orchard crops. A picker harvests the fruit off a tree and when the task is complete, the picker places some of the fruit from the tree in a bag which is tied shut. A marker such as a bar code label is placed on the bag and a quality test is performed on the fruit in the bag.

Method and apparatus for mapping crop quality

A site-specific farming system (100) for performing work on an agricultural field while the field is being scouted is disclosed herein The system (100) includes a vehicle such as a combine or tractor equipped with a tool for working the field such as a header or variable-rate applicator (149) A sensing circuit (108) detects a site-specific characteristic of the field such as crop yield harvested from the field or fertilizer applied to the field An input device (118) is used to mark the positions of visible elements associated with the field

Scouting system for an agricultural field

A level sensor (13), associated with a bin (10), detects a particular reference level of an agricultural product in the bin (10) and generates a calibration indicator An input sensor (16) determines an input rate of the agncultural product into the bin (10) A conveyer (20) is capable of transporting the agncultural product out of the bin (10) An output sensor (24) provides a status indicator that indicates whether the conveyer is in an active state or in an inactive state dunng one or more evaluation time windows A data processor (26) determines an output rate of the agncultural product based on the status indicator The data processor (26) compnses a level estimator (28) for estimating an estimated bin level of the bin (10) based on the input rate and an output rate.

Monitoring of bin level for an agricultural product

Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for monitoring yield while harvesting grain. Grain released from paddles on the clean grain elevator chain of a harvester contacts a flow sensor which reports the rate of grain flow through the clean grain elevator. In some embodiments a brush is mounted to the chain and disposed to clean the flow sensor surface. In other embodiments a bucket mounted to the clean grain elevator chain releases grain against the flow sensor at a rate dependent on a grain property.

Yield monitoring apparatus, systems, and methods

The present invention is an apparatus and method for measuring flow rate of materials, for example the flow rate of agricultural products. The apparatus includes an x-ray generator positioned near flowing materials, a converter for converting the x-ray radiation which passes through the flowing materials into visible light, a camera for capturing images of the visible light, and a processor for processing the images to determine the flow rate. The invention may also include an image intensifier to intensify the images before being converted by the camera. The method directs x-rays through flowing material, converts the x-rays to visible light, records the intensity of the visible light and derives the flow rate from the intensity measures.

X-ray flow rate measurement system for materials, including agricultural materials and food products

A mass flow sensor for a combine is positioned in the transition housing between the paddle elevator of the clean grain elevator and the loading auger of the clean grain tank. The mass flow sensor comprises an impact plate having an arm which is axially aligned with the predominant grain flow from the paddle elevator. The arm is coupled to a force measuring assembly having a potentiometer for generating an electric signal that is proportional to impact force.

Grain mass flow sensor for an agricultural combine

A moisture sensor for an agricultural combine comprises a chamber having an inlet and an outlet and a paddle wheel flow controller located adjacent to the outlet. The paddle wheel flow controller is rotated by an electric motor which is controlled by an electronic controller. Grain from the clean grain elevator is directed through the inlet of the chamber past a capacitance sensor comprising afirst, second and third plates. By measuring the capacitance of the grain, the moisture in the grain can be determined.

Kent Robert Hawk

Papers

Grain mass flow sensor for an agricultural combine

Grain moisture sensor