FR2788144A1 - Measuring control unit for remote-control of sower or manure-spreading machine from tractor's cockpit has screen with selecting keys to select pre-installed operating data for different machines - Google Patents

Abstract

Measuring control unit (10) has screen (12) displaying adjustable value of setting actuator of machine and signal emitting source sending to output terminal, linked to actuator, guidelines for position and movement matching adjustable value. Control unit has selecting keys (T2, T3, 122) to select pre-installed operating data for different types of machines.

Description

The present invention relates generally to devices for

  remote control of agricultural equipment such as seeders or spreaders of fertilizers, phytosanitary products, etc. Conventionally, a seed drill, a fertilizer spreader or the like is coupled to a tractor, and an electronic control device is provided in the cabin of the tractor and connected by cables to the seed drill or the spreader to effect, at the using one or more cylinders, one or more adjustments as to the

  dosage of the product (seeds, fertilizers, ...) to be applied.

  Known electronic control devices are generally dedicated to a particular type or model of machine, and it is therefore necessary for the farmer, when he must use the same tractor to use different types or models of machines, provide

one control unit per machine.

  This is both very expensive and inconvenient for the user, who must adapt to the user interface and the particular ergonomics of each

  control device when changing machine.

  In addition, the dedicated control devices are generally of a high degree of sophistication, with numerous controls and assistances which may prove to be unnecessary during repetitive work, and this degree of sophistication largely contributes to the high sales price.

of these devices.

  The present invention aims to propose a new electronic dose adjustment device which on the one hand makes it possible to control different types or models of machines, without modification other than wiring the new machine to the device in place of the old one , and which on the other hand is particularly simple and quick to use, without the farmer having to enter into adjustment or adjustment procedures.

complicated programming.

  Another object of the invention, as a corollary, is to provide a device which is extremely economical, while offering satisfactory performance for most spreading or seeding work. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device in which a coherent sequence

  of steps either automatically or semi-automatically

  automatic to the user each time the device is started, with a minimum of action on his part in the event that new settings do not appear necessary. Thus, the present invention provides a metering device for an agricultural distributor machine such as a fertilizer spreader or a seed drill, characterized in that it consists of a single control unit capable of cooperating selectively with a plurality of types of machines and having display means for displaying at least one adjustment value for at least one dose adjustment actuator of a machine with which it cooperates and means for generating adjustment signals for applying to at least one output terminal, capable of to be connected to said actuator, at least one displacement or position setpoint signal in accordance with said adjustment value, said control unit further comprising selection means capable of selecting from the control unit one of said plurality machine types and to allow access to operating parameters

  stored specific to the type of machine selected.

  Preferred, but not limiting, aspects of the device according to the invention are in particular the following: - the display means is capable of selectively displaying one of a plurality of marks identifying respectively the several types of machines. the display means is capable of selectively displaying one of a plurality of marks identifying respectively a plurality of modes

operative of the device.

  - Said operating modes include a start-up mode, a flow adjustment mode and a use mode. said modes further include a calibration mode capable of displaying a test weight of product to be applied. the device comprises sequencing means able to switch the device from one mode to another,

in a predetermined order.

  the sequencing means are capable of switching the device from one mode to the other by the action of

  the user on a validation key.

  the sequencing means are capable of switching the device from one mode to another automatically after the expiration of a predetermined period during which no action of

  the user has not been registered.

  the predetermined order of the modes comprises a primary dosage adjustment mode, a mode for entering a test weight obtained with this primary adjustment during a test, a method for calculating the application dose by

  unit area and dose modification.

  - the device also has an asymmetrical application mode in which it is able to apply two signals to the machine actuators

  different values.

  - the stored operating parameters include primary setting values and correspondence tables between the position of the actuator (s) and

one dose per unit area.

  the device comprises at least one input terminal for a signal representative of at least one operating information item of the machine and for signaling a

variation of this information.

  - The device comprises means for modifying the setpoint signal according to the variations of the information. Other aspects, aims and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the

  following detailed description of an embodiment

  preferred thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front view of a device according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic architecture of the device, and FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the

device connections.

  Referring firstly to FIG. 1, a metering and calibration device 10 intended to cooperate with an agricultural machine such as a seed drill or a fertilizer spreader, comprises a housing 11 housing electronic circuits such as will detail them further. The front face of the housing has a display device 12, for example of the liquid crystal type, with a first number display area having four conventional arrangements 121 of the seven segment type, a second machine type display area having three marks 122 capable of selectively designating one of three types of machines drawn on the front face in the form of symbols S1 to S3, and finally a third display area of operation in progress having a group of four marks 123 suitable to selectively designate one of four operations in progress drawn on the front panel in the form of symbols S4 to S7. This area also has two auxiliary markers 123 'located on either side of the group of four markers 123, but having no associated symbol. According to a variant, the three marks 122 of machine type can be constituted by the three horizontal segments of the seven-segment arrangement 121 located on the

further left on display 12.

  The device also has on this same front face three keys, and more precisely a validation key T1 marked "OK", a decrease key T2 marked "-", and finally an increase key T3

marked "+".

  Referring now to FIG. 2, the device 10 is driven by a microprocessor or microcontroller 100 cooperating with a read-only memory 101 containing programs and with a random access memory 102

  saved by battery or even a non-memory

  volatile. The keys T1 to T3 are connected to the microprocessor by a conventional input / output circuit 103, and the microprocessor further controls the display device 12 also by means of a circuit

input / output 105.

  Finally, the microprocessor delivers, via an output interface 104 (amplifier stage, with digital / analog conversion if necessary), dosing control signals

on a connector 14.

  Referring now to Figure 3, the device is supplied with current via a connector 13 (not shown) provided on the housing, to which is connected a cord 131 provided at the other end with a connector 131 intended to be connected to the cigarette lighter socket on the tractor. A cord 141 connected to the connector 14 makes it possible to connect the device to one of two basic types of machine, namely a machine 20 with two electric metering cylinders 22a, 22b (typical case of a spreader d centrifugal type fertilizer) or a machine 30 with an electric actuator

  single dosage 32 (typical case of a seed drill).

  The jack or jacks are connected by cables (respectively 22a, 22b and 32) to connectors (respectively 21 and 31) intended to be connected to a terminal connector 142 of the cord 141. The control signals applied to the output connector 14 of the device are suitable for controlling these cylinders from

bidirectionally.

  The device is put into service and out of service respectively by plugging in and unplugging the cigarette lighter connector 131. Alternatively, a

  on / off switch can be provided.

  The device 10 has a programming, which will be described in detail below, which allows it to be connected to one of several types of machines, without hardware modification, and to perform a certain

  number of operations, adapted according to the type of machine.

  This programming involves the following essential operations: 1) Switching on and initialization When switching on the device, it starts by switching on for a limited time (for example for six seconds) only one of the three marks 122 designating the type of machine selected by the user during a previous use of the

  device, and which has been stored in memory 102.

  During this temporary phase, the user can, if he wishes, modify the type of machine by pressing the "+" key or the "-" key, this causing the passage from one marker to another and the

  corresponding storage in memory 102.

  To confirm the choice (or the previously saved choice), the user can either press the key

  "OK", or wait for the end of this temporary phase.

  At the end of this validation, the device 10 reinitializes locations of the memory 102 corresponding to the positions of the jacks to be controlled and delivers on its outputs 14 the corresponding setpoint signals. It will be observed here that, depending on the type of seed drill or spreader connected to the device, this zero position may correspond either to a fully retracted position, or to a fully deployed position of the jacks. Following this initialization phase, that of the benchmarks 122 which designates the type of machine

  selected stays on continuously.

  2) Adjustment mode As soon as the aforementioned validation, and the associated reset, have been carried out, the

  device automatically enters an adjustment mode.

  In this mode, in addition to the line 122, the display indicates a number in the digit area 121 and the line 123 on the far left is on to indicate that

setting mode is active.

  The number displayed is that of the position for adjusting the flow rate of the actuator (s) which was active during the previous use of the device, and which remained stored in memory 102 during the previous extinction of the device. In this case, the device delivers on its outputs 14 the suitable setpoint signals

  to bring the jack (s) into this adjustment position.

  In this mode, the user can press the

  "+" or "-" keys to modify the setting.

  It will be noted here that the number displayed can be either directly the position of the jack in mm, or preferably, via a conversion table contained in the memory 101 or 102, a number of scale

varying between 0 and 100.

  It is important to observe here that, depending on the type of machine selected in the start-up and initialization phase, the device accesses in its memory

  a table specific to this machine.

  In this way, it is possible to adopt a scale common to several types of machines, whatever the

  physical stroke of the cylinders and their direction of actuation.

  Once the user has obtained the desired number using the "+" or "-" keys, he validates this

  choice by pressing the "OK" key.

  3) Calibration mode The aforementioned validation automatically switches the device into a calibration mode, which is indicated to the user by the fact that it is the second reference 123 starting from the left which is on. The device then intermittently displays a number representative of a test weight previously stored in the memory 102 of the device during a calibration operation carried out during a previous use of the device. It will be observed here that the resolution of this number, namely the number of significant digits displayed, can vary according to the type

  of currently selected machine.

  This test weight is the weight of material which has been collected during a standard calibration procedure where the virtual surface corresponding to the weight has been predefined by the procedure or the duration of the test. This test was carried out by the user with the machine adjusted in accordance with the flow adjustment position established during the adjustment mode described above, the test weight found having then been introduced into the device by the user at using the "+" keys

and "-".

  In the case where a new flow test is carried out at this stage by the user, and o the test weight obtained is different from that displayed, the latter can be modified by the user by pressing the "+" or "-", then validated by pressing the

"OK" key.

  4) Mode of use The device switches from this validation to a mode of use, which is indicated to the user in

  lighting the third marker 123 from the left.

  The display device 12 here flashes a number indicating a calculated application rate, preferably expressed in kg / ha. This dose is calculated by the device by multiplying the test weight obtained during the calibration stage by the number of scales confirmed during the adjustment stage, and by rounding to the whole number

immediately superior.

  For example, if the test weight is 1.57 kg, and if the number set in the adjustment step is 40, the value

  calculated is 1.57 x 40 = 62.8 rounded to 63 kg / ha.

  The user can then increase or decrease this dose per hectare, in steps of 1 kg / ha, using the "+" or "-" keys. for convenience, holding one of these keys in the pressed state makes it possible to scroll the number at a predetermined rate, ll this scrolling stops as soon as the pressure is released. To obtain sufficient metering precision in particular in the case of sowing or the application of phytosanitary products, it is possible to provide that the step of variation of the dose is reduced, and for example equal to 0.1 kg / ha, when the lowest dose ranges are reached, for example as soon as the

  dose becomes less than 10 kg / ha.

  When the desired dose is reached, the user presses the "OK" key, and the flashing of the number is stopped to indicate that it is validated as a normal application dose, and the

work can begin.

  The "+" or "-" keys can then be used again during use to punctually increase or decrease this normal dose according to a given relative step (for example in the case where the area of the field to be treated requires, by experience, more or less important fertilizer dosage). According to an advantageous characteristic, the value of this step can be modified by the user in a configuration phase. Typically, it can be 5% or 10% steps, and pressing the "+" key or the "-" key several times allows you to increase or decrease according to an integer multiple

of this relative step.

  It will be observed here that, when the normal dose is modified by the user as described above, the newly displayed number and the marker 123 of the mode

flashes.

  The "OK" key can here be used in a particularly practical way as follows: - if pressed for a short time, it allows you to return to an application according to the normal dose; - if it is pressed for an extended period of time (for example greater than 6 seconds), then it makes it possible to select the modified dose currently displayed as the new normal dose, which is then displayed flashing; the user can then if necessary, using the "+" or "-" keys, adjust this dose in absolute steps, for example 1 kg / ha (see above), and validate the new normal dose by

pressing the "OK" key.

  The normal value of the application dose is, on each modification, memorized as such in memory 102, and the cylinder (s) of the machine are then positioned, by means of setpoint signals applied to output 14, on a value determined by the device from a table or a correspondence curve, contained in memory 101 or 102, which allows the microprocessor to convert the desired dose

  in a cylinder adjustment position.

  Here again, the device may include several tables or correspondence curves, corresponding

each to a type of machine.

  ) "Borders" mode Only when the device is in use mode, the user can switch it to an additional border processing mode, this mode change being preferably carried out by pressing the "OK" key for a period of time. extended for example

greater than 6 seconds.

  It will be observed here that switching to this mode can only be obtained when the type of machine is a fertilizer spreader with two cylinders regulating the spreading spreading on the left and right, respectively, by

  in relation to the movement of the tractor and the machine.

  So this mode can never be reached when the type

  machine selected is a seed drill.

  The device then causes the rightmost marker 123 to light up, to signal the user

this change of mode.

  The digit area 121 of the display then displays, to reinforce this signaling, the word

"edge".

  The "OK" key being released, the microprocessor applies to one of the outputs 14 corresponding to the jack regulating the spreading area on the side of the border, typically the jack regulating the area to the right, a set value which is decreased in a given proportion, for example by 20%, compared to the value of

  setpoint in normal use mode.

  Preferably, this reduction value can be

  configurable, as will be described later.

  In addition, releasing the "OK" key also causes the 123 marker to flash, and the dose to be displayed instead of the word "edge".

  previously validated application.

  Also in this mode, the "+" and "-" keys can be used to modify, in relative steps

  for example 5% or 10%, the settings of the two cylinders.

  The original settings (those of the normal operating mode) are recalled by pressing the "OK" key, in which case it is again the third marker 123 in

  from the left which becomes lit.

  6) Summary operation When the device is properly adjusted for all of its parameters, the extremely simple and quick start-up procedure is as follows: - when the device is started, the position of the jacks is reset, and the the type of machine previously selected is designated by that of the references 122 which is on; - as soon as the "OK" key is pressed, or automatically at the expiration of a period of 6 seconds, the device switches to adjustment mode applies to the cylinder (s) the setpoint signals corresponding to the position of. setting used during the previous work session (for example 30 in scale value); - as soon as the "OK" key is pressed again, or automatically at the expiration of a new period of 6 seconds, the device switches to calibration mode indicates on display 12 the test weight memorized for the current adjustment position of the jacks, for example 1.57 kg; a new action on the "OK" key can then cause the display of the calculated dose (63 kg / ha in the previous example); - as soon as the "OK" key is pressed again, or automatically at the expiration of a new period of 6 seconds, the device switches to operating mode, and the normal dose previously set by the user flashes; the user can then if necessary use the "+" or "-" keys to modify this normal dose, and in all cases a new action on the "OK" key confirms the chosen value, which is then displayed in a fixed manner , and the device applies to the cylinder (s)

  the appropriate setpoint signals.

  We therefore understand that the procedure is extremely simple, quick and intuitive to

the user.

  7) Parameter setting mode As indicated, certain values involved in the operation of the device can be adjustable parameters. A setting mode can then

  be provided to allow these parameters to be modified.

  Furthermore, as described above, the device contains in its memory a certain number of tables or curves of correspondence or conversion used to send to the machines the appropriate setpoint signals according to the settings made by the user. . These tables include in particular: - three adjustment tables adapted to the three types of machine, which establish the correspondence between a scale value varying from 0 to 100 (displayed value) and the displacement value in mm of the jack (s); depending on whether the cylinders have their zero flow position in a fully retracted position or a fully deployed position, the slopes of the correspondence curves can be the opposite of each other; - three correspondence tables adapted to the three types of machines and establishing the correspondence between the displacement in mm of the jack (s) and an application rate expressed for example in grams per second (for fertilizer spreaders) or in relation to volume

  output and input volume (for seeders).

  Of course, the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and shown in the drawings, but a person skilled in the art will be able to provide it.

  any variant or modification in accordance with its spirit.

  In particular, the device according to the invention may have an input connector enabling it to receive, for example, signals relating to the speed of advance of the tractor to which the machine is coupled, or even to variations in product flow rate noted in the machine. This makes it possible to signal to the user a change in the quantity of product actually applied, and if necessary to adjust, manually or automatically, the position of the jack (s) to obtain

  regular product application.

  Furthermore, the device according to the invention can easily be adapted to control machines

electric or hydraulic.

Claims (13)

  1. Metering device for agricultural distributor machine such as a fertilizer spreader or seed drill, characterized in that it consists of a single control unit (10) capable of cooperating selectively with a plurality of types of machines and having display means (12) for displaying at least one adjustment value for at least one actuator (22a, 22b; 32) for adjusting the dose of a machine with which it cooperates and means (100, 104) for generating adjustment signals for applying to at least one output terminal (14), capable of being connected to said actuator, at least one displacement or position setpoint signal in accordance with said adjustment value, said control unit further comprising means selection devices (T2, T3, 122) capable of selecting one of said plurality of machine types from the control unit and allowing access to stored operating parameters   specific to the type of machine selected.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display means (12) is capable of selectively displaying one of a plurality of marks (122) respectively identifying the several types of machines.   3. Device according to one of claims 1   and 2, characterized in that the display means is capable of selectively displaying one of a plurality of marks (123) respectively identifying a plurality of operating modes of the device.   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said operating modes include a start mode, a flow adjustment mode and a mode of use. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said modes further comprise a calibration mode capable of displaying a test weight of product to apply.   6. Device according to one of claims 4   and 5, characterized in that it comprises sequencing means (100) capable of passing the device   from one mode to another, in a predetermined order.   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the sequencing means are able to switch the device from one mode to another by action of the user on a validation key (Tl).   8. Device according to one of claims 6   and 7, characterized in that the sequencing means (100) are capable of switching the device from one mode to another automatically after the expiration of a predetermined duration during which no action   has been saved.   9. Device according to one of claims 6 to   8, characterized in that the predetermined order of modes comprises a primary dosage adjustment mode, a method of entering a test weight obtained with this primary adjustment during a test, a dose calculation mode application per unit area and dose modification.   10. Device according to one of claims 3 to   9, characterized in that it also has an asymmetrical application mode in which it is capable of applying to two actuators (22a, 22b) of the machine   two setpoint signals of different values.   11. Device according to one of claims 1 to   , characterized in that the stored operating parameters include primary adjustment values and correspondence tables between the position of the   actuators and one dose per unit area.   12. Device according to one of claims 1 to   11, characterized in that it comprises at least one input terminal for a signal representative of at least one operating information item of the machine and for signaling a variation of this information.   13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises means for modifying the setpoint signal according to variations in the information.