JP2011083246A - System for assessing state of grains - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for assessing the state of grains, which is set according to circumstances, determination conditions used in assessing a fluid state of grains, such as clogging. <P>SOLUTION: The system includes: an impact detection sensor 1 functioning to input detection signals when grains collide with a detection surface; a frequency assessment section 32 functioning to assess the detection frequency of the detection signals by referring frequency conditions; a fluid state assessment section 33 functioning to assess the fluid state of the grains based on the result of the frequency assessment by the preceding section 32; a collision frequency conditions-producing section 34 functioning to produce the frequency conditions to give them to the frequency assessment section; and an information management section 4 functioning to manage related information necessary for producing the frequency conditions to give them to the collision frequency conditions-producing section 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a granular material state evaluation apparatus that evaluates a state in which a granular material such as grain, seed meal, and granular fertilizer flows on a flow path. Such a granular material state evaluation apparatus is used to detect the flow rate and clogging of granular material in the flow path of the granular material.

  For example, a riding type rice transplanter equipped with a fertilizer application device in which a fertilizer clogging sensor is arranged on the wall surface of a tubular grooving device that feeds granular fertilizer supplied through a fertilizer hose to a field is known (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). This fertilizer clogging sensor detects fertilizer clogging in the grooving device by utilizing the fact that the conduction level between the electrodes provided at a pair of intervals increases due to the intervention of the fertilizer. However, in such a resistance type clogging sensor, since the electric resistance changes depending on the moisture content, etc., there are many noise components in the detection signal, and it is difficult to detect clogging accurately.

  Also, in a combine that stores the harvested grain in the tank, the grain released toward the grain tank to the flow rate sensor consisting of a piezoelectric element mounted on a base projecting downward on the top surface of the top of the grain tank, etc. A technique is known in which a detected value (voltage value) proportional to the amount of released grain is output by colliding the grain and the grain flow rate is measured (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Since the piezoelectric element generates a voltage proportional to the magnitude of the impact (vibration) caused by the collision of the granular material such as the grain or the seed pod, the flow rate of the granular material, that is, the flow state can be detected. For example, it can be considered that the granular material is clogged because the detection signal due to the collision of the granular material is not generated.

JP 2000-324916 A (paragraph number [0011-0018], FIG. 3) JP 2000-60281 (paragraph number [0030-0031], FIG. 9)

  However, in the conventional technology, when the detection signal from the impact detection sensor that detects the collision of the granular material is not input for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that the granular material is clogged. If the predetermined time for determining the occurrence of clogging is fixed, it is impossible to respond to the desire to evaluate clogging detection immediately after the occurrence. In addition, when the flow rate of the granular material changes, it becomes difficult to detect clogging accurately.

  The objective of this invention is providing the granular material state evaluation apparatus which can set the determination conditions used when evaluating the fluid state of granular materials, such as clogging, according to a condition.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a powder state evaluation apparatus for evaluating the flow state of a powder is an impact detection sensor that outputs a detection signal when the powder collides with a detection surface; A frequency evaluation unit that evaluates the detection frequency of the detection signal with reference to a frequency condition, a flow state evaluation unit that evaluates a flow state of the granular material based on a frequency evaluation result by the frequency evaluation unit, and the frequency condition Is generated and provided to the frequency evaluation unit, and an information management unit that manages related information necessary for generating the frequency condition and supplies the information to the collision frequency condition generation unit is provided. .

  According to this configuration, the frequency condition of the detection signal used when evaluating the flow state of the granular material based on the detection signal from the impact detection sensor due to the collision of the granular material is generated by the collision frequency condition generation unit, The related information necessary for the collision frequency condition generation unit to generate the frequency condition is given by the information management unit. Therefore, by appropriately setting the frequency condition based on this related information, it becomes possible to evaluate the flow state of the powder according to the situation based on the detection frequency of the detection signal.

  In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information management unit manages the state of a manual setting device operated by an operator as related information. In this configuration, since the frequency condition by the operator, for example, adjustment of the clogging determination time can be arbitrarily performed, the clogging evaluation according to the working state and the operator's preference can be performed. At that time, it is preferable to adjust the default value to the lowest granular powder flow rate during general operation, and then adjust it by the operator's free judgment.

  In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information management unit manages the granular material flow rate related information related to the flow rate of the granular material, and the collision frequency condition generation unit relates to the granular material flow rate. The frequency condition is generated based on the information. In this configuration, the flow rate information itself of the granular material by the flow sensor or the like, or various information that affects the flow rate of the granular material, such as information on the acquisition speed of the granular material and the administration speed of the granular material in the related work device Since the standard frequency with which the granular material collides with the impact detection sensor can be estimated based on the above, the flow condition of the granular material can be appropriately evaluated by generating the frequency condition based on the standard frequency.

  In particular, when the impact detection sensor is mounted on a work traveling vehicle, the information management unit manages work speed related information related to the work speed of the work traveling vehicle, and the collision frequency condition generation unit includes the work speed related information. It is preferable that the frequency condition is generated based on information. With this configuration, when the vehicle speed is relatively fast, or when the shift range is relatively high, it is possible to perform control such that a shorter clogging determination time is used as a frequency condition, and appropriate flow conditions such as detection Evaluation is possible.

  In addition, the information management unit manages non-work related information indicating a non-working state of the work traveling vehicle, and the collision frequency condition generation unit generates a frequency condition that is always not established based on the non-work related information. It is also preferable to adopt the configuration. With this configuration, it is possible to eliminate a false alarm based on an erroneous flow state evaluation such as a clogging detection error under a situation where the granular material does not flow through the supply path. An example of a frequency condition that is not always established is that the determination time, that is, the threshold value of the collision detection signal detection interval, is set to infinity.

  As still another preferred embodiment of the granular material state evaluation apparatus according to the present invention, the information management unit is configured as a manual setting device operated by an operator, and the related information is generated from the manual setting device as the collision frequency condition. What is given to the part is also possible. In this configuration, the collision frequency condition can be adjusted only by manual adjustment using a manual setting device, and a simplified powder state evaluation apparatus can be provided.

  In an impact detection sensor using a piezoelectric element or the like, a detection signal generated by a powder particle directly colliding with an impact detection surface has a specific frequency component defined by the sensor element being used and its peripheral circuit characteristics. However, the detection signal generated in the piezoelectric element as a result of the environmental vibrations tends to have a frequency component different from the specific frequency component. Therefore, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by adopting a configuration in which only a specific frequency component of the detection signal output from the impact detection sensor is used for evaluation, the obtained detection signal can be used as a powder particle. When frequency components caused by ambient environment vibrations other than the specific frequency components generated by the collision of the body are cut, a detection signal having a higher S / N ratio than that of the prior art can be acquired. As a result, since the detection signal having the S / N ratio is evaluated, the flow state of the granular material can be evaluated with high reliability.

It is a schematic diagram explaining the fundamental structure and operating principle of the granular material state evaluation apparatus by this invention. It is a perspective view of the rice transplanter which mounted the granular material state evaluation apparatus by this invention in the fertilizer application apparatus. It is a side view which shows the fertilizer application area | region of the rice transplanter by FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the fertilizer with which the piezoelectric sensor was attached. It is sectional drawing which shows the sowing apparatus to which the piezoelectric sensor was attached. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function regarding the pre-processing and signal evaluation in one embodiment of a granular material state evaluation apparatus. It is explanatory drawing explaining the effect by cutting the frequency component resulting from surrounding environment vibrations other than a specific frequency component from the detection signal produced by the collision of granular materials, such as a granular fertilizer and a seed meal. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function regarding work state information creation in one embodiment of a granular material state evaluation apparatus. It is a functional block diagram explaining another embodiment of a collision judgment part.

  First, the basic configuration and operation principle of the granular material state evaluation apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the granular material flowing through the supply path collides with the detection surface of the impact detection sensor 1, the impact (vibration) generated on the detection surface vibrates the piezoelectric element and outputs a well-known detection signal having a pulse wave shape (# 01). The detection signal output from the impact detection sensor 1 is pre-processed by the pre-processing unit 2 so as to be in a form suitable for signal processing in an evaluation unit that performs subsequent signal evaluation (# 02).

  In the signal evaluation process, for the primary evaluation of whether or not the pulse waveform of the detection signal sent from the preprocessing unit 2 is caused by the collision of the object with the detection surface by the collision determination unit 31, The determination is made using a predetermined determination condition (# 03). The simplest is a threshold value determination process in which it is determined whether or not the maximum amplitude exceeds a preset threshold value, and if it exceeds, the pulse waveform is considered to be caused by some kind of collision. At that time, it is also possible to improve the determination reliability by adding an additional condition such as the number of pulses that continuously exceed the threshold.

  When it is determined that one pulse waveform extracted from the detection signal is due to the collision of an object with the detection surface, the determination result is given to the frequency evaluation unit 32. The frequency evaluation unit 32 refers to the frequency condition generated and sent by the collision frequency condition generation unit 34, and the detection frequency of the detection signal, that is, the behavior along the time axis of the pulse waveform resulting from the collision of the granular material. For example, the time interval of the peak value of the pulse waveform detected in time series is evaluated (# 04). If the time interval of two continuous collision detection signals is included in the predetermined time interval range as the frequency condition, the frequency condition of each pulse waveform is satisfied, and it is evaluated that the pulse waveform is due to the collision of the granular material. Is done.

  Since the flow state of the granular material to the detection surface varies depending on the operation status of the apparatus that processes the granular material, it is necessary to change the frequency condition used in the frequency evaluation unit 32 based on the operation status. . The collision frequency condition generation unit 34 has a function of generating a frequency condition based on the operation status of such an apparatus. The information management unit 4 to which various pieces of operation information indicating a specific device operation and particle flow operation are input generates related information required for the collision frequency condition generation unit 34 from the operation information to generate a collision frequency. The data is transferred to the condition generation unit 34 (# 05). The collision frequency condition generation unit 34 reads a key parameter from the received related information, and the frequency condition derived by this parameter is given to the frequency evaluation unit 32 (# 06).

  The evaluation result in the frequency evaluation unit 32 is sent to the flow state evaluation unit 33. From the evaluation result, the flow state evaluation unit 33 evaluates the flow state of the granular material flowing through the supply path as a specific state, for example, a clogged state. Then, a clogging detection signal is generated and sent to the notification unit 5 (# 07). The notification unit 5 emits a warning sound or warning light in order to notify the worker of the clogging of the granular material in response to the clogging detection signal.

  Examples of adopting the above-described powder body state evaluation apparatus having the basic operation principle in a work traveling vehicle, in this embodiment, a riding type rice transplanter having a function of supplying granular fertilizer and seeds, FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rice transplanter performing a seedling planting operation and a fertilization operation at the same time in a farm field, and FIG. 3 is a side view. This rice transplanter is equipped with a seedling planting device 60 and a fertilizer application device 70 for supplying granular fertilizer as a granular material. As is apparent from FIG. 4 in which the fertilizer application device 70 is taken out and schematically shown, the granular fertilizer (powder body) feeding unit 71 of the fertilizer application device 70 distributes an appropriate amount of the granular fertilizer stored in the granular fertilizer hopper 71b. Each time it rotates intermittently around the horizontal axis, the appropriate amount of granular fertilizer discharged from the distribution recess provided on the peripheral surface of the feed roll 71a is sent to the supply line 72 together with the hot air flow by the blower. The end of the supply pipe 72 is formed as a groove forming unit 73 for embedding granular fertilizer in the field, and the piezoelectric sensor 1 is fitted in a part of the peripheral wall 73a of the groove forming unit 73. By installing the impact detection sensor 1 in the granular fertilizer supply pipeline 72 in this way, detecting clogging of the granular fertilizer in the supply pipeline 72 based on the above-described powder body flow state recognition algorithm. Is possible. In such a rice transplanter, it is also possible to perform a sowing operation and a fertilization operation at the same time by mounting a seeding device instead of or in addition to the seedling planting device 60. . Although the illustration is omitted, the seeding device has a configuration similar to that of the fertilizer application device 70, and the impact detection sensor 1 is installed in the seed supply line for supplying the seed seeds fed from the seed seed hopper to the field. The state of flow, particularly clogging, of the seed supply line is detected by the particle state evaluation apparatus.

  In addition, in such a rice transplanter, in general, instead of the seedling planting device 60 or in addition to the seedling planting device 50, the sowing device 80 is mounted, so that the sowing operation and the fertilization operation can be performed simultaneously. Is possible. FIG. 5 shows a seed potato supply line 82 for supplying seed pods sent from a seed hopper 85 of the seeding device 80 to the field when the seeding device 80 is attached instead of the seedling planting device 60, and the seed potato supply pipeline. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating in detail a piezoelectric sensor 1 installed in 82. As is apparent from FIG. 5, also in this seeding device 80, the powder (seed meal) feeding unit 81 distributes an appropriate amount of the seed meal stored in the seed meal hopper 81b, and every time it rotates intermittently around the horizontal axis. The seeds discharged from an appropriate amount distribution recess provided on the peripheral surface of the feed roll 81 a are sent out to the supply pipeline 82. The end of the supply pipe line 82 is formed as a sowing unit 83 for sowing seed pods in the field, and the piezoelectric sensor 1 is fitted in a part of the peripheral wall 83a of the sowing unit 83. Based on the detection signal from the piezoelectric sensor 1, it becomes possible to detect clogging in the sowing supply line 82.

  Next, the control processing function of the granular material state evaluation apparatus will be described. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing functions related to preprocessing of detection signals generated in the impact detection sensor 1 due to collisions of granular materials such as granular fertilizer and signal evaluation thereof. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an effect obtained by cutting frequency components caused by ambient environment vibrations other than the specific frequency component from the detection signal. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing functions related to work state information creation.

  As is apparent from these drawings, the main constituent elements of the granular material state evaluation apparatus are a piezoelectric impact detection sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as a piezoelectric sensor) as the impact detection sensor 1, a preprocessing unit 2, and an evaluation means 3. The work state management controller 4 as the information management unit 4 and the notification controller 5 as the notification unit 5.

  An amplifier 21 that amplifies the output signal of the piezoelectric sensor 1 is provided as one of the components of the preprocessing unit 2 in the periphery of the piezoelectric sensor 1 or in the evaluation controller CU that is the core controller of the powder state evaluation apparatus. Yes. The amplifier 21 can be divided into a preamplifier unit and a main amplifier unit. In this case, the preamplifier unit is arranged around the piezoelectric sensor 1, and the main amplifier unit is arranged in the evaluation controller CU.

  The pre-processing unit 2 further includes a high-pass filter 22, an amplitude shift unit 23, and an offset amount generation unit 24 as an example of a frequency adjustment unit that adjusts a frequency component included in the output signal of the piezoelectric sensor 1. . These functional units can be constructed by hardware and / or software.

  As in this embodiment, the appropriate selection of the high-pass filter 22 is important in detecting clogging of soot seeds and granular fertilizers in a supply pipe that is attached to a work traveling vehicle such as a rice transplanter and that is subject to ambient vibration. This will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The signal waveform on the upper left side of FIG. 7 shows the detection signal when the powder particles individually collide with the detection surface of the piezoelectric element with an interval. Here, five pulsed waveforms are shown as five powder particles sequentially collide with the detection surface. It is possible to detect that the peak of the pulse-like waveform is detected and that the powder is flowing smoothly without clogging the supply pipe based on the occurrence of the peak at a predetermined time interval. The signal waveform on the upper right side of FIG. 7 shows a detection signal in a state where clogging occurs in the supply pipe and powder particles are deposited on the detection surface of the piezoelectric element. The signal waveform shown here is considered to be due to vibrations and the like that the powder particles deposited on the detection surface are shaken as a whole and applied to the detection surface. Such shaking of the granular material as an accumulated mass is caused by the vibration of the device to which the piezoelectric sensor 1 is attached. The piezoelectric sensor 1 is installed in a traveling vehicle or the like, or includes a power device. If it is installed on a stationary machine, the vibration is ambient vibration that is difficult to avoid. The average amplitude value of the signal waveform is lower than the peak value of the signal waveform caused by the individual collision of the granular material, but there may be a sudden waveform that shows a suddenly high amplitude value. May be mis-evaluated to be the peak of the signal waveform caused by the individual collision of the granular material. The piezoelectric sensor 1 is based on the knowledge of the present inventor that the signal waveform generated by shaking such a lump of powder and particles contains more low-frequency components than the signal waveform generated by individual collision of particles. The low-frequency component is cut from the so-called raw detection signal output from.

  A so-called high-pass detection signal after the low-frequency component cut processing is performed is shown on the lower side of FIG. The signal waveform on the lower left side of FIG. 7 shows a high-pass detection signal as a detection signal when the powder particles collide with the detection surface of the piezoelectric element at an interval without clogging. Since the main frequency components included in the waveform of the individual collision are not cut, a decrease in the amplitude value of the high-pass detection signal is negligible compared to the raw detection signal. On the other hand, the signal waveform at the time of granular material clogging shown on the lower left side of FIG. 6 reduces the amplitude value, and the peak of the sudden waveform described above is a signal at the time of individual collision of granular material. The possibility of being erroneously evaluated as the peak of the waveform is almost eliminated.

  In the block diagram of FIG. 6, only the high-pass filter 22 is shown as a function unit for adjusting the frequency. However, since a sensor signal of the piezoelectric sensor 1 or the like usually contains harmful high-frequency noise components, It is also preferable to provide a low-pass filter for the purpose of removing.

  In addition, the piezoelectric element has a high internal impedance and a low-pass filter is a passive element, so it has gain characteristics, but the detection signal due to the collision of powder particles is biased to high-frequency components, and detection due to ambient environment vibration such as airframe vibration Since the signal is biased toward low frequency components, noise tends to be amplified. For this reason, it is preferable that the circuit exiting the piezoelectric sensor has only a resistor, and a filter is disposed after the impedance conversion. At that time, it is also preferable to select a resistance value that does not apply the frequency of the detection signal to the cut-off region of the high-pass filter constituted by the internal impedance of the resistor and the piezoelectric element.

  The signal processing in the preprocessing unit 2 including the high-pass filter 22 provided for the above-described purpose will be described. First, a piezoelectric sensor 1 that generates a signal to be processed includes a piezoelectric element 10, a protective plate 11 that protects the piezoelectric element 10 and functions as a detection surface, and a housing that covers the piezoelectric element 10 and other piezoelectric circuit elements. 12 and is arranged in such a posture that the granular material flowing in the supply pipeline collides with the protective plate 11 in the supply pipeline.

  As the material of the protective plate 11, commonly used acrylic resin, synthetic rubber, or the like can be used. However, the device housing wall or supply that exposes the piezoelectric sensor 1 to ambient environmental vibrations can be used. When installed in a pipe or the like, a material having a natural frequency higher than the ambient environmental vibration reaching the piezoelectric sensor 1 is suitable. For example, in a case where the piezoelectric sensor 1 is attached to a work traveling vehicle such as a rice transplanter or a combiner, the frequency of the vehicle body during work is several hundred Hz, and therefore, the natural frequency is preferably metal or resin. For example, stainless steel is preferable.

  When the granular material collides with the protection plate 11, the impact (vibration) generated on the protection plate 11 is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 10 immediately below the impact (vibration). The impact transmitted to the piezoelectric element 10 vibrates the piezoelectric element 10, and as a result, the piezoelectric sensor 1 outputs a detection signal having a waveform as shown in FIG. The detection signal output from the piezoelectric sensor 1 is amplified by an amplifier so as to have a signal level suitable for subsequent signal processing (see FIG. 6B). The detection signal amplified to an appropriate signal level is cut at a specific low frequency band in order to obtain the above-described effect by the high-pass filter 22. However, in this example, a detection signal in a flow state in which powder particles individually collide with the piezoelectric sensor 1 is shown, and the detection signal and its peripheral signal almost contain the specific low-frequency component. As can be understood from the waveform diagram of FIG. 6C, there is no significant difference between the waveforms before and after the cut of the low frequency component.

  Subsequently, the amplitude shift unit 23 gives a predetermined offset amount to the detection signal and clamps the detection signal whose frequency has been adjusted. The offset amount is an amount sufficient for the negative peak value of the detection signal that can be input to be completely positive. For example, if the positive and negative peak values are about +3 v and −3 v, respectively, the offset amount is 5 v, and all signal components of all waves are positive values. The detection signal waveform after such amplitude shift processing is shown in the waveform diagram of FIG. Substantial signal evaluation is performed by the evaluation means 3 using this amplitude-shifted detection signal.

  The evaluation unit 3 includes a threshold value generation unit 30, a comparison unit 31 as a collision determination unit 31, a frequency evaluation unit 32, a flow state evaluation unit 33, and a collision frequency condition generation unit 34. These functional units can also be constructed by hardware and / or software. The comparison unit 31 determines the collision of powder particles using the threshold value given from the threshold value generation unit 30. Since the detection signal sent from the pre-processing unit 2 has a full-wave waveform, a high level high threshold H-SH and a low level low threshold L-SH are used as thresholds. It is done. In other words, the higher peak value of the pulse-like detection signal estimated as the result of the collision of the granular material is compared with the high threshold value H-SH. Satisfies the condition H-ON. Further, the lower peak value is compared with the low threshold value L-SH, and if the peak value is low, the low threshold value L-SH condition is satisfied L-ON. For this reason, as described above, the threshold value generation unit 30 uses the high threshold value H-SH for threshold determination with respect to the higher peak value of the amplitude-shifted detection signal and the lower threshold value. A low threshold value L-SH for generating a threshold value with respect to the peak value is generated. The comparison unit 31 performs threshold determination using these threshold values, outputs an H-ON signal that the condition is satisfied in the high threshold determination, and L-ON when the condition is satisfied in the low threshold determination. A signal is output (see FIG. 6E).

  The frequency evaluation unit 32 in this embodiment has two important functions, one of which is that when the H-ON signal and the L-ON signal are sent simultaneously from the comparison unit 31, that is, the H-ON signal. When the AND condition of the L-ON signal is satisfied, it is a function that determines that the target detection signal is caused by a collision with the piezoelectric sensor 1 of various species. The other one is a function of checking whether or not the detection signal determined to be caused by the collision with the piezoelectric sensor 1 of the seed is satisfying the collision frequency condition generated by the collision frequency condition generating unit 34. As the simplest collision frequency condition, if the peak time interval of the pulse waveforms of two continuous collision detection signals is within a predetermined time interval range, the pulse waveform is caused by the collision of the granular material. It is done. At that time, the predetermined time interval can be derived using parameters such as the flow rate of the soot, the sowing time interval of the soot feeding in the feeding unit, and the traveling speed of the rice transplanter. It is also possible to determine a predetermined time interval as a direct collision frequency condition by an operation signal from the clogging determination time setting device 100 as a manual setting device operated by an operator.

  In this way, when the frequency evaluation unit 32 generates a detection signal having a pulse waveform due to the collision of the granular material in time series, or an evaluation result is considered that such a detection signal is not generated. The evaluation result is sent to the fluid state evaluation unit 33. The flow state evaluation unit 33 clogs the granular fertilizers or seeds in the supply pipelines 72 and 82 in consideration of the evaluation result in the frequency evaluation unit 32 and the weighting coefficient and the reliability coefficient set as necessary. Judging. For example, a rule that, when receiving an evaluation result indicating the establishment of one or more collision frequency conditions from the frequency evaluation unit 32, determines that there is no clogging flow, and otherwise determines that an error such as clogging has occurred. Is used.

  When the flow state evaluation unit 33 determines that the granular fertilizer or the seed rice is clogged as a flow state in the supply pipes 72 and 82, a clogging detection signal is output to the notification controller 5 configured as a notification unit. . Receiving the clogging detection signal via the in-vehicle LAN, the notification controller 5 notifies the operator of clogging of the granular material through a buzzer, a lamp, etc., and prompts the clogging recovery process, or transfers an error occurrence signal to other controllers. To request execution of mechanical error handling. For this reason, the notification controller 5 includes a notification signal generation unit 51, and in response to the clogging detection signal, a lamp that emits a drive signal that sounds a clogging alarm from the speaker 52 and a warning light that notifies clogging. A drive signal emitted from 53 is generated and output.

Related information such as the flow rate of the soot, the sowing feed time interval in the feeding unit, and the traveling speed of the rice transplanter used to generate the collision frequency condition in the collision frequency condition generating unit 34 is a work state management controller as an information management unit. 4 is sent through the in-vehicle LAN as work status information generated by the control unit 4. For this reason, the work state management controller 4 has a work state information creating unit 40 as shown in FIG. Furthermore, it is connected to a sensor controller 9 that constructs a sensor information creating unit 90 that creates sensor information indicating the state of various sensors via an in-vehicle LAN, and the sensor information can be acquired. The sensor controller 9 includes, for example, a vehicle speed sensor, a feed shaft rotation detection sensor of a feed unit, an axle rotation detection sensor, a pedal operation amount detection sensor, a shift operation amount detection sensor, a shift position detection sensor, a steering wheel turn angle detection sensor, a front wheel turn angle sensor A detection signal of a sensor group S such as a detection sensor, a clutch state detection sensor, and a work device lift position detection sensor can be input. Specific sensor information indicating the state of a sensor selected in advance from such a sensor group S is transferred from the sensor controller 9 to the work state management controller 4. Based on the received sensor information, the work state information creation unit 40, such as vehicle speed, airframe stop state, turning state, fertilizer feed amount, seed feed feed amount, fertilizer application blower operation state, planting clutch operation state, fertilization clutch operation state, etc. Work state information indicating the work state is generated and transferred to the collision frequency generation unit 34 as related information.

As described above, the collision frequency generation unit 34 includes information indicating a necessary work state and a predetermined time interval value directly from the clogging determination time setting device 100 (for example, standard: 5 seconds, most sensitive: 3 seconds, least sensitive). : 10 seconds) can be input in a timely manner, so that various collision frequency conditions can be generated. To enumerate examples of collision frequency conditions;
(1) When the vehicle speed is high, the predetermined time interval value as the clogging determination time is lengthened. For example, it is assumed that the speed is 10 seconds for the first and second speeds, 5 seconds for the third and fourth speeds, and 3 seconds for the fifth to eighth speeds.
(2) When the feed amount is small, the clogging determination time is lengthened.
(3) When the powder and granular materials such as granular fertilizer and seed meal are in a non-operating state, the predetermined time interval value is set to infinity. The non-operating state of the granular material feed can be obtained directly from the feed amount sensor, and the non-working state of the working vehicle can be estimated from other states, for example, the machine stop, turning state, blower stop, etc. It is.

  As a method for estimating the non-working state of the working vehicle, for example, when the front wheel is steered by a predetermined angle or more during a coasting turn based on detection from the steering wheel angle sensor or the front wheel angle sensor, It may be estimated that the vehicle is in a non-working state. For example, when the working device is raised based on detection from the working device lifting position detection sensor, it may be estimated that the working vehicle is in a non-working state. For example, based on detection from the clutch sensor, it may be estimated that the working vehicle is in a non-working state when a clutch (a working clutch such as a planting clutch or a fertilizer clutch) is turned off. Of course, estimation by other sensors is not excluded in the present application.

That is, the collision frequency generation unit 34 can derive a collision frequency condition based on a predetermined rule from various work states and operation states of the rice transplanter as the work traveling vehicle, and can provide the frequency evaluation unit 32 with the collision frequency condition. Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the flow state of the powder body with flexibility.
[Another embodiment]
(1) In the description of the above-described embodiment, the signal from the determination time measuring device 100 for manually setting the collision frequency condition by the operator is configured to be sent directly to the collision frequency condition generation unit 34. Instead, the signal from the determination time measuring device 100 is input to the work state management controller 4 through the sensor controller and the rotor 9 or directly, and as one of the work state information, the work state management as the information management unit. You may employ | adopt the structure which is sent to the collision frequency condition production | generation part 34 from the controller 4. FIG.
(2) In the description of the above-described embodiment, the comparison unit 31 serving as the collision determination unit performs the threshold determination process using the threshold generated by the threshold generation unit 30. It can also be configured to perform such processing. First of all, the powder collides with the normal level (the powder is not clogged and the powder regularly collides with the detection surface), even if it exceeds a high level threshold that is less frequent. If it is determined that the threshold value has been determined, the threshold value is determined by switching to a low level threshold value that can occur frequently in a normal state. Thereafter, when a state in which the low level threshold value is not exceeded within a predetermined time interval occurs, the threshold value is judged again by returning to the high threshold value again. This calibration ensures reliable detection and judgment when normal scuffing occurs, and generates a pulse waveform that is easily misdetected even in an abnormal state in which a pulsed waveform is generated by the clogged powder shaking the sensor detection surface. The advantage is that it is difficult to do.
(3) As a collision determination unit, a function for inspecting the sensor sensitivity of the impact detection sensor 1 can be given to the comparison unit 31 configured to perform threshold determination processing. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the comparison unit 31 configured as described above. The comparison unit 31 has a function of a peak hold unit 31a that holds the peak of the pulse waveform for threshold determination. In this embodiment, the signal of the peak hold unit 31a can be taken out to the outside. A test output signal line 31A is provided. If the inspection output signal line 31A is configured to hold the peak voltage for a predetermined time (for example, about 2 seconds), an impact detection sensor (piezoelectric sensor) can be obtained by connecting a voltage measuring device to the inspection output signal line 31A. 1 sensor sensitivity characteristics can be easily inspected.
(4) In addition to the piezoelectric sensor, other sensors that sense the impact such as a strain sensor may be used as the impact detection sensor.
(5) If the flow state to be evaluated is simply detecting clogging in the supply flow path, the frequency evaluation unit 32 and the flow state evaluation unit 33 can be integrated and configured as a clogging detection unit. Other functional units can be arbitrarily combined and separated as long as they perform the same or similar functions. For example, a function unit that executes the function of the work state management controller 4 may be built in the evaluation unit 3 as it is.
(6) In the fertilizer application device, non-work related information indicating that a non-working state of a working device such as a seeding device has been detected is directly transferred to the notification unit, and the notification unit generates a notification signal based on the non-work related information. Can be adopted. Since the actual clogging does not occur when the working device is not working, it is possible to suppress false alarms due to buzzers and lamps due to disturbance.

  The present invention can be applied to various powder handling devices that require evaluation of the flow state on the flow path of the powder.

1: Piezoelectric sensor (impact detection sensor)
2: Pre-processing unit 4: Work state management controller (information management unit)
5: Notification unit 22: High-pass filter 31: Comparison unit (collision determination unit)
32: Frequency evaluation unit 33: Flow state evaluation unit 34: Collision frequency condition generation unit

Claims (7)

In the granular material state evaluation apparatus for evaluating the flow state of the granular material,
An impact detection sensor that outputs a detection signal when the granular material collides with a detection surface;
A frequency evaluation unit that evaluates the detection frequency of the detection signal with reference to a frequency condition;
A flow state evaluation unit that evaluates a flow state of the granular material based on a frequency evaluation result by the frequency evaluation unit;
A collision frequency condition generation unit that generates the frequency condition and supplies the frequency condition to the frequency evaluation unit;
An information management unit that manages related information necessary for generating the frequency condition and gives the information to the collision frequency condition generation unit;
The granular material state evaluation apparatus provided with   The granular material state evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit manages the state of a manual setting device operated by an operator as related information.   The said information management part manages the granular material flow volume relevant information regarding the flow volume of the said granular material, and the said collision frequency condition production | generation part produces | generates the said frequency condition based on the said granular material flow volume relevant information. Or the granular material state evaluation apparatus of 2 or 2.   The impact detection sensor is mounted on a work traveling vehicle, the information management unit manages work speed related information related to a work speed of the work traveling vehicle, and the collision frequency condition generation unit is configured to perform the work speed related information based on the work speed related information. The granular material state evaluation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frequency condition is generated.   The impact detection sensor is mounted on a work traveling vehicle, the information management unit manages non-work related information indicating a non-working state of the work traveling vehicle, and the collision frequency condition generation unit includes the non-work related information. The granular material state evaluation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a frequency condition that is always not established is generated based on the frequency condition.   The granular material state evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information management unit is configured as a manual setting device operated by an operator, and the related information is given to the collision frequency condition generation unit from the manual setting device.   The granular material state evaluation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein only a specific frequency component of a detection signal output from the impact detection sensor is used for evaluation.

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