JPH04262713A - Grain-storing device of thresher-loaded agricultural machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To move an overhanging member into an overhanging posture without relating to other conditions, by operating a driving means so that the overhanging member is positioned at once in the overhanging posture by a command for moving the overhanging member in the overhanging posture. CONSTITUTION:An overhanging member 12 is switched by a switch SW2 in a control section 3 into an overhanging posture or into a retreated posture, and the movement of the overhanging member is stopped by a stopping switch SW3. When the movement of the overhanging member into the overhanging posture is commanded by the switches SW2 and SW3, the movement of the overhanging member into the overhanging posture is executed even when a grain-discharging means is operated and even when the volume of the remained grains is below a preset volume.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a tank for storing grains with an overhanging posture extending outward to increase its volume;
A projecting portion that can be freely switched between a retracted position and a retracted position is provided, and the projecting portion is moved to the extended position, and the projecting portion is moved to the retracted position. A command means for selectively instructing to stop the movement of the overhang, a discharge means for discharging the grains from the bottom of the tank, and a grain amount detection means for detecting the amount of grains in the tank. and the driving means for the overhang is activated or stopped in accordance with a command from the command means, and the command means commands to move the overhang to the extended posture. control means for controlling the operation of the driving means in order to once put the overhanging portion in a retracted position and then return it to the extended position when the amount of grains becomes less than a set amount while the ejecting means is in operation; The present invention relates to a grain storage device for an agricultural machine equipped with a threshing device.

0002

[Prior Art] An overhang attached to such a tank for storing grains is extended as necessary to increase the tank capacity during reaping work, and when not needed, is retracted into the tank to close the tank. It has the function of being compact in appearance. Movement from the extended position to the retracted position or vice versa is performed by the control means controlling the driving means of the extended portion based on a command from a command means constituted by a changeover switch or the like.

By operating the command means to stop the driving means while the overhang is moving, the overhang can be moved to an arbitrary position between the extended position and the retracted position (hereinafter referred to as the intermediate position). It can be stopped. This intermediate position is maintained until the command means is operated again and a command is given to the control means to move the projecting portion to the extended position or to the retracted position. Further, a discharge means is provided for discharging the grains from the bottom of the tank, and when the tank is full, the operator operates the discharge means to transfer the grains to a truck or the like.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] When the discharging means is operated to discharge grains from the bottom of the tank, if the overhang remains in the overhanging position, the grains that adhere to and accumulate on the overhang may be removed. It may remain at the bottom of the tank without falling. If this happens, there is a risk that different varieties will be mixed in when the cutting process starts again. Furthermore, this is not preferable from the viewpoint of effective utilization of tank capacity.

[0005] When the amount of grains remaining in the tank is low, if the command means is operated to switch the overhang to the retracted position,
The grains that had accumulated on the overhang will fall to the bottom of the tank, eliminating the above problem, but there is a high possibility that this operation will be forgotten. Therefore, when the grains in the tank are discharged by the discharge means, even if the command means commands to move the overhanging part to the overhanging position, the grains in the tank detected by the grain amount detection means are It is conceivable to control the projecting portion so that when the particle amount becomes less than a set amount, the projecting portion automatically assumes the retracted position and then returns to the projecting position.

[0006] It is difficult to change the retracting position only when the amount of grains in the tank is less than the set amount, but it is difficult to change the retracting position when the amount exceeds the set amount due to constraints on mechanical strength and driving force. It is from. The purpose of returning to the extended position is to avoid operational errors caused by mismatch between the state of the command means and the position of the extended part.

If the above control is performed simply based on the state of the command means, the operating state of the discharge means, and the information detected by the grain amount detecting means, the following phenomenon will occur. That is, when the command means is operated to give a command to move the overhanging part to the overhanging position while it is stopped at the above-mentioned intermediate position, the amount of grains in the tank is lower than the set amount while the discharge means is in operation. If it is less than that, the control means operates the drive means to temporarily bring the projecting portion into the retracted position. In other words, even though the command means is operated to place the projecting portion in the projecting position, there is a problem in that the projecting portion actually moves to the retracted position contrary to the operator's intention.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to move the overhang as intended by the operator, and to remove grains accumulated on the overhang. The aim is to achieve both automatic control in which the overhanging part is once put into a retracted position and then returned to the overhanging position in order to cause the grains to fall to the bottom of the tank.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A grain storage device for an agricultural machine equipped with a threshing device according to the present invention has a tank for storing grains, which has an overhanging position extending outward to increase its volume, and a retracting position within the tank. Equipped with an overhang that can be freely switched between entering and retracting positions,
command means for selectively instructing to move the overhang to the extended position, to move the overhang to the retracted position, and to stop movement of the overhang;
A discharge means for discharging grains from the bottom of the tank and a grain amount detection means for detecting the amount of grains in the tank are provided, and a drive means for the overhang portion is provided in accordance with a command from the command means. When the ejection means is in operation, the amount of grains becomes less than the set amount when the command means is commanded to operate or stop the overhang and move the overhang to the overhang position. The apparatus further comprises a control means for controlling the operation of the driving means in order to return the overhanging portion to the extended position after the overhanging portion is once set to the retracted position. When a command is given to move the overhang to the overhang position, even if the ejection means is in operation and the amount of grains is less than the set amount, the overhang is temporarily moved. The present invention is characterized in that the drive means is configured to operate in order to take the extended position.

0010

[Operation] According to the characteristic structure described above, when the command means commands to move the overhanging portion to the extended position, the ejection means is in operation and the amount of grains is less than the set amount. too,
First, control is performed to move the projecting portion to the projecting position. Thereafter, in order to cause the grains that have adhered to and accumulated on the overhang to fall to the bottom of the tank, control is executed to temporarily move the overhang to the retracted position and then return it to the overhang position. That is, when the command means is operated and a command is given to move the overhang to the extended position while the overhang is stopped in the intermediate position, the operator's The projecting portion is moved to the projecting position as intended.

[0011]

[Effects of the Invention] In other words, when a command is given to move the overhang to the extended position by operating the command means, the overhang moves in the retracting direction opposite to the command due to other conditions. No such phenomenon occurs. Therefore, in order to move the overhang as intended by the operator and to cause the grains that had accumulated on the overhang to fall to the bottom of the tank, the overhang was first placed in the retracted position and then moved to the extended position. It is now possible to achieve both automatic control and return to normal operation.

0012

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a combine harvester will be described based on the drawings. As shown in FIG. 3, in the combine harvester of this embodiment, a reaping section 2 is provided at the front of a machine body V equipped with a pair of left and right crawler traveling devices 1, and behind the reaping section 2, a control section 3, a reaping A threshing device 4 for threshing and sorting the grain culms, and a tank 5 for storing the sorted grains are installed.

[0013] An auger 6 for discharging the grains stored in the tank 5 to the outside of the machine is rotatably provided at the rear of the tank 5, and is configured such that its tip portion moves up and down. The grains in the tank 5 are conveyed to the rear of the machine by the bottom screw conveyor 9, lifted to the upper part of the tank 5 by the vertical screw conveyor 10, and then transported to the discharge port 6a formed at the tip of the auger 6 by the horizontal screw conveyor 11. It is then transported to a point where it is discharged outside the machine. These screw conveyors 9, 10, 11 as grain discharge means L
is operated by transmitting power from the engine by engaging an exhaust clutch (not shown). In addition, there is a discharge switch SW1 (Fig. 1) that is turned on when the clutch is engaged.
) is provided so that it can be checked whether or not the ejection means L is in operation.

In the figure, E is the engine, 7 is a holder for supporting the auger 6 in its storage position, and 8 is a manually operated type for fixing the auger 6 placed on the holder 7. This is a locking device.

As shown in FIG. 2, a projecting portion 12 is attached to the side surface of the tank 5. As shown in FIG. The overhang part 12 includes a rectangular side plate 13, a fan-shaped front plate 14 and a rear plate 14' that spread upward,
It consists of a top plate 15 having a folding structure. The lower part of the overhanging part 12 is pivotally supported on the side of the tank 5 by a support shaft 16 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and the upper part has two positions: an extended position in which it extends outward from the side surface of the tank 5, and a retracted position in which it retracts into the tank 5. It is configured so that it can be switched to

The driving means D for switching and driving the projecting portion 12 between the projecting position and the retracted position is constructed as follows. That is, a rack 17 is attached to the front plate 14, and a pinion 18 meshing with the rack 17 is rotationally driven by an electric motor 20 via a gearbox 19 having a worm. The operation of the electric motor 20 is controlled by a control means described later. In the figure, LS1 and LS2 are limit switches provided to detect the extension limit or retraction limit of the projecting portion 12.

Furthermore, four grain detection sensors S1, S2, S3, and S4 are provided on the inner wall of the tank 5. As shown in FIG. 2, S1, S2, S3, and S4 are installed in order at different heights from the bottom to the top of the tank 5. These grain detection sensors are switches that are turned on by pressure from the grains, and it can be known whether or not the grains stored in the tank 5 have reached the respective grain detection sensors. In other words, it functions as a grain amount detection means that detects the grain amount step by step.

The control section 3 in FIG. 3 includes a changeover switch as a command means for selectively instructing the overhanging section 12 to move to the extended position, to move to the retracted position, and to stop the movement. SW2 and a stop switch SW3 are provided. In other words, the changeover switch SW2 switches between the extended position and the retracted position, and the stop switch SW2 switches between the extended position and the retracted position.
The movement of the projecting portion 12 is stopped by W3. When the stop switch SW3 is pressed, the overhang portion 12 stops in the posture (intermediate posture) when the stop switch SW3 is pressed. The stop switch SW3 is a push-button type stop switch, and also serves as a stop switch for driving the auger 6 in rotation or in raising and lowering it.

Next, control of the driving means D of the projecting portion 12 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 1, a control means H equipped with a microcomputer is provided, including the above-mentioned discharge switch SW1, limit switches LS1, LS2, grain detection sensors S1, S2, S3, S4, and changeover switch SW2.
, and the contact signal of the stop switch SW3 are input. Then, based on these signals, a control signal is output to the driving means D.

The grain detection sensors S1, S2, S3, and S4 are also used to display a lamp to inform the operator of the amount of grain in the tank. In addition, grain detection sensor S4
When turned on, a buzzer is also output as a warning that the tank 5 is full. Although the control means H also controls the above-mentioned auger 6 to move it up and down and rotate, a description of these controls will be omitted.

The control means H is basically a changeover switch S.
The overhang part 12 is moved based on the overhang command or retraction command from W2.
The driving means D is actuated to cause the liquid to protrude from the tank 5 or to retract into the tank 5. That is, the electric motor 20 of the drive means D is rotated forward or reverse. Further, the driving means D, that is, the electric motor 20 is stopped based on a stop command from the stop switch SW3.

A detailed explanation will be given below along the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 8. First, in the extension control process in the main routine of FIG. 4, the flag FLGSP is checked, and if it is set, a stop mode subroutine is executed. The flag FLGSP is set when the stop switch SW3 is pressed, as will be described later.

If the flag FLGSP is not set, changeover switch SW2 is checked. If the changeover switch SW2 is switched to the extension side, the extension mode subroutine is executed, and if it is switched to the retreat side, the retreat mode subroutine is executed. These three subroutines will be described later. After each subroutine is executed, step counters STEPA and STEPC, which will be described later, are reset as shown in the figure, and the process moves on to the next process.

In the stop mode subroutine, FIG.
As shown in , it is checked whether the changeover switch SW2 has been operated, that is, whether the state has changed. When the state changes, the flag FLGSP is reset and the process returns to the main routine. In other words, the stop mode is exited. When the state of the changeover switch SW2 has not changed, a process for stopping the driving means D is executed. Therefore, the overhanging portion 12 maintains the posture when the stop switch SW3 is pressed, which is between the extended posture and the retracted posture.

In the exit mode subroutine, as shown in FIG. 6, first the state of the step counter STEPC is checked. Immediately after moving to this subroutine, STEP
Since C=0, initial determination processing is executed. That is, it is checked whether the grain detection sensor S2 is on or off, and if it is on, that is, if the level of grain amount in the tank is equal to or higher than the installation location of the grain detection sensor S2, the driving means D is stopped. Execute processing. In such a state, the load of the grain is applied to the overhang 12, and it is impossible in terms of the driving force and mechanical strength of the driving means D to retract the overhang 12 against this load. This is because there is. When the grain detection sensor S2 is off or turned off due to grain discharge, '10' is entered in the step counter STEPC and the process returns to the main routine.

When the step counter STEPC=10, that is, in the input/output processing routine, the driving means D is actually
A retraction drive output is executed to operate the retractor to the retraction side. However, when the limit switch LS2 detects the retraction limit of the overhanging portion 12, or when the output time of the retraction drive output reaches a predetermined time limit T1, the drive means D is stopped. Note that the output time of the retraction drive output is monitored by an internal timer of the microcomputer.

[0027] Also, during the retraction drive, the stop switch SW
If 3 is pressed, the flag FLGSP is set and the process returns to the main routine. Therefore, from the next time onwards, the above-mentioned stop mode subroutine will be executed. Figure 6
As shown in , once the grain detection sensor S2 is turned off and the processing routine for entry/exit/output is started, even if the grain detection sensor S2 is turned on again, the process will continue until one of the above conditions is satisfied. The retraction drive output is not stopped.

In the extended mode subroutine, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, sequential processing is performed using a step counter STEPA. Roughly speaking, first, after operating the driving means D until the overhanging portion 12 is in the extended position, if the grain discharging means L is in operation and the amount of grains becomes less than the set amount, After the overhanging portion 12 is once put into the retracted position and maintained in that state for a set time, control is performed to return it to the extended position.

[0029] First, the overhanging portion 12 is brought into the overhanging position as follows.
This is to allow the operator to respond as intended to the operator's operation of the changeover switch SW2 to the extended side. Furthermore, under the above conditions, the overhanging portion 12 is placed in the retracted position, maintains that state for a set time, and then returns to the extended position.
This is to allow the grains that have adhered to and accumulated on the tank to fall to the bottom of the tank 5, and to completely discharge the grains in the tank. below,
This will be explained along with FIGS. 7 and 8.

Immediately after the changeover switch SW2 is operated to the extension side and the process moves to this subroutine, STEPA=0, so the initial extension processing is executed. That is, if the limit switch LS1 that detects the extension limit of the extension portion 12 is off, the extension drive output is executed to operate the driving means D to the extension side. When limit switch LS1 turns on,
That is, when the extension limit is reached, '10' is entered in the step counter STEPA. The step counter STEPA is also activated when the output time of the overhang drive output reaches the predetermined time limit T2.
Enter '10' in and return to the main routine.

[0031] Also, during the execution of the overhang drive, the stop switch SW
If 3 is pressed, the flag FLGSP is set and the process returns to the main routine. Therefore, from the next time onwards, the above-mentioned stop mode subroutine will be executed. The same applies when the stop switch SW3 is pressed in each of the following processing routines.

In this initial overhanging process, as described above, when the changeover switch SW2 is operated and set to the overhanging side, the overhanging portion 12 is first moved as intended by the operator, regardless of other conditions. It is provided for moving to the extended position. However, the overhanging part 12 actually moves to the extended position when the changeover switch SW2 is operated and set to the extended position when the overhanging part 12 is in the retracted position or stopped in the intermediate position. This is the case.

When the step counter STEPA=10 and the discharge switch SW1 is off, that is, the grain discharge means L
is not operating, normal extension processing is performed. That is, the extension drive output is performed until the limit switch LS1 is turned on or until the output time reaches the predetermined time limit T2. At the same time, the buzzer outputs 1 to alert the operator. This buzzer output 1 is a 100 ms sound that repeats at a 1 second cycle. If any of the above conditions is satisfied, the drive means D is stopped and the buzzer output is stopped.

The normal tension processing is the basic routine of the tension mode, and when the discharge switch SW1 is turned off in each processing routine described later, that is, when the discharge means L is stopped, this normal tension processing is performed. Shift to processing of output. In other words, as shown in the figure, the step counter STEPA is set to '10'.
and return to the main routine. When this basic routine is entered from the above-mentioned initial overhang processing, the limit switch LS1 is already turned on, so the overhang state is simply maintained. When the discharge means L is activated and the discharge switch SW1 is turned on, '20' is entered in the step counter STEPA and the process returns to the main routine.

When the step counter STEPA=20 and the discharge switch SW1 is on, that is, the grain discharge means L is turned on.
is in operation, the grain detection sensor S1 is checked. The grain detection sensor S1 is on, that is, the amount of grains in the tank 5 is equal to or higher than the set amount (level equal to or higher than the installation location of the grain detection sensor S1).
If so, the process branches to the normal overhang processing routine described above. When the amount of grains in the tank becomes less than the set amount as the grains are discharged, the grain detection sensor S1 is turned off, so ``30'' is entered in the step counter STEPA and the process returns to the main routine.

When the step counter STEPA=30 and the discharge switch SW1 is on, that is, when the amount of grains in the tank becomes less than the set amount as the grains are discharged, the overhang portion 12 is Perform automatic withdrawal processing to the withdrawal posture. That is, similarly to the subroutine of the retraction mode described above, the limit switch L for detecting the retraction limit of the overhang 12 is activated.
The retraction drive output is executed to operate the drive means D to the retraction side until S2 is turned on or until the output time reaches a predetermined time limit T1. Once this processing routine is started, the retraction drive output is not stopped even if the grain detection sensor S2 is turned on again.

Additionally, a buzzer output 2 is generated together with the retraction drive output to issue a warning to the operator. Buzzer output 2 is 200, so that it can be distinguished from buzzer output 1 during the above-mentioned extension drive.
Repeats the ms sound every 1 second. limit switch L
When S2 is turned on or when the predetermined time limit T1 is reached, '40' is entered into the step counter STEPA and the process returns to the main routine.

When the step counter STEPA=40 and the discharge switch SW1 is on, the drive means D is stopped and the buzzer output is stopped. Then, when the predetermined waiting time T3 has elapsed, '50' is entered into the step counter STEPA and the process returns to the main routine. In other words, the retracted position is maintained for the waiting time T3 before the overhanging part 12 is returned to the extended position. This is to buy time until it completely falls to the bottom of the tank.

When the step counter STEPA=50 and the ejection switch SW1 is on, automatic extension processing is performed to return the extension part 12 to the extended position. That is, similarly to the above-mentioned normal extension process, the extension drive output and the buzzer output 1 are performed until the limit switch LS1 is turned on or until the output time reaches the predetermined time limit T2. If any of the above conditions is met, the step counter STEPA is set to '
Enter 60' and return to the main routine.

When the step counter STEPA=60 and the discharge switch SW1 is on, the drive means D is stopped and the buzzer output is stopped. This processing routine is then repeatedly executed until the ejection means L is stopped and the ejection switch SW1 is turned off. When the discharge switch SW1 is turned off, '10' is entered in the step counter STEPA and the process returns to the main routine, so that the next time the process will proceed to the normal ejection process.

In the above embodiment, the command means for selectively instructing the overhanging portion 12 to move to the extended position, move to the retracted position, and stop the movement is provided by the changeover switch SW2 and the stop switch SW3. Although it is composed of two pieces, it is not limited to this. For example, a three-position changeover switch including a neutral position may be used to stop the movement of the overhang 12 at the neutral position.

As described in the explanation of the retraction mode of the above embodiment, even though the changeover switch SW2 is switched to the retraction side, the level of the amount of grains in the tank remains at the location where the grain detection sensor S2 is installed. If this is the case, the retraction drive is not performed, but it is preferable to output a buzzer to notify the operator of this state. In this case, unlike buzzer output 1 during extension drive output and buzzer output 2 during retraction drive output, selector switch S
It is best to do this only once immediately after switching W2 to the exit side.

Furthermore, in order to distinguish between the buzzer output 1 and the buzzer output 2, the intermittent ringing time is changed at a cycle of 1 second, but the cycle may also be changed. Alternatively, you can use a speaker instead of a buzzer and change its tone (frequency).
The method for identification can be changed in various ways.

[0044] Although reference numerals are written in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control configuration of a combine harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Front view of the main parts of the tank of the combine harvester

[Figure 3
】Schematic side view of the combine harvester

[Figure 4] Flowchart showing the main routine of combine harvester overhang control

[Figure 5] Flowchart showing the same stop mode subroutine

[Figure 6] Flowchart showing the subroutine of exit mode as well.

[Figure 7] Flowchart showing the subroutine of the extended mode as well.

[Figure 8] Flowchart showing the subroutine of the extended mode as well.

[Figure 9] Flowchart showing the subroutine of the extended mode as well.

[Figure 10] Flowchart showing the subroutine of the extended mode as well.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 tank 12
Projecting portion D Extending/retracting drive means H
Control means L
Discharge means S1 Grain amount detection means SW2, SW3 Command means

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A tank (5) for storing grains is provided with an overhanging portion (12) that can be switched between an extended position extending outward to increase its volume and a retracted position retracted into the tank. ) is attached, and the projecting part (12) is moved to the extended position, the projecting part (12) is moved to the retracted position, and the projecting part (12) is moved. command means (SW2, SW3) for selectively instructing to stop, a discharge means (L) for discharging grains from the bottom of the tank (5), and grains for detecting the amount of grains in the tank. A quantity detection means (S1) is provided, and the command means (SW2, SW
3) actuates or stops the driving means (D) of the overhang (12) in accordance with a command from the command means (S).
W2, SW3), the overhanging portion (12) is in the overhanging position.
When the amount of grains becomes less than a set amount while the ejecting means (L) is in operation when a command is given to move the ejection means (L), after the overhanging portion (12) is temporarily placed in a retracted position,
A grain storage device for an agricultural machine equipped with a threshing device, comprising a control means (H) for controlling the operation of the drive means (D) in order to return the drive means (D) to an extended position, wherein the control means (H) is configured to control the command means (
SW2, SW3), the overhanging portion (12) is placed in the overhanging position.
), even if the discharging means (L) is in operation and the amount of grains is less than the set amount, the overhanging portion (12) is temporarily set in the overhanging position. A grain storage device for an agricultural machine equipped with a threshing device, which is configured to operate the drive means (D) to