JPH07146964A - Data collection device of agricultural machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly store operation data corresponding to the purpose of an operator by providing a mode wherein only operation results from the start to the end of the operation are stored and a mode wherein even the halfway progress is also stored. CONSTITUTION:The data collection device 20 is used while connected to have a communication with the control unit 1 of the agricultural machine. The data collection device 20 consists of a main body equipped with a CPU 21, an operation part 22, a display part 23, a RAM 25, etc., and a PROM 28 and an SRAM 29 as storage media mounted selectively on the main body. The PROM 28 is stored with programs for data correcting by respective kinds and types of agricultural machines individually. The SRAM 29 can store data by specific items. Therefore, this device can be used for not only a periodic management analysis, but also the setting of optimum operation conditions, and the instruction to the operator, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data collecting device for collecting sensor information of agricultural machinery such as tractors and combine harvesters in order to grasp the working status of such machinery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rationalization of agricultural management and the high performance of agricultural machinery, various work data such as mileage per field or day, work area, fuel consumption, etc. are collected and used. It is becoming more and more important to weigh and compare the above items and use them for future work plans. The method that has been conventionally used to collect these data is to read the values of the fuel gauge and rangefinder attached to the agricultural machine at the start and end of the work and calculate the difference. The accuracy of the obtained data is low, and the data collection work and the rearranging of the data after the collection are troublesome.

[0003]

By the way, the applicant has previously tried to propose a data collecting device. In this data collecting device, an SRAM type card is inserted in a management terminal device. The data is stored, and the contents of the stored work data are the total work time of the day, the total traveled distance, the total work area, and the fuel consumption amount. Instead, it was just data showing only the work results.

However, when the machine is operated for the first time, it is often useful in the subsequent analysis work to know the instantaneous data that changes every moment of the day.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a device capable of appropriately storing work data according to the purpose of the worker. The following technical measures were taken. That is, in a data collection device of an agricultural machine configured to transmit data on the side of this machine to a management terminal device via a communication line, a mode for storing only work results from the start to the end of work. A data collecting device for an agricultural machine is characterized in that it is provided with a mode and a mode for storing the progress of the process.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data collection device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a control device for an agricultural machine (for example, a tractor), and is responsible for overall control of a traveling unit and each operating part. Various sensors 2 ... Operation switches 3 ...
And signals from the setters 4 ... Are input interface 6
Is input to the CPU 7 via the output interface 9, and the CPU 7 outputs the motor based on the input signal via the output interface 9.
An output signal is output to the actuator 10 such as a solenoid or a valve. Necessary input information and output information are displayed on display devices 11 such as meters and lamps.

Among the sensors, the vehicle speed sensor 2A, the fuel flow rate sensor 2B, the engine rotation sensor 2D, and the chemical spray amount sensor 2C provided on the working machine are used to measure the vehicle speed, the fuel flow rate, the chemical spray amount, and the instantaneous value of engine rotation. A sensor pulse is generated accordingly, and the sensor pulse count numbers n ₁ , n _2, ... Within a fixed period T are transmitted to the CPU 7 as communication pulses (see FIG. 2).

Other sensors include a lower link sensor, a lift arm angle sensor, and a horizontal sensor in the case of a tractor, and a cutting width sensor in the case of a combine. Since the detection signals of these sensors are DC currents, the detection signals are converted by the A / D converter 13 and then input to the CPU 7. Reference numeral 20 in FIG. 1 is a data collection device (management terminal device), which is connected to the control device 1 so as to be communicable. The data collecting device 20 has a CPU 2
1, operation unit 22, display unit 23, RAM (work RAM)
It comprises a main body 20a having 25 and the like, a ROM card (PROM) 28 and a RAM card (SRAM) 29 as a storage medium selectively mounted on the main body. The ROM card 28 stores a data collection program for each model and model of the agricultural machine. Also, RA
The M card 29 can store data for each predetermined item.

The management terminal 20 has an external appearance as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, for example. On the front of the box-shaped main body 20a, the power ON / OFF switch 3 as the operation unit 22
1, 32, various operation switches 33, an input key 34 for inputting kana and numbers, and a display unit 23 by a liquid crystal display, and a ROM card 28 and an insertion port 36 for a RAM card 29 on one side. 37 and a printer connector 38 are provided. Among the operation switches 33 are a work start switch 33a which is pushed when starting data collection, a work stop switch 33b which is pushed when work is temporarily stopped, and a work end switch 33c which is pushed when work is finished. There is.

Communication between the control device 1 and the data collection device 20 is performed via the communication interfaces 40 and 41. The example shown in the figure is a method by optical communication, in which an optical interface 41 is provided on the bottom surface of the mounting groove 43 of the main body of the data collecting device and the communication interface of the control device. The unit 44 (see FIG. 6) is also provided with a similar optical interface. When the data collecting device main body 20a is attached to the communication interface 44, both optical interfaces come to face each other, and information can be exchanged between both devices. When the optical communication is performed as described above, the data collection device 20 can be easily attached to and detached from the agricultural machine, and it is possible to perform good communication because it is not easily affected by vibration. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 50 is a handy printer, 51 is a card reader, 52 is a personal computer, and 53 is a printer.

When the agricultural machine is a tractor, the data collection device 20 may be installed on the wall in the cabin, next to the instrument panel, or in front of the cockpit. Here, a method of operating the data collection device 20 and a method of recording data will be briefly described. First, the data collecting device 20 is attached to the communication interface unit 44 and the power ON switch 31 is pressed (power ON). Then, the communication between the data collection device 20 and the control device 1 is started. At this time, prior to collecting the work data, the operator inputs items (header portion) as search keys such as field number, worker name, machine number, etc., and newly creates a data file. Then, the work is started. Collection and recording of work data is started by pressing the work start switch 33a. At this time, the created file name is registered in the file list in the RAM card 29. Then, the work data is recorded on the management terminal side when the work is started, and the obtained data, for example, the traveling distance, the fuel consumption amount, the work area, etc. are temporarily stored in the RAM 25. . At this time, when the work interruption switch 33b is pressed, processing based on the switch is performed. Specifically, when the agricultural machine is temporarily stopped by a meal or the like, pressing the work interruption switch 33b allows the work data up to that time to be retained. When resuming the work, the interruption switch 33b is pressed again. When the work end switch 33c is pressed, the data written in the RAM 25 is transferred to the RAM card 29 and stored as it is.

FIG. 8 shows the contents of the program for mode selection according to the present invention. On the menu screen, the operator designates a mode for recording work data. When only the result of the work data of the day is sufficient as the data, the mode 1 is selected and the communication with this machine is started (steps S1, S2, S3). The description of the collection and recording of the work data is omitted because it is as described above. However, when the work end switch 33c is pressed, the RAM card 2
9 is written with data (steps S4, S5, S
6). On the other hand, when the mode 2 is selected, the work start time is first stored in the work RAM 25 (step S
7) Then, communication with this machine is started (step S8).

Then, the progress is recorded at regular intervals (for example, every 1 to 3 seconds). In this embodiment, the engine speed, vehicle speed, fuel consumption rate, mileage, etc. are recorded as data at regular intervals (step S9). Then, these data are accumulated, and when the work end switch 33c is pressed, those data are recorded in the RAM card 29 (steps S11 and S12). FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 explain the operation. When only the result is sufficient as in FIG. 9, the work start time, work end time, total work time, mileage, work area, and fuel consumption amount are recorded. However, in the case of recording not only the result but also the progress in the middle, not only the work result but also the engine speed, the vehicle speed, and the fuel consumption rate are stored for each check point (circled in the figure) of FIG.

Since this is done, various data relating to work data or operation when the machine is used for the first time can be accurately grasped, and later analysis, that is,
It can be used for analysis for finding the optimum work condition, and can improve the operation. Next, improvements in other parts related to the management terminal will be described. FIG. 11 is a partially improved block diagram of the management terminal device 20 described with reference to FIG. The feature of this improved device is that the data recording RAM card is inserted into the program memory card slot.
The point is that the data can be recorded by inserting the card 29.

A write control signal line 58 is output from the CPU 21 to a connector 56 for inserting the ROM card 28 for programming and a connector 57 for inserting the RAM card 29 so that the connector 56 side can also perform writing. Reference numeral 55 is an EEPROM for storing the program in the ROM card 28. When starting the work, first, the program is read from the ROM card 28 by EEPR.
Transfer to OM55, and from connector 56 to ROM card 28
And the second RAM card 28 is inserted here.
Then, the number of data recording cards becomes two, and a large number of work data can be recorded.

FIG. 12 illustrates a control program therefor. When the first card is full, data is recorded on the second card, and when both are full, a message is displayed on the liquid crystal display section 2 so that the cards can be exchanged.
It is displayed in 3. The flow chart of FIG. 13 describes a program for displaying whether or not the application amount or speed is appropriate during the drug application work.

In order to perform the chemical spraying work well, the spraying amount per unit area and the vehicle speed are usually determined in advance. Based on this, the worker runs the machine to perform the work, but the optimum value for the spraying work is stored as data on the side of the management terminal device 20 and the vehicle speed data sent from the machine side. When the spray amount data is inappropriate, the liquid crystal display unit 23 is made to display the characters "unsuitable". In this modified example, the abnormal state is recognized only when the state continues for a certain time or longer, and is displayed only in that case. Further, in addition to simply displaying "inappropriate", an instruction to increase or decrease the vehicle speed by comparing the standard data on the management terminal unit 20 side with the data transmitted from this unit side, or to increase or decrease the spray amount You may comprise so that it may instruct | indicate.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the data collecting apparatus of the agricultural machine configured to transmit the data on the machine side to the management terminal device through the communication line, the operation is completed from the start of work. A mode that stores only the work results up to the time and a mode that stores the progress in the middle are provided, so not only regular business analysis but also the optimum mode for operating the machine for the first time It can be useful for setting work conditions and giving guidance to workers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detection method of a sensor.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the data collection device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a data collection device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the data collection device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a management system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a data file.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart relating to selection of a recording mode.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view.

11 is an improved diagram of the block diagram of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining the operation of storing work data in a plurality of cards.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a liquid crystal display during a drug spraying operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 control device 2 sensor 3 operation switch 4 setting device 20 data collecting device (management terminal device) 21 CPU 22 operation unit 23 display unit 25 RAM 28 ROM card (PROM) 29 RAM card (SRAM) 33a work Start switch 33b Work interruption switch 33c Work end switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A data collection device for an agricultural machine configured to transmit data on the side of this machine to a management terminal device via a communication line, and only the work results from the start to the end of the work are collected. A data collection device for an agricultural machine, which is provided with a mode for storing and a mode for storing the progress in the middle.