JPH089756A - Sensor-checking system in mobile farming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a sensor-checking system in a mobile farming machine such as a combine harvester, enabling sensor abnormalities to be detected easily and assuredly. CONSTITUTION:This sensor-checking system has a sensor for automatic control giving outputs according to displacement, a switching means to be operated when the detection status of the sensor is checked, a memory for sensor detection output, and a comparison means to compare the state changes in sensor detection output by using data in the memory. In this case, both the sensor and switching means are set up on the input side. Besides, this system has a control section to give driving output when the change in sensor detection output is determined in the state that the switching means is being in operation and an informing means formed on the output side of the control section and actuating by driving output.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sensor check device for a mobile agricultural machine such as a combine, which checks whether or not a sensor for detecting the operation of various actuators provided in the mobile agricultural machine operates normally. For the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, automatic control has been incorporated into mobile agricultural machines such as combine harvesters. For example, the elevating and lowering drive section of the mowing section and the handle depth adjusting section together with the actuator and the operation of those actuators A sensor for detecting the position is provided. Various sensors used in such mobile agricultural machines may fail due to extremely severe conditions under which they are used, and for the purpose of checking their operating conditions or adjusting their operating limits, It is necessary to check the sensor using a dedicated checker at the service center or the like.

[0003]

However, the adjustment and checking of the sensor may be performed not only at the service center but also at the site of use of the mobile agricultural machine. In this case,
It is required that the mobile agricultural machine itself has a sensor check function. The present invention has been made in order to satisfy all the above-mentioned conventional demands, and an object thereof is to perform a sensor check even at a site where a mobile agricultural machine is used, without preparing a special sensor checker. Another object is to provide an extremely effective sensor checking device for agricultural machinery.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following technical means. That is, a sensor for automatic control that is provided in a mobile agricultural machine and that produces a detection output according to displacement, a switch unit that is operated when checking the detection status of this sensor, and the sensor and switch unit are provided on the input side. And a comparison means for comparing the state change of the detection output of the sensor using the memory for storing the detection output of the sensor and the data of the memory, and the detection output of the sensor in the state where the switch means is operated. Of a sensor for a mobile agricultural machine, which is provided with a control unit which outputs a drive output when a change in the drive condition is determined, and an informing unit which is provided on the output side of the control unit and operates by the drive output. The configuration is as follows.

[0005]

According to the present invention, when checking the sensor for automatic control provided in the mobile agricultural machine, if the switch means for checking is operated and then the sensor is displaced,
If there is no abnormality in the sensor due to this displacement, the notification means operates. Therefore, the worker can easily check the sensors in the field such as a field by a simple operation of displacing the sensors for automatic control provided in various places of the mobile agricultural machine in a desired order.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram, and in this embodiment, an automatic threshing control system of a combine is shown, in which a sensor SS ₁ interlocking with a mowing clutch and a situation in which a mowed culm is conveyed to a threshing section. SS ₂ for detecting the sensor, a sensor SS ₃ for detecting the tip and the head of the head inserted into the threshing part,
SS ₄ and a sensor SS ₅ for detecting other threshing conditions are provided, and a switch SWh for previously setting the threshing depth of the tips by the threshing section as either deep, medium or shallow.
Is provided, and each of these outputs is an interface I /
It is given to the control unit CNT including a processor such as a microprocessor and a memory via F, and the control unit CNT outputs the control output according to the detection output of each sensor SS _{1 to} SS ₅ with reference to the output of the switch SWh. Then, the relay RL ₁ or RL ₂ for controlling the actuator is driven via the driver DR ₁ or DR _{2 so} that the handle depth of the tip is automatically controlled as a proper one. There is.

A check switch SWc is provided to check the sensors SS _{1 to} SS ₅ .
If this is operated and turned ON, this operation output will
It is given to the control unit CNT via the face I / F, and in response to this, the control unit CNT stops sending the control output and
Detection output change of the sensor SS ₁ ~ SS ₅ it is determined whether or not occur, when the change has occurred sends a drive output, e through the driver DR ₄ - it is assumed that sound the down HN.

If the control unit CNT enters the check mode by operating the switch SWc, the lighting output is sent out through the driver DR ₃ to turn on the indicator light PL, and the check mode is set. Is displayed. FIG. 2 shows the contents of the memory used when the control unit CNT determines changes in the detection outputs of the sensors SS _{1 to} SS ₅ , and the memory of the control unit CNT contains the addresses m to responsive to the sensors SS _{1 to} SS _5. m +
4 are stored in the data area DE and the buffer areas BE of the addresses n to n + 4, respectively, so that the detection output changes due to the data comparison between the corresponding addresses in both areas DE and BE. The presence or absence can be determined.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control situation when the processor in the control unit CNT executes the check mode, and the switch "SWcON?" 101 is YES.
In this case, the indicator light “PL lighting” 102 and “automatic control stop” 103 are performed, and the “first sensor output is BE
"Store and read at the beginning address of" and a data area "Read from beginning address of DE" 105, and then judge "both data does not match?" 106,
After performing down "HN drive" 107, the buffer area - if ho is YES "BE De of - transferring data to the address of the corresponding DE" 108 performed to detect the output change of the sensor SS _1.

Then, the switch "SWc ON?" 10
9 is judged again, and if YES, "store and read the next sensor output at the address next to BE" 110, and data area "read data from the address next to DE".
Perform 111. Then, "Does both data not match?" 112
If YES, the horn "HN drive" 113 is performed, and then the buffer area "Transfer BE data to the corresponding DE address" 114 is performed, and then the "final address?" It is determined whether or not the processes up to m + 4 and n + 4 have been performed, and if NO, step 109 and subsequent steps are repeated, and then step 115 Y
Depending on ES, the process returns to step 104 and the above processing is repeated.

Therefore, if the sensors SS _{1 to} SS ₅ are turned on or off by a manual operation or the like, the horn HN as a sound generator sounds in response to this, and the sensors SS ₁ to SS ₅ are turned on.
Regardless of the mounting position of SS ₅ , it is possible to acoustically confirm these operating conditions while being in the vicinity of the sensors SS ₁ to SS ₅ . If step 109 is NO, that is, S
If Wc is OFF, the process proceeds to the display lamp "PL Off" 121 and "Automatic Control Resume" 122, the sensor SS ₁ ~ SS ₅
Return to the automatic control according to the detection output of.

However, the control unit CNT may be provided separately from the one for automatic control, and the same applies when a buzzer, a bell or the like is used instead of the horn HN. Further, in FIG. 3, steps can be interchanged or omitted according to the situation, and various modifications can be freely performed.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a sensor provided at an arbitrary portion can be provided by adding some function to an existing one without preparing a special checker. The operating status can be confirmed easily and surely. Many large and complex mobile farms such as combine have a lot of sensors, and combine combine etc. Whether the cause of the malfunction is due to an abnormality of the sensor or other factors, such as a malfunction of the hydraulic equipment,
Although it may be difficult to judge, in such a case, the operator can check the abnormality of the sensor simply by switching the switch means to the check mode and moving the target sensor.
It is easy to confirm the cause system.

Further, since the detection output of the sensor is determined by comparing the data stored in the memory, the processing is simple and the sensor check can be surely performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of a memory.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control status of the processor.

[Explanation of symbols]

SS ₁ ~ SS ₅ sensor CNT control unit HN horn SWc switch

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location G05B 23/02 302 T 7531-3H

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for automatic control, which is provided in a mobile agricultural machine and produces a detection output according to a displacement, a switch means operated when checking the detection status of this sensor, and the sensor and the switch means are input. A sensor for storing the detection output of the sensor and a comparison means for comparing the state change of the detection output of the sensor using the data of the memory, and the sensor in the state where the switch means is operated. The sensor in a mobile agricultural machine, comprising: a control unit that outputs a drive output when a change in the detection output of the control unit is determined; and a notification unit that is provided on the output side of the control unit and that operates by the drive output. Checking device.