WO2019091756A1

WO2019091756A1 - Method for a spraying device

Info

Publication number: WO2019091756A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/078666
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernd Stuke; Helmut Schomburg; Olaf Ohlhafer; Steffen SIES; Hans-Arndt Freudigmann
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2017-11-10
Filing date: 2018-10-19
Publication date: 2019-05-16
Also published as: BR112020009038A2; DE102017220002A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring and/or controlling a flushing process carried out using a flushing liquid, in particular flushing water, in a spraying device for discharging an active component-containing spray liquid, in particular for agricultural purposes, having the steps of: - receiving at least one property signal (76, 80) having flushing liquid property information (76, 80) acquired by means of a sensor unit (68, 70) of the spraying device in at least one through-flow region of the spraying device, wherein, using the property information (76, 80), an active component concentration in the flushing liquid can be determined; and - outputting an information signal (82) to a display unit (84) and/or a control signal (86) to a flushing unit (56) depending on the received flushing liquid property information (76, 80) and/or an active component concentration in the flushing liquid determined using the property information (76, 80) in order to monitor and/or control the flushing process.

Description

description

title

PROCESS FOR A SPRAYING DEVICE Prior art

The invention relates to a method for monitoring and / or controlling a rinsing process carried out by means of a rinsing liquid, in particular a rinsing water in a spraying device for dispensing a spraying liquid having an active agent, in particular for agricultural purposes, as well as such a spraying device of the generic type

Claims. The subject of the present invention is also a

Control device and a computer program.

After use of field sprayers or at the end of the field treatment by means of field sprayers remaining spray liquid residues must be thoroughly removed from the entire system consisting of tanks, lines, pumps, valves, nozzles, etc., so that subsequently treated crops are not damaged by the previous agent or Take sprayer (plant protection product) of the spray fluid. For this purpose, the system is rinsed completely with water. This water is held in an extra tank (flushing water tank) and injected via cleaning nozzles in the spray liquid tank. In order to ensure adequate cleaning, the necessary amount of water for the flushing process in today's sprayers in dependence of

Tank size required (10%).

However, the farmer receives no information about the real one

Residual concentration of the spray or plant protection product in the rinse water during or after the rinsing process. So today it comes to critical cases in which the statutory amount of water for rinsing is not sufficient to completely clean the field sprayer to a sufficient extent. Consequently, cultures subsequently treated by the

Residual concentration of the previous spray liquid to be damaged. A common practice today is that the sprayer manufacturer should issue a separate instruction to "clean very thoroughly." However, this procedure can not be controlled by the farmer today and is not safeguarded against "misuse".

The D E 10 2004 047 585 AI discloses an agricultural field sprayer, which is designed to perform a rinsing operation.

D E 10 2009 026 234 AI discloses a field sprayer with sensors for determining and adjusting an active ingredient concentration in a spray liquid.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring and / or controlling a rinsing process carried out by means of a rinsing liquid, in particular a rinsing water, in a spraying device for dispensing a spraying liquid having an active agent, in particular for agricultural purposes, with the steps:

Receiving at least one property signal with one by means of a sensor unit of the spray device in a flow area of the

Spray device - during the flushing - detected

Property information of the rinsing liquid, wherein an active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid can be determined using the property information; and

Outputting an information signal to a display unit and / or a control signal to a rinsing unit as a function of the received property information of the rinsing liquid and / or an active agent concentration determined using the property information in the

Flushing liquid to monitor and / or control the flushing process.

The subject matter of the present invention is furthermore a control device which is set up to carry out all the steps of a method described above. The subject matter of the present invention is also a spray device for dispensing a spraying liquid having an active agent, in particular for agricultural purposes, having:

- A rinsing unit for performing a rinsing operation in the spray device by means of a rinsing liquid, in particular a rinse water;

a sensor unit for acquiring property information of

Rinsing liquid in at least one flow area of the spray device - during the rinsing process -, wherein using the

Property information a concentration of active agent in the rinsing liquid can be determined; and

- A previously described control device to monitor the flushing process and / or control the flushing unit.

Finally, the subject matter of the present invention is a computer program which is set up to carry out all the steps of a previously described method as well as a machine-readable storage medium with the computer program stored thereon.

An agricultural purpose in the context of the present invention may be understood as a purpose which is directed to the economical cultivation of crops.

In particular, the spray device may be part of an agricultural

Field sprayer or a crop protection device or as a

be formed agricultural field sprayer or a crop protection device. The spraying device can be arranged and / or arranged on or on a mobile unit. The mobile unit may be designed as a land vehicle and / or aircraft and / or trailers. The mobile unit may in particular be an agricultural work machine, for example a

Tractor, a tractor or a (self-propelled or autonomous)

Be field sprayer. The spray device may also be mounted on a hydraulic device of the agricultural machine. It is also conceivable that the spraying device is constructed on a loading surface of the agricultural machine. Alternatively, the spray device may be attached to the agricultural machine. The spreading of the spray liquid is preferably carried out in a field. In the present case, a field may be understood to mean an agricultural area or an area used for agriculture, a cultivated area for plants or even a plot of such area or cultivated area. The field can thus be arable land, a grassland or a pasture. The plants may include, for example, crops whose fruit is used for agriculture (for example as food, feed or as an energy crop) as well as weeds, weeds and grass weeds. The plants can be part of the agricultural area.

In the context of the invention, the term "spray liquid" encompasses both the entire spray liquid and only a portion or proportion, in particular a spatially limited portion or proportion of the spray liquid in the spray device in one of the components (line, tank, valve, etc.) of the sprayer be part of spray liquid.

The spray liquid has at least one active agent. The active agent may be a spraying agent, i. have a preparation or pesticide, in particular a pesticide concentrate. Accordingly, the active agent may, for example, comprise a herbicide, fungicide or an insecticide (pesticide). The

Spray liquid can be a spray mixture. However, the active agent may also comprise a fertilizer, in particular a fertilizer concentrate. The active agent may accordingly have a liquid fertilizer and / or a growth regulator. The active agent can be used as a liquid or as a solid, for example in the form of granules or as a pre-dissolved solid, for example in the form of

be formed pre-dissolved granules.

The spray liquid preferably further comprises a liquid, in particular a carrier liquid for diluting the active agent. Under one

Carrier liquid can be understood in the context of the present invention, a liquid which is adapted to be mixed with the active agent to a dispensing or dispensing of the active agent, eg. The

Plant protection product or fertilizer

improve. It is also conceivable that a present as a solid or granules

Active agent is suspended in the carrier liquid. It is also conceivable that a non-soluble active agent in the carrier liquid is emulsified in the carrier liquid. The carrier liquid is preferably water.

The spray liquid can thus be formed as: liquid, suspension, emulsion, solution or a combination thereof. The spray liquid is preferably formed as a water-diluted plant protection or water-diluted fertilizer.

The spray device preferably has a spray liquid tank for receiving the spray liquid and at least one spray nozzle unit for discharging the

Spray on. The spray liquid can be guided or guided by the spray liquid tank by means of a spray liquid line or several spray liquid lines to the spray nozzle unit. In the context of the present invention, a line or spray liquid line can also be understood to mean a section of the corresponding line or the spray liquid line. The line may be formed as a fluidic connection line, for example. In the form of a tube, tube, channel or a tube.

The spray liquid can be mixed ready filled in the spray liquid tank of the sprayer. However, the spray liquid can also be mixed only in the spray device. For mixing the spraying liquid, the spraying device (in the flow direction of the spraying liquid) upstream of the spraying liquid tank may have a mixing unit into which the liquid is guided or passed out of a liquid tank of the spraying device and the active agent is conveyed from an active agent tank of the spraying device.

Here, a liquid delivery unit may be provided, which is designed to selectively convey or convey the liquid out of the liquid tank via a liquid line to the mixing unit. Furthermore, it is possible to provide an active-substance conveying unit which is designed to direct or meter or guide the active agent from the active agent tank via an active-medium line to the mixing unit. The conveyor units can have one or more metering units or metering components. The metering units or metering components may comprise one or more pumps or metering pumps and valves. At least one of the conveyor units may be configured to increase the injection pressure at the spray nozzle unit, i. the

Pressure with which the spray liquid is discharged to produce. In the context of the present invention, a mixing unit can be understood to be a unit which is designed to mix or mix at least the liquid and the active agent with one another to form the spray liquid, preferably as homogeneously as possible. The mixing unit can have a mixing and / or stirring element in order to actively mix the liquid and the active agent. The stirring element can be designed as a stirring blade or propeller. The mixing unit may have a mixing tank with at least one inlet each for the liquid and the active agent. That is, in other words, that the liquid and the active agent can be performed separately, ie by means of separate lines directly into the mixing unit or the mixing tank.

Alternatively, a common inlet may be provided on the mixing unit in the form of a T-piece, wherein the active agent is first supplied to the liquid or fed into this and then passed together with the liquid in the mixing unit. The mixing unit or the mixing tank can have at least one outlet for the mixed or mixed spray liquid, for example in a lower area. It is also conceivable that the mixing unit is designed as a static mixing unit or static mixer. However, the mixing unit can also be designed only as a T-piece, so that a passive mixing takes place in it.

The mixing unit can also be integrated in the spray liquid tank.

Accordingly, the spray liquid tank may be formed as a mixing tank of the mixing unit. Here, the mixing and / or stirring element can be arranged on or in the spray liquid tank to mix or mix the spray liquid.

However, the spray liquid tank can also be arranged in the spray liquid line downstream of the mixing unit. That is, in other words, that the spray liquid tank is arranged downstream of the mixing unit in the flow direction of the spray liquid from the mixing unit to the spray nozzle unit. The spray liquid tank can thus be spatially in the

Be arranged spray liquid line between the mixing unit and the spray nozzle unit. The spray liquid tank may be formed as a buffer tank, so that the spray liquid from the mixing unit first feasible or fillable in the buffer tank and from the buffer tank according to need to

Spray nozzle unit guidable or conveyed or is conductive. Furthermore, the spraying device can have a spraying liquid conveying unit which is located in the spraying liquid line downstream of the spraying liquid line

Spray liquid tanks or buffer tanks arranged and / or integrated in this. The spray liquid delivery unit may then be formed, the

To direct spray liquid from the spray liquid tank or buffer tank under pressure or under a defined pressure to the spray nozzles or spray nozzle units. The spray liquid delivery unit may in particular be designed to generate a constant pressure, i. be formed as a constant pressure system to produce a constant or uniform injection pressure at the spray nozzles or spray nozzle units. Since the defined injection pressure of the

Spray liquid delivery unit is generated, the conveyor units upstream of the buffer tank, i. the liquid delivery unit and the

Wirkmittelfördereinheit be very simple, since they only have to take over the task of supplying the liquid or the active agent in the buffer tank.

If the spray liquid delivery unit is integrated in the buffer tank, the buffer tank can be designed as an accumulator, for example with media separation (spray liquid - air). The pressure control in the buffer tank can then be done via a pneumatic pressure control valve, so that possible pressure fluctuations in the system can be reduced. Preferably, the

However, spray liquid delivery unit arranged downstream of the spray liquid tank, whereby the buffer tank can be formed without pressure. In this case, the buffer tank may, for example, be formed without pressure by means of a vent hole. The vent hole may have a vent valve. In other words, that the buffer tank is fluidically connected to the environment or connectable at a defined internal pressure, so that it is formed without pressure. By this measure, the liquid delivery unit and the drug delivery unit advantageously no longer against the high

System pressure but only against the ambient pressure (and adjusting itself due to flow losses back pressure) work, so that the pressure requirements are further reduced to the respective pumps or metering pumps. For example, the liquid delivery unit may have a simple flow pump or delivery pump which has a pure on / off functionality. In conjunction with a volume flow meter can then via the flow signal and the previously set Mixing ratio of the required metering volume of the active ingredient determined and the Wirkstoffdosierpumpe be controlled. Alternatively, the

Liquid delivery unit have a metering pump with a fixed delivery ratio (without measuring the delivery volume). In addition, it is conceivable that the liquid delivery unit a simple valve or proportional valve in

Having connection with a flow meter and a constant pressure source in the liquid line. It is also conceivable that the liquid delivery unit has a constant pressure source and a metering orifice. The

Active substance delivery unit can be a simple alternative to the metering pump

Feed pump in conjunction with a flow meter (control) have. The active substance delivery unit can additionally have at least one metering orifice in this case. In addition, the buffer can be designed very easily and essentially without static requirements, whereby the total cost can be further reduced.

The spray nozzle unit has in each case at least one spray nozzle for dispensing the spray liquid and at least one valve for controlling or regulating the discharged spray liquid quantity. Thus, the spray nozzle unit is controllable, i. openable and lockable. Preferably, each of the spray nozzle units, in particular in dependence on the

Property information in the associated flow area can be controlled separately. The valve can be arranged or integrated in the spray nozzle. However, the valve may also be connected upstream of the spray nozzle, i. (in

Flow direction of the spray liquid) upstream of the spray nozzle

be arranged. However, the spray nozzle unit may also have a plurality of spray nozzles, each with an upstream valve. The spray nozzle unit may also have a plurality of spray nozzles with only one of the spray nozzles upstream valve, so that upon actuation of the valve, the spray liquid is applied by means of all spray nozzles of the spray nozzle unit. Accordingly, the spray nozzle unit may be formed as a partial width of a nozzle system. The

Spray nozzle unit may also have a final mixing unit, which is designed to mix the spray liquid with the liquid and / or the active agent and / or another active agent - which are guided by appropriate lines to the Endmischeinheit or feasible - to mix. In this case, it is advantageous to combine the final mixing unit with the preceding one to provide a two-stage mixing system.

In the context of the invention, a rinsing process can be understood to mean an internal rinsing or rinsing through of components of the spray device through which the spray liquid flows during the dispensing process in order to clean it. The rinsing process can be carried out for a defined or predetermined duration, i. stop automatically after a defined or predetermined duration. The rinsing process or the internal cleaning is carried out by means of a rinsing unit. The flushing unit is designed here, a

Rinsing liquid, in particular a rinse water or water to pass through at least one component of the spray device to rinse them from the inside and thus to clean. The rinsing unit may have at least one rinsing nozzle, by means of which the rinsing liquid can be conducted into the components or the line system of the spray device. Here, the rinsing nozzle in one of

Components, for example. Be arranged in the spray liquid tank or agent tank. The rinsing unit may comprise a separate rinsing liquid tank for the rinsing liquid and a separate rinsing liquid conveying unit with a pump for conveying the rinsing liquid from the rinsing liquid tank. Since the rinsing liquid as well as the carrier liquid is preferably water, the rinsing liquid can also be fed from the liquid tank in the event that the mixing of the spray liquid in the injection unit is carried out, so that no separate tank is necessary. This could also be the

Liquid delivery unit can be used to convey the rinsing liquid.

Accordingly, the rinsing unit, the liquid tank and the

Liquid delivery unit include. It is also conceivable that the rinsing liquid is first pumped several times in a circle and only then by means of

Spray nozzle units is applied. The rinsing unit can also be designed to purge different spray nozzle units or groups of spray nozzle units or partial widths with spray nozzle units separately. The

Rinsing unit can be designed to perform the rinsing process for a defined or predetermined duration after activation and then to stop automatically. The flushing process can be stopped or ended by means of the control signal. The flow region of the injection device, in which the property information of the rinsing liquid is detected, is in particular a region which can flow through with active agent and / or spray liquid. The flow area is also an area which can be flowed through with rinsing liquid. This is therefore an area which, in particular during the rinsing process with the

Rinse liquid comes into contact or come into contact. The flow area is preferably arranged in at least one component which is selected from the group consisting of: spray nozzle, valve, spray nozzle unit,

Spritzflüssigkeitsleitung, active agent line, spray liquid tank, active agent tank, spray liquid delivery unit, active agent delivery unit. The flow area may include a portion of an interior or the entire interior of the corresponding component. The flow area is preferably arranged in or directly in front of the spray nozzle (s). The sensor unit may have a sensor element or a sensor or else a plurality of sensor elements or sensors. The sensor unit can be arranged in the flow area. Here, the sensor unit may be in direct contact with the rinsing liquid to detect the property information of the rinsing liquid. However, the sensor unit can also be arranged outside the flow range. Here, the sensor unit

be formed to detect the property information of the rinsing liquid contactless. The sensor unit may be formed in addition to the

Property information, a temperature of the rinsing liquid in the

Flow range to capture. The sensor unit may have a transmission unit. The transmission unit can be designed, the

Property signal with recorded values or measured values of the

Property information wirelessly, eg. Via radio, WLAN, Bluetooth, etc., and / or wired to transmit or send. The property signal has a detected property information or a detected advertising / measured value of the property information. The

Property information is acquired during the flushing process. Under

Using the detected property information or the detected value of the property information, an active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid can be determined. That is, in other words, from the property information, a

Agent concentration in the rinsing fluid (directly or indirectly) can be derived. In particular, the property information of the rinsing liquid and the active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid are essentially clearly interdependent. The property information of the spray liquid and the active agent concentration in the spray liquid can be linearly dependent on each other. Accordingly, by means of the detected property information or the detected value of the property information on the

Agent concentration be closed in the rinse liquid. The

Property information may include a physical and / or chemical and / or physical and / or material property of the spray liquid. The acquired property information is preferably selected from the group consisting of: electrical property, in particular electrical conductivity, optical property, in particular absorption property,

Emission property, fluorescence, sonic velocity, or combinations thereof. This can be very easily known by the skilled person

Calculating a agent concentration in the rinsing liquid can be determined. The detected property information is preferably an electrical conductivity.

For example, the electrical conductivity of a solution is a universal physical quantity and indicates the ability of a substance to conduct electrical current. This conductivity depends strongly on the amount of dissolved salts, which are either already found in the active ingredients or spraying agents, or could be added to the active ingredients specifically by the manufacturers or the farmers. In addition to the conductivity, other physically measurable substances can be used to determine the concentration of the active ingredient. Thus, with the concentration of the active ingredients in the water due to the proportion of undissolved particles in the solution, the turbidity of the solution (and thus the absorption coefficient for light) or the speed of sound changes

(especially depending on the density and compressibility of the medium). Likewise, there is the possibility of e.g. to conclude the concentration of the active agent via fluorescence measurements. Here too a kind of tracer (e.g., dye) could be added to the active agents.

The steps of receiving the feature signal and outputting the information signal and / or the control signal may be performed by means of a

Control device to be performed. The determination or calculation of the Agent concentration in the rinse liquid can also by means of

Control device and the skilled person known computing methods are performed. In the present case, a control device can be understood as meaning an electrical device which processes sensor signals and outputs control signals and / or information / data signals as a function thereof. For this purpose, the

Control device at least one arithmetic unit for processing the

Have property signals or property information. The

Arithmetic unit may be, for example, a signal processor, a microcontroller or the like. The control device may further comprise at least one

Storage unit for storing the property signals or

Have property information or for this purpose with a

Be connected storage unit. The storage unit may comprise a cloud server, a flash memory, an EPROM or a magnetic storage unit. The control device can also at least one

Communication interface for reading the property signals and

Issuing the information signals and / or control signals. The communication interface can be designed to read in or output the signals wirelessly, for example via radio, WLAN, Bluetooth etc., and / or by line. The communication interface may be designed in hardware and / or software. In the case of a hardware-based embodiment, the interface can be part of a so-called system ASIC, for example, which comprises a wide variety of functions of the control device. However, it is also possible that the interface has its own, integrated circuits or at least partially consists of discrete components. At a

In terms of software training, the interface can be a software module that is present, for example, on a microcontroller in addition to other software modules.

The step of outputting takes place as a function of the property signal or the received property information of the rinsing liquid and / or of a property determined using the property information

Agent concentration in the rinse. In other words, it is decided in dependence on the property information or the detected value of the property information and / or the active agent concentration or the determined value of the active agent concentration, whether a signal and / or what kind of signal, possibly also with which Content is output. Here, a step of comparing at least one value of the property information and / or the active agent concentration in the

Rinsing liquid with at least one predetermined reference value and / or a predetermined reference value range of the property information and / or the active agent concentration carried out in order depending on the

Output information signal and / or the control signal. In the context of this invention, the term "specifiable" also includes the term "predetermined". Furthermore, in the context of this invention, the step of comparing values also includes a comparison of a progression of values. In turn, depending on the comparison, it can then be decided whether a signal is output and, if so, what kind of signal, i. E. with what content. This is preferred

Information signal to the display unit and / or the control signal output to the purging unit when the value of the property information and / or the active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid has reached the reference value and / or the reference value range and / or at a defined deviation thereof. In particular, the reference value or the reference values can be input, calculated and / or read from a table manually. The reference value and / or the reference value range depends in particular on the initial concentration of the active agent. The reference value could be, for example, about 0.25% of the starting concentration of the active ingredient. The step of

By comparison, the control unit can be implemented by means of the arithmetic unit.

The control signal may be configured to deactivate the purging unit to terminate the purging operation. The control signal may be formed, the

To control flushing unit such or to control that the flow rate of the washing liquid is reduced or increased. In this case, the reference value may be a lower limit value or the reference value range may be a lower limit value range, wherein the purge operation is terminated when the value is the lower limit value

Limit or limit range has reached. The control signal can also be designed to control the purging unit such that different

Spray nozzle units or groups of spray nozzle units or sections with spray nozzle units will flush separately depending on the comparison. In this case, for example, during the flushing process, a spray nozzle unit can be correspondingly deactivated or closed, if the value at this

Spray nozzle unit has reached the reference value. However, the control signal can also be configured to activate the flushing unit to restart the flushing process. In this case, the reference value may be a lower limit value or the reference value range may be a lower limit value range, wherein the

Rinse operation is restarted if the value deviates from the lower limit or limit range.

The information signal can be configured to control the display unit such that a "simple" alarm signal, for example in the form of an optical and / or acoustic and / or haptic signal, is output by the display unit However, the information signal can also be the value of the property information and / or the

Have agent concentration of the rinsing liquid, and designed to be displayed on the display unit. The display unit may in this case be a display, a smartphone or any other terminal, such as a

Be a tablet or a PC. The information signal may, for example, be selected from the list consisting of: SMS, e-mail, push notification, telephone call.

Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the information signal with the value of the property information and / or the active agent concentration of

Rinsing liquid "flat rate" at and / or after completion of the rinsing process, in particular only or only or exclusively at and / or after completion of the rinsing process, and / or during the rinsing process, in particular during the entire duration of the rinsing process are output to the display unit. The completion of the rinsing process can be targeted and / or automatic and / or premature.

The method for monitoring and / or controlling can be started automatically or manually. The method may vary depending on the

Rinsing process to be started. In this case, the flushing process may also have been started automatically or manually. The procedure can be started at the beginning or after a defined period after the beginning of the rinsing process. The process can be carried out during the entire duration of the rinsing process or at defined times after the beginning of the rinsing process. The method may also be at and / or after completion of the Rinsing process, in particular only or only or exclusively be carried out at and / or after completion of the rinsing process.

The method for monitoring and / or controlling a means of a

Rinsing liquid, in particular a rinse water carried out rinsing in a spray device for dispensing a spray having an active agent, in particular for agricultural purposes, may therefore comprise the following steps:

Activating a rinsing unit of the spraying device to start the rinsing process;

Detecting property information of the rinsing liquid in at least one flow area of the spraying device by means of a sensor unit of the spraying device, wherein an active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid can be determined using the property information; and

Outputting an information signal to a display unit and / or a

Control signal to the flushing unit depending on the received

Property information of the rinsing liquid and / or an agent concentration determined using the property information in the

Flushing liquid to monitor and / or control the flushing process.

By the method according to the invention and the inventive

Spray device, it is now possible to monitor in a simple and cost-effective manner, the residual concentration of active agent or spray liquid in the rinsing liquid or the rinse water, thereby the

Cleaning success of the sprayer to control and optimize. By detecting the property information of the rinsing liquid in one

Flow range can on the one hand, the monitored flushing process then stopped or stopped selectively when no active agent is detected, or the active agent concentration reaches a reference value or lower limit. As a result, water can be saved for cleaning and the degree of cleanliness can be increased. Furthermore, it can be ensured that the spray device has been sufficiently cleaned. On the other hand, the farmer can use one

Display unit to be informed that the rinsing process or the cleaning of the spray device was not sufficient or successful, if after completion of the rinsing too high an active agent concentration

Spray liquid is measured in the rinse liquid. Consequently, he can initiate appropriate measures, such as start another rinse and / or control components for cleaning (rinsing nozzles, etc.).

It is also advantageous if a further step of receiving at least one further property signal is provided with a property information of the rinsing liquid detected by a further sensor unit of the spraying device in a further flow area of the spraying device, in response to both property information the information signal to the display unit and / or the Output control signal to the flushing unit.

In particular, it is advantageous if the flow area in the

Spray nozzle unit and the further flow area in the

Spray liquid tank or agent tank are arranged. It is also advantageous if the property information in each case in several or all

Spray nozzle units is detected. For example. the control signal can only be output and the flushing process thus terminated when in all

Spray nozzle units in which the property information is detected, no active agent is detected or the active agent concentration one

Reference value or lower limit has reached. As a result of this measure, the rinsing or cleaning process can be checked and optimized even more extensively and it can further be ensured that all relevant components are completely cleaned.

It is also advantageous if the reference value and / or the

Reference value range of the property information and / or the

Agent concentration in the rinse using a before

Rinsing process determined initial value of the property information and / or the active agent concentration is determined in the spray liquid. The initial value of the feature information may be detected by a separate or the same sensor unit. That is, in other words, that an additional step of receiving one by means of

Sensor unit of the spray device in at least one flow range, in particular in the spray liquid tank of the spray device detected initial value of the characteristic information of the spray liquid may be provided, wherein the initial value of the property information was determined before the flushing to the reference value and / or the

Determine the reference value range of the active agent concentration. Through this Measure the reference value and / or the reference value range can be selected relative to the initial active agent concentration in the spray liquid, so that depending on the initial concentration can be adjusted when a sufficient degree of purification is present to terminate the rinsing process.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the value and / or the reference value and / or the reference value range and / or the initial value of the

Property information and / or the active agent concentration using the detected by a further sensor unit of the spray device and before reaching the flow range property information of

Rinsing fluid and / or a carrier liquid is determined. By virtue of this measure, the method can be carried out even more precisely, since the actual property information of the rinsing liquid and / or the

Carrier liquid without active ingredient is recorded as "base value" and taken into account or eliminated in the determination of the above-mentioned values

Rinsing liquid and the carrier liquid are preferably water, the property information of only one of the two liquids can be detected in order to perform a very accurate calculation can. It is also advantageous if the value and / or the reference value and / or the

Reference value range and / or the initial value of the property information and / or the active agent concentration using a detected by means of the sensor unit and / or the further sensor unit temperature of the rinsing liquid and / or the carrier liquid is determined. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the temperature is detected at the point at which the corresponding property information is also detected. Since the temperature usually has an influence on the property information (conductivity, density, etc.), by considering this factor in the detection or determination of the property information and / or the active agent concentration, the method can be performed even more precisely.

For the detection of the property information by means of absorption, the pressure can also be measured analogously to the temperature, so that the sensor unit can alternatively or additionally have a pressure sensor for this purpose.

drawings The invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings

exemplified in more detail. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the

Injection device;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the control device; and

3 is a flowchart of a method for monitoring and / or

Controlling a rinsing process.

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention are for the in the various figures

represented and similar elements acting the same or similar

Reference numeral used, wherein a repeated description of the elements is omitted.

In Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a spraying device is shown, which is provided in its entirety by the reference numeral 10.

The spray device 10 has a liquid tank 12 with a liquid 14 and an active agent tank 16 with an active agent 18. The liquid 14 is a carrier liquid 14 or water 14.

The spray device 10 also has a static mixing unit 20. The static mixing unit 20 is fluidly connected to the liquid tank 12 via a liquid line 22. In the liquid line 22 is a

Liquid delivery unit 24 is arranged to supply the liquid 22 of the static mixing unit 20 and to be able to lead into this. The

Liquid delivery unit 24 in this case has a feed pump 26 and a flow meter 28. Similarly, the static mixing unit 20 is further connected via an active agent line 30 with the active agent tank 16. In the active agent line 30, in turn, an active agent conveying unit 32 is arranged in order to be able to supply the active agent 18 to the static mixing unit 20 or to be able to conduct it into this. The active agent delivery unit 32 in this case has a metering pump 34. Accordingly, by means of the static mixing unit 20, a mixing of the active agent 18 with the carrier liquid 14 to form a spray liquid 36.

In order to achieve a larger Dosierbandbreite with a high dosing accuracy, downstream of the static mixing unit 20 in a

Spray liquid line 38, a spray liquid tank 40 arranged The

Spray liquid tank 40 is formed here as a buffer tank 40. The

Spray liquid tank 40 and buffer tank 40 is arranged and

formed so that the spray liquid 36 is filled from the static mixing unit 20 in this, and then from the spray liquid tank 40 at a

Nozzle system 42 to be directed with spray nozzle units 44. Each of the spray nozzle units 44 has a spray nozzle 46 for discharging the

Spray liquid 36 and a valve 48 for controlling the

discharged spray liquid quantity on.

For setting the injection pressure at the spray nozzle units 44, the spray device 10 also has a spray liquid feed unit 50 which is designed to supply the spray liquid 36 from the spray liquid tank 40 under pressure or under a defined pressure to the nozzle system 42 or the spray nozzle units 44. The spray liquid delivery unit 50 in this case has a constant pressure source with a pump 52.

In order to be able to carry out a rinsing process or an internal cleaning by means of a rinsing liquid 54, in particular a rinsing water 54 in the spraying device 10, the spraying device 10 also has a rinsing unit 56. The

Rinsing unit 56 has a rinsing liquid tank 58 for rinsing liquid 54 and rinsing water 54, respectively. The rinsing unit 56 also has a

Rinse liquid delivery unit 60 to the rinse water 54 through the

To guide components 16, 20, 30, 38, 40, 44, 46, 48 and thereby to rinse or clean. For this purpose, the rinsing unit further rinsing nozzles 62, 64, 66, by means of which the rinsing liquid 54 in the components 16, 20, 30, 38, 40, 44, 46, 48 can be conducted. Here, in each case a rinsing nozzle 62 in the

Active agent tank 16, a rinsing nozzle 64 in the mixing unit 20 and a rinsing nozzle 66 disposed in the spray liquid tank 40. Since the rinsing liquid 54 and the carrier liquid 14 are preferably water 14, it is also conceivable for the rinsing liquid 54 to be fed alternatively or additionally from the liquid tank 12 and into the components 16, 20, 30, 38, 40, 44 by means of the liquid conveying unit 24 , 46, 48, so that no separate rinsing fluid tank 58 and no separate

Rinse liquid conveying unit 60 are necessary. In this case, the rinsing unit 56 would comprise the liquid tank 12 and the liquid conveying unit 24.

In order to be able to monitor and optimize the rinsing process or the internal cleaning of the spray device 10, the spray device 10 furthermore has sensor units 68, 70 and a control device 72 for controlling the rinsing unit 54. The sensor unit 68 is arranged in a flow area 73 of the agent tank 16 and the sensor unit 70 in a flow area 75 of the spray nozzle 46. The sensor units 68, 70 are each formed - during the flushing process - the flow areas 73, 75 of the

Spray device 10 and the active agent tank 16 and the spray nozzle 46 to detect property information of the rinsing liquid 54, wherein under

Use of the property information an agent concentration in the rinsing liquid 54 can be determined. In Fig. 2 will be explained below how the monitoring and control of the rinsing process by means of the control device 72 takes place.

Of course, without departing from the scope of the invention, the spray device 10 may also have only one sensor unit 68, 70, for example the sensor unit 70 in the spray nozzles 46, whereby the flushing process can also be monitored and optimized. The rinsing process is started manually.

As can be seen in more detail from FIG. 2, the control device 72 is set up, a property signal 74 having a signal by means of the sensor unit 70 of the spray device

10 to receive 10 detected property information 76 of the rinsing liquid 54 in the flow area. The control device 72 is furthermore set up to record at least one further property signal 78 with a signal detected in the flow region 73 by means of the sensor unit 68 of the spray device 10

Property information 80 of the rinsing liquid 54 to receive. The

Property information 76, 80 each include an electrical Conductivity and a temperature of the rinsing liquid 54. Accordingly, the sensor units 68, 70 each have a sensor for detecting the electrical conductivity and one for detecting the temperature. The control device 72 is also set up, an information signal 82 to a display unit 84 and / or a control signal 86 to the rinsing unit 56 in dependence on the

Property information 78, 80 of the rinsing liquid 54 and / or one determined using the property information 78, 80

Dispensing agent concentration in the rinsing liquid 54 to the

To monitor and / or control flushing process. Here is the

Control means 72 arranged to compare by means of a computing unit 88 at least one value of the property information 76, 80 of the rinsing liquid 54 with at least one predetermined reference value and / or a predetermined reference value range of the property information 76, 80, in response to the information signal 82 to the display unit 84 and / or output the control signal 86 to the flushing unit 56. The arithmetic unit 88 is further configured, using the property information 76, 80 to determine an active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid 54. The control signal 86 is output, in particular, when the property information 76 has reached the reference value and / or reference value range. In this case, the control signal is designed to deactivate the purging unit 56 to the

Rinse process to end. The control device 72 also has a

Memory unit 90 for storing the property information 76, 80, the detected values and the reference values. 3 shows a flowchart of a method 100 for monitoring and / or controlling a rinsing process carried out by means of a rinsing liquid 54, in particular a rinsing water 54, in a spraying device 10 for dispensing a spraying liquid 36 having an active agent 18,

especially for agricultural purposes. The method 100 comprises a step 102 of receiving at least one property signal 74, 78 with one by means of a sensor unit 68, 70 of the spray device 10 in one

Flow range 73, 75 of the spray device 10 detected

Property information 76, 80 of the rinsing liquid 54, wherein using the property information 76, 80 an agent concentration in the

Rinse liquid 54 can be determined. The method 100 finally includes a

Step 106 of outputting an information signal 82 to a display unit 84 and / or a control signal 86 to a rinsing unit 56 in response to the property information 78, 80 of the rinsing liquid 54 and / or one using the property information 78, 80 determined

Agent concentration in the rinse liquid 54 to monitor and / or control the rinsing process. Optionally, method 100 further includes a step 104 of comparing at least one value of

Property information 78, 80 and / or the active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid 54 with at least one predefinable reference value and / or a predefinable reference value range of the property information 78, 80 and / or the active agent concentration in order depending on the

Information signal 82 to the display unit 84 and / or the control signal 86 to the flushing unit 56 output.

If an exemplary embodiment comprises a "and / or" link between a first feature and a second feature, this is to be read such that the

Embodiment according to an embodiment, both the first feature and the second feature and according to another embodiment, either only the first feature or only the second feature.

Claims

claims

A method (100) for monitoring and / or controlling a by means of a rinsing liquid (54), in particular a rinsing water (54) performed

Rinsing process in a spraying device (10) for dispensing an active agent having spray liquid (36), in particular for

Agricultural purposes, with the steps:

- receiving (102) at least one property signal (76, 80) with a means of a sensor unit (68, 70) of the injection device (10) in one

Flow range (73, 75) of the spray device (10) detected

Property information (76, 80) of the rinsing liquid (54), wherein using the property information (76, 80) a

Agent concentration in the rinsing liquid (54) can be determined; and - outputting (106) an information signal (82) to a display unit

(84) and / or a control signal (86) to a rinsing unit (56) as a function of the property information (76, 80) of the rinsing liquid (54) and / or an agent concentration determined in the rinsing liquid using the property information (76, 80) (54) to monitor and / or control the flushing process.

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized by the further step:

Comparing (104) at least one value of the characteristic information (76, 80) and / or the active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid (54) with at least one predefinable reference value and / or a predefinable reference value range of the characteristic information (76, 80) and / or the active agent concentration, in response to the information signal (82) to the display unit (84) and / or the

Control signal (86) to the flushing unit (56) output.

3. Method (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the

Reference value and / or the reference value range of

Property information (76, 80) and / or the active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid (54) using an initial value of a property information determined before the rinsing process and / or the Agent concentration in the active agent (18) and / or the spray liquid (36) is determined.

Method (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the value and / or the reference value and / or the reference value range and / or the initial value of the property information (76, 80) and / or the agent concentration using a means of a further sensor unit the spray device (10) and before reaching the

Flow range (73, 75) detected property information (76, 80) of the rinsing liquid (54) and / or a carrier liquid (14) of the spray liquid (36) is determined.

Method (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized

in that the value and / or the reference value and / or the reference value range and / or the initial value of the

Property information (76, 80) and / or the active agent concentration using a detected by the sensor unit (68, 70) and / or the further sensor unit temperature of the rinsing liquid (54) and / or the carrier liquid (14) is determined.

Method (100) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized

in that the information signal (82) is output to the display unit (84) and / or the control signal (86) to the rinsing unit (56) if the value of the property information (76, 80) and / or the active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid ( 54) has reached the reference value and / or the reference value range and / or with a defined deviation thereof.

Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information signal (82) is output to the display unit (84) at and / or after completion of the rinsing process and / or during the rinsing process, in particular during the entire duration of the rinsing process.

Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information signal (82) has a value of Property information (76, 80) and / or the active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid (54) to be displayed on the display unit (84).

9. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the control signal (86) is designed to deactivate the rinsing unit (56) in order to end the rinsing process.

10. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized by the further step:

Receiving (102 ') at least one further characteristic signal (78) with a property information (80) of the rinsing liquid (54) detected by means of a further sensor unit (68) of the spray device (10) in a further flow region (73, 75) of the spray device (10) ) in response to both property information (76, 80)

Information signal (82) to the display unit (84) and / or the

Control signal (86) to the flushing unit (56) output.

11. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the flow area (73, 75) of the spray device (10) is arranged in at least one component (16, 46) which is selected from the group consisting of: spray nozzle (46), valve (48), spray nozzle unit (44), Spray liquid line (38), active agent line (30), spray liquid tank (40), active agent tank (16), spray liquid delivery unit (50), active agent delivery unit (32).

12. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the detected property information (76, 80) is selected from the group consisting of: electrical property, in particular electrical conductivity, optical property, in particular absorption property, emission property, fluorescence,

Speed of sound, or combinations thereof.

13. Control device (72) which is adapted to all steps of a

Method according to one of the preceding claims.

14. Spray device (10) for dispensing an active agent (18)

having spraying liquid (36), in particular for agricultural purposes, with:

a rinsing unit (56) for performing a rinsing operation in the

Spray device (10) by means of a rinsing liquid (54), in particular a rinsing water (54);

- A sensor unit (68, 70) for detecting a property information (76, 80) of the rinsing liquid (54) in at least one flow area (73, 75) of the spray device (10), wherein using the property information (76, 80) an active agent concentration in the rinsing liquid (54) can be determined; and

- A control device (72) according to claim 13, to monitor the flushing operation and / or the flushing unit (56) to control.

A computer program adapted to perform all the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

16. Machine-readable storage medium with a stored on it

Computer program according to claim 15.