Bale forming control system and method

Abstract

A method of controlling formation of a bale includes forming a bale from crop material by rotating the bale in a bale chamber and applying an amount of density pressure to the rotating bale. The method also includes receiving at least one operating condition value corresponding to at least one sensed operating condition when the bale is forming. The method further includes automatically determining the amount of bale density pressure applied to the bale responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value and controlling formation of the bale by causing the determined amount of bale density pressure to be applied to the bale.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bale forming control system comprising:
 a bale chamber configured to form a bale from crop material by rotating the bale in the bale chamber:   a bale density pressure mechanism configured to apply an amount of density pressure to the rotating bale;   at least one sensor configured to sense at least one operating condition when the bale is forming; and   a controller configured to: (i) receive at least one operating condition value corresponding to the at least one sensed operating condition and control formation of the bale; (ii) automatically determine the amount of bale density pressure applied to the bale responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value; and (iii) cause the determined amount of bale density pressure to be applied to the bale.   
     
     
         2 . The bale forming control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a driving mechanism configured to cause the bale to be rotated in the bale chamber; and
 wherein the controller is further configured to: (i) automatically determine a PTO speed of the driving mechanism responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value; and (ii) cause the determined PTO speed to be applied to the driving mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The bale forming control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to apply a bale chamber speed that is fixed relative to the PTO speed. 
     
     
         4 . The bale forming control system of  claim 1 , further comprising a feeder mechanism configured to pick up crop and feed the crop to the bale chamber, and
 wherein the controller is further configured to vary the PTO speed relative to a crop pickup speed of the feeder mechanism while the bale chamber speed remains fixed relative to the PTO speed.   
     
     
         5 . The bale forming control system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense at least one operating condition from a group of operating conditions comprising: a bale size; a bale weight; a rate of change of bale size; a rate of change of bale weight; a bale moisture content; a rate of incoming crop flow; an amount of PTO torque; a rate of fuel consumption; and a bale density. 
     
     
         6 . An agricultural harvester comprising the bale forming control system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The agricultural harvester of  claim 6 , wherein the agricultural harvester is a round baler. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling formation of a bale using the system of claims in an agricultural harvester comprising:
 rotating a bale of crop material in a bale chamber, and   applying an amount of density pressure to the rotating bale;   receiving at least one operating condition value corresponding to at least one sensed operating condition when the bale is forming;   automatically determining an amount of bale density pressure applied to the bale responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value; and   applying the amount of bale density pressure applied to the bale responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value to the bale.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 automatically determining a PTO speed of a drive mechanism responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value; and   applying the determined PTO speed to the drive mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising applying a bale chamber speed that is fixed relative to the PTO speed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising varying the PTO speed relative to a crop pickup speed while the bale chamber speed remains fixed relative to the PTO speed. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving at least one operating condition value further comprises receiving at least one operating condition value corresponding to at least one or a combination of sensed operating conditions selected from: a bale size; a bale weight; a rate of change of bale size; a rate of change of bale weight; a bale moisture content; a rate of incoming crop flow; an amount of PTO torque; a rate of fuel consumption; and a bale density. 
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling formation of a bale using the system of  claim 1  comprising:
 forming a bale from crop material by rotating the bale in a bale chamber; 
 receiving at least one operating condition value corresponding to at least one sensed operating condition when the bale is forming; 
 automatically determining a PTO speed of a drive mechanism responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value; and 
 applying the determined PTO speed to the drive mechanism. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 automatically determining an amount of bale density pressure applied to the bale responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value; and   applying the determined amount of bale density pressure to the bale.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying a bale chamber speed that is fixed relative to the PTO speed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising varying the PTO speed relative to a crop pickup speed while the bale chamber speed remains fixed relative to the PTO speed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein receiving at least one operating condition value further comprises receiving at least one operating condition value corresponding to at least one or a combination of sensed operating condition selected from: a bale size; a bale weight; a rate of change of bale size; a rate of change of bale weight; a bale moisture content; a rate of incoming crop flow; an amount of PTO torque; a rate of fuel consumption; and a bale density.