Abstract: A control system for an off-road vehicle is configured to provide automatic guidance for the vehicle. The control system is configured to apply an estimator to determine a plurality of system process parameters, determine a reference model based at least in part on user input, determine a plurality of control parameters using the process parameters and the reference model, determine a guidance input according to the control parameters, a setpoint of a desired output, and a previously measured output, and use the guidance input to automatically guide the vehicle. The estimator is configured to determine the plurality of system process parameters such that the control system automatically guides the vehicle so that the vehicle responds substantially in the same manner across different ground surface conditions, hitch forces and vehicle velocities.

Abstract: An electric motor addressing system and method for an agricultural implement receives, at an electronic control unit (ECU), an address claim request from each motor of a plurality of motors coupled to the ECU via a first bus. Each address claim request includes a requested bus address and a binary value corresponding to a pin connector setting associated with a harness connector of the respective motor. The system associates the binary value with a physical address for each motor without reference to the bus address and maps each bus address to the physical address.

Abstract: A window assembly moveable between open and locked positions having a pane of window glass held in a gasket attached to a window frame with adhesive. When in the locked position, the gasket has a removable pull strip enclosed in an internal channel which when removed allows the gasket to move to the open position, allowing safe exit through the window opening.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a throughput of a crop cut from a field. The system may include, and the method may be performed at least in part using, a combine harvester including a feeder box, a main body, a threshing mechanism, and an organic material throughput sensor provided within the feeder box. The system may also include a data management system. The organic material throughput sensor senses organic material throughput data including at least one of a volume of the organic material, and a weight of the organic material, and the data management system outputs an organic material throughput map or other information based on the organic material throughput data. Using the organic material throughput data or the organic material throughput map, a producer or other operator can make a more informed planting or treatment decision for a field.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically and dynamically controlling a height of a cutting element on a swather or other agricultural machine based on feedback from NIR testing of the cut plant material. An NIR testing system receives and analyzes NIR reflected by the material cut at a particular cut height, and generates an actual value for an RFV or other property of interest. A user interface allows for entering a desired target value. A cut controller compares the actual value and the target value, and adjust (e.g., raises or lowers) a cutting element (by, e.g., changing a pitch of the cutting element) to change the particular cut height if the actual value for the property is different from the target value. If the actual value is substantially similar to the target value, then the cut controller maintains the position of the cutting element.

Abstract: A combine harvester and method of detecting and notifying an operator of operational inefficiencies of the combine harvester are provided. The combine harvester may include a user interface, a plurality of sensors, and a control system having a processing element configured to perform certain steps. The steps may include receiving, via the user interface or a database, data representative of a performance target; receiving, via the user interface or the database, data representative of a mechanical configuration of the combine harvester; detecting, via a sensor, data representative of an operational metric; determining, via the processing element, whether the operational metric satisfies the performance target; determining, via the processing element, a suggested adjustment to the mechanical configuration associated with the operational metric; and displaying, via the user interface, the suggested adjustment to the mechanical configuration associated with the operational metric.

Abstract: An agricultural sprayer includes a mobile frame, a boom, and a boom-positioning mechanism. The boom is spaced from the frame. The boom-positioning mechanism is configured to support the boom on the frame for selective movement between a raised boom position and a lowered boom position. The boom-positioning mechanism includes a positioning actuator, and a telescoping parallel linkage providing constant spacing between the boom and the frame in the raised boom position and lowered boom position. The positioning actuator is configured to place the boom in the raised boom configuration upon elongation and in the lowered boom position upon retraction. The agricultural sprayer may further include a controller for positioning the boom relative to an underlying surface.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position.

Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to wrap twine around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism broadly includes a baling needle, a twine tensioner, and a sensor. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element.

Abstract: A baler (10) has a stuffer chute assembly (22) with upper and lower curved walls (44, 46) forming a stuffer chamber (24). A rear portion (54) of the upper wall (44) extends downwardly and forwardly from a baling chamber (12) and a forward portion (50) extends above an inlet opening to the stuffer chamber (24). The upper wall (44) has a plurality of laterally spaced-apart wrappers (52, 56), with adjacent wrappers forming slots (70, 72) extending generally from said crop receiving inlet opening to an outlet opening (48) for cooperation with tines (40) of a feeding mechanism (36). The wrappers (52, 56) are movable relative to the lower wall (46) at a forward end (60) and at a rearward end (66) of the upper wall (44) so as to change a cross-sectional dimension of the stuffer chamber (24).

Abstract: Methods and systems for sensing a throughput of cut organic material conveyed through agricultural equipment such as an agricultural baler or the like. The system may include, and the method may be performed at least in part using, agricultural equipment including a feed mechanism that conveys the cut organic material through the agricultural equipment. The feed mechanism includes a rotor, a floor near the rotor, and a sensor that measures data proportional to a force exerted on the floor. The system includes a processor that correlates data proportional to the force exerted on the floor to a rate at which the cut organic material is conveyed through the feed mechanism.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (60) for a combine harvester (10) includes, in a first portion (62) of the user interface, a graphical representation (66, 70) of an amount of material passing through a threshing system (22) at multiple positions along a longitudinal direction of the combine harvester, and a graphical representation (68, 72) of an amount of material passing through a cleaning system (42) at multiple positions along the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester. The user interface further includes, in a second portion (64) of the user interface, a graphical representation (74, 78) of an amount of material passing through the threshing system (22) at a plurality of locations along a lateral axis of the combine harvester, and a graphical representation (76, 80) of an amount of material passing through the cleaning system (42) at a plurality of locations along the lateral axis of the combine harvester.

Abstract: A seed tube guard for a row unit has a body having a first portion and a second portion. The second portion carries an audible alert material that is configured to produce an audible sound when scraped across rotating metal. The audible alert material has a material composition distinct from a material composition of the body carrying the audible alert material.

Abstract: A mobile machine including a chassis, a plurality of ground-engaging elements, actuators for driving movement of the ground-engaging elements and a controller for controlling each of the actuators to cause the mobile machine to follow a reference path. The controller is configured to implement a cascading control loop for controlling movement of the mobile machine, the cascading control loop including an outer loop and an inner loop. The outer loop is configured to determine a set heading for reducing a distance between the mobile machine and the reference path, the set heading being determined using an error slope parameter. The inner loop is configured to drive the actuators so that the mobile machine follows the set heading determined by the outer loop. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the error slope value so that the rate of change of the set heading does not exceed a maximum yaw rate.

Abstract: A tensioning bar assembly for a tensioning assembly of a drive system of an agricultural machine includes a longitudinal bar having a longitudinal axis, a top end, and a bottom end. An attachment device is attached to the top end of the longitudinal bar. A compression spring has first and second ends, and is located around a portion of the longitudinal bar. A first spring retainer engages with and retains the first end of the spring. The longitudinal bar has a bolt section, and the bolt section has a threaded portion, an engagement head, and a sleeve section. The sleeve section includes an internally threaded hollow section for receiving the bolt section. The sleeve section is fixed and rotationally attached to the attachment device.

Abstract: In a grain unloading system for a combine harvester a grain bin includes a frame, the frame has a floor with a trough. An unloading auger is disposed at least partially within the trough. An auger cover at least partially covers the auger. The auger cover has a hat for a top portion of the auger cover and a pair of gates movable between the hat and locations on the floor that are proximal to the trough. A gate adjustment structure is coupled to the pair of gates to move the pair of gates relative to the auger. A control system is coupled to the gate adjustment structure and configured to control the gate adjustment structure.

Abstract: A seed transfer unit for an agricultural planter, having first and second transfer bodies, with each having a plate with a cylindrical sidewall extending perpendicularly. The first and second plates are mounted to permit relative rotation therebetween about a device axis coincident with the major axes through the first and second cylindrical side walls, with the first and second plates parallel, and with the second cylindrical side wall disposed within, and concentric with, the first cylindrical side wall, such that the first and second plates and first and second cylindrical side walls define an annular space therebetween. The first plate has an inlet aperture through which a seed may pass to the annular space, and the second plate has at least one outlet aperture through which a seed is ejected.

Abstract: A flexible harvesting header (40) having multiple sections supported by support arms (74), with the height of each arm being adjustable in response to a changing load. Load sensors (504) at first ends of the arms sense loads and generate electronic load signals. Hydraulic cylinders (80) at second ends of the arms are actuatable to raise and lower the first ends. A controller receives the load signals, determines whether actuating one or more of the hydraulic cylinders (80) is warranted due to a changing load, and if so, changes a hydraulic pressure to raise or lower the first ends to offset the changing load. Actuation may be warranted if the changing load exceeds a predetermined value. Further, the entire flexible cutter bar (68) may be raiseable in response to an electronic raise signal, and the controller may actuate all of the hydraulic cylinders (80) to raise the front ends of all of the support arms (74).

Abstract: A bale identification assembly includes binding material used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale, the binding material including identification tags at spaced intervals along the binding material. A read module transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from the identification tags. A position sensor is used to predict passage of identification tags through the knotter mechanism and a bale length sensor provides a signal representing bale length. A controller receives signals from the bale length sensor and the position sensor and generates a signal to alter the length of the bale by causing an additional flake to be added to the bale by the plunger or the bale to be finished with fewer flakes to prevent the knotter system from tying a knot in the binding material such that the identification tag is positioned in a portion of the binding material used to form the knot.

Abstract: A combine harvester is provided with a conveyance system for transporting crop material discharged by overhead grain separating apparatus to a grain cleaning shoe. The conveyance system comprises a series of oscillating pans which move the grain in a generally longitudinal direction. A return pan conveys the collected material forwardly to a front discharge edge from where the material falls onto a stratification pan below. The stratification pan conveys the collected material rearwardly to a rear discharge edge from where the material falls into the grain cleaning shoe. At least one of the return pan and the stratification pan is non-rectangular and has a non-transverse discharge edge.