Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the distance between an agricultural machine and a surface such as the ground, wherein at least one sensor contactlessly determines the distance between the sensor and the surface. The sensor uses electromagnetic waves to penetrate through the field vegetation. The sensor may be a radar, a microwave or a laser sensor. The electromagnetic wave is emitted in a vertical direction toward the ground and reflected back to the sensor. The determined distance is used for automatically maintaining a working height of a front attachment, such as a cutterbar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the distance between an agricultural machine and a surface such as the ground, wherein at least one sensor contactlessly determines the distance between the sensor and the surface. The sensor uses electromagnetic waves to penetrate through the field vegetation. The sensor may be a radar, a microwave or a laser sensor. The electromagnetic wave is emitted in a vertical direction toward the ground and reflected back to the sensor. The determined distance is used for automatically maintaining a working height of a front attachment, such as a cutterbar.

Abstract: An adjusting device for a sensor unit mounted on a field machine, or a harvester or tractor, and an associated method for positioning the field machine and sensor unit for locating a working edge of a field. The sensor unit can be mounted on a cutter bar assembly of a field machine via a supporting arm. The sensor unit may be adjusted horizontally or vertically. The sensor produces a signal that is communicated to a steering control unit to guide the field machine along the working edge of the field. The position or alignment of the sensor unit relative to a working edge of the field may be indicated on a two-dimensional display.

Abstract: Apparatus measures the throughput of material being conveyed through a conveyer, wherein the conveyer blades carrying the material (in particular, cereal grains) are continuously moved in a conveyer shaft and a photoelectric device is mounted perpendicularly on the shaft. A light beam of a photoelectric device is aligned substantially parallel to the plane surfaces of the blades. A signal processor determines the distance between the top edge of the material and the passing blade carrying this material from the light-dark periods of the signal. By taking into account the spacing of the blades, the thickness of the blades, and the cross-sectional area of the shaft, the signal processor then determines the apparent volume of material on each blade. Further measuring devices are connected to the signal processor and the inclination and/or shape of the material surface is determined via signals from the measuring means.

Abstract: A device and method is disclosed for detection of cultivation boundaries or guide variables which are evaluated for an automatic steering system on agricultural machines. Electromagnetic waves emitted by a transmitter in the working direction of the machine are used. Several boundary-specific variables are determined from the reflection of the electromagnetic wave and from them is derived a control difference for a steering regulator.The device is mounted on the individual implements in the vicinity of the cultivation boundary and arranged in such a way that the cultivation boundary is detected before cultivation. Using a device, in the embodiment of a scanner, which works with electromagnetic waves, and evaluating several cultivation boundary-specific guide variables contained in the reflection, results in the successful contactless detection all cultivation boundaries or guide variables existing in agriculture.

Abstract: In a device and a method, a position-accurate detection of product mass received by a baler is possible, by an electronic control and regulating device in association with determination of a load of a working element of the baler.

Abstract: An operator device for controlling control units associated with a pulled working machine and arranged on a pulling working machine, the operator device has a plurality of operator elements, and a multi-function handle having a handle part turnable to several control positions and having a head, an operator field arranged in a region of the head of the handle part and provided with the operator elements for actuation of control functions, and a bus system transmitting control signals of the multi-function handle to at least one of the adjusting units.

Abstract: A reflex locating device on an agricultural machine or the like, in particular a harvested material edge locating device, has a transmitter and a receiver with a locating beam region oriented on the agricultural machine so that it is slightly inclined toward the ground and, when the grain edge side position is correct, detects a part of the standing grain in front of the harvesting mechanism and detects with a remaining part the stubble field. The locating device for this purpose is arranged at a distance above the grain, and the locating beam region is oriented substantially perpendicular to the harvesting mechanism and detects inclinedly from above partially the grain field and partially the stubble field.

Abstract: The locating device for an agricultural machine controlled by an automatic steering system includes a first locating device component (OV1) directed at a first portion of a field on which agricultural material is not present, but adjacent an edge (GK) of the agricultural material and producing a first locating signal (OS1), a second locating device component (OV2) directed at a second portion of the field containing the material and adjacent, but not including, the edge of it and producing a second locating signal (OS2), a third locating device component (OV3) directed at a third portion of the field including the edge of the material and producing a third locating signal (OS3), a device for transmitting the first, second and third locating signals (OS1, OS2, OS3) to a regulating device (ST) for generating at least one hydraulic steering signal (SHL,SHR) from a standardized locating signal (NOS) to control the steerable wheels (HR) according to a predetermined locating criterion and a device for generating th

Abstract: The density of plant growth in front of a harvester machine is measured, to control the operating rate of the machine, by producing an ultrasonic field immediately forward of the cutters on the machine, which field comprises at least one ultrasonic beam of frequency modulated ultrasonic impulses. The apparatus employed comprises two transducers consisting respectively of an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver respectively located on opposite sides of the machine immediately forward of the cutting blades and oriented on a line therebetween disposed orthogonally to the direction of travel of the machine, and at least one further ultrasonic transducer disposed adjacent one of said two transducers but oriented on a line relative to the other of said two transducerswhich line is inclined relative to the direction of travel of the machine.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine of the type having an automatic steering system is provided with a pair of feelers extending toward one another from the facing surfaces of a pair of plant row dividers located at the forward end of the machine. Each feeler is mounted for motion within the casing of one of the dividers in cooperation with a magnetic transducer located within that casing, and extends from the interior of the casing through an elongated slot in the side wall of the casing. The external portion of each feeler extends in a rearward direction relative to the side wall of the casing and has a comparatively shallow convex arcuate configuration terminating at a free end of the feeler which is located to the rear of the rearward end of the slot.