Abstract: A self-propelled combine configured to collect and handle harvested material and a method for operating the self-propelled combine are disclosed. The combine may include a bypass device that includes an optical measuring device configured to determine one or more harvested material properties of the partial flow of harvested material. The bypass device may have at least one capacitive measuring device for determining the harvested material properties of the partial flow of harvested material.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester. The forage harvester comprises a height-adjustable front attachment for collecting harvested material, work units for processing the harvested material, a transfer device for discharging the processed harvested material, a camera system for capturing images of a flow of harvested material passing through the forage harvester, an image evaluation device for evaluating the images, and a driver assistance system for actuating the front attachment, the work units and the transfer device. The image evaluation device is configured to continuously analyze the images of the flow of harvested material using a machine learning algorithm for a proportion of in particular inorganic contaminants contained in the flow of harvested material and to transmit a degree of contamination derived therefrom to the driver assistance system, which may autonomously adapt setting(s) of the front attachment and/or at least one of the work units depending on the degree of contamination.

Abstract: A self-propelled harvester and a method for operating a self-propelled harvester. The harvester comprises a front attachment for picking up harvested material, work units for processing the picked-up harvested material, a transfer device for discharging the processed harvested material, a camera system for capturing images of a flow of harvested material passing through the harvester, and an image evaluation device for evaluating the images. The image evaluation device is configured to analyze the images of the flow of harvested material for a proportion of inorganic contaminants contained in the flow of harvested material using a machine learning algorithm when the harvested material is collected by the attachment.

Abstract: A forage harvester with a camera system. The camera system is configured to detect and evaluate a harvested material flow processed by working units of the forage harvester. The harvested material flow comprises whole grains, and comminuted grains as grain components and non-grain components. The camera system comprising an image sensor and an objective arranged or positioned upstream from the image sensor. The image sensor, arranged or positioned opposite the viewing window, is positioned in a housing which is arranged or positioned on a discharge chute of the forage harvester and in which a transparent viewing window is arranged or positioned, past which the harvested material flow flows. Light beams from a first light source are directed onto the harvested material flow. Further, an image analysis apparatus receives images from the image sensor of the harvested material flow for evaluation.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester, a method for operating a forage harvester, and computer readable medium to perform the method for operating the forage harvester. The forage harvester includes a cutterhead driven at a variable rotational speed (nHT) for chopping harvested material, a cracker roller pair with a variable gap width positioned behind the cutterhead on a path of the harvested material through the forage harvester for comminuting grains in the chopped harvested material, and a control unit for controlling the rotational speed and the gap width. The control unit is part of a setting device controlled using a characteristic map, wherein the characteristic map describes or is indicative of a corn silage processing score (CSPS) depending on at least the rotational speed and the gap width.

Abstract: An image analysis method for the computer-implemented determination of the degree of grain cracking of grains. A flow of harvested material is processed by working units of a forage harvester, with the flow including whole grains and crushed grains as grain components, and non-grain components. Images of the flow of harvested material are recorded via a camera system and transmitted to an image analysis apparatus for evaluation. At least one working unit is controlled depending on the degree of grain cracking. To determine the degree of grain cracking, image pixels in the images are classified into grain components and non-grain components, with a classification of whole grains and crushed grains performed within the image pixels of an image classified as grain components using a segmentation model, and a loss function, used by the segmentation model, being weighted with an adjustable weighting factor.

Abstract: An image analysis method and system for the computer-implemented determination of the degree of grain cracking of grains within a flow of harvested material processed by working units of a forage harvester. The flow of harvested material comprises whole grains and crushed grains as grain components and non-grain components. The at least one working unit is automatically controlled depending on the degree of grain cracking. Images of the flow of harvested material are cyclically recorded using an optical recording device and transmitted to an image analysis apparatus for evaluation. The image analysis apparatus, in a first stage classifies image pixels contained in the images into grain components and non-grain components, and in a second stage, determines a length of a long main axis and a short main axis of each classified grain component via a length-width comparison, with the first stage and the second stage performed by a neural network.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester is disclosed that includes a blade sharpening and shear bar adjusting device, a monitoring device configured to cyclically generate information on the state of the cutterhead chopping glades and the distance of the shear bar to the cutting edge, and a control unit. The control unit evaluates the information provided by the monitoring device about the state of wear of the chopping blades and the distance, compares it with a limit value for the state of wear and/or the distance, where the limit value forms a lower limit for an optimum range to be maintained by the blade sharpening and shear bar adjusting device, of the instantaneous cutting sharpness of the chopping blades or of the distance and, when the limit value is reached, automatically triggers a sharpening process and/or of a shear bar adjustment by the blade sharpening and shear bar adjusting device.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine configured to collect and handle harvested material and a method for operating the self-propelled combine are disclosed. The combine may include a bypass device that includes an optical measuring device configured to determine one or more harvested material properties of the partial flow of harvested material. The bypass device may have at least one capacitive measuring device for determining the harvested material properties of the partial flow of harvested material.

Abstract: A detection arrangement for detecting a wear status of a chopping knife arrangement of a chopping device provided for processing a product flow, wherein the chopping device has a revolving chopping drum receiving the chopping knife arrangement and at least one shear bar which cooperates with the chopping knives, with a sensor arrangement which has a magnetic exciter arrangement and a flux conducting device magnetically coupled thereto. The sensor arrangement provides a pole arrangement which forms at least one magnetic pole with a pole surface for conducting magnetic flux, wherein at least a portion of the chopping knife passes the pole arrangement during a rotation of the chopping drum. A voltage induced when a chopping knife arrangement passes the sensor arrangement forms the measured magnetic value, which is used by the evaluation unit to determine the state of wear of the chopping knife arrangement.

Abstract: A method and a self-propelled forage harvester for determining the need for grinding chopping blades of a chopping device of the self-propelled forage harvester is disclosed. A monitoring device determines, such as cyclically, the state of wear of the chopping blades. The monitoring device comprises an input/output unit through which to enter or select a target state of the chopping blades to be produced by a grinding device as a target. The monitoring device generates, such as continuously, information depending on the target state and the determined state of wear, and causes an output on the input/output unit to visualize the extent to which the currently determined state of wear deviates from the target state.

Abstract: A forage harvester comprising an edge sharpness detection device for detecting a degree of edge sharpness of a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism comminutes a stream of harvested material, with a material inflow area being defined where the cutting blades interact with the shear bar to comminute the harvested material. The edge sharpness detection device excites one or more magnetic circuits, with the respective magnetic circuit being closed by the respective cutting blade during rotation of the cutter drum once one of the cutting blades passes the magnetic assembly. The edge sharpness detection device detects the magnetic flux in the respective magnetic circuit and, based on a detected change, determines a degree of edge sharpness of the respective cutting blade. Further, the magnetic flux of the magnetic circuit may be guided lengthwise in the cutting blade at least along a longitudinal section of the respective cutting blade.

Abstract: A combine harvester has at least one header for cutting plants to be harvested with the aid of the combine harvester, a feeder for conveying the cut plants in the direction of a threshing mechanism, and a threshing mechanism, with the aid of which fruits can be removed from the cut plants in such a way that the fruits are then present separately from plant residue of the plants. The feeder comprises a revolvingly driveable conveying unit and a conveyor channel within which the cut plants can be conveyed with the conveying unit. The feeder interacts with a measuring unit in the form of a sensor unit that contactlessly detects material feed height of plants conveyed with the aid of the feeder in the conveyor channel.

Abstract: A detection arrangement for detecting a wear status of a chopping knife arrangement of a chopping device provided for processing a product flow, wherein the chopping device has a revolving chopping drum receiving the chopping knife arrangement and at least one shear bar which cooperates with the chopping knives, with a sensor arrangement which has a magnetic exciter arrangement and a flux conducting device magnetically coupled thereto. The sensor arrangement provides a pole arrangement which forms at least one magnetic pole with a pole surface for conducting magnetic flux, wherein at least a portion of the chopping knife passes the pole arrangement during a rotation of the chopping drum. A voltage induced when a chopping knife arrangement passes the sensor arrangement forms the measured magnetic value, which is used by the evaluation unit to determine the state of wear of the chopping knife arrangement.

Abstract: A driver assistance system of an agricultural work machine constructed as forage harvester, wherein the agricultural work machine comprises a header for gathering crop, a chopping device having a chopping drum and chopping knives for comminuting the crop, and a monitoring device operable to generate a signal containing information about the wear status of the respective chopping knife and/or about the distance of the cutting edge of a chopping knife from a shear bar. This information is compared with a reference value, and the agricultural work machine has activation devices for activating and deactivating a knife grinding process and means for change of position of the shear bar. The monitoring device is integrated in the driver assistance system so that the driver assistance system automatically detects when a knife grinding process or a change of position of the shear bar must be activated or deactivated.

Abstract: A method for determining a mass flow composed of bulk material, in particular grain, which is conveyed by means of a continuous, circulating conveyor, having planar conveyor elements, from a lower bulk material receiving area to a higher bulk material delivery area, in which the bulk material delivered by the conveyor is deflected by a guide surface disposed in the bulk material delivery area toward a measuring device, wherein the mass flow is determined by the measurement of a resulting force (F_G) exerted on a sensor surface of the measuring device, wherein at least two parameters having an effect on the force measurement, in particular parameters independent of bulk material properties, are compensated for. A control and regulating device for executing the method for determining a mass flow composed of bulk material is also provided.

Abstract: A combine harvester has at least one header for cutting plants to be harvested with the aid of the combine harvester, a feeder for conveying the cut plants in the direction of a threshing mechanism, and a threshing mechanism, with the aid of which fruits can be removed from the cut plants in such a way that the fruits are then present separately from plant residue of the plants. The feeder comprises a revolvingly driveable conveying unit and a conveyor channel within which the cut plants can be conveyed with the conveying unit. The feeder interacts with a measuring unit in the form of a sensor unit that contactlessly detects material feed height of plants conveyed with the aid of the feeder in the conveyor channel.

Abstract: A forage harvester comprising an edge sharpness detection device for detecting a degree of edge sharpness of a cutting mechanism is disclosed. The cutting mechanism comminutes a stream of harvested material, with a material inflow area being defined where the cutting blades interact with the shear bar to comminute the harvested material. The edge sharpness detection device excites one or more magnetic circuits, with the respective magnetic circuit being closed by the respective cutting blade during rotation of the cutter drum once one of the cutting blades passes the magnetic assembly (positioned outside of the material inflow area). The edge sharpness detection device detects the magnetic flux in the respective magnetic circuit and, based on a detected change, determines a degree of edge sharpness of the respective cutting blade. Further, the magnetic flux of the magnetic circuit may be guided lengthwise in the cutting blade at least along a longitudinal section of the respective cutting blade.

Abstract: A method for determining a mass flow composed of bulk material, in particular grain, which is conveyed by means of a continuous, circulating conveyor, having planar conveyor elements, from a lower bulk material receiving area to a higher bulk material delivery area, in which the bulk material delivered by the conveyor is deflected by a guide surface disposed in the bulk material delivery area toward a measuring device, wherein the mass flow is determined by the measurement of a resulting force (F_G) exerted on a sensor surface of the measuring device, wherein at least two parameters having an effect on the force measurement, in particular parameters independent of bulk material properties, are compensated for. A control and regulating device for executing the method for determining a mass flow composed of bulk material is also provided.

Abstract: An agricultural working machine embodying a combine harvester for processing crop includes an intake conveyor mechanism for picking up the crop, a moisture content sensor arrangement for measuring a moisture content of the picked-up crop and generating a crop moisture signal based on the measured moisture content. A throughput sensor arrangement, preferably a layer thickness sensor arrangement, determines a throughput quantity of the picked-up crop. The crop moisture content signal is corrected on a basis of the throughput quantity that is determined.