Patent ID: 6401549
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
In combination with an agricultural crop harvesting machine including at least one pair of upper and lower pre-compression rolls that guide the harvested crop between them, with the upper pre-compression roll being mounted for moving vertically, relative to the lower pre-compression roll, between lower and upper limit positions in response to variations in thickness of a mat of crop passing between said rolls, a crop throughput measuring device, comprising: a spacing measurement arrangement for detecting the distance between said upper and lower pre-compression rolls and generating a spacing signal representative of said distance; a speed sensor for monitoring the speed of rotation of said lower pre-compression roll and producing a speed signal representative of said speed; at least one force transducer arranged in a region adjacent said upper limit position of said upper pre-compression roll for sensing forces with which said upper pre-compression roll is forced upwardly and generating a force signal representative of said forces; and a control unit coupled for receiving said space, speed and force signals and calculating a crop mass throughput value based on said space, speed and force signals.