CROPS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

A crops management system includes an information outputting device disposed on a forming machine configured to form crops into a formed material having a predetermined shape and configured to output formed material information relating to the formed material, a wireless tag disposed on the formed material and configured to store identifying information of the formed material, and a management device having an obtaining part configured to obtain the identifying information of the formed material and the formed material information of the formed material, and a relating part configured to relate the formed material information to the identifying information obtained by the obtaining part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a crops management system.

Description of Related Art

Conventionally, agricultural work has been carried out in which, after the farm pasture or the like is taken in a roll baler or the like, the grass is formed into a roll by the roll baler and discharged again to the farm (for example, Microfilm of Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. S61-145956).

The roll bale discharged from the roll baler is generally stacked in a storage place by a transport vehicle such as a truck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A crops management system includes an information outputting device disposed on a forming machine configured to form crops into a formed material having a predetermined shape and configured to output formed material information relating to the formed material, a wireless tag disposed on the formed material and configured to store indentifying information of the formed material, and a management device having an obtaining part configured to obtain the identifying information of the formed material and the formed material information of the formed material, and a relating part configured to relate the formed material information to the identifying information obtained by the obtaining part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

FIG. 1shows a schematic diagram of a crops management system.

Crops management system is a system that manages crops such as grass, hay, rice and the like. Crops are not limited to those mentioned above.

The crops management system includes an information output device10provided in a forming machine. The forming machine20is a machine that collects crops such as farms and shapes the collected crops into a predetermined shape in a roll shape or a rectangular shape (a cube shape). The forming machine20is, for example, a roll baler for shaping a crop into a roll shape, a hole crop or the like.

First, taking the roll baler as an example, the forming machine20will be described.

As shown inFIG. 2, the roll baler20includes a vehicle body21, a traveling device22provided on the vehicle body21, and a forming device23provided on the vehicle body21. The traveling device22is a wheel type running device22having wheels.

The traveling device22may be a crawler type traveling device22having a crawler belt.

The roll baler20may be a self-propelled type that has a prime mover such as an engine or the like, and may be a pulling type pulled by a towing vehicle24such as a tractor and the like. In this embodiment, the roll baler20is the pulling type connected to a tractor or the like via a connecting portion at a front portion of the vehicle body21.

The forming device23includes an intake part25for taking in the crop to be formed into a roll, a housing portion26for accommodating the crop taken in by the intake part25, a forming portion27for forming the crops taken into the housing portion26into a material K rolled by a roller or the like, and a discharge portion28for discharging the forming material K formed by the forming portion27.

Thus, the crop is formed into a roll-shaped forming material K of a predetermined size by the forming device23, and is discharged to the outside after forming. For the sake of convenience of explanation, the rolled forming material K may be referred to as a roll formed material.

The forming device23is not limited to the above-described configuration, and any apparatus may be used as long as the apparatus forms the crop in a predetermined shape. For example, the forming device23may be of a chain type in which crops are formed in a roll shape by a chain, a belt type by which a belt is formed into a roll shape by a belt, or another type.

In addition, the forming device23preferably has a mechanism (a winding mechanism) for winding the packing material29such as a net on the side surface of the roll forming material K. In this case, the packing material29can be discharged to the outside from the discharge portion28in a state of being wrapped around the side surface of the roll forming material K.

As shown inFIG. 1, the information output device10is a device capable of outputting information (hereinafter referred to as “forming material information”) on the forming material K formed by the forming device23.

Specifically, the information output device10includes a communication device11, a weight detection device12, a moisture detection device13, and a time counting device14. The weight detection device12, the moisture detection device13, and the time counting device14are connected to the communication device11.

The communication device11is a device that performs a short range communication or a long range communication in wireless or the like, and is connectable to a device external to the forming machine20. For example, the communication device11is a communication module that performs wireless communication using the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity (a registered trademark) of IEEE 802.11 series which is a communication standard, the Bluetooth (a registered trademark) of IEEE 802.15 series and the like.

It should be noted that the communication device11may be a communication module that performs the wireless communication via a cellular phone communication network, a communication module that performs wireless communication via a data communication network, or another communication module.

The weight detection device12is a device that detects the weight of the forming material K formed by the forming device23, that is, the weight of the forming material K when discharged to the outside. The weight detection device12is composed of a load cell or the like provided in the forming device23.

The weight detection device12outputs the detected weight to the communication device11as the forming material information. It is preferable that the weight detection device12adds the management information such as the management number to the output weight and outputs it to the communication device11every time the weight is outputted.

The moisture detection device13is a device that detects the moisture (the water content) of the forming material K formed by the forming device23, that is, moisture of the forming material K at the time of discharge to the outside.

The moisture detection device13measures the moisture of the forming material K using the dielectric constant of the forming material K or measures the moisture (the moisture content) of the forming material K using the electric resistance of the forming material K or a sensor that measures moisture by irradiating the forming material K with infrared rays or microwaves or the like.

The moisture detection device13may be any device as long as it detects moisture.

The moisture detection device13outputs the detected moisture to the communication device11as forming material information. It is preferable that the moisture detection device13adds management information such as a management number to the moisture to be output and outputs it to the communication device11every time moisture is outputted.

The time counting device14is a device that measures the time during which the forming material K is formed by the forming machine20. The time counting device14is, for example, a timer for measuring time (date, time of Christian calendar year, month, day and the like.). Based on the operation of the forming device23, the time counting device14transmits to the communication device11the start time at which the forming of the forming material K is started, the end time at which the forming of the forming material K was completed, the discharge time at which the forming material K was discharged.

In the above-described embodiment, the information output device10includes the weight detection device12, the moisture detection device13, and the time counting device14, but any one of the weight detection device12, the moisture detection device13, and the time counting device14as long as it has the above-mentioned properties. In addition, the information output device10may be any device that outputs information on the forming material K in the forming machine20, and is not limited to only the weight detection device12, the moisture detection device13, and the time counting device14.

The communication device11transmits the forming material information (the weight, the moisture, the time) and the control information to the external computer every time the work of the roll baler20is finished or every time the roll forming material K is formed by the roll baler20, or regularly. In the above-described embodiment, the weight detection device12and the moisture detection device13attach the management information to the measured values (the weight, the moisture).

Alternatively, the communication device11may attach the management information every time the measurement value (the weight, the moisture) is acquired. In addition, when the communication device11transmits the forming material information and the management information to an external computer, it is preferable to transmit at least the date.

As shown inFIG. 1, the crops management system includes a wireless tag, that is, an RFID tag (Radio Frequency Identification)30. The RFID tag30is provided on the forming material K. The RFID tag30is a tag that transmits identifying information of at least the forming material K.

The identifying information is information for specifying, that is, identifying the forming material K. The identifying information may be any information as long as it is information for identifying the forming material K. The identifying information may be a unique number (serial number) individually assigned to each forming material K, or may be other information.

FIG. 3shows a state in which the forming material K is formed by running the roll baler20on a farm or the like. As shown inFIG. 3, in the roll baler20, since the roll forming material K is discharged to the farm each time the roll forming material K is formed, there are many roll forming materials K discharged from the roll baler20on the farm.

An operator or the like prepares the RFID tag30in advance and attaches the RFID tag30to the roll forming material K discharged to the farm. An operator installs one RFID tag30per the roll forming material K. On the farm, the roll forming material K is in a state where the side portion (a side surface) is in contact with the ground of the farm and is sideways.

A packing material29such as a net is wrapped around the side of the roll forming material K. For example, the operator attaches the RFID tag30to the packing material29wrapped around the side of the roll forming material K. As described above, the RFID tag30is attached to the packing material29, but it may be attached to a place other than the packaging material29or may be attached to the bottom portion (the bottom surface) of the roll forming material.

As shown inFIG. 1, the crops management system has a management device40. The management device40is a computer such as a server, a mobile terminal, a personal computer, or the like. Note that the portable terminal is a computer that is easy to carry and is a smartphone (a multi-function mobile phone), a tablet, or the like. In this embodiment, the management apparatus40is a server.

The server40has an obtaining part41and a first storage part42. The obtaining part41is composed of a program and the like stored in the server40, and acquires the identifying information of the RFID tag30from the outside. The first storage part42is a nonvolatile memory and stores identifying information and the like of the RFID tag30acquired by the obtaining part41.

A method of acquiring the identifying information of the RFID tag30by the obtaining part41includes a method of reading the identifying information of the RFID tag30to the RFID reader50and transmitting the read identifying information to the server40. That is, the crops management system includes the RFID tag30, that is, the RFID reader50(a wireless tag reader) capable of receiving the identifying information of the wireless tag.

The RFID reader50is, for example, a portable reader that can be carried by a operator, and has a reading part51and an outputting part52. When the reading part51is an antenna or the like and the RFID tag30is a passive type RFID tag30, the reading part51irradiates radio waves to the RFID tag30and obtains the identifying information of the RFID tag30transmitted from the RFID tag30.

When the RFID tag30is the active type RFID tag30, the reading part51requests identifying information from the RFID tag30and acquires the identifying information of the RFID tag30transmitted from the RFID tag30in response to the request.

In the case where the RFID tag30is the active type RFID tag30, the reading part51may obtain the identifying information of the RFID tag30arbitrarily transmitted from the RFID tag30without requesting the identifying information to the RFID tag30.

The outputting part52is a communication device that performs the short-range communication or the long-range communication by radio or the like. When the communication device performs communication over a long distance, the outputting part52transmits the identifying information of the RFID tag30acquired by the reading part51to the server40.

In addition, in the case of a communication device performing the short-range communication, the outputting part52transmits the identifying information of the RFID tag30acquired by the reading part51to a computer (hereinafter referred to as an operator computer)60owned by the operator or the like.

The operator computer60receives the identifying information of the RFID tag30transmitted from the outputting part52of the RFID reader50, and then transmits the received identifying information to the server40. The operator computer60is, for example, a mobile terminal, a personal computer, or the like.

When transmitting the identifying information of the RFID tag30to the server40by the RFID reader50, the information (the user information) on the operator is registered in advance in the RFID reader50, and together with the user information registered in the RFID reader50. It is preferable to transmit the identifying information read by the RFID reader50to the server40.

Specifically, the RFID reader50has a display part53. The display part53is, for example, a liquid crystal panel monitor or the like, and can display various information. The display part53of the RFID reader50displays the user registration screen. On the registration screen, user information such as the name, address, phone number, user ID, password, and the like. of the operator can be entered.

The operator registers the user information in the RFID reader50by inputting the user information on the registration screen by using an interface or the like provided in the RFID reader50.

The method of registering the user information in the RFID reader50may be another method. For example, displaying a user registration screen on the operator computer60, registering the user information entered in the user registration screen in the operator computer60, and transferring the user information registered in the operator computer60to the RFID reader50. The user information may be registered in the RFID reader50.

By thus transmitting the user information registered in the RFID reader50to the server40together with the identifying information of the RFID tag30, the server40associates the identifying information of the RFID tag30with the user information, and stores them in the first storage part42.

Note that, before transmitting the identifying information from the RFID reader50to the server40, the RFID reader50or the operator computer60is connected to the server40in advance and the user information is transmitted to the server40, whereby the user information may be registered the server40.

In addition, when registering the user information, the server40issues a login ID, a password, and the like, and transmits the login ID and password to the RFID reader50or the operator computer60. The RFID reader50or the operator computer60registers the login ID, password, and the like issued by the server40.

In this case, after. logging in to the server40using the login ID and the password, the operator computer60or the RFID reader50transmits the identifying information of the RFID tag30to the server40.

The server40receives the identifying information and the user information of the RFID tag30transmitted from the RFID reader50or the operator computer60as described above. The obtaining part41of the server40acquires the identifying information and the user information of the RFID tag30when the server40receives the identifying information and the user information of the RFID tag30.

In addition, the obtaining part41of the server40acquires not only the identifying information of the RFID tag30but also the forming material information of the forming material K. The server40receives the forming material information (the weight, the moisture, the time) transmitted from the communication device11. When the server40receives the forming material information (the weight, the moisture, the time), the obtaining part41acquires the forming material information.

The server40has an relating part43and a second storage part44. The relating part43is composed of a program and the like stored in the server40. The second storage part44is composed of a nonvolatile memory or the like. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the identifying information of the RFID tag30may be referred to as a “tag identifying information” in some cases.

The relating part43associates the tag identifying information acquired by the obtaining part41with the forming material information acquired by the obtaining part41. The association by the relating part43will be described.

FIG. 4Ashows the tag identifying information, the weight and the moisture which are the forming material information acquired by the obtaining part41on a predetermined date (for example, Oct. 3, 2016). As shown inFIG. 4A, the forming material information is generated every time the roll forming material K is formed, and the number of the forming material information corresponds to the number of the roll forming material K.

In addition, since one RFID tag30is attached to one roll forming material K in the roll forming material K, the number of tag identifying information corresponds to the number of roll forming materials K. Also, the control number shown inFIG. 4Ais increased every time the roll forming material K is formed, which means that the larger the number is, the longer the forming time is.

FIG. 4Bshows the weight and the moisture of the roll forming material K and the tag identifying information associated with each other by the relating part43. As shown inFIG. 4B, the relating part43refers to the management number corresponding to the predetermined date, and relates the weight and moisture corresponding to the roll forming material K having the smallest management number with the tag identifying information having the smallest number of the plurality of pieces of tag identifying information.

In addition, the relating part43associates the weight and moisture corresponding to the roll forming material K having the largest management number with the tag identifying information having the largest number among the plurality of pieces of tag identifying information. That is, the relating part43arranges the management number and the tag identifying information sequentially, and associates the weight and moisture corresponding to the management numbers arranged in order with the tag identifying information. The associated forming material information (the weight, the moisture) and the tag identifying information are stored in the second storage part44by the associating part43.

InFIG. 4A, the obtaining part41of the server40acquires the weight and moisture, but when the obtained forming material information is only the weight, as a matter of course, the relating part43associates the weight and the tag identifying information with each other. In addition, when the acquired forming material information is only the moisture, the relating part43associates the moisture with the tag identifying information.

When the time (the start time, the end time, the discharge time) is included in the forming material information, the weight and moisture and the tags can be related to each other, using the times (the start time, the end time, the discharge time) instead of the management number.

FIG. 5Ashows the weight, the moisture, the discharge time, and the tag identifying information acquired by the obtaining part41of the roll forming material K at a predetermined date (for example, Oct. 3, 2016). As shown inFIG. 5A, no control number is attached to the forming material information.

FIG. 5Bshows the forming material information and tag identifying information associated by the relating part43. As shown inFIG. 5B, the relating part43refers to the discharge time of the roll forming material K at a predetermined date, and associates the weight and the moisture of the latest discharge time in the forming material information with the tag identifying information of the smallest number among the plurality of pieces of tag identifying information.

In addition, the relating part43associates the weight and moisture having the latest discharge time in the forming material information with the tag identifying information having the largest number among the plurality of tag identifying information. The relating part43may associate the weight and moisture of the roll forming material K with the tag identifying information using the start time, the end time, and the like.

That is, the relating part43associates the weight and moisture with the tag identifying information based on the time (the start time, the end time, the discharge time) included in the forming material information. When the forming material information is only time (the start time, the end time, the discharge time), the relating part43associates the time with the tag identifying information.

As described above, the crops management system includes the information output device10that outputs the forming material information, the RFID tag30that stores the identifying information of the forming material K, and the management device40. Thus, it is possible to grasp the roll forming material K only by reading the tag identifying information provided on the roll forming material K with the RFID reader50or the like and outputting it to the management device40, without describing the information (the date, the agriculture, and the like.) on the roll forming material K by handwriting on the surface of the roll forming material K or the like in order to distinguish the roll forming material K discharged to the farmer by the operator.

For example, when the information output device10has the weight detection device12, the weight of the roll forming material K can be grasped based on the tag identifying information associated with the relating part43of the management device40, as shown inFIG. 4B.

In addition, when the information output device10has the moisture detection device13, it is possible to grasp the moisture of the roll forming material K based on the tag identifying information associated by the associating portion43of the management device40.

When the information output device10has the time counting device14, the time (the forming time, the start time, the end time, the discharge time) can be grasped based on the tag identifying information associated with the relating part43of the management device40.

For example, as shown inFIG. 6, the roll forming material K formed by the roll baler20is stacked at the storage location J and stored. In many cases, the orientation of the RFID tag30in a plurality of roll forming materials K is not constant, and the position of the RFID tag30may not be seen from a predetermined position as indicated by a broken line in some cases.

However, by holding the RFID reader50over a predetermined roll forming material K stacked in the storage location J, the identifying information of the RFID tag30can be read. By transmitting the read identifying information to the server40, it is possible to grasp the weight, the moisture, the start time, the end time, the discharge time, and the like of the predetermined roll forming material K.

As shown inFIG. 1, the RFID reader50preferably has a requesting part54. The requesting part54is composed of a program and the like stored in the RFID reader50. The requesting part54requests the management device40for forming material information associated with the tag identifying information read by the reading part51.

Specifically, the requesting part54outputs a request for forming material information together with tag identifying information to the server40. The server40refers to the second storage part44based on a request from the requesting part54of the RFID reader50and extracts the forming material information associated with the tag identifying information corresponding to the request.

In addition, the server40transmits the extracted forming material information to the RFID reader50which made the request for the forming material information. After receiving the forming material information transmitted from the server40, the RFID reader50displays the forming material information obtained by the request of the requesting part54on the display part53.

In the above-described embodiment, the forming material information is transmitted from the communication device11provided in the roll baler20directly to the server40. However, after transmitting the forming material information to the operator computer60, the forming material information may be transmitted from the operator computer60to the server40.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7shows the crops management system according to the second embodiment. The second embodiment is a modification of the crops management system shown in the first embodiment. Descriptions of configurations similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

As shown inFIG. 7, the roll baler20includes an RFID tag30, that is, an RFID reader (a wireless tag reader)70capable of receiving the identifying information of a wireless tag. For convenience of explanation, the RFID reader70provided in the roll baler20is referred to as a mounted reader. Like the RFID reader50of the first embodiment, the mounted reader70includes a reading part51. The configuration of the reading part51is the same as that of the first embodiment, so its description is omitted.

The mounted leader70is provided in the vicinity of the discharge portion28or the discharge portion28for discharging the forming material K formed by the forming portion27. Specifically, the discharge portion28is formed of a rectangular cover or the like that is openable and closable with respect to the housing portion26, and is provided on the rear surface, the side surface, or the like of the cover. The reading part51of the mounted reader70is oriented inward of the cover and can detect the tag identifying information attached to the roll forming material K as described later.

The mounted reader70is connected to the communication device11. Every time the roll forming material K is discharged from the discharging unit28, the reading part51of the mounted leader70reads the information of the RFID tag30attached to the roll forming material K and transmits the read tag identifying information to the communication device11. Upon receiving the tag identifying information, the communication device11outputs the tag identifying information to the server40or the like.

In addition, the communication device11transmits the forming material information to the server40. In the mounted reader70, the same function as that of the communication device11may be provided so that the tag reader70transmits the tag identifying information directly to the server40.

There are various methods for attaching the RFID tag30of the roll forming material K. For example, the RFID tag30is attached to the packing material29for packing the roll forming material K in advance, and the packaging material29is wound by the winding mechanism, whereby the RFID tag30is attached to the roll forming material K.

Alternatively, a pasting machine may be provided for affixing the RFID tag30to the roll forming material K to the forming apparatus23of the roll baler20, and when the packing material29is wound around the roll forming material K by the winding mechanism, the pasting machine may attach the RFID tag30to the material29. The attachment of the RFID tag30to the roll forming material K is not limited to this, and other methods may be employed.

The server40receives the tag identifying information transmitted from the communication device11or the mounted reader70. In addition, the server40receives the forming material information transmitted from the communication device11. The relating part43and the second storage part44of the server40are the same as those in the first embodiment.

According to the crops management system of the second embodiment, every time the roll forming material K is discharged from the roll baler20, the mounted leader70can automatically acquire the tag identifying information attached to the roll forming material K, the acquisition of the tag identifying information attached to the roll forming material K can be automated.

When transmitting the tag identifying information from the communication device11or the mounted reader70to the server40, the user information is registered in the communication device11or the mounted reader70in advance, and the communication device11or the mounted reader70together with the tag identifying information may be transmitted to the server40.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the forming material information and the tag identifying information are transmitted from the communication device11or the mounting reader70provided in the roll baler20directly to the server40. However, instead of this, the forming material information and the tag identifying information may be transmitted to the server40via the operator computer60.

In the case of going through the operator computer60, it is not necessary to register the user information in the communication device11and the mounted reader70, and the user is registered in the operator computer60and the operator computer60sends the user's information to the server40when transmitting the forming material information and the tag identifying information may be transmitted, the user information being registered in the operator computer60.

In the above description, the embodiment of the present invention has been explained. However, all the features of the embodiment disclosed in this application should be considered just as examples, and the embodiment does not restrict the present invention accordingly. A scope of the present invention is shown not in the above-described embodiment but in claims, and is intended to include all modifications within and equivalent to a scope of the claims.

The information output device10may be a detection device that measures and outputs protein of the forming material K as a device that outputs forming material information, or a detection device that measures and outputs vitamins of the forming material K, or may be a detection device that measures and outputs the starch value of the forming material K or a detection device that measures and outputs the fiber quality of the forming material K.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the identifying information of the RFID tag30and the forming material information are associated, but in addition to this, the position of the work and the forming material information may be associated with each other. For example, a position detecting device for detecting a position based on a signal of a positioning satellite such as GPS may be provided in any one of the forming machine20, the RFID reader50, and the operator computer60, and the position detected by the position detecting device and the formed material information may be related to each other.

In addition, it is also possible to previously input the grass type (the crops type) to the forming machine20, the management device40, the RFID reader50, the operator computer60, and the like, and the crops type may be associated with the forming material information.