Abstract:
An automatic conveyor shutoff system for a farm implement, such as a grain cart or seed tender, includes a conveying device and a storage bin. The conveying device is configured to convey material into or from the storage bin. A weighing device measures the weight of the storage bin and outputs a signal representing the weight to a controller. The controller is configured to disable the conveying device when the weight reaches a preset limit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/554,740 filed Sep. 4, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/031,867 filed Feb. 15, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, which claimed the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/901,321 filed on Feb. 15, 2007, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a control system for a grain or seed carrier. More particularly, the present invention relates to a control system for a conveyor that can turn on or off the conveyor based on the amount of material being conveyed. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Farm implements (e.g., seed tenders, weigh wagons, grain carts, etc.) utilize conveyor systems to move material. Current conveyor systems for moving grain, seed, etc. from farm implements require an operator to manually control the conveyor system. Conventionally, the operator turns ON the conveyor manually, then manually monitors the conveying of the material until a desired amount of material is moved. At this point, the operator manually disables or turns OFF the conveyor system. 
         [0006]    Some implements utilize weight measuring devices (e.g., scales), which may be coupled with an indicator, for measuring and displaying the weight (or relative weight) of material in a bin of the farm implement. Scale indicators can include an alarm mechanism, such as a buzzer or light, to let an operator know when a desired weight has been met. Such scale indicators can include a batch system, or preset value, that can be used for repeating a set weight (e.g., the alarm could be triggered every hundred pounds). 
         [0007]    Current systems require an operator to be present to monitor manually the alarm associated with the scale indicator and to manually control the conveyor system. However, such manual operation is highly susceptible to human error. 
         [0008]    Thus, there is a need for a new and improved conveyor shutoff system that automatically turns off the conveyor when a desired weight has been achieved. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for automatically controlling the conveying of material from a conveying device for a farm implement is provided. The implement may include a storage bin configured to store a material and a conveying device for moving material from the bin. The conveying device may be an auger, belt conveyor or other conventional conveyor. The system further includes a scale configured to measure the weight of the material in the storage bin and/or the material being conveyed. A controller is coupled with and in communication with the scale. The controller is configured to disable conveying device when the weight of the material in the storage bin achieves a pre-set weight limit. 
         [0010]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the system for automatically controlling the conveying of material from a conveying device may include a user input device configured to allow a user to enter at least one weight limit. The preset weight limit can be set to the entered weight limit(s). According to another embodiment of the present invention, the system may include a user control switch configured to allow a user to manually activate and disable the conveying device. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the weighing device may include a scale display indicator that displays the weight of the bin and outputs an alarm signal when the weight of the material in the storage bin reaches a present limit. The controller may be coupled with the scale display such that it receives the alarm signal and controls the conveyor in response to the alarm signal. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the controller is configured to disable the conveyor upon receiving the alarm signal from the scale indicator. 
         [0012]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the conveying device is a motor driven belt conveyor. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage bin can include a discharge and the conveying device input is positioned to receive material from the storage bin discharge. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the conveying device discharge is positioned over the storage bin. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the system for automatically controlling the conveying of material from a conveying device can include a conveyor control valve electronically coupled to the controller and configured to receive a signal from the controller and disable the conveying device upon receiving the signal. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor control valve includes a throttle actuator. 
         [0014]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling the amount of material output from a conveyor includes conveying material from a storage hopper and monitoring the weight of the storage hopper with an electronic scale. The method further includes providing one or more preset weight alarms and sending a signal, with the electronic scale, representing the weight of the storage hopper to a controller. The method also includes determining if the weight of the hopper meets or exceeds the present weight alarm and, with a controller, electronically controlling the conveyor to disable the conveyor when it is determined that the weight of the hopper meets the present weight alarm. 
         [0015]    According to one embodiment, a control system is provided that ties together the scale indicator, the electric on/off of the conveying device, and an operator control switch. A programmable multi-switch was set up to perform this task. When the scale indicator reaches the set weight and sends a signal out, the multi-switch receives this signal and turns the conveying device off. To restart the conveying device, the operator is required to turn the operator control switch off and then back on. This will signal the multi-switch to restart the conveying device. The multi-switch sends a signal to the scale indicator to reset the indicator for the next weighing cycle, and the scale indicator will begin the next cycle. The operator control switch is also tied in such that it will turn the conveying device off at any time, and will allow it to be restarted. In addition, the multi-switch defaults to the off position, so that anytime power is lost, the conveying device turns off. This also means that at start up, the conveying device will always be off, and there is no chance of it being in mid-cycle. 
         [0016]    The above and/or other aspects, features and/or advantages of various embodiments will be further appreciated in view of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Various embodiments can include or exclude different aspects, features, or advantages where applicable. In addition, various embodiments can combine one or more aspects, features, or advantages where applicable. The descriptions of the aspects, features, or advantages of a particular embodiment should not be construed as limiting any other embodiment of the claimed invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a basic schematic of an automatic conveyor shutoff system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a seed carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a seed carrier in an unloading position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a seed carrier in a loading position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a belt conveyor for the seed carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a forward view of a conveyor belt wrapping around a roller according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a view of the conveyor hopper of a conveyor in an unloading position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, a number of illustrative embodiments are described herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as providing examples of the principles of the invention and such examples are not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodiment described herein and/or illustrated herein. 
         [0025]    In embodiments of the present invention, an automatic conveyor shutoff system is configured to monitor the quantity of material that has been discharged or loaded and to automatically shutoff a conveyor when a specified quantity of material to be discharged or loaded has been achieved. The following includes non-limiting examples of an automatic conveyor control system according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the following examples are provided for illustration and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described herein. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a basic schematic of a conveyor system  100  having a shutoff controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  includes a multi-switch or control  110  coupled with a weigh scale display  130 , a conveyor control valve  140  and an operator switch  150 . The multi-switch  110  may include a battery  112 , an electrical output  114 , an electrical input  116 , at least one operator switch input  118  and  120 , and an output  122 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical output  114  of the multi-switch is electrically connected to the conveyor control valve  140 . The weigh scale display  130  may include a battery  132 , an electrical output  134 , an input  136 , and a display (not shown). In an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical output  134  of the weigh scale display  130  is electrically connected to the electrical input  116  of the multi-switch and the input  136  of the scale indicator is connected to the output  122  of the multi-switch. The conveyor control valve  140  may be an electric or hydraulic solenoid depending on the conveyor driver. In another embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor control valve  140  may be a high speed throttle actuator. In an embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor control valve  140  can be any electric on/off switch system. 
         [0027]    The weigh scale display  130  may be configured to determine the weight of the material that has been loaded into or discharged from a conveying device from a weigh system (not shown). An exemplary system that could be employed with the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,490, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. When the amount of material that has been loaded into or discharged from the conveying device has achieved a preset weight limit, the electrical output  134  of the scale indicator sends a signal that is received by the electrical input  116  of the multi-switch. Upon receiving the signal, the multi-switch  110  controls the conveyor control valve  140 —via the electrical output  114 —to turn off the conveying device. 
         [0028]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the weigh scale indicator  130  can include an input configured to allow a user to enter at least one preset limit into the scale indicator  130 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the multi-switch  110  can be configured to enter a preset limit into the weigh scale indicator  130  by sending a signal from output  122  to input  136  of the scale indicator. Alternatively, a digital controller or processor could be employed to monitor the quantity of material that has been discharged or loaded directly. 
         [0029]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the automatic conveyor shutoff system  100  includes an operator control switch  150 . The operator control switch  150  is configured to allow a user to manually turn off the conveying device prior to the weight achieving the preset limit. The operator control switch  150  may be a radio remote unit or corded controls. Further, the operator control switch  150  can be used to turn on the conveying device. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the weigh scale indicator  130  is configured to perform batch processing—a preset value can be used for repeating a set weight—in order to unload material in batches. After the conveying device has completed one cycle of loading or unloading material, a user can use the operator control switch  150  to signal the multi-switch  110  to repeat the cycle. The multi-switch  110  communicates with the scale indicator  130  by sending a signal from output  122  to input  136  of the scale indicator. The multi-switch  110  also controls the conveyor control valve  140  to turn on the conveying device. 
         [0031]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the automatic conveyor shutoff system  100  includes a power supply  160 . The power supply  160  can be an independent power supply for the automatic conveyor shutoff system  100  or it can be the power supply of the conveying device using the automatic conveyor shutoff system. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a diagram depicting a seed carrier having a tube conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. The seed carrier  200  is shown in an unloading position. The seed carrier  200  includes a storage bin or main hopper  205  coupled to a frame  207  by legs  206 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the conveying device is a conveyor  204 . The conveyor  204  can be supported by an assembly, such as one formed by support arm  202  coupled with a pivoting mechanism  201  fixed to the frame  207 . The conveyor  204  may be pivotably coupled with the support arm by a coupling  203  at a point that is preferably near or at the center of gravity of the conveyor  204 . The conveyor  204  may also be coupled to the support arm  202  by a latching mechanism at the bottom of the conveyor. The latch allows the conveyor  204  to be uncoupled from the support arm  202  at the bottom so that the conveyor is free to rotate about the coupling  203 . By positioning the coupling  203  at or near the center of gravity of the conveyor  204 , the conveyor  204  can balance on the pivoting coupling  203  such that little effort is required to rotate the conveyor  204 . 
         [0033]    The conveyor  204  may include a conveyor hopper  208  at its base, which is shown in the unloading position below the gravity discharge  210  of the main hopper  205 . At the other end of the conveyor  204  is the discharge  212 . Seed can be gravity feed from the main hopper  205  into the conveyor hopper  208 , which can then be moved to the discharge  212  of the conveyor  204  by an internal elevator (not shown). In one embodiment, the elevator is a motor-driven belt type elevator coupled onto rollers at both ends of the conveyor. The belt of the elevator may be a flat belt, a crescent belt or a cleated belt. In an embodiment of the present invention, the motor-driven belt type elevator coupled onto rollers at both ends of the conveyor includes a centrifugal clutch. The conveyor  204  may be driven by a mechanical, hydraulic or electric means. 
         [0034]    When the seed carrier  200  is in the unloading position, the automatic conveyor control system  100  can regulate the amount of material unloaded from the main hopper  205  by the conveyor  204 . A weigh or scale system (not shown) measures the weight of a material stored in the main hopper  205  and provides data to the weigh scale indicator. When the weight of the material unloaded from the main hopper  205  achieves a preset limit, the scale indicator  130  sends a signal to the multi-switch  110 . The multi-switch  110  then turns off the conveyor  204  via the conveyor control valve  140 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor control valve  140  is a throttle actuator that causes the engine to idle and the centrifugal clutch of the conveyor to disengage. In an embodiment of the present invention, a user may turn the conveyor  204  back on using the operator control switch  150 , and the conveyor  204  will unload material from the main hopper  205  until the next preset limit is achieved. 
         [0035]    The seed carrier  200  may be transported by conventional means such as on a trailer.  FIG. 3  illustrates the seed carrier  200  on a three axle trailer  300  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the conveyor  204  is in the unloading position. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates the seed carrier  200  in the loading position. As shown, the conveyor  204  can be uncoupled from the support arm  202  at its base and rotated 180 degrees about pivot coupling  203  so that the conveyor hopper  208  is positioned at a convenient location away from the carrier while the discharge  212  of the conveyor  204  is located over the main hopper  205 . A stand  407  is provided for holding the conveyor hopper  208  in place. The stand  407  may be integrated with the conveyor  204 . 
         [0037]    Accordingly, in the loading position, grain, seed or like can be fed into the conveyor hopper  208  to be moved to the discharge  212  for filling the main hopper  205 . 
         [0038]    When the seed carrier  200  is in the loading position, the automatic conveyor control system can regulate the amount of material being loaded into the main hopper  205  in a similar fashion. The weigh system measures the weight of the material loaded into the main hopper  205 . When the weight of the material loaded into the main hopper  205  achieves a preset limit, the scale indicator  130  sends a signal to the multi-switch  110 . The multi-switch  110  then turns off the conveyor  204  via the conveyor control valve  140 . In an embodiment of the present invention, a user may turn the conveyor  204  back on using the operator control switch  150 , and the conveyor  204  will load material into the main hopper  205  until the next preset limit is achieved. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The conveying device is a motor driven belt conveyor  104 . The conveyor  104  comprises a belt  502  that winds about a pair of rollers  504 . The rollers are positioned outside a tube section  506 , a first roller being positioned in the discharge  112  and a second roller being positioned below the conveyor hopper  108 . A motor (not shown) or other means for turning the rollers may be provided at either end of the conveyor. A void  507  exists below the rollers  504  to allow the belt  502  to travel on its return path. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a view of a conveyor belt according to an embodiment of the present invention. The discharge end of a conveyor is shown where a conveyor belt wraps around a motor driven roller  602 . The motor may be a hydraulic motor and therefore, hydraulic hoses  604  provide hydraulic fluid flow to and from the motor. Teeth  606  are provided to push grain or seed up the conveyor. As shown, the conveyor belt is cupped in the tube section but flattens out as it reaches the roller  602 . Channeling members (seals)  608  are provided on each side of the belt to form a seal and prevent grain or seed from falling off the edges of the belt as the belt begins to conform to the tubular portion of the conveyor  104 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the hopper end of the conveyor  104 . As shown, conveyor hopper  208  sits above in ingress to the conveyor  104 . When coupled to the support arm  202 , as shown, the conveyor hopper  208  is positioned below a discharge of the main hopper  210 . The discharge  210  may be opened by conventional means. As showed, a wheel handle mechanism  704  is provided for opening the discharge doors  706 . 
         [0042]    The conveyor hopper  208  is preferably manufactured from light weight materials such as plastic, canvas, rubber or vinyl. As shown, the hopper  208  may include a mechanism for opening and closing the hopper  208 . In this embodiment, a flexible coupling or hinge is provided at one end  708  of the hopper  208  and a mechanism  710  is provided at another end of the hopper  208  and is coupled with the conveyor  204 , such that the hopper  208  may be made to have an appropriate fit with the discharge  210  of the main hopper  205 . A flap  712  can be provided at the bottom of the discharge  110 . 
         [0043]    Thus, a number of preferred embodiments have been fully described above with reference to the drawing figures. Although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions could be made to the described embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the conveyor controller could be built into the same processor as is used for a digital scale. A computerized method could be provided for controlling the conveyer.