Abstract:
Variable marks are applied to the outside of bales of hay that assign each bale to a group based on pre-selected parameters collected during baling.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a related to: 
         [0002]    U.S. application Ser. No. 13/573,461, A method for Calculating Feed Value of Alfalfa Hay Using Information Available at Time of Baling filed Sep. 17, 2012. 
         [0003]    A System and method for identifying bales of hay, U.S. Pat. No. 7,415,924 B2. 
         [0004]    A System and Method for Identifying Bales of Hay, U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,111 B2. 
       THE NAMES OF PARTIES ON A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0005]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0006]    Not Applicable. 
       DESCRIPTION 
     BACKGROUND 
       [0007]    The primary use of hay that is packaged by a baling implement is to feed livestock. Hay is cut, sometimes raked or otherwise manipulated, and then can be packaged with a baling implement. Each individual bale has different values of feeding quality even though multiple bales can appear the same especially when viewed from the exterior of the bale. The differences in feeding quality for each bale are a result of variation in multiple factors, most notably, the properties of the crop before it is cut, the moisture of the hay as it is baled, the duration between cutting and harvesting and the effect of later manipulation on the windrow. These factors can be measured during the baling process by methods such as sensing position of the baler in the field as it is baling, recording the time and date of baling, determining moisture with sensors mounted in the baler, and density calculations of the bale that indicates the feed quality of the bale as disclosed by Roberts in A method for Calculating Feed Value of Alfalfa Hay Using Information Available at Time of Baling. In the system and method that has been invented, factors affecting feed quality are measured at time of baling, values are grouped by a processor and exterior markings are applied to each bale based on the group the measured value places the bale in. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A device to apply multiple variations of exterior markings to bales of hay receives commands from a processor that determines which variation to apply based on inputs from sensors reading values of the bale being marked. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a view of a baler showing the relationship of the sensors and an embodiment of the invention using multiple marking devices. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is one embodiment using a single color marking with multiple application devises. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A baler  1  picks up loose hay from a windrow  2  and processes it as a compressed packaged bale  3 . Sensors for moisture  4  typically read moisture in the compressed bale. Sensors for weight typically read the amount for each individual bale after it is completely formed which is at the rear of the baler which can be accomplished by reading one or more load cells  5 . Sensors that read the position at which the bale is made are typically a GPS receiver  6 . A baler may equipped with any or all of these sensors or with alternative sensors. When moisture sensors  4  and a weight sensor  5  are located on the baler, density of the bale can be calculated after adjusting the weight of the bale to 100% dry mater based on readings for the moisture sensors. The density of the bales which is the bale weight corrected to 100% dry matter divided by the cubic area has a strong correlation to the feed quality in an alfalfa bale as disclosed by Robert in A method for Calculating Feed Value of Alfalfa Hay Using Information Available at Time of Baling. 
         [0012]    As these sensors collect values for the bales as they are formed, they can be sent to a processor. Looking at the values, the processor can group the values based on user inputs of ranges of values. As an example, if the input of moisture is a desired factor for grouping bales, the parameters of grouping could be as follows: all bales under 10% moisture designated as part of group 1; all bales between 10% and 15% moisture designated as part of group 2; all bales between 15% and 20% moisture designated part of group 3. Any other sensor input could be grouped in a similar fashion. 
         [0013]    Based on grouping, bales will be marked by a device that is capable of applying differential marks to the exterior of the bale. In one embodiment, this device is a sprayer that is mounted in a position so that it can spray the outside of the bale. In this embodiment, the sprayer is equipped with multiple reservoirs  7 ,  8  and  9  each carrying a different color of dye used to mark the exterior of the bale. In this embodiment, each reservoir is equipped with its individual pump  10 ,  11  and  12 . Each pump is then connected to a spray device  13 ,  14  and  15  which are arranged on the baler to spray on the exterior of the bale with a differential mark  16 . As an example, reservoir  7  could have red dye and if the processor was set to group bales between 10% and 15% moisture, all bales within that range would have a red mark. In this example, if reservoir  8  had blue dye in it and the processor was set to group all bales between 15% and 20% as the second group, all bales within that range would have a blue mark. To further the example, if reservoir  9  had black dye in it and the processor was set to group all bales over 20% as a third group, all ales over 20% would have a black mark. 
         [0014]    The processor has grouped readings from sensors according to user input ranges. The processor will output a signal to a designated pump  10 ,  11  and  12  for each group. The designed pump for the group will apply a spray mark on the exterior of the bale that is a distinct color or shape. As an example, reservoir  7  could have red dye and if the processor was set to group bales between 10% and 15% moisture, all bales within that range would have a red mark. In this example, if reservoir  8  had blue dye in it and the processor was set to group all bales between 15% and 20% as the second group, all bales within that range would have a blue mark. To further the example, if reservoir  9  had black dye in it and the processor was set to group all bales over 20% as a third group, all ales over 20% would have a black mark. Additionally a forth group could be distinguished by not having a mark. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of this invention, only one reservoir  17  is used with just one color of dye. The designated pumps  18 ,  19  and  20  are supplied from that individual reservoir. Each designated pump is connected to designated spray devices  21 ,  22  and  23 . The processor groups the bales based on the selected values and controls which pump or combination of pumps should apply a mark to the bale. In the case. The marks are the same color, and bales are distinguished by the number of the same color or marks that are applied to the bale. As a matter of example, the first t group could have one mark  24 , a second group could have 2 marks  24  and  25 , and a third group could have three marks  24 ,  25  and  26 . Additionally, a forth group could be distinguished by not having a mark. 
         [0016]    in the case where multiple sensor inputs are used to calculate a further value such as using weight and moisture to calculate density to derive feed quality, the processor will perform the required calculations before grouping the bales. Moisture readings are taken from a sensor  4  and sent to the processor. Weight readings are taken from sensor  5  and sent to the processor. The processor then calculates a density by correcting the weight to 100% dry matter, and then dividing that weight by the cubic area of the bale to get a dry density of the bale. Based on values for dry density that have been input, the processor determines which variation of marking to apply to the bale thru spray devices  13 ,  14  and  15  or  21 ,  22  and  23 .