Method of operating an agricultural baler

1. A method of operating an agricultural baler, comprising the steps of:

measuring with a sensor at least one physical input parameter associated with a compression profile of crop material in a bale chamber of the baler, wherein a plunger is configured for reciprocation within the bale chamber for compressing the crop material;

analyzing the compression profile of the crop material with a controller, dependent upon the measured at least one physical input parameter; and

adjusting at least one physical output parameter of the baler using a controller which affects the compression profile of the crop material in the bale chamber;

wherein analyzing the compression profile comprises:

performing a compression analysis and a relaxation analysis of the crop material within the bale chamber during bale formation.

2. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein each said physical input parameter is directly associated with the bale chamber.

3. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 2 , wherein each said physical input parameter comprises one of:

a force on the plunger which reciprocates within the bale chamber;

a position of the plunger within the main bale chamber;

a position of at least one structural component defining the bale chamber; and

a deformation of the crop material along a length of the bale chamber.

4. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 3 , wherein said at least one physical input parameter includes the force on the plunger and the position of the plunger, which are correlated to each other.

5. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 4 , wherein the position of the plunger is determined by measuring a rotation of a flywheel associated with the plunger, and a dead point associated with a change in direction of the plunger.

6. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 3 , wherein said at least one structural component defining the bale chamber includes a pair of side doors and a top door.

7. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 3 , wherein at least one length wheel located within the bale chamber is used to measure the deformation of the crop material along the length of the bale chamber.

8. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 7 , wherein each length wheel is located in a floor of the bale chamber.

9. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 1 , wherein each said physical output parameter is directly associated with the bale chamber.

10. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 9 , wherein each said physical output parameter comprises one of:

a position of one or more side walls associated with the bale chamber;

a fixed length of the bale chamber; and

a cross-sectional shape of the bale chamber.

11. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 1 , including repeating the steps of measuring, analyzing and adjusting in a feedback loop to optimize performance of the baler.

12. The method of operating an agricultural baler of claim 11 , wherein the optimization is carried out with respect to energy consumption of the baler and the compression profile of the crop material.

13. A method of operating an agricultural baler, comprising the steps of:

measuring with a sensor at least one physical input parameter associated with a compression profile of crop material in a bale chamber of the baler;

analyzing the compression profile of the crop material with a controller, dependent upon the measured at least one physical input parameter; and

adjusting the at least one physical output parameter of the baler using a controller which affects the compression profile of the crop material in the bale chamber;

wherein the step of analyzing the compression profile includes:

performing a compression analysis of the crop material that utilizes the mathematical expression:

σ

X

=

K

0

b

c

⁢

(

e

b

c

⁡

(

ρ

ρ

0

-

1

)

-

1

⁢

)

where:

σ x =uniaxial stress;

K 0 =crop parameter identifying material behavior;

b c =crop parameter identifying material behavior;

ρ 0 =initial density; and

ρ=resulting density.

14. A method of operating an agricultural baler, comprising the steps of:

measuring with a sensor at least one physical input parameter associated with a compression profile of crop material in a bale chamber of the baler;

analyzing the compression profile of the crop material with a controller, dependent upon the measured at least one physical input parameter; and

adjusting at least one physical output parameter of the baler using a controller which affects the compression profile of the crop material in the bale chamber;

wherein the step of analyzing the compression profile includes:

performing a relaxation analysis of the crop material that utilizes the mathematical expression:

F

0

⁢

t

F

0

-

F

⁡

(

t

)

=

k

1

+

k

2

⁢

t

where:

F 0 is the force at the beginning of the relaxation;

t is time; and

k1 and k2 are empirical parameters.

15. An agricultural baler control system for a baler having a pre chamber and a bale chamber having a plunger configured for reciprocation within the bale chamber for compressing crop material, comprising:

a sensor configured for measuring at least one physical input parameter associated with a compression profile of crop material in a bale chamber of the baler;

a controller connected to the sensor, the controller configured for analyzing the compression profile of the crop material in the bale chamber being compressed by the plunger of the baler during a baling cycle, dependent upon the measured at least one physical input parameter, wherein analyzing the compression profile comprises performing a mathematical compression and relaxation analysis of the crop material within the bale chamber; and

wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one physical output parameter of the baler which affects the compression profile of the crop material in the bale chamber.