Crop merger system for harvester and methods of using the same
The disclosure relates to a crop merger system for a harvester. The system includes a frame, first and second rollers mounted to the frame, and a belt disposed over the first and second rollers. The system includes a motor operably coupled to and configured to rotate the second roller. The system includes a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt. The system includes a sensor configured to detect a measured characteristic associated with the crop merger system, and electronically transmit the measured characteristic to the controller. The controller is configured to determine a measured speed of the belt based on the measured characteristic, and if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed.
1. A crop merger system for a harvester, comprising:
a frame;
a mounting assembly mounted to the frame, the mounting assembly configured to operably couple the crop merger system to the harvester, the mounting assembly comprising a central frame member, and a first linkage and a second linkage pivotably mounted to the central frame member;
a first roller rotatably mounted to the frame;
a second roller rotatably mounted to the frame;
a belt disposed over and extending between the first and second rollers;
a motor mounted to the frame and operably coupled to the second roller, the motor configured to rotate the second roller;
a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt; and
a sensor configured to detect a measured characteristic associated with the crop merger system, and further configured to electronically transmit the measured characteristic to the controller,
wherein the controller is configured to determine a measured speed of the belt based on the measured characteristic, and
wherein if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is further configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed.
2. The crop merger system of claim 1 , wherein the desired speed is a range of desired speeds.
3. The crop merger system of claim 2 , wherein the frame comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the first roller is rotatably mounted at or near the distal end of the frame, and the second roller is rotatably mounted at or near the proximal end of the frame.
4. The crop merger system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an optical sensor, a non-contact sensor, or a rotary sensor.
5. The crop merger system of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises a shaft operably coupled to the second roller, rotation of the shaft configured to simultaneously rotate the second roller.
6. The crop merger system of claim 5 , wherein the measured characteristic comprises a rotational speed of the shaft of the motor, and the controller is configured to determine the measured speed of the belt based on the rotational speed of the shaft of the motor.
7. The crop merger system of claim 1 , wherein the measured characteristic comprises a rotational speed of the second roller, and the controller is configured to determine the measured speed of the belt based on the rotational speed of the second roller.
8. The crop merger system of claim 1 , wherein the measured characteristic comprises a rotational speed of the belt, and the controller is further configured to correlate the rotational speed of the belt with the measured speed of the belt.
9. The crop merger system of claim 1 , further comprising a guide coupled to one side surface of the frame.
10. The crop merger system of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic cylinder pivotably coupled at one end to the central frame member and pivotably coupled at an opposing end to the first linkage.
11. The crop merger system of claim 1 , wherein the second linkage is pivotably coupled at one end to the central frame member and pivotably coupled at an opposing end to the first linkage.
12. The crop merger system of claim 1 , further comprising connecting rods pivotably coupled at one end to the first linkage and at an opposing end to the frame.
13. A harvester, comprising:
a harvester frame comprising a front section and a bottom section;
a header removably coupled to the harvester frame; and
a crop merger system mounted to the harvester frame, the crop merger system comprising:
a crop merger frame;
a first roller rotatably mounted to the crop merger frame;
a second roller rotatably mounted to the crop merger frame;
a belt disposed over and extending between the first and second rollers;
a motor mounted to the crop merger frame and operably coupled to the second roller, the motor configured to rotate the second roller;
a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt; and
a sensor configured to detect a measured characteristic associated with the crop merger system, and further configured to electronically transmit the measured characteristic to the controller,
wherein the controller is configured to determine a measured speed of the belt based on the measured characteristic,
wherein if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is further configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed, and
wherein the header is removably coupled to the front section of the harvester frame, and the crop merger system is coupled to the bottom section of the harvester frame.
14. The harvester of claim 13 , wherein the crop merger system further comprises a mounting assembly coupled at one end to the crop merger frame and coupled at an opposing end to the harvester frame.
15. The harvester of claim 13 , further comprising a cab with a user interface, the user interface configured to receive as input from an operator the desired speed of the belt.
16. The harvester of claim 15 , wherein the user interface is communicatively connected to the controller.
17. A crop merger system for a harvester, comprising:
a frame comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
a mounting assembly mounted to the frame, the mounting assembly configured to operably couple the crop merger system to a harvester, the mounting assembly comprising a central frame member, and a first linkage and a second linkage pivotably mounted to the central frame member;
a first roller rotatably mounted to the frame at or near the distal end;
a second roller rotatably mounted to the frame at or near the proximal end;
a belt disposed over and extending between the first and second rollers;
a motor mounted to the frame and operably coupled to the second roller, the motor configured to rotate the second roller;
a controller configured to electronically receive as input a desired speed of the belt; and
a sensor configured to detect a measured speed of the belt, and further configured to electronically transmit the measured speed of the belt to the controller,
wherein if the desired speed and the measured speed are unequal, the controller is configured to regulate the motor to adjust a speed of the belt to be substantially equal to the desired speed.