JPH0790877B2 - Device for detecting remaining amount of contained object in hopper - Google Patents

Description

Description: (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a residual quantity detection device for an object to be stored in a hopper, such as a fertilizer applicator or a seeder, which is used to store residual fertilizer and seeds stored in the hopper. The present invention relates to a detection device that detects an amount.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, when fertilization work or seeding work is performed by a fertilizer applicator or a sowing machine, fertilizers or seeds are stored in a hopper, and these fertilizers or seeds are distributed from the hopper. is doing.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) By the way, when fertilization work or seeding work is performed by the fertilizer applicator or seeder as described above, the remaining amount of the fertilizer or seeds contained in the hopper , It is necessary to continue when the remaining amount of the contained object becomes less than or equal to a predetermined amount, but in the past, in order to confirm the remaining amount of the contained object,
There is a problem that it is very troublesome because the operator has to stop the work once and visually check the inside of the hopper.

The object of the present invention is to use a plurality of photoelectric cells that generate electromotive force in response to light, and devise the arrangement and attachment state of these photoelectric cells to obtain the remaining amount of the contained object in the hopper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remaining amount detection device for an item to be stored in a hopper, which can accurately detect the stored item and can reliably add the item to be stored in the hopper. (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention comprises a hopper (4) made of a transparent material for accommodating a non-translucent object to be contained, and a lower position of the hopper (4) is sensitive to light. A remaining amount detecting sensor (5) formed by arranging a plurality of photocells (51) that generate electromotive force side by side in a lateral direction so that the photocells (51) are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. It is characterized by having done.

(Operation) When fertilization work or seeding work is performed, when the remaining amount detection sensor (5) is shielded from light by the contained object stored in the hopper (4), the detection sensor ( Since the electromotive force is not generated by 5) and the generated amount is small even if the electromotive force is generated, by detecting this electromotive force, the hopper (4) can store a predetermined amount or more It is possible to know that there is a thing and there is no need to carry out the step work, and the hopper (4)
When the contained object inside is consumed up to the mounting position of the detection sensor (5), the detection sensor (5) is exposed and a large electromotive force is generated. Therefore, by detecting this electromotive force, It is possible to know that the amount of the contained object in the hopper (4) becomes less than or equal to a predetermined amount, and it is necessary to perform a step of adding the contained object.

Further, since a plurality of the photocells (51) are arranged side by side in the lateral direction, and these photocells (51) are horizontally provided at the lower position of the hopper (4), the detection sensor (5 ), The amount of light received by each photocell (51) can be quickly changed from the minimum to the maximum with a slight decrease in the contained object at the detection position. It is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of the contained object in the hopper (4).

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, a remaining amount detecting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment of the drawings.

FIG. 6 shows a side fertilizer applicator 4 as an application example of the present invention.
1 shows a wheeled rice transplanter, in which a control section (2) is provided at an intermediate portion of the airframe (1), and a plurality of seedling mounts (3) are provided behind the control section (2). The seedlings mounted on the seedling mounting bases (3) are taken out by a planting claw (not shown) provided at the lower position of each seedling mounting base (3) and sequentially planted in the field, while A plurality of hoppers (4) constituting the side-row fertilizer applicator are provided behind the seedling placing table (3).

As shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hopper (4) has a hopper main body (41) having an upper end opened and a fertilizer feeding roller provided therein, and an upper end opening of the main body (41). A seedling planting work by the rice planting machine, which comprises a lid (42) to be closed and a plurality of fertilizer feeding pipes (43) extending from the lower part of the main body (41) to near the planted seedlings by the planting claws. At this time, the fertilizer (a) contained in the hopper body (41) is fed from the fertilizer feeding pipe (43) to the side portion of the planted seedling planted by the planting claw.

Thus, the hopper (4) of the fertilizer applicator as described above is provided with a residual amount detecting device for detecting the residual amount of the fertilizer (a) contained in the hopper body (41).

The remaining amount detecting device is a battery in which a plurality of photocells (51) that generate electromotive force in response to emitted light are laterally arranged in parallel, that is, a battery commercially available as a solar cell is a remaining amount detecting sensor. The detection sensor (5) is used as (5), and the sensor (5) is attached at a lower position of the hopper body (41) so that the photoelectric cells (51) are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. ), The presence or absence of fertilizer (a) in the hopper body (41) is detected by the change in electromotive force during light exposure and exposure by the fertilizer (a).
A reference value sensor (6), which is composed of a solar cell and outputs an electromotive force serving as a reference of an electromotive force at the time of exposure of the detection sensor (5), is separately formed, and this reference value sensor (6)
To the upper part of the lid body (42) of the hopper (4).
It is attached so that it can receive the light emitted to 2), and each of the remaining amount detection sensors (5) (5) and reference value sensor (6)
Each electromotive force is input to the controller (7) as shown in FIG. 8, and is generated by the controller (7), that is, between the detection sensor (5) and the reference sensor (6) in the detection circuit described later. By detecting the power difference, the remaining amount of the fertilizer (a) in the hopper body (41) is detected, and an alarm device such as a buzzer (hereinafter referred to as a buzzer) based on an output signal output from the controller (7). ) (8) gives an alarm to inform the operator that the work of replenishing the fertilizer (a) should be performed.

Incidentally, (SW) in FIG. 8 is a main switch provided in the connection circuit between the controller (7) and the battery (B).

The remaining amount detection sensor (5) is composed of a photoelectric cell (51) made of an amorphous alloy or the like and a light shield (52) for covering the side surface and the back surface of the cell (51) to shield light. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a light-shielding body (52) having a C-shaped cross-section with one side opened is formed of a black synthetic resin or the like that does not allow the irradiation light to pass therethrough. Five
A plurality of photoelectric cells (51) are laterally arranged side by side in the bottom of the recess (52a) formed in 2), and the opening of the recess (52a) of the light shield (52) is made of synthetic resin. Transparent plate (53)
The detection sensor (5) can be attached to the outer surface of the lower position of the hopper body (41) made of a transparent material by retrofitting.

By doing so, the photocell (51) is exposed to light emitted only through the transparent plate (53) from the opening side of the light shield (52), and the side surface and the back surface of the light shield (52) are exposed. Is blocked by the light rays emitted from the position facing the fertilizer (a) located in front of the transparent plate (53). Since the detection sensor (5) is attached to the hopper body (41) so that the photocells (51) are aligned in a substantially horizontal direction, the light receiving area of the detection sensor (5) is increased. However, the amount of light received by the photoelectric cell (51) can be quickly changed from the minimum to the maximum with a slight decrease amount of the fertilizer at the detection position, and the remaining amount of the fertilizer (a) in the hopper body (41) can be changed. Can be accurately detected.

The light shield (52) may have a C-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 4 or may have a concave cross section with one side open as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to form a large number of pyramidal or spherical concavo-convex portions (53a) on the outer or inner surface of the transparent plate (53) provided on the light shield (52). In such a case, the prism effect of the concave-convex portion (53a) enables comprehensive light reception with respect to a local change in illuminance, and the electromotive force generated by the photoelectric cell (51) can be stabilized.

Further, the detection sensor (5) is attached to each hopper (4). For example, the one provided with a plurality of feeding ports has one detection sensor (5) as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, the two detection sensors (5a) and (5a) may be separately provided as shown by the dotted line in FIG. Further, in this case, as shown in FIG. 7, each detection sensor (5a) (5b) is attached to the inclined portion of the lower part of the hopper body (41), and the back side of each of these detection sensors (5a) (5a) is placed on the seedling stand. They are placed so as to face (3) and are almost parallel to the seedling stand (3). Further, it is only necessary to provide one reference value sensor (6).

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the detection circuit has two input terminals, and three operational amplifiers (OA-1) (OA-2) that control the output system by comparing input signals to these terminals. ) (OA
-3), among these operational amplifiers, a plurality of remaining amount detection sensors (5) (5) ... Connected in parallel to one input terminal of the first operational amplifier (OA-1) are connected to the other input terminal. The reference value sensors (6) are connected to each other, and the reference value sensor (6) is connected to one input terminal of the second operational amplifier (OA-2) and the battery (B) is connected to the other input terminal.
On the other hand, the output terminal of the first operational amplifier (OA-1) is connected to one input terminal of the third operational amplifier (OA-3) while the other terminal is connected to the reference value sensor (6) and the reference value sensor (6). It is connected to the connection with the battery (B).

Then, an electric circuit (not shown) for connecting and disconnecting the buzzer (8) is connected to the output terminal of the third operational amplifier (OA-3), and the output terminal of the second operational amplifier (OA-2) is connected. An electric circuit (not shown) for connecting the buzzer (8) to the continuous alarm is connected.

By forming the detection circuit as described above, at the time of fertilizing work performed at the same time as the seedling work of the rice transplanter, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, the upper part of the hopper body (41) where the detection sensor (5) is attached. When the fertilizer (a) is stored up to and the detection sensor (5) is shielded by the stored fertilizer (a), an electromotive force is not generated in the detection sensor (5) or is generated. Even if the electromotive force is small, the electromotive force difference with the electromotive force output from the reference value sensor (6) that directly receives the light emitted to the lid (42) is large. Therefore, accordingly, the first operational amplifier (OA-1) to the third operational amplifier (OA-1)
-3) is not output to the third operational amplifier (OA
The intermittent alarm of the buzzer (8) due to the output from -3) to the electric circuit for issuing the intermittent alarm is not performed.

Further, during the daytime, when the fertilizer (a) is consumed up to the mounting lower position of the detection sensor (5) as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 2 during fertilization work, the detection sensor (5) is exposed. As a result, a larger electromotive force is generated than when the detection sensor (5) is shielded from light, and the electromotive force difference from the electromotive force output from the reference value sensor (6) is small. Accordingly, the first operational amplifier (OA-1) to the third operational amplifier (OA-1)
It is output to the operational amplifier (OA-3), is output from the third operational amplifier (OA-3) to the intermittent alarm electric circuit, and the intermittent alarm is issued from the buzzer (8), and the fertilizer residue in the hopper body (41) is output. This informs the operator that the amount of the fertilizer (a) should be reduced and the work of replenishing the fertilizer (a) should be performed.

On the other hand, when there is no light to be emitted, such as at sunset, or when the reference value sensor (6) is covered with mud or the like and the electromotive force output from the reference value sensor (6) is small, The second warning signal is output from the second operational amplifier (OA-2) after being compared with the output of the constant voltage output from the battery (B), and the continuous alarm electric circuit connected to the second operational amplifier (OA-2) is closed. A continuous alarm is issued by the buzzer (8) to inform the operator that the remaining amount cannot be detected.

In this case, when the electromotive force output from the reference value sensor (6) becomes small, the detection circuit is set so that the second operational amplifier (OA-2) is output in preference to the output of the third operational amplifier (OA-3). Is forming.

The sound pressure level of the buzzer (8) is 80db or more 1m ahead,
The frequency is set to about 3.3 KHz, and the intermittent alarm mainly gives an alarm of 10 seconds for ON and 60 seconds for OFF, and the intermittent alarm and continuous alarm by the buzzer (8) are 10th.
As shown in the figure, from the moment when the output signal is output from the first operational amplifier (OA-1) or the second operational amplifier (OA-2)
t after _one second, that is, so as to alert when output t ₁ seconds, so as to prevent alarm by said operating.

Further, as shown in the timing chart of the buzzer alarm of FIG. 10, when the main switch (SW) is turned off during the intermittent alarm or continuous alarm of the buzzer (8), the alarm of the buzzer (8) is stopped. Also, during the intermittent alarm of the buzzer (8), if the difference in electromotive force between the reference value sensor (6) and the remaining amount detection sensor (5) becomes large due to supplementation of fertilizer into the hopper body (41), an intermittent alarm will occur. Is stopped, and the continuous alarm is issued even when the electromotive force of the reference value sensor (6) increases and the electromotive force of the remaining amount detection sensor (5) is low or zero during the continuous alarm of the buzzer (8). Is stopped.

Furthermore, when the main switch (SW) is switched from the off state to the on state and the difference between the electromotive forces of the reference value sensor (6) and the remaining amount detection sensor (5) is small,
The buzzer (8) gives an intermittent warning, and when the electromotive force of the reference value sensor (6) is small, the buzzer (8) gives a continuous warning.

In the above embodiment, the reference value sensor (6) is used in addition to the remaining amount detection sensor (5) to change the comparison voltage with the electromotive force output from the detection sensor (5), which is a so-called voltage. Although the automatic reference variable method is adopted, other than this, for example, the reference voltage sensor (6) may not be used, and the comparison voltage may be detected by a fixed voltage method in which it is set constant.

Further, in the case of the voltage reference automatic variable system, the threshold value to be output from the first operational amplifier (OA-1) is made small in order to prevent the detection error due to the type (brightness) of the fertilizer and to make it possible to identify even in low illuminance. Better.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention uses a battery in which the remaining amount of the contained object in the hopper (4) is generally marketed as a solar cell, and the electromotive force is generated in response to light. The remaining amount detection sensor (5) can be detected by the change in electromotive force during light exposure and exposure of the fertilizer, and moreover, a plurality of photoelectric cells (51) in the detection sensor (5) are arranged side by side. In addition, since the photocells (51) are horizontally provided at the lower position of the hopper (4), the light receiving area of the detection sensor (5) can be increased and the contained object at the detection position can be increased. Since the amount of light received by the photoelectric cell (51) can be quickly changed from the minimum to the maximum with a slight reduction width, the remaining amount of the contained object in the hopper (4) can be accurately detected. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a hopper of a side-row fertilizer applicator to which the remaining amount detecting device of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the same hopper, FIG. 3 is a front view of a remaining amount detecting sensor, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a vertical side view of the same sensor, FIG. 5 is a vertical side view showing another embodiment of the remaining amount detecting sensor, and FIG. 6 is a rice transplanter having a side-row fertilizer applying the remaining amount detecting device of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a side view showing another mounting state of the remaining amount detection sensor,
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the remaining amount detecting device, FIG. 9 is a detection circuit diagram of the remaining amount detecting device, and FIG. 10 is a timing chart diagram of a buzzer alarm. (4) …… Hopper (5) …… Remaining amount detection sensor (51) …… Photoelectric cell

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photocell comprising a hopper (4) made of a transparent material for accommodating a non-translucent object to be housed, and a photoelectric cell (a photoelectric cell which generates an electromotive force in response to light) at a lower position of the hopper (4). A remaining amount detecting sensor (5) formed by arranging a plurality of 51) in a lateral direction is additionally provided so that the photoelectric cells (51) are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. A device for detecting the remaining amount of contained items.