US 12,213,406 B2
Controlling a machine based on cracked kernel detection
Zachary T. Bonefas, Grimes, IA (US); and Niels Dybro, Sherrard, IL (US)
Assigned to Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/065,362.
Application 18/065,362 is a continuation of application No. 16/516,812, filed on Jul. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,564,349.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/753,541, filed on Oct. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0133909 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. A01D 41/127 (2006.01); A01D 43/08 (2006.01); A01D 43/10 (2006.01); A01D 45/02 (2006.01); A01D 82/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 41/127 (2013.01) [A01D 43/085 (2013.01); A01D 43/102 (2013.01); A01D 45/02 (2013.01); A01D 82/00 (2013.01); A01D 41/1277 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A forage harvester comprising:
a chopper configured to receive severed crop and to chop the received severed crop into pieces;
a kernel processing unit that includes a first kernel processing roller and a second kernel processing roller separated from the first kernel processing roller by a gap;
a roller position actuator configured to change a size of the gap;
an imaging device configured to capture an image of processed crop that has been processed by the kernel processing unit, the image indicating kernel fragment radiation fluoresced by kernel fragments in the processed crop;
an image processing system configured to identify sizes of the kernel fragments in the image based on the indication of kernel fragment radiation fluoresced by the kernel fragments; and
a control system configured to generate a control signal to control the roller position actuator to change the size of the gap based on the identified sizes of the kernel fragments.