US 12,029,163 B2
Windrower header sensing and control method
David V. Rotole, Bloomfield, IA (US)
Assigned to DEERE & COMPANY, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by DEERE & COMPANY, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 18, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/444,539.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/753,251, filed on Oct. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0128717 A1, Apr. 30, 2020
Int. Cl. A01D 41/14 (2006.01); A01B 63/00 (2006.01); A01B 63/10 (2006.01); A01B 63/108 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 41/141 (2013.01) [A01B 63/002 (2013.01); A01B 63/1006 (2013.01); A01B 63/108 (2013.01); A01D 41/145 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A work machine, comprising:
an implement coupled to a frame of the work machine, the implement comprising a draper head or a rotary head configured to be positioned above an underlying surface;
a first sensor coupled to the implement;
a second sensor coupled to the frame of the work machine;
a controller; and
an implement position system that couples the implement to the frame, wherein the implement positioning system is configured to move the implement to a preset position wherein the implement positioning system provides for movement of the implement without changing the preset position;
wherein, the first sensor identifies the orientation of the implement along more than one axis;
wherein, the controller manipulates the implement position system to reposition the implement relative to the frame based on the orientation of the implement identified by the first sensor;
wherein, the controller manipulates the implement position system to follow a contour of the underlying surface by comparing orientation data from the first sensor with orientation data from the second sensor to identify when the implement has moved relative to the frame.