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BR-102025010259-A2 - Near-field communication system for an agricultural system.

BR102025010259A2BR 102025010259 A2BR102025010259 A2BR 102025010259A2BR-102025010259-A2

Abstract

A near-field communication (NFC) system for an agricultural combine harvester includes an NFC recorder housed within the combine harvester's baler. The NFC recorder is configured to record information onto an NFC tag, and the NFC tag is configured to be attached to a bale of agricultural product within the baler. The NFC system also includes a controller consisting of a processor and memory. The controller is communicatively coupled to the NFC recorder and is configured to send information to the NFC recorder and to control the NFC recorder to record the information onto the NFC tag.

Inventors

  • STEVEN ALEXANDER ISEMAN

Assignees

  • CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20250521
Priority Date
20240528

Claims (20)

  1. 1. Near Field Communication (NFC) system for an agricultural combine harvester, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: an NFC recorder disposed within a baler of the agricultural combine harvester, wherein the NFC recorder is configured to record information on an NFC tag and the NFC tag is configured to be attached to a bale of agricultural product within the baler; and a controller comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the NFC recorder and the controller is configured to send information to the NFC recorder and to control the NFC recorder to record information on the NFC tag.
  2. 2. NFC system, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the NFC recorder is configured to send a configured radio frequency field to feed the NFC tag.
  3. 3. NFC system, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the information comprises a field location, a date and time of harvest, weather information, bale moisture during baling, bale weight, planting information, baler operator information, fertilizer information, yield information, seed type or a combination thereof.
  4. 4. NFC system, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises an NFC tag applicator configured to apply the NFC tag to the bale or to a bale wrap configured to wrap the bale.
  5. 5. NFC system, according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the NFC tag applicator is configured to apply the NFC tag to the bale winding in a location that allows the NFC tag to be positioned radially inward from an outer surface of the bale winding.
  6. 6. NFC system, according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED in that the NFC tag applicator is configured to receive the NFC tag from the NFC recorder after the NFC recorder has written the information onto the NFC tag.
  7. 7. NFC system, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the NFC system does not comprise an NFC reader configured to read information from the NFC tag.
  8. 8. NFC system, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises an NFC tag, wherein the NFC tag is coupled to a bale winding configured to wrap around the bale.
  9. 9. Method for associating information with a bale of agricultural product, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it comprises: sending, through a controller comprising a memory and a processor, the information to a near-field communication (NFC) recorder located inside a baler of an agricultural combine harvester; and recording, through the NFC recorder communicatively coupled to the controller, the information to an NFC tag configured to attach to the bale.
  10. 10. Method, according to claim 9, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises sending, via the NFC recorder, a configured radio frequency field to feed the NFC tag.
  11. 11. Method, according to claim 9, CHARACTERIZED in that the information comprises a field location, a date and time of harvest, meteorological information, bale moisture at baling, bale weight, planting information, baler operator information, fertilizer information, yield information, seed type or a combination thereof.
  12. 12. Method according to claim 9, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises applying, by means of an NFC tag applicator, the NFC tag to the bale or to a bale wrap configured to wrap the bale.
  13. 13. Method according to claim 12, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises applying, by means of the NFC tag applicator, the NFC tag to the bale winding in a location that allows the NFC tag to be positioned radially inward from an outer surface of the bale winding.
  14. 14. Method, according to claim 12, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it receives the NFC tag, in the NFC tag applicator, after the NFC recorder has recorded the information on the NFC tag.
  15. 15. Method according to claim 9, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises attaching the NFC tag to a bale winding before the bale winding is wrapped around the bale.
  16. 16. Near-field communication (NFC) system for an agricultural system, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: an NFC tag attached to or positioned near a component of the agricultural system, wherein the NFC tag is configured to store a reference to a location within a manual, the location within the manual is associated with the component, and the NFC tag is configured to send the reference to a handheld device to enable the handheld device to display the location within the manual to an operator.
  17. 17. NFC system, according to claim 16, CHARACTERIZED in that the NFC tag is configured to be powered by a radio frequency field emitted by the portable device.
  18. 18. NFC system, according to claim 16, CHARACTERIZED in that the reference comprises a page number within the manual or a chapter number within the manual.
  19. 19. NFC system, according to claim 16, CHARACTERIZED in that the component comprises a chopper, an accumulator, a drum or a wheel.
  20. 20. NFC system, according to claim 16, CHARACTERIZED in that the NFC tag comprises an adhesive configured to attach an NFC tag body to the component or to a structure near the component.

Description

FUNDAMENTALS [001] This disclosure relates generally to a near-field communication system for an agricultural system. [002] Agricultural harvesters are used to harvest agricultural products (e.g., cotton or other natural material(s)). For example, an agricultural harvester may include a collector with drums configured to harvest the agricultural product from a field. The agricultural harvester may also include an air-assisted conveyor system configured to move the agricultural product from the drums to an accumulator. The agricultural product may then be fed into a baler via a conveyor system. The baler may compress the agricultural product into a package to facilitate storage, transport, and handling of the agricultural product. For example, a round baler may compress the agricultural product into a round bale within a baling chamber so that the round bale has the desired size and density. After the bale is formed, it may be wrapped in a bale wrapper to secure the agricultural product within the bale and generally maintain the bale's shape. BRIEF DESCRIPTION [003] In certain embodiments, a near-field communication (NFC) system for an agricultural combine harvester includes an NFC recorder disposed within a baler of the agricultural combine harvester. The NFC recorder is configured to record information onto an NFC tag, and the NFC tag is configured to be attached to a bale of agricultural product within the baler. The NFC system also includes a controller comprising a processor and memory. The controller is communicatively coupled to the NFC recorder, and the controller is configured to send information to the NFC recorder and to control the NFC recorder to record information onto the NFC tag. [004] In addition, in certain embodiments, a near-field communication (NFC) system for an agricultural system includes an NFC tag attached to or positioned near a component of the agricultural system. The NFC tag is configured to store a reference to a location within a manual, the location within the manual is associated with the component, and the NFC tag is configured to send the reference to a handheld device to enable the handheld device to display the location within the manual to an operator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [005] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters represent like parts in all drawings, where: [006] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of an agricultural system with a baler; [007] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a baler that can be used within the agricultural system of FIG. 1; [008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a near-field communication (NFC) system that can be employed within the baler of FIG. 2; [009] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of an NFC system that can be employed within the baler of FIG. 2; [010] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of an NFC system that can be employed in the baler of FIG. 2; and [011] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an NFC system that can be employed within the agricultural system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [012] One or more specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation may be described in the descriptive report. It should be noted that in the development of any actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, several specific implementation decisions must be made to achieve the specific objectives of the developers, such as compliance with system and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Furthermore, it should be noted that such a development effort may be complex and time-consuming, but would still be a routine design, fabrication, and manufacturing task for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure. [013] When introducing elements of various embodiments of this disclosure, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “referred to” are intended to mean that there is one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements besides those listed. Any examples of operational parameters and/or environmental conditions do not exclude other parameters/conditions of the embodiments disclosed. [014] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of an agricultural system 10 (e.g., a combine harvester) with a baler. The agricultural system 10 is configured to harvest the agricultural product 12 (e.g., cotton) from a field 14 and to form bales of the agricultural product 12 (e.g., agricultural bales). For example, the agricultural system 10 includes a platform 16 with drums configured to harvest the agricultural product 12 from