Work

Automatic unloading control system for corn field residual film baling device based on a load cell

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Residual film in corn fields is readily entangled with corn stubble, yielding variable impurity content in the film bales recovered across different harvest periods. This inconsistency leads to uneven mass among film bales of the same size, makes the unloading timing difficult to determine, and may ultimately cause overload damage to the baling device. To address this issue, an automatic unloading control system for a corn-field residual-film baling device is developed based on an HZC-H1 load cell. By monitoring film-bale mass, the system determines the unloading timing, alerts the driver to stop the machine, and executes automatic unloading. Mechanical analysis is first carried out to calculate the elastic deformation of the baling belt and thus determine the sensor mounting position, ensuring that the baling belt fully contacts the load-cell sensing surface and that the film-bale weight is transmitted to the sensor in a timely and accurate manner. A Wheatstone full-bridge circuit is then used to convert the applied external force into a voltage signal, and a CYBSQ-12 multi-channel signal amplifier converts the weak electrical signal output by the load cell into an analog signal recognizable by the main controller. Finally, with this analog signal as the control input, an Arduino UNO R3 acts as the main controller to achieve precise start–stop control of the electric push rod, thereby realizing automatic film-bale unloading and driver alerting. Field tests indicate that the relative error between the measured film-bale mass and the preset value is no greater than 4%, demonstrating that the proposed system meets the operational accuracy requirements. This work provides both theoretical support and a practical reference for the intelligent upgrading of residual-film recycling equipment and the standardization of recovered film bales.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-77606-2

Authors: Wei Jin, Jingyi Liu, Tao Jiang, Xuejun Zhang, Chaoshu Zhang

Institution: Xinjiang Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690