An image analysis method and system for the computer-implemented determination of the degree of grain cracking of grains within a flow of harvested material processed by working units of a forage harvester. The flow of harvested material comprises whole grains and crushed grains as grain components and non-grain components. The at least one working unit is automatically controlled depending on the degree of grain cracking. Images of the flow of harvested material are cyclically recorded using an optical recording device and transmitted to an image analysis apparatus for evaluation. The image analysis apparatus, in a first stage classifies image pixels contained in the images into grain components and non-grain components, and in a second stage, determines a length of a long main axis and a short main axis of each classified grain component via a length-width comparison, with the first stage and the second stage performed by a neural network.

A toothed crushing disk for a grain processor includes teeth having a trailing tooth flank, which is a so-called tooth back, and a leading tooth flank, which is a so-called tooth face, on the surface of the teeth. The teeth have a wear protection zone in the region of the tooth back which is continuous or is divided into partial zones and has a wear resistance which is greater than that of the material of a base member of the toothed crushing disk. The base member has a tooth structure which determines the shape of the teeth and the wear protection zone is produced by using a high-energy beam method with the geometry of the tooth structure being substantially maintained. A method for producing a toothed crushing disk for a grain processor having teeth on the surface thereof is also provided.

A toothed crushing disk for a grain processor includes teeth having a trailing tooth flank, which is a so-called tooth back, and a leading tooth flank, which is a so-called tooth face, on the surface of the teeth. The teeth have a wear protection zone in the region of the tooth back which is continuous or is divided into partial zones and has a wear resistance which is greater than that of the material of a base member of the toothed crushing disk. The base member has a tooth structure which determines the shape of the teeth and the wear protection zone is produced by using a high-energy beam method with the geometry of the tooth structure being substantially maintained. A method for producing a toothed crushing disk for a grain processor having teeth on the surface thereof is also provided.

A non-row sensitive corn threshing header comprising a forwardly disposed cutting apparatus for severing standing corn crop from the ground and a rearwardly disposed threshing apparatus for separating kernels from the plant, collecting the kernels, and discarding the remaining plant. The threshing apparatus includes a plurality of screw auger conveyors arranged in upper and lower planes that receive the crop and urge the crop into diminishing space between adjacent auger conveyors, the space defined by the auger flighting and the expandingly tapered auger shanks. Kernels are separated from the cob as the ears are urged rearwardly in the threshing apparatus. The header may include screens and the like for cleaning the grain of chaff prior to transferring to on-board storage or chaff removal may occur after the grain is off-loaded from the harvester.

A non-row sensitive corn threshing header comprising a forwardly disposed cutting apparatus for severing standing corn crop from the ground and a rearwardly disposed threshing apparatus for separating kernels from the plant, collecting the kernels, and discarding the remaining plant. The threshing apparatus includes a plurality of screw auger conveyors arranged in upper and lower planes that receive the crop and urge the crop into diminishing space between adjacent auger conveyors, the space defined by the auger flighting and the expandingly tapered auger shanks. Kernels are separated from the cob as the ears are urged rearwardly in the threshing apparatus. The header may include screens and the like for cleaning the grain of chaff prior to transferring to on-board storage or chaff removal may occur after the grain is off-loaded from the harvester.

A method for determining a kernel processing score (KPS) onboard of an agricultural machine. The agricultural machine includes a conveyor for transferring harvested crop material and an optical sensor. The optical sensor is configured to generate image data of the harvested crop material transferred by and/or within the conveyor. An image processing system is configured for processing the generated image data to determine a kernel processing score (KPS).

A method for determining a kernel processing score (KPS) onboard of an agricultural machine. The agricultural machine includes a conveyor for transferring harvested crop material and an optical sensor. The optical sensor is configured to generate image data of the harvested crop material transferred by and/or within the conveyor. An image processing system is configured for processing the generated image data to determine a kernel processing score (KPS).

A self-aligning power-assisted corn kernel cutting apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a cylindrical shell ported housing coupled to an actuation mechanism at a first end and an annular cutting mechanism at a second end. The actuation mechanism includes a power-assisted piston rod coupled to self-aligning plunger via a spring and an inner plunger disposed within the self-aligning plunger. In operation a user places an ear of corn within the ported housing wherein self-aligning plunger is force down upon the ear causing the ear to align properly. Power assistance is provided to the actuation mechanism which forces the ear over the annular cutting mechanism ejecting kernels through at least one port into an optional toroidal bowl. Once actuation mechanism bottoms out inner plunger forces the cob through an ejection tube.

A self-aligning power-assisted corn kernel cutting apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a cylindrical shell ported housing coupled to an actuation mechanism at a first end and an annular cutting mechanism at a second end. The actuation mechanism includes a power-assisted piston rod coupled to self-aligning plunger via a spring and an inner plunger disposed within the self-aligning plunger. In operation a user places an ear of corn within the ported housing wherein self-aligning plunger is force down upon the ear causing the ear to align properly. Power assistance is provided to the actuation mechanism which forces the ear over the annular cutting mechanism ejecting kernels through at least one port into an optional toroidal bowl. Once actuation mechanism bottoms out inner plunger forces the cob through an ejection tube.

Combine harvesters are provided for use in harvesting seed corn from corn plants in fields. In connection therewith, a method for producing such seed corn from the corn plants, for use in growing subsequent corn plants, includes measuring a moisture content of corn kernels on ears of the corn plants in the field and removing, by one of the combine harvesters, the ears of corn from the corn plants when the moisture content satisfies a threshold moisture content. The method then includes separating the corn kernels from cobs of the ears of corn onboard the combine harvester and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as seed corn, whereby one or more subsequent corn plants can be grown from the collected corn kernels.