An automatic uniform distribution apparatus for the threshed material from the combine harvester comprises a tangential flow threshing and separating device, a shaking plate threshed material detecting device, a shaking plate, a shaking plate flow guiding mechanism, an axial flow threshing and separating device, a chaff screw conveyor, a return plate, a return plate flow guiding mechanism, a return plate threshed material detecting device, a vibrating sieve, and an on-line detection controller. Force sensors are provided at lateral positions below discharge ports of the shaking plate and the return plate to measure flow rates of the threshed material in lateral regions of the shaking plate and the return plate.

A drop pan system for collecting a sample of crop material discharged by a harvester while harvesting crops. The drop pan is magnetically coupled to a support structure disposed on the harvester by at least one electro-permanent magnet having a default de-energized state and an energized state. In the default de-energized state, the at least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically isolated from an electric power source. In the energized state, the least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically coupled with the electric power source. As the harvester advances through the field harvesting the crop, the drop pan is released from the support structure by switching the electro-permanent magnet from the default de-energized state to the energized state such that the drop pan drops to the ground surface. The open top end of the drop pan on the ground surface captures a sample of the crop material discharged by the advancing harvester.

A combine harvester including a cleaning shoe, having a tailings auger for collection of tailings, a tailings collection bin and apparatus for moving material from the tailings auger to the tailings collection bin.

A combine harvester and method of detecting and notifying an operator of operational inefficiencies of the combine harvester are provided. The combine harvester may include a user interface, a plurality of sensors, and a control system having a processing element configured to perform certain steps. The steps may include receiving, via the user interface or a database, data representative of a performance target; receiving, via the user interface or the database, data representative of a mechanical configuration of the combine harvester; detecting, via a sensor, data representative of an operational metric; determining, via the processing element, whether the operational metric satisfies the performance target; determining, via the processing element, a suggested adjustment to the mechanical configuration associated with the operational metric; and displaying, via the user interface, the suggested adjustment to the mechanical configuration associated with the operational metric.

A combine harvester and method of detecting and notifying an operator of operational inefficiencies of the combine harvester are provided. The combine harvester may include a user interface, a plurality of sensors, and a control system having a processing element configured to perform certain steps. The steps may include receiving, via the user interface or a database, data representative of a performance target; receiving, via the user interface or the database, data representative of a mechanical configuration of the combine harvester; detecting, via a sensor, data representative of an operational metric; determining, via the processing element, whether the operational metric satisfies the performance target; determining, via the processing element, a suggested adjustment to the mechanical configuration associated with the operational metric; and displaying, via the user interface, the suggested adjustment to the mechanical configuration associated with the operational metric.

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.

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.

A system for infield collection of substantially whole cane and delivering that cane to a mill via a trash separator and a washer. A harvester collects whole cane and throws billeted cane along with trash into an infield transporter which then transports this to a centralised trash separator. The trash separator may service any number of infield transporters and may be located at a mill or a centralised location so that output from the trash separator may pass on to a conveyor. Billets are then fed to a washer. The washing liquid from downstream process may be used in the washer. Mud and dirt is removed from the billets in return liquid which then passes to a mud removal unit. This juice is returned to the downstream process. Wash liquid may also be collected via an outlet conveyor. A modular harvester, a trash separator and a washer are also described.

A system for infield collection of substantially whole cane and delivering that cane to a mill via a trash separator and a washer. A harvester collects whole cane and throws billeted cane along with trash into an infield transporter which then transports this to a centralised trash separator. The trash separator may service any number of infield transporters and may be located at a mill or a centralised location so that output from the trash separator may pass on to a conveyor. Billets are then fed to a washer. The washing liquid from downstream process may be used in the washer. Mud and dirt is removed from the billets in return liquid which then passes to a mud removal unit. This juice is returned to the downstream process. Wash liquid may also be collected via an outlet conveyor. A modular harvester, a trash separator and a washer are also described.

A combine double-decker crop residue spreader for use with a rotating chopper having chopper blades and through which air is blown may include a divider panel separating a lower portion from an upper portion of the spreader. The divider panel extends rearwardly from a location where the chopper blades transition from rotating towards the divider panel to rotating away from the divider. An airflow conduit extends above the divider panel in the upper portion to rearwardly direct air flow. At least one lower vertical panel below the divider panel in the lower portion rearwardly directs crop residue.