A threshing apparatus includes: a threshing unit 5; a first sorting unit 11 that is arranged below the threshing unit 5, is driven to reciprocate along the front-rear direction, and threshes processed material from the threshing unit 5; and a second sorting unit 12 that is arranged below the first sorting unit 11, is driven to reciprocate along the front-rear direction, and threshes processed material from the first sorting unit 11. The front end portion of the second sorting unit 12 is provided with a second grain pan 22 that conveys processed material rearward, and the front end portion of the second grain pan 22 is also provided with a wall portion 48 that is higher than the second grain pan 22 in order to be able to prevent processed material from falling forward from the second grain pan 22.

A threshing apparatus includes: a threshing unit 5; a first sorting unit 11 that is arranged below the threshing unit 5, is driven to reciprocate along the front-rear direction, and threshes processed material from the threshing unit 5; and a second sorting unit 12 that is arranged below the first sorting unit 11, is driven to reciprocate along the front-rear direction, and threshes processed material from the first sorting unit 11. The front end portion of the second sorting unit 12 is provided with a second grain pan 22 that conveys processed material rearward, and the front end portion of the second grain pan 22 is also provided with a wall portion 48 that is higher than the second grain pan 22 in order to be able to prevent processed material from falling forward from the second grain pan 22.

A combine harvester includes threshing apparatus, a grain pan and a cleaning unit. The grain pan is arranged to collect a grain/chaff stream from the threshing apparatus and is driven in an oscillating manner to convey the collected grain/chaff to a rear edge from where the grain/chaff stream falls into the cleaning unit. The cleaning unit includes a fan unit for generating an airstream directed through the grain/chaff stream falling from the rear edge and an airstream vented above the grain pan.

An apparatus and method for distributing crop material onto a cleaning sieve of an agricultural combine. The method includes providing at least one sensor configured and operable for sensing information representative of at least one of a quantity of grain associated with the crop material distributor and an inclination angle associated with the crop material distributor, and outputting signals representative thereof. The method includes providing a crop material distributor disposed between a threshing system of the combine and the sieve, for distributing crop material from the threshing system generally evenly onto the sieve. The method includes providing an apparatus operably associated with the distributor for controllably distributing crop material onto the sieve. The method includes controlling a position of the apparatus as a function of signals from the at least one sensor.

A combine harvester comprises a threshing unit arranged to receive and thresh a crop stream. Separating apparatus are located downstream and rearward of the threshing unit and are arranged to receive the threshed crop stream and convey such a rearward direction. The front of a return pan, disposed below the separating apparatus, overlaps the rear of a stratification pan, disposed below the threshing unit. The stratification pan is driven in an oscillating manner to convey a primary grain/chaff stream rearwardly to a rear edge from where the primary grain/chaff stream falls under gravity into a cleaning unit. The return pan is driven in an oscillating manner to convey a secondary grain/chaff stream forwardly to a front edge from where the secondary grain/chaff stream falls under gravity to combine with the primary grain/chaff stream on the stratification pan. The cleaning unit comprises a fan for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed through the falling grain/chaff stream to encourage the lighter material away from the grain. A plurality of crop flow disrupting elements in the form of fins or tines are secured to the underside of the return pan above the stratification pan to disrupt the grain/chaff stream and enhance stratification thereof.

A combine harvester comprises a threshing unit arranged to receive and thresh a crop stream. Separating apparatus are located downstream and rearward of the threshing unit and are arranged to receive the threshed crop stream and convey such a rearward direction. The front of a return pan, disposed below the separating apparatus, overlaps the rear of a stratification pan, disposed below the threshing unit. The stratification pan is driven in an oscillating manner to convey a primary grain/chaff stream rearwardly to a rear edge from where the primary grain/chaff stream falls under gravity into a cleaning unit. The return pan is driven in an oscillating manner to convey a secondary grain/chaff stream forwardly to a front edge from where the secondary grain/chaff stream falls under gravity to combine with the primary grain/chaff stream on the stratification pan. The cleaning unit comprises a fan for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed through the falling grain/chaff stream to encourage the lighter material away from the grain. A plurality of crop flow disrupting elements in the form of fins or tines are secured to the underside of the return pan above the stratification pan to disrupt the grain/chaff stream and enhance stratification thereof.

In a combine harvester the cleaning arrangement is placed above the threshing and separation system so that the sieves of the cleaning arrangement can be wider than the distance between the front wheels or tracks of the harvester. A supply such as one or more auger beds are provided underneath the threshing and separation system, for gathering the grain/residue mixture in a single location. From that location, an elevator transports the grain/residue mixture up towards the cleaning arrangement, where it is distributed over the width of the cleaning arrangement.

An assembly for rotating a chain or toothed belt includes a shaft and a sprocket rotatably mounted on the shaft. The sprocket includes a plurality of teeth configured to engage the chain or toothed belt. The assembly further includes a shield assembly covering at least a portion of the sprocket. The shield assembly has an interior groove formed therein defining an enclosed interior space. Each of the teeth of the sprocket rotate through the enclosed interior space during a full rotation of the sprocket.

The present invention provides a three-degree-of-freedom hybrid vibratory screening mechanism, a control method thereof, and a harvester. The three-degree-of-freedom hybrid vibratory screening mechanism comprises a frame, a vibrating screen, a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, sensors and a controller; parallel drive of hydraulic motors are used for achieving two-degree-of-freedom rotational adjustment of the horizontal attitude angle and inclination angle of the screen surface of the vibrating screen, and the first driving mechanism drives the vibrating screen to reciprocate in one degree of freedom, so as to realize three-degree-of-freedom vibration adjustment of the screen surface; a vibration parameter control model is established by means of theoretical analysis in combination with experiment. In the operating process, the sensors installed at the tail part of the vibrating screen monitor the loss rate and distribution of the grains in real time, and the horizontal attitude angle of the screen surface, inclination angle of the screen surface and vibration frequency are self-adaptively optimized and adjusted to promote uniform and discrete distribution of the material on the screen surface, so that the screening efficiency of the material under a condition of non-uniform material feeding is effectively improved and the loss rate of the grains is decreased.

The present invention provides an improved dust control system for removing debris and particulate matter from a fouled air stream. The system may be incorporated into crop harvesting equipment to eliminate the dust pollution generated by conventional harvesting equipment. The dust control system may use a multi-stage air filtering process that employs inertial separation techniques to eliminate particulate matter from the fouled air, without the need for water or electrostatic mechanisms to capture the fine particulates in the fouled air.