A separating device is provided for separating a harvested mixture of root crops and admixtures. The separating device includes at least one conveyor element which circulates in operation at least for supplying the harvested mixture to a separation region, or for discharging the root crops from the separation region in a conveying direction. The separating device includes at least one fluid flow generator and at least one directing device for directing a fluid flow in a fluid flow direction to the separation region. The directing device is at least realized in at least one directing portion by the conveyor element itself.

A combine harvester is provided with: a threshing device that performs a threshing process of threshing a crop; a grain tank that stores grain obtained by the threshing process; a grain discharging device that discharges grain to be stored in the grain tank to the outside of the vehicle body; a travel driving device that drives travel of the vehicle body; and an engine that serves as a power source. The combine harvester includes a first relay shaft to which power is transmitted from an output shaft of the engine, and the power of the engine is transmitted from the first relay shaft to the grain discharging device and the travel driving device in a branched manner.

A combine harvester is provided with: a threshing device that performs a threshing process of threshing a crop; a grain tank that stores grain obtained by the threshing process; a grain discharging device that discharges grain to be stored in the grain tank to the outside of the vehicle body; a travel driving device that drives travel of the vehicle body; and an engine that serves as a power source. The combine harvester includes a first relay shaft to which power is transmitted from an output shaft of the engine, and the power of the engine is transmitted from the first relay shaft to the grain discharging device and the travel driving device in a branched manner.

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 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.

Discarded weed seeds in the chaff from the sieve of a combine harvester are destroyed by a weed seed destructor section which provides repeated high speed impacts caused by a pair of rotors each mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds onto a respective stator. A straw chopper and spreader section operate on the straw. The weed seed destructor and optionally the straw spreader is mounted so that it can be moved rearwardly away from the sieve to provide operator access between the destructor and the sieve.

Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.

Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.

Weed seeds are destroyed in the chaff from a combine harvester by repeated high speed impacts caused by a rotor mounted in one of a pair of side by side housings which accelerate the discarded seeds in a direction centrifugally away from the rotor onto a stator including angularly adjustable stator surfaces around the axis. Thus the discarded seeds rebound back and forth between the rotor and the stator to provide a plurality of impacts. The seeds are carried axially of the rotor by a controlled airstream so that they move to an axial discharge location where a discharge fan is mounted. The angle of the discharge around the rotor axis can be changed to direct the seeds to the side of the combine away from a straw chopper, towards the guide fins of the tailboard of the chopper, or into the housing of the straw chopper.

The present invention relates to a method and system of conveying harvested material within or out of a combine harvester using positive air pressure. The invention provides for a lighter, simpler process of material handling by using positive air pressure to pneumatically convey harvested material. As compared to conventional methods, the present invention incorporates lighter weight components and fewer moving parts. Systems of the present invention have more flexible layouts than conventional methods, which allows for the incorporation of different material types, easier cleaning, and potentially greater ease for process automation.