A cleaning system for an agricultural harvester includes a first and second cleaning systems. A plurality of fans of a substantially similar diameter are fluidically coupled to the first and second cleaning systems. A controller generates and sends control signals to the fans to control the speeds of the fans.

A system to automate the separation of agricultural products. The system includes an enclosure, sealed with permeable mesh to permit airflow and walled with non-porous material to prevent agricultural material from escaping the enclosure while allowing for flow to pass freely. This system is capable of separating material without mechanical interaction, such as with grippers or end effectors, and relies on air flow through the enclosure to create separation between the desired and undesired material using ballistic coefficient as a fundamental differentiator between constituent material of the agricultural products. This is accomplished with a variable speed fan which blows air through the enclosure, lifting and separating material based on the ballistic coefficient of that material and the flow settings. Dividers are used to separate and capture the products for retrieval at the conclusion of operation.

A system to automate the separation of agricultural products. The system includes an enclosure, sealed with permeable mesh to permit airflow and walled with non-porous material to prevent agricultural material from escaping the enclosure while allowing for flow to pass freely. This system is capable of separating material without mechanical interaction, such as with grippers or end effectors, and relies on air flow through the enclosure to create separation between the desired and undesired material using ballistic coefficient as a fundamental differentiator between constituent material of the agricultural products. This is accomplished with a variable speed fan which blows air through the enclosure, lifting and separating material based on the ballistic coefficient of that material and the flow settings. Dividers are used to separate and capture the products for retrieval at the conclusion of operation.

A combine harvester includes a feederhouse configured to convey a crop material from a harvesting header, a threshing system configured to receive the crop material from the feederhouse and separate straw therefrom, and a cleaning system below the threshing system and configured to separate grain from chaff of the crop material. The cleaning system includes a reversible return system configured to receive the crop material from the threshing system, a grain pan below the return system, at least one oscillating grate configured to receive the crop material from the grain pan, and a blower configured to direct air rearward and upward through the oscillating grate. The return system delivers the crop material to a forward end of the grain pan in a first operating mode, and to a rearward end of the grain pan in a second operating mode. Related methods are also disclosed.

A combine harvester includes a feederhouse configured to convey a crop material from a harvesting header, a threshing system configured to receive the crop material from the feederhouse and separate straw therefrom, and a cleaning system below the threshing system and configured to separate grain from chaff of the crop material. The cleaning system includes a reversible return system configured to receive the crop material from the threshing system, a grain pan below the return system, at least one oscillating grate configured to receive the crop material from the grain pan, and a blower configured to direct air rearward and upward through the oscillating grate. The return system delivers the crop material to a forward end of the grain pan in a first operating mode, and to a rearward end of the grain pan in a second operating mode. Related methods are also disclosed.

A combine harvester includes threshing apparatus, separating apparatus, a grain cleaning system located downstream of the separating apparatus, and a material conveyance system arranged to convey crop material from the separating apparatus to the grain cleaning system. The grain cleaning system includes screening apparatus, a fan arranged to generate a cleaning airstream through the screening apparatus, and a fan control system configured to control a fan speed. The fan control system includes a proximity sensor mounted above the material conveyance system for sensing a material volume. The fan control system controls the fan speed in dependence upon the material volume.

A combine harvester includes threshing apparatus, separating apparatus, a grain cleaning system located downstream of the separating apparatus, and a material conveyance system arranged to convey crop material from the separating apparatus to the grain cleaning system. The grain cleaning system includes screening apparatus, a fan arranged to generate a cleaning airstream through the screening apparatus, and a fan control system configured to control a fan speed. The fan control system includes a proximity sensor mounted above the material conveyance system for sensing a material volume. The fan control system controls the fan speed in dependence upon the material volume.

A combine harvester having a grain pan arranged to catch a crop stream, the grain pan being driven in an oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly to a rear edge. A cleaning unit including a fan for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed under the rear edge. The grain pan includes a floor profile which defines a transverse profile comprising ridges and troughs. The troughs provide a plurality of longitudinal channels, wherein the ridge-to-trough height increases in the direction of conveyance. Crop material conveyed by the grain pan experiences channels that deepen towards the rear edge of the pan.

A combine harvester having a grain pan arranged to catch a crop stream, the grain pan being driven in an oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly to a rear edge. A cleaning unit including a fan for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed under the rear edge. The grain pan includes a floor profile which defines a transverse profile comprising ridges and troughs. The troughs provide a plurality of longitudinal channels, wherein the ridge-to-trough height increases in the direction of conveyance. Crop material conveyed by the grain pan experiences channels that deepen towards the rear edge of the pan.

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.