A method and system for identifying, using a computing unit, lengths of a particle in a material flow is disclosed. The computing unit is configured to analyze images of the material flow (13) in an analytical routine and to derive particle lengths of particles of the material flow contained in the images. The particle length derived in the analytical routine may comprise an excess length, with the analytical routine being based on a machine learning method trained to find or identify particles with the excess length.

A roller conditioner system having a frame, conditioner rollers with an upper conditioner roller and a lower conditioner roller separated by a roll gap, and a controller to control separation of the roll gap. Each end of each upper conditioner roller engages with a conditioner roller support connected to a second end of a tension member. To each end of each upper conditioner roller, the roller conditioner system has a conditioner roller adjustment mechanism with an actuator secured to the frame, a lever arm secured to a first end of the lever arm, a second end of the lever arm being mounted for rotation about a fixed pivot axis, a linkage member pivotally connected at a first end to the lever arm, and a displaceable locating element connected to the linkage member and constrained for movement between upper and lower elements of the frame of the roller conditioner system.

Described herein is a combine harvester having at least one impact mill for devitalising weed seeds in a crop while the crop is being harvested by the combine harvester and a power take off shaft. The impact mill of the combine harvester includes an inlet for material to enter the mill, an impact mechanism arranged to rotate about a rotation axis, an outlet for discharge of impacted material, a drive system coupled to the power take off shaft, one or more torque sensors, and a data processor arranged to process information provided by the one or more torque sensors wherein the data processor is programmed to calculate throughput of material processed by the impact mill. Also described herein is an impact mill system capable of mounting on a combine harvester for devitalising weed seeds in a harvested crop.

An impact mill (10) has an inlet (12) for material to enter the mill, an impact mechanism (16, 50) arranged to rotate about a rotation axis and being operable to pulverise the material after entering through the inlet, and an outlet (154) for discharge of pulverised material. Blockage sensors (Bj), vibration sensors V, torque sensors Tn, temperature sensors and proximity sensors may be selectively incorporated into the mill.

A method for determining a zero roll gap condition in an agricultural machine, including: operating first and second roll-gap mechanisms to move a second conditioning roll towards a first conditioning roll until a position sensor indicates that a tensioner biasing the second roll towards the first roll has stopped moving; operating the first roll-gap mechanism in a gap-opening direction until the position sensor indicates that the tensioner moved; operating the first roll-gap mechanism in a gap-closing direction along a closing distance; operating the second roll-gap mechanism in the gap-opening direction until the position sensor indicates that the tension mechanism has moved; operating the second roll-gap mechanism in the gap-closing direction along a closing distance; and setting the current position of the tensioner, as measured by the position sensor, as a zero roll gap condition. An agricultural machine and a computer-readable medium for performing the method are also provided.

An agricultural crop conditioner comprising: a frame with a first conditioner roll rotatably mounted to the frame, and a second conditioner roll rotatably and movably mounted to the frame. A tensioner is connected between the frame and the second roll, and configured to generate a first force to bias the second roll towards the first roll. The conditioner has a roll drive circuit comprising a hydraulic pump configured to drive a hydraulic motor. A hydraulic actuator is operatively connected to a forward supply line between the pump and the motor. The hydraulic actuator is configured to change the first force as an inverse function of changes in a pressure of hydraulic fluid in the forward supply line during operation of the hydraulic motor in a forward processing direction.

A crop conditioning system for an agricultural vehicle includes a crop conditioning arrangement having a frame, a first roller rotatably mounted to the frame, a second roller movably and rotatably mounted to the frame. A space between the first roller and second roller defines a gap for receiving crop material. A biasing member is operatively coupled to the second roller and biases the second roller toward the first roller. A first sensor is configured to detect the gap. A controller receives input data from the first sensor and outputs control signals to control the crop conditioning arrangement. The controller includes a processor configured to determine a status of the crop conditioning arrangement based on the input data. The determined status is indicative of a level of crop conditioning. The processor generates adjustment data indicative of an adjustment to the second roller in response to the determined status.

An agricultural crop conditioner comprising: a frame; first and second conditioner rolls with the second conditioner roll being movable towards and away from the first conditioner roll to change a size of a gap between the rolls; a tensioner configured to generate closing force component to bias the second conditioner roll in the closing direction; a conditioner roll drive circuit; and a hydraulic actuator. The conditioner roll drive circuit has a hydraulic pump and motor to drive at least one of the conditioner rolls. The hydraulic actuator is configured to convert pressure from hydraulic fluid in the reverse supply line into an opening force to bias the second conditioner roll away from the first conditioner roll. The opening force is less than the closing force when the pump is operated in a forward direction, and greater than the closing force when the pump is operated in a reverse direction.

An agricultural machine system, includes: an agricultural machine; a control system operatively coupled with the agricultural machine, the control system including: a sensor configured for: sensing a cut stubble of a plant material; outputting a cut stubble signal corresponding to the cut stubble; a controller system operatively coupled with the sensor and configured for: receiving the cut stubble signal; determining a cut stubble characteristic based at least in part on the cut stubble signal; outputting an output signal based at least in part on the cut stubble characteristic.