A white cap removal unit for a grain cleaner for eliminating multiple steps otherwise necessary to properly clean grains. The white cap removal unit for a grain cleaner includes a separator assembly including a grain receiver having a side wall, an open top, an open bottom, an open side and a passageway extending therethrough, and also including a planar mesh screen removably disposed in the passageway for removing white cap from grain.

A chaff feed stream conditioning system (40) for installation in a combine having a crop residue handling system (10) that operates to separate crop residue into a straw feed stream (20) and a chaff feed stream (20) which may include weed seeds. The straw feed stream (20) is directed to flow towards a straw spreader or chopper (22) or is windrowed. The chaff feed stream (28) is directed to flow toward a mechanical devitalisation system (30) or other processor. The chaff feed stream conditioning system (40) comprises one or more components or devices such as a separator mechanism (42) and/or magnets M1-M3, distributed from a downstream of the crop residue handling system through to an upstream end of the chaff feed stream (28) and configured to impede straw or other foreign matter from getting into the flow of chaff feed stream or otherwise reaching a downstream end of the chaff feed stream.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for seed ablation. In accordance with the method of seed ablation, the apparatus is adapted to expose a heat source to a plurality of seeds while the seeds are in motion. Exposing of the heat source to the moving seed allows ablation of the seeds for de-awning and removing of the appendages of the seeds. In a particular arrangement the seeds are exposed to rotational movement within a centrifugal drum to form a rotating stream of seeds. A torch which reaches into the drum provides a flame directed to the stream of seeds for exposing the seeds to the flame. This allows the ablation of the seed awns and appendages over time as seeds enter into contact with the flame.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for seed ablation. In accordance with the method of seed ablation, the apparatus is adapted to expose a heat source to a plurality of seeds while the seeds are in motion. Exposing of the heat source to the moving seed allows ablation of the seeds for de-awning and removing of the appendages of the seeds. In a particular arrangement the seeds are exposed to rotational movement within a centrifugal drum to form a rotating stream of seeds. A torch which reaches into the drum provides a flame directed to the stream of seeds for exposing the seeds to the flame. This allows the ablation of the seed awns and appendages over time as seeds enter into contact with the flame.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for seed ablation. In accordance with the method of seed ablation, the apparatus is adapted to expose a heat source to a plurality of seeds while the seeds are in motion. Exposing of the heat source to the moving seed allows ablation of the seeds for de-awning and removing of the appendages of the seeds. In a particular arrangement the seeds are exposed to rotational movement within a centrifugal drum to form a rotating stream of seeds. A torch which reaches into the drum provides a flame directed to the stream of seeds for exposing the seeds to the flame. This allows the ablation of the seed awns and appendages over time as seeds enter into contact with the flame.