METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING CROPS

摘要

A method and system of harvesting crops involves cutting and threshing the crop, separating graff (a mixture of grain kernels, chaff, weed seeds, and other organic matter) from straw, and returning the straw to the field. This is carried out in a harvesting unit of the pull type having a large graff storage tank. The collected graff is moved to a cleaning mill in a different location by means of a suitable vehicle such as a truck. The storage capacity of the harvesting unit should be no larger than the carrying capacity of the truck. Similarly, the throughput of the cleaning unit should be able to process graff (separate grain kernels from the remainder of the graff) at a rate at least as fast as the rate at which graff is delivered to the cleaning mill. The method allows for efficient harvesting, transportation and cleaning of graff. The invention relates also to improvements of the harvesting unit and the cleaning mill.