Combine harvester and associated method for gathering grain

摘要

A combine harvester is provided that separates grain material from material other than grain using multiple processing areas, including a harvesting area, a feederhouse area, a threshing area, a cleaning area, and a grain delivery area. In a location at or prior to entering one of the processing areas, the material may be collected and held until a collection threshold is reached. Once it is determined that the collection threshold is reached, the material forming a first group of material may be transported from the location to the processing area or a subsequent processing area. The first group of material is transported from the location to the processing area or the subsequent processing area substantially simultaneously and thus simulates the gathering of a large amount of crop material even when small plots are involved. In this way, reduced cycle times may be achieved, and the efficiency benefits of large-plot harvesting may be extended to small-plot applications.

主权项

1. A method for harvesting grain using a combine harvester having a plurality of processing areas, the method comprising:
moving the combine harvester through harvest material comprising grain material and material other than grain; and separating the grain material from the material other than grain using the plurality of processing areas as the harvest material is transported through the combine harvester, wherein in respective locations at or prior to entering one or more of the processing areas the method further comprises:
collecting material in the location;determining whether a collection threshold is reached; andtransporting a first group of material from the location to the processing area or a subsequent processing area after the collection threshold is reached, wherein at least one of said processing areas comprises a threshing area, a grain conveying area, a cleaning area, a grain delivery area or a grain testing area.