Ground-crop harvester control system

摘要

A ground-crop harvester for potatoes and the like has two unique control features that enhance the productivity of the device and the quality of the harvested ground-crop (e.g., less bruising). The harvester preferably includes an excavator arranged to scrape up a layer of soil and ground-crop and a primary conveyor configured to receive the soil and ground-crop scraped up by the excavator and to separate soil from the ground-crop. A downstream conveyor is arranged downstream of the primary conveyor (e.g., directly downstream therefrom or after a secondary conveyor and/or other conveyors) to receive the separated ground-crop. A primary conveyor adjustable speed drive mechanism is provided for the primary conveyor. A downstream conveyor adjustable speed drive mechanism is provided for the downstream conveyor. A speed measurer or sensor is provided for sensing the forward speed of the harvester and for emitting signals representative of the speed. An amount sensor (e.g., a height sensor) is provided for sensing an amount of product conveyed by the downstream conveyor and for emitting signals representative of the amount. And, a controller is provided that controls the primary conveyor adjustable speed drive mechanism to vary the speed of the primary conveyor.