Working Process of a Combine Harvester
The combine harvester works by first using the header to cut the crops. The rotating blades at the front of the header cut the crops from the roots. Then, the cut crops are conveyed to the threshing and separating unit by a screw conveyor or a belt. In the threshing and separating unit, the grains are separated from the straw. After that, the cleaned grains are collected in the grain tank, while the unwanted straw and chaff are discharged from the rear of the machine12.
Types of Combine Harvesters
There are several types of combine harvesters, including axial-flow, conventional, rotary, and stripper. The axial-flow combine harvester is the most popular type, which uses a rotor and a series of vanes to separate the grain from the straw. The conventional combine harvester uses a drum and a series of threshing bars, and the rotary combine harvester uses a rotor with a series of rasp bars for the same purpose. The stripper combine harvester strips the grain from the standing crop without cutting the straw.
In conclusion, the combine harvester is an indispensable tool in modern agriculture, greatly improving the efficiency and productivity of crop harvesting. Its continuous development and improvement will continue to play an important role in the development of agriculture.