Abstract: A combine harvester includes a straw discharge rotor discharging into a straw stream and a sieve discharging into a chaff stream and a weed seed destructor section receiving the chaff and weed seeds for devitalizing at least some weed seeds. The straw is maintained out of the chaff stream by a guide construction having a front curved section underneath the rotor and a rear section which comprises a row of cantilevered flexible fingers which flex to assist in flow of the straw thereover and release of the straw from the rear end thereof. The rear ends of the fingers are thus unconnected and allow the straw to be freely released onto a dividing wall extending to the entrance to a straw chopper. The row of fingers can be carried on a support bar which is reciprocated around a transverse axis by a connection to a reciprocating element of the combine.

Abstract: A combine harvester includes a straw chopper, spreading device and a weed seed destructor (WSD) which acts on the weed seeds in the chaff so as to cause devitalization. The WSD includes a discharge mouth where the WSD causes generation of an air flow which exits through the mouth. The system is operable in two modes where in both the straw is directed to the straw spreading device. In the first mode the chaff is directed into the WSD and in the second mode the chaff is carried past the WSD on a guide surface and is converged inwardly to drop into the air stream from the WSD. In both modes the chaff is spread using the air stream from the WSD at least to the sides either by feeding to the spreading device or by combining with the stream of straw after it leaves the spreading device.

Abstract: A bale loading trailer has a bale supporting frame mounted on wheels. A fork assembly is pivotally mounted beside a front end of the frame configured to engage a bale when in a lowered position, and to disengage the bale when in a raised position such that the bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame. A hydraulic cylinder moves the fork assembly between positions. A hydraulic motor driven conveyor chain assembly extends along the bale supporting frame, and loaded bales rest on, and move along the frame in concert with, the conveyor chain. A valve circuit connects the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic motor drive such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly to move a bale length rearward.

Abstract: A bale loading trailer has a bale supporting frame mounted on wheels. A fork assembly is pivotally mounted beside a front end of the frame configured to engage a bale when in a lowered position, and to disengage the bale when in a raised position such that the bale moves onto the front end of the bale supporting frame. A hydraulic cylinder moves the fork assembly between positions. A hydraulic motor driven conveyor chain assembly extends along the bale supporting frame, and loaded bales rest on, and move along the frame in concert with, the conveyor chain. A valve circuit connects the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic motor drive such that as the fork assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position, hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder through the hydraulic motor drive and causes the conveyor chain assembly to move a bale length rearward.

Abstract: Wrapping of twine on a chain and slat conveyor in a bale processor is reduced. The bale processor has a bale chamber, a chain bed forming a bottom of the bale chamber and a disintegrator roller mounted along one side. Driven and idler shafts extend adjacent to opposite first and second sides of the chain bed. Front, middle, and rear sprockets are mounted to front, middle, and rear portions of the shafts, and corresponding front, middle, and rear conveyor chains engage corresponding sprockets. Conveyor slats are attached to the chains. Wrapping of twine is reduced by supporting the shafts only at front and rear ends thereof such that the sprockets and shafts rotate unsupported between front and rear bearings on walls of the bale chamber. Scraper devices can be mounted adjacent to front and rear sprockets to prevent the build-up of twine on the shafts.