Combine harvester for harvesting corn and related methods

Abstract

A combine harvester for harvesting corn seeds from corn plants in a field is provided. In this connection, a method for producing such corn seeds from the corn plants for planting subsequent corn plants includes: measuring the moisture content of corn kernels on an ear of the corn plant in the field; and removing the ear of corn from the corn plant by one of the combine harvesters when the moisture content meets a threshold moisture content. The method then includes: separating the corn kernels from the cob of the ear of corn on the combine harvester; and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as corn seeds, whereby one or more subsequent corn plants can be planted from the collected corn kernels.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 943,681, filed December 4, 2019. The entire disclosures of the above-referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to agricultural harvesting machines, and particularly to combines for harvesting corn (e.g., corn seed, etc.) and related methods of using such combines (e.g., producing corn seed, increasing corn seed populations, etc.). Background Art

[0004] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

[0005] As is well known, corn plants are planted in fields for commercial purposes, for example as seeds (planting subsequent corn plants) or as feed (for animals) etc. At a certain point in the growth cycle, the corn plants are harvested or picked, whereby the ears of the corn plants are broken off and collected from the stalks of the corn plants. The corn kernels are then removed from the cobs of the corn kernels and collected for subsequent use (e.g., as seeds, as feed etc.). In this connection, it is well known that mechanized machines for harvesting corn plants from fields include corn ear pickers, which remove the corn kernels from the corn plants and collect the complete ears in the pickers. The collected corn kernels are then transported to processing facilities, with the corn kernels still intact to help protect the corn kernels during transportation and to prevent undesirable corn kernel losses, where the corn kernels are removed from the cobs and dried, and the corn kernels are then removed from the cobs. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

[0007] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a combine harvester for harvesting corn plants from a field based on identifying one or more characteristics of the corn plants. In one exemplary embodiment, such a combine harvester generally includes: a corn header configured to engage corn plants in a field having the one or more characteristics and separate ears of corn from the corn plants as the combine harvester moves through the field; and a threshing unit configured to receive ears of corn from the corn header and remove corn kernels from the ears of corn on the combine harvester. The threshing unit generally includes: a housing having a plurality of concave plates and a plurality of separating grates disposed along a length of the housing; and a rotor disposed within the housing and configured to rotate relative to the housing, wherein a spacing between the rotor and the housing is between about 0.4 inches and about 1.5 inches along the length of the rotor. The combine harvester of this exemplary embodiment also includes: a feeding unit, which is generally arranged between the corn header and the threshing unit, and is configured to receive the corn ears from the corn header and move the received corn ears to the threshing unit; a separating unit, which is generally arranged below the threshing unit and is configured to receive the corn kernels removed from the corn ears through the multiple concave plates and the multiple separating grids; and a hopper, which is configured to receive the corn kernels from the separating unit and store the corn kernels on the combine harvester.

[0008] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure also generally relate to a method for producing corn seeds for planting corn plants. In one exemplary embodiment, the method generally includes: measuring the moisture content of corn kernels on an ear of corn plants in a field; removing the ear of corn from the corn plants in the field by a combine harvester when the moisture content meets a threshold moisture content; separating the corn kernels from the cob of the ear of corn on the combine harvester while in the field; and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as corn seeds, whereby one or more corn plants can be planted from the corn kernels collected by the combine harvester.

[0009] In another exemplary embodiment, a method for producing corn seeds for planting corn plants generally includes: determining that corn plants in a field include one or more desired characteristics; directing a combine harvester to the field based on the determination when the moisture content of corn kernels on an ear of the corn plant meets a threshold moisture content; removing the corn ear from the corn plant by the combine harvester; separating the corn kernels from the cob of the corn ear on the combine harvester; and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as corn seeds, whereby one or more corn plants can be planted from the collected corn kernels.

[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, a method of producing corn seeds for planting corn plants generally comprises: removing corn ears from corn plants in a field by a combine harvester; separating the corn kernels from the cobs of the corn ears on the combine harvester while in the field; and collecting a batch of the separated corn kernels by the combine harvester for use as corn seeds; wherein the cold germination rate of the collected batch of corn kernels is at least about 75%; and wherein the warm germination rate of the collected batch of corn kernels is at least about 75%.

[0011] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein.The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary combine harvester for harvesting corn seed modified to include one or more aspects of the present disclosure;

[0014] Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an exemplary corn harvesting header that may be used with a combine harvester;

[0015] Figure 3 It is a partial schematic diagram of a combine harvester;

[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a conveyor of an exemplary feed unit that may be used with a combine harvester;

[0017] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An enlarged partial perspective view of a conveyor;

[0018] Figure 6is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a housing (or rotor cage) of an exemplary threshing unit and a plurality of separation grates associated therewith that may be used with a combine harvester;

[0019] Figure 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a plurality of concave plates of a housing of a threshing unit of a combine harvester;

[0020] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 a perspective view of a plurality of concave plates;

[0021] Figure 9 is a perspective view of another separating grid that may be included in the housing of a threshing unit of a combine harvester;

[0022] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the upper and lower screens of a combine harvester;

[0023] Figure 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary storage hopper that may be included in a combine harvester; and

[0024] Figure 12 is useful for drying as described herein by Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a combine harvester operating to harvest corn kernels to a dryer unit for subsequent storage as bulk dry hulled corn seed.

[0025] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Traditionally, in the context of corn seed production, corn plants are harvested from the field using mechanized ear pickers. By doing so, the ears of corn are removed from the corn plants in the field and transported intact to a processing facility where the ears of corn are dehusked and then dried and shelled (thereby removing the kernels (broadly speaking, corn seeds) from the cobs of corn). In this process, the ears of corn are initially removed from the corn plants in the field when the average moisture content of the kernels is between about 32% and about 38% (e.g., based on sampling of corn plants in the field, etc.), which helps keep the kernels on the cobs of corn as they are picked and allows the corn plants to be harvested as quickly as possible (e.g., avoiding potential damage to the corn plants by leaving them in the field for longer than necessary, etc.). The picked ears of corn are then dried in a dryer at a temperature of about 95 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) until the average moisture content of the kernels reaches about 12%. However, the conventional process from the time the corn ears are picked and dried to the time the corn kernels are removed from the ears and stored as bulk dry hulled corn seed (which can then be used to grow corn plants to produce, for example, No. 2 yellow corn (which can then be used as feed, for ethanol production, etc.), etc.) can take over 80 hours or more to complete. More importantly, because the corn ears (once picked) are transported and processed intact, the resources required to accommodate the additional corn material (husks, cobs, etc.) (e.g., pickers, corn haul trucks, dehusker, dryers (and drying time), shellers, etc.) can be very abundant.

[0027] Alternatively, corn plants (e.g., corn plants producing No. 2 Yellow corn, etc.) can be harvested from a field using a combine harvester. In this regard, corn plants are conventionally harvested again when the average moisture content of the corn kernels is between about 32% and about 38% (e.g., based on sampling of corn plants in the field, etc.), which allows the corn plants to be harvested as quickly as possible (e.g., to avoid potential damage to the corn plants by leaving them in the field longer than necessary, etc.). However, by doing so, the resulting corn kernels (e.g., No. 2 Yellow corn kernels, etc.) collected by the combine harvester have relatively low germination vigor, e.g., due to damage to the corn kernels during harvesting, etc.

[0028] Uniquely, the present disclosure generally relates to (in one or more embodiments) using a combine harvester in corn seed production to harvest corn plants from a field and produce large quantities of dry hulled corn seeds from the harvested corn plants. In this regard, a combine harvester can facilitate the production of a corn seed supply in a shorter time and with fewer resource requirements than conventional corn ear pickers. Specifically, through the present disclosure, corn plants in a field (e.g., designated for corn seed production, etc.) are harvested by a combine harvester, whereby the corn ears removed from the corn plants are husked and shelled on the combine harvester. The corn kernels are then transferred from the combine harvester to a truck (via a dump truck, etc.) and transported to a processing facility where the separated corn kernels are dried and stored (e.g., as batches of corn seeds, etc.). It is understood that since the corn ears are husked and shelled on the combine harvester, the time (e.g., again, which can exceed 80 hours or longer, etc.) required to subsequently dehusk and dry the complete corn ears in the conventional ear picking process is not required in the present disclosure. More importantly, fewer resources are required for subsequent processing of the separated corn kernels (compared to the intact corn ears provided by the corn picker), not only eliminating the need for separate dehusking and shelling equipment, but also requiring fewer corn transport trucks, fewer corn dryers (and shorter drying times, as will be detailed below), etc.

[0029] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.The description and specific examples included herein are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of a combine harvester 100 (broadly speaking, an agricultural harvester) incorporating one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown. As will be described, the combine harvester 100 is configured (e.g., constructed and operable to, etc.) to harvest whole ears of corn from corn plants in the field as the combine harvester 100 moves through the field. The combine harvester 100 is then configured to remove corn kernels (broadly speaking, corn seeds) from the ears of corn and collect the corn kernels for subsequent processing, use, etc. (e.g., for subsequent use as corn seeds, etc.). Specifically, herein, the collected kernels are collected to produce large quantities of dry hulled corn seeds (broadly speaking, corn seeds), which can be used to plant subsequent corn plants (e.g., No. 2 yellow corn plants, etc., such that the collected corn seeds serve as predecessors to No. 2 yellow corn plants).

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the illustrated combine harvester 100 includes a corn header 102 configured to receive (or collect) ears of corn from corn plants in a field and to deliver (or guide) the ears of corn to the combine harvester 100 where the corn kernels are removed from the cobs of the ears of corn. In this regard, the corn header 102 (releasably coupled to the frame of the combine harvester 100) includes a plurality of row dividers 104 (or snouts) configured to guide rows of corn stalks (in the field) between adjacent ones of the row dividers 104 and into corresponding separation chambers 106 (generally defined between adjacent ones of the row dividers 104 ( Figure 2 )). By doing so, paddles 107 and straw rollers 108 (e.g., round cylinders with blades, etc.) located between the row dividers 104 (typically within corresponding separation chambers 106) operate to break the corn stalks and separate the corn ears therefrom. The corn stalks then fall to the ground below the combine harvester 100. And, the removed corn ears are moved through the corresponding separation chambers 106 to the auger 110, which in turn guides the corn ears to the feed unit 112 of the combine harvester 100 (via the opening 109 in the harvesting header 102). In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the straw rollers 108 of the corn harvesting header 102 are configured to rotate at a speed of between about 1,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) and about 1,200 rpm, thereby facilitating the removal of the corn ears from the stalks.

[0032] The feed unit 112 of the combine harvester 100 is generally located between the front tires 114 ( Figure 1 (only one of which is visible) (and supported by the frame of the combine 100), and is configured to receive ears of corn from the corn header 102 (and specifically, from its auger 110) and transport the ears of corn into the combine 100. Figure 1 and Figures 3 and 4As shown, the feed unit 112 includes (or generally defines): a passage 116 that leads to the combine harvester 100; and a conveyor system 118 that is generally disposed within the passage 116 and is configured to receive ears of corn from the auger 110 of the corn header 102. The conveyor system 118 includes a drum 120 that is rotatably mounted to the combine harvester 100 toward the front (adjacent the corn header 102) and a drive shaft 122 that is mounted to the combine harvester 100 at a position rearward of the drum 120. A plurality of belts 124 (e.g., belts, chains, conveyor belts, etc.) are coupled to (surround) the drum 120 and extend between the drum 120 and the drive shaft 122 of the conveyor system 118. The drive shaft 122 is then configured to rotate (via a suitable motor, etc.) and cause the belt 124 (e.g., via a sprocket coupled to the drive shaft 122, etc.) to move about the drum 120 (whereby the drum 120 is configured to rotate about the central axis 126 as the belt 124 moves) (in a generally counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 4 (as seen in ).

[0033] The conveyor system 118 of the combine harvester 100 also includes a plurality of crossbars or deflectors 128 connected to the strips 124 between adjacent ones of the strips 124. As the strips 124 are moved by the drive shaft 122, the deflectors 128 are configured to move with the strips 124, generally along the length of the channel 116 of the feed unit 112 and around the drum 120. By doing so, the deflectors 128 are configured to generally flatten (e.g., orient the ear of corn on its side, orient the ear of corn flat, etc.) the ear of corn as it is received from the corn header 102 beneath the drum 120, and to push the ear of corn upward along the channel 116 of the feed unit 112 (along the bottom wall 130 (or floor) of the channel 116 of the feed unit 112) and into the threshing unit 132 of the combine harvester 100. In this regard, the conveyor system 118 (e.g., the rollers 120, etc.) can be moved in a generally vertical direction relative to the combine harvester 100 (typically within the feeder unit 112). This allows the height of the space below the conveyor system 118, such as between the rollers 120 and the bottom wall 130 of the channel 116 of the feeder unit 112 (and / or between the guide plates 128 and the bottom wall 130 of the channel 116), to be changed (e.g., to accommodate ears of corn (e.g., different types of ears of corn, different sizes of ears of corn, etc.), to optimize the flow of ears of corn to the threshing unit 132, etc.).

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the baffles 128 of the conveyor system 118 are made of a material, such as metal, rubber, or plastic, that is strong enough to push the ear of corn up the channel 116 of the feed unit 112 to the threshing unit 132 without damaging (or preventing damage to) the kernels on the ear of corn. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the baffles 128 are configured to have generally rounded edges (e.g., where the baffles 128 engage the ear of corn, where the baffles 128 couple to the belt 124, etc.) to further help prevent damage to the kernels on the ear of corn as the baffles 128 push the ear of corn through the feed unit 112. In one embodiment, for example, end portions of the baffles 128 can be ground (e.g., where the baffles 128 attach to the belt 124, etc.) to form more rounded edges. In addition, the belt 124 of the conveyor system 118 is configured to also have a generally rounded surface (e.g., where the belt 124 can engage the ear of corn, etc.) to help prevent damage to the kernels on the ear of corn as it is pushed by the deflectors 128 to the threshing unit 132. In one embodiment, for example, the end portions of the belt 124 can be ground to form a more rounded edge. In the embodiment shown, the belt 124 comprises a generally continuous belt (e.g., a drag chain conveyor, etc.). In other embodiments, the belt 124 can be configured in other ways (e.g., as a link 124' (see FIG. 1 ) to which the deflectors 128 are coupled). Figure 5 )wait).

[0035] like Figure 1 and Figure 3As generally shown, the threshing unit 132 of the combine harvester 100 (supported by the frame of the combine harvester 100) includes a cylindrical housing 134 (or rotor cage) that extends generally from the front to the rear of the combine harvester 100, and a rotor 136 that is generally located within the housing 134. The threshing unit 132 is then configured to receive ears of corn from the feed unit 112 into the front of the housing 134, generally within a space (or spacing) defined between the housing 134 and the rotor 136. Furthermore, the rotor 136 is configured to rotate within the housing 134 and force the ears of corn (and any crop residue received with them from the corn header 102) against the housing 134 (within the space between the rotor 136 and the housing 134). In this manner, the threshing unit 132 operates (through the mechanical action of pushing the ear of corn against the hull 134) to remove (or dislodge) the corn kernels from the ear of corn (and, in particular, from the cob of the ear of corn). Furthermore, in the illustrated threshing unit 132, the spacing between the hull 134 and the rotor 136 can range from about 10 mm (about 0.4 inches) to about 38 mm (about 1.5 inches) and can be substantially uniform (or non-uniform) around the circumference of the rotor 136 and / or along the length of the hull 134. Furthermore, the rotor 136 can be configured to rotate within the hull 134 at a speed of about 650 rpm or less (e.g., about 400 rpm or less, etc.).

[0036] The threshing unit 132 of the illustrated combine harvester 100 includes a single cylindrical housing 134 and a rotor 136 for removing corn kernels from an ear of corn. However, in other embodiments, the combine harvester may include a threshing unit having two (or more) cylindrical housings and corresponding rotors (each rotor disposed within a corresponding housing, as generally described above), wherein the housings are positioned generally parallel within the combine harvester. In such embodiments, the housings and rotors are then each configured in a manner similar to the housings 134 and rotors 136 described above to remove corn kernels from an ear of corn received therein.

[0037] Additional references Figures 6 to 9 The rotor 136 of the threshing unit 132 includes a plurality of threaded rods 138 extending circumferentially around the rotor 136 (e.g., in a staggered spiral configuration, etc.) ( Figure 1 and Figure 3Each of the ribs 138 is generally smooth and / or rounded in structure (e.g., to help prevent damage to the kernels of the ear of corn, etc., as the ear of corn is pushed through the hull 134). As the rotor 136 rotates within the hull 134, the ribs 138 are configured to engage the ear of corn (in the space between the rotor 136 and the hull 134) and move (e.g., push, etc.) the ear of corn (and crop residue) in a spiral manner along the hull 134. In this regard, the hull 134 includes a plurality of concave plates 140 and a plurality of separation grates 142 positioned along a lower portion of the hull 134. The concave plates 140 and the separation grates 142 each include a combination of wires and / or rods that define an opening therebetween (and, therefore, define openings within the concave plates 140 and the separation grates 142). In this regard, as the rotor 136 moves the ear of corn through the hull 134, the rotor also pushes the ear of corn against (and along) the wires and / or bars of the concave plate 140 (e.g., in a first portion or front portion of the hull 134, etc.), and then against the wires and / or bars of the separation grid 142 (e.g., in a second portion or rear portion of the hull 134, after the first portion), thereby removing the corn kernels from the cob (or separating them from the cob, or moving them away from the cob, or knocking them off the cob) and passing through the concave plate openings and the separation grid openings (along with other small materials of crop residue that are also pushed through the hull 134 by the rotor 136). The corn kernels and other small materials then generally pass downward through the concave plate 140 and the separation grid 142 and fall below them into the separation unit 144 of the combine harvester 100.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 134 of the threshing unit 132 includes three concave plates 140 and three separation grids 142 (e.g., generally aligned side by side along the longitudinal axis of the housing 134, etc.). The first three concave plates 140, located toward the front of the threshing unit 132 (e.g., toward the feed unit 112), each include a plurality of round bars 146 ( Figure 6 and Figure 8 ) (e.g., having a generally smooth circumference, etc.), the plurality of round bars extend in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the housing 134. Each of the bars 146 of the first three concave plates 140 has a diameter of approximately 0.75 inches, and the bars 146 are laterally spaced (e.g., generally equidistant, etc.) a distance of approximately 0.5 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, after the concave plates 140, the housing 134 then includes three separation grates 142, which are located toward the rear of the threshing unit 132. The separation grates 142 each include a slotted grille 148 ( Figure 7 and Figure 9), wherein the slotted grates define openings of approximately 0.75 inches by approximately 2 inches. Furthermore, it should be understood that in other embodiments, a different number of concave plates and / or separating grates may be included in the threshing unit of a combine harvester (e.g., more than three concave plates, less than three concave plates, more than three separating grates, less than three separating grates, etc.). For example, in one embodiment, a combine harvester may include a threshing unit having a housing with four concave plates and four separating grates, wherein the first four concave plates toward the front of the threshing unit (e.g., toward a feed unit of the combine harvester, etc.) each include a plurality of round bars, and wherein the next four separating grates toward the rear of the threshing unit then each include a slotted grating. That is, it should be understood that in other embodiments, other combinations of concave plates and / or separating grates may be used in a combine harvester (e.g., combinations of concave plates other than concave plates with round bars and separating grates other than separating grates with slotted grates, etc.).

[0039] As described above, as the corn cobs (and other crop residues) progress further through the hull 134 of the threshing unit 132, fewer kernels of corn will be present on the cobs remaining in the hull 134 to pass through the remaining concave plates 140 (and / or remaining separation grates 142) (because most of the kernels separated from the cobs have likely passed through the openings in the preceding concave plates 140). Thus, the material remaining in the hull 134 at the following separation grates 142 typically includes cobs and other larger crop residues (e.g., straw fragments, leaves, husks, etc.). This remaining material is discarded from the threshing unit 132 through the outlet 149 at the rear of the hull 134 and into the discharge unit 150 ( Figure 3 ), where the remaining material is ejected back into the field behind the combine 100 (e.g., via a rotary thresher, grinder, deflector, etc. of the discharge unit).

[0040] like Figure 3 and Figure 10As shown, the separating unit 144 of the combine harvester 100 is generally located below the threshing unit 132 (e.g., generally below the housing 134 and the concave plate 140 and separating grid 142 of the threshing unit 132, etc.) (and supported by the frame of the combine harvester 100) and is configured to receive corn kernels (and other small materials from the crop residue) that pass through the concave plate 140 and separating grid 142 of the housing 134 of the threshing unit 132 (e.g., in a collection pan, etc.). The auger 152 is then configured to move or push the collected corn kernels and small materials toward an upper screen 154 (or chaff screen) of the separating unit 144. Furthermore, the fan 156 of the separating unit 144 is configured to provide an airflow to move or guide the corn kernels (and other small materials) generally across the upper screen 154. Furthermore, the upper screen 154 is configured to reciprocate or otherwise move in a generally forward and rearward direction (relative to the combine 100) to facilitate movement of grain through the holes (or openings) in the upper screen 154. In this regard, the holes in the upper screen 154 are sized to allow grain to pass therethrough (as well as other similarly sized materials from crop residue passing through the concave plates 140, 142), but to block larger items (e.g., the holes in the upper screen 154 have a size of about 15 mm (about 0.6 inches) to about 20 mm (about 0.8 inches) (e.g., in a range between about 0.5 inches and about 1 inch, etc.). Larger items that do not pass through the holes are then pushed (e.g., by the fan 156, by movement of the upper screen 154, etc.) toward the rear end of the upper screen 154, where they are discharged from the combine 100 (directly or via an auger to the discharge unit 150). Among other things, the fan 156 is configured to rotate (broadly speaking, operate) at a speed between about 700 rpm and about 900 rpm to move the corn kernels toward and / or through the upper screen 154 (along with any other small crop residue that passes through the concave plates 140 , 142 ).

[0041] The lower screen 158 (or lower screen) is generally disposed below the upper screen 154 and is positioned to receive corn kernels and other small materials that pass through the holes of the upper screen 154. The lower screen 158 is configured to reciprocate or otherwise move in a generally forward and backward direction (relative to the combine 100) to subsequently facilitate movement of the kernels through the holes (or openings) in the lower screen 158. Finger-like fingers (or vein-like fingers) extend generally upward from the lower screen 158 at each hole to help capture the kernels and generally guide them to the hole. The size of the holes is set to be generally smaller than the holes of the upper screen 154 to accommodate the size of the corn kernels and allow the corn kernels to pass therethrough, but block other larger residues. For example, the size of the holes in the lower screen 158 can range from about 5 mm (about 0.2 inches) to about 15 mm (about 0.6 inches).

[0042] Material that is prevented from passing through the holes of the lower screen 158 is pushed toward its rear end (e.g., again by the fan 156, by movement of the lower screen 158, etc.), where it is collected. Furthermore, the dust auger 160 is configured to then convey the collected material (that passed through the upper screen 154, but not through the lower screen 158) to the side of the combine 100, where the dust elevator is configured to convey the collected material back to the entrance of the threshing unit 132 for further processing (e.g., to capture any corn kernels that may still be on the cob of the corn ear, etc.).

[0043] Finally, reference Figure 11 Corn kernels that pass through the lower screen 158 are collected below the lower screen and transported by the auger 162 to an elevator 164, which then transports the kernels to a hopper 166 (on the combine harvester 100) for storage (supported by the frame of the combine harvester 100). The elevator 164 typically includes a drive shaft configured to actuate a plurality of elevators (e.g., paddles, buckets, etc.) (via chains connected to the elevators) to transport (or lift, etc.) the collected corn kernels from the auger 162 to the auger 170, which then deposits the corn kernels into the hopper 166 for temporary storage. When the hopper 166 is full of corn kernels, the chute 168 of the combine harvester 100 moves outward, and the augers 172, 174 (typically located at the bottom of the hopper 166) are configured to guide the corn kernels into the chute 168 (and cause the kernels to converge at the chute). To this end, the augers 172, 174 are configured to rotate to direct the grain into the chute 168, wherein another auger within the chute 168 moves along the chute 168 (see Figure 1 ) to move the kernels for storage in a desired container (e.g., a dump truck, truck, van, etc.).

[0044] Next, an exemplary operation of the combine harvester 100 to collect (or harvest) corn kernels from corn plants in a desired (or selected or identified) field as part of a corn seed production process will be described. The combine harvester 100 is initially moved to the desired field to be harvested and positioned in the field so that the rows of corn plants in the field are aligned between adjacent row dividers 104 of the corn header 102 of the combine harvester 100. The combine harvester 100 is then operated (e.g., moved, driven, etc.) across the field at a rate (or speed) of approximately 3.5 miles per hour (mph) (e.g., as a manageable rate for operating the combine harvester 100 in the field and / or as an identified rate for providing a desired flow of corn plants to the corn header 102 for processing, etc.) (and compared to faster rates (e.g., greater than 5 mph, etc.) at which conventional combines are operated to harvest a field, so as to maximize field coverage in a short amount of time). In this regard, the stalk roller 108 of the corn header 102 is operated at a speed of approximately 1,120 rpm to separate the ears of corn from the stalks of the corn plants as the corn plants are received between the row dividers 104. This particular speed of the stalk roller 108 allows or enables the corn header 102 to effectively match the speed at which the corn header 102 is receiving corn plants based on the operating speed of the combine 100 of approximately 3.5 mph (and to remove ears of corn from the corn plants at a rate that helps prevent the stalk roller 108 from becoming blocked by multiple corn plants and / or removing ears of corn too quickly to be received into the separation chamber 106).

[0045] Once the ear of corn is removed from the corn plant, the auger 110 of the corn head 102 directs the ear of corn to the feed unit 112. By doing so, the auger 110 of the corn head 102 can be lifted (or elevated) so that the ear of corn flows generally under the auger 110 with little or minimal (or in some embodiments, even no) impact by the auger 110 (e.g., helping to prevent the ear of corn from being pinched between the auger 110 and a trough portion of the corn head 102 that is generally located under the auger 110 and along which the ear of corn moves, helping to prevent damage to the kernels on the ear through contact of the auger 110 against the kernels, etc.). By doing so, subsequent ears of corn (and other plant material, forage, etc.) flowing from the separation chamber 106 of the corn header 102 can help push the earlier removed ears of corn generally under the auger 110 (with some, little, or no assistance from the auger 110) and into the feed unit 112 (e.g., whereby the ears of corn generally flow from the straw roller 108 to the feed unit 112 based (at least in part) on the force of additional ears of corn (and forage, etc.) continually received into the separation chamber 106 of the corn header 102 through the particular operating speed of the combine harvester 100 and straw roller 108 described above).

[0046] At the feed unit 112, to accommodate the ears of corn, the rollers 120 of the conveyor system 118 are typically elevated relative to the bottom wall 130 of the channel 116 of the feed unit 112, e.g., to provide sufficient space for the ears of corn to move generally underneath them (because they are again pushed by the generally uniform influx of ears of corn received from the corn header, as described above, due to the particular operating speed of the combine harvester 100 and the stalk roller 108, etc.). As a result, the ears of corn received from the corn header 102 generally flow from the deflector 128 through the feed unit 112 to the threshing unit 132 with little or minimal impact (or even no impact in some embodiments) (e.g., due to the contact of the deflector 128 against the corn kernels, helping to prevent damage to the kernels on the ears, etc.). For example, the drum 120 of the conveyor system 118 can be raised to a maximum setting above (or always above) the bottom wall 130 of the conveyor system 118 to provide space for the ears of corn to move (or flow) under the drum 120, but still allow the deflectors 128 to potentially engage the ears of corn and help them move through the feed unit 112 (as required in some embodiments). In addition, the deflectors can be positioned generally above the drum 120 to, for example, help guide the ears of corn under the drum 120 (and potentially prevent the ears of corn from passing through the drum 120, etc.). The feed unit 112 then delivers the ears of corn to the inlet of the threshing unit 132 (e.g., allowing the ears of corn to flow into the threshing unit 132 with little or no additional force from the deflectors 128 (which could damage the kernels on the ears), etc.), where the ears are received into the hull 134 of the threshing unit 132 and the kernels are separated from the cob of the ears.

[0047] At the threshing unit 132, the spacing between the housing 134 and the rotor 136 (and more specifically, the spacing between the ends of the ribs 138 of the rotor 136 and the surfaces of the concave plates 140 and the separation grille 142 (when the ribs 138 are approximately at their closest points to the concave plates 140 and the separation grille 142), etc.) is set to about 20 mm (0.8 inches) (approximately uniformly around the housing 134 of the threshing unit 132 and approximately uniformly along the length of the housing 134) (broadly speaking, the concave plates are set between about 18 mm (about 0.7 inches) and about 24 mm (about 0.94 inches), etc.). This spacing allows the ears of corn to flow between the housing 134 and the rotor 136 into the threshing unit 132 without being disturbed by the rotor 136 and without requiring additional force from the guide plates 128 of the feed unit 112 to push or squeeze the ears of corn therein. In addition, the spacing is typically larger than normal relative to the size (or diameter) of the cobs of corn entering the threshing unit 132 (e.g., where the cobs of corn (not counting the corn kernels) may have a diameter of approximately 20 mm (approximately 0.8 inches), etc.), such that the approximately 20 mm (0.8 inch) concave plate setting roughly matches (or approximately matches) the diameter of the corn seed cobs of the corn plants harvested by the combine harvester 100). In other words, this spacing generally allows the ears of corn to flow from the feed unit 112 (generally between the rotor body and the concave plates 140) into the threshing unit 132 under their own flow (because they are again pushed by the generally uniform inflow of ears of corn received from the corn header 102, due to the specific operating speed of the combine harvester 100 and the straw drum 108, the specific configuration of the drum 120 of the conveyor system 118, etc., as described above), and then provides the ability of the rib bars 138 to engage the received ears of corn and push them against the concave plates 142 and the separator plates 142 (because the diameter of the ears of corn with the corn kernels still attached to them is generally still larger than the concave plate configuration). In addition, in this embodiment, the ends of the round bars 146 of the first concave plates 140 are generally flat (e.g., ground, etc.) to provide a smooth, ramped surface 176 for the ears of corn to flow into the hull 134.

[0048] The rotor 136 is then configured to rotate at a relatively low speed of about 350 rpm (broadly speaking, between about 200 rpm and about 400 rpm) within the housing 134 of the threshing unit 132. By doing so, the ear of corn is generally slowly (or gently) agitated within the housing 134, and the corn kernels are removed (or separated) from the cob of the ear of corn (as the rotor 136 pushes the ear of corn along and against the concave plate 140 and separation grid 142 of the housing 134) and the kernels pass through the openings in the concave plate 140 and separation grid 142. The separated corn kernels are collected at a separation unit 144 below the threshing unit 132.

[0049] In the separation unit 144, the fan 156 is operated at a speed of approximately 850 rpm to help move and / or guide the corn kernels (and any other small crop residue that passes through the concave plates 140, 142) across the upper screen 154. This relatively low speed generally results in the smaller size and weight of the corn seed processed herein (e.g., compared to the larger size and / or heavier weight of No. 2 yellow corn typically harvested by a combine harvester) and helps prevent the fan 156 from inadvertently pushing the corn kernels across the upper screen 154 too quickly (whereby the corn kernels fail to fall through the openings of the upper screen 154).

[0050] That is, the upper screen 154 of the separation unit 144 has a plurality of openings (or holes) defined therein, the sizes of which are approximately 18 mm (approximately 0.7 inches) toward the front of the screen 154, approximately 17 mm (approximately 0.67 inches) toward the middle of the screen 154, and approximately 18 mm (approximately 0.7 inches) toward the rear of the screen 154. Therefore, as the corn kernels and other materials pass over the upper screen 154, the corn kernels pass through the openings of the upper screen 154 (along with some crop residue that is smaller in size than the openings of the screen 154) and fall onto the lower screen 158. The lower screen 158 then also has a plurality of openings (or holes), each of which is approximately 7 mm (approximately 0.3 inches) in size, thereby intended to allow only the corn kernels to pass through the lower screen 158 for collection. Each opening of the lower screen 158 is associated with a finger (or vein) having a length of approximately 1.125 inches that extends generally upward from the lower screen 158 to help capture the kernels and guide them generally toward the corresponding opening. In this exemplary operation, the ear elevator is open (e.g., a door or the like of the ear elevator is open, etc.), or is otherwise provided with such an opening, so that crop residue collected from the lower screen 158 (i.e., crop residue that has passed through the upper screen 154 but not through the lower screen 158) is discharged from the combine harvester 100 (at the rear end of the combine harvester 100) rather than being recycled back to the threshing unit 132 (as is conventional) (because any corn kernels still present in the crop residue are not reintroduced into the threshing unit 132 to avoid disrupting the continued flow of corn ears from the feed unit 112 thereto and also to avoid introducing potentially damaged corn kernels therein).

[0051] Finally, the corn kernels that pass through the lower screen 158 are collected below the lower screen and directed (by the auger 162) to an elevator 164, which then transports the kernels to a hopper 166 (on the combine 100) for storage. To do so, the elevator 164 is operated at a relatively low speed of approximately 350 rpm (e.g., by using a 20-tooth sprocket mounted on the drive shaft of the elevator 164 and then operating a chain-driven bucket of the elevator 164, etc.). This speed generally allows the corn kernels received through the lower screen 158 to be transferred to the hopper 166 at a generally consistent rate, which generally matches the incoming corn kernels from the lower screen 158 (again, this is generally based on the corn ears flowing into the combine 100 (resulting from the specific operating speeds of the combine 100 and the straw drum 108, as well as the specific configuration of the conveyor system 118 and the feed unit 112, etc., as described above).

[0052] A sensor is disposed in the hopper 166 below the top of the augers 172, 174 therein. The sensor is configured to actuate the augers 172, 174 (or provide a warning to the operator of the combine harvester 100) when the corn kernels in the hopper 166 reach a height associated with the sensor. Thus, the augers 172, 174 are configured to activate and direct the corn kernels in the hopper 166 to the chute 168 for discharge before the hopper 166 is substantially full of corn kernels (and before the augers 172, 174 themselves become covered with corn kernels). To do so, the augers 172, 174 are configured to each rotate at a relatively low speed of approximately 1,400 rpm to direct the kernels to the chute 168 (e.g., via a large sprocket 178 coupled to its drive shaft, etc.), where the kernels are then transferred from the combine harvester 100 to another container (e.g., a truck, a cart, etc.) via the chute 168. It should be understood that in one or more embodiments, the container to which the corn kernels are transferred does not include an auger (e.g., the container will not include an auger cart, etc.).

[0053] In turn, the corn kernels collected from the combine 100 are transferred to a processing facility where they are dried in a dryer and then, once dried, stored as bulk dry hulled corn seed (in this example). Figure 12An exemplary corn cob dryer 200 is shown that can be used to dry corn kernels collected from a combine harvester 100. A batch of corn kernels to be dried is positioned in a chamber 202 of the corn cob dryer 200 (e.g., on one or more layered drying surfaces, etc.). Furthermore, the corn kernels are arranged in batches in the chamber 202 to help promote all corn kernels in the batch to have substantially the same moisture content. For example, but not limited to, the corn kernels can be arranged in batches having a width dimension of approximately 25 feet, a length dimension of approximately 25 feet, and a height (or thickness) dimension of approximately 4 feet, etc. In other words, the corn cob dryer 200 can be configured to process more than approximately 2,500 bushels of corn seed every 12 hours (or more than approximately 210 bushels of corn seed per hour).

[0054] In this regard, at a processing facility, the corn kernels are dried in a corn cob dryer at a temperature below about 110°F (e.g., between about 95°F and about 105°F, etc.) to a moisture content of about 14% or less (e.g., about 12%, about 13%, etc.). This drying may take about 10 hours to about 25 hours, depending on, for example, the moisture content of the corn kernels harvested from the field (e.g., in the example above, it may be between about 15% and about 25% (e.g., about 25% or less, about 19% or less, etc.)) and the desired final moisture content of the corn kernels (e.g., it may be between about 12% and about 14%, etc.). It will be appreciated that when the corn kernels are harvested from the field at a lower moisture content, drying the corn kernels to the desired final moisture content may take less time. Once dried, the corn kernels are cleaned (as needed) and stored in a conventional manner for subsequent use, such as as seed corn. Also, the corn seeds can be used to grow additional corn plants, such as, for example, those used to produce No. 2 Yellow Corn (which can then be harvested and used as feed corn, to produce ethanol, etc.).

[0055] In various embodiments, the combine harvester 100 may also be configured to provide notifications to its user (directly on the combine harvester 100, to a remote user, etc.) regarding operating parameters of the combine harvester 100 (e.g., the operating speed of one or more augers in the combine harvester 100, the operating speed of the stalk roller 108, the operating speed of the rotor 136, the spacing between the rotor 136 and the housing 134, the operating speed of the fan 156, the travel speed of the combine harvester 100, the flow rate of corn through the combine harvester 100, etc.). Furthermore, the combine harvester 100 may be configured to modify or adjust one or more operating parameters of the combine harvester 100 based on preset limits or parameters to ensure desired operation.

[0056] Because the kernels of corn plants harvested according to the systems and methods herein may have a lower moisture content (e.g., between about 15% and about 25%, etc.) than the kernels of corn plants harvested by conventional ear pickers, less time and resources may be required to dry the corn kernels to a desired moisture content (e.g., between about 12% and about 14%, etc.). For example, as described above, drying corn kernels harvested according to the systems and methods herein to such a desired moisture content may require about 10 hours to about 25 hours (e.g., about 25 hours or less, about 15 hours or less, about 11 hours or less, about 10 hours, etc.). In contrast, drying a whole ear of corn harvested with a conventional ear picker may require 80 hours or more. More importantly, through the present disclosure, corn kernels are obtained without the need for an additional shelling operation (a shelling operation is still required for dried corn ears harvested by conventional ear pickers).

[0057] Through the above-described exemplary operation of the combine harvester 100, a generally consistent flow of corn is provided to and through the combine harvester 100 for processing (to form corn seed). For example, operating the combine harvester at a speed of approximately 3.5 mph and operating the corn header 102's straw roller 108 at a speed of approximately 1,120 rpm provides a specific flow of corn ears entering the combine harvester, which is then matched by the specific operating parameters determined above for the feed unit 112, threshing unit 132, separation unit 144, elevator 164, and augers 172, 174, etc. Thus, the specific parameters determined above combine to provide a consistent flow of material to and through the combine harvester 100, thereby substantially keeping the combine harvester 100 (and each unit, component, etc. therein) full of such material during operation. This, in turn, helps prevent the corn kernels from being damaged as they pass through the combine harvester.

[0058] In addition, through the above-mentioned example operation, the time from the time when the combine harvester 100 picks the corn cobs to the time when the corn kernels are stored as corn seeds may take about 25 hours or less. This is much faster than the time required for similar operations using a corn ear picker (from the time when the corn cobs are picked to the time when the corn kernels are removed from the cobs and stored as corn seeds, which may take 80 hours or more to complete). More importantly, the resources required for subsequent processing of the separated corn kernels are less (compared to the whole corn cobs provided by the conventional corn ear picker), not only without the need for separate hulling and shelling equipment, but also requiring fewer transport trucks, fewer dryers (and shorter drying times, as discussed more below), etc. Therefore, by implementing the combine harvester 100 in the described manner to harvest corn plants associated with a seed production process or program, significant cost savings can be achieved (for example, where the collected corn kernels are subsequently used as seeds to plant more corn plants, etc.).

[0059] In various embodiments of the above-described operations, a field in which the combine harvester 100 is used to harvest corn plants (e.g., as part of a corn seed production process) can be selected based on the moisture content of corn kernels from the corn plants in the field. In this regard, it has been discovered that, according to the above-described exemplary operations of the combine harvester 100 (for corn seed production), harvesting corn plants having a moisture content of approximately 25% or less (e.g., between approximately 15% and approximately 25% (e.g., approximately 19%), etc.) can increase the yield of corn kernels from the harvested corn plants and the quality of the resulting corn kernels (e.g., by preventing damage and / or loss of corn kernels, etc.) (e.g., compared to harvesting corn plants at a similar moisture content using a conventional corn picker, etc.). Specifically, the present inventors have discovered that corn plants typically harvested with a combine harvester having a moisture content exceeding 25% negatively impact the cold and warm germination rates (or vigor) of the corn kernels (even when harvested with a corn picker, where such higher moisture contents are beneficial). For example, at moisture contents above 25%, the corn kernels cling more tightly to the cob, thereby requiring higher rotor speeds and / or smaller concave plate configurations (e.g., smaller spacing between the concave plate and the rotor, etc.) in the threshing unit of the combine harvester to remove the corn kernels from the cob. However, this can result in damaged corn kernels or an inability to effectively remove the corn kernels from the cob. However, at moisture contents below approximately 25%, the present inventors have discovered that, for example, within the threshing unit 132 of the combine harvester 100 (in the manner described above), the kernels can be removed from the cob with less effort, thereby causing less damage to the kernels.

[0060] Tables 1 and 2 show exemplary operating results of the combine harvester 100 harvesting corn plants at three different moisture contents (i.e., about 23.8%, about 20.5%, and about 18.9%). By doing so, samples of corn plants at three different moisture contents were analyzed. As shown in Table 1, the cold germination rate and warm germination rate of the resulting corn kernels were the highest in the samples having a moisture content of about 18.9% at the time of harvest. Corn plants harvested at higher moisture contents exhibited lower cold germination rates and warm germination rates (in some examples, this may not meet certain defined benchmarks, etc.). And, as shown in Table 2, the percentage of corn kernels recovered from the harvested corn plants (i.e., corn kernel yield) was the highest in the samples having a moisture content of about 18.9% at the time of harvest.

[0061] Table 1

[0062] <![CDATA[ Harvest moisture content ]]> <![CDATA[ Cold germination rate ]]> <![CDATA[ Warm germination rate ]]> 23.8％ 68％ 75％ 20.5％ 85％ 94％ 18.9％ 96％ 98％

[0063] Table 2

[0064] <![CDATA[ Harvest moisture content ]]> <![CDATA[ Recovered seeds (yield) ]]> 23.8％ 95.3％ 20.5％ 96.2％ 18.9％ 97.7％

[0065] Table 3 shows the permissible visible damage associated with the above-described operation of the combine harvester 100 when harvesting corn plants at various moisture contents ranging from 12% to about 19%. As shown, visible damage to the resulting corn kernels (expressed as a percentage of the seed harvested from the field) generally decreases with decreasing moisture content at harvest (e.g., fewer visible cracks in the corn kernels after exposure to an iodine solution, etc.).

[0066] Table 3

[0067]

[0068]

[0069] In addition, the following describes exemplary operations for measuring the moisture content of corn kernels in corn plants in a field, which are related to determining whether to harvest corn plants (for corn seed) in the field via the aforementioned exemplary operations of the combine harvester 100. Here, the moisture content of the corn kernels is measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (where water in the corn kernels absorbs certain wavelengths of light, and where the amount of such wavelength absorption provides an indication of the moisture content in the corn kernels). Specifically, when measuring the moisture content of the corn kernels, a portable device (e.g., such as provided by Perten Instruments, etc.) is used to obtain a plurality of measurements (e.g., at least approximately 24 measurements per location, etc.) from at least three different locations in the field. Then, in this example, when at least 90% of the measurements at each location indicate that the moisture content of the corn plants in the field is approximately 19% or less, the field is designated for harvesting by the combine harvester 100. If the 19% baseline value is not met, the corn kernels are allowed to dry further and subsequent testing operations may be performed until at least 90% of the measurements indicate that the moisture content of the corn kernels of the corn plants in the field is about 19% or less. That is, it should be understood that in other examples, the baseline moisture content utilized in connection with determining whether to harvest the corn plants in the field through the above-described exemplary operation of the combine harvester 100 may be different than 19%. For example, the baseline moisture content may be less than about 25% moisture content, about 23% moisture content, about 22% moisture content, a moisture content within a range of about 15% to about 25%, a specific value and / or a range therebetween, etc.).

[0070] As described above, harvesting corn plants (to produce a larger batch of corn seed) at a moisture content of about 25% or less (e.g., about 19%, etc.) via the above-described exemplary operation of combine harvester 100 may improve germination rates of the resulting corn kernels. Thus, through the above-described operations, the combine harvester 100 can be considered to generally preserve or protect the germination vigor of the resulting corn kernels harvested thereby because a major number of the harvested corn kernels (e.g., greater than about 50% (generally speaking) of the corn kernels harvested from the field by the combine harvester 100, greater than about 70% of the corn kernels harvested from the field by the combine harvester 100, greater than about 80% of the corn kernels harvested from the field by the combine harvester 100, greater than about 90% of the corn kernels harvested from the field by the combine harvester 100, etc.) (as a defined benchmark, etc.) remain viable after harvesting and can grow from the corn kernels into corn plants (e.g., into corn plants for producing No. 2 yellow corn, etc.).

[0071] For example, in one example, through the above-described operation, the combine harvester 100 can be considered to generally preserve or protect the germination viability of the resulting corn kernels harvested thereby because, for a cold germination rate, greater than about 75% (e.g., at least about 80% or greater, at least about 84% or greater, etc.) of the corn kernels harvested from the field by the combine harvester 100 remain viable after harvest and can grow from the corn kernels into corn plants (e.g., into corn plants for producing No. 2 yellow corn, etc.). In this regard, the cold germination rate generally represents the vigor of seeds under less than optimal growing conditions, such as those conditions that may occur in the field (e.g., wet / cold environments, etc.), and is generally representative of seed vigor. For example, an exemplary test for cold germination rate includes planting seeds in a laboratory environment at a temperature of about 60°F or lower for 5-7 days and then counting the seeds that germinated (e.g., a representative sample of 100 such seeds, etc.). In another example, by operating as described above, the combine harvester 100 can be considered to generally preserve or protect the germination vigor of the resulting corn kernels harvested thereby because, for warm germination, greater than about 75% (e.g., at least about 90% or greater, at least about 94% or greater, at least about 95% or greater, etc.) of the corn kernels harvested from a field by the combine harvester 100, etc., remain viable after harvest and can grow from the corn kernels into corn plants (e.g., into corn plants for producing No. 2 yellow corn, etc.). In this regard, warm germination generally represents seed vigor under optimal conditions and generally represents a maximum germination level. An exemplary test for warm germination includes planting seeds in a laboratory environment at about 77°F for 5-7 days and then counting the seeds that germinated (e.g., a representative sample of 100 such seeds, etc.).

[0072] In addition, in connection with harvesting corn plants at a moisture content of about 25% or less (e.g., about 19% or less, etc.) to produce large quantities of corn seed, the corn plants must remain in the field longer to achieve the lower moisture content (compared to harvesting corn plants using conventional corn pickers, which can harvest corn plants earlier at a higher moisture content of between about 32% and about 38%). This additional time that the corn plants remain in the field may exceed about two to three weeks (e.g., about 14 days to about 21 days, etc.), and in some areas may extend into the colder season. It is understood that during this time, the risk of damage to the corn plants may increase (e.g., weather damage, insect infestation, mold damage, etc.). Therefore, while certain improvements can be achieved by using the combine harvester 100 of the present invention (as described above), there are also significant additional risks when harvesting corn plants when the moisture content of the corn kernels of the corn plants is approximately 25% or less due to the extended time the corn plants must remain in the field before being harvested.

[0073] In conjunction with the above-described embodiments of the combine harvester 100, in one or more embodiments, a field of corn plants to be harvested by the combine harvester 100 as part of a corn seed production process may be further prequalified (or predetermined) based on one or more characteristics of the corn plants in the field (whereby the moisture content of the prequalified corn plants may then be monitored in the example manner described above to achieve a baseline moisture content of approximately 25% or less, etc.). In such embodiments, if the corn plants in the field do not meet one or more characteristics, the corn plants may instead be harvested using conventional processes (e.g., by using a corn picker at a higher moisture content of approximately 32%, etc.). Characteristics that may be used to prequalify corn plants for harvesting by the combine harvester 100 in the manner described herein may include one or more of the following: the size and / or shape of the corn kernels of the corn plants, the strength of the corn stalks of the corn plants, and / or the type of corn plants, etc.

[0074] For example, it has been found that corn plants with generally larger kernels (e.g., seeds classified as large round (AR2)) generally have lower germination rates. Therefore, in some examples, a field with corn plants with such larger kernels may not be selected (or prequalified) for harvesting using the above-described operation. Similarly, it has been found that corn kernels with a generally round shape (rather than a generally flat shape) exhibit more significant damage after being harvested by the combine harvester 100 (e.g., such seeds may bounce more in the combine harvester 100 during processing, etc.). Therefore, in some examples, a field with corn plants with such generally round kernels (e.g., corn plants with approximately 40% or more round kernels, etc.) may not be selected (or prequalified) for harvesting using the above-described operation. Conversely, in such fields with corn plants with larger kernels and / or kernels with a generally round shape, the field can be harvested using a conventional corn hoe at a conventional moisture content of approximately 32% to approximately 38%.

[0075] Furthermore, through the above operations, certain hybrids of corn plants known to be adapted to or accept salt spray (e.g. etc.) can be selected (or prequalified) to be harvested by the above operation to allow for an increased rate of dehydration of corn plants in the field (e.g., helping to achieve a moisture content of about 25% or less faster than the natural waiting time, etc.) and to help expedite the harvest of the corn plants (e.g., helping to address frost risks earlier in certain areas, etc.). Similarly, hybrids known to have high husk loss can be selected to be harvested by the above operation to help prevent yield losses, and corn plants with good standability (or stalk strength) can be selected (or prequalified). And, for example, hybrids with germination rates known to be about 90% or higher can be selected (or prequalified) to be harvested by the above operation. However, when such hybrids are not present in the field, the corn plants can be harvested again by a conventional corn ear picker at a conventional moisture content of about 32%.

[0076] Additionally, corn plants that express or demonstrate the potential for ear mold or other diseases may not be selected for harvesting by the above-described operation. Instead, such corn plants may be selected for early harvesting by conventional corn pickers (in order to minimize the exposure of the corn plants to ear mold or other diseases and to recover as much viable seed as possible from the corn plants).

[0077] The combine harvester 100 and the operations described herein can be implemented as part of a corn seed production program. By doing so, certain corn plants and / or fields of corn plants included in the program can be prequalified (as described above) for harvesting using the combine harvester 100 and the operations described herein (e.g., due to the reduced resources required (and potential cost savings) associated therewith). However, due to the additional risk associated with leaving the corn plants in the field for a longer period of time (in order to achieve the lower water content required for implementation of the combine harvester 100), the combine harvester 100 and the operations described herein can only harvest a certain percentage of the prequalified corn plants and / or fields. By doing so, a balance can be struck between the cost savings and the increased risk associated with the operations described herein, whereby the predefined percentage can be implemented on the prequalified corn plants and / or fields. In other words, the corn seed production program can harvest only a predefined percentage of prequalified corn plants and / or fields using the combine 100 and the operations described herein, and then harvest the remaining prequalified corn plants and / or fields using a conventional corn picker (which has a higher moisture content and is therefore faster). By doing so, the predefined percentage can be about 10%, about 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 75%, about 80%, etc.

[0078] As described, the combine harvester 100 and the operation described herein can be used to produce large quantities of corn seeds. The corn seeds can then be used to cultivate subsequent corn plants that produce No. 2 yellow corn (e.g., for feed, ethanol production, etc.). In some embodiments, the specific corn plants identified for harvesting to produce such corn seeds are initially identified as corn plants that produce corn seeds (e.g., where the corn plants are specific hybrids of corn plants that produce corn seeds, etc.). And, in connection therewith, corn seeds can generally include corn kernels with specific quality, size, shape, density, etc. (thus being useful for identifying corn kernels as corn seeds and No. 2 yellow corn, etc.). For example, large quantities of corn seeds can include corn kernels with a specific (or threshold) germination rate (e.g., at least about 90% warm germination rate and / or at least about 80% cold germination rate, etc.). Large quantities of corn seeds can also (or alternatively) include corn kernels with a specific density, such as a density sufficient to make approximately 80,000 kernels weigh approximately 35 pounds. Additionally (or alternatively), large batches of corn seed may include specific size / shape assortments, such as large round (AR2), medium round (AR), large flat (AF2), and / or medium flat (AF).

[0079] In some embodiments (but not limited thereto), the combine harvester 100 and the operations described herein can be used to harvest corn plants that have been tasseled (e.g., female plants, etc.). For example, a field may initially be planted with multiple rows of corn plants, but several of the rows may subsequently be tasseled. Then, after pollination, the rows of corn plants that have been tasseled (and in some embodiments, only the rows of corn plants that have been tasseled) are harvested as described herein (to increase the supply of corn seed).

[0080] In some embodiments, the combine 100 and the operations described herein can be used as part of a harvesting operation that optimizes a field and an associated resource network. For example, the combine 100 can be included in the network as an economical harvesting option, producing corn seeds in a manner that utilizes fewer resources than corn seeds produced by conventional ear picking operations. In addition, due to the improved efficiency and economy associated with the combine 100 (e.g., fewer resources required for transporting corn seeds, drying corn seeds, etc.), the combine 100 and the operations described herein can produce corn seeds in areas that were previously impossible. In addition, through this improved efficiency and economy, the combine 100 and the operations described herein can be able to harvest corn and other crops (e.g., soybeans, etc.) together. In addition, the combine 100 and the operations described herein can be implemented to harvest a desired (or target) portion (e.g., a threshold amount, or a threshold portion, or a threshold percentage, etc.) of the overall harvest in the field network. For example, based on the above, a combine harvester may target (and monitor) a particular field (e.g., one or more fields in a network of fields, etc.) of corn plants (in a network of fields) for harvesting at planting, at the start of the harvest period, earlier, later, etc., such that, in aggregate, the plants harvested from the particular field represent a desired (or target) portion of the overall harvest from the network of fields. In this regard, the desired (or target) portion may be about 5% or more, about 10% or more, about 15% or more, about 20% or more, about 25% or more, about 30% or more, about 35% or more, about 40% or more, about 50% or more, about 75% or more, percentages therebetween, etc., of the total harvest from the network of fields.

[0081] In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for producing corn seeds for planting corn plants is provided. The method generally comprises: removing corn ears from corn plants in a field by a combine harvester; separating corn kernels from the cobs of the corn ears on the combine harvester while in the field; and collecting a batch of the separated corn kernels by the combine harvester for use as corn seed. In this exemplary embodiment, in some embodiments, the collected batch of corn kernels may have a cold germination rate of at least about 75% (and more specifically, at least about 84%), and the collected batch of corn kernels may have a warm germination rate of at least about 75% (and more specifically, at least about 94%).

[0082] Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, removing ears of corn from corn plants in the field may include removing ears of corn from corn plants in the field when the moisture content of corn kernels on the ears of corn plants is about 25% or less.

[0083] Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, collecting the batch of separated corn kernels may include collecting the batch of separated corn kernels in a silo on a combine harvester. Furthermore, the exemplary method may then further include: transferring the collected corn kernels from the silo on the combine harvester to at least one dryer; drying the transferred corn kernels at the at least one dryer; and storing the dried corn kernels.

[0084] The above description of the embodiments has been provided for illustration and description purposes. The description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but are interchangeable and can be used in selected embodiments where appropriate, even if not specifically shown or described. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment may also be varied in a variety of ways. Such variations should not be considered as departing from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0085] The exemplary embodiments have been provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. Many specific details, such as examples of specific parts, assemblies, and methods, are set forth to provide a complete understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed and that the exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and neither should be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0086] The specific dimensions disclosed herein, specific materials and / or specific shapes are examples in nature and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The disclosure of the specific value and specific value range of a given parameter herein does not exclude other values ​​and value ranges that can be used in one or more examples disclosed herein. In addition, it is envisioned that any two specific values ​​of a specific parameter described herein can define the endpoints (that is, the disclosure of the first value and the second value of a given parameter can be interpreted as disclosing any value between the first value and the second value and can also be used for a given parameter) that can be applicable to the value range of a given parameter. For example, if parameter X is exemplified herein as having value A and also exemplified as having value Z, it is envisioned that parameter X can have a value range from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that the disclosure of two or more scopes of the value of a parameter (whether such scope is nested, overlapping or different) covers all possible range combinations of the value that may be claimed using the endpoints of the disclosed range. For example, if parameter X is illustrated herein as having a value in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also contemplated that parameter X can have other ranges of values ​​including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, and 3-9.

[0087] The terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific exemplary embodiments and are not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "said" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprising" and "having" are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or groups thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or groups thereof. The method steps, processes and operations described herein should not be understood as necessarily needing to be performed in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically indicated as the order of performance. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be adopted.

[0088] When an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on, engaged to, connected to or coupled to another element or layer, or there may be intermediate elements or layers. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on”, “directly engaged to”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intermediate elements or layers. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a similar manner (e.g., “between” versus “directly between”, “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent”). As used herein, the term “and / or” and the phrase “at least one of” include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0089] Although the terms first, second, third etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, parts, seeds, members and / or parts, these elements, parts, seeds, members and / or parts should not be restricted by these terms. These terms may only be used to distinguish an element, part, seed, member or part from another element, part, seed, member or part. Terms such as "first", "second" and other numerical terms do not imply order or sequence when used in this article, unless the context clearly indicates. Therefore, the first element, parts, seed, member or part discussed below can be referred to as the second element, parts, seed, member or part, without departing from the teaching of exemplary embodiments.

[0090] For ease of description, spatially relative terms (such as "in," "out," "below," "beneath," "lower," "above," "upper," etc.) may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature, as shown in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, an element described as being "below" or "beneath" other elements or features is then oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below" may encompass both above and below orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

Claims

1. A method of producing corn seeds for planting corn plants using a combine harvester, the method comprising: analyzing one or more characteristics of corn plants in a field before removing ears of corn from the corn plants, wherein the one or more characteristics are selected from the group consisting of kernel size, kernel shape, stalk strength, and corn plant type; measuring the moisture content of corn kernels on ears of the corn plants in the field in response to the corn plants in the field having the one or more characteristics; removing corn ears from the corn plants in the field using a combine harvester when the moisture content is 19% or less; while in the field, separating the corn kernels from the cobs of the ears of corn on the combine; and The separated corn kernels are collected for use as corn seed, whereby one or more corn plants can be grown from the corn kernels collected by the combine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein Measuring the moisture content includes measuring the moisture content of the corn kernels on the ear of corn using near infrared spectroscopy.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: Measuring the moisture content further comprises measuring the moisture content of corn kernels on an ear of corn at three or more different locations in the field; and wherein removing the ear of corn from the corn plant when the moisture content is 19% or less comprises removing the ear of corn from the corn plant when at least 90% of the moisture content measurements at each of the three or more different locations in the field are 19% or less.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The collected corn kernels are used as corn seeds for growing one or more corn plants.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Corn plants were grown from the collected corn kernels.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein Collecting the separated corn kernels includes collecting the separated corn kernels in a hopper on the combine harvester; The method further comprises: transferring the collected corn kernels from the hopper on the combine to at least one dryer unit; drying the transferred corn kernels at the at least one dryer unit; and The dried corn kernels are stored.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: Drying the transferred corn kernels includes drying the corn kernels in the at least one dryer unit to a moisture content of 14% or less.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein The field is one of a plurality of fields, and wherein the plurality of fields defines a total harvest amount; The method further comprises: measuring the moisture content of corn kernels on ears of corn plants in at least one additional field of the plurality of fields; removing the ears of corn from the corn plants in the at least one additional field by the combine harvester and / or at least one additional combine harvester when the moisture content is 19% or less; while in the at least one additional field, separating the corn kernels from the cobs of the ears of corn on the combine harvester and / or the at least one additional combine harvester; and collecting the separated corn kernels for use as corn seeds; and wherein the collected corn kernels from the field and the at least one additional field satisfy a threshold portion of the total harvest.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein The threshold portion is at least 25% of the total harvested amount of the plurality of fields.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein The collected batch of the plurality of corn kernels has a cold germination rate of at least 75%; and wherein the collected batch of the plurality of corn kernels has a warm germination rate of at least 75%.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein The collected batch of the plurality of corn kernels has a cold germination rate of at least 84%; and wherein the collected batch of the plurality of corn kernels has a warm germination rate of at least 94%.

12. A method of producing corn seeds for planting corn plants using a combine harvester, the method comprising: determining that corn plants in the field include one or more desired characteristics, wherein the one or more desired characteristics are selected from the group consisting of corn kernel size, corn kernel shape, stalk strength, and corn plant type; directing a combine harvester to the field based on the determination when the moisture content of corn kernels on the ears of the corn plants is 19% or less; removing ears of corn from the corn plants by the combine harvester; separating the corn kernels from the cobs of the ears of corn on the combine harvester; and The separated corn kernels are collected for use as corn seeds, whereby one or more corn plants can be grown from the collected corn kernels.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: Collecting the separated corn kernels includes collecting the separated corn kernels in a hopper on the combine harvester; The method further comprises: transferring the collected corn kernels from the hopper on the combine to at least one dryer unit; drying the transferred corn kernels at the at least one dryer unit; and The dried corn kernels are stored.

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