METHOD FOR COLLECTING A CROPPED COUNTRY SAMPLE IN A COMBINE HARVESTER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for collecting a laboratory sample from a batch of harvested crops using an agricultural harvesting machine according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an agricultural harvesting machine according to claim 14.

[0002] The chemical analysis of harvested crops has long been relevant in agriculture.

[0003] This harvested crop could be, for example, corn and grass harvested by a forage harvester for silage. It could also include cereal grains, pulses, and oilseed kernels harvested by a combine harvester. Chemical analysis primarily focuses on constituents, especially moisture, which is typically expressed as a percentage of the total mass. However, other constituents are also relevant, such as proteins and sugars, which are typically expressed as a percentage of dry matter, as well as more abstract characteristics like digestibility for livestock.

[0004] The focus here is on the temporally decoupled, so-called "at-line" analysis.

[0005] This involves measurements taken at relatively long intervals to determine the average concentrations of a batch of harvested crop, i.e., a large, defined quantity of harvested crop. The time interval between different measurements depends on the process and can range from a few seconds to several days. The basis for at-line analysis is the collection of a suitable laboratory sample that accurately reflects the chemical properties of the entire batch of harvested crop in question.

[0006] At-line analysis differs from online measurements in that it is decoupled over time. In particular, online sensors typically measure directly on the flow of material at equidistant time intervals.

[0007] The focus here is on taking a laboratory sample from a batch of harvested crop using an agricultural harvester. This laboratory sample must meet predefined representativeness requirements and be able to be measured independently of the harvesting process. It is therefore taken from a crop stream of the agricultural harvester and isolated from it. However, returning the sample to the crop stream after analysis is not a problem. Concepts exist for diverting a portion of the crop stream and using it as a laboratory sample. The problem, however, is that these methods either require collecting very large quantities or result in lower representativeness. While representativeness may still be achieved with a large sample, further processing is then necessary. This leaves a significant amount of work for the user.

[0008] Such methods are known, for example, from EP 2 119 339 A1, EP 1 825 740 A1 or FR 2 801 380 A1.

[0009] The invention is based on the problem of providing a method for collecting a laboratory sample that saves the user work and simultaneously meets predetermined requirements for the representativeness of the laboratory sample.

[0010] The above problem is solved by a method according to claim 1.

[0011] The present method considers a method for collecting a laboratory sample from an agricultural harvesting machine which has at least one working unit for taking up a harvested field crop as harvest material and / or for processing the harvest material, wherein the harvest material is transported in a harvest material stream along a harvest material transport path through the agricultural harvesting machine during operation.

[0012] The essential consideration is to provide a two-stage sampling process and to place a comminution device between a coarse dividing device and a fine dividing device.

[0013] Specifically, it is proposed that the agricultural harvesting machine has an automatic sampling device, that the sampling device includes a coarse dividing device, a comminution device, and a fine dividing device arranged along the harvested crop transport path, that the coarse dividing device takes a raw sample from the harvested crop stream of the lot, that the comminution device comminutes the raw sample, and that the fine dividing device takes the laboratory sample from the comminutioned raw sample for time-decoupled analysis.

[0014] By providing the shredding device in the agricultural harvesting machine, it is particularly possible to provide a user with a fully prepared laboratory sample ready for analysis, or to carry out the laboratory analysis directly on the agricultural harvesting machine.

[0015] The two-stage extraction process allows a representative portion of the harvested material stream to be extracted using the coarse dividing device. This takes into account the fact that this stream carries large quantities of material in a short time and is therefore not easily manageable. In the preferred embodiment, the resulting coarse sample is then further divided, and thus mass-reduced, using the fine dividing device. In some cases, however, the fine dividing device can also extract the entire coarsely ground raw sample for laboratory analysis. For example, the coarse dividing device and the fine dividing device can be combined to achieve thorough mixing, after which the laboratory sample is analyzed as a whole.Measurement methods that can be performed on an agricultural harvesting machine include, in particular, NIR reflection spectroscopy techniques, which only analyze the surface of the laboratory sample anyway, thus avoiding further mass reduction. Nevertheless, temporal decoupling is crucial in this case.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment according to claim 2, the coarse dividing device extracts a raw sample stream from the harvested crop stream, which is then comminuted by the comminution device. Preferably, the fine dividing device extracts a laboratory sample stream from the comminuted raw sample stream, from which the laboratory sample can then be extracted. The batch of harvested crop is not usually contained simultaneously in the agricultural harvesting machine, but rather corresponds to a larger section of a field. Extracting a raw sample stream makes it possible to easily represent the entire batch of harvested crop in the laboratory sample.

[0017] A particularly preferred embodiment according to claim 3 relates to the possibility of continuously taking the raw sample and the laboratory sample, which also enables a complete representation of the lot. Furthermore, it is interesting that a time delay between taking the harvested crop and taking the laboratory sample can be constant and, in particular, known. This can be especially advantageous when several laboratory samples are taken, in order to assign the laboratory samples accordingly. Furthermore, the embodiments of claims 2 and 3, which contribute to continuous and uniform sampling, increase the representativeness of the laboratory sample.

[0018] Claims 4 and 5 relate to the possibility of extracting the raw sample and the laboratory sample either continuously or in discrete sections. Both methods can be implemented continuously. Depending on the crop, measurement method, and further implementation of the proposed method, the combination can be freely chosen.

[0019] According to the invention, the fine-division device is configured to adjust the weight and / or volume fraction of the laboratory sample in the raw sample. In a preferred embodiment, the coarse-division device is configured to adjust the weight and / or volume fraction of the raw sample in the batch.

[0020] This makes it possible to take a representative laboratory sample on the order of a few grams from a batch of harvested crops on the rough order of one hundred tons.

[0021] Claim 8 relates to the preferred comminution of the particles of the raw sample by means of the comminution device, which is appropriately adapted to the coarse dividing device and the fine dividing device.

[0022] Claims 9 to 11 relate to preferred mechanical embodiments of the coarse dividing device, the shredding device, and the fine dividing device. The coarse dividing device is designed for handling large and fast-moving streams of harvested material. The shredding device is preferably designed for uniform shredding and / or uniform mixing. The fine dividing device may have a movable, controllable flap that allows the fine dividing device to be switched off and / or adjusted. In particular, this allows for adjustment to the specific type of harvested material.

[0023] In an embodiment according to claim 12, the sampling device includes a collection device for the laboratory sample. In particular, this makes it possible to dispense the laboratory sample, already packaged, to a user. Accordingly, claim 13 relates to the possibility of analyzing the laboratory sample outside the agricultural harvesting machine.

[0024] According to the invention, a corresponding agricultural harvesting machine with the features of claim 14 is also proposed to solve the above-mentioned problem.

[0025] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing that merely illustrates exemplary embodiments. The drawing shows Fig. 1 a proposed agricultural harvesting machine for use in the proposed method, Fig. 2 schematically the division of a lot of harvested material up to the laboratory sample and Fig. 3 two possible designs of the sampling device.

[0026] The procedure in question for collecting a laboratory sample 1 from a batch of harvested crop 2 is schematically shown in Fig. 2 The process is carried out using an agricultural harvesting machine 3 with at least one working unit 4 for collecting a harvested field crop 5 as harvested material 6 and / or for processing the harvested material 6. The process is exemplified by the one shown in Fig. 1 The illustrated forage harvester is explained as agricultural harvesting machine 3. However, this is not to be understood as a limitation. Other preferred agricultural harvesting machines 3 for carrying out the process include combine harvesters, loader wagons and balers, as well as mowers, tedders and rakes.

[0027] The crop material 6 preferably consists of maize, grass, cereal grains, pulses, oilseeds, hay, or straw. However, this list is not to be understood as limiting. A further preferred combination is a forage harvester as an agricultural harvesting machine 3 with maize or grass as the crop material 6, or a combine harvester as an agricultural harvesting machine 3 with cereal grains, pulses, or oilseeds as the crop material 6, or a forage wagon as an agricultural harvesting machine 3 with grass or straw as the crop material 6, or a baler as an agricultural harvesting machine 3 with straw as the crop material 6.

[0028] The crop 6 is transported through the agricultural harvesting machine 3 in a crop flow 7 along a crop transport path 8. A batch of crop 2 corresponds to a time segment of the crop flow 7. Here, and preferably, a batch of crop 2 comprises significantly more crop 6 than is present in the agricultural harvesting machine 3 at any given time. If the agricultural harvesting machine 3 includes a collection container for the crop 6, as is the case with a forage wagon, for example, the batch of crop 2 can also be defined by the fill level of this collection container. It follows that several batches of crop 2 are typically generated during normal field cultivation. Accordingly, the proposed method can be carried out multiple times consecutively or at intervals during field cultivation.However, it is also possible to plan to take only one laboratory sample 1 per field operation. Exemplary sizes for laboratory sample 1 and batch 2 of harvested material are given below.

[0029] It is essential that the agricultural harvesting machine 3 has an automatic sampling device 9. This is in Fig. 3 The sampling device 9 comprises a coarse dividing device 10, a comminution device 11, and a fine dividing device 12 arranged on the harvested material transport path 8. These are also shown in detail in Fig. 3 depicted.

[0030] In principle, some agricultural harvesting machines are provided with three so-called "bypass" channels through which only a small portion of the harvested crop 6 is transported. However, in this case, the coarse dividing device 10 is preferably arranged on a main crop transport path through which the majority or all of the harvested crop 6 is transported. In fact, a divider already provided for a bypass can also be used as a coarse dividing device 10.

[0031] It is also essential that the coarse dividing device 10 takes a raw sample 13 from the harvested crop stream 7 of lot 2. As will be explained later, the coarse dividing device 10 can be configured as either active or passive. In the exemplary embodiment, the coarse dividing device 10 is configured as active. Fig. 2a Figure 1 schematically illustrates how the coarse dividing device 10 extracts a portion as a raw sample 13 from lot 2 of harvested crop. This is a small fraction of lot 2, and exemplary values ​​will be given below.

[0032] It is essential that the comminution device 11 comminsulates the raw sample 13. The comminution device 11 can be any device capable of reducing the particle size of the raw sample 13. Preferably, the comminution device 11 comminutes the raw sample 13 into a powder. Preferred particle sizes will be mentioned later.

[0033] As in Fig. 2b As illustrated in the above, it is essential that the fine-slicing device 12 extracts the laboratory sample 1 from the comminuted raw sample 13 for time-decoupled analysis. As will be further illustrated later with the exemplary embodiment of the fine-slicing device 12, the fine-slicing device 12 can extract the entire comminuted raw sample 13 as laboratory sample 1. In a preferred embodiment, however, the laboratory sample 1 is only a small part of the comminuted raw sample 13. It therefore follows that the laboratory sample 1 corresponds to only a fraction of the batch of harvested material 2.

[0034] The proposed method can be used independently of the further analysis of laboratory sample 1. Therefore, the term "laboratory" should be interpreted very broadly. The fundamental point is that no online analysis of the harvested crop 6 is performed. However, it is entirely possible to analyze laboratory sample 1 on board the agricultural harvesting machine 3. The temporal decoupling of laboratory sample 1 from the harvested crop flow 7 is essential, meaning that laboratory sample 1 can, but does not necessarily have to, represent a batch of harvested crop 2 that is significantly larger than the quantity of harvested crop 6 processed by the agricultural harvesting machine 3 at any given time. Furthermore, unlike an online method, this method is fundamentally suitable for analyzing laboratory sample 1 at any given time. The agricultural harvesting machine 3 does not need to be equipped with the actual capability to do so.Here, and preferably, the collection of the complete laboratory sample 1 takes place before an analysis of laboratory sample 1.

[0035] As from Fig. 1 As can be seen, the coarse dividing device is arranged here, preferably along the harvested material transport path 8. The fine dividing device 12 and, preferably, the shredding device 11, however, can be arranged away from the harvested material transport path 8. In a preferred embodiment, the coarse dividing device 10, the shredding device 11, and the fine dividing device 12 are spaced apart from each other and functionally arranged one behind the other.

[0036] As already mentioned, the proposed method can preferably produce laboratory samples 1 continuously during fieldwork. In the exemplary embodiment, the sampling device 9 is additionally provided with a switch-on and switch-off capability, which will be explained later. With regard to this, and illustrated by the Fig. 2 Here, and preferably, the coarse dividing device 10 extracts a raw sample stream 14 from the harvested material stream 7, and the comminution device 11 comminsules the raw sample stream 14. The raw sample 13 is therefore preferably not extracted whole in a single operation. Fig. 2a Figure 1 schematically shows how the raw sample stream 14 is taken from the harvested crop stream 7.

[0037] Preferably, the fine-division device 12 extracts a laboratory sample stream 15 from the comminuted raw sample stream 14, as schematically shown in Fig. 2b ) shown. Both the raw sample stream 14 and the laboratory sample stream 15 are also shown in Fig. 3 shown, with the arrows next to the respective current being labelled with the corresponding reference symbols. Again with regard to Fig. 2b ) it is here and preferably such that laboratory sample 1 is a section of laboratory sample stream 15.

[0038] Here, all statements regarding raw sample 13 and laboratory sample 1 preferably also apply to raw sample stream 14 and laboratory sample stream 15, respectively. It is therefore possible to obtain several laboratory samples 1 by repeating the proposed procedure, preferably in the same manner. However, the focus here is primarily on obtaining a single laboratory sample 1.

[0039] It is particularly preferred that the coarse dividing device 10 continuously extracts the raw sample 13 from the harvested crop stream 7, and the fine dividing device 11 continuously extracts the laboratory sample 1 from the comminuted raw sample 13, such that the laboratory sample 1 represents a contiguous lot 2, in particular completely. The laboratory sample 1 is therefore not, for example, only formed from the middle 10% of lot 2. This allows for a time delay between the intake of the harvested crop 6 and the extraction of the laboratory sample 1 to be essentially constant. Thus, it is possible to assign the laboratory sample 1 to a section of the field crop 5.

[0040] The complete representation of lot 2 of harvested crop by laboratory sample 1 requires a certain degree of representativeness, whereby the variance in the chemical composition of laboratory sample 1 arising from the particulate composition of the harvested crop 6 is preferably on the order of the repeatability variance of a measuring apparatus for the analysis of laboratory sample 1 or less. Therefore, the proposed method makes it possible to take laboratory samples 1 on board the agricultural harvesting machine 3, which introduce a very small or possibly even irrelevant error into the analysis, even though laboratory sample 1 constitutes only a small fraction of lot 2 of harvested crop.

[0041] As will now be explained, the term "continuous" does not necessarily refer to a continuous withdrawal, but at least to a regular withdrawal.

[0042] It can be provided that the coarse dividing device 10 extracts the raw sample 13 from the harvested crop stream 7 in discrete, in particular equidistant, sections. For this purpose, it can, for example, be switched on and off regularly. Alternatively, it can be provided that the coarse dividing device 10 continuously diverts the raw sample 13 from the harvested crop stream 7. This corresponds to the Fig. 2a The variant shown is shown. Depending on the crop 6, branching off the stream may result in slightly lower representativeness, which is, however, compensated for by a mechanically potentially much simpler design of the coarse dividing device 10. Branching off the raw sample 13 from the crop stream 7 can also allow for a particularly simple passive design of the coarse dividing device 10. For example, the coarse dividing device 10 could simply comprise a grid at the edge of the crop transport path 8.

[0043] The in Fig. 3 The depicted variant, however, includes an active coarse-division device 10, which will be explained later. As can also be seen there, the comminution device 11 here, and preferably, completely comminsles the raw sample 13. No division of the raw sample 13 takes place before the comminution device 11.

[0044] Regarding the fine-slicing device 12, according to the invention, the fine-slicing device 12 divides the comminuted raw sample 13 into a residual sample 16 and the laboratory sample 1. The residual sample 16, which can in particular be a residual sample stream, can be directed into the harvested crop 6 or onto the field. The second variant is described in Fig. 1 indicated by means of outlet 17 for the remaining sample 16.

[0045] As in Fig. 2b As shown in Figure 1, the fine-division device 12 can extract the laboratory sample 1 from the raw sample 13 in discrete, in particular equidistant, time intervals. Alternatively, the fine-division device 12 can continuously extract the laboratory sample 1 from the raw sample 13. Fig. 2b ) is the preferred embodiment in which the fine division device 12 temporarily diverts a part, in particular the entire cross-section, of the comminuted raw sample stream 14 and thus assembles the laboratory sample 1.

[0046] The preferred proportions of the two divisions, which together constitute the proportion of laboratory sample 1 in lot 2, are explained in more detail below.

[0047] Here, and preferably, a weight fraction and / or volume fraction of the crude sample 13 in lot 2 can be adjusted by means of the coarse dividing device. This can be achieved, for example, by switching the coarse dividing device 10 on and off or by adjusting its operating speed.

[0048] The weight and / or volume fraction of the raw sample 13 in Lot 2 is preferably at most 1 / 500, more preferably at most 1 / 1000, more preferably at most 1 / 2000, and even more preferably at most 1 / 5000. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the weight and / or volume fraction is approximately 1 / 10,000. It is therefore possible to achieve different weight and / or volume fractions on the same agricultural harvesting machine 3 using the same coarse dividing device 10. Preferably, at least one, and more preferably, all of the aforementioned values ​​are adjustable. Furthermore, the aforementioned fractions preferably apply accordingly to the fraction of the raw sample stream 14 in the harvested crop stream 7.

[0049] According to the invention, the weight and / or volume fraction of the laboratory sample 1 in the crude sample 13 can be adjusted by means of the fine division device 12. The embodiments described for the coarse division device 10 apply accordingly.

[0050] The weight fraction and / or volume fraction of laboratory sample 1 in the crude sample 13 can be at most 1. Here, and preferably, the weight fraction and / or volume fraction of laboratory sample 1 in the crude sample 13 is adjustable to be at least less than 1, and in particular always less than 1. More preferably, it is at most 1 / 10, even more preferably at most 1 / 100 and / or at least 1 / 1000, more preferably at least 1 / 750, and more preferably at least 1 / 500. Here too, if the weight fraction and / or volume fraction is adjustable, preferably at least one, and more preferably all, of the aforementioned values ​​are adjustable. Likewise, the aforementioned values ​​preferably also apply to the laboratory sample stream 15.

[0051] The harvested material flow 7 is preferably on the order of several tons per hour, preferably from 20 to 300 tons per hour or more. The batch size of the harvested material 2 is preferably at least half a ton, more preferably at least 1 ton, even more preferably at least 5 tonnes, and even more preferably at least 15 tonnes or at least 20 tonnes. This results in batch durations of a few minutes up to about one hour. The raw sample flow 14 is then, for example, on the order of several kilograms per hour. The laboratory sample 1 is preferably at least 1 g, more preferably at least 2.5 g, even more preferably at least 5 g and / or at most 1 kg, preferably at most 750 g, even more preferably at most 100 g. For example, the laboratory sample 1 can be adjusted at least in the range of 5 g to 500 g.

[0052] Preferably, the comminution device 11 reduces the size of the raw sample 13 particles by a factor of at least 10, preferably at least 25, more preferably at least 50, and even more preferably about 100, based on their average size and / or average weight. Depending on the type of harvested material 6, the particles can weigh, for example, between a few hundredths of a gram and several grams. The particles of the comminutioned raw sample 13 preferably have an average weight of at most 100 mg, more preferably at most 50 mg, and more preferably at most 20 mg. Whenever the size of a particle is mentioned here, it always refers to the longest diameter of a particle.

[0053] Laboratory sample 1 contains, preferably, between 500 and 1,000,000 comminuted particles. Preferably, it contains at least 1,000 and / or at most 100,000 comminuted particles.

[0054] The following will now be based on… Fig. 3 The preferred mechanical embodiment of the comminution device 11, the coarse dividing device 10 and the fine dividing device 12 is explained.

[0055] The coarse dividing device 10 can have an opening 18 in a wall 19 that borders the crop transport path 8. Additionally or alternatively, the coarse dividing device 10 can have a screw 20 projecting into the crop transport path 8. It is thus evident how the division ratio can be varied by changing the rotational speed of the screw 20 or by switching it on and off. The entire sampling device 9 can also be switched off in this way. In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown here, the screw is arranged transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the crop transport path 8 and projects with one longitudinal side into the crop flow 6.

[0056] In one embodiment, which is particularly interesting for balers and / or for straw as the harvested crop 6, but can also be used with other agricultural harvesting machines 3 and harvested crops 6, the coarse dividing device 10 can have a pre-shredding device, which is not shown here, and which simultaneously extracts and shreds a portion of the harvested crop stream 7 from lot 2. This pre-shredding device can also be formed by the shredding device 11.

[0057] The opening 18 is preferably oriented elongated and transverse to the flow direction of the crop stream 7, so that a wide portion of the crop stream 7 can be extracted. Compared to an opening 18 oriented along the crop stream 7, this allows for greater representativeness.

[0058] The comminution device 11 can comprise a mill, preferably a disc mill, or a cutting unit, preferably a knife cutting unit.

[0059] As also in Fig. 3 As shown, the fine-division device 12 can have a movable flap 21 which can be controlled to divert a portion of the raw sample 13 and thus extract it as laboratory sample 1. Preferably, the movable flap 21 diverts a complete cross-section of the raw sample 13 in discrete time intervals. However, it is equally conceivable that the movable flap 21 can be used to control the proportion of a continuous branching of the laboratory sample 1 from the raw sample 13.

[0060] Furthermore with regard to Fig. 3 It may be provided that the sampling device 9 has a collection device 22 for the laboratory sample 1. For this purpose, in Fig. 3 Two variants are shown. Fig. 3a The collecting device 22 has only one emptied container to which an analysis device 23 is attached. Regardless of the design of the collecting device 22, this analysis device 23 is preferably an NIR-based analysis device, in particular an NIR spectrometer. This allows the analysis of the laboratory sample 1 to be carried out directly on the agricultural harvesting machine 3.

[0061] As in Fig. 3b As shown in the figure, the collecting device 22 can also be provided with a container 24, in particular a lockable one, in which the collecting device 22 collects the laboratory sample 1. It is further preferred that the container 24 is dispensed from the agricultural harvesting machine 3 to a user B. Alternatively, however, it is also possible that the user B empties the container 24 and does not remove it.

[0062] Building on this, it is preferably the case here that the laboratory sample 1 is analyzed by an analysis device outside the agricultural harvesting machine 3, preferably in a laboratory. It may be provided that one laboratory sample 1 is dispensed to the user B, but it is also possible that several laboratory samples 1 are collected in containers 24 and dispensed to the user B.

[0063] The analysis in the laboratory or, where feasible, on the agricultural harvesting machine 3 may include spectroscopy, NMR analysis, a wet-chemical method, or the like. Here, and preferably, the moisture content of the laboratory sample 1 and / or constituents of the laboratory sample 1, preferably a protein content and / or a sugar content and / or derived parameters, preferably digestibility for livestock, are analyzed and determined.

[0064] According to a further teaching, which has independent significance, an agricultural harvesting machine 3, in particular equipped for use in the proposed method, with at least one working unit 4 for taking up a harvested field crop 5 as harvested crop 6 and / or for processing the harvested crop 6, wherein the harvested crop 6 is transported in a crop stream 7 along a crop transport path 8 through the agricultural harvesting machine 3 during operation.

[0065] The essential feature of the agricultural harvesting machine 3 is that the agricultural harvesting machine 3 has an automatic sampling device 9, that the sampling device 9 has a coarse dividing device 10, a comminution device 11 and a fine dividing device 12 arranged in the harvested crop transport path 8, that the coarse dividing device 10 can take a raw sample 13 from the harvested crop stream 7, that the comminution device 11 can comminute the raw sample 13 and that the fine dividing device 12 can take the laboratory sample 1 from the comminutioned raw sample 13 for time-decoupled analysis. Bezugszeichenliste

[0066] 1 Laboratory sample 2 Lot of harvested crop 3 Agricultural harvesting machine 4 Working unit 5 Field crop 6 Harvested crop 7 Harvested crop flow 8 Harvested crop transport route 9 Sampling device 10 Coarse dividing device 11 Crushing device 12 Fine dividing device 13 Crude sample 14 Crude sample flow 15 Laboratory sample flow 16 Residual sample 17 Outlet 18 Opening 19 Wall 20 Auger screw 21 Movable flap 22 Collecting device 23 Analysis device 24 Container B User

Claims

1. A method for collecting a laboratory sample (1) from a batch of harvested material (2) by means of an agricultural harvesting machine (3) with at least one working assembly (4) for picking up a field crop (5) which has been cut down as harvested material (6) and / or for processing the harvested material (6), wherein, during the operation of the agricultural harvesting machine (3), the harvested material (6) is transported through the agricultural harvesting machine (3) in a harvested material flow (7) along a harvested material transport path (8), wherein the agricultural harvesting machine (3) has an automatic sample extraction device (9), the sample extraction device (9) has a coarse dividing device (10) disposed on the harvested material transport path (8), a comminuting device (11) and a fine dividing device (12), the coarse dividing device (10) extracts a raw sample (13) from the harvested material flow of the batch (2), the comminuting device (11) comminutes the raw sample (13) and the fine dividing device (12) extracts the laboratory sample (1) from the comminuted raw sample (13) for temporally decoupled analysis, characterized in that a fraction by weight and / or fraction by volume of the laboratory sample (1) with respect to the raw sample (13) can be adjusted by means of the fine dividing device (12).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the coarse dividing device (10) extracts a raw sample flow (14) from the harvested material flow (7), in that the comminuting device (11) comminutes the raw sample flow (14), preferably in that the fine dividing device (12) extracts a laboratory sample flow (15) from the comminuted raw sample flow (14), more preferably in that the laboratory sample (1) is a section of the laboratory sample flow (15).

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the coarse dividing device (10) continuously extracts the raw sample (13) from the harvested material flow (7) and the fine dividing device (12) continuously extracts the laboratory sample (1) from the comminuted raw sample (13), so that the laboratory sample (1) represents a coherent batch (2), in particular completely, preferably in that a time lag between picking up the harvested material (6) and extracting the laboratory sample (1) is substantially constant.

4. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coarse dividing device (10) extracts the raw sample (13) from the harvested material flow (7) in discrete, in particular equidistant sections, or in that the coarse dividing device (10) continuously diverts the raw sample (13) from the harvested material flow (7), preferably in that the comminuting device (11) comminutes the entire raw sample (13).

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fine dividing device (12) divides the comminuted raw sample (13) into a residual sample (16) and the laboratory sample (1), preferably in that the fine dividing device (12) extracts the laboratory sample (1) from the raw sample (13) at discrete, in particular equidistant intervals of time, or in that the fine dividing device (12) continuously diverts the laboratory sample (1) from the raw sample (13).

6. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fraction by weight and / or fraction by volume of the raw sample with respect to the batch (2) can be adjusted by means of the coarse dividing device (10), and / or in that a fraction by weight and / or fraction by volume of the raw sample with respect to the batch (2) is at most 1 / 500, preferably at most 1 / 1000, more preferably at most 1 / 2000, yet more preferably at most 1 / 5000 and preferably approximately 1 / 10000.

7. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fraction by weight and / or fraction by volume of the laboratory sample (1) with respect to the raw sample (13) is at most 1, preferably is less than 1, more preferably is at most 1 / 10, yet more preferably at most 1 / 100 and / or at least 1 / 1000, preferably at least 1 / 750, more preferably at least 1 / 500.

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comminuting device (11) comminutes particles of the raw sample (13), with respect to their mean size and / or their mean weight, by a factor of at least 10, preferably at least 25, more preferably at least 50, yet more preferably approximately 100, preferably in that the particles of the comminuted raw sample (13) have a mean weight of at most 100 mg, preferably at most 50 mg, more preferably at most 20 mg.

9. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coarse dividing device (10) has an opening (18) in a wall (19) delimiting the harvested material transport path (8), and / or in that the coarse dividing device (10) has a worm screw (20) protruding into the harvested material transport path (8), and / or in that the coarse dividing device (10) has a pre-comminuting device which simultaneously extracts and comminutes a portion of the harvested material flow (7) of the batch (2).

10. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comminuting device (11) is a mill, preferably a disk mill, or a cutting assembly, preferably a knife cutting assembly.

11. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fine dividing device (12) has a movable flap (21) which diverts a portion of the raw sample (13) in a controllable manner and therefore extracts it as the laboratory sample (1), preferably in that in the discrete time intervals, the movable flap (21) respectively diverts a complete cross section of the raw sample (13).

12. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sample extraction device (9) has a collecting device (22) for the laboratory sample (1), preferably in that the collecting device (22) has a container (24), which in particular can be closed, in which the collecting device (22) collects the laboratory sample (1), more preferably in that the container (24) is dispensed from the agricultural harvesting machine (3) to a user (B).

13. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laboratory sample (1) is analysed by an analytical device externally of the agricultural harvesting machine (3), preferably in a laboratory.

14. An agricultural harvesting machine for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the agricultural harvesting machine (3) has an automatic sample extraction device (9), the sample extraction device (9) has a coarse dividing device (10) disposed on the harvested material transport path (8), a comminuting device (11) and a fine dividing device (12), wherein the coarse dividing device (10) is configured to extract a raw sample (13) from the harvested material flow (7) of the batch (2), wherein the comminuting device (11) is configured to comminute the raw sample (13) and wherein the fine dividing device (12) is configured to remove the laboratory sample (1) from the comminuted raw sample (13) for temporally uncoupled analysis, wherein the agricultural harvesting machine (3) is characterized in that the fine dividing device (12) is configured to adjust a fraction by weight and / or fraction by volume of the laboratory sample (1) with respect to the raw sample (13).