Combine Harvester — Its Working and Its Types
Before the advent of modern-day agricultural machines, farmers had to harvest crops by carrying out a series of laborious tasks. First came the process of ‘reaping’ where they had to cut down the plants with a long-handled cutting tool such as a scythe. Next came ‘threshing’ which involved the separation of the grain from the chaff by beating the cut stalks. Finally, they had to separate the actual grains from any remaining debris to make them suitable for use in a mill in a process called winnowing. All this took a lot of time and a lot of people. This scenario has changed since the introduction of the combine harvester.
The ‘combine harvester’ is a mechanised method which combines the process of reaping, threshing, and winnowing of crops using a single machine. It is especially useful for farmers harvesting wide patches of crops such as rice, corn, wheat, sunflower, pulses, and other produce, and harvest them right in the field. These machines increase agricultural output since the harvesting is carried out in a more efficient manner, in turn, making farming more profitable. John Deere — a leading farm equipment supplier in the UK, sheds some light on the details of a combine harvester.
How Combine Harvesters Work
The combined harvester has a wide header at the front which gathers the crop into the combine. A reel within the header moves the crop towards the cutter bar where it is sliced at the base. The grain is then moved up the conveyor to the threshing drums where they are separated from the stalks. A collecting tank gathers all the grains as they fall out through the sieves. The straw walkers then carry the chaff to the backside of the combined harvester. Once the grain tanks are filled, they must be emptied into a trailer by a side pipe called the unloader. The remaining chaff is either spread out over the fields or is rolled up into a ball for further use.
Combines come with removable heads which are changed according to the crop that is being harvested. Hence, a single combiner can be used to harvest a variety of crops. A standard header is suitable for harvesting wheat which works as a knife cutter bar which slices the crop so that it lands up safely in the auger. Corn Heads have a unique snap roll, which removes the ear from the leaves and the stalks. There are also special combines with comes with the mud tracks and are capable to harvest rice. When harvesting soybeans, a flex platform is required which has a more dynamic cutter bar to slice soybeans which hang low on the plant. For hillside crops, combines are fitted with a special hydraulic system which helps them to perform well while harvesting. The flex head can also be used to harvest cereal crops. Draper heads increase productivity and reduces the power requirement. John Deere offers a comprehensive range of headers and combine harvesters for sale, so that you find the perfect match for your crops.
John Deere Combine Harvester
John Deere has established an excellent reputation for supplying farmers with reliable machines. Their dedication to supporting farmers and builders is reflected in their innovative and durable machinery. Their wide range of high-performance combine headers offers everything from all-crop flexibility to specialist capability for challenging conditions. To learn more about the combine harvester price details, visit John Deere. Explore a range of options with your nearest John Deere dealer today!
