Combine Harvester and Grain Yield Management System for Combine Harvester

Abstract

A combine harvester includes: a grain conveyance mechanism for conveying grains from a threshing apparatus to a grain tank; a grain discharge apparatus provided in an end area of the grain conveyance mechanism, the grain discharge apparatus having a discharge case provided with a grain discharge opening, and a discharge rotor rotatably arranged in the discharge case; a pressed portion that is subjected to a pressing force applied by grains immediately before the grains are discharged by the discharge rotor; a load detector for detecting the pressing force exerted on the pressed portion; and a yield evaluator for evaluating the amount of conveyed grain based on a detection signal from the load detector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grain yield management system for a combine harvester, the system comprising:
 a threshing apparatus;   a grain accumulator;   a grain conveyance mechanism for conveying grains from the threshing apparatus to the grain accumulator;   a conveyed grain measurement apparatus for measuring an amount of grain conveyed by the grain conveyance mechanism during travel for reaping grain culms;   an accumulated grain measurement apparatus for measuring an amount of grain accumulated in the grain accumulator; and   an information generator for generating grain yield information regarding a field subjected to harvesting work, based on conveyed grain measurement data outputted from the conveyed grain measurement apparatus and accumulated grain measurement data outputted from the accumulated grain measurement apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The grain yield management system for a combine harvester according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the accumulated grain measurement apparatus continuously performs measurement during travel for reaping grain culms, and   the information generator includes a yield distribution calculator for calculating a distribution of a grain yield per parcel unit in the field based on the conveyed grain measurement data.   
     
     
         3 . The grain yield management system for a combine harvester according to  claim 1 , wherein the information generator includes a corrector for correcting the conveyed grain measurement data, based on a comparative evaluation value that is obtained by comparing and evaluating integrated data obtained by integrating the conveyed grain measurement data with the accumulated grain measurement data. 
     
     
         4 . The grain yield management system for a combine harvester according to  claim 3 , wherein the corrector corrects each piece of the conveyed grain measurement data so that a grain yield, obtained by integrating a conveyed grain measurement data group outputted until the accumulated grain measurement data is outputted, is equal to a grain yield that is based on the accumulated grain measurement data. 
     
     
         5 . The grain yield management system for a combine harvester according to  claim 1 , wherein the information generator is constructed in a computer system in a remote place, the computer system being capable of wireless data communication with a combine harvester.