Impact mill and a residue processing system incorporating same

A combine harvester comprising:

• at least one impact mill capable of mounting on the combine harvester for devitalising weed seeds in a harvested crop while the crop is being harvested by the combine harvester wherein each of the at least one impact mill comprises:
• an inlet for material to enter the at least one impact mill, an impact mechanism arranged to rotate about a rotation axis, the impact mechanism being operable to pulverise the material after entering through the inlet, and an outlet for discharge of pulverised material in a radial direction relative to the rotation axis;
• one or more blockage sensors arranged to detect blockage in or reduced mass flow rate of material through the at least one impact mill;
• a data processor arranged to process information provided by the one or more blockage sensors wherein the data processor is programmed to calculate throughput of material processed by the at least one impact mill;
• wherein each of the at least one impact mill comprises one or more vibration sensors arranged to sense vibration arising from rotation of the impact mechanism about the rotation axis, and
• wherein the data processor is further arranged to process information provided by the one or more vibration sensors to facilitate an autonomous reduction in rotational speed of the at least one impact mill if the processed information from the one or more vibration sensors is indicative of mill vibration being in excess of a vibration threshold.

A combine harvester comprising:

• at least one impact mill capable of mounting on the combine harvester for devitalising weed seeds in a harvested crop while the crop is being harvested by the combine harvester wherein each of the at least one impact mill comprises:
• an inlet for material to enter the at least one impact mill, an impact mechanism arranged to rotate about a rotation axis, the impact mechanism being operable to pulverise the material after entering through the inlet, and an outlet for discharge of pulverised material in a radial direction relative to the rotation axis;
• one or more blockage sensors arranged to detect blockage in or reduced mass flow rate of material through the at least one impact mill;
• a data processor arranged to process information provided by the one or more blockage sensors wherein the data processor is programmed to calculate throughput of material processed by the at least one impact mill;
• and
• one or more high-pressure air jets capable of directing jets of high-pressure air to one or both of the at least one impact mill inlet and the at least one impact mill outlet,
• wherein the data processor is arranged to cause the one or more high-pressure air jets to direct jets of high-pressure air to one or both of the at least one impact mill inlet and the at least one impact mill outlet when an anomalous change in material flow or a blockage is detected.

A combine harvester comprising:

• at least one impact mill capable of mounting on the combine harvester for devitalising weed seeds in a harvested crop while the crop is being harvested by the combine harvester wherein each of the at least one impact mill comprises:
• an inlet for material to enter the at least one impact mill, an impact mechanism arranged to rotate about a rotation axis, the impact mechanism being operable to pulverise the material after entering through the inlet, and an outlet for discharge of pulverised material in a radial direction relative to the rotation axis;
• one or more blockage sensors arranged to detect blockage in or reduced mass flow rate of material through the at least one impact mill;
• a data processor arranged to process information provided by the one or more blockage sensors wherein the data processor is programmed to calculate throughput of material processed by the at least one impact mill;
• wherein each of the at least one impact mill comprises at least one temperature sensor arranged to provide a temperature measurement of a bearing on which the impact mechanism rotates;
• and,
• a mill cooling system for cooling the bearing,
• wherein the data processor is arranged to activate the mill cooling system to cool the bearing when the temperature measurement exceeds a temperature threshold.