Weed seed destruction device with a straw guide surface

A combine harvester comprising:

• a separation system for separating from harvested crop a first material at a first discharge location comprising straw and a second material comprising chaff and weed seeds at a second discharge location;
• a first material discharge section at the first discharge location arranged to move the separated first material rearward for discharge in a discharge direction along a straw discharge path, the first material discharge section including a rotary body;
• the separation system including at least one sieve arranged at a height below the first material discharge section, the sieve having openings thereon allowing passage of separation air to separate chaff and weed seeds from grain and the sieve having a rear edge over which the chaff and weed seeds are discharged;
• a weed seed destructor section for receiving the second material comprising chaff and weed seeds, the weed seed destructor section including components therein for devitalizing at least some weed seeds in the second material;
• and a guide construction for guiding the first material comprising straw from the discharge section in the straw discharge path along the discharge direction while maintaining separation of the first material from the second material and thus acting to reduce passage of the first material to the weed seed destructor section;
• wherein the guide construction comprises a front section extending transversely to the discharge direction and a plurality of fingers extending rearwardly from the front section along the discharge direction, the plurality of fingers being parallel and transversely spaced apart;
• the plurality of fingers of the guide construction defining a surface over which the first material passes;
• the plurality of fingers of the guide construction defining openings therebetween for passage of the separation air from the sieve into the straw discharge path;
• the plurality of fingers of the guide construction being cantilevered from the front section so that rear ends of the fingers are separate from adjacent fingers and unsupported so as to allow the first material to be released from the rear ends thereof to continue along the straw discharge path;
• wherein each of the fingers of the guide construction is flexible to provide flexing, whipping and bending movements of the separate unsupported rear end of the fingers of the guide construction up and down as well as side to side to assist in release of the first material from the rear end thereof.