System and method for controlling elevator speeds for an agricultural harvester during operation within a storage harvesting mode

A system for operating a harvester, the system comprising:

• an elevator extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the elevator configured to carry harvested crops between its proximal and distal ends;
• a storage hopper positioned adjacent to the distal end of the elevator, the storage hopper defining a discharge opening through which harvested crops are discharged from the harvester;
• a controller configured to control an operation of the elevator, the controller including a processor and related memory, the memory storing instructions that, when implemented by the processor, configure the controller to:
• initially operate the harvester in a discharge harvesting mode such that harvested crops are conveyed from the proximal end of the elevator to the distal end of the elevator and subsequently discharged from the harvester through the discharge opening defined by the storage hopper;
• upon receipt of an operator input associated with operating the harvester in a storage harvesting mode, reduce an operating speed of the elevator and block the discharge opening defined by the storage hopper;
• and
• actively adjust the operating speed of the elevator based on a crop flow parameter of the harvester as the harvested crops expelled from the distal end of the elevator are being stored within a storage volume of the storage hopper,
• wherein the crop flow parameter provides an indication of a mass flow of the harvested crops through the harvester.