Forage harvester material applicator system and related method

An agricultural forage treatment applicator system that delivers a granular treatment material to forage during harvesting, the system comprising:

• a mobile forage harvester including a chute, the mobile forage harvester configured to move across a field to harvest forage;
• a vacuum source in fluid communication with the chute, the vacuum source producing a vacuum that conveys harvested forage through the chute and along a pathway with the vacuum, the chute joined with a catch tube having a catch opening;
• a bin mounted to the motorized forage harvester, the bin configured to store a supply of a granular treatment material;
• a dispensing tube extending from the bin toward the catch tube, the dispensing tube including a tube opening separated from the catch opening by an open gap;
• and
• a material mover mounted relative to the bin and configured to convey the granular out of the dispensing tube into the open gap,
• wherein the granular treatment material is drawn across the open gap and into the catch opening by the vacuum exerting a suction force directly on the granular material to pull the granular material into the catch opening as the granular material falls, and so that the granular treatment material subsequently mixes with the harvested forage moving along the pathway in the chute.

A method of using an agricultural forage treatment applicator system to deliver a granular treatment material to forage during harvesting, the method comprising:

• harvesting forage from a field with a mobile forage harvester as the harvester moves in the field;
• providing a vacuum and conveying harvested forage through a chute and along a pathway with the vacuum, the mobile forage harvester having an operator cab configured to accommodate an operator, the chute joined with a catch tube having a first end in fluid communication with an interior of the chute, and a second end distal from the first end and defining catch opening;
• providing a bin mounted in an interior compartment inside the mobile forage harvester;
• providing a tube extending away from the bin toward the catch tube, the tube including a tube opening separated from the catch opening by an open gap;
• moving a granular treatment material so that the granular treatment material moves out of the tube into the open gap;
• and
• drawing the moving granular material across the open gap and into the catch opening with the vacuum exerting a suction force on the granular treatment material as the granular treatment material moves within the open gap between the catch opening and the tube opening so that the granular treatment material mixes with the harvested forage moving along the pathway in the chute.