Combine system for harvesting, cleaning and storing both corn kernels and whole cobs, and method of use

A method of receiving ears of corn comprising corn kernels on whole cobs, and unavoidable chaff, during harvest, and providing corn kernels to a first accumulation bin and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to a second accumulation bin, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a combine system for use in harvesting corn, said combine system comprising a framework having secured therewithin:
• means for receiving:
• ears of corn which comprise corn kernels on whole cobs,
• and accompanying unavoidable chaff;
• means for separating corn kernels from whole cobs;
• first and second accumulation bins;
• means for providing corn kernels to said first accumulation bin;
• means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to said second accumulation bin, and
• means for ejecting substantially all accompanying unavoidable chaff from said combine system;
• the improvement being the presence of said second accumulation bin in combination with means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed into said second accumulation bin;
• said means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed into said second accumulation bin, being positioned in said combine system to, during use, receive unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, from said means for separating corn kernels from whole cobs;
• wherein said means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to said second accumulation bin comprises:
• means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed;
• means for creating a primary flow of air in combination with means for directing said primary flow of air into said second accumulation bin;
• and
• means for directing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, from said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, into said primary flow of air which is provided by said means for creating a primary flow of air, which primary flow of air is directed into said second accumulation bin by said means for directing said primary flow of air into said second accumulation bin,
• such that, in use, unavoidable chaff and ears of corn which comprise corn kernels on whole cobs are entered into said combine system, said corn kernels are separated from said whole cobs therewithin by said means for separating corn kernels from whole cobs, and said unavoidable chaff and said whole cobs from which kernels have been removed are caused to be received by said means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, and said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed are transported into said second accumulation bin by said primary flow of air;
• b. causing corn kernels on whole cobs, and unavoidable chaff, during harvest to enter said combine system;
• c. causing said
• means for creating a primary flow of air in combination with means for directing said primary flow of air into said second accumulation bin,
• to create a primary flow of air into said second accumulation bin;
• d. causing corn kernels to be removed from the corn kernels on whole cobs entered to the combine system, by application of the means for separating corn kernels from whole cobs;
• e. causing unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to be entered to said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed;
• d. causing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to exit said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, and enter said means for directing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed into said means for directing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, from said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed into said primary air flow which transports said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, into said second accumulation bin;
• such that said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed enter into said primary flow of air which transports said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, into said second accumulation bin.

A method of receiving ears of corn comprising corn kernels on whole cobs, and unavoidable chaff, during harvest, and providing corn kernels to a first accumulation bin and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to a second accumulation bin, while ejecting substantially all unavoidable chaff, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a combine system for use in harvesting corn, said combine system comprising a framework having secured therewithin:
• means for receiving:
• ears of corn which comprise corn kernels on whole cobs,
• and accompanying unavoidable chaff;
• means for separating corn kernels from whole cobs;
• first and second accumulation bins;
• means for providing corn kernels to said first accumulation bin;
• and
• means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to said second accumulation bin, and
• means for ejecting substantially all accompanying unavoidable chaff from said combine system;
• the improvement being the presence of said second accumulation bin in combination with means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed into said second accumulation bin;
• said means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed into said second accumulation bin, being positioned in said combine system to, during use, receive unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, from said means for separating corn kernels from whole cobs;
• wherein said means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to said second accumulation bin comprises:
• means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed;
• means for creating a primary flow of air in combination with means for directing said primary flow of air into said second accumulation bin;
• and
• means for directing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, from said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, into said primary flow of air which is provided by said means for creating a primary flow of air, which primary
• flow of air is directed into said second accumulation bin by said means for directing said primary flow of air into said second accumulation bin,
• such that, in use, unavoidable chaff and ears of corn which comprise corn kernels on whole cobs are entered into said combine system, said corn kernels are separated from said whole cobs therewithin by said means for separating corn kernels from whole cobs, and said unavoidable chaff and said whole cobs from which kernels have been removed are caused to be received by said means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, and said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed are transported into said second accumulation bin by said primary flow of air;
• said combine system further comprising a means for causing a supplemental flow of air in combination with said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, which which supplemental air flow causes said unavoidable chaff caused to be present on said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, to guided toward ejection from said combine system;
• b. causing corn kernels on whole cobs, and unavoidable chaff, to enter said combine system;
• c. causing both said
• means for creating a supplemental flow of air in combination with said means for accepting said unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, said supplemental
• flow of air being directed and sufficient to eject unavoidable chaff from said combine system, but not sufficient to so eject whole cobs;
• and said
• means for creating a primary flow of air in combination with means for directing said primary flow of air into said second accumulation bin,
• to create separate supplemental and primary flows of air;
• d. causing corn kernels to be removed from the whole cobs by application of said means for separating corn kernels from whole cobs;
• e. causing unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to be entered to said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed;
• simultaneously practicing steps f. and g., wherein steps f. and g. are:
• f. causing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to exit said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, and enter said means for directing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed into said means for directing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, from said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed and into said primary air flow which transports said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, into said second accumulation bin;
• g. causing said unavoidable chaff to be ejected from said combine system means by being carried in said supplemental flow of air created by said means for creating a supplemental flow of air in combination with said means for accepting said unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed;
• such that said unavoidable chaff is ejected from said combine system by being carried out of said combine system in said supplemental flow of air created by said means for creating a supplemental flow of air;
• and
• such that said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed are entered into said primary flow of air which transports said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, into said second accumulation bin.

A combine system for receiving:

• unavoidable chaff, and
• ears of corn which comprise corn kernels on whole cobs,
• and providing corn kernels to a first accumulation bin and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to a second accumulation bin, while ejecting substantially all unavoidable chaff from said combine system;
• said combine system having functionally affixed to a framework thereof:
• means for receiving unavoidable chaff and ears of corn;
• means for removing corn kernels from ears of corn to provide whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed;
• a straw chopper;
• said first and second accumulation bins;
• and
• means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed into said second accumulation bin;
• such that in use said combine system is caused to receive unavoidable chaff in combination with ears of corn at said means for receiving unavoidable chaff and ears of corn;
• and
• such that said means for removing corn kernels from ears of corn to provide whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, is caused to separate most corn kernels from said ears of corn, thereby providing whole cobs;
• and such that said whole cobs from which corn kernels have been removed, along with said accompanying unavoidable chaff, are caused to be entered to said straw chopper, which straw chopper is caused to rotate in a direction so as to direct said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed along with said accompanying unavoidable chaff into said combine system and onto said means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to said second accumulation bin;
• said means for receiving and transporting whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed to said second accumulation bin comprising:
• means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed comprising at least one sieve with openings therein of a sufficient dimension to allow whole cobs to pass therethrough;
• a means for creating a primary flow of air in combination with a means for directing said primary flow of air into said second accumulation bin;
• means for directing said whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, from said means for accepting unavoidable chaff and whole cobs from which most corn kernels have been removed, into said primary flow of air which transports said whole cobs from which kernels have been removed, into said second accumulation bin;
• and
• means for causing a supplemental flow of air through said at least one sieve which has holes therein of a sufficient dimension to allow whole cobs to pass therethrough, such that said supplemental flow of air causes said unavoidable chaff caused to be present on said at least one sieve which has holes therein of a sufficient dimension to allow whole cobs to pass therethrough, to be ejected from said combine system.