Harvester feed rate control

A method for harvesting crop with a harvester having a harvesting structure for harvesting crop, an accumulator for receiving harvested crop from the harvesting structure, and a module builder having a throat, the method comprising:

• receiving harvested crop from the accumulator with a plurality of meter rollers configured to transfer harvested crop at a feed rate;
• providing at least one beater roller configured to cooperate with the plurality of meter rollers to transfer harvested crop at the feed rate;
• receiving harvested crop from the plurality of meter rollers and the at least one beater roller with a feeder belt configured to transfer the harvested crop to the throat at the feed rate;
• and
• controlling the feed rate with a feed rate control system comprising:
• at least one crop mass flow feedback device providing a crop mass flow feedback signal indicative of crop mass flow;
• and
• a controller in communication with the at least one crop mass flow feedback device and configured to lower the feed rate when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates a threshold was reached and raise the feed rate when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates the threshold was not reached.

A harvester having a harvesting structure for harvesting crop, an accumulator for receiving harvested crop from the harvesting structure, and a module builder having a throat, the harvester comprising:

• a plurality of meter rollers positioned to receive harvested crop from the accumulator, the plurality of meter rollers configured to transfer harvested crop at a feed rate;
• a first motor positioned to rotate the plurality of meter rollers;
• at least one beater roller configured to cooperate with the plurality of meter rollers to transfer harvested crop at the feed rate;
• a second motor positioned to rotate the beater roller;
• a feeder belt configured to receive harvested crop from the plurality of meter rollers and the at least one beater roller and transfer the harvested crop to the throat at the feed rate;
• a third motor positioned to rotate the feeder belt;
• and
• a feed rate control system in communication with the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor for controlling the feed rate, the feed rate control system comprising:
• at least one crop mass flow feedback device providing a crop mass flow feedback signal indicative of crop mass flow;
• and
• a controller in communication with the at least one crop mass flow feedback device and configured to operate in a first mode by lowering the feed rate when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates a threshold has been reached and by raising the feed rate when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates the threshold has not been reached.