Development of a Small Multi-Crop Combine Harvester

Abstract

To reduce the production costs for harvesting paddy rice, wheat, and soybeans in unfavorable terrains such as mountainous areas, a small multi-crop combine harvester was developed. The developed combine was about 10 % smaller in length and width and about 20 % lighter than conventional multi-crop combines by introducing new technologies （baffle-plate control, water-repellent oscillating separator, and narrow pitch cutter bar）. The developed combine was tested on paddy rice, wheat, and soybeans to study the effects of the new technologies introduced for miniaturization and the harvesting performance. These tests indicated the practical harvesting performance of the developed combine for paddy rice, wheat, and soybeans. The problems in its practical application were also investigated.