RU2845364C2 - Method for distribution of flow of crop residues on field by self-propelled combine harvester and self-propelled combine harvester for implementing such method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: method of distributing a stream of crop residues on a field by a self-propelled combine harvester comprises feeding a stream of crop residues generated by an axial separator, into further distribution device, unloading stream of crop residues from combine harvester. In the end material unloading region of the axial separator there is at least one guide element which is movable by means of a drive and influencing the actual distribution of the outgoing stream of crop residues across the feed width of the distribution device. Actual distribution of the stream of crop residues is determined by means of at least one sensor and when a deviation from the predetermined distribution is detected, the guide element is adjusted. At least one signal reflecting side wind characteristics comes to control device from at least one signal source and is used by control device as disturbance variable at automatic adjustment of at least one guide element. At least one sensor is installed at least at one measuring point in the feed zone of the grinding device located after the axial separator, and/or on the board, partially covering the cutting drum of the located further grinding device. Self-propelled combine harvester comprises an axial separator, generating a stream of crop residues and supplying it to a downstream distribution device, in particular deflector distributor, unloading crop residues flow from combine harvester. In the end material unloading region of the axial separator there is at least one guide element which is movable by means of a drive and influencing the actual distribution of the outgoing stream of crop residues across the feed width of the distribution device. At least one sensor is provided for determining the actual distribution of the stream of crop residues and a control device configured to detect a deviation from the predetermined distribution and control the actuator for adjusting the guide element depending on the deviation. Control device is configured to receive at least one signal indicative of crosswind characteristics, from at least one signal source and using this signal as a disturbance variable during the guide element automatic adjustment. At least one sensor is installed at least at one measuring point in the feed zone of the grinding device located after the axial separator, and/or on the board, partially covering the cutting drum of the located further grinding device.

EFFECT: improved distribution of flow of crop residues on field.

9 cl, 4 dwg

Description

Field of technology to which the invention relates

The present invention relates to a method for operating a self-propelled grain harvester, according to the introductory part of claim 1 of the formula, and to a self-propelled grain harvester, according to the introductory part of claim 6 of the formula.

State of the art

Patent application DE 102019107840 A1 discloses a self-propelled combine harvester in which the actual distribution of the flow of crop residues generated by an axial separator onto a downstream distribution device is detected and a guide element in the discharge zone of the axial separator is adjusted in such a way as to bring the actual distribution closer to the specified distribution. Sensors for detecting the flow of crop residues can be provided at various points in front of the distribution device and are intended to detect the distribution of the flow of crop residues over the entire feed width of the distribution device.

A stream of crop residues, consisting mainly of straw, is transferred from the axial separator to a further working element of the combine harvester, in particular a chopping device, wherein the stream of crop residues is distributed over the feed width of the chopping device by means of at least one movable guide element. By means of the chopping device, the stream of crop residues is processed, in particular chopped. This is particularly important in the case where the stream of crop residues discharged from the combine harvester by means of the distribution device is not subject to further use, in particular to picking up from the field and directing to other purposes. Chopping the stream of crop residues advantageously accelerates biological decomposition and the associated return of nutrients to the soil.

The method disclosed in patent application DE 102019107840 A1, when controlling the guide element in the discharge zone of the axial separator, takes into account the distribution of the crop after the discharge of the flow of crop residues in order to achieve the most uniform distribution possible, carried out by the distribution device during discharge from the combine harvester. When controlling the guide element, external influencing factors are not taken into account.

Disclosure of the essence of the invention

Thus, the objective of the present invention is to improve the method for controlling a self-propelled grain harvester, as well as a self-propelled grain harvester of the above-mentioned type, which makes it possible to improve the distribution of the flow of crop residues across the field.

The stated problem is solved by a method in accordance with the restrictive part of paragraph 1 of the formula in combination with the characterizing features of this paragraph, as well as by a device in accordance with the restrictive part of additional independent paragraph 6 in combination with the characterizing features of this paragraph.

According to paragraph 1, a method is proposed for operating a self-propelled grain harvester, in which a flow of crop residues generated by an axial separator is fed to a further located distribution device unloading a flow of crop residues from the grain harvester, wherein at least one guide element is provided in the end area of unloading the material of the axial separator, configured to move by means of a drive and influencing the actual distribution of the flow of crop residues across the feed width of the distribution device, wherein the actual distribution of the flow of crop residues is determined by means of at least one sensor, and upon detection of a deviation from the specified distribution, the guide element is adjusted. To solve the set problem, at least one signal reflecting the characteristics of the crosswind is fed to the control device from at least one signal source and is used by the control device as a disturbance variable during automatic adjustment of at least one guide element. This makes it possible to take into account the influence of the crosswind as an external factor influencing the uniformity of the distribution of the flow of crop residues on the field using the distribution device. The crosswind is understood to be an air flow directed at an angle to the direction of movement of the grain harvester, wherein the angle should not be equal to 0°. In particular, the distribution device can be made in the form of a deflector distributor. The method proposed by the invention is especially advantageous in the case of a distribution device made in the form of a deflector distributor, since in the case of a deflector distributor, in contrast to a distribution device made in the form of a radial distributor with an active drive, it is possible to influence only to a limited extent the distribution of crop residues across the field to compensate for the effect of the crosswind.

For this purpose, the control device can continuously receive a signal, in particular from an external signal source, for example from an anemometer installed at the edge of the field or an external service provider. Alternatively or additionally, at least two sensors can be installed opposite each other on the outside of the combine harvester as signal sources, which make it possible to detect the presence of a crosswind and to generate signals characterizing the crosswind.

In this case, a distribution factor balanced over the feed width of the distributor can be specified as the specified distribution. For this purpose, the control device can be connected to the input/output device of the combine harvester, which allows the operator of the combine harvester to specify the corresponding value of the specified distribution. The specified distribution can provide, in particular, a balanced distribution factor, according to which the flow of crop residues is divided essentially in half in such a way that the flow of crop residues enters the distributor in essentially equal parts over the feed width. In the field, there may be situations in which a different distribution of the flow of crop residues supplied over the feed width by the axial separator is required. This is possible, for example, in the case where the distance between the combine harvester and the edge of the crops is less than the proportional distribution width set relative to the longitudinal axis of the combine harvester in accordance with the specified distribution. At least one sensor makes it possible to detect a deviation of the actual distribution from the specified distribution and to transmit it to the control device. The control device is configured to generate control commands depending on the detected deviation of the actual distribution from the specified distribution and to transmit such commands to the drive of at least one guide element. This allows the guide element to be adjusted in such a way that the actual distribution is at least close to the specified distribution. As a result, a feedback between the actual distribution of the flow of crop residues and the specified distribution of the flow of crop residues occurs in the working unit, preferably carried out continuously. Within the framework of this feedback, the crosswind detected by the sensor is taken into account as an additional disturbance variable. This allows the specified distribution to be adapted, in particular continuously, to the influence of the crosswind.

To determine the influence of crosswind on the distribution, at least two sensors can determine the wind strength and direction independently of each other. This allows for compensation of effects such as partial shading by the combine harvester itself. In addition, the measurement accuracy can be increased as a result.

In particular, two sensors can be mounted on a combine harvester in a common horizontal plane. In the case of variable shading of one of the two wind measuring devices by the combine harvester itself, for example after turning, the measurement conditions will always be the same regardless of which of the two measuring devices is shaded by the combine harvester, since usually at least one of the two wind measuring devices is located on the side of the combine facing the wind.

In addition, the wind strength and direction signals generated by at least two sensors can be compared with each other, with the more intense sensor signal being taken into account to compensate for the influence of the crosswind when controlling the drive. As a result, even in the case of partial shading of one of the two wind measuring devices by the combine harvester, a signal will be obtained that reflects the actual characteristics of the crosswind and is taken into account as a disturbance variable when generating drive control commands in addition to the deviation between the actual and specified distribution.

Preferably, the speed of movement of at least one guide element can be continuously adjusted to bring the actual distribution closer to the specified distribution. This allows changing the distribution of the flow of crop residues coming from the axial separator to the grinding device before the grinding device feeds the ground flow of crop residues to the distribution device.

According to additional independent claim 6 of the formula, a self-propelled grain harvester is proposed, comprising an axial separator generating a flow of crop residues and feeding it to a distributor located after the axial separator and unloading the flow of crop residues from the grain harvester, wherein at least one guide element is provided in the end area of unloading the material of the axial separator, configured to move by means of a drive and influencing the actual distribution of the outgoing flow of crop residues along the feed width of the distributor, wherein at least one sensor is provided for determining the actual distribution of the flow of crop residues and a control device configured to determine a deviation from a specified distribution and to control a drive for adjusting at least one guide element depending on the deviation, wherein the control device is configured to receive at least one signal reflecting the characteristics of a crosswind from at least one signal source and to use it as a disturbance variable during automatic adjustment of at least one guide element. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the distributor is designed as a deflector distributor.

In particular, at least two sensors configured to detect crosswind may be mounted opposite each other as signal sources on the outside of the grain harvester. The control device may be configured to analyze the sensor signals and use them as a disturbance variable during automatic adjustment of the guide element.

Preferably, at least two sensors are arranged above the distributor and below the discharge area of the axial separator. As a result, they are less susceptible to contamination. In addition, the sensors preferably determine wind flow characteristics caused by crosswind.

In particular, signal sources formed by at least two sensors located opposite each other can be made in the form of weather vanes, vane or cup anemometers. The design in the form of mechanical sensors is simple and inexpensive. In particular, it allows installation on a grain harvester as an additional accessory.

Furthermore, at least one sensor for determining the actual distribution can be mounted at least at one measuring point in the feed zone of the shredding device located after the axial separator and/or on a board partially enclosing the knife drum of the shredding device located further. By arranging at least one sensor in the feed zone of the shredding device, it is possible to determine the flow distribution of the crop residues essentially over the entire width of the shredding device. An alternative or additional arrangement of at least one sensor on a board of the shredding device makes it possible to determine the flow distribution of the crop residues, including within the shredding device. In particular, a combination of both variants of sensor arrangement is particularly advantageous for dynamically monitoring the flow distribution of the crop residues over the width of the shredding device. In particular, the operation of the shredding device can cause variations in the flow of the crop residues over the width of the shredding device, which could not be taken into account if only data on the actual flow distribution of the crop residues were recorded, for example, in the feed zone of the shredding device.

Preferably, at least one sensor can be designed as a measuring rod, wherein at least one sensor comprises several sensor elements arranged at a distance from one another. Such a measuring rod comprises several sensor elements arranged at a distance from one another, preferably distributed along the measuring rod at equal intervals. In particular, a variant is possible in which the sensor, designed as a measuring rod, is oriented in the width direction of the corresponding monitored zone, so that the transverse distribution of the flow of crop residues in the corresponding zone can be determined. A measuring rod, arranged, for example, in the feed zone of the shredding device, can extend substantially across the entire width of the shredding device, wherein several, for example five, sensor elements can be distributed along the length of the measuring bar. The data collected in this way are well suited for assessing the actual distribution of the flow of crop residues.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings:

Fig. 1: Cross-section of a combine harvester.

Fig. 2: schematic representation of the transition zone between the axial separator and the chopping device of the grain harvester shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3: schematic representation of the transition zone between the axial separator and the chopping device of the grain harvester shown in Fig. 2, with a distribution device made in the form of a deflector distributor.

Fig. 4: Axonometric view of a fragment of the rear part of a combine harvester and an enlarged view of the crosswind detection sensor.

Implementation of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a self-propelled grain harvester 1. The grain harvester 1 comprises a threshing device 3, behind which an axial separator 2 is installed. The threshing device 3 directs the flow of plant mass into the axial separator 2. The threshing device 3 processes the plant mass in such a way that the grains are separated from the plant residues, mainly chaff and straw. The majority of the grain enters through at least one concave 25 directly onto a preparation board located under at least one concave 25. From the preparation board, the grains enter a cleaning device 13, which contains an air blower 15 and several sieves 16. The cleaning device 13 separates the straw heap and chaff from the grains.

After this, the cleaned grains are directed to the conveyor 26, which transports the grains to the grain bin 27. The remaining plant residues enter the axial separator 2 together with the remaining grains that could not be separated directly by the threshing device 3. Thus, the remaining grains and plant residues form a flow of plant mass, directed to the axial separator 2 for further processing. The axial separator 2 serves for the most complete separation of the grains contained in the incoming flow of plant mass from the plant residues. As a result of separating the part of the plant mass formed by the grains, the axial separator 2 transforms the flow of plant mass into a flow of crop residues. The latter contains, in essence, plant residues, called crop residues.

The axial separator 2 separates grains using at least one axial rotor 5, driven into rotation around its longitudinal axis 23 and installed inside the housing 4 of the axial separator 2. The axial separator 2 may contain one axial rotor 5 or two parallel axial rotors 5, each of which is located in a separate housing 4.

In the end region GA of the material discharge of the axial separator 2, facing the side opposite to the threshing device 3, the axial separator 2 comprises at least one guide element 7, in this case formed by a guide plate curved in accordance with the curvature of the housing 4. At least one guide element 7 is designed with the possibility of moving relative to the housing 4, for which it interacts with a drive 31, in particular with an electro-hydraulic drive 31, designed with the possibility of driving the guide element 7, as shown in Fig. 2. If the axial separator 2 comprises two axial rotors 5, each axial rotor 5 comprises a housing 4 with a guide element 7, located in the region GA of the material discharge, and a drive 31.

Instead of a separate threshing device 3, designed in the form of a tangential threshing device, the threshing device together with the axial separator can be designed in the form of a combination of an axial threshing rotor and an axial separating rotor.

The drive 31 moves the guide element 7 in stages in the circumferential direction of the housing 4. The flow of crop residues, exiting the axial separator 2 and guided along a spiral or helical trajectory inside the housing 4 by means of the guide elements 12, exits, in essence, in a limited area GA of the material discharge of the housing 4. The guide element 7 is installed in this area GA of the material discharge, i.e. the guide element 7 can influence the flow of crop residues. In particular, the guide element 7 projects into the area of the flow of crop residues, as a result of which the flow of crop residues can collide with the guide element 7 when exiting the axial separator 2 and, thus, be deflected. By moving the guide element 7 relative to the housing 4, it is possible to change the influence of the guide element 7 on the type or intensity of the deflection of the flow of crop residues. As a result, the flow of crop residues enters the working unit installed after the axial separator 2 in different ways, depending on the position of the guide element 7. In this case, the working unit is a shredding device 6.

The crushing device 6 is located vertically under the axial separator 2 in such a way that the flow of crop residues exiting the axial separator 2 in the material unloading area enters the crushing device 6. The crushing device 6 contains an elongated knife drum 28, on the outer surface of the shell of which several crushing knives 29 are cantilevered. They are hingedly attached to the knife drum 28 in such a way that during the rotation of the knife drum 28 around the drive axis 30 of the crushing device 6, under the action of centrifugal forces, they are accelerated radially outward. The kinetic energy acting during the rotation of the knife drum 28 is used to chop the flow of crop residues entering the chopping device 6 using the chopping knives 29. The knife drum 28 of the chopping device 6 has a width 8 that essentially corresponds to the working width of the chopping device 6. With the help of the guide element 7, it is now possible to distribute the flow of crop residues across the width 8 of the chopping device 6 in such a way that the flow of crop residues enters the chopping device 6 as evenly as possible across the width 8 of the chopping device 6. As a result, the chopped residues enter the further distributed device 9 evenly, which in turn facilitates the uniform unloading of the crop residues at the rear of the combine harvester 1.

The distributor 9 can be designed as a radial distributor 32 with an active drive, shown as an example in Fig. 4. Preferably, the distributor 9 is designed as a deflector distributor 24. The distributor 9, designed as a deflector distributor 24, comprises a cover 33, on the lower side of which distributor guide plates are located, not shown in Fig. 4. Each distributor guide plate is located on the cover 18 with the possibility of rotation around a vertical axis. Inside the cover 18, actuators 39 are located, allowing the distributor guide plates to be rotated individually and/or in groups around the corresponding vertical axis. Such a deflector distributor is known, for example, from patent application DE 102018131432 A1.

The distribution guide plates located to the left and to the right of the plane P of symmetry have a curvature relative to the plane P of symmetry of the chopping device 6 in opposite directions, i.e., starting from the center of the distribution device 9, made in the form of a deflector distributor 24, the distribution of crop residues can occur, in fact, along the working width of the grain harvester 1. In this case, the kinetic energy transmitted by the chopping device 6 during chopping is used to distribute the crop residues. Since with the help of the actuator or devices of the deflector distributor 24 it is possible to influence only the deviation of the flow of crop residues by means of the distribution guide plates, but not the kinetic energy with which the crop residues are distributed, the influence of the side wind on the distribution with the help of the deflector distributor 24 is disproportionately higher than that of the distribution device 9, made in the form of a radial distributor with an active drive.

As a result, the position of the guide element 7 on the axial separator 2 indirectly affects the method of distributing the crop residues unloaded from the grain harvester 1 over the field by the distribution device 9, made in the form of a deflector distributor 24. Changing the position of the guide element 7 relative to the body 4 of the axial separator 2, accordingly, leads to a change in the distribution of the crop residues over the field.

At least one sensor 10, located at a measuring point 11 in the feed zone or the receiving zone 19 of the grinding device 6, makes it possible to determine that, relative to the axis P of symmetry, a larger share of the flow of crop residues coming from the axial separator 2 falls on the left side L of the grinding device 6, compared to the right side R. Preferably, the sensor 10 is designed as a measuring rod 21 and comprises several sensor elements 22 located at a distance from each other, preferably located at equal intervals along the measuring rod 21. In particular, a variant is preferred in which the sensor 10, designed as a measuring rod 21, in each case extends along the width of the corresponding monitored zone, in this case the receiving zone 19, as a result of which the transverse distribution of crop residues is determined in the corresponding zone. If the measuring rod 21 is arranged in the receiving zone 19 of the chopping device 6, the measuring rod 21 extends substantially across the width 8 of the chopping device 6. Furthermore, at least one sensor 10 for determining the actual distribution can be arranged at least at one measuring point on the board 20, partially surrounding the knife drum 28 of the chopping device 6 located below. Due to the arrangement of at least one sensor 10 in the feed zone or the receiving zone 19 of the chopping device 6, it is possible to determine the distribution of the flow of crop residues substantially across the width 8 of the chopping device 6. An alternative or additional arrangement of at least one sensor 10 on the board 20 of the chopping device 6 makes it possible to determine the distribution of the flow of crop residues, including inside the chopping device 6. In this case, a combination of both variants of arranging the sensors 10 can prove to be particularly advantageous for dynamically monitoring the distribution of the flow of crop residues substantially across the width 8 of the chopping device 6.

The uneven supply of the crop residue flow from the axial separator 2 results in the fact that the actual distribution of the crop residue flow is asymmetrical at the outlet of the chopping device 6 and, consequently, when transferred to the distribution device 9. The latter, in turn, affects the uniformity of the unloading by the distribution device 9. However, the specified distribution provides for a uniform distribution of the crop residue flow in the distribution device 9 in order to achieve the most uniform distribution of the crop residues over the field. The control device 14 uses the difference between the actual and the specified distribution to transmit a control command to the drive 31 of the guide element 7, as a result of which the guide element 7 is moved. This movement occurs in such a way that the deviation caused by the guide element 7 and the resulting distribution of the crop residue flow in the chopping device 6 are changed in such a way that more crop residues are supplied to the right side R of the chopping device 6 than before. As an indirect result of this intervention, the actual distribution of the crop residue flow approaches the specified distribution.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the guide element 7 is continuously moved relative to the housing 4 of the axial separator 2 in order to continuously distribute the flow of crop residues over the width 8 of the shredding device 6. In particular, the guide element 7 can perform a pendulum movement, during which the guide element 7 continuously moves between opposite extreme positions. Therefore, the pendulum movement of the guide element 7 is particularly advantageous for the continuous uniform supply of crop residues to the shredding device 6 over its entire width 8 and, accordingly, the uniform loading of the distribution device 9.

Fig. 4 shows a fragment of the rear part of the grain harvester 1 in axonometric view, as well as an enlarged view of the sensor 34 for detecting a crosswind. In the illustrated embodiment, the distributor 9 is, for example, made in the form of a radial distributor 32, containing rotors 40 arranged in pairs. The rotors 40 are driven in rotation in opposite directions. Preferably, the rotors 40 have a hydraulic or mechanical drive.

At least two sensors 34 are located above the distributor 9 and serve as sources of at least one signal reflecting the characteristics of the crosswind. At least two sensors 34 are located above the distributor 9, 24 and under the area GA of the material discharge of the axial separator 2. Thus, they are less susceptible to the influence of contaminants. In this way, the wind flow conditions in the area of the distributor 9 are determined first, which can be attributed to the influence of the crosswind.

At least two sensors 34 located opposite each other are made in the form of weather vanes 35. In an alternative embodiment, the sensors 34 may be vane or cup anemometers.

Sensors 34, made in the form of weather vanes 35, are located on rotary brackets 36, attached to both sides of the grain harvester 1. Each weather vane 35 contains an element 37 in the form of a plate, made with the possibility of rotation around a horizontal axis of rotation. The rotation axis is oriented substantially parallel to the direction of movement, i.e. the tailwind has virtually no effect on the measurements. The deviation of the corresponding element 37 in the form of a plate, caused by the side wind, is determined using an angle sensor 38. The angle sensors 38 transmit their signals via wired or wireless communication to the control device 14, which performs the analysis.

Since a crosswind can influence the distribution of the flow of crop residues discharged by the distribution device 9 over the field, the signals from the sensors 34 are transmitted to the control device 14, which analyses them. The sensors 34 transmit at least one signal as a signal source, reflecting the characteristics of the crosswind, to the control device 14, which uses it as a disturbance variable during the automatic adjustment of the guide element 7. By additionally taking into account the crosswind occurring during the discharge, during the adjustment of the guide element 7, a compensation for the influence of the crosswind on the distribution at an earlier stage is achieved, before the crop residues reach the distribution device 9. This improves the uniformity of the distribution of the crop residues over the field, in particular with the help of the distribution device 9, which is designed as a deflector distributor 24.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

1 grain harvester

2 axis separator

3 threshing device

4th building

5 axis rotor

6 grinding device

7 guide element

8 width

9 distribution device

10 sensor

11 measuring point

12 guide element

13 cleaning device

14 control device

15 Blower device

16 sieve

17 pipeline

18 pipeline

19 reception area

20 board

21 measuring rods

22 sensor element

23 longitudinal axis

24 deflector distributor

25 concave

26 conveyor

27 grain bin

28 knife drum

29 chopping knife

30 drive axle

31 drive

32 radial distributor

33 cover

34 sensor

35 weather vane

36 swivel bracket

37 element in the form of a plate

38 angle sensor

39 actuator

40 rotor

GA material unloading area

R axis of symmetry

L left side p. 6

R right side p. 6.

Claims (9)

1. A method for distributing a flow of crop residues over a field by a self-propelled grain harvester (1), in which the flow of crop residues generated by an axial separator (2) is fed to a further located distributor (9, 24) that unloads the flow of crop residues from the grain harvester (1), wherein at least one guide element (7) is provided in the end region (GA) of the material unloading of the axial separator (2), which is configured to move by means of a drive (31) and affects the actual distribution of the outgoing flow of crop residues over the feed width of the distributor (9, 24), wherein the actual distribution of the flow of crop residues is determined by means of at least one sensor (10), and upon detection of a deviation from the specified distribution, the guide element (7) is adjusted, characterized in that at least one signal reflecting the characteristics of the crosswind is fed to the control device (14) from at least one signal source (34, 35) and is used by the control device (14) as a disturbance variable in the automatic adjustment of at least one guide element (7), wherein at least one sensor (10) is installed at least at one measurement point (11) in the feed zone (19) of the grinding device (6) located after the axial separator (2) and/or on a board (20) partially covering the knife drum of the grinding device (6) located further. 2. The method according to item 1, characterized in that the specified distribution is set as a distribution coefficient balanced across the feed width of the distribution device (9, 24). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two sensors (34, 35) determine the strength and direction of the wind independently of each other. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the wind strength and direction signals generated by at least two sensors (34, 35) are compared with each other, and the more intense signal of the sensor (34, 35) is taken into account to compensate for the influence of the crosswind. 5. The method according to one of paragraphs 1-4, characterized in that the speed of movement of at least one guide element (7) is continuously adjusted to bring the actual distribution closer to the specified distribution. 6. A self-propelled grain harvester (1) comprising an axial separator (2) generating a flow of crop residues and feeding it to a further located distributor (9), in particular a deflector distributor (24) unloading a flow of crop residues from the grain harvester (1), wherein at least one guide element (7) is provided in the end region (GA) of the material unloading of the axial separator (2), configured to move by means of a drive (31) and influencing the actual distribution of the outgoing flow of crop residues across the feed width of the distributor (9, 24), wherein at least one sensor (10) is provided for determining the actual distribution of the flow of crop residues, and a control device (14) configured to detect a deviation from a specified distribution and to control the drive (31) for adjusting the guide element (7) depending on the deviation, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured to receive at least one signal reflecting the characteristics of the crosswind from at least one source (34, 35) signal and using this signal as a disturbance variable in the automatic adjustment of the guide element (7), wherein at least one sensor (10) is installed at least at one measurement point (11) in the feed zone (19) of the grinding device (6) located after the axial separator (2) and/or on the board (20) partially covering the knife drum of the grinding device (6) located further. 7. A grain harvester (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that at least two sensors (34, 35) are located above the distribution device (9) and below the unloading area (GA) of the axial separator (2). 8. A grain harvester (1) according to item 6 or 7, characterized in that at least two sensors (34), located opposite each other, are made in the form of weather vanes (35), vane or cup anemometers. 9. A grain harvester (1) according to one of paragraphs 6-8, characterized in that at least one sensor (10) is made in the form of a measuring rod (21) containing sensor elements (22) located at a distance from each other.