Patent ID: 7717779

Claim:
A combine ( 10 ) comprising: a chassis ( 12 ) that can be moved in a forward operating direction across a field; a harvested crop processing arrangement ( 26 ) with an outlet ( 62 ) for straw, a straw chopper ( 60 ) with an inlet ( 58 ); and a conveyor ( 68 ) arranged downstream of the outlet ( 62 ) of the harvested crop processing arrangement ( 26 ) and arranged upstream of the inlet ( 58 ) of the straw chopper ( 60 ); wherein the conveyor ( 68 ) is configured to be driven in a first direction in a swath deposit mode of operation and is configured to be driven in a second direction opposite to the first direction in a chopper mode of operation; wherein the conveyor ( 68 ) is a rotating drum conveyor and is configured to convey the straw it receives from the outlet ( 62 ) of the harvested crop processing arrangement ( 26 ) past the straw chopper ( 60 ) and to the ground in the first direction of rotation, and is configured to convey the straw it receives from the outlet ( 62 ) of the harvested crop processing arrangement ( 26 ) into the inlet ( 58 ) of the straw chopper ( 60 ) in the second direction of rotation; wherein the conveyor ( 68 ) operates in an overshot mode in the first direction of rotation and operates in an undershot mode in the second direction of rotation; the combine further comprising a pivoted flap ( 80 ) that is attached to the rear of the conveyor ( 68 ), wherein the pivoted flap ( 80 ) covers an ejection outlet ( 96 ) of the combine ( 10 ) at the rear of the chopper in the chopper mode and opens the outlet ( 96 ) in the swath deposit mode.