Patent ID: 7044853

Claim:
A combine having a driving direction, comprising: a separating assembly providing a first crop residue stream; an ejector for receiving the first crop residue stream from the separating assembly, the ejector further comprising a straw guide element movable between two positions, a first chopping mode position for directing the first crop residue stream to a first opening substantially across the width of the top front end of a straw chopper, and a second swath forming mode position for conveying the first crop residue stream around the top of the straw chopper, and downward beneath an ejection shroud, laying the first crop residue stream in a swath, the ejection shroud having movable guide plates used to define the width of the swath; a cleaning assembly which mechanically conveys a second crop residue stream upward and rearward to a second opening extending substantially across the width of the upper front end of the straw chopper, below the first opening therein, the second crop residue stream being fed through the second opening down into the straw chopper by gravitational means; the straw chopper receiving at least the second crop residue stream, and the first crop residue stream when the straw guide element is in the first chopping mode position, the straw chopper chopping the crop residue and directing the chopped crop residue stream out an outlet at the rear of the straw chopper; and a straw distributing shroud for receiving the chopped crop residue stream from the straw chopper outlet, and ejecting the chopped crop residue behind the combine, the straw distributing shroud having straw guide plates movable to adjust the width of the ejected chopped crop residue stream.