Combine harvester with near infrared grain sensor

Abstract

A combine harvester including a grain elevator for transporting and elevating harvested grain. The grain elevator includes a paddle loop, a driver, an elevator housing, and a sensor assembly. The paddle loop has a plurality of paddles for carrying the harvested grain. The driver is arranged for driving the paddle loop and thereby moving the paddles upward at a first side of the paddle loop and downward at a second side of the paddle loop. The elevator housing encompasses at least a portion of the paddle loop. The sensor assembly comprises a NIR sensor for detecting properties of the harvested grain and a sensor window arranged for enabling infrared light to travel between the NIR sensor and the harvested grain. The sensor window is embedded in the elevator housing, adjacent the first side of the paddle loop.