HARVESTING FUNCTIONS

Topper


• Removes the tops from the cane stalk and spreads them evenly on the ground
• Single-cut topper standard--Recommended in regions where trash and cane stalks decompose quickly
• Optional shredder topper — cuts and shreds the tops into 100-mm pieces
  - Designed to supply more fragmented material and spread more evenly on the ground
  - Best option for locations where cultivation is required for trash blanketing.
• All 8000 Series Austoft® cane harvesters now come standard with a new, high-horsepower topper motor on the severing drum:
  - 20% increase in severing drum rpm
  - 44% increase in motor horsepower
  - Better suited to top new, heavier cane varieties.

45-Degree crop dividers


• Deliver the best performance in down cane
  - Gently lift and separate the stalk row to be harvested from adjacent rows
• Exclusive rotating toes improve lifting
  - Replace the fixed shoes
  - Move less soil
  - Minimize dirt entrance and harvester wear.

Optional side trim knivers


• Cuts the lodged cane not seperated by crop dividers
• Minimizes stool damage

Knock-down rollers
• Hydraulic adjustable
• Adjust effortlessly for changing crop conditions

Basecutter
• Cuts cane efficiently and precisely at ground level
• Feeds cane into the feedroller train butt-end first
• Removable Discs:
  - Five replaceable blades on each disc
  - Deliver clean cutting to ensure ideal rattoning conditions
  - Preserve stools to maximize future yields.

Additional feeding features


• Vine knives prohibit cane and weeds from entangling in the dividers
• Buttlifter roller lifts the cut cane bundle and feeds it into the feed rollers
  - Choose open or closed blades, depending on soil type
• Optional Auto Tracker provides automatic control of basecutter height
  - Provides more sensitivity and quicker response time
  - Creates a precise and uniform cut
  - Reduces losses and damage to stools
• Feed rollers carry the cane evenly to the chopper system
  - Allow for removal of dirt from the crop mat
  - Upper rollers float, allowing for even feeding of large volumes of crop
• Chopper drums
  - Cut cane and trash cleanly
  - Provide maximum life with replaceable blades
  - Deliver consistent, optimum chop length
  - Feed billets into the primary extractor cleaning chamber
• Billet length can be adjusted electronically from the cab
  - Choose a three- or four-blade configuration, depending on required billet length

Cleaning system design


• Hydraulically driven via a vertical shaft mounted in a two-piece, high-density plastic hood
• Separates trash from cane billets, and deposits trash in a controlled flow behind the machine
• Fan operating speed is reduced from 1,300 rpm to 850 rpm
• Design reduces vortex effect while also reducing cane losses by up to 50%
• Required operating power is reduced by approximately 30 hp (22.4 kW)
  - Promotes more efficient fuel consumption

Trash reduction

Operating at 850 rpm, the anti-vortex system reduces the percentage of trash (leaves and stems) by around 20 percent compared to other systems:
• Results in higher-quality cane shipped to the refienry
• Enhances cane mill yield

Lower cane losses

The 850-rpm operating speed also reduces cane losses from 176 kg/ton to 4.8 kg/ton:
• An exceptional 12.8-kg/ton drop

Increased load density and transport


• Four-blade chopper drums reduce billet length from 9.4 to 6.7 in. (240 to 170 mm)
• No cane loss. despite smaller billets, due to the anti-vortex system
• Load density is increased by 18% for in-field transport and 14% for on-highway transport
• Higher-density cargo means lower transportation costs and a potential increase in the area of cane supplied to the mill

Extractors


• The primary extractor uses the anti-vortex system to clean the cane billets:
  - Removes leaves and other matter
• The secondary extractor is a hydraulically driven fan mounted inside the plastic directional hood at the end of the elevator:
  - Cleans the billets a second time
  - Removes remaining dirt Ensures the cleanest sample

Elevator system

The strong, reliable elevator system conveys the billets via a chain and flights to the secondary extractor:
• Consists of a slew table, slew system, bowl and chain conveyor
• The bin flap directs the cane billet discharge flow into the cart or bin.

Stool protection

The Auto Tracker preserves next year’s crop by cutting near the ground without damaging or pulling out stools:
• Reduces the number of stools pulled out by the basecutter by 27.2%
• Reduces basecutter stool disturbance by 28.3%
• Reduces the number of stools pulled out by the basecutter at the ends of the row by 62.9%

Calibration

After the Auto Tracker system is calibrated, there’s no need to worry about constant cutting height adjustment:
• Height is automatically adjusted through pressure and exclusive height sensors to an ideal cutting height
• The operator uses the manual system for about the first 10 meters of harvest
• Data accrues in the manual module
• Auto Tracker saves that information and determines the most adequate hydraulic pressure and cut height averages for that area.

Additional auto tracking features


• Pressure/cut height can be easily adjusted, if necessary, when harvesting lodged cane with the simple touch of the adjustment key
• The automatic turn lift feature is activated when you slow the engine:
  - System automatically lifts the harvester to allow turning
  - Harvester returns to cutting position when the throttle position is raised again
• The electronic display features just four simple keys
  - Large numbers and backlighting make night viewing easier
• The choke alarm advises you when the system is overloaded
  - Prevents choke stops.