Threshing mills took in sheaves of oats from the field on one end, and spit out oats and chaff at the other end. As the sheaves were forked onto the conveyor belt, flails would knock the grains loose from the stalks. A series of shakers and sifters allowed the grains to fall, while a large fan blew the chaff and straw upwards. The machine overall is constructed somewhat like a furnace ductwork. The chaff and straw were blown out a long chute into a pile, later to be gathered and baled for use as bedding for livestock. The smaller, heavier oat grains fell to the bottom, where an auger elevated them through another chute, to a hopper, where they would pour into bags, to be hauled away to the barn.