Independent doffer drive system for a cotton harvester row unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11503765-B2
Application number	US-201816190619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2018
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having a drum, a plurality spindles rotatably coupled to the drum, and a drum and spindle drive unit, the doffer assembly comprising:
an outer housing;
a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the plurality of spindles of the harvester;
a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of the at least one drum and spindle;
a drive shaft rotatably driven by the drive unit, the plurality of doffers arranged in a column on the drive shaft;
an interface adapter removably coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers for transferring power from the drive shaft to the plurality of doffers;
an inverter operatively connected to the electric motor configured to control the electric motor via a current draw; and
a controller operatively connected to the inverter and configured to detect a load on the electric motor based on the current draw, wherein the controller is configured to compare the current draw to a threshold value to determine a plugged condition and, in response to the plugged condition, is configured to provide one of a change in motor speed or a direction of rotation of the doffer assembly;
wherein the drive unit includes an electric motor operatively connected to the drive shaft for rotatably driving each of the plurality of doffers.

2. The doffer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inverter and the controller comprise an inverter controller adapted to detect a condition related to doffer wear or a plug based on the current draw of the electric motor.

3. The doffer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive coupler coupled to the drive shaft; and
a driven coupler coupled to the drive coupler and the interface adapter.

4. The doffer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is axially aligned with the plurality of doffers.

5. The doffer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a doffer adjustment device for axially adjusting the plurality of doffers relative to the outer housing, the doffer adjustment device including a doffer adjustment shaft.

6. The doffer assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second doffer assembly including a second shaft and a plurality of second doffers arranged in a column on the second shaft, the plurality of second doffers configured to remove cotton from a second plurality of spindles, wherein the second doffer assembly is rotatably driven independently of the first and second plurality of spindles.

7. The doffer assembly of claim 6 , further comprising:
a second electric motor operatively connected to the second shaft for rotatably driving each of the plurality of second doffers; and
wherein an inverter is configured to electrically power the first and second electric motors.

8. A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having a drum, a plurality spindles rotatably coupled to the drum, and a drum and spindle drive unit, the doffer assembly comprising:
an outer housing;
a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the plurality of spindles of the harvester;
a doffer drive unit comprising an electric motor, the doffer drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of the at least one drum and spindle;
a drive shaft rotatably driven by the drive unit, the plurality of doffers arranged in a column on the drive shaft;
an interface adapter coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers for transferring power from the drive shaft to the plurality of doffers;
an inverter operatively connected to the electric motor configured to control the electric motor via a current draw; and
a controller operatively connected to the inverter and configured to detect a load on the electric motor based on the current draw, wherein the controller is configured to compare the current draw to a threshold value to determine a plugged condition and, in response to the plugged condition, is configured to provide one of a change in motor speed or a direction of rotation of the doffer assembly;
wherein the electric motor is operatively connected to the drive shaft for rotatably driving each of the plurality of doffers.

9. The doffer assembly of claim 8 , wherein the inverter and the controller comprise an inverter controller adapted to detect a condition related to doffer wear or a plug based on the current draw of the electric motor.

10. The doffer assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a doffer adjustment device for axially adjusting the plurality of doffers relative to the outer housing, the doffer adjustment device including a doffer adjustment shaft.

11. The doffer assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a second doffer assembly including a second shaft and a plurality of second doffers arranged in a column on the second shaft, the plurality of second doffers configured to remove cotton from a second plurality of spindles, wherein the second doffer assembly is rotatably driven independently of the first and second plurality of spindles.

12. The doffer assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second electric motor operatively connected to the second shaft for rotatably driving each of the plurality of second doffers; and
wherein the inverter is configured to electrically power the first and second electric motors.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Ostermeier Charles F
• Schreiner Joel M

Classifications

• A01D46/085 Primary

  Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for cotton harvesters · CPC title

• A01D46/08

  of cotton · CPC title

• A01D69/02

  electric · CPC title

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title

• A01D46/081

  with harvesters characterised by transversally adjustable row units · CPC title