Cotton handling system with mechanical sequencing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9345196-B1
Application number	US-201414533503-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2014
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A cotton handling system is provided for a cotton harvesting machine with an onboard accumulator and a baling chamber. The cotton handling system includes meter, beater and feeder arrangements positioned downstream from one another for processing and conveying cotton from the accumulator to the baling chamber. A sequencing arrangement includes at least one mechanical sequencing device operatively coupled to the feeder arrangement and at least one of the meter and beater arrangements such that at least the feeder arrangement has a start-up activation time that is different from the meter and/or beater arrangements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cotton handling system for a cotton harvesting machine having an onboard accumulator and a baling chamber, the system comprising:
a meter arrangement positioned proximate an outlet of the accumulator for moving cotton therefrom;
a beater arrangement positioned downstream from the meter arrangement for processing the cotton removed from the accumulator by the meter arrangement;
a feeder arrangement positioned downstream from the beater arrangement for transporting cotton to the baling chamber; and
a sequencing arrangement including at least one mechanical sequencing device operatively coupled to the feeder arrangement and at least one of the meter and beater arrangements such that the feeder arrangement has a start-up activation time that is different from at least one of the meter and beater arrangements.

2. The system of claim 1 , further including at least one motive device for driving the meter, beater and feeder arrangements, and wherein the at least one motive device includes a motor and the at least one mechanical sequencing device includes a centrifugal clutch.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the motor is the only motive device and the centrifugal clutch is the only sequencing device driving and sequencing the meter, beater and feeder arrangements.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the motor and the meter arrangement are coupled to an input side of the centrifugal clutch and the feeder arrangement is coupled to an output side of the centrifugal clutch, and wherein the output side of the centrifugal clutch couples to the input side only after the input side reaches a threshold speed.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein each of the meter, beater and feeder arrangements includes one or more rollers, and wherein at least one meter roller and at least one beater roller are operatively coupled to an output side of the centrifugal clutch and at least one feeder roller is operatively coupled to an input side of the centrifugal clutch.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein a single motor is coupled to the input side of the centrifugal clutch that drives the meter, beater and feeder arrangements.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein each of the meter, beater and feeder arrangements have multiple rollers, including for each arrangement at least one drive roller mechanically coupled to the centrifugal clutch and at least one driven roller mechanically coupled to the driven roller of the associated arrangement.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the feeder rollers are spaced apart and support and move an endless conveyor.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the input and output sides of the centrifugal clutch each have at least one rotatable member, and the at least one drive meter roller, the at least one drive beater roller and the at least one drive feeder roller each has a coupling member, and
wherein the at least one rotatable member of the centrifugal clutch output side and the at least one drive feeder roller are coupled by an endless member and the at least one rotatable member of the centrifugal clutch input side and the at least one drive meter and beater rollers are coupled by at least one endless member.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the endless members are one of chains and belts.

11. A cotton handling system for a cotton harvesting machine having an onboard accumulator and a baling chamber, the system comprising:
a meter arrangement including at least one meter roller positioned proximate an outlet of the accumulator for moving cotton therefrom;
a beater arrangement including at least one beater roller positioned downstream from the meter arrangement for processing the cotton removed from the accumulator by the meter arrangement;
a feeder arrangement including at least one feeder roller providing a conveyor positioned downstream from the beater arrangement for transporting cotton to the baling chamber; and
an actuation and sequencing arrangement including at least one motor for driving the meter, beater and feeder rollers and at least one centrifugal clutch operatively coupled to the at least one feeder roller and at least one of the meter and beater rollers such that the at least one feeder roller has a start-up activation time that is different from the meter and beater rollers.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the actuation and sequencing arrangement has a single motor and a single centrifugal clutch, and wherein the motor is coupled to an input side of the centrifugal clutch that couples to an output side of the centrifugal clutch only after the input side reaches a threshold speed.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein each of the meter, beater and feeder arrangements have multiple rollers, including for each arrangement at least one drive roller mechanically coupled to the centrifugal clutch and at least one driven roller mechanically coupled to the driven roller of the associated arrangement.

14. A cotton harvesting machine, comprising
an accumulator;
a baling chamber; and
a cotton handling system, including:
a meter arrangement positioned proximate an outlet of the accumulator for moving cotton therefrom;
a beater arrangement positioned downstream from the meter arrangement for processing the cotton removed from the accumulator by the meter arrangement;
a feeder arrangement positioned downstream from the beater arrangement for transporting cotton to the baling chamber; and
an actuation and sequencing arrangement including at least one motor for driving the meter, beater and feeder arrangements and at least one centrifugal clutch operatively coupled to the feeder arrangement and at least one of the meter and beater arrangements such that the feeder arrangement has a start-up activation time that is different from at least one of the meter and beater arrangements.

15. The cotton harvesting machine of claim 14 , wherein the at least one motor and the meter arrangement are coupled to an input side of the at least one centrifugal clutch and the feeder arrangement is coupled to an output side of the at least one centrifugal clutch.

16. The cotton harvesting machine of claim 14 , wherein the actuation and sequencing arrangement has a single motor and a single centrifugal clutch, and wherein the motor is coupled to an input side of the centrifugal clutch that couples to an output side of the centrifugal clutch only after the input side reaches a threshold speed.

17. The cotton harvesting machine of claim 14 , wherein each of the meter, beater and feeder arrangements includes one or more rollers.

18. The cotton harvesting machine of claim 17 , wherein each of the meter, beater and feeder arrangements have multiple rollers, including for each arrangement at least one drive roller mechanically coupled to the centrifugal clutch and at least one driven roller mechanically coupled to the driven roller of the associated arrangement.

19. The cotton harvesting machine of claim 18 , wherein the feeder rollers are spaced apart and support and move an endless conveyor member.

20. The cotton harvesting machine of claim 19 , wherein the input and output sides of the centrifugal clutch each have at least one sprocket, and the at least one drive meter roller, at least one drive beater roller and at least one drive feeder roller each has a sprocket, and
wherein the sprockets of the centrifugal clutch output side and the at least one drive feeder roll are coupled by an endless flexible member and the sprockets of the centrifugal clutch input side and the at least one drive meter and beat

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Weber Scott D

Classifications

• A01F15/085 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01D46/12 Primary

  using boll-from-plant strippers · CPC title

• A01D46/084

  with compacting means · CPC title

• A01D46/08

  of cotton · CPC title

• A01D69/08 Primary

  Clutches · CPC title