Pull-type cotton harvester and baler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9439353-B2
Application number	US-201113637205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2011
Priority date	Mar 25, 2010
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A cotton harvester and baler ( 20 ) to be towed by a vehicle ( 24 ), carries at least one mechanized cotton picking unit ( 30 ), a mechanized cotton baler ( 32 ) having packing apparatus ( 76 ) for compacting the picked cotton into bales ( 84 ) which are successively discharged. Cotton conveying apparatus ( 34 ) extends between the picking unit or units ( 30 ) and the baler ( 32 ), for receiving the picked cotton and conveying it to a baling chamber ( 72 ) of the baler ( 32 ) for compaction by the packing apparatus ( 76 ). The conveying apparatus ( 34 ) can comprise all mechanical, all pneumatic, or a combination of mechanical and pneumatic apparatus. The picking unit or units ( 30 ) can be removed to allow picking up and baling material such as straw or hay.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cotton harvester and baler, comprising:
a support frame supported by ground engaging elements for movement over the ground and configured to be towed by a vehicle, the support frame carrying at least one mechanized cotton picking unit configured for receiving standing cotton plants and harvesting the cotton therefrom;
a mechanized baler configured to be towed by the vehicle, the baler including an internal baling chamber adapted for receiving the picked cotton, compacting apparatus configured for compacting the cotton within the baling chamber into unitary bales and successively discharging the bales from the chamber, and cotton conveying apparatus extending between the at least one picking unit and the baler, configured and operable for receiving the picked cotton from the at least one picking unit and conveying the received cotton to the baling chamber of the baler for compaction by the compacting apparatus; and
wherein the at least one picking unit is removable to allow use of just the conveyor apparatus and the baler in a second configuration such that at least a portion of the conveying apparatus is positioned at second height for engaging crop located on the ground such that crop material is transported by the conveyer apparatus from the ground toward the baling chamber.

2. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cotton picking unit being disposed to discharge the picked cotton rearwardly therefrom onto a first conveyor element of the cotton conveying apparatus, the first conveyor element being supported by the support frame and configured and operable for conveying the picked cotton upwardly and rearwardly to a second conveyor element of the conveying apparatus, and the second conveyor element being configured and operable for conveying picked cotton sidewardly across the width of the first conveyer element toward chamber of the baler.

3. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 2 , wherein the first conveyor element comprises a platform disposed for receiving the picked cotton from the at least one cotton picking unit, and moving rakes having tines that extend upwardly through the platform, the tines configured and operable for moving upwardly and rearwardly.

4. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 2 , wherein the second conveyor element comprises an auger.

5. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 2 , wherein the second conveyor comprises rotary feeder apparatus including at least one rotatable feeder rotor configured and operable for feeding the picked cotton to at least one moving packing fork configured and operable for conveying the picked cotton into the baling chamber.

6. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 1 , wherein the cotton conveying apparatus comprises a pneumatic conveyor such that a flow of air from a fan is directed at the crop received from the picking unit in the direction of the baling chamber.

7. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cotton picking unit is carried on the support frame beside the baler wherein the baler and cotton picking unit are supported by the same frame.

8. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 7 , wherein the at least one cotton picking unit is adjustable in elevation jointly with the baler.

9. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cotton picking unit includes a support wheel for supporting the unit.

10. The cotton harvester and baler of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the conveying apparatus is adjustable in elevation to allow alternately configuring for operation with the at least one picking unit, and for raking material from a surface below the conveying apparatus.

11. A cotton harvester and baler including a support frame supported on wheels or tracks for movement over the ground and configured to be towed by a vehicle, the support frame carrying a baler including an internal baling chamber, compacting apparatus configured for compacting the material within the baling chamber into unitary bales and successively discharging the bales from the chamber, and conveying apparatus beside the baler, including a rake configured and operable for conveying material rearwardly and upwardly along a surface thereof and sidewardly into the baling chamber,
wherein in a first configuration at least one mechanized cotton picking unit removably carried on the support frame and positioned and operable for picking cotton from standing cotton plants and depositing the cotton onto the surface of the conveying apparatus for raking rearwardly and upwardly thereby, wherein the at least one picking unit can be removed, to allow adapting the conveying apparatus, wherein in the first configuration the conveyer apparatus is at a first height and configured to receive crop material from the at least one picking unit located forward of the conveying apparatus and in a second configuration with the at least one unit removed the conveyer apparatus is located at a second lower height and configured as a crop pickup to lift material from a surface therebelow for baling by the baler.

Assignees

• Hadley Bruce A
• Richman Kevin S
• Gaedy Steven E
• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Hadley Bruce A
• Richman Kevin S
• Gaedy Steven E

Classifications

• A01D46/08 Primary

  of cotton · CPC title