U.S. patent application number 09/901191 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-14 for walk-behind cotton harvester row unit.
Invention is credited to Barrett, Monroe C., Orsborn, Jesse H., Richman, Kevin S., Thedford, G. Neil.
Application Number | 20020029550 09/901191 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26820120 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020029550 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Orsborn, Jesse H. ; et
al. |
March 14, 2002 |
Walk-behind cotton harvester row unit
Abstract
A cotton harvester which includes at least one cotton picker
unit for harvesting cotton from plants planted in narrow, parallel
rows. The cotton picker unit comprises a cotton picker housing that
supports a lateral plant lifter which extends forward of the
housing and defines a plant row channel for receiving cotton plants
planted in a row. The plant channel extends back into the housing
to a plant compressor sheet which facilitates the picking of the
cotton from the cotton plant by a picker rotor which is supported
in the housing adjacent to the plant row channel and traverse to
the compressor sheet. A doffer column also supported in the housing
is near the picker rotor and removes the picked cotton from the
picker rotor and moves the cotton towards an outlet and through an
exhaust chute for receiving the cotton. The cotton is then
collected in an appropriate cotton basket. Additional cotton picker
rotors can be configured in the cotton picker housing including a
wishbone plant lifter extending forward of the housing
approximately midway between a space defined by the adjacent
lateral plant lifters. The cotton picker unit picks one or more
rows of cotton plants with independent rotor/doffer assemblies.
Various configurations of multiple cotton picker units can be
arranged and mounted on mounting mechanisms attached to a
self-propelled vehicle of the cotton harvester. The walk-behind
cotton harvester is also provided for harvesting row planted
cotton. Also provided is a quad-rotor cotton picker unit.
Inventors: |
Orsborn, Jesse H.; (Port
Byron, IL) ; Richman, Kevin S.; (Muscatine, IA)
; Barrett, Monroe C.; (Geneseo, IL) ; Thedford, G.
Neil; (Naperville, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NEW HOLLAND NORTH AMERICA, INC.
P. O. BOX 1895, M.S. 641
500 DILLER AVENUE
NEW HOLLAND
PA
17557
US
|
Family ID: |
26820120 |
Appl. No.: |
09/901191 |
Filed: |
July 9, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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|
09901191 |
Jul 9, 2001 |
|
|
|
09511462 |
Feb 23, 2000 |
|
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|
60122069 |
Mar 1, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
56/40 ; 56/119;
56/16.6; 56/16.7; 56/28; 56/33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 46/08 20130101;
A01D 46/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
56/40 ; 56/33;
56/119; 56/16.6; 56/16.7; 56/28 |
International
Class: |
A01D 046/08; A01D
046/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cotton picker unit in mechanical communication with a power
unit for harvesting cotton from plants planted in parallel rows,
the cotton picker unit comprising: a cotton picker housing
supporting at least one lateral plant lifter extending forward of
the housing and defining a plant row channel for receiving cotton
plants planted in a row, said channel extending back into the
housing to a plant compressor sheet, a picker rotor supported by
the housing for rotation about an upright axis and adjacent to the
plant row channel and traverse to the compressor sheet; a doffer
supported by the housing for rotation near the picker rotor for
removing picked cotton from the picker rotor and moving the cotton
toward an outlet; and an exhaust chute for receiving the cotton
from the outlet.
2. The cotton picker unit of claim 1, including at least one
additional picker rotor and doffer supported in the cotton picker
housing adjacent to another plant row channel in a spaced
relationship from any other picker rotor and doffer in the
housing.
3. The cotton picker unit of claim 2, wherein at least one picker
rotor rotates in a clockwise direction and at least one picker
rotor rotates in a counter-clockwise direction.
4. The cotton picker unit of claim 2, wherein the spaced
relationship between the picker rotors can be changed.
5. The cotton picker unit of claim 1, wherein the cotton picker
housing is coupled to a mounting mechanism with the mounting
mechanism manipulated in an up or down direction by a lift arm, the
lift arm mounted on a self-propelled vehicle.
6. The cotton picker unit of claim 2, including a wishbone plant
lifter extending forward of the housing, approximately midway
between a space defined by the lateral plant lifter of each cotton
picker rotor.
7. The cotton picker unit of claim 6, wherein the additional cotton
picker rotor is aligned diagonally to the other cotton picker rotor
and aligned with an adjacent row of cotton plants.
8. The cotton picker unit of claim 5, wherein at least one cotton
picker unit is mounted forward of the mounting mechanism and at
least one cotton picker unit is mounted behind the mounting
mechanism.
9. The cotton picker unit of claim 5, wherein the cotton picker
unit is mounted behind the self-propelled vehicle and is pulled
through the cotton rows.
10. The cotton picker unit of claim 9, including at least one
additional cotton picker unit.
11. The cotton picker unit of claim 2, wherein the cotton picker
housing is coupled to a mounting mechanism with the mounting
mechanism manipulated in an up or down direction by a lift arm, the
lift arm mounted on a self-propelled vehicle.
12. The cotton picker unit of claim 11, wherein at least one cotton
picker unit is mounted forward of the mounting mechanism and at
least one cotton picker unit is mounted behind the mounting
mechanism.
13. The cotton picker unit of claim 11, wherein the cotton picker
unit is mounted behind the self-propelled vehicle and is pulled
through the cotton rows.
14. The cotton picker unit of claim 13, including at least one
additional cotton picker unit.
15. The cotton picker unit of claim 2, including a third and fourth
picker rotor and doffer supported in the cotton picker housing with
two picker rotors and doffers aligned to a plant row channel and
two picker rotors and doffers aligned to an adjacent plant row
channel.
16. A cotton harvester used to harvest cotton from plants planted
in parallel rows, including a self-propelled vehicle having an
associated cotton basket and a mounting mechanism, and a cotton
picker unit, the cotton picker unit comprising: a cotton picker
housing supporting a picker rotor and a corresponding doffer, with
the picker rotor and doffer aligned to pick cotton from cotton
plants; a means for guiding the cotton plants, mounted forward of
the cotton picker housing, into the cotton picker housing to a
plant compressor sheet mounted traverse to the picker rotor; and a
means for transporting the picked cotton to the cotton basket.
17. The cotton picker unit of claim 16, including at least one
additional picker rotor and doffer supported in the cotton picker
housing adjacent to another plant row channel in a spaced
relationship from any other picker rotor and doffer in the
housing.
18. The cotton harvester of claim 17, wherein the means for guiding
comprises at least one lateral plant lifter, and at least one
wishbone plant lifter with the space between the plant lifters
defining plant channels back into the cotton picker housing to the
compressor sheets to facilitate the movement and position of the
cotton plants for picking cotton by the picker rotors.
19. The cotton harvester of claim 16, wherein the means for
transporting comprises an outlet near the doffer to receive the
picked cotton removed from the picker rotor by the doffer and an
exhaust chute from the outlet in communication with the cotton
basket.
20. The cotton harvester of claim 16, wherein a plurality of cotton
picker units are mounted on the mounting mechanism with each cotton
picker unit aligned with a cotton row.
21. The cotton harvester of claim 17, wherein the means for
transporting comprises an outlet near the doffer to receive the
picked cotton removed from the picker rotor by the doffer and an
exhaust chute from the outlet in communication with the cotton
basket.
22. The cotton harvester of claim 17, wherein a plurality of cotton
picker units are mounted on the mounting mechanism with each cotton
picker unit aligned with a cotton row.
23. A multi-row cotton harvester including a self propelled vehicle
having a mounting mechanism and a plurality of cotton picker units
in mechanical communication with a power unit, the cotton picker
unit comprising: a cotton picker housing supporting at least one
lateral plant lifter extending forward of the housing and defining
a plant row channel for receiving cotton plants planted in a row,
the channel extending back into the housing to a plant compressor
sheet; a picker rotor supported by the housing for rotation about
an upright axis and adjacent to the plant row channel and traverse
to the compressor sheet; a doffer supported by the housing for
rotation near the picker rotor for removing picked cotton from the
picker rotor and moving the cotton toward an outlet; and an exhaust
chute for receiving the cotton from the outlet.
24. The multi-row cotton harvester of claim 23, including at least
one additional picker rotor and doffer supported in each cotton
picker housing adjacent to another plant row channel in a spaced
relationship from any other picker rotor and doffer in the
housing.
25. The multi-row cotton harvester of claim 24 including a third
and fourth picker rotor and doffer supported in each cotton picker
housing with two picker rotors and doffers aligned to a plant row
channel and two picker rotors and doffers aligned to an adjacent
plant row channel.
26. The multi-row cotton harvester of claim 24, wherein at least
one picker rotor rotates in a clockwise direction and at least one
picker rotor rotates in a counter-clockwise direction.
27. The multi-row cotton harvester of claim 24, wherein the spaced
relationship between the picker rotors can be changed.
28. The multi-row cotton harvestor of claim 23, wherein the cotton
picker housing is mounted on the mounting mechanism with the
mounting mechanism manipulated in an up or down direction by a lift
arm, the lift arm mounted on the self-propelled vehicle.
29. A multi-row cotton harvester of claim 28, including a wishbone
plant lifter extending forward of the housing, approximately midway
between a space defined by the lateral plant lifter of each cotton
picker rotor.
30. The multi-row cotton harvester of claim 29, wherein at least
one cotton picker unit is mounted forward of the tool bar and at
least one cotton picker is mounted behind the tool bar.
31. The multi-row cotton harvester of claim 28, wherein at least
one cotton picker unit is mounted behind the self-propelled vehicle
and is pulled through the cotton rows.
32. A walk-behind cotton harvester comprising: a cotton picker
housing having at least one plant lifter mounted forward of the
housing and defining a plant row channel extending back into the
housing to a plant compressor sheet; a picker rotor mounted in the
cotton picker housing adjacent to the plant row channel and
traverse to the plant compressor sheet; a doffer mounted in the
cotton picker housing near the picker rotor for removing picked
cotton from the picker rotor and moving the picked cotton to an
outlet at the rear of the cotton picker housing; a power unit
mounted on the housing and in mechanical communication with the
picker rotor and the doffer; and a means for moving the walk-behind
cotton harvester mounted on the housing.
33. The walk-behind cotton harvester of claim 32, including a
handle mounted on the housing.
34. The walk-behind cotton harvester of claim 32, wherein the means
for moving is in mechanical communication with the power unit.
35. The walk-behind cotton harvester of claim 32, wherein the means
for moving is selected from a group comprising: a pair of wheels, a
pair of tracks and a pair of skids.
36. The walk-behind cotton harvester of claim 35, including a front
wheel.
37. The walk-behind cotton harvester of claim 36, wherein the front
wheel is steerable.
38. The walk-behind cotton harvester of claim 32, wherein the power
unit is selected from a group comprising: a hydraulic motor, an
electric motor, and an internal combustion engine.
39. The walk-behind cotton harvester of claim 32, including at
least one additional picker rotor and one additional doffer mounted
in the cotton picker housing.
40. The walk-behind cotton harvester of claim 39, wherein the
additional picker rotor and doffer are aligned with a second plant
row channel.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/122,069, filed Mar. 1, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to cotton harvesting machines
and more particularly to a harvest row unit suitable for harvesting
narrow rows of cotton.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventional self-propelled cotton harvesters include a
frame mounted pair of drive wheels, and a pair of steerable rear
wheels providing the harvester with proper direction. Mounted,
usually, in the front or forward end of the cotton harvester are
two or more harvesting units.
[0004] Each harvesting unit typically includes a housing which
encloses two rotatably driven picker rotors, two doffer assemblies,
and a picker spindle moistening assembly for each rotor. Each
picker rotor has numerous circularly driven picker bars. Each
picker bar mounts a plurality of rotatably driven, radially
extending picker spindles for removing cotton from a plant. The
doffer assembly includes a column of doffer pads which are
positioned to remove the cotton from the picker spindles. The
moistener assembly includes a column of moistening pads arranged to
add moistening fluid to the cotton picker spindles before they are
introduced into the cotton plants.
[0005] Cotton pickers typically harvest one to six rows of cotton
with the rows spaced usually 38 or 40 inches (96 to 102
centimeters) apart. However, recent cotton planting techniques have
resulted in cotton rows being planted as close as 30 inches (76
centimeters) apart.
[0006] A particular cotton row planting configuration involves two
parallel rows of cotton plants planted 30 centimeters apart with a
second grouping of parallel cotton plant rows 60 centimeters from
the first cotton plant row grouping. Such arrangement is prevalent
and mainly handpicked in mainland China and other third world or
developing countries.
[0007] Examples of narrow row cotton harvesters are exemplified by
U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,403 (issued Sep. 3, 1985) for a "Narrow Row
Cotton Harvester and Picker Unit" and U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,897
(issued Apr. 10, 1990) for a "Narrow Row Cotton Harvester". Both of
said patents are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Both of said patents disclose picker units incorporating offset
picker rotors and doffer assemblies which pick the cotton on both
sides of a single row of cotton plants. The offsetting of the
picker assemblies allow for various configurations and nesting of
the picker units to facilitate the harvesting of narrow row cotton
plants. Two picker/doffer assemblies are mounted in each picker
unit to harvest one row of cotton plants.
[0008] Another example of the narrow row cotton picker is disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,988 (issued May 28, 1996) to Copley, et al.,
entitled "Narrow Row Cotton Picker and Row Unit Therefor" and U.S.
Pat. No. 4,821,497 (issued Apr. 18, 1989) to Deutsch, et al.,
entitled "Cotton Harvester and Tandem Row Unit Thereof". These
latter two patents each disclose picker units that incorporate two
picker rotors and associated doffer assemblies that are aligned in
tandem to pick cotton from one side of a cotton row plant. Each
cotton plant row is picked by two picker/doffer assemblies. In the
latter patent disclosures, the picker units must skip a row of
cotton plants, particularly in the 30 centimeter planting
configuration, which necessitates two passes of the cotton
harvesting machine to pick adjacent 30 centimeter rows which are
unpicked on the first pass.
[0009] Thus there is a need for a cotton harvester that will use
only one picker/doffer assembly for each plant row. There is a
further need for a cotton harvester that provides more than one
picker/doffer assembly in a housing, with at least one
picker/doffer assembly for each plant row. There is an additional
need for a multi-picker rotor cotton harvester that provides for
adjustment of the spacing between the picker rotors to accommodate
different spacings between plant rows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] There is provided a cotton harvester which includes at least
one cotton picker unit for harvesting cotton from plants planted in
narrow, parallel rows. The cotton picker unit comprises a cotton
picker housing that supports a lateral plant lifter which extends
forward of the housing and defines a plant row channel for
receiving cotton plants planted in a row. The plant channel extends
back into the housing to a plant compressor sheet which facilitates
the picking of the cotton from the cotton plant by a picker rotor
which is supported in the housing adjacent to the plant row channel
and traverse to the compressor sheet. A doffer column also
supported in the housing is near the picker rotor and removes the
picked cotton from the picker rotor and moves the cotton towards an
outlet and through an exhaust chute for receiving the cotton. The
cotton is then collected in an appropriate cotton basket.
Additional cotton picker rotors can be configured in the cotton
picker housing including a wishbone plant lifter extending forward
of the housing approximately midway between a space defined by the
adjacent lateral plant lifters. The cotton picker unit picks one or
more rows of cotton plants with independent rotor/doffer
assemblies. Various configurations of multiple cotton picker units
can be arranged and mounted on mounting mechanisms attached to a
self-propelled vehicle of the cotton harvester. An embodiment
includes multiple opposing rotor/doffer assemblies mounted in a
cotton picker housing picking opposite sides of adjacent cotton
rows planted at a spacing less than the width of the cotton picker
rotor. This embodiment provides at least one picker rotor rotating
in a clockwise direction and at least one picker rotor rotating in
a counterclockwise direction. An additional embodiment of the
cotton harvester of the present invention includes a walk-behind
cotton harvester and comprises a cotton picker housing having a
pair of lateral plant lifters mounted forward of the housing and
defining a plant channel extending back into the housing to a plant
compressor sheet. Also mounted in the walk-behind cotton harvester
is a picker rotor and a doffer column arranged to pick cotton off
the cotton plant moving through the plant channel and moving the
picked cotton to an outlet at the rear of the cotton picker
housing. A power unit is in mechanical communication with the
picker rotor and doffer column and may also be in mechanical
communication with a means for moving the walk-behind cotton
harvester. The walk-behind cotton harvester is provided for
harvesting row planted cotton, particularly for use in developing
countries.
[0011] An alternative embodiment of the present cotton harvester
includes a self-propelled vehicle having a mounting mechanism and a
multi-rotor unit in mechanical communication with the power unit.
The multi-rotor unit comprises a cotton picker housing that is
mounted on the mounting mechanism and supporting at least one
lateral plant lifter and at least one wishbone plant lifter
extending forward of the housing and defining a plant row channel
for receiving cotton plants planted in a row. The channel extends
back into the housing to plant compressor sheets which facilitates
the picking of cotton from cotton plants by multiple picker rotors
and associated doffer columns located traverse to the compressor
sheet. The cotton is then moved to an outlet and into an
appropriate cotton collecting basket. Various configurations of
cotton picker units mounted both forward of the mounting mechanism
and behind the mounting mechanism which is attached to the
self-propelled vehicle is provided to accommodate various cotton
field plantings.
[0012] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become readily apparent from the following detailed description,
appended drawings and accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a partial top elevational view showing two cotton
picker units of an exemplar cotton harvester mounted on a
self-propelled vehicle (only the wheels are shown).
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of two cotton picker
units each consisting of two oppositely aligned rotor
assemblies.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an alternative
embodiment of the exemplar cotton picker units with multiple cotton
picker rotors.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the cotton picker
units depicted in FIG. 3 with multiple cotton picker rotors in a
diagonally aligned embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of multiple cotton picker
unit with dual cotton picker rotors aligned diagonally.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an exemplar cotton
picker unit in an alternative embodiment of the diagonal
configuration illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an exemplar cotton
picker multi-rotor unit.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of the harvester
depicted in FIG. 7.
[0021] FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment of the harvester
depicted in FIG. 7.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of an exemplar multiple
cotton picker multi-rotor unit mounted on the self-propelled
vehicle having dual wheels straddling narrow cotton plant rows.
[0023] FIG. 11 is an alternative embodiment of the harvester
depicted in FIG. 10.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a combination of the
present cotton picker units.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of multiple cotton
picker units on a mounting mechanism of a self-propelled vehicle
(not shown).
[0026] FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of another arrangement
of multiple cotton picker units of the present invention on a
mounting mechanism of a self-propelled vehicle (not shown).
[0027] FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of multiple cotton
picker units of the present invention on a mounting mechanism of a
self-propelled vehicle (not shown) with at least one of said cotton
picker unit mounted behind the mounting mechanism.
[0028] FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of an alternative
embodiment of the harvester depicted in FIG. 15.
[0029] FIG. 17 is an illustration of a cotton harvester having
cotton picker units mounted on the self-propelled vehicle.
[0030] FIG. 18 is an illustration of the cotton picker unit
configured in a walk-behind cotton harvester.
[0031] FIG. 19 is a top view of the walk-behind cotton
harvester.
[0032] Before explaining the preferred embodiment of the cotton
harvester row unit in detail, it is to be understood that the
cotton harvester row unit is not limited in the application to the
details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth
in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The
cotton harvester row unit is capable of other embodiments or being
practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 1, therein is shown a cotton harvester
10 mounted on a self-propelled vehicle 11 which supports a power
unit (not shown). The self-propelled vehicle has a plurality of
wheels 14 of which only two are typically shown in the FIGURES. A
cotton receiving basket (not shown) may be supported on the
self-propelled vehicle or towed behind or adjacent to the
self-propelled vehicle for receiving picked cotton from the cotton
harvester 10 of the present invention.
[0034] A cotton picker unit 20 of the present invention includes a
cotton picker housing 22. Mounted on the cotton picker housing 22
is at least one lateral plant lifter 30 extending forward of the
housing and defining a plant row channel 36 for receiving cotton
plants P planted in a row. The plant channel 36 extends from the
lateral plant lifter 30 back into the housing 22 to a plant
compressor sheet 34 mounted in the cotton picker housing 22. As the
cotton harvester 10 moves through the cotton field the individual
cotton plant rows P are aligned with the cotton plant channel 36 in
each cotton picker unit. The lateral plant lifter 30 guides the
cotton plant toward the plant compressor sheet 34 so that the
individual cotton bolls can be picked.
[0035] A picker rotor 26 is supported by the cotton picker housing
22 for rotation about an upright axis 25 at a location adjacent to
the plant row channel 36 in the cotton picker housing 22 opposite,
or traverse, to the compressor sheet 34. As the cotton plant moves
through the plant channel 36 the plant compressor sheet 34 assists
the picker rotor 26 in picking the cotton bolls. Spindles on the
picker rotor move into the cotton plants and engage the cotton lint
of the cotton boll and pull the cotton lint from the cotton plant.
As the cotton harvester 10 continues moving down the cotton plant
row P the picker rotor rotates generally synchronized with the
plant until the spindles are withdrawn from the cotton plant, then
the picked cotton is removed from the picker rotor by a doffer
column 28 supported by the cotton picker housing 22 near the picker
rotor 26. The doffer column 28 in addition to removing the picked
cotton from the picker rotor 26 also moves the cotton towards an
outlet 38 at the back of the cotton picker unit 20 to an exhaust
chute 37 which receives the cotton from the outlet 38. The exhaust
chute 37 can be engaged by any convenient and conventional means
for collecting the picked cotton, such as a basket mounted on the
self-propelled vehicle 11, or a wagon can be pulled by an
appropriate means for hitching a wagon or the like to collect and
retain the picked cotton. A trash exit 39 at the back of the cotton
picker housing 22 ejects cotton plant debris not collected by the
harvester.
[0036] Prior art cotton pickers typically use two picker rotors for
each plant row, with one picker rotor on each side of the plant row
picking cotton from that same row. The present cotton picker unit
20 uses only one picker rotor 26 to pick cotton from one plant row
but may have multiple picker rotors 26 mounted in the same housing
22 with each picker rotor 26 picking from a different plant row.
Another embodiment provides multiple rotors 26 mounted in the same
housing 22, with a tandem set of picker rotors 22 picking cotton
from the same plant row but from the same side of that plant row
and another set of tandem picker rotors 22 picking cotton from a
different plant row.
[0037] FIG. 1 depicts two cotton picker units 20, each consisting
of two oppositely aligned rotor assemblies 26, of the present
invention mounted on the front of a self-propelled vehicle 11
constituting a cotton harvester 10. Each cotton picker unit 20 is
provided with a cotton picker drive (not shown) which is in
mechanical communication with the picker rotor 26 and the doffer
column 28. The cotton picker drive can be from a group comprising a
hydraulic motor, an electric motor, a fossil fuel engine and a
power take-off (PTO) unit. The cotton picker unit 20 of the present
invention is conveniently arranged in multiple configurations.
FIGS. 2-12 illustrate several embodiments of cotton picker unit 20
configurations.
[0038] The cotton harvester 10 has at least one cotton picker unit
20 mounted on a mounting mechanism 16 with said mounting mechanism
16 manipulated in an up or down direction by a lift arm 18. The
lift arm 18 is mounted on the self-propelled vehicle 11 of the
cotton harvester 10. The mounting mechanism 16 can be of any
convenient design to accommodate the particular configuration of
the cotton picker units 20 of a cotton harvester 10. The mounting
mechanism can be a tool bar, a lift arm or a combination of a tool
bar and a lift arm. A cotton picker unit 20 may be mounted on a
tool bar or a lift arm or a combination of such devices. As shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2, two cotton picker units 20 are mounted on the
mounting mechanism 16 traverse to one another and aligned with
adjacent rows of cotton plants P. Approximately midway between the
space defined by the lateral plant lifter 30 of each of the cotton
picker unit 20, is a wishbone plant lifter 32. The wishbone plant
lifter 32 is moved between two closely planted parallel rows of
cotton plants. The wishbone plant lifter 32 forms a part of a
cotton plant channel 36 with a corresponding lateral plant lifter
30. The wishbone plant lifter 32 also extends forward of the cotton
picker housing 22. FIGS. 4-12 depict alternative embodiments of the
cotton picker unit 20 of the present invention wherein cotton
picker rotors 26 are aligned diagonally or opposite to one another
but also aligned with individual and adjacent rows of cotton
plants. One embodiment of the cotton picker unit provides a means
for varying the distance between the picker rotor/doffer column
assemblies in the cotton picker unit 20. The picker rotor/doffer
column assembly, for this application, means the picker rotor 26,
doffer column 28, plant lifters, compressor sheet 34 and their
associated components. The means for varying is selected from a
group comprising a slot, a rack and pinion, a worm-gear, a
plurality of holes, a telescoping member and other conventional
mechanism.
[0039] Another embodiment of the cotton harvester 10 mounts
multiple picker rotors 26 and corresponding doffer columns 28 in a
cotton picker housing 22 to form a multi-rotor unit such as three
or four rotor/doffer assemblies. Such cotton picker is illustrated
in FIGS. 7-12. Each cotton picker housing 22 is mounted on a
mounting mechanism 16 included on a self-propelled vehicle 11 and
is in mechanical communication with a power unit. The multi-rotor
units have at least one lateral plant lifter 30 and at least one
wishbone plant lifter 32 extending forward of the cotton picker
housing 22. The arrangement of a wishbone plant lifter 32 and the
lateral plant lifters 30 defines plant row channels 36 for
receiving cotton plants planted in a row P with the plant channels
36 extending back into the cotton picker housing 22 to plant
compressor sheets 34. The process of picking the cotton from the
plants is as described above. Each of the picker rotors 26 which
are supported in the cotton picker housing 22 for rotation about an
upright axis 25 is aligned adjacent to the plant row channels 36.
Each picker rotor 26 has a corresponding doffer column 28 supported
in the housing 22 for rotation near each of the picker rotors 26
for removing the picked cotton from each picker rotor and moving
the cotton towards an outlet 38 to an exhaust chute 37 which
receives the cotton from the outlet 38. The picked cotton is then
deposited in a cotton basket (not shown) as described above. A
trash exit 39 at the back of each cotton picker housing 22 ejects
cotton plant debris not collected by the harvester. The multi-rotor
unit can also be mounted behind the self-propelled vehicle and
pulled through the cotton rows as generally depicted in FIG.
17.
[0040] FIG. 17 illustrates a cotton harvester 10 of the
self-propelled vehicle 11 type which has a cotton picker unit 20
mounted in the front of the self-propelled vehicle and behind the
self-propelled vehicle. A mounting mechanism attached to the
self-propelled vehicle 11 supports the individual cotton picker
housings 22. Any number of cotton picker units 20 can be configured
in the cotton harvester 10 of the present invention as is
appropriate for the particular mounting mechanism. It should be
understood that the mounting mechanism and associated picker units
may be attached to the vehicle at any convenient location.
[0041] FIGS. 13-16 depict various alternative embodiments of the
cotton picker units 20 in dual rotor cotton picker housings 22
mounted on a mounting mechanism in front of and behind such
mounting mechanism 16. Although dual rotor units are depicted it
should be understood that the multi-rotor units can also be mounted
in a similar fashion.
[0042] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict one each of a right-handed and
left-handed picker rotor 26 mounted in a single cotton picker
housing 22. It should be noted that only one plant row P is picked
by one picker rotor 26. As noted in the background section of this
application a typical or conventional cotton harvester has two
picker rotor/doffer column configurations for picking cotton from
each side of a single row of cotton. Such arrangement was suitable
in the conventional planting of cotton rows which were typically
much wider than 30 centimeters apart. Such arrangements are not
suitable for narrow row cotton row plantings which are narrower
than the rotor unit. As depicted in the FIGURES, the distance
marked D1 between cotton planting rows P is narrower than a rotor
unit and D2 is wider than a rotor unit between adjacent cotton rows
P. The D2 spacing is typically needed to accommodate a person as
well as the wheels of an agricultural device. The cotton harvester
10 is usually provided with a wheel shield 15 to protect the cotton
plants as the cotton harvester 10 moves through the cotton field.
The cotton picker units 20 of the present invention, as is shown in
the various FIGURES, can be configured in a variety of arrangements
to accommodate the particular cotton field.
[0043] Applicant has been informed that narrow row cotton planting
is prevalent in developing countries as well as particularly in the
Peoples Republic of China. The planting pattern in those countries
typically have the D1 distance being approximately 30 centimeters
and the D2 distance being approximately 60 centimeters. And even
though a self-propelled vehicle 11 of the present invention can be
used in such situations, Applicant also provides a single cotton
picker unit 20 configured as a walk-behind cotton harvester 10 for
such use. FIGS. 18 and 19 depict an illustration of a walk-behind
cotton harvester embodiment. The cotton picker housing 22 as
previously described has a pair of lateral plant lifters 30 mounted
forward of the cotton picker housing 22 and defines a plant channel
36 extending back into the housing 22 to a plant compressor sheet
34. At least one picker rotor 26 is mounted in the cotton picker
housing 22 adjacent to the plant channel 36 and traverse to the
plant compressor sheet 34. A corresponding doffer column 28 is
mounted in the cotton picker housing 22 near each picker rotor 26.
The doffer column 28 removes picked cotton from the picker rotor 26
and moves the picked cotton to an outlet 38 at the rear of the
cotton picker housing 22. A power unit 12 is mounted on the cotton
picker housing 22 and is in mechanical communication with the
picker rotor 26 and doffer column 28 to impart the appropriate
rotational motion to such devices. Mounted on the cotton picker
housing 22 is a means for moving 40 the walk-behind cotton
harvester 10. A handle 31 mounted on the housing 22 may also be
provided. FIG. 19 depicts the walk-behind harvester in a single row
configuration. It should be understood that a multiple row cotton
picker unit can be configured as a walk-behind harvester. One
embodiment of the walk-behind cotton harvester 10 has the means for
moving 40 in mechanical communication with the power unit 12. A
means for moving 40 is selected from a group comprising a pair of
wheels 14 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 or a pair of tracks or a pair
of skids or pulled by an animal. The wheels, tracks and skids can
be of any conventional and convenient style. One embodiment of the
walk-behind cotton harvester includes a front wheel 13 which
assists the operator in maneuvering the walk-behind cotton
harvester. In an embodiment of the walk-behind harvester the power
unit 12 can be a hydraulic motor, an electric motor, or a fossil
fuel engine in mechanical communication with the means for moving
40. The cotton picked from the cotton plant rows is exhausted into
a cotton collecting device that can be towed or maneuvered behind
the walk-behind harvest unit or can be deposited directly onto the
ground for subsequent pick-up by any convenient method. It is
expected that any culture that has had only hand picked cotton in
the past will embrace even a walk-behind cotton harvester if a
self-propelled vehicle is not a viable economic alternative.
[0044] Thus, it should be apparent that it has been provided in
accordance with the present invention a narrow row cotton harvester
in which a single or multiple rotor/doffer column arrangement for
each row of cotton mounted in a variety of configurations on a
self-propelled vehicle and a walk-behind cotton harvester has been
disclosed. Although the invention has been described in conjunction
with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art. For example, the cotton
harvester may be towed or pushed by a separate work vehicle such as
a tractor and coupled to the work vehicle for the necessary
mechanical, hydraulic and electrical power to operate the cotton
harvester. The cotton harvester may also be pulled by an animal,
with a gear train coupled to the wheels and rotor/doffer for
operating power. It is also contemplated that a cotton picker unit
may be mounted alongside the self-propelled vehicle or work
vehicle. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the
spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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