Abstract: A cotton picker basket is disclosed that includes a first basket portion and a second basket portion, the first basket portion configured to move relative to the second basket portion to adjust a volume contained therein and an compactor disposed at least in part within one of the first basket portion and the second basket portion. The cotton picker basket also includes an actuator configured to adjust a position of the compactor within one of the first basket portion and the second basket portion and to move the first basket portion relative to the second basket portion to adjust the volume contained therebetween.

Abstract: A cotton picker basket is disclosed that includes a first basket portion and a second basket portion, the first basket portion configured to move relative to the second basket portion to adjust a volume contained therein and an compactor disposed at least in part within one of the first basket portion and the second basket portion. The cotton picker basket also includes an actuator configured to adjust a position of the compactor within one of the first basket portion and the second basket portion and to move the first basket portion relative to the second basket portion to adjust the volume contained therebetween.

Abstract: A cotton receiver for a cotton harvesting machine and a method of operation of the same. The receiver includes a cotton compacting chamber, A precompacting area above the chamber, and an accumulator deployable upwardly from the precompacting area to increase the cotton holding capacity thereof. Compactor apparatus is located in the compacting chamber and is configured for holding cotton thereabove separate from cotton therebelow. The compactor apparatus is moavable downwardly against cotton therebelow for compacting it into a unitary body or module, including while holding cotton thereabove, and is controllably operable for conveying cotton held thereabove downwardly therethrough, subsequent to unloading a completed compacted body of cotton.

Abstract: A cotton receiver for a cotton harvesting machine and a method of operation of the same. The receiver includes a cotton compacting chamber, a precompacting area above the chamber, and an accumulator deployable upwardly from the precompacting area to increase the cotton holding capacity thereof. Compactor apparatus is located in the compacting chamber and is configured for holding cotton thereabove separate from cotton therebelow. The compactor apparatus is movable downwardly against cotton therebelow for compacting it into a unitary body or module, including while holding cotton thereabove, and is controllably operable for conveying cotton held thereabove downwardly therethrough, subsequent to unloading a completed compacted body of cotton.

Abstract: The cotton harvester includes a cotton picker housing having at least one plant lifter defining a plant row channel extending back into the housing to a plant compressor sheet. A picker rotor is mounted in the cotton picker housing adjacent to the plant row channel and traverse to the plant compressor sheet. A doffer in the housing near the picker rotor removes picked cotton from the picker rotor and moves the picked cotton to an outlet at the rear of the cotton picker housing. A power unit includes an internal combustion engine mounted on the housing including a rotatable output selectably connectable in rotatably driving relation to the picker rotor and the doffer for imparting rotation thereto. The power unit can also selectably drive at least one wheel of the harvester for moving it over the ground at a speed corresponding to a rotational speed of the picker rotor.

Abstract: A control and method for a cotton module building program for an on-board cotton module builder of a cotton harvester, which utilizes a signal or output from a yield monitor as a factor in determining and varying cotton module building parameters, which can include auger direction and duration of operation, compactor positions and compacting strokes for best compacting a cotton module under the yield conditions. A module complete signal which can be a visual or audio signal, can be outputted when the yield monitor detects a predetermined cotton module weight, for signaling approach of a required unloading of a cotton module.