Abstract: A spindle assembly includes a spindle with a blind bore extending along the spindle axis from the drive gear towards the outer end to reduce spindle weight and provide a lubrication reservoir in the spindle. Cross-formed holes extend from the blind bore through to the bearing surface of the spindle. Lubricant from the spindle bars passes into the bore where it is stored and distributed to the journal areas through the small metering apertures. A very low friction seal between the outer bushing and dust collar is pressed into the spindle nut and seals against the polished chrome spindle surface. The seal allows a slight amount of lubricant passage outwardly from the bushings while limiting inward movement of dust towards the bushings.

Abstract: There is described a method of forming a touch screen laminate for use in a resistive touch screen display, the method comprising the steps of bonding a layer of ultra-thin glass to a polymer layer by means of an optical adhesive applied uniformly between the glass layer and the polymer layer and applying a non-electrically conductive insulating layer to a lower surface of the polymer layer in a peripherally extending band.

Abstract: A picker spindle bar includes spindles oriented on the bar to offset the spindle picking ends relative to each other. In an exemplary embodiment, adjacent spindle axes are rotated six degrees relative to each other about the upright spindle drive shaft axis so that the picking ends of adjacent spindles are offset and enter the doffing zone at different times to reduce peak loads on the harvester row unit. The angled spindle configurations also space picking ends fore-and-aft in the picking zone and improve harvesting efficiency, especially where green bolls are present. The staggered spindle ends reduces cotton pinching in the picking, doffing and spindle wiping areas to thereby reduce row unit plugging.

Abstract: A picker bar includes spindles which are nonaligned in the vertical direction to define two or more offset sets of spindles on the bar and increase the number of spindles per unit length of the spindle bar. A spindle assembly includes support carrying two spindles driven from a picker bar drive shaft by single drive gear. Driven spindle gears are spaced on opposite sides of the shaft axis to facilitate close spacing of the spindles.

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 method and apparatus for harvesting cotton, arranged for forward motion through a cotton crop comprising cotton plants having cotton bolls.

Abstract: A row unit movable in a forward direction for simultaneously picking cotton from at least two parallel rows of cotton plants, the rows of cotton plants being spaced a predetermined distance apart in a transverse direction relative to the forward direction.

Abstract: Crop severing and gathering structure is pivotally connected to the forward end of a cotton row unit housing adjacent a row receiving area. A cutter severs the lower portion of cotton plants offset from the row receiving area of the row unit. A conveyer includes a pair of opposed belts with gripping features which embrace the lower portions of the stems of the cotton plants and move the severed plants in a generally upright position into the row of standing plants that is entering the row receiving area. The severed cotton plants intertwine with the standing row at the front of the housing as the conveyor moves the plants against one side of the row. The standing row with intertwined plants enters the row receiving area, and tandem picking drums located on the same side of the row as the severing and gathering structure remove cotton from both the standing row and the severed plants.

Abstract: An apparatus for resisting adhesion by materials on a movable assembly, the apparatus having a body member adapted to be mounted on the movable assembly at a position susceptible to the adhesion and which is so constructed as to be capable of incurring contact from the materials substantially without the adhesion resulting from such contact.

Abstract: A deflector for directing the upper portion of tall cotton plants downwardly below the top of the cotton opening on a row unit of a cotton picker. A single sheet of metal includes a connecting portion having an upright slotted section which is bolted to unit at the top of the opening. An inclined portion extends downwardly and forwardly from the connecting portion to a rounded portion for gently urging the plant below the level of the uppermost row of spindles on the picker drum to prevent drum overloads. The inclined portion in combination with a relatively large radius of curvature of the crop contacting portion minimizes cotton loss and trash build-up.

Abstract: The harvesting structure on a plurality of individual row units of a cotton picker are driven by a common drive train while individual torque-limiting is provided to each row unit by a slip clutch located within the unit housing. A gearbox located at the top of each row unit housing includes a shaft projecting into the housing with the slip clutch located at the lower end of the shaft and driving an output gear meshing with the main input gear of row unit transmission.

Abstract: A cleaner accessory is provided for mounting from the lower base plate of a picker drum of a cotton picker, and the accessory includes a depending tang spaced slightly outward of the outer periphery of the picker drum base plate and projecting slightly downwardly therebelow. The tang projects only slightly outward of the outer periphery of the picker drum base plate an amount less than the spacing between the picker drum base plate outer periphery and a stationary upstanding flange of the cotton picker, and the accessory further includes an upward extension thereof projecting appreciably above the picker drum base plate and equipped with a partial cylindrical guard positioned immediately foward of, in the direction of rotation of the drum, the lower end of one of the picker bars pivotally supported from the periphery of the picker drum base plate.

Abstract: Cotton harvesting apparatus for harvesting cotton from cotton plants planted in spaced apart generally parallel rows and having a cotton picking apparatus with ground engaging means for movement of the cotton picker over the ground. The cotton picking apparatus includes one or more picker mechanisms which are adapted to pick cotton from the cotton plants as the cotton picking apparatus is moved over the cotton plants. Boom mechanisms are carried by the cotton picker and are used for striking the cotton plants for removing leaves, leaf stems and other trash off of the cotton plants prior to the cotton plants being engaged by a picker mechanism. One of the boom mechanisms extends in front of the cotton picking apparatus whereas another boom mechanism extends to one side of the cotton apparatus and over the rows of cotton which are to be picked. The height of the boom mechanisms can be adjusted so that the cotton plants are struck by the boom mechanisms at predetermined heights.

Abstract: A pair of transversely aligned upright columns of bristles are mounted on the forward gatherers of a cotton harvester. The bristles extend horizontally with the free ends of the bristles in the columns being closely adjacent to one another thereby closing the forward end of the passage through which the cotton plants pass. The harvesting mechanism of the harvester will often throw cotton bolls out of the forward end of the plant passage and with the bristles arranged as proposed the cotton will be prevented from leaving the passage and/or will be impinged on the ends of the bristles. Cotton plants moving against the bristles will bend or deform them and will comb any cotton that is retained on the bristles back into the area of the harvesting equipment.

Abstract: A device for attachment to a storage box of a cotton stripper machine to permit the operator of said machine to mechanically tamp or press cotton as dumped from the storage box into an adjacent trailer for receiving the picked cotton. The press is specifically designed for easy and ready attachment to the conventional type storage boxes of cotton strippers and is hydraulic actuated from the same hydralic system as is used on the cotton stripper machine.