Abstract: A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A cotton harvester having a prime mover providing power to the cotton harvester, a controller monitoring a load on the prime mover and storing a load threshold, a drum rotatable about a first axis at a drum speed, a plurality of spindles for harvesting cotton, the plurality of spindles rotatable at a spindle speed and a doffer assembly rotatable about a second axis at a doffer speed. Wherein, when the controller detects a load on the prime mover greater than the load threshold, the spindle speed is reduced.

Abstract: A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A picking unit of a cotton harvester row unit includes a drum rotatable about an axis and a plurality of spindles for harvesting cotton. The plurality of spindles is coupled to the drum. A first drive unit rotatably drives the plurality of spindles. A second drive unit produces electrical power to drive a drive shaft. An output gear is coupled to the drive shaft, and a drum drive gear is coupled to the output gear. The drum drive gear rotatably drives the drum such that the output gear operably transfers power from the drive shaft to the drum drive gear. The drum is operably controlled independently of the plurality of spindles.

Abstract: A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A cotton harvester having a prime mover providing power to the cotton harvester, a controller monitoring a load on the prime mover and storing a load threshold, a drum rotatable about a first axis at a drum speed, a plurality of spindles for harvesting cotton, the plurality of spindles rotatable at a spindle speed and a doffer assembly rotatable about a second axis at a duffer speed. Wherein, when the controller detects a load on the prime mover greater than the load threshold, the spindle speed is reduced.

Abstract: A picking unit of a cotton harvester row unit includes a drum rotatable about an axis and a plurality of spindles for harvesting cotton. The plurality of spindles is coupled to the drum. A first drive unit rotatably drives the plurality of spindles. A second drive unit produces electrical power to drive a drive shaft. An output gear is coupled to the drive shaft, and a drum drive gear is coupled to the output gear. The drum drive gear rotatably drives the drum such that the output gear operably transfers power from the drive shaft to the drum drive gear. The drum is operably controlled independently of the plurality of spindles.

Abstract: A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A scrapping plate arrangement within a cotton picking machine includes a pivotable pressure plate and one or more pivotable scrapping plates. Each scrapping plate may be an assembly that includes a door and a plate member having one or more ribs extending toward a picking drum and configured to pass through respective openings in the pressure plate, permitting each scrapping plate to be positioned selectively into a use orientation.

Abstract: A scrapping plate arrangement within a cotton picking machine includes a pivotable pressure plate and one or more pivotable scrapping plates. Each scrapping plate may be an assembly that includes a door and a plate member having one or more ribs extending toward a picking drum and configured to pass through respective openings in the pressure plate, permitting each scrapping plate to be positioned selectively into a use orientation.

Abstract: A row unit for a cotton harvester is disclosed. The cotton harvester is adapted for forward movement through a field to harvest cotton planted in rows in the field. The row unit includes a unit housing defining a row receiving area and a cotton exiting area. A moistener column door is pivotally coupled to the unit housing. A compression structure is coupled to the unit housing and configured to exert a pre-load on the moistener column door, placing the moistener column door in a closed position. The compression structure is configured to yield to a cotton plug pressure that exceeds the pre-load, which pivots the moistener column door to an open position. When the pre-load exceeds the cotton plug pressure, the compression structure is configured to return the moistener column door to the closed position.

Abstract: A row unit for a cotton harvester. The cotton harvester is adapted for forward movement through a field to harvest cotton planted in rows in the field. The row unit includes a unit housing defining a row receiving area and a cotton exiting area. A moistener column door is pivotally coupled to the unit housing. An adjustable compression structure is coupled to the unit housing and configured to exert an adjustable pre-load on the moistener column door, placing the moistener column door in a closed position. The adjustable compression structure is configured to yield to a cotton plug pressure that exceeds the adjustable pre-load, which pivots the moistener column door to an open position. When the adjustable pre-load exceeds the cotton plug pressure, the adjustable compression structure is configured to return the moistener column door to the closed position.

Abstract: A doffer adjustment device for a unit of a cotton harvester is disclosed. The unit includes a frame. A drum is rotatably coupled to the frame. A plurality of rows of spindles is rotatably coupled to the drum. A doffer column is rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to remove cotton from the spindles. The doffer adjustment device includes an adjusting member having a shaft portion and a wrench receiving portion. A locking device is coupled to the shaft portion. Wherein, the locking device is yieldable to an input causing rotation of the wrench receiving portion.

Abstract: A doffer adjustment device for a unit of a cotton harvester. The unit includes a frame. A drum is rotatably coupled to the frame. A plurality of rows of spindles is rotatably coupled to the drum. A doffer column is rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to remove cotton from the spindles. The doffer adjustment device includes an adjusting member having a shaft portion and a wrench receiving portion. A locking device is coupled to the shaft portion. Wherein, the locking device is yieldable to an input causing rotation of the wrench receiving portion.

Abstract: A light-weight upright shaft (14) supports cotton harvester doffers (12). An internally threaded mounting end (36) receives a bolt (38) which is stretchable to a greater degree than the shaft to provide a reliable shaft preload condition that prevents the doffers from spinning relative to the shaft. The shaft may be hollow and may have a diameter greater than conventional shafts to reduce weight and increase the stiffness and thereby increase critical speed. The preload structure does not require a nut and has increased thread engagement.

Abstract: A cotton harvester row unit includes belt drive and a variable transmission to reduce noise and optimize spindle and doffer speeds of rotation while permitting spindle drum structure rotational speed to change with changes in harvester speed. In one embodiment, a variable speed motor drives the ring gear of a planetary gear set to vary the ratio of spindle and doffer speed to drum speed. The planetary gear set may be enclosed to also help reduce noise and to decrease grease consumption. Nearly constant spindle and doffer speeds may be maintained over a wide range drum rotational speeds, and the upper speeds may be limited to avoid operation above critical speeds of components. The transmission may be configured to reduce or completely eliminates gear meshing off of the drum centerline to thereby reduce row unit manufacture precision, and a relatively low power motor may be used to adjust the ratio of spindle and doffer speed to drum speed.

Abstract: A cotton picker row unit grid bar fabricated from a light extruded material has a hollow D-shaped cross section with a plant contacting wall of thickness substantially greater than the non-contacting walls for increased wearability and strength and reduced weight. An upright grid bar support with a compact U-shaped cross section includes opposed flanges connected by a rounded portion to reduce hairpinning of debris. Specially shaped apertures in the rounded portion support the ends of the grid bars in vertically spaced relationship, and grid bar posts cooperate with threaded screw members extending through the support to sandwich the grid bar ends between the flanges with a preselected clamping force.

Abstract: Adjustable doffer structure for a cotton harvester row unit provides single wrench doffer adjustment without requiring loosening of a locking nut. The upper end of a doffer column bearing support includes a screw member threaded through an adjusting housing and projecting above the row unit housing. A Belleville spring is sandwiched between a locking nut threaded onto the upper end of the screw member and the adjusting housing. The nut and Belleville spring provide sufficient holding torque to maintain a given doffer adjustment during normal row unit operation, but the holding torque can be overridden with a wrench used to make the doffer adjustment. A locking plate is placed over the nut to maintain locking nut torque.

Abstract: A cotton harvester row unit having an in-line drum arrangement and a door chamber cross section which remains generally constant from the rear structural post so that the suction door can be moved closer to the row centerline to narrow the overall width of the unit. The unit is sufficiently narrow that cotton in row spacings of less than 30 inches can be harvested. The new suction door location allows the cotton from the rear doffer to enter the door more directly. The row unit picker drums include picker bars with 14 or 16 spindles per bar to shorten the height and weight of the unit and permit use of shorter stalk lifters so that unit length is also reduced. A two-row tractor mounted picker utilizes the narrow row units mounted on a rail type of support system at the rear of a tractor. The units are laterally adjustable on rails for accommodating different row spacings and patterns, including 60 centimeter row spacings and 60-30 centimeter skip row spacings.