Abstract: A hemp harvester which strips the leaves and flowers from the stalks and branches of a hemp plant and separates them for subsequent processing includes a branch lifter for lifting and bunching the branches of the hemp plants as the harvester advances towards them; a stripper with counter rotating stripper rollers having radially extending resiliently flexible paddles which converge as said rolls turn to trap said flowers and leaves between them and strip the flowers and leaves from said stalks and branches; a capture system for capturing the separated flowers and leaves as they are stripped from the stalk and branches of the plants, a transfer and mulcher system for mulching and transferring said flowers and leaves from said capture system to a collection chamber; and an uprooting system for uprooting and collecting the stripped plants as said hemp harvester passes.

Abstract: A cotton conveying structure for a cotton harvester. The cotton harvester comprising a receptacle. A harvesting structure is configured for harvesting cotton. A first cross auger is in communication with the harvesting structure for receiving cotton therefrom. The first cross auger is coupleable to a forward portion of the cotton harvester. A second cross auger is in communication with the harvesting structure for receiving cotton therefrom. The second cross auger is coupleable to a forward portion of the cotton harvester adjacent the first cross auger. A first duct is in communication with the first cross auger. A first cleaner is in communication with the first duct. A second duct is in communication with the second cross auger and spaced from the first duct. A second cleaner is in communication with the second duct. The first and second cleaners are configured to transfer cotton to the receptacle.

Abstract: An improved stripper comprising a plurality of ducting units, a platform, a bin, a header, and a chassis. Said platform supporting said plurality of ducting units. Said bin capable of holding a harvested crop. Said header is capable of harvesting said harvested crop. Said plurality of ducting units convey said harvested crop from said header to said bin. Said chassis supports said platform, said bin, said headers and said plurality of ducting units. Said plurality of ducting units comprise hollow channel comprising a passage between an entry at a first end and an exit at a second end of said plurality of ducting units. Said channel in said plurality of ducting units are formed between said entry to said exit in a two vectors. Said two vectors comprise a y-axis and a z-axis.

Abstract: A drag-type cotton harvester operated by an independent driving unit, which comprises a stripper-type cotton picker platform having a series of fingers that are aligned parallel to the forward direction of the machine, wherein the front ends of the fingers are close to ground level and the back ends thereof are ramped in an upward direction; a cleaning apparatus that receives the picked cotton from the picker platform, which cleaning apparatus comprises a set of rotary dentate cylinders that engage the cotton and remove the heavy masses or impurities therefrom, while a rotary brush that is disposed tangential to the dentate cylinders disengages the clean cotton from the aforementioned fingers; and a trailer that receives the clean cotton from the cleaning apparatus, then stores it and transports it.

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 a support carrying two spindles driven from a picker bar drive shaft by a single drive gear. Driven spindle gears are spaced on opposite sides of the shaft axis to facilitate close spacing of the spindles. A doffer column includes doffer pads of differing diameters to optimize doffing of the offset sets of spindles.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cotton stripper row unit for attachment to the front of a mobile harvester chassis for movement through a field with rows of cotton plants spaced at predetermined intervals. The cotton stripper row unit has a primary frame capable of attachment to the front of the mobile harvester chassis. A series of planar dividing walls extend perpendicularly outward from the front of the primary frame. A cotton row receiving mechanism is located between two planar dividing walls, and each adjacent cotton row receiving mechanism shares at least one common planar dividing wall. The separate cotton receiving mechanisms are capable of receiving a row of cotton plants upon movement through the field, and each cotton row receiving mechanism is made up of only one auger and two brush rolls.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a cotton stripper row unit for attachment to the front of a mobile harvester chassis for movement through a field with rows of cotton plants spaced at predetermined intervals. The cotton stripper row unit has a primary frame capable of attachment to the front of the mobile harvester chassis. A series of planar dividing walls extend perpendicularly outward from the front of the primary frame. A cotton row receiving mechanism is located between two planar dividing walls, and each adjacent cotton row receiving mechanism shares at least one common planar dividing wall. The separate cotton receiving mechanisms are capable of receiving a row of cotton plants upon movement through the field, and each cotton row receiving mechanism is made up of only one auger and two brush rolls.

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 broadcast cotton harvester header assembly containing two or more header units wherein each header unit includes (1) a paddle chain frame unit having a length and a width and operatively attached to a (2) stripper bar unit having an upper surface to harvest crops, and (3) a height sensing unit which senses and maintains the distance of the stripper bar unit relative to the ground. The broadcast cotton harvester header assembly unit includes two parallel frame members having a front and rear end. The rear end of the frame members have rotatably mounted thereon two drive sprockets. The front end of the frame members have mounted thereon two idler sprockets. The drive sprockets and idler sprockets have wrapped around them conveyor chains which rotate around the front and rear sprockets. The conveyor chains have attached to them, evenly spaced apart, two or more paddles, the paddles are attached to chain links by hinges.

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.

Abstract: A lay-down bar structure having one or more resilient polyurethane flaps supported by a rigid bar so that the edges of the flaps are offset slightly from the periphery of the primary cleaning drum of a cotton cleaner. The flaps are slotted and can be adjusted relative to the drum periphery. The flaps can also be stacked, and the number of flaps can be increased or decreased for a corresponding change in cleaner aggressiveness. The resilient flaps flex to allow large foreign objects to pass between the lay-down bar and the drum to thereby reduce drum damage, shock loads and plugging problems.

Abstract: A row unit for a cotton stripper includes a unit auger housing with extruded slots punched with a small rim or periphery. The slots are configured such that adjacent row slot centerlines are aligned to give the housing added strength while still providing good foreign material elimination through the slots. The extruded slots eliminate sharp edges and allow trash to easily exit. The extruded slots also provide a smoother surface for conveying the cotton material along the auger housing.

Abstract: A cotton stripper with an improved row unit having brush rolls and augers with parallel shafts driven by a gear drive. The parallel shafts permit the unit to be narrowed several inches compared with the conventional units. A cut-off member between the brush roll and auger has an edge which runs parallel to the shafts below the axis of the brush roll shaft to break up stalks and facilitate power feeding of stripped material toward the lower part of the auger. The auger housing is formed with angled flat walls for better stalk breakage. The row unit housing includes a light, low friction plastic cover with a quick attach and release mounting arrangement including a rear panel that serves both as a unit drive cover and a hold-down structure for the rear of the plastic cover. The cover includes inner and outer walls separated by a hollow interior for strength, rigidity and noise and weight reduction.

Abstract: A doffer for use with a spindle type cotton harvester is provided which has non-radial lugs to provide a better distribution of stripping and unwrapping force components for enhanced doffing action. The leading edges of the lugs are curved and are angled with respect to the radial direction to provide a scissors action relative to the spindles as the doffer rotates for improved doffing and wear distribution. The lugs provide an immediate unwrapping component upon initial contact with the cotton-wrapped spindles, with less stripping action to reduce the amount of cotton forced between the spindles and the doffer. In another embodiment of the invention, lugs with different pitches are supported in alternating fashion so that the action of the lugs with the greatest pitch provide a large unwrapping force and the smaller pitched lugs provide a large stripping force. The rear portions of the lugs are curved for increased cotton throwing clearance.

Abstract: Structure for stripping cotton bolls from cotton stalks comprising a rubber batt having a rounded head and a toed foot; said foot being formed so that it may be installed into a lipped channel strip for connection to a rotatable shaft. The rounded head of the batt provides a buffering contact area between the batt and a cotton stalk thereby preventing excessive chipping of bark from the cotton stalk during harvesting operations. This results in production of a more pure cotton product by minimizing a cotton stripper's collection of foreign matter together with the desired cotton bolls.

Abstract: A cotton stripper with an improved row unit having brush rolls and augers with parallel shafts driven by a gear drive. The parallel shafts permit the unit to be narrowed several inches compared with the conventional units. A cutoff member between the brush roll and auger has an edge which runs parallel to the shafts below the axis of the brush roll shaft to break up stalks and facilitate power feeding of stripped material toward the lower part of the auger. The auger housing is formed with angled flat walls for better stalk breakage. Upright forward slots and rear fore-and-aft extending slots in flat auger walls provide increased dirt and trash elimination. The top of the row unit housing is formed with a low friction material that is angled downwardly toward the row receiving area to reduce cotton loss.

Abstract: For a cotton harvester, a low profile row unit which is light in weight and which has a removable top panel structure for easy access to the brush rolls and augers. Rows of horizontal bristles mounted on the panel structure close the top of the row unit to prevent detached cotton from being thrown out of the harvesting compartment. A reinforced lower shell assembly maintains sufficient transverse and vertical stability in the row unit structure and together with the top panel structure eliminate need for an upper supporting arch.

Abstract: A harvester-thresher has a frame adapted to be pulled along the ground and formed with a forwardly-opening slot which is flanked by a pair of flailing elements that are displaced back and forth relative to this slot without cutting or pulling up this crop in order to thresh grain or the like from a crop passing upwardly through the slot. The flailing elements can be a pair of vibratorily reciprocal elements operated by a crank arrangement. It is also possible to use a pair of rotatable supports which each carry a pair of polygonal-section rollers that are orbited next to the slot and are themselves rotated about their own axes to flail the grain off the crops. The two assemblies are interconnected by a pair of gears and the individual rollers are themselves rotated by means of a V-belt or an internal gear connected to the ends of these rollers.

Abstract: A cotton stripping apparatus which includes a wheel-bearing carriage including a housing having an open front end means for blowing the stripped cotton into a trailer wagon or basket, and cotton stripper means in the form of a plurality of cotton stripper bars extending in generally parallel relationship through the housing at the bottom thereof and rearwardly from the end portion thereof, and guide wheels mounted in the front end portion of the housing at an acute angle to the vertical so that the inclined guide wheels will ride on the side portions or slopes of the upraised cotton-bearing ground rows and thereby elevate the cotton stripper bars above the ground rows and prevent them from digging into the top or upper portions of the ground rows and picking up parts of the ground soil, sticks, stones and other debris, while, at the same time, enabling the cotton stripper bars effectively to strip the cotton bolls from their stalks.

Abstract: A self-propelled combine has a forward transversely elongated harvesting platform mounted on the forward end of a forwardly and downwardly inclined feeder housing through which the crop is fed to a separating mechanism in the combine body. A plurality of axially transverse paddle type impellers are mounted in the feeder housing and extend between the opposite sides of the housing immediately above the housing floor, the impellers being rotated in the same direction so that the impeller paddles move rearwardly along the floor, whereby the crop material is engaged by successive paddles and moved upwardly and rearwardly along the housing floor to the separating mechanism.