Abstract: A row unit for a header of an agricultural harvester. The row unit includes a frame, a first deck plate assembly mounted to the frame, and a second deck plate assembly mounted to the frame. The first and second deck plate assemblies each include a deck plate, a plurality of deck plate segments extending from the deck plate and moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the deck plate, and a plurality of biasing members for biasing each respective deck plate segment. The row unit includes both operator controlled macro adjustment and automatic micro adjustment of a gap between the first deck plate assembly and the second deck plate assembly. The micro adjustment is achieved through biasing members biasing each respective deck plate segment.

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: 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: A cotton harvesting machine which utilizes a novel structure for pulling the mature cotton plant from the burr includes a plurality of paired rotating disks mounted on a drive shaft for rotation in the same relative direction as the movement of the cotton plant through the picking area of the machine, each disk pair being moved into an open position whereby the cotton plant is funnelled between the open disk pair and a closed position whereby the disk pair grips the mature cotton and pulls it from the burr. The opening and closing movement of each disk pair is provided by a pair of cams and associated cam followers, one for each disk in the pair, each cam being mounted in a stationary position around the rotating drive shaft, the cam followers being fastened to each disk and following a path of movement along a cam track during the rotation of the shaft.