Patent ID: 6536197
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: A01D,B30B

Abstract:
A mobile cotton harvester having a cotton module building capability, comprising:at least one harvesting unit for removing cotton from cotton plants as the harvester moves across a cotton field; a cotton receiver structure including a first surface having a predetermined extent and additional surfaces which with the first surface define and substantially enclose an interior space for receiving the cotton removed from the cotton plants; structure for conveying the removed cotton from the at least one harvesting unit into the interior space; and apparatus for distributing and compacting the cotton within the interior space, including a compacting element located in the interior space, the compacting element supporting at least one member operable for distributing cotton in contact therewith at least generally evenly relative to the first surface, and at least one driver connected to the compacting element and operable for moving the compacting element to positions spaced from the first surface where the at least one member can be operated to distribute the cotton at least generally evenly relative to the first surface, and the at least one driver being operable for forceably moving the compacting element and the at least one member along a predetermined path of movement from the positions, respectively, toward the first surface and against cotton distributed between the compacting element and the first surface for simultaneously and substantially evenly compacting the cotton against the first surface to form a cotton module, wherein the at least one driver comprises a plurality of fluid cylinders positioned at spaced locations around the compacting element, respectively.