Patent ID: 7681386

Claim:
Cotton harvesting equipment comprising: a cotton harvester including a header assembly attached thereto; a weed reel operable with said header assembly for suppressing weed growth between at least two parallel side by side row channels of cotton plants, the row channels of cotton plants being spaced a predetermined distance apart in a transverse direction relative to the forward direction of travel of the cotton harvester, wherein said weed reel comprises: a frame unit connected to said cotton harvester, wherein said frame unit comprises two parallel frame members having a front end and a rear end, the front end of the frame members have rotatably mounted therebetween a shaft rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of said cotton harvester; a plurality of rods, extending radially outwardly from said shaft, horizontally spaced along said shaft to engage weeds while in the ground between at least two parallel side by side row channels of cotton plants during rotation; and a height control system coupled to said frame unit for adjusting the elevation of said weed reel.