Patent ID: 7059242

Claim:
Cotton compactor apparatus for a cotton module building chamber of a cotton module builder, comprising: a compactor frame supported in an upper region of the chamber by at least one compactor driver for downward movement in the chamber for compacting cotton accumulated in a lower region of the chamber, the frame supporting at least one auger operable at least in a first operating mode for moving cotton in contact therewith toward a first end of the chamber and in a second operating mode for moving cotton in contact therewith toward a second end of the chamber, wherein the at least one auger has a predetermined compacting orientation and is tiltable at acute angles to the compacting orientation by contact with accumulated cotton in the chamber which is higher toward one of the ends of the chamber than toward another of the ends, the apparatus including at least one sensor operable for sensing a condition representative of tilting of the at least one auger and outputting signals representative thereof, and a controller in connection with the at least one sensor for receiving the signals therefrom and in operative control of rotation of the at least one auger, the controller being automatically operable responsive to signals from the at least one sensor for determining an appropriate one of the operating modes for moving accumulated cotton in the chamber for reducing tilting of the at least one auger and controllably operating the at least one auger in the appropriate operating mode for reducing tilting of the at least one auger.