Patent ID: 7178454

Claim:
An on-board cotton module builder for a cotton harvesting machine, comprising: module builder structure including a floor and walls extending upwardly from opposite peripheral edges of the floor, defining a cotton compacting chamber; and compactor apparatus disposed within the cotton compacting chamber, including a compactor frame having cross members extending across the chamber, each of the cross members having opposite ends which extend through upwardly and downwardly extending passages through the walls, respectively, the ends extending through each of the walls being connected together by side structures located externally of the compacting chamber, single drivers located externally of each of the walls in connection with the side structures, respectively, the drivers being controllably operable for simultaneously moving the side structures upwardly and downwardly relative to the walls to move the cross members upwardly and downwardly through the passages and the frame upwardly and downwardly within the compacting chamber, the frame including at least one compactor member extending through the chamber supported by the cross members for compacting cotton in the chamber against the floor when the frame is moved downwardly, at least one upwardly and downwardly extending guide member disposed vertically adjacent to each of the walls and cooperatively engaged with the side structures, respectively, for guiding upward and downward movement of the side structures and the frame, the guide members positioned outside of the compacting chamber, and elements for preventing passage of cotton through the passages, said elements are disposed above and below the ends of the cross members in the upwardly and downwardly extending passages through the walls.