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US 12,604,813 B2Granted
Accumulator cotton compress assembly
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsJeremy P. Robison, Jeffrey S. Wigdahl, Steven D. Wallestad, Justin E. Hummel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An accumulator includes an enclosure, an inlet, an outlet, at least one roller, and a cotton compress assembly. The cotton compress assembly includes a first auger coupled to the enclosure. The first auger has a first shaft and a flighting attached to the first shaft. The flighting is positioned within the enclosure. The first auger compresses the cotton when the first auger rotates around a first axis.
Claims20
An accumulator for a cotton harvester, comprising:
- an enclosure defining a storage space to store cotton and including an aperture;
- an inlet configured to receive cotton to the storage space;
- an outlet positioned at a bottom of the enclosure and configured to release the cotton that has been accumulated in the enclosure;
- at least one roller positioned adjacent to the outlet and configured to convey the cotton;
- a cotton compress assembly including a first auger coupled to the enclosure, extending from a rear of the enclosure toward a front of the enclosure, the first auger (i) having a first shaft and a flighting attached to the first shaft, (ii) positioned within the enclosure, and (iii) configured to rotate around a first axis;
- a first motor coupled to the first shaft and providing rotational output to rotate the first auger around the first axis;
- a pivot unit coupling the first auger to the enclosure, such that the first auger is configured to move relative to the enclosure;
- and
- a support structure (i) coupled to the pivot unit and the first shaft, (ii) configured to carry a weight of the first shaft and the flighting, (iii) partially inserted into the aperture, and (iv) pivotable relative to the aperture.
6 more elements
An accumulator for a cotton harvester, comprising:
- an enclosure defining a storage space to store cotton;
- an inlet configured to receive cotton to the storage space;
- an outlet positioned at a bottom of the enclosure and configured to release the cotton that has been accumulated in the enclosure;
- at least one roller positioned adjacent to the outlet and configured to convey the cotton;
- a cotton compress assembly including a first auger coupled to the enclosure, extending from a rear of the enclosure toward a front of the enclosure, the first auger (i) having a first shaft and a flighting attached to the first shaft, (ii) positioned within the enclosure, and (iii) configured to rotate around a first axis;
- a first motor coupled to the first shaft and providing rotational output to rotate the first auger around the first axis;
- a pivot unit coupling the first auger to the enclosure, such that the first auger is configured to move relative to the enclosure;
- a support structure (i) coupled to the pivot unit and the first shaft and (ii) configured to carry a weight of the first shaft and the flighting;
- and
- an actuator, wherein one end of the actuator engages with the support structure, and the other end of the actuator engages with the enclosure so as to pivot the first auger up and down relative to the enclosure.
7 more elements
An accumulator for a cotton harvester, comprising:
- an enclosure defining a storage space to store cotton;
- an inlet configured to receive cotton to the storage space;
- an outlet positioned at a bottom of the enclosure and configured to release the cotton that has been accumulated in the enclosure;
- at least one roller positioned adjacent to the outlet and configured to convey the cotton;
- a cotton compress assembly including a first auger coupled to the enclosure, extending from a rear of the enclosure toward a front of the enclosure, the first auger (i) having a first shaft and a flighting attached to the first shaft, (ii) positioned within the enclosure, and (iii) configured to rotate around a first axis;
- a first motor coupled to the first shaft and providing rotational output to rotate the first auger around the first axis;
- a pivot unit coupling the first auger to the enclosure, such that the first auger is configured to move relative to the enclosure;
- and
- a support structure (i) coupled to the pivot unit and the first shaft and (ii) configured to carry a weight of the first shaft and the flighting;
- wherein the support structure includes a stop configured to engage the enclosure to limit a pivotal movement of the first shaft.
7 more elements
A cotton harvester, comprising:
- a harvesting structure configured to remove cotton from a field;
- an accumulator including:
- an inlet configured to receive the cotton;
- an enclosure defining a storage space to store the cotton;
- an outlet positioned at a bottom of the enclosure and configured to release the cotton that has been accumulated in the enclosure;
- and
- a cotton compress assembly including a first auger coupled to the enclosure, extending from a rear of the enclosure toward a front of the enclosure, the first auger (i) having a first shaft and a flighting attached to the first shaft, (ii) positioned within the enclosure, and (iii) configured to rotate around a first axis;
- a first motor coupled to the first shaft and providing rotational output to rotate the first auger around the first axis;
- a pivot unit coupling the first auger to the enclosure, such that the first auger is configured to move relative to the enclosure;
- a support structure (i) coupled to the pivot unit and the first shaft and (ii) configured to carry a weight of the first shaft and the flighting;
- a tube coupled to the enclosure, wherein the pivot unit (i) is connected to the support structure, (ii) at least partially surrounds the tube, and (iii) is pivotable around to the tube to swing the first auger;
- a duct system through which the cotton moves from the harvesting structure to the accumulator;
- and
- a module builder coupled to the accumulator and configured to receive the cotton from the accumulator.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.