Cotton basket unloading structure
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsBruce L. Hubbard, Kenneth C. McConnell, Robert E. Fox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conveyor is mounted on the slope side of a cotton basket. Lift structure pivots the basket until the slope side of the basket angles slightly downwardly toward the trailer or module builder which receives the cotton. The conveyor moves the cotton from the basket, and a metering bar positioned above and inwardly from the dump end of the conveyor when the basket is in the dump position is rotated with the conveyor drive to assure a smooth continuous flow of cotton without bunching or stalling on the conveyor.
Claims19
In a cotton harvester including a cotton basket for receiving harvested cotton therein, said basket including a bottom and a top and upright sidewalls, unloading structure for dumping the cotton from the basket towards one side of the harvester, said structure comprising:
- a conveyor supported adjacent the dump side sidewall;
- means for pivoting the basket about a generally horizontal axis between a field position wherein the dump side sidewall extends upwardly from the bottom of the basket, and a dump position wherein the dump side sidewall is substantially horizontal or angled slightly downwardly toward the ground;
- means driving the conveyor when the basket is in the dump position for moving cotton out of the basket;
- and
- a metering member rotatably mounted in the basket above the bottom and between the sidewalls, and means for rotating the metering member as the conveyor is driven for metering cotton uniformly between said member and the conveyor.
In a dumpable cotton basket for a framed cotton harvester, said basket including a bottom, a dump-side sidewall, an opposite sidewall and end walls, pivot means extending generally parallel to the dump-side sidewall and connecting the basket to the harvester frame for rocking about a pivotal axis between a field position wherein the dump-side sidewall extends upwardly from the bottom and a dump position wherein the dump-side sidewall extends approximately horizontally, a conveyor having an upper conveying portion extending closesly adjacent the dump-side sidewall on the inside of the basket, means for rocking the basket between the field and dump positions, means driving the conveyor to move cotton out from the basket when the basket is in the dump position, metering means rotatably mounted above the conveyor, inwardly of the outer end of the conveyor, when the basket is in the dump position, and means rotating the member as the conveyor is driven for providing an even flow of cotton of uniform height from the basket.
In a cotton harvester having a frame and a cotton basket having a bottom, a top portion, and sidewalls for containing a mass of cotton, said basket movable between a field position for filling of the basket and a dump position for unloading of the basket, operable conveyor means located at least partly within the basket for moving cotton outwardly from the harvester from the lower portion of the mass of cotton when the basket is in the dump position, metering means including a rotatable metering member located above the conveyor and offset from the top portion, and means for rotating the metering member in the mass of cotton during operation of the conveyor to uniformly meter a constant height of cotton from the basket.
In a cotton harvester having a frame and a cotton basket having sidewalls for containing a mass of cotton, said basket movable between a field position for filling of the basket and a dump position for unloading of the basket, operable conveyor means located at least partly within the basket for moving cotton outwardly from the harvester from the lower portion of the mass of cotton when the basket is in the dump position, metering means located above the conveyor for movement in the mass of cotton during operation of the conveyor to uniformly meter a constant height of cotton from the basket, and drive means connecting the conveyor and the metering means for operation together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.