Seed cotton module handler with wet and/or dirty cotton separator
AssigneeWestern Steel Co., Inc.
InventorJimmy R. Stover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cotton module handling system includes one or more feeder beds delivering seed cotton modules into a feeder head to disintegrate the module into a large number of small clumps of cotton, seed and plant trash for transport into a gin. A shaver assembly is provided, upstream of the feeder head, for removing part of the bottom of the module to remove a band of wet and/or dirty cotton.
Claims23
A seed cotton module handling system comprising
- a feeder head for separating a seed cotton module having a top, sides, ends and a bottom into a multiplicity of clumps of cotton fiber, seed and plant parts;
- means for moving the cotton module relative to the feeder head;
- and
- means upstream of the feeder head for removing a portion off the bottom of the cotton module including means for transporting the separated portion of the cotton module away from the feeder head.
A seed cotton module handling system comprising
- a feeder head for separating a cotton module having a top, sides, ends and a bottom into a multiplicity of clumps of cotton fiber, seed and plant parts;
- means for moving the cotton module relative to the feeder head along a predetermined path;
- and
- means upstream of the feeder head for removing a portion off the bottom of the cotton module including
- a shaver assembly mounted in the path for separating the portion from the cotton module;
- and
- means adjustably mounting the shaver assembly relative to the path for varying the size of the separated portion.
A method of handling a seed cotton module comprising
- moving a seed cotton module relative to a feeder head for breaking up the module into a multiplicity of clumps of cotton fiber, seed, stem and leaf;
- and
- removing a bottom portion of the seed cotton module upstream of the feeder head.
A method of handling a seed cotton module handling system comprising a feeder head for breaking up a seed cotton module having a top, sides, ends and a bottom into a multiplicity of clumps of cotton fiber, seed and plant parts, means for moving the cotton module relative to the feeder head and means for removing a portion off the bottom of the cotton module including means for transporting the separated portion of the cotton module away from the feeder head, the method comprising
- moving the cotton module relative to the feeder head for breaking up the module into a multiplicity of clumps of cotton fiber, seed and plant parts;
- and
- removing a portion of the cotton module from the bottom of the module at a location upstream from the feeder head and transporting the separated portion of the cotton module away from the feeder head.
A seed cotton module handling system comprising
- a feeder head for separating a seed cotton module having a top, sides, ends and a bottom into a multiplicity of clumps of cotton fiber, seed and plant parts;
- means for moving the cotton module toward the feeder head including means for supporting the module;
- and
- means for removing a portion off the bottom of the cotton module including means for transporting the separated portion of the cotton module away from the feeder head and means for adjustably mounting the removing means toward and away from the supporting means, the removing means comprising a shaft having a plurality of cutting members affixed to the shaft at axially spaced locations thereon and means for rotating the shaft.
A seed cotton module handling system comprising
- a feeder head for separating a seed cotton module having a top, sides, ends and a bottom into a multiplicity of clumps of cotton fiber, seed and plant parts;
- means for moving the cotton module relative to the feeder head including a pair of spaced conveyors;
- and
- means for removing a portion off the bottom of the cotton module at a location between the conveyors including means for transporting the separated portion of the cotton module away from the feeder head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.