Densification method and apparatus for harvested cotton or other similar fibrous material

A compacting method for densification of harvested fibrous cotton having a preselected density, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a cotton compression zone;
• compressing the cotton into a compressed mass of a density substantially greater than the preselected density, the step of compressing including moving the cotton through the compression zone substantially continuously;
• and
• locking fibers of the compressed mass to prevent substantial reduction of the density toward the preselected density.

A cotton compactor for densification of a mass of cotton of preselected density harvested by a cotton harvester, the cotton including cotton fibers, the compactor comprising:

• compressing structure for compressing the mass of harvested cotton to a compressed mat of density substantially greater than the preselected density;
• wherein the compressing structure includes a moving element providing substantially continuous movement of the mat without substantial shear forces on the mass;
• and
• module building structure located downstream of the compressing structure receiving the compressed mat and including layering structure forming the compressed mat into a compact bale.

A cotton compactor for densification of a mass of cotton of preselected density harvested by a cotton harvester, the cotton including cotton fibers, the compactor comprising:

• compressing structure for compressing the mass of harvested cotton to a compressed mat of density substantially greater than the preselected density;
• wherein the compressing structure includes a moving element providing substantially continuous movement of the mat;
• and
• further comprising shearing structure moving portions of the compressed mat at different speeds relative to each other to pull the cotton fibers across each other and interlock the fibers to prevent the compressed mass from expanding back towards the preselected density.

A cotton compactor for densification of a mass of cotton of preselected density harvested by a cotton harvester, the cotton including cotton fibers, the compactor comprising:

• compressing structure for compressing the mass of harvested cotton to a compressed mat of density substantially greater than the preselected density;
• wherein the compressing structure includes a moving element providing substantially continuous movement of the mat;
• a baling implement supported on the harvester and including operable unloading structure;
• and
• an air system transporting cotton from the harvester to the compression structure, wherein the compression structure opens to the air system, and further including an accumulation area downstream of the air system so that the harvester can continue to operate during brief intervals when the unloading structure is operating.

A cotton compactor for densification of a mass of cotton of preselected density harvested by a cotton harvester, the cotton including cotton fibers, the compactor comprising:

• compressing structure for compressing the mass of harvested cotton to a compressed mat of density substantially greater than the preselected density;
• wherein the compressing structure includes a moving element providing substantially continuous movement of the mat;
• receiving structure for receiving the compressed mat and layering the compressed mass in compacted module form;
• and
• including shearing structure providing a substantially continuous mat of cotton on the cotton harvester, the shearing structure pulling the cotton fibers across each other and interlocking the fibers to prevent the compressed mass from expanding back towards the preselected density.

A compacting method for fibrous material, the material having radiating spring-like fibers resistant to taking a permanent set when compressed, the method comprising the steps of:

• compressing a mass of the fibrous material to form a compressed mass of the fibrous material;
• locking fibers of the compressed mass of fibrous material;
• and
• wherein the step of locking fibers includes moving portions of the compressed mass differentially to pull the spring-like fibers across each other and interlock the fibers to prevent the compressed mass from expanding back towards its original low density state.

A compacting method for densification of fibrous harvested cotton material having radiating spring-like fibers and a preselected density, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fibrous material compression zone;
• supporting a compression zone on a cotton harvester;
• providing an accumulation area upstream of the compression zone;
• selectively feeding the fibrous harvested cotton material from the accumulation area to the compression zone;
• compressing the fibrous harvested cotton material into a compressed mass of a density substantially greater than the preselected density;
• locking the fibers of the material in the compressed mass to maintain the density of the compressed mass substantially greater than the preselected density;
• and
• after the step of compressing the fibrous harvested cotton material, forming the compressed mass into a compact cotton module.

A compacting method for densification of fibrous harvested cotton material having radiating spring-like fibers and a preselected density, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fibrous material compression zone;
• supporting a compression zone on a cotton harvester;
• providing an accumulation area upstream of the compression zone;
• selectively feeding the harvested cotton material from the accumulation area to the compression zone;
• compressing the fibrous harvested cotton material into a compressed mass of a density substantially greater than the preselected density;
• locking the fibers of the material in the compressed mass to maintain the density of the compressed mass substantially greater than the preselected density;
• and
• wherein the step of locking fibers includes differentially translating portions of the compressed mass to pull the cotton fibers across each other and interlock the fibers.