Cotton harvester with two bale chambers

In a cotton harvester for removing cotton from plants including duct structure conveying removed cotton, baling structure comprising:

• a storage area located downstream of the duct structure and receiving the cotton removed from the plants, the storage area including first and second selectively activatable discharge areas;
• first and second selectively operable balers supported on the harvester and including first and second infeed areas opening towards the first and second discharge areas, respectively, and bale forming chambers;
• discharge control structure activating the first discharge area when the first baler is operating to form a first bale and activating the second discharge area when the second baler is operating;
• wherein the storage area includes a distribution system extending between the first and second discharge areas and moving the received cotton towards the activated discharge area;
• and
• wherein the distribution system comprises an auger, and a reversible drive connected to the auger and rotating the auger in a first direction when the first discharge area is activated and in a second direction opposite the first direction when the second discharge area is activated.

In a cotton harvester for removing cotton from plants including duct structure conveying removed cotton, baling structure comprising:

• a storage area located downstream of the duct structure and receiving the cotton removed from the plants, the storage area including first and second selectively activatable discharge areas;
• first and second selectively operable balers supported on the harvester and including first and second infeed areas opening towards the first and second discharge areas, respectively, and bale forming chambers;
• discharge control structure activating the first discharge area when the first baler is operating to form a first bale and activating the second discharge area when the second baler is operating;
• wherein the discharge areas comprise rotatable metering rolls;
• and
• an auger supported for rotation above the discharge areas for directing cotton towards the discharge area which is selectively activated.

In a cotton harvester having a frame adapted for forward movement over a field of cotton plants for removing cotton from the plants, the harvester including duct structure conveying removed cotton, baling structure comprising:

• an upright storage area located on the frame rearwardly of the duct structure and extending transversely to the forward direction, the storage area having an input area receiving the removed cotton from the duct structure and a discharge area;
• first and second selectively operable baling chambers supported side-by-side on the harvester frame and including first and second forwardly opening infeed areas, the baling chambers selectively activatable to bale cotton from the storage area and form individual bales in the chambers;
• and
• wherein the discharge area includes selectively activatable first and second outlets to move cotton from the storage area to the first and second baling chambers, respectively, the outlets activatable to direct the cotton from the storage area to the second baling chamber when a bale is completed in the first chamber to facilitate continuous cotton harvesting without need to stop the harvester when the bale in the first chamber is completed.

In a cotton harvester having a frame adapted for forward movement over a field of cotton plants for removing cotton from the plants, the harvester including duct structure conveying removed cotton, baling structure comprising:

• an upright storage area located rearwardly of the duct structure and extending transversely to the forward direction, the storage area having an input area receiving the removed cotton from the duct structure and a discharge area;
• first and second selectively operable baling chambers supported side-by-side on the harvester frame and including first and second forwardly opening infeed areas, the baling chambers selectively activatable to bale cotton from the storage area and form individual bales in the chambers;
• wherein the discharge area includes selectively activatable first and second outlets to move cotton from the storage area to the first and second baling chambers, respectively;
• and
• including a reversible auger and a drive rotating the auger in a first direction when the first outlet is activated to move cotton towards the first outlet, and in a second direction when the second outlet is activated to move cotton towards the second outlet.

In a cotton harvester having a frame adapted for forward movement over a field of cotton plants for removing cotton from the plants, the harvester including duct structure conveying removed cotton, baling structure comprising:

• an upright storage area located rearwardly of the duct structure and extending transversely to the forward direction, the storage area having an input area receiving the removed cotton from the duct structure and a discharge area;
• first and second selectively operable baling chambers supported side-by-side on the harvester frame and including first and second forwardly opening infeed areas, the baling chambers selectively activatable to bale cotton from the storage area and form individual bales in the chambers;
• wherein the discharge area includes selectively activatable first and second outlets to move cotton from the storage area to the first and second baling chambers, respectively;
• wherein the first and second outlets are offset transversely from each other, and further comprising first and second conveyors extending from the first and second outlets to the first and second infeed areas, respectively;
• and
• wherein the first and second outlets comprise first and second sets of meter rolls offset above the first and second conveyors, respectively.

In a cotton harvester having a frame adapted for forward movement over a field of cotton plants for removing cotton from the plants the harvester including duct structure conveying removed cotton, baling structure comprising:

• a cotton receiving area located rearwardly of the duct structure on the frame, the cotton receiving area having an input receiving the removed cotton from the duct structure and a discharge area;
• first and second baling chambers supported on the harvester frame, the baling chambers selectively activatable to bale cotton from the cotton receiving area and form individual bales in the chambers;
• and
• wherein the discharge area includes outlet structure facilitating movement of the cotton to the activated bale chamber while limiting movement of the cotton to the other bale chamber so the harvester can continue to remove cotton from the plants and convey the cotton through the duct structure when a completed bale is in the other bale chamber.

In a cotton harvester having a frame adapted for forward movement over a field of cotton plants for removing cotton from the plants, the harvester including duct structure conveying removed cotton, baling structure comprising:

• a cotton receiving area located rearwardly of the duct structure, the cotton receiving area having an input receiving the removed cotton from the duct structure and a discharge e area;
• first and second baling chambers supported on the harvester frame, the baling chambers selectively activatable to bale cotton from the cotton receiving area and form individual bales in the chambers;
• wherein the discharge area includes outlet structure facilitating movement of the cotton t o the activated bale chamber;
• wherein the cotton receiving area is fixed relative to the frame, and the discharge area includes first and second selectively activatable outlets feeding the first and second baling chambers, respectively;
• and
• wherein the outlets are supported in side by side relationship and the cotton receiving area includes an auger extending horizontally between the input and the discharge area above the outlets, the auger rotating in a first direction to move cotton towards the first outlet when the first baling chamber is activated and in a second direction opposite the first direction to move cotton towards the second outlet when the second baling chamber is activated.