Cotton compactor control
First Claim
1. In a cotton harvester having an operator station, a basket for receiving cotton removed from cotton plants, and a compactor including an operable compactor drive for compacting and increasing the density of the cotton in the basket, a compactor control system comprising:
- a sensor responsive to the level of cotton in the basket and providing a cotton level indication when the cotton reaches a preselected level in the basket; and
a control circuit connected to the sensor and to the compactor drive and responsive to the cotton level indication, the cotton level indication automatically initiating the drive whereby drive initiation is dependent on the cotton reaching the preselected level.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compactor for a cotton harvester basket includes an automatic compactor auger control system having a pair of optical sensors mounted in the basket utilizing light blockage to detect a preselected level of cotton in the basket. When the preselected cotton level is reached, a full basket signal is sent to a microprocessor based controller which activates the compactor augers if certain interlock conditions are satisfied. The microprocessor control maintains the augers in operation until the cotton is compacted below the preselected level so the light signal is no longer blocked. An adjustable timer assures compactor operation for a minimum period of time to prevent short, intermittent periods of operation when the basket is filling and permits timing adjustments to accommodate varying cotton conditions.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a cotton harvester having an operator station, a basket for receiving cotton removed from cotton plants, and a compactor including an operable compactor drive for compacting and increasing the density of the cotton in the basket, a compactor control system comprising:
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a sensor responsive to the level of cotton in the basket and providing a cotton level indication when the cotton reaches a preselected level in the basket; and
a control circuit connected to the sensor and to the compactor drive and responsive to the cotton level indication, the cotton level indication automatically initiating the drive whereby drive initiation is dependent on the cotton reaching the preselected level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a cotton harvester having an operator station, a basket for receiving cotton removed from cotton plants, and a compactor including an operable compactor drive for compacting and increasing the density of the cotton in the basket, a method of controlling the compactor, comprising:
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sensing the level of cotton in the basket and providing a basket fill indication when the cotton reaches a preselected level in the basket;
the basket fill indication automatically initiating compactor drive operation when the cotton reaches the preselected level in the basket monitoring cotton level in the basket during compactor drive operation; and
continuing compactor drive operation while the basket fill indication is provided. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a harvesting implement having a storage receptacle for receiving harvested crop and a driven distributor for distributing the crop within the receptacle, a distributor drive control comprising:
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a level detector supported by the receptacle and providing an output signal in response to the crop reaching a preselected level in the receptacle;
a distributor drive having an activated condition and an inactivated condition;
a controller connected to the level detector and the distributor drive;
an adjustable timer control connected to the controller;
the controller, in response to the output signal, automatically activating the distributor drive for a minimum time period determined by the timer control when the crop reaches the preselected level in the receptacle; and
wherein the controller is responsive to the output signal to maintain the distributor drive control in the activated condition beyond the minimum time period if the crop is at or above the preselected level at the end of the minimum time period. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification