Cotton Machinery Company, Inc.

Donald J Haney

Andrew J Gaudette

Franklin P Orlando

Dave A Dana

A cotton module builder comprising an open-top frame. At the rear end of the frame is a rear door mounted for pivotal movement. When seed cotton has been compressed into a module, it is removed from the open-top frame, while the rear door is opened. While the seed cotton is being compressed by the cotton module builder, the rear door is closed. Secured to the rear end of the frame is a cradle that supports extractor apparatus for removing foreign matter from seed cotton before the seed cotton is deposited into the open-top frame for compression. Pivotally supported by the cradle is a basket and lifting conveyor. Means are provided for raising and lowering the basket and lifting conveyor. Before the rear door of the module builder is opened for the removal of a cotton module from the open-top frame, the basket and the lifting conveyor are raised out of the path of movement of the rear door and the compressed cotton module advancing therethrough. After the rear door is closed for the compacting of seed cotton free of foreign matter into a cotton module in the open-top frame, the basket and the lifting conveyor are moved into a lowered position. Seed cotton is deposited into the basket while in the lowered position and the lifting conveyor advances the seed cotton to the extractor apparatus for removing foreign matter from the seed cotton. The seed cotton free of foreign matter is deposited by the extractor apparatus into the open-top frame structure to be compressed into a cotton module.

Combined cotton module builder and seed cotton trash extractor

Apparatus for making modules in which material is deposited in an open-bottom rectangular bin. A tamping mechanism is mounted at the open top of the bin for compressing the material into a module. At each end of the bin 15 is a door that is pivotal about a horizontal axis at the upper section of the bin. While the doors are closed, the material is compressed into a module. The doors are alternately opened for the removal of modules through alternate ends of the bin. At each side of the bin are hydraulic jacks for raising and lowering the bin. While the bin is lowered, the material is compressed into a module. When the bin is raised, a module is removed from the bin. Forming the floor or base of the bin is a movable transfer table that travels over a rectilinear path through the ends of the bin. When a module is formed at one end of the table within the bin, the other end of the table is outside of the bin for the removal of a module. When a module is formed at the other end of the table within the bin, the one end of the table is outside of the bin for the removal of a module. Each end of the table travels only through the alternately opened adjacent end of the bin.

Apparatus for making modules

A self-propelled module builder comprising a frame in which cotton or other compressible material is deposited. A compacting mechanism is mounted on the open top of the frame to compress the material into a module. The frame has a side frame structure on each side thereof. Each side frame structure includes a walking beam that is pivotally connected centrally between the ends thereof by an hydraulic jack, which is pivotally attached to the adjacent side frame structure. The ends of the walking beam are connected by pins to parallel spindle tubes. Each spindle tube is constrained for vertical sliding movement by an upright guide, which is fixed to the associated side frame structure. Drive wheels are mounted at the lower ends of the spindle tubes through respective spindles. With the frame lowered, a module is made on the ground to be transported to a suitable facility. When the rectangular frame is raised, the module builder is capable of traveling to another location. On each spindle tube is mounted a motor to drive the associated drive wheel through a sprocket and chain arrangement. Thus, each drive wheel is driven by an independent motor, while the module builder retains the full action of a walking beam. A retractable front wheel serves as a steering wheel for the module builder.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Donald J Haney