Method and system for mounting and supporting harvesting units of a

Abstract

A system for mounting and supporting harvesting units on a forward end of a cotton harvester frame to allow them to be slidably moved relative to each other and laterally along an elongated tool bar structure. The tool bar structure is pivotally connected to the cotton harvester frame by a lift assembly. The harvesting units hang in a cantilevered fashion from and are independently connected at their rearward edges to the tool bar structure by a slide support structure which facilitates visibility of the harvesting units from a cab region of the harvester. The slide support structure maintains a non-rotatable and non-point contact relationship with laterally elongated generally flat support surfaces defined between opposite ends of the tool bar structure whereby substantial surface area contact is provided between each side support structure and the support surfaces on the tool bar structure. To facilitate numerous combinations of row spacings and harvesting capacities, the tool bar structure is preferably comprised of modular units which are connected together in axially aligned relation and includes a pivotal extension provided at each or both ends of the tool bar structure. When axially aligned with the tool bar structure, the pivotal extension provides coextensive elongation of the support surfaces on the tool bar structure. An operator-controlled driver mechanism is preferably provided to facilitate precise positioning of the harvesting units relative to each other and along the support surfaces of the tool bar structure.