Hydraulic power savings for a rear module handler cylinder of a round module cotton harvester is possible by using a regenerative hydraulic arrangement for raising an empty handler and using gravity to lower the handler. A bale handler system for a cotton picker baler includes a handler for receiving a round module that is movable between upright and lowered positions and a handler cylinder operably connected to the handler. The handler cylinder system includes a regenerative valve. The regenerative valve is engaged when the handler moves to the upright position during regenerative handler raise mode of operation, the regenerative valve is not engaged when the handler moves to the lowered position during float handler lower mode of operation. While in the float handler lower mode of operation, the handler cylinder retracts and diverts an oil flow pressure from a base end to a rod end of the handler cylinder.

A crop module builder including a module wrapping assembly configured to wrap a module with a wrap provided by a wrap roll. The crop module builder includes a floor including a plurality of belts configured to move the wrap from the wrap roll toward a front of the floor, wherein the floor includes a first position and a second position. A guiderod structure is operatively connected to the floor, wherein the guide rod structure is configured to move with movement of the floor. A mat is operatively connected to the floor and to the guide rod structure, wherein the mat spans a gap between the guide rod structure and the deck in the first position and in the second position.

A method and apparatus for harvesting cotton including a cotton accumulator configured to accumulate cotton removed from cotton plants. A feeder system of a cotton harvester is configured to move independently of the cotton accumulator and along a longitudinal direction. A round module builder system is configured to move along the longitudinal direction toward the feeder system, wherein the round module builder includes a contact member adapted to contact the feeder system to establish a working gap between the feeder system and the round module builder. A wrap floor is moved toward and into contact with the feeder system, which is spring biased to maintain a substantially consistent gap between the between the feeder system and round module builder. Cotton is directed toward the round module builder and a directing mechanism directs a wrap for wrapping the directed cotton into a round module.

A module builder includes a wrap floor system including a wrap floor belt wrapped around a front belt sheave and a first drive system coupled to the wrap floor system. The first drive system includes a main drive belt coupled to a rear belt sheave and the front belt sheave, wherein in an engagement mode of operation the main drive belt is tensioned to rotate the rear belt sheave, and in a disengagement mode of operation the main drive belt loses tension to cease rotation of the rear belt sheave. The builder includes a second drive system coupled to a baler belt to drive the baler belt into a module forming chamber. The first drive system further includes one or more of a rear lower gate roller, friction wheel, wrap box roller, electric clutch, or motor to engage and drive the main drive belt.

A method and apparatus for harvesting cotton including a cotton accumulator configured to accumulate cotton removed from cotton plants. A feeder system of a cotton harvester is configured to move independently of the cotton accumulator and along a longitudinal direction. A round module builder system is configured to move along the longitudinal direction toward the feeder system, wherein the round module builder includes a contact member adapted to contact the feeder system to establish a working gap between the feeder system and the round module builder. A wrap floor is moved toward and into contact with the feeder system, which is spring biased to maintain a substantially consistent gap between the between the feeder system and round module builder. Cotton is directed toward the round module builder and a directing mechanism directs a wrap for wrapping the directed cotton into a round module.

The present invention relates to automatic and high throughput smart, robotic, autonomous or driver operated, self-propelled field crops harvester (SPFCH) device of row crops, characterized by the need of selecting harvesting ripen crop, during relative long period of time. Harvesting is done by one or more modular robotic harvesting arms hanged on modular booms. When harvesting orchards fruits the SPFCH comprise at least one hybrid robotic arms equipped with a grabbing hand aimed to grab one or more fruit of a an adjacent fruits and also cut its connecting stem, and arm transporting mechanism that gently collects the fruits and transport them to the SPFCH main accumulation area. When harvesting cotton, the SPFCH of the invention may further comprise vacuum sucking hoses and at least one ginning unit that gin the seed-cotton during harvesting and accumulate the seeds in a self-container, and the lint by bales processed, on board by self-press.

A crop module builder including a module wrapping assembly configured to wrap a module with a wrap provided by a wrap roll. The crop module builder includes a floor including a plurality of belts configured to move the wrap from the wrap roll toward a front of the floor, wherein the floor includes a first position and a second position. A guiderod structure is operatively connected to the floor, wherein the guide rod structure is configured to move with movement of the floor. A mat is operatively connected to the floor and to the guide rod structure, wherein the mat spans a gap between the guide rod structure and the deck in the first position and in the second position.

Hydraulic power savings for a rear module handler cylinder of a round module cotton harvester is possible by using a regenerative hydraulic arrangement for raising an empty handler and using gravity to lower the handler. A bale handler system for a cotton picker baler includes a handler for receiving a round module that is movable between upright and lowered positions and a handler cylinder operably connected to the handler. The handler cylinder system includes a regenerative valve. The regenerative valve is engaged when the handler moves to the upright position during regenerative handler raise mode of operation, the regenerative valve is not engaged when the handler moves to the lowered position during float handler lower mode of operation. While in the float handler lower mode of operation, the handler cylinder retracts and diverts an oil flow pressure from a base end to a rod end of the handler cylinder.

A frame assembly for a work machine having a primary frame member and a prime mover platform removably coupled to the primary frame member. Wherein the prime mover platform is configured to selectively couple a prime mover to the primary frame member.

A module builder includes a wrap floor system including a wrap floor belt wrapped around a front belt sheave and a first drive system coupled to the wrap floor system. The first drive system includes a main drive belt coupled to a rear belt sheave and the front belt sheave, wherein in an engagement mode of operation the main drive belt is tensioned to rotate the rear belt sheave, and in a disengagement mode of operation the main drive belt loses tension to cease rotation of the rear belt sheave. The builder includes a second drive system coupled to a baler belt to drive the baler belt into a module forming chamber. The first drive system further includes one or more of a rear lower gate roller, friction wheel, wrap box roller, electric clutch, or motor to engage and drive the main drive belt.