A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

A cotton harvester with a hydraulic manifold and at least one hydraulic motor mechanically coupled to a drum and fluidly coupled to the hydraulic manifold, the hydraulic motor configured to selectively rotate the drum. Wherein, the hydraulic manifold is configured to selectively provide any one of a braking force and a torque to the drum through the at least one hydraulic motor.

A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

A doffer assembly for a cotton harvester having at least one drum and a spindle. The doffer assembly includes an outer housing and a plurality of doffers adapted to remove cotton from the spindle. The assembly further includes a drive unit coupled to the outer housing for rotatably driving the plurality of doffers independently of at least one drum and spindle. A drive shaft is rotatably driven by the drive unit, and an interface adapter is coupled between the drive shaft and the plurality of doffers. The drive unit may be an electric motor, hydraulic motor, a mechanical drive system, or a combination thereof.

Improved doffer discs for spindle-type cotton picker harvesters providing reduced vibration, increased wear resistance, and more efficient doffing are disclosed. Doffer lugs having an asymmetric profile, with an essentially perpendicular leading face and sloped trailing face provide more aggressive and efficient doffing, reduced wear and vibration, and increased yields. Use of a loop having a concave rim provides improved stiffness, reducing flexing and vibration. Several embodiments for use with row units from major equipment manufacturers are described.