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 picker unit lift structure having a first frame, a second frame pivotally coupled to the first frame about a pivot axis, and at least one sliding joint coupling the first frame to the second frame. Wherein, the sliding joint is not positioned at the pivot axis.

A cotton picker unit lift structure having a first frame, a second frame pivotally coupled to the first frame about a pivot axis, and at least one sliding joint coupling the first frame to the second frame. Wherein, the sliding joint is not positioned at the pivot axis.

A cotton picker unit lift structure having a first frame, a second frame slidably coupled to the first frame about a pivot axis with a plurality of sliding joints. Wherein, the pivot axis is spaced from the second frame and extends in a fore-aft direction and the second frame is pivotal about the pivot axis in a first direction and a second direction relative to the first frame.

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 picking unit of a cotton harvester row unit includes a drum rotatable about an axis and a plurality of spindles for harvesting cotton. The plurality of spindles is coupled to the drum. A first drive unit rotatably drives the plurality of spindles. A second drive unit produces electrical power to drive a drive shaft. An output gear is coupled to the drive shaft, and a drum drive gear is coupled to the output gear. The drum drive gear rotatably drives the drum such that the output gear operably transfers power from the drive shaft to the drum drive gear. The drum is operably controlled independently of the plurality of spindles.

A cotton picker unit lift structure having a first frame, a second frame pivotally coupled to the first frame about a pivot axis, and at least one sliding joint coupling the first frame to the second frame. Wherein, the sliding joint is not positioned at the pivot axis.

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.

High efficiency work vehicle drivetrains containing variator assemblies are provided. In one embodiment, the work vehicle drivetrain includes an engine, a variator assembly, and an auxiliary power takeoff (PTO) shaft, which is coupled to the engine and rotatable about a primary power path axis when driven by the engine. The variator assembly includes, in turn, a variator motor and a variator gearbox. The variator gearbox contains a planetary gear system, which is coupled to the variator motor and to the auxiliary PTO shaft. The planetary gear system is rotatable about a planetary axis substantially parallel and offset from the primary power path axis.

A picking unit of a cotton harvester row unit includes a drum rotatable about an axis and a plurality of spindles for harvesting cotton. The plurality of spindles is coupled to the drum. A first drive unit rotatably drives the plurality of spindles. A second drive unit produces electrical power to drive a drive shaft. An output gear is coupled to the drive shaft, and a drum drive gear is coupled to the output gear. The drum drive gear rotatably drives the drum such that the output gear operably transfers power from the drive shaft to the drum drive gear. The drum is operably controlled independently of the plurality of spindles.