US 7,320,208 B2
End of row detection and compacting sequence for a cotton harvesting machine
Michael J. Covington, Bettendorf, Iowa (US); Tracy R. Archer, West Liberty, Iowa (US); Timothy A. Meeks, Davenport, Iowa (US); and Dwight D. Lemke, Geneseo, Ill. (US)
Assigned to CNH America LLC, New Holland, Pa. (US)
Filed on Jun. 08, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/449,311.
Application 11/449311 is a division of application No. 11/050124, filed on Feb. 03, 2005, granted, now 7,107,747.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/557658, filed on Mar. 29, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2006/0225391 A1, Oct. 12, 2006
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A01D 46/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 56—28  [100/226] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of compacting cotton in a cotton receiver of a cotton harvesting machine, comprising the steps of:
responsive to at least one condition representative of ceasing harvesting at an end of a crop row, automatically initiating operating of the compactor apparatus in a compacting mode; and
responsive to at least one condition representative of commencing harvesting at a beginning of a crop row, automatically ceasing operation of the compactor apparatus in the compacting mode; and
providing a sensor for sensing a vertical position of a cotton picker drum of the harvesting machine, and wherein the at least one condition representative of ceasing harvesting at an end of a crop row comprises sensing raising the cotton picker drum from a harvesting position to a non-harvesting position.