Positioning a cylindrical module between adjacent modules

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for removing a plastic wrap from a cylindrical module includes a conveyor transporting the cylindrical module toward a disperser with the cylindrical axis of the module parallel to the direction of conveyor movement. In another embodiment, the disperser is a travelling head disperser thereby providing relative movement between the modules and the disperser. The direction of the wrap around the module is determined and the cover is removed during rotation of the module, either by unwrapping the plastic or by slitting the plastic and then rotating the module. The equipment used to handle a cylindrical module is moved out of the path of movement of a conventional rectangular module so an installation can handle both rectangular and wrapped cylindrical modules.

1 . A module handler comprising a conveyor for delivering a series of juxtaposed cylindrical modules wrapped with a plastic cover toward a disperser, a device for picking up one of the modules from between adjacent modules and conducting an operation thereon while the conveyor is moving the modules toward the disperser, the device including a mechanism for replacing the module between the adjacent modules after the completion of the operation. 
     
     
         2 . The module handler of  claim 1  wherein the conveyor provides a direction of movement of the modules, the modules comprise ends having an axis extending through the ends and the picking up and replacing device is oriented to replace the modules on the conveyor so the axis is parallel to the direction of movement. 
     
     
         3 . The module handler of  claim 1  wherein the picking up and replacing device is oriented to place the module back onto the conveyor in juxtaposed relation with an upstream module so flow from the disperser is substantially consistent. 
     
     
         4 . The module handler of  claim 1  wherein the conveyor provides a direction of movement of the modules, the modules comprise ends having an axis extending through the ends and the picking up and replacing device is oriented to replace the modules on the conveyor so the axis is parallel to the direction of movement. 
     
     
         5 . The module handler of  claim 1  wherein the picking up and replacing device is oriented to place the module back onto the conveyor in juxtaposed relation with an upstream module so flow from the disperser is substantially consistent. 
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a module handler adjacent a disperser having a conveyor delivering seed cotton modules to the disperser, comprising
 lining up the seed cotton modules in juxtaposed relation on the conveyor;   picking up a predetermined module from between adjacent modules and performing an operation thereon while the conveyor is moving the modules toward the disperser; and   replacing the predetermined module between the adjacent modules after the completion of the operation.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the conveyor provides a direction of movement of the modules and the modules comprise ends having an axis extending through the ends, the picking up step