Method and assembly for processing round seed cotton modules

Abstract

An assembly for enabling the release of produce from a module retained by a plastics sleeve. The apparatus comprises a primary support frame including legs fixed to ground surface via feet. A gantry supports a compression assembly capable of receiving and retaining a module. There are means to enable the compression assembly to move between a non working state in which the compression assembly is elevated above a work station and a working state in which the compression assembly is at a work station in which compression arms are capable of retaining a produce module. The compression assembly includes means to enable the arms to apply a radial force to the module sufficient to allow the compression assembly to remove the plastics sleeve and allow the produce to gravitate through a free end of the module as the plastics sleeve is elevated away from the produce.

1 . An apparatus for enabling the removal of a covering from a produce module, the apparatus comprising;
 a primary support frame including legs fixed to a ground surface,   a gantry which supports an assembly capable of receiving and retaining the module and applying compression to the module;   wherein the compression assembly moves between a non working state in which compression arms supported by said gantry are retracted away from a workspace in which the module is placed and a working state in which the compression arms apply a pressure to the module to allow removal of a plastics sleeve from the module.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the compression assembly moves between a first location in which the compression arms grip the module to a second location in which the plastics sleeve is released from the module. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the plastics sleeve is removed by elevation of the sleeve relative to the module and allowing the module to gravitate away from the sleeve via the open end of the module for further processing. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the compression assembly is supported by a gantry which is adapted for elevating and lowering. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the primary support frame is fixed to a ground surface via feet. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the apparatus includes four legs which engage ground anchored pivot connections enabling the legs to rotate as the gantry is elevated and lowered. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the gantry is supported by articulating struts each having a first end connected to the support legs. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the first end of each strut pivots about the support leg to which it is attached. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein a second end of each strut is connected to the gantry. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the second end of each strut is pivotally connected to the gantry. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the struts are each actuated by a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein a first end of the hydraulic actuator is attached to a support leg and a second end is attached to the strut. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein each strut has an articulation intermediate its first and second ends thereby enabling the struts to adjust for lowering and elevation of the gantry. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the struts are connected to the gantry via pin connections which allow the struts to rotate in a substantially vertical plane through an arc at least 100 degrees enabling the gantry to descend and ascend. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the struts which assist the ascent and descent of the gantry is assisted by hydraulic actuation. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the gantry includes an auxiliary frame from which depends the compression assembly. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the compression assembly includes evenly spaced opposing compression arms which are radially disposed about a circumference of a module held by the compression arms. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the compression arms when operating are urged radially inward towards a module when held by the assembly. 
     
     
         19 . A compression assembly for an apparatus for enabling the removal of a covering from a produce module, the apparatus comprising;
 a primary support frame including legs fixed to a ground surface,   a gantry which supports the compression assembly capable of receiving and retaining the module and applying compression to the module;   wherein the compression assembly moves between a non working state in which compression arms supported by said gantry are retracted away from a workspace in which the module is placed and a working state in which the compression arms apply a pressure to the module to allow removal of a plastics sleeve from the module.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the compression assembly moves between a first location in which the compression arms grip the module to a second location in which the plastics sleeve is released from the module. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for enabling the release of produce from a module retained by a plastics sleeve, the apparatus comprising;
 a primary support frame including legs fixed to ground surface via feet   a gantry which supports a compression assembly capable of receiving and retaining the module;   means to enable the compression assembly to moves between a non working state in which the compression assembly is elevated above a work station and a working state in which the compression assembly is at a work station in which compression arms are capable of retaining a produce module; wherein the compression assembly includes means to enable the arms to apply a radial force to the module sufficient to allow the compression assembly to remove the plastics sleeve and allow the produce to gravitate through a free end of the module as the plastics sleeve is elevated away from the produce.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the compression assembly is retained by an overhead gantry which ascends and descends as the apparatus moves between the working and non working states. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the compression arms apply sufficient pressure to the module to allow removal of a plastics sleeve. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for enabling the release of produce from a module retained by a plastics sleeve, the apparatus comprising;
 a primary support frame including legs fixed to ground surface via feet   a compression assembly capable of receiving and retaining the module;   means to enable the compression assembly to move between a non working state in which the assembly is free of a cotton module and a working state in which the compression assembly applies a radial force to the module sufficient to allow the removal of the plastics sleeve from the cotton.   
     
     
         25 . An apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the cotton gravitates through a free end of the plastics sleeve as the plastics sleeve is elevated away from the produce. 
     
     
         26 . A method of releasing a produce bale from a retaining sleeve, using an apparatus comprising; the method comprising the steps of:
 an apparatus for enabling the release of produce from a module retained by a plastics sleeve, the apparatus comprising;   a primary support frame including legs fixed to ground surface via feet   a gantry which supports a compression assembly capable of receiving and retaining a module;   means to enable the compression assembly to moves between a non working state in which the compression assembly is elevated above a work station and a working state in which the compression assembly is at a work station in which compression arms are capable of retaining a produce module;   the method comprising the steps of;   a) placing the produce module at a work station underneath the apparatus so that the module is sitting on an open end;   b) advancing arms of the compression assembly so that a radial force is applied to a wall of the module sufficient to friction grip the sleeve;   c) elevating the compression assembly so that the sleeve is elevated away from the produce module until the sleeve is released from the module,   d) allowing the produce to gravitate through a free end of the plastics sleeve as the sleeve is elevated away from the produce;   e) discarding the plastics sleeve and advancing the produce to a further processing state away from the apparatus.