US2014116845A1PendingUtilityA1

Cotton Module Flipper Method and Apparatus

48
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 27, 2010Filed: Oct 30, 2013Published: May 1, 2014
Est. expiryOct 27, 2030(~4.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John England
B65B 69/00B65G 47/252B65G 47/248
48
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

An apparatus to tilt, flip, or rotate a round cotton module on a conveying system employs actuated arms includes that support a bar which fits in place of a roller on a provided conveyor system having multiple rollers. A cotton module can be easily rotated or flipped to a vertical position when the bar rotates between initial reclined and final elevated positions. The wrapping can be removed once the cotton module reaches the final elevated position.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method of preparing a cotton module for use in a cotton gin, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a conveyor that includes at least a first conveyor section and a second conveyor section, there being a gap in between the first and second conveyor sections;   b) providing a bar that is movable between first and second positions, wherein the first position places the bar in the gap and the second position spaces the bar away from the gap;   c) conveying one or more cotton modules on the conveyor and across the gap and bar, wherein one or more of the cotton modules is covered with a wrap;   d) when a said cotton module is above the bar, using the bar to flip the said cotton module into a vertical position by moving the bar from the first position to the second position; and   e) removing the wrap from the cotton module after the cotton module has been flipped in step “d”.   
     
     
         6 . A cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus, comprising:
 a) a conveyor that includes first and second conveyor sections defining a conveying surface that is able to support a cotton module to be conveyed, there being a gap in between the first and second conveyor sections;   b) a bar that is movable between first and second positions and being positioned to contact the cotton module as the module is conveyed on said conveyor, wherein the first position places the bar in the said gap and the second position spaces the bar away from the gap;   c) the bar being supported by a frame that includes one or more arms;   d) an actuating system attached to the arm or arms that lifts the bar from the first position to the second position when a cotton module on the conveyor reaches a position next to the gap when the bar is in the first position;   e) wherein the actuating system elevates the bar from the first position to the second position, which places the bar in said second position to elevate the cotton module therewith.   
     
     
         7 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating system includes a hydraulic cylinder that extends to elevate the bar. 
     
     
         8 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the frame extends below the conveyor sections. 
     
     
         9 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each conveyor section has a width and the bar has a width that is about the same width of a said conveyor section located next to the bar. 
     
     
         10 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the bar is longer than the width of each of the conveyor sections next to the bar. 
     
     
         11 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the bar is supported by two arms positioned at opposing end portions of the gap. 
     
     
         12 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating system is manually activated. 
     
     
         13 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating system is automatically activated responsive to the positioning of a cotton module above the bar. 
     
     
         14 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cotton module is rotated a measure of about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cotton module is elevated above the conveyor sections. 
     
     
         16 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus, comprising:
 a) a conveyor having a conveyor surface area that is configured to convey a cotton module from a first location to a second location;   b) a bar which can contact a cotton module as the module is conveyed on said conveyor, said bar being positioned at said second location;   c) the bar being supported by a frame that includes one or more arms;   d) an actuating system attached to the arm or arms that lifts the bar when a cotton module on the conveyor reaches said second location, the bar being movable between lower and raised positions;   e) wherein the actuating system elevates the bar to place it in said raised position when the cotton module reaches the second location.   
     
     
         20 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the actuating system includes a hydraulic cylinder that extends to elevate the bar. 
     
     
         21 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating system extends below the conveyor surface area. 
     
     
         22 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the conveyor surface area has a width and the bar has a length that is about the same as the width of a said conveyor surface area located next to the bar. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating system includes two arms positioned at opposing end portions of the bar. 
     
     
         25 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating system is manually activated. 
     
     
         26 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating system is automatically activated responsive to the positioning of a cotton module above the bar. 
     
     
         27 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein in step “e” the cotton module is rotated a measure of about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         28 . The cotton module conveying and flipping apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the cotton module is elevated above rollers. 
     
     
         29 - 32 . (canceled)

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