Cotton harvester for producing modules which can be automatically identified and oriented
US8087216B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jan 3, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 13, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/24942
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
RFID tags pre-installed on bale wrap segments provide location information for a specific area of the bale wrap. RFID tag readers located on the cotton harvester provide signals for use by the module wrapping apparatus for initiating a cutting or separating operation, once a module has been wrapped, and for warning an operator of a situation where the wrapping function has not proceeded in an orderly fashion after a signal for starting the wrapping function has been received. A wrapped module carries the pre-installed RFID tags which are readable by RFID readers carried by module handlers in the field and/or at the gin input which identify the modules and establish a position to which the module may be automatically oriented so that an ideal module wrap cutting location is easily calculated. The RFID tag reading taken in the field or at the gin thus senses the number on the tag as well as the location of the tag, and the module identification is input to an electronic database.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.