Importance

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Abstract

A system for mounting and supporting harvesting units on a forward end of a cotton harvester frame to allow them to be slidably moved relative to each other and laterally along an elongated tool bar structure. The tool bar structure is pivotally connected to the cotton harvester frame by a lift assembly. The harvesting units are independently connected at their rearward edges to the tool bar structure by a slide support structure. The slide support structure maintains a non-rotatable and nonpoint contact relationship with laterally elongated generally flat support surfaces defined between opposite ends of the tool bar structure whereby subsantial surface area contact is provided between each side support structure and the support surfaces on the tool bar structure. To facilitate numerous combinations of row spacings and harvesting capacities, the tool bar structure is preferably comprised of modular units which are connected together in axially aligned relation and includes a pivotal extension provided at either or both ends of the tool bar structure. When axially aligned with the tool bar structure, the pivotal extension provides coextensive elongation of the support surfaces on the tool bar structure. An operator-controlled driver mechanism is preferably provided to facilitate precise positioning of the harvesting units relative to each other and along the support surfaces of the tool bar structure. The present invention further relates to a method of accessing at least three adjacent harvesting units of a cotton harvester while maintaining a minimal length for tool bar assembly on which the harvesting units are slidably mounted.

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First Claim