Patents Examined by Arpad F Kovacs
  • Patent number: 11589514
    Abstract: A pickup unit of an agricultural baler that includes a reel with a plurality of tines configured for lifting a crop material from a field, the reel is rotatable in an operating direction and a reverse direction, and a drive system configured for driving the reel. The drive system includes a gearbox configured for receiving motive power from a power take off (PTO) shaft, a drive shaft operably connected to the gearbox, and a first clutch connected to the drive shaft. The first clutch is configured for operably disconnecting motive power to the reel so that the reel is manually rotatable as the PTO shaft remains operably engaged with the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Chandrashekhar K. Singh, John R. McClure
  • Patent number: 11582916
    Abstract: A wrapped bale handling apparatus configured to engage a bale and remove a wrap from the bale may include a bale support assembly configured to support the bale of material, with the bale support assembly having a support mode and a release mode. The support mode may be configured to support a bale by the bale support assembly, and the release mode may be configured to release the bale from being supported by the bale support assembly. The apparatus may further comprise a wrap cutting structure configured to cut the wrap in place on the bale and a wrap removal assembly configured to remove the wrap from the wrapped bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Shilo Peer
  • Patent number: 11582904
    Abstract: A row unit for a header of an agricultural harvester. The row unit includes a frame, a first deck plate assembly mounted to the frame, and a second deck plate assembly mounted to the frame. The first and second deck plate assemblies each include a deck plate, a plurality of deck plate segments extending from the deck plate and moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the deck plate, and a plurality of biasing members for biasing each respective deck plate segment. The row unit includes both operator controlled macro adjustment and automatic micro adjustment of a gap between the first deck plate assembly and the second deck plate assembly. The micro adjustment is achieved through biasing members biasing each respective deck plate segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Eric Walker
  • Patent number: 11582913
    Abstract: A radio-controlled vehicle includes a supporting structure, an engine unit, a kinetic unit and a remote control for operating the vehicle remotely, The radio-controlled vehicle also has a cab configured to house, in use, a person. The cab and the supporting structure are mutually movable with respect to each other to selectively arrange the cab in a desired position with respect to the supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MDB S.R.L.
    Inventor: Mario Di Biase
  • Patent number: 11582915
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes threshing apparatus, separating apparatus, a grain cleaning system located downstream of the separating apparatus, and a material conveyance system arranged to convey crop material from the separating apparatus to the grain cleaning system. The grain cleaning system includes screening apparatus, a fan arranged to generate a cleaning airstream through the screening apparatus, and a fan control system configured to control a fan speed. The fan control system includes a proximity sensor mounted above the material conveyance system for sensing a material volume. The fan control system controls the fan speed in dependence upon the material volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Dan Hermann, Morten Leth Bilde
  • Patent number: 11576309
    Abstract: A method for operating a baler including an initial step of providing a cleaning system that includes a floor plate having a plurality of slots therein, at least one knife tray, at least one actuator operably connected to the at least one knife tray, and a controller operably connected to the at least one actuator. The method further includes the steps of determining whether the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray is retracted, determining whether to conduct a knife tray cleanout procedure for cleaning the floor plate based upon at least one cleaning parameter, and conducting the knife tray cleanout procedure by actuating the at least one actuator for cycling the plurality of knives of the at least one knife tray for dislodging debris from the floor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: John R. McClure
  • Patent number: 11570950
    Abstract: A crop head for a harvester includes a folding frame having a first frame portion and a second frame portion configured to be folded in a transport state and unfolded in a harvesting state. The first and second frame portions are lockable with respect to each other to inhibit folding and unlockable with respect to each other to allow folding. A plurality of crop dividers is supported by the first frame portion. The plurality of crop dividers includes at least one movable crop divider that is movable with respect to the first frame portion. The crop head also includes a cylinder and a piston movable with respect to the cylinder. The piston is operable to move the movable crop divider between the first and second positions and is configured to directly engage the first and second frame portions to lock the first and second frame portions with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric D. Windsor, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Dennis P. Silver, Andrew J. Braet, Todd M. Verhoef
  • Patent number: 11559000
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for articulating float arms of a harvester header between a flexible configuration and a rigid configuration are disclosed. The systems and apparatuses include a locking tube that experiences no torque or approximately no torque when the float arms are in the rigid configuration. Further, the systems and apparatuses also avoid adjustments to ensure that float arms are fully retracted, such as into abutting contact with another portion of a header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Alex Brimeyer
  • Patent number: 11559002
    Abstract: A square baler comprising a first bale-forming area in which are formed a first series of first individual bales, and a second bale-forming area in which are formed a second series of second individual bales. The square baler additionally comprises a singulator configured to receive the first and second individual bales from the first and second bale-forming areas and to form a single row of the first and second individual bales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Olander, Taylor Bozarth, Christian Hayes Desbien
  • Patent number: 11547053
    Abstract: A feeding assembly includes: a frame; a pickup assembly carried by the frame and including a pickup roll, a plurality of tines carried by the pickup roll, and a pair of end flares, each of the end flares being disposed adjacent to a respective lateral end of the pickup roll and configured to redirect crop material picked up by the tines as the pickup roll rotates; and a windguard assembly including a windguard roll coupled to the frame by a pair of arm assemblies. Each of the arm assemblies includes: a first arm pivotably coupled to the frame; a second arm coupled to the first arm and the windguard roll; and an arm connector coupling the first arm to the second arm such that the second arm is laterally offset relative to the first arm and is positioned laterally between a pair of vertical planes defined by the end flares.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Eddy Roland Lammerant, Jonathan Shenk, Chandrashekhar Singh, Enrico Giuliani
  • Patent number: 11533849
    Abstract: An attachment for connection to a harvester comprises a plurality of picking devices (2) arranged next to each other and in a distributed manner along the working width. Each picking device (2) has a picking gap (6), below which are disposed at least two picking rotors (10) which can be driven to rotate in opposite directions, the picking rotors (10) being provided with flutes (12), which project in a radial direction beyond the rotor casing (16) and the enveloping circles (20) of which mesh with each other. To propose a way of easily adapting the picking rotors to different harvesting conditions without having to replace them all, the invention proposes for one or more shear bars (18) which are releasably connected to the picking rotor (10) and/or to the flutes (12) to be inserted in the intermediate space (22) between adjacent flutes (12) of a picking rotor (10), the shear bars filling portions of said intermediate space during a rotating movement of the picking rotors (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Geringhoff GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reimer Tiessen, Johannes Hense, Andre Hemmesmann, Frank Schlamann, Rüdiger Steen
  • Patent number: 11528847
    Abstract: A combine harvester is provided with: a threshing device that performs a threshing process of threshing a crop; a grain tank that stores grain obtained by the threshing process; a grain discharging device that discharges grain to be stored in the grain tank to the outside of the vehicle body; a travel driving device that drives travel of the vehicle body; and an engine that serves as a power source. The combine harvester includes a first relay shaft to which power is transmitted from an output shaft of the engine, and the power of the engine is transmitted from the first relay shaft to the grain discharging device and the travel driving device in a branched manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Hino, Tsuyoshi Kumatori, Ryohei Higashitaki, Toshinari Nishimura, Shota Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11523561
    Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the operation of a draper belt header of a combine harvester includes a central belt conveyor of the draper belt header having a drive for operably driving the conveyor and two outer belt conveyors attached to a feeder house of the combine harvester. The feeder house has a controllable height which may be controllably adjusted by an actuator. The arrangement further includes a control unit operable to stop the drive of the central belt conveyor or move it into a reversing mode if the feeder house is being raised by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Martin Bueermann
  • Patent number: 11516966
    Abstract: A shaker mechanism used in an agricultural machine, such as sugarcane harvesters and sweet sorghum harvesters. The shaker mechanism is configured for removing mud, dirt and plant remains accumulated in a lower protective tarpaulin of a mounting chassis of conveyor rollers and choppers of the agricultural machine. The shaker mechanism includes at least a bar having ends which are fastened on rotary support bearings. The bar is configured to stand at least partially out from an edge of the bearings forming at least a spare surface for contact with a protective tarpaulin positioned on the chassis of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Edemilson José Mantoam
  • Patent number: 11519439
    Abstract: A quick release lock turnbuckle includes a socket slideable axially over a turnbuckle connecting between two threaded rods at a desired end-to-end spacing. The socket has a multi-sided interior cross section engaging a multi-sided exterior cross section of the turnbuckle, and also engaging a radially extending feature on one of the threaded rods to prevent rotation of the turnbuckle in the locked position. The socket is slideable axially off the turnbuckle to allow rotation of the turnbuckle in the unlocked position to change the desired end-to-end spacing between the two threaded rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Frank M. Welz
  • Patent number: 11510369
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically establishing a gap between a concave and a rotor of a rotary crop processing system are disclosed. Establishing the gap may include displacing the concave towards the rotor until contact is detected therebetween. Contact may be detected using a sensor configured to detect contact between the rotor and the concave. The sensor may be a knock sensor. The concave is displaced away from the rotor when contact is detected until contact between the rotor and the concave is no longer detected. One or more actuators may be coupled to the concave to move the concave relative to the rotor. In some implementations, the actuators may be operated in sequence to form the gap between the rotor and the concave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric L. Bortner, Kevin P. Hurley, Michael Meschke
  • Patent number: 11490568
    Abstract: row crop heads and pivoting assemblies associated with the row crop heads operable to displace a crop divider of the row crop heads during folding of a portion of the row crop head are disclosed. In some implementations, a pivoting assembly may include a first bracket coupled to a center frame of a row crop head, a second bracket coupled to a wing frame of the row crop head, and a rotatable locking component rotatably coupled to the first bracket. The rotatable locking component is operable to lock a row divider disposed at an interface between the wing frame and the center frame when the wing frame is moved from an unfolded position to a folded position relative to the center frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Eric D. Windsor, Eric H. Stone, Steve A. Coon, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Scott E. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 11490564
    Abstract: A header including a cutter bar configured to cut crop for harvesting and a header frame supporting the cutter bar. A transport assembly is operatively connected to the header frame. A support arm is rotatably coupled to an axle of the transport assembly and is pivotably coupled to a mounting frame coupled to the header frame. A cam linkage is disposed at the support arm to provide a mechanical advantage for an operator when moving the transport assembly from a transport position to a harvest position. The cam linkage includes a lift assist device having a first end connected to the mounting frame and a second end coupled to a cam arm. Extension of the second end from the first end of the lift assist device applies the cam arm to a cam surface of the support arm to move the transport assembly to the harvest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael C. LaVally, Michael L. Vandeven
  • Patent number: 7413507
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention relates to a cleaning device for a combine harvester, with a precleaning sieve, to the upper surface of which a mixture of grain and chaff can be fed during the operation, an upper sieve, to which the mixture of grain and chaff rearwardly discharged from the back surface of the precleaning sieve can be fed, a lower sieve, to which the mixture of grain and chaff passing through the precleaning sieve can be fed, and with a fan for applying currents of air to the precleaning sieve, the upper sieve and the lower sieve. On its way between the precleaning sieve and the lower sieve, the mixture of grain and chaff that has passed through the precleaning sieve be passed via a grating which is permeable to air and disposed separately from the lower sieve, to which grating a current of air can be applied by the fan as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Dirk Weichholdt
  • Patent number: 7395648
    Abstract: A height of cut adjustment system for a reel type grass cutting unit includes adjustment screw mechanisms mounted at each corner of the cutting unit. Linkages between the adjustment screw mechanisms permit driving all of the adjustment screw mechanisms synchronously from a single adjustment point to change the cutting height. The linkages may be worm gear drives or other mechanical linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Carl Steven Silbernagel, David Lawrence Phillips, Truluck Tillman Ammons, III, Richard David Thier, Kenneth Edward Hunt, Ronald Lee Reichen, Brent Gordon Rinhoim