Patents by Inventor AUSTIN J. JONES

AUSTIN J. JONES has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10433488
    Abstract: A bale collection system for use with a baler having an outlet through which a finished bale is ejected, the bale collection system including a holder coupled to the baler, the holder defining a support surface configured to support the finished bale, an operating barrier, and a holdback arm in operable communication with the holder and configured to 1) permit the finished bale to pass through the operating barrier in a first direction and 2) restrict movement of the finished bale through the operating barrier in a second direction, opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Austin J. Jones
  • Publication number: 20190183054
    Abstract: An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a support structure positioned between the first and the second ends. The accumulator includes a crop package moving assembly moveably coupled to the frame in a first direction and in a second direction. The crop package moving assembly is configured to move a crop package in the first direction. The accumulator includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to move into the extended position to support the crop package. The carriage is also configured to move from the extended position into the retracted position in response to the crop package being removed from the carriage and the crop package moving assembly moving in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen E. O'Brien, Austin J. Jones
  • Patent number: 10321632
    Abstract: A crop-package transfer system has a flexible member supported by a support frame and is configured to support a crop package on a first side of the flexible member. A motive member is disposed on a second side of the flexible member. An actuator device is configured to move the motive member along the second side of the flexible member, such that the motive member transmits motive force from the actuator device to the crop package via the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Austin J. Jones, Henry D. Anstey, Jeremy M. Erdmann
  • Patent number: 10306838
    Abstract: A bale collection system and method for receiving and storing a bale introduced at a first location and in a first direction, the bale defining an axis therethrough. The bale collection system includes a frame defining at least one storage bay sized to store a bale therein. The bale collection system also includes an arm pivotably coupled to the frame and movable with respect to the frame between a first position and a second position, the arm having a bale contact surface configured to contact a bale at least partially received within the storage bay, and a resistance member in operable engagement with the arm and configured to resist the motion of the arm between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Austin J. Jones, Henry D. Anstey
  • Patent number: 10306837
    Abstract: A bale collection system and method for receiving and storing a bale. The bale collection system including a baler having a rear aperture through which a bale may be ejected, a trough defining a storage bay sized to receive one or more bales therein, where the trough is coupled to the baler and movable with respect thereto between a first position, where no bale is positioned within the storage bay, and a second position where a bale is at least partially positioned within the storage bay, and where the first position is different than the second position. The bale collection system also includes a resistance element operatively coupled to the frame and configured to at least partially control the movement of the frame between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Austin J. Jones, Henry D. Anstey, Jeremy Erdmann, Timothy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 10212886
    Abstract: An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and is configured to support a crop package exiting the agricultural baler. The accumulator includes a frame including a first end, a second end, and a support structure positioned between the first and the second ends. The accumulator also includes a crop package moving assembly moveably coupled to the frame in a first direction and a second direction. The accumulator further includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to move into the extended position to support the crop package. The carriage is configured to move into the retracted position in response to the crop package moving assembly moving in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen E. O'Brien, Austin J. Jones
  • Patent number: 9995319
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit includes a control valve, a first hydraulic actuator, and a second hydraulic. The hydraulic circuit is configured such that in a first step, the first hydraulic actuator opens a product barrier in response to movement of the control valve into a first position, in a second step, the second hydraulic actuator moves a product engagement member in a first direction and the first hydraulic actuator closes the product barrier in response to movement of the control valve into a second position, in a third step, the first hydraulic actuator opens the product barrier in response to movement of the control valve into the first position, and in a fourth step, the second hydraulic actuator moves the product engagement member in a second direction and the first hydraulic actuator closes the product barrier in response to movement of the control valve into the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Austin J. Jones, Henry D. Anstey
  • Publication number: 20180035612
    Abstract: A bale collection system for use with a baler having an outlet through which a finished bale is ejected, the bale collection system including a holder coupled to the baler, the holder defining a support surface configured to support the finished bale, an operating barrier, and a holdback arm in operable communication with the holder and configured to 1) permit the finished bale to pass through the operating barrier in a first direction and 2) restrict movement of the finished bale through the operating barrier in a second direction, opposite the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: Austin J. Jones
  • Publication number: 20170290266
    Abstract: An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and is configured to support a crop package exiting the baler. The accumulator includes a frame having a first end, a second end, and a support surface positioned between the first and the second ends. The support surface is configured to support the crop package that exits the baler. The accumulator also includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and linearly moveable relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to support the crop package when in the extended position. The accumulator further includes a linkage coupled to at least one of the frame and the carriage. The linkage is configured to move the carriage to at least one of the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: Austin J. Jones
  • Publication number: 20170290267
    Abstract: An accumulator is coupled to an agricultural baler and is configured to support a crop package exiting the agricultural baler. The accumulator includes a frame including a first end, a second end, and a support structure positioned between the first and the second ends. The accumulator also includes a crop package moving assembly moveably coupled to the frame in a first direction and a second direction. The accumulator further includes a carriage coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to move relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position. The carriage is configured to move into the extended position to support the crop package. The carriage is configured to move into the retracted position in response to the crop package moving assembly moving in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen E. O'Brien, Austin J. Jones
  • Publication number: 20170290271
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a control system for agricultural equipment. The agricultural equipment includes a baler configured to produce a crop package. The control system includes a crop package barrier coupled to the baler and movable between a closed position and an open position. The control system also includes a crop package transfer system configured to move the crop package. The control system further includes a barrier control system configured to restrict movement of the crop package barrier as the crop package barrier is moving toward the open position from the closed position in response to at least one signal indicating the crop package is in an unpreferred location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Austin J. Jones, Charles S. Sloan
  • Publication number: 20170290269
    Abstract: A bale collection system and method for receiving and storing a bale introduced at a first location and in a first direction, the bale defining an axis therethrough. The bale collection system includes a frame defining at least one storage bay sized to store a bale therein. The bale collection system also includes an arm pivotably coupled to the frame and movable with respect to the frame between a first position and a second position, the arm having a bale contact surface configured to contact a bale at least partially received within the storage bay, and a resistance member in operable engagement with the arm and configured to resist the motion of the arm between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Austin J. Jones, Henry D. Anstey
  • Publication number: 20170290268
    Abstract: A bale collection system and method for receiving and storing a bale. The bale collection system including a baler having a rear aperture through which a bale may be ejected, a trough defining a storage bay sized to receive one or more bales therein, where the trough is coupled to the baler and movable with respect thereto between a first position, where no bale is positioned within the storage bay, and a second position where a bale is at least partially positioned within the storage bay, and where the first position is different than the second position. The bale collection system also includes a resistance element operatively coupled to the frame and configured to at least partially control the movement of the frame between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Austin J. Jones, Henry D. Anstey, Jeremy Erdmann, Timothy J. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20170089363
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit includes a control valve, a first hydraulic actuator, and a second hydraulic. The hydraulic circuit is configured such that in a first step, the first hydraulic actuator opens a product barrier in response to movement of the control valve into a first position, in a second step, the second hydraulic actuator moves a product engagement member in a first direction and the first hydraulic actuator closes the product barrier in response to movement of the control valve into a second position, in a third step, the first hydraulic actuator opens the product barrier in response to movement of the control valve into the first position, and in a fourth step, the second hydraulic actuator moves the product engagement member in a second direction and the first hydraulic actuator closes the product barrier in response to movement of the control valve into the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Austin J. Jones, Henry D. Anstey
  • Publication number: 20160374269
    Abstract: A crop-package transfer system has a flexible member supported by a support frame and is configured to support a crop package on a first side of the flexible member. A motive member is disposed on a second side of the flexible member. An actuator device is configured to move the motive member along the second side of the flexible member, such that the motive member transmits motive force from the actuator device to the crop package via the flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: AUSTIN J. JONES, Henry D. Anstey, Jeremy M. Erdmann