Patents by Inventor Gerald R. Johnson

Gerald R. Johnson 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: 11280614
    Abstract: A system comprises a mobile machine (14) for collecting a plurality of bales (10,12) dispersed across a ground surface and one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices are configured to receive location and orientation information for the plurality of bales (10,12), the location and orientation information including a location and an orientation of each of the bales (10,12), automatically determine a preferred path for collecting the bales using the location and orientation information, and present information about the preferred path to an operator of the mobile machine (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11268815
    Abstract: A system comprising a mobile machine for collecting a plurality of bales dispersed across a ground surface, and one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices are configured to receive location and orientation information for the plurality of bales, the location and orientation information including a location and an orientation of each of the bales, using the location and orientation information, automatically determine a preferred bale stacking location and a preferred path for collecting the bales, the preferred path for collecting the bales including placing the bales in the preferred stacking location, and present information about the preferred path to an operator of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11042280
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (60) for a combine harvester (10) includes, in a first portion (62) of the user interface, a graphical representation (66, 70) of an amount of material passing through a threshing system (22) at multiple positions along a longitudinal direction of the combine harvester, and a graphical representation (68, 72) of an amount of material passing through a cleaning system (42) at multiple positions along the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester. The user interface further includes, in a second portion (64) of the user interface, a graphical representation (74, 78) of an amount of material passing through the threshing system (22) at a plurality of locations along a lateral axis of the combine harvester, and a graphical representation (76, 80) of an amount of material passing through the cleaning system (42) at a plurality of locations along the lateral axis of the combine harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Jared Koch, Jay Leininger, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10986776
    Abstract: In a grain unloading system for a combine harvester a grain bin includes a frame, the frame has a floor with a trough. An unloading auger is disposed at least partially within the trough. An auger cover at least partially covers the auger. The auger cover has a hat for a top portion of the auger cover and a pair of gates movable between the hat and locations on the floor that are proximal to the trough. A gate adjustment structure is coupled to the pair of gates to move the pair of gates relative to the auger. A control system is coupled to the gate adjustment structure and configured to control the gate adjustment structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Ducroquet, Joseph M. Biggerstaff, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20210105948
    Abstract: A system (26, 48) includes a mobile baling mechanism (18, 20) for creating a bale (10, 12, 62, 88) of agricultural product and placing the bale (10, 12, 62, 88) on a ground surface, and one or more computing devices (28, 54) for automatically determining a location and an orientation of the bale (10, 12, 62, 88) on the ground surface. The orientation of the bale (10, 12, 62, 88) may include a position of a horizontal axis of the bale (10, 12, 62, 88) about a vertical axis of the bale (10, 12, 62, 88), a pitch of the bale (10, 12, 62, 88), a roll of the bale (10, 12, 62, 88), or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventor: Gerald R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200396899
    Abstract: A graphical user interface (60) for a combine harvester (10) includes, in a first portion (62) of the user interface, a graphical representation (66, 70) of an amount of material passing through a threshing system (22) at multiple positions along a longitudinal direction of the combine harvester, and a graphical representation (68, 72) of an amount of material passing through a cleaning system (42) at multiple positions along the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester. The user interface further includes, in a second portion (64) of the user interface, a graphical representation (74, 78) of an amount of material passing through the threshing system (22) at a plurality of locations along a lateral axis of the combine harvester, and a graphical representation (76, 80) of an amount of material passing through the cleaning system (42) at a plurality of locations along the lateral axis of the combine harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Jared KOCH, Jay Leininger, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10863671
    Abstract: An unloading conveyor of an agricultural harvesting machine is pivotably mounted to a frame for pivoting movement through a movement range that is defined between first and second end positions. Movement of the unloading conveyor within the movement range is controlled by movement of a user-actuated scroll wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20200033125
    Abstract: A system comprises a mobile machine (14) for collecting a plurality of bales (10,12) dispersed across a ground surface and one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices are configured to receive location and orientation information for the plurality of bales (10,12), the location and orientation information including a location and an orientation of each of the bales (10,12), automatically determine a preferred path for collecting the bales using the location and orientation information, and present information about the preferred path to an operator of the mobile machine (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventor: Gerald R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190230854
    Abstract: In a grain unloading system for a combine harvester a grain bin includes a frame, the frame has a floor with a trough. An unloading auger is disposed at least partially within the trough. An auger cover at least partially covers the auger. The auger cover has a hat for a top portion of the auger cover and a pair of gates movable between the hat and locations on the floor that are proximal to the trough. A gate adjustment structure is coupled to the pair of gates to move the pair of gates relative to the auger. A control system is coupled to the gate adjustment structure and configured to control the gate adjustment structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Frederic Ducroquet, Joseph M. Biggerstaff, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190166759
    Abstract: An unloading conveyor of an agricultural harvesting machine is pivotably mounted to a frame for pivoting movement through a movement range that is defined between first and second end positions. Movement of the unloading conveyor within the movement range is controlled by movement of a user-actuated scroll wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: Gerald R. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 10299433
    Abstract: An unloading conveyor swing control system including an unloading conveyor fitted to a self-propelled harvesting machine such as a combine harvester. The conveyor is moveable around a pivot axis through a movement range between a first, stowed, position and a second position. An actuator is connected to the conveyor and arranged to move the conveyor throughout the movement range. A sensor is configured to sense an angular position of the conveyor within the movement range and generate a representative position signal. A user interface device is provided for receiving user-commands to move the conveyor. A controller is in communication with the sensor, the actuator and the user interface device. The conveyor is automatically moved into the stowed position in response to an angular position falling below a predetermined threshold angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Biggerstaff, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10292327
    Abstract: In a grain unloading system for a combine harvester a grain bin includes a frame, the frame has a floor with a trough. An unloading auger is disposed at least partially within the trough. An auger cover at least partially covers the auger. The auger cover has a hat for a top portion of the auger cover and a pair of gates movable between the hat and locations on the floor that are proximal to the trough. A gate adjustment structure is coupled to the pair of gates to move the pair of gates relative to the auger. A control system is coupled to the gate adjustment structure and configured to control the gate adjustment structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Ducroquet, Joseph M. Biggerstaff, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10219422
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprising wirelessly receiving a signal comprising information about a deviation to a first wayline; and applying the deviation to a second wayline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Dan Buhler, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180310475
    Abstract: An unloading conveyor swing control system including an unloading conveyor fitted to a self-propelled harvesting machine such as a combine harvester. The conveyor is moveable around a pivot axis through a movement range between a first, stowed, position and a second position. An actuator is connected to the conveyor and arranged to move the conveyor throughout the movement range. A sensor is configured to sense an angular position of the conveyor within the movement range and generate a representative position signal. A user interface device is provided for receiving user-commands to move the conveyor. A controller is in communication with the sensor, the actuator and the user interface device. The conveyor is automatically moved into the stowed position in response to said angular position falling below a predetermined threshold angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph M. BIGGERSTAFF, Gerald R. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 10088842
    Abstract: A system and method for performing an agricultural process involving a plurality of otherwise substantially independent agricultural machines, in which each machine is engaged in performing an aspect of the overall process. Each machine is placed in electronic communication with every other machine involved in the process using a standardized communication and control protocol such that the machines form a networked group. The performance of each machine is then, at least in part, substantially automatically synchronized with the performances of the other machines in the networked group based on relevant information electronically communicated by each machine. The machines may include unmanned agricultural implements, manned tractors, and trucks, and the system may be extended to include sensors and stations involved in the overall process. The protocol may be the ISO 11783 Compliant Implement Control standard, including the ISO 11783 Virtual Terminal standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Kenneth Schmidt, Gerald R. Johnson, Timothy Dan Buhler
  • Publication number: 20180252532
    Abstract: A system comprising a mobile machine for collecting a plurality of bales dispersed across a ground surface, and one or more computing devices. The one or more computing devices are configured to receive location and orientation information for the plurality of bales, the location and orientation information including a location and an orientation of each of the bales, using the location and orientation information, automatically determine a preferred bale stacking location and a preferred path for collecting the bales, the preferred path for collecting the bales including placing the bales in the preferred stacking location, and present information about the preferred path to an operator of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventor: Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: D831042
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Leininger, Joshua Ekholm, Jared Koch, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: D831043
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Leininger, Joshua Ekholm, Jared Koch, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: D831044
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Leininger, Joshua Ekholm, Jared Koch, Gerald R. Johnson
  • Patent number: D831045
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Leininger, Joshua Ekholm, Jared Koch, Gerald R. Johnson