Patents by Inventor Scott C. Simmons

Scott C. Simmons 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).

  • Publication number: 20210076571
    Abstract: A calibration system for an agricultural vehicle includes: a motor-driven component; a motor coupled to the motor-driven component and configured to move the motor-driven component between a maximum distance position and a home position; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor. The controller is configured to: enter a component calibration mode; output a first movement signal to the motor to cause the motor to carry the motor-driven component toward the maximum distance position; determine that the motor-driven component has reached the maximum distance position; output a second movement signal to the motor to cause the motor to carry the motor-driven component toward the home position; and determine that the motor-driven component has reached the home position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Carl Brewer
  • Publication number: 20210051855
    Abstract: A wrapping assembly includes: a material roll that holds a roll of wrapping material; a duckbill assembly including a duckbill carrying a duckbill roll that draws material from a roll of wrapping material held by the material roll, the duckbill being movable between a first position and a second position; a duckbill actuator coupled to the duckbill that moves the duckbill between the first position and the second position; a variable brake associated with the material roll that applies a variable braking force to the material roll; and a controller operatively coupled to the duckbill actuator and the brake. The controller determines that a load on the duckbill actuator exceeds a threshold value and outputs a brake reduction signal to the brake so the brake reduces applied braking force to the material roll when the load on the duckbill actuator exceeds the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20210051854
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly for an agricultural baler includes: a tailgate that is movable between an open position and a closed position; a tailgate actuator coupled to the tailgate and configured to move the tailgate between the open position and the closed position; and a controller. The controller is configured to: determine that a bale formation cycle is beginning; enter a lockout mode responsively to determining the bale formation cycle has begun, the lockout mode preventing the tailgate actuator from moving the tailgate to the open position; determine that the bale formation cycle is complete; and enter an ejection mode from the lockout mode responsively to determining the bale formation cycle has completed, the ejection mode allowing the tailgate actuator to move the tailgate to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20210022295
    Abstract: A wrapping assembly for an agricultural vehicle includes a frame, a material support roll supported by the frame and configured to hold a roll of wrapping material, and a spreader roll assembly configured to spread wrapping material from the roll held by the material support roll and including a first roll supported by the frame and a second roll having at least one pivot. The at least one pivot pivotably couples the second roll to the frame and is positioned such that an exerted force from the wrapping material on the second roll causes the second roll to pivot toward the first roll and pinch the wrapping material between the first roll and the second roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Simmons
  • Patent number: 10383285
    Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that increases belt tension to reduce slippage between the belts and the driving rolls during the initial stage of a bale forming cycle when the bale chamber is empty and as the belts are beginning to be rolled. The system includes an accumulator that is pressurized by the tensioning system as a bale is being formed. The accumulator pressure may then be directed to a hydraulic cylinder included in a bale density system to increase tension in the belts after a completed bale is ejected and the bale chamber is being reset for the next bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Michael J. Cooper, Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 10356983
    Abstract: A wrapping mechanism is described that comprises at least two material support cylinders, a mechanism support cylinder, and a first and a second support plate, which are all rotatable about a support axis. The wrapping mechanism can comprise a pair of frame plates, a drive mechanism, a brake system, a lock mechanism, at least one feed roller and a feed plate. The wrapping mechanism can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Buweneke Fernando
  • Patent number: 10327387
    Abstract: An end cap for a spreader roll has a base portion and a pin portion, wherein the pin portion inserts into a bearing mechanism to allow the material spread roll to rotate. The base portion includes a mechanism to prevent wrapping material stretched by the material spread roll from reaching the bearing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Larry L. Hoover, Charles B. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10299439
    Abstract: A wrapping mechanism is described that comprises at least two material support cylinders, a mechanism support cylinder, and a first and a second support plate, which are all rotatable about a support axis. The wrapping mechanism can comprise a pair of frame plates, a drive mechanism, a brake system, a lock mechanism, at least one feed roller and a feed plate. The wrapping mechanism can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Simmons
  • Patent number: 10161431
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a wrapping material system in a harvester, particularly to a latching mechanism that allows a material support cylinder to be unlocked and automatically ejected from its locked position. The latching mechanism comprises a support plate, connected to a harvester sidewall and configured for supporting the material support cylinder, and a lever plate, connected to the support plate at a pivot point and configured for locking in the material support cylinder in a closed position and ejecting the material support cylinder from the locked position when moved to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20180317393
    Abstract: A net knife assembly for a baler is provided. The net knife assembly includes a linkage drive system including a drive linkage coupled to a motor. The net knife assembly includes a knife carrier coupled to the linkage drive system and configured to be positioned in a home position and a cut position. The net knife assembly includes a tensioning member coupled to the linkage drive system. The motor is configured to rotate the drive linkage of the linkage drive system, rotation of the drive linkage rotating the knife carrier between the home position and the cut position. Upon rotation of the knife carrier through a center position relative to the tensioning member, the tensioning member accelerates rotation of the knife carrier into the home position or the cut position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Brandon PETERSON, Scott C. SIMMONS
  • Publication number: 20180064031
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an end cap for a roller, and specifically to an end cap for a material spread roll in a harvester. The end cap comprises a base portion and a pin portion, wherein the pin portion inserts into a bearing mechanism to allow the material spread roll to rotate, and wherein the base portion comprises several mechanism to prevent wrapping material stretched by the material spread roll from reaching the bearing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America, LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Larry L. Hoover, Charles B. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20170188520
    Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that increases belt tension to reduce slippage between the belts and the driving rolls during the initial stage of a bale forming cycle when the bale chamber is empty and as the belts are beginning to be rolled. The system includes an accumulator that is pressurized by the tensioning system as a bale is being formed. The accumulator pressure may then be directed to a hydraulic cylinder included in a bale density system to increase tension in the belts after a completed bale is ejected and the bale chamber is being reset for the next bale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Michael J. Cooper, Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 9622419
    Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that increases belt tension to reduce slippage between the belts and the driving rolls during the initial stage of a bale forming cycle when the bale chamber is empty and as the belts are beginning to be rolled. The system includes an accumulator that is pressurized by the tensioning system as a bale is being formed. The accumulator pressure may then be directed to a hydraulic cylinder included in a bale density system to increase tension in the belts after a completed bale is ejected and the bale chamber is being reset for the next bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Michael J. Cooper, Kevin M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170067495
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a wrapping material system in a harvester, particularly to a latching mechanism that allows a material support cylinder to be unlocked and automatically ejected from its locked position. The latching mechanism comprises a support plate, connected to a harvester sidewall and configured for supporting the material support cylinder, and a lever plate, connected to the support plate at a pivot point and configured for locking in the material support cylinder in a closed position and ejecting the material support cylinder from the locked position when moved to an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventor: Scott C. Simmons
  • Patent number: 9415888
    Abstract: A net wrapping system includes an insertion assembly configured to move between a home position and an insert position. The insertion assembly has at least one insertion assembly spreader roll configured to engage net wrapping from a net roll. The net wrapping system also includes a fixed spreader roll proximate to the net roll and configured to engage the net wrapping along a length of the fixed spreader roll circumferential surface when the insertion assembly is in the home position. The net wrapping system further includes a back wrap roll located along a net path between the fixed spreader roll and the at least one insertion assembly spreader roll and configured to cause the net wrapping to maintain engagement with substantially the same length of the fixed spreader roll circumferential surface when the insertion assembly is in the insert position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Bram Rosseel, Scott C. Simmons
  • Patent number: 9376227
    Abstract: A net dispensing assembly in a baler includes a net roll support tube configured to hold the net roll and a brake drum assembly coupled to the net roll support tube and configured to rotate about the net roll support tube and apply tension to the net wrapping dispensed from the net roll. The net dispensing assembly also includes a pivoting element configured to move the net roll support tube between an operating position and a load-unload position. The net dispensing assembly further includes a locking mechanism coupled to the brake drum assembly and configured to prevent the brake drum assembly from rotating in a direction opposite the operating direction when the net roll support tube is in at least one of (i) the load-unload position and (ii) the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Scott C. Simmons, Brian T. Wolf
  • Patent number: 9295198
    Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that temporarily bypasses a bale density, belt tension increasing system while the baler tailgate is moved out of a closed position thereby allowing the tailgate to be opened without encountering resistance form the belts and the belt tensioning system. Bypass operation is coordinated with the tailgate position so that the bypass is not activated when such activation would frustrate operation of the belt tensioning system. In balers equipped with a belt tensioning pre-tensioning system, the bypass operation is further coordinated with the pre-tensioning system to maintain proper pre-tension function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Filip Wijffels, Michael J. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20160007539
    Abstract: A wrapping mechanism is described that comprises at least two material support cylinders, a mechanism support cylinder, and a first and a second support plate, which are all rotatable about a support axis. The wrapping mechanism can comprise a pair of frame plates, a drive mechanism, a brake system, a lock mechanism, at least one feed roller and a feed plate. The wrapping mechanism can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventor: Scott C. Simmons
  • Publication number: 20150296715
    Abstract: A wrapping mechanism is described that comprises at least two material support cylinders, a mechanism support cylinder, and a first and a second support plate, which are all rotatable about a support axis. The wrapping mechanism can comprise a pair of frame plates, a drive mechanism, a brake system, a lock mechanism, at least one feed roller and a feed plate. The wrapping mechanism can be integrated into an agricultural harvester such as a baler or combine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Scott C. Simmons, Buweneke Fernando
  • Patent number: 9078399
    Abstract: An improved belt guide system has individual guide sleeves mounted on one or more of the guide rolls, one sleeve for each belt, in an agricultural round baler. Each sleeve encircles the roll surface of the guide roll and is positioned between the belt and the guide roll surface in a manner allowing relative rotational movement between the sleeve and the guide roll. Each guide sleeve is thus allowed to match the peripheral speed of the respective belt as it passes over the guide roll and allow slippage to occur between the guide roll surface and the inner circumference of the guide sleeve. Flanges extending radially outwardly on each sleeve end maintain the sleeve alignment with the respective belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frederick R. Hubach, James D. Walker, Scott C. Simmons