Abstract: A louver position sensing system for a sieve and chaffer of a combine harvester. One system provides that at least one sensor is in actual, physical contact with one or more louvers of the sieve and chaffer. Another system provides that a one or more magnet holders are mounted on louvers and, spaced away, sensors sense magnets in the magnet holders to determine the rotational position of the louvers. Either system allows for accurate, on-the-fly adjustment of the louvers in order to maximize the efficiency of operation of the sieve and chaffer. Preferably, the sensing systems are configured such that sensed position of the louvers is broadcast on the CAN bus of the combine harvester. As a result, the position information can be used to dynamically adjust the openings between the louvers of the sieve and chaffer to achieve more efficient grain cleaning as the machine and field variables change.

Abstract: A high strength sieve which is lightweight and durable without having to add springs, and without requiring a high level of force to effect adjustment of the louvers. The high strength sieve utilizes hollow tubes to support the louvers. Providing hollow tubes (i.e., rather than solid wires) allows for larger diameter holes to be used in the frame. This provides for increased bearing surfaces, as well as provides for better tolerances. This reduces the movement of the tubes within the holes. Preferably, the tubes are mounted in the frame through holes which are extruded, thereby providing for increased bearing surfaces and a tighter fit. The extruded holes also provide a natural lead-in for the insertion of the tubes (i.e., during assembly of the sieve). Alternatively, solid wires can be provided extending through the extruded holes instead of hollow tubes.

Abstract: A bat tube for use with a harvester pick-up reel. The bat tube is configured to resist torsional loads, without having to use fasteners that engage holes in the bat tube. Preferably, the external surface of the bat tube provides at least one key or keyway that engages a corresponding keyway or key in the band or strap portion of the tines. As such, once a tine is engaged with the bat tube, the tine is generally prevented from rotating about the bat tube. Additionally, by not using fasteners to engage holes in the bat tube, spacing between the tines can be varied. The bat tube allows for tine fastening and torsional resistance without drilling or punching holes, which allows for easily variable tine spacings. It also allows for improved crop gathering and crop entry characteristics over a typical round profile.

Abstract: A tine for use with a harvester. The tine is preferably an injection molded polymer pickup reel tine, which uses a front-to-rear mold parting line direction. The tine preferably has a snap ring or strap portion which is configured to engage a bat tube, as well as a finger portion which is configured to engage the crop during harvesting. Preferably, the front-to-rear parting line is along both portions. The front-to-rear parting line allows for the ability to provide a deep front-to-rear cross section for rigidity at the high stress area of the tine. Two front-to-rear material saving features can be utilized to minimize material usage and allow for relative consistent wall thickness, which results in a rigid cross section that maintains deflection stability in the normal direction of deflection.

Abstract: A roller frame assembly for a pick-up reel of a harvester, where the roller frame assembly is adjustable in that its position can be easily adjusted relative to a position of a drive shaft of the pick-up reel, thereby effectively converting the pick-up reel from a flip reel to a non-flip reel, and vice versa.

Abstract: A method for receiving prescription data from a pharmacy is provided. The method includes emulating a device, such as using a pseudo TTY feature of a Unix operating system or a pseudo device of a Windows operating system. A prescription authorization system is then set to transmit data to the emulated device when the prescription data is provided to a claims approval agency by the prescription authorization system. The data can be supplemented with data from a secondary source, such as a system that acquires data in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or other suitable systems. The prescription data and any supplemental data is then received at the prescription authorization system, and is transmitted to the emulated device. The prescription data is also stored in a local log file, and is transmitted to a data warehouse over a network using the emulated device.

Abstract: A system for managing prescription data is provided. The system for managing prescription data includes a switch system. The switch system is configured to receive prescription submissions from pharmacy systems, submit the prescription submissions to approval systems, receive responses from the approval systems, and transmit the responses to the pharmacy systems. The switch system is further configured to receive treatment classification data including pathogen groups and pharmaceuticals prescribed to treat symptoms occurring from exposure to each pathogen group. The switch system is further configured to determine normal variations of the prescription submissions, detect anomalous variations of the prescription submissions, and generate a notification in response to detecting an anomalous variation.

Abstract: A single vane slat design for use in a sieve or chaffer of a harvester combine. The single vane slat has a weld pocket, preferably on its bottom surface, for receiving a wire on a frame. The single vane slat may be formed of a 26 gage material, and may be attached to the wire using two small welds. The weld material is configured to flow into the weld pocket upon being welded, and achieve direct and incidental contact between the wire and the slat. The weld pocket of the slat is configured such that the slat is self-fixturing to the wire, which lends to the ability to weld the slats to the wires while fixed in the frame. This facilitates accommodating a large number of frame types and sizes.

Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvester which includes stops for preventing over-rotation of bat tubes. The pickup reel includes a main shaft and a plurality of reel arms which extend from the main shaft. A bat tube is engaged with an end of each of the reel arms. More specifically, the pickup reel includes a plurality of bat tubes, all of which are parallel to each other and parallel to the main shaft of the pickup reel. Each bat tube carries a plurality of tines and is supported by a plurality of reel arms which extend from the main shaft. Associated with each bat tube are a plurality of stops for defining the range of allowable rotation of the respective bat tube. By restricting the amount the bat tubes can rotate, crop does not tend to get wrapped around the bat tubes during operation of the harvester.

Abstract: A single vane slat design for use in a sieve or chaffer of a harvester combine. The single vane slat has a weld pocket, preferably on its bottom surface, for receiving a wire on a frame. The single vane slat may be formed of a 26 gage material, and may be attached to the wire using two small welds. The weld material is configured to flow into the weld pocket upon being welded, and achieve direct and incidental contact between the wire and the slat. The weld pocket of the slat is configured such that the slat is self-fixturing to the wire, which lends to the ability to weld the slats to the wires while fixed in the frame. This facilitates accommodating a large number of frame types and sizes.

Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvester which includes stops for preventing over-rotation of bat tubes. The pickup reel includes a main shaft and a plurality of reel arms which extend from the main shaft. A bat tube is engaged with an end of each of the reel arms. More specifically, the pickup reel includes a plurality of bat tubes, all of which are parallel to each other and parallel to the main shaft of the pickup reel. Each bat tube carries a plurality of tines and is supported by a plurality of reel arms which extend from the main shaft. Associated with each bat tube are a plurality of stops for defining the range of allowable rotation of the respective bat tube. By restricting the amount the bat tubes can rotate, crop does not tend to get wrapped around the bat tubes during operation of the harvester.

Abstract: A snap on paddle for effectively and quickly converting a fully intact, non-broken tine into a paddle such that, in use, an increased amount of crop is swept into a harvester combine. The snap on paddle includes a receptacle which is configured to engage the fully intact, non-broken tine. The receptacle consists of a generally open channel having a plurality of walls which contact different parts of the tine. A fin half is located proximate each side of the receptacle and tabs are provided for locking onto the bat of the tine. The paddle is configured such that the tine can be slipped in the receptacle and the tabs snap on the bat of the tine, thereby securing the paddle in place over the tine. As such, the paddle can be snapped onto a pickup tine without having to use any tools.

Abstract: A combination for a harvester pickup reel, a harvester tine, and a method of assembling a pickup reel. In some aspects, the combination for a harvester pickup reel comprises a shaft, a tine supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and a fastener assembly integrally formed on one of the shaft and the tine. In other aspects, the combination for a harvester pickup reel comprises a shaft, a tine supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft and a fastener assembly. In such aspects, the fastener assembly comprises a first fastener member including a projection and a second fastener member defining a recess, the projection being insertable into the recess. In some aspects, the harvester tine comprises a support portion connectable with the second shaft to support the tine for rotation with the second shaft, the support portion being connectable to the second shaft without separate fasteners.

Abstract: A slat and a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly comprises a frame, a slat supported by the frame, and a rotational drive mechanism supported by the frame. In some constructions and in some aspects, the slat extends at least 180° about an axis and has a cross-section having a uniform radius in relation to the axis. The slat includes spaced finger-like indentations being defined on an edge of the slat. The slat is couplable to the rotational drive mechanism for rotation about the axis. In some constructions and in some aspects, the rotational drive mechanism includes a pinion connected to the end of the slat, and a drive shaft including a worm gear engaging the pinion and rotatably supported by the frame to rotate about a drive axis. In some constructions and in some aspects, the slat may include a cross-section having a first adjustment cavity and a second adjustment cavity.

Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvesting machine comprising a reel support and a first shaft rotatably supported by the reel support and extending along an axis transverse to the frame. A cam is supported by the reel support and defines a generally endless cam path extending about the first shaft. An arm extends radially from the first shaft and is rotatable with the first shaft. A second shaft is connected to the arm and supports a first tine and a second tine located on opposite axial sides of the cam. A cam follower is engageable with the cam and movable along the cam path. A crank arm assembly is connected between the cam follower and the second shaft. The rotation of the first shaft and movement of the cam follower along the cam path cooperate to cause the tips to move along the tip path.

Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvesting machine comprising a reel support and a first shaft rotatably supported by the reel support and extending along an axis transverse to the frame. A cam is supported by the reel support and defines a generally endless cam path extending about the first shaft. An arm extends radially from the first shaft and is rotatable with the first shaft. A second shaft is connected to the arm and supports a first tine and a second tine located on opposite axial sides of the cam. A cam follower is engageable with the cam and movable along the cam path. A crank arm assembly is connected between the cam follower and the second shaft. The rotation of the first shaft and movement of the cam follower along the cam path cooperate to cause the tips to move along the tip path.

Abstract: A slat and a sieve assembly. The sieve assembly comprises a frame, a slat supported by the frame, and a rotational drive mechanism supported by the frame. In some constructions and in some aspects, the slat extends at least 180° about an axis and has a cross-section having a uniform radius in relation to the axis. The slat includes spaced finger-like indentations being defined on an edge of the slat. The slat is couplable to the rotational drive mechanism for rotation about the axis. In some constructions and in some aspects, the rotational drive mechanism includes a pinion connected to the end of the slat, and a drive shaft including a worm gear engaging the pinion and rotatably supported by the frame to rotate about a drive axis. In some constructions and in some aspects, the slat may include a cross-section having a first adjustment cavity and a second adjustment cavity.

Abstract: A combination for a harvester pickup reel, a harvester tine, a harvester pickup reel, and a method of assembling a pickup reel. In some aspects, the combination for a harvester pickup reel comprises a shaft, a tine supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, and a fastener assembly integrally formed on one of the shaft and the tine. In other aspects, the combination for a harvester pickup reel comprises a shaft, a tine supportable on the shaft for rotation with the shaft and a fastener assembly. In such aspects, the fastener assembly comprises a first fastener member including a projection and a second fastener member defining a recess, the projection being insertable into the recess. In some aspects, the harvester tine comprises a support portion connectable with the second shaft to support the tine for rotation with the second shaft, the support portion being connectable to the second shaft without separate fasteners.

Abstract: A pickup reel for a harvester. The harvester includes a harvesting platform including a frame having a front edge and a cutter bar extending along the front edge. The pickup reel includes a reel support supported by the frame, a first shaft rotatably supported by the reel support and extending along an axis transverse to the frame, an arm extending radially from and being rotatable with the first shaft, a second shaft supported by the arm and being generally parallel to and radially spaced from the first shaft, the second shaft being rotatable relative to and rotatable with the arm, and a plurality of tines supported by the second shaft for rotation with the second shaft, each of the plurality of tines having a tip, the tips being movable along a tip path during rotation of the first shaft.