Patents Examined by Alicia Torres
  • Removably attachable adjustable cutting apparatus and method
    Patent number: 11382265
    Abstract: A removably attachable adjustable cutting apparatus and method includes a cutting deck, a mounting plate, a main pivot point in the mounting plate and a main adjustable arm with a first end connected with the mounting plate at the main pivot point and with a second end connected with the cutting deck such that the cutting deck is adjustable from a horizontal to a vertical position and positions in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: LANE SHARK USA, LLC
    Inventors: Travis William Odom, Charles Terry Marsh
  • Harvesting device with a conical screw conveyor
    Patent number: 11382271
    Abstract: Harvesting device, having cutting members (14) for separating the crop material and/or having receiving members for collecting the crop material, having at least one transverse conveying device (19) for delivering the separated and/or collected crop material in a transverse conveying direction (20) running transversely to the harvesting direction, wherein the at least one transverse conveying device (19) is configured as a screw conveyor (21), comprising a trommel (22) and spiral conveying elements (23) sticking out from the trommel (22) in its radial direction. The respective screw conveyor (21) is conical or cone shaped, such that an envelope surface (24) of the spiral conveying elements (23) subtends a cone, which expands in conical or cone-shaped manner looking in the transverse conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: CLAAS Saulgau GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Birkhofer, Ulrich Boll
  • Depth control for a seed planting system
    Patent number: 11382258
    Abstract: A planting system including a plurality of seeding row assemblies, each having components maintained at a controlled elevation. The seeding row assembly includes a tillage row unit controlled to maintain a desired elevation relative to a seeding row unit, the seeding row unit being configured to passively follow the local terrain. Each seeding row assembly can include two position sensors that generate signals corresponding to the elevation of the seeding row unit and the ground engagement attachment, respectively, or a differential positon sensor that generates signals corresponding to the difference in the elevations. Various embodiments include a local closed loop controller that adjusts elevation of the tillage row unit relative to the seeding row unit to a desired set point. In some embodiments, the down force of the seeding row unit is actively controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventor: Shane Houck
  • Harvest header with adjustable transverse conveyor screw
    Patent number: 11375665
    Abstract: A harvest header for a harvesting machine includes a carrying frame, a mechanism for receiving or cutting harvest material from a field, a control device, a power-operated actuator operably controlled by the control device, and a transverse conveyor screw movably controlled between two or more positions. The position of the transverse conveyor screw is adjustably controlled by the actuator in order to transport the harvest material to a discharge opening. The control device independently controls the actuator based on at least one harvest material property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Christina Fries, Friedrich Lauer, Eric Loutz, Oliver Klein, Lutz Bischoff, Dirk Weichholdt
  • Corn header adjustable divider point
    Patent number: 11375666
    Abstract: A corn head assembly for an agricultural harvester includes a plurality of row units for processing corn plants in rows. Adjustable dividers are provided between adjacent row units to direct laterally adjacent corn plants into adjacent row units. Each adjustable divider has an adjustable divider point with an adjustable operating height profile between a shorter, lowermost position and a taller, uppermost position to adjust the operating height of the adjustable divider for different harvesting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frederik Baes, Stijn Borry, Yvan C. C. Vandergucht, Maarten Ysebaert
  • Concave adjustment system in a combine harvester twin axial-flow crop processor
    Patent number: 11375667
    Abstract: A combine harvester including a frame and two axial-flow crop processing rotors mounted to the frame. An inner support structure is located between the two rotors and is mounted to the frame by a first linkage. Two outer support structures are located outboard of the two rotors and are mounted to the frame by respective second and third linkages. The inner support structure and two outer support structures carry first and second pluralities of concave grate segments at a radial distance from the respective rotors. A concave adjustment system includes a first actuator coupled to the first linkage which is configured to raise and lower the inner support structure. A second actuator is coupled to one of the second and third linkages and is configured to raise and lower at least one of the two outer support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Brian Broholm, Alastair Cameron Morrison
  • Furrow cutting and press wheel assembly with adjacent seeding unit
    Patent number: 11375657
    Abstract: A seeding apparatus comprising a frame having a first section adapted to be attached to a toolbar for towing by a vehicle, and a second section comprising a cutting unit and a seeding unit, the cutting unit comprising at least one cutting disc and the seeding unit comprising at least one seed boot and at least one seed boot mounting, the seed boot mounting comprising a bar configured to locate the seed boot adjacent a side surface of the cutting disc, wherein the bar comprises a proximal end attached to the frame of the seeding apparatus, and a distal end for attachment of the seed boot. The invention also relates to a cutting and seeding assembly for mounting on the seeding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MYGRAIN SOLUTION PTY LTD
    Inventor: Michael Fels
  • Agricultural field preparation device
    Patent number: 11375653
    Abstract: An agricultural device associated with reduced tillage techniques in a field includes a frame and a separator supported by the frame. The separator is configured to form a strip of exposed soil in residual plant matter in the field. A crimping device associated with the separator is configured to at least partially crush stems of residual plant matter while maintaining the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventors: Charles H. Martin, Dominic R. Martin
  • Lawnmower having a blade with adjustable flaps
    Patent number: 11375659
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a cutter blade having flaps and a flap drive mechanism. The flap drive mechanism includes a flap drive source and an intermediate power transmission unit. The intermediate power transmission unit is provided on a power transmission path between the flap drive source and the flaps and provided coaxially with a blade rotation axis. An output axis of a motor is provided coaxially with a blade rotation axis and the intermediate power transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Ito, Hideaki Kobayashi, Koji Kuriyagawa, Hajime Yoshimura
  • Concentric blade trimming system with auto-adjusting blades
    Patent number: 11375671
    Abstract: A Concentric Blade Trimming System with Adjustable Blades. The System includes at least one pair of rotating drums within which are rotating cutting blade assemblies. The system allows the user to load untrimmed buds continuously, and to generate an efficient, continuous flow of trimmed buds as output. The cutting blade assemblies rotate within the rotating drums independently. The cutting blade assemblies also include apparatus that will automatically adjust the blade position relative to the interior walls of the drums so that the trimming process can continue without the need to shut down for blade adjustment. In an alternate version, the blades are flexible and their adjustment is conducted manually with only a short intermission in operation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Beau Camaren
  • Vacuum generating device for robotic harvesting
    Patent number: 11370129
    Abstract: An example system includes a vacuum generating device, a robotic arm, and a harvesting device coupled to the robotic arm. The harvesting device includes an end-effector having an inlet; a vacuum tube coupled to the inlet of the end-effector and to the vacuum generating device, where the vacuum generating device is configured to generate a vacuum environment in the vacuum tube; an outlet mechanism coupled to the vacuum tube; and a deceleration structure configured to decelerate fruit that has traversed at least a portion of the vacuum environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Abundant Robots, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt Salisbury, Daniel C. Steere, Michael Eriksen, Cedric Schwab
  • Adaptive control of a mower
    Patent number: 11357167
    Abstract: A mower can be adaptively controlled to optimize efficiency based on loads experienced by motors that drive the cutting blades and/or based on vertical movement that a mower deck is experiencing. If the load is below a threshold, the ground speed of the mower can be increased. If the vertical movement or load exceeds a threshold, the ground speed can be reduced. The mower's performance can also be monitored to identify characteristics of an area being cut and then such characteristics can be used to further enhance the efficiency of the mower. A density map can be created based on monitored load, vertical movement and possibly other characteristics as a mower is cutting a particular area. The density map can be employed by any mower that is subsequently used to cut the same area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FireFly Automatix, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Aposhian, Eric E. Aston, William M. Decker, Samuel H. Drake
  • Fertilizer and depth guide means with trailing in-line seeder
    Patent number: 11357162
    Abstract: A seed drill having a frame, to which at least one seeding coulter and a fertiliser coulter arranged upstream of the seeding coulter in a working direction are connected. The seeding coulter and the fertiliser coulter are each assigned depth control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: LEMKEN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Dennis Bergerfurth, Christian Gotzen, Martin Gebbeken
  • Cutting deck height adjustment system for a riding lawn care vehicle
    Patent number: 11357169
    Abstract: A height adjustment system for adjusting a cutting deck height of a front mounted cutting deck (50) of a riding lawn care vehicle (10) may include a lever (155) operable by an operator seated on the riding lawn care vehicle, and a height adjustment assembly (150) that is alternately assembled and disassembled during attachment and removal of the cutting deck without any operator interaction other than positioning of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventor: Johan Bengtzohn
  • Gauge wheel arm with split end and threaded bore
    Patent number: 11357161
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for a gauge wheel on a row unit allows for infinite lateral adjustment of the gauge relative to an opening disc on the row unit. The mounting assembly includes an arm with a threaded bore extending through a split end of the arm. A threaded bushing is adjustably mounted in the bore and secured in a desired position with a bolt standing through the split end to clamp bushing in position. The split end mounting arm provides a method of quickly and easily adjusting the lateral position of the gauge wheel on the row unit in infinite increments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Harvest International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Sivinski
  • Agricultural planter including adjustable row cleaners
    Patent number: 11350554
    Abstract: An agricultural planter is operable in a travel direction and a travel velocity and configured to dispense seeds into a furrow formed within an agricultural surface. An adjustment assembly is for the agricultural planter and includes a bracket configured to be coupled to a frame of the agricultural planter and a debris cleaner coupled to the bracket. The debris cleaner is configured such that during operation of the agricultural planter the debris cleaner has, relative to the travel direction, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The debris cleaner is movable such that a distance between the leading and trailing edges in the travel direction is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: James R. Peterson, Nathan A. Mariman
  • Seed meter assembly with seed loader
    Patent number: 11350559
    Abstract: A seed meter assembly for a seeding machine. The seed meter assembly has a metering member mounted for rotation about a meter axis and driven to rotate in a direction of travel, the metering member having an inner surface configured to receive seeds and an outer surface and apertures passing through the metering member between the inner surface and the outer surface at a radial distance from the meter axis. The seed meter assembly also has a seed delivery mechanism configured to discharge the seeds from the seeding machine, and a loader including at least one non-cylindrical loader surface movable into and out of a position in which the loader surface is disposed at the radial distance adjacent one of the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Elijah B. Garner, Kamalakannan Natarajan
  • Crank-operated packer mechanism for an agricultural baler
    Patent number: 11350573
    Abstract: A crank-operated packer mechanism includes crank pins and crank arms assembled by a tapered spline connection. The connection includes tapered spline features on outer ends of the crank pins and in openings provided at outer ends of the crank arms, which interlock when the crank pins are inserted in the openings. The connection further includes a locking feature for locking the connection, such as a locking nut screwed onto a threaded outer end of the crank pins when inserted into the opening. Fixing of rotary bearings onto the crank pins is done by a fixing nut which at the same time serves as a disassembling aid for the spline connection. The crank arms are shaped in a way that deviates from a straight shape to such an extent that the crank shaft is statically balanced about its central rotation axis. Also a baler including the aforementioned packer mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart G. L. Van Hullebusch, Ruben Gryson, Jeroen Devroe
  • Frame design for a cotton picking unit and method of use
    Patent number: 11343966
    Abstract: A row unit for an agricultural machine includes a frame, a floor, and a subassembly discrete from the frame and the floor. The subassembly is configured to be coupled to the floor and the frame and positioned within the frame during operation of the row unit. The subassembly includes a cam-plate including a top side, a bottom side, and a cam-track defined in the bottom side. The subassembly also includes a drum; a plurality of picker-bars coupled to the drum, and a linkage assembly including a first end coupled to the picker-bar and a second end coupled to a roller positioned in the cam-track. The subassembly is assembled prior to being positioned in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon C. Carlson, Charles F. Ostermeier, Yogesh Kasat, Prashant Bodade
  • Row unit with vision system for maintaining seed orientation
    Patent number: 11337362
    Abstract: Systems, implements, and methods for seed orientation during planting operations of agricultural plants of agricultural include a system for seed orientation having a vision system positioned in proximity to a seed disk. The vision system determines seed orientation data for seed on the seed disk. A seed belt receives seed from the seed disk and the seed belt adjusts an orientation of the seed from the seed disk to a desired seed orientation with a furrow during planting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Dale Koch, Jeremy Hodel, Todd Swanson, Ian Radtke