Patents Examined by Madeline I Runco
  • Patent number: 11974516
    Abstract: A support system for an agricultural header includes a first actuator configured to couple to a frame of the agricultural header and to a first element of the agricultural header. The support system also includes a second actuator configured to couple to the frame of the agricultural header and to a second element of the agricultural header. Furthermore, the support system includes a third actuator configured to couple to the frame of the agricultural header and to the second element of the agricultural header. The support system also includes a fluid supply system configured to provide pressurized fluid to the first actuator and to the second actuator. The third actuator is fluidly isolated from the fluid supply system, the first actuator, and the second actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Thomas, Joel Timothy Cook
  • Patent number: 11963481
    Abstract: Provided is a separator for separating harvested berries from other plant matter, particularly to a separator that can be fitted to, positioned above, or integrated with, a collection bin and as such allows for material harvested by an automatic berry harvester to be processed prior to deposition of the berries in the collection bin. In particular the berry harvester can be a grape harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: AUSSIE WINE GROUP HOLDINGS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Malcolm Villis, Peter Balnaves
  • Patent number: 11950534
    Abstract: A solar powered robotic lawnmower includes a sound suppression means and a seed spreading means. The lawnmower includes a Bluetooth speaker on the device to serve as a sound suppression means. A user may play their desired audio media through the Bluetooth speaker in order to drown out the sound produced when mowing the grass. Additionally, the lawnmower includes a chute to serve as a seed spreading means. In one embodiment, the chute is located at the side of the device and serves to disperse seeds as the device mows a user's lawn. The lawnmower further features blades on a bottom end of the device to facilitate the cutting of a lawn as the device travels. A remote control is also included to allow a user to remotely control the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Louna Francois
  • Patent number: 11944037
    Abstract: A hemp harvester which strips the leaves and flowers from the stalks and branches of a hemp plant and separates them for subsequent processing includes a branch lifter for lifting and bunching the branches of the hemp plants as the harvester advances towards them; a stripper with counter rotating stripper rollers having radially extending resiliently flexible paddles which converge as said rolls turn to trap said flowers and leaves between them and strip the flowers and leaves from said stalks and branches; a capture system for capturing the separated flowers and leaves as they are stripped from the stalk and branches of the plants, a transfer and mulcher system for mulching and transferring said flowers and leaves from said capture system to a collection chamber; and an uprooting system for uprooting and collecting the stripped plants as said hemp harvester passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Evolve3, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathon J. Zuzga
  • Patent number: 11937547
    Abstract: The invention relates to an attachment for attaching to a harvesting machine, comprising a number of picking devices (2) distributed adjacent to one another over the working width, said picking devices having at least a first and a second picking rotor (10a, 10b), which can be driven in counterrotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Geringhoff GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Frank Schlamann
  • Patent number: 11930737
    Abstract: A merger system for an agricultural vehicle includes: at least one frame mount configured to couple to a chassis; a movable merger frame coupled to the at least one frame mount; a conveyor supported by the merger frame and configured to convey crop material; at least one load sensor associated with the at least one frame mount and configured to output load signals corresponding to a mass of the merger frame; and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one load sensor. The controller is configured to: determine a mass of crop material conveyed by the conveyor based at least partially on the mass of the merger frame; determine a crop yield based at least partially on the determined mass of crop material; and output a yield signal corresponding to the determined crop yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Zachary Stephens
  • Patent number: 11925145
    Abstract: A harvesting machine that has a first rotor rotationally coupled to a chassis, a second rotor rotationally coupled to the chassis, and a spine separating the first rotor from the second rotor. Wherein the spine has threshing inserts coupled thereto to facilitate threshing of crop processed by the first and second rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Manish Singh, Michael T. Meschke, Mark L. Mattson, Corey A. Noord
  • Patent number: 11925139
    Abstract: The permanent lawn mower, or inground lawn mower, is designed to be an alternative to conventional mobile mowing. Its focus is small grassy areas that are dangerous or impractical to mow by other means. In a first embodiment, the system includes three primary components: a drive unit that supplies rotational motion; a cable that carries rotational motion away from the drive unit, and one or more cutting heads that convert the rotational motion into a cutting action. In a second embodiment, the drive unit is combined with the cutting head, avoiding the need for a cable to carry rotational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Kevin Northcutt
  • Patent number: 11925941
    Abstract: A debucking machine, for use with processing industrial hemp or cannabis, is provided. Embodiments of the debucking machine include counter-rotating rollers equipped with rubberized combs for gently removing flowers, or “buds,” from harvested industrial hemp or cannabis. Embodiments of the debucking machine are portable and may be moved from location to location within a drying shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Adison Archie
  • Patent number: 11925144
    Abstract: A harvesting apparatus includes a crop conditioning element coupled to a frame, and a hood moveable relative to the crop conditioning element. An actuating system moveably connects the hood to the frame. The actuating system includes a driven lever arm rotatably attached to the frame and including a first lever connection and a second lever connection positioned opposite each other across a lever rotation axis. A first pivot assembly is rotatably attached to the frame and includes a first pivot connection coupled to the first lever connection of the driven lever arm, and a second pivot connection coupled to a first lift connection of the hood. A second pivot assembly is rotatably attached to the frame and includes a third pivot connection coupled to the second lever connection of the driven lever arm, and a fourth pivot connection coupled to a second lift connection of the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Zachary J. Lyle, Thomas A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 11925138
    Abstract: A beet scalper includes an upwardly biased parallel arm linkage, a boom, having an upper end coupled to the parallel arm linkage and a lower end bearing a beet scalping blade, and a locking mechanism, holding the boom in a downward operating position. Forward deflection of the lower end of the boom releases the locking mechanism, allowing the boom to rise to a tripped position under force of a biasing mechanism associated with the parallel arm linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Andrew Florence
  • Patent number: 11910751
    Abstract: The robotic system for harvesting, and performing pre- and post-harvesting tasks of date palm trees includes three main parts: a truck platform, a scissor lift, and a multi-task system. The truck platform provides mobility for the whole system, while the scissor lift raises the multi-task system to the top of the palm tree. The multi-task system is fixed on top of the scissor lift and includes a large basin that catches fruits during harvesting. A circular track is fixed within the basin and includes a 2-degree-of-freedom (DOF) slider base mounted thereon. On top of the 2-DOF slider base is a robotic arm fitted with the proper tool (harvesting tool, maintenance tool or bagging system) for the task to be performed. The circular track has pivoting sections, and the basin has a flexible portion in the rear of the truck platform to allow the system to surround the palm tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mohamed Amine Mekhtiche, Mansour Mohammed A. Alsulaiman, Yousef Ahmed M. Alohali, Mohamed Abdelkader Bencherif, Ghulam Muhammad, Abdul Wadood, Mohammed Faisal Abdulqader Naji, Hassan Ismail H. Mathkour, Mohammed Mahdi Algabri, Hebah Abdulaziz Elgibreen, Hamid Abdulsalam Ghaleb, Hamdi Taher Altaheri, Taha Mohammed Ahmed Alfaqih, Muneer Hamid Ahmed Al-Hammadi
  • Patent number: 11903340
    Abstract: A mower-to-skid steer loader mounting structure is affixed to the top panel of a heavy-duty mowing deck. The mounting structure has a top flange, and, a bottom flange. The bottom flange extends between a spaced first and second edge and is formed with a first and second pair of close-together rectangular holes, the first pair being disposed close to the first edge and the second pair closer to the second edge but not as close as between the first pair and first edge. Wherein the outboard hole of the first pair and the inboard hole of the second pair allow the mowing deck to be mounted offset relative the skid steer loader, while the inboard hole of the first pair and the outboard hole of the second pair allow the mowing deck to be mounted centered relative the skid steer loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Brandon L. Bungart
  • Patent number: 11897333
    Abstract: A harvester includes: a crop tank that stores a crop harvested by a harvesting device; a weight detection unit that detects a storage weight, which is a value indicating the weight of the crop stored in the crop tank; a maximum weight calculation unit that calculates a maximum weight, which is a value indicating the weight of the crop at the maximum storage amount of the crop tank; a unit harvest weight calculation unit calculates a unit harvest weight that indicates the weight of the crop harvested per unit of harvest-travel distance; and a maximum travel distance calculation unit that calculates a maximum travel distance, which is the maximum distance that can be traveled during traveling harvesting before the amount of the crop stored in the crop tank reaches the maximum storage amount, based on the storage weight, the maximum weight, and the unit harvest weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sakaguchi, Tomohiko Sano, Osamu Yoshida, Satoshi Maruo, Takashi Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 11889778
    Abstract: An agricultural implement including a frame, at least one rake moveably coupled to the frame and including a plurality of tine arms, a plurality of tines connected to the plurality of tine arms, and a rotor drive configured for rotating the plurality of tine arms, and an adjustment system configured for adjusting a rake height of the at least one rake. The adjustment system includes at least one actuator, an electronic control unit operably connected to the at least one actuator, and at least one dust sensor supported by the frame and operably connected to the electronic control unit. The at least one dust sensor monitors a dust level and communicates dust level data to the electronic control unit which correspondingly adjusts the rake height based upon the dust level data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Pieter W. Viaene
  • Patent number: 11889791
    Abstract: A device for leveling a surface; the device includes a shaft, a handle-means and a head-assembly. The shaft is selectively retractable, and the head-assembly is foldable to enable compact storage. The device is for personal use by a user in leveling a surface; for example, a sand bunker/sand trap on a golf course. In some versions, the device further includes an attachment-means for attaching the device to a bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Curran Golf Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Curran, Michael White, Richard Gregory Elmer
  • Patent number: 11882788
    Abstract: A mowing sickle drive system comprises a knife bar supported by a frame and drive apparatus operable to drive the knife bar in a reciprocating linear motion at a variable drive frequency. A spring is coupled to the knife bar for applying a restoring force to the knife bar toward a neutral position when in motion. The spring has a variable modulus of elasticity that is controlled dependent upon the drive frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Jonas Toft Andersen
  • Patent number: 11871700
    Abstract: A system for cleaning a flow of harvested crop, including a conveyor to convey the flow downstream of the conveyor into a cleaning zone into which the flow is discharged, and a cleaning unit located above the cleaning zone and operable to generate an upward air flow through the cleaning zone for extracting residues contained in the discharged flow. The system further includes at least two conveying rolls that are disposed behind a downstream end of the conveyor in an upstream part of the cleaning zone to be fed with the flow of harvested crop discharged from the conveyor. The conveying rolls are arranged to convey the crop flow and to discharge it into a downstream part of the cleaning zone. Passages are formed between or through the rolls, and are arranged to allow an upward air flow therethrough for extracting residues from the crop present on the conveying rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Vincent Rico
  • Patent number: 11856885
    Abstract: A blade assembly for cutting vegetative material includes a rotatable body and a number of inertially deployable blades hingedly affixed to the rotatable body. Each blade is rotatable between a first retracted position and a second extended position, and each blade cooperates with the body to form a capture mechanism preventing detachment of the blade from the body in the event the hinged affixation of the blade fails. The body includes a guide plate positioned between a top cover and a bottom cover. The covers provide hinge points for the blades at desired locations relative to the guide plate. The guide plate may include fixed blades, and blade stops may be implemented to retain each blade in the first retracted position or in a position intermediate the first retracted position and the second extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Jason Olin
  • Patent number: 11839180
    Abstract: There is disclosed a power-assisted corn kernel remover comprising a rigid frame supporting an annular corn kernel cutter. A powered mechanism mounted above the cutter activates a piston downward to push shucked ears of fresh corn onto the cutter. The cutter is sized and has a sharp cutting edge that severs the corn kernels from the cob as the ear descends. The cob is pushed downward through a passage to a disposal bin, while the kernels are captured by a basket surrounding the cutter. The cutter is formed of spring steel and is loosely held within the frame to allow for some expansion due to different sizes of corncobs. The powered mechanism may be a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly supplied with compressed air and having a control mechanism that permits partial activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: MOSS LANE RANCH, LLC
    Inventor: Pat Mitchell