Patents by Inventor AUSTIN J. JONES

AUSTIN J. JONES 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: 20250228156
    Abstract: A crop mower system includes a traction unit connected to a mower implement via a drawbar. A controller is operable to identify an existing headland windrow extending transverse to a current direction of travel of the mower implement, and identify a standing crop edge extending transverse to the current direction of travel of the mower implement and positioned prior to the existing headland windrow. When a leading edge of the cutter system reaches the standing crop edge, the controller automatically raises the mower implement from a cutting height to a raised height prior to the mower implement crossing the existing headland windrow, automatically swings the mower implement to another side, and automatically aligns the traction unit for a subsequent mower pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: AUSTIN J. JONES, Robert J. Naeger
  • Publication number: 20250221344
    Abstract: A round baler includes a forming belt defining a baling chamber having an inlet through which crop material enters. A belt tensioning system includes a tension arm and a plurality of moveable rollers that move for maintaining tension in a forming belt while allowing a diametric size of the bale to increase during formation. A starter roll is positioned immediately upstream of the inlet relative to a rotational direction of the bale within the baling chamber during formation. The starter roll is moveable during bale formation in a direction at least partially directed toward a central transverse axis of the baling chamber to maintain a constant inward deformation distance into an exterior circumferential surface of the bale as the diametric size of the bale increases during formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2024
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Inventors: AUSTIN J. JONES, WILLIAM P. SCHINSTOCK
  • Publication number: 20240365714
    Abstract: A baler implement may include a main frame, a main housing, a gate, a latch housing, a latch, and a debris shield. The main housing is supported by the main frame. The gate is attached to and rotatably supported by the main housing. The latch housing is coupled to one of the main frame and the gate. The latch housing has a retainer and defines a pocket. The latch is coupled to an other of the main frame and the gate. The latch is controllable between a release position operable to disengage the retainer to allow the gate to move relative to the main housing and an engaged position operable to engage the retainer to hold the gate relative to the main housing. The debris shield is resiliently deformable to allow the latch to move through the opening of the pocket to limit debris entering the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: AUSTIN J. JONES, WILLIAM P. SCHINSTOCK
  • Publication number: 20230041824
    Abstract: A tag installer for a baler implement includes a housing having a wall defining a baling chamber. The tag installer includes a retractable member having a tooth portion rotatably moveable about a member rotation axis between an installation position and a tag loading position. When in the installation position, the tooth portion is positioned to extend through an opening in the wall and penetrate a bale within the baling chamber. When in the tag loading position, the tooth portion is withdrawn from the baling chamber. An member actuator selectively rotates the retractable member about the member rotation axis. A dispenser holds a plurality of identification tags so that the tooth portion may engage and move a respective one of the identification tags through the opening and into embedded engagement with the bale when moving from the tag loading position into the installation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventor: AUSTIN J. JONES
  • Publication number: 20220015300
    Abstract: A round baler includes a housing, and a gate rotatably attached to the housing. A bale holder is attached to and moveable with the gate. The bale holder includes a retractable member that is moveable between an engaged position operable to grasp a bale and move the bale with the gate, and a disengaged position operable to release the bale. The retractable member is positioned to grasp an end face of the bale at a contact location. The contact location is disposed rearward of a vertical reference plane passing through a centerline of the bale when the bale is within an interior region of the round baler and the gate is in the closed position. The contact location may be disposed below a horizontal plane passing through the centerline of the bale when the bale is within the interior region and the gate is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: DANIEL E. DERSCHEID, AUSTIN J. JONES
  • Publication number: 20210329843
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for operating a rear gate of a baler implement includes a hydraulic cylinder having a housing that defines an interior, and a piston that is moveably disposed within the interior of the housing. The housing includes a first fluid port and a second fluid port, each disposed in fluid communication with a first fluid volume of the hydraulic cylinder. A flow rate control valve is moveable between a first position for directing fluid to or from the first fluid port at a first flow rate, and a second position for directing fluid to or from the second fluid port at a second flow rate. The second flow rate is different than the first flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: TIMOTHY J. KRAUS, DANIEL E. DERSCHEID, AUSTIN J. JONES
  • Publication number: 20210147200
    Abstract: A baler includes a body, and a wrap system that is attached to the body. The wrap system is operable to support a roll of wrap material in an installed position. A cover is attached to the body, and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in open position, the cover provides access to the wrap system from an exterior location. When in the closed position, the cover encloses the wrap system from the exterior location. The baler includes a lift system attached to the body. The lift system is concealed between the body and the cover when the cover is disposed in the closed position. The lift system is positioned below the cover when the cover is disposed in the open position. The lift system raises the roll of wrap material into the installed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: JOSHUA R. MCAFEE, AUSTIN J. JONES, TIMOTHY J. KRAUS, PHANI ANAPARTI, SUBHADRA MAITHILI
  • Publication number: 20200017341
    Abstract: A baler includes a body, and a wrap system that is attached to the body. The wrap system is operable to support a roll of wrap material in an installed position. A cover is attached to the body, and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in open position, the cover provides access to the wrap system from an exterior location. When in the closed position, the cover encloses the wrap system from the exterior location. The baler includes a lift system attached to one of the body and the cover. The lift system is concealed between the body and the cover when the cover is disposed in the closed position. The lift system is positioned below the cover when the cover is disposed in the open position. The lift system raises the roll of wrap material into the installed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: JOSHUA R. MCAFEE, AUSTIN J. JONES, TIMOTHY J. KRAUS, PHANI ANAPARTI, SUBHADRA I. MAITHILI
  • Publication number: 20160374269
    Abstract: A crop-package transfer system has a flexible member supported by a support frame and is configured to support a crop package on a first side of the flexible member. A motive member is disposed on a second side of the flexible member. An actuator device is configured to move the motive member along the second side of the flexible member, such that the motive member transmits motive force from the actuator device to the crop package via the flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: AUSTIN J. JONES, Henry D. Anstey, Jeremy M. Erdmann