Patents by Inventor Benjamin R. Neier

Benjamin R. Neier 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).

  • Patent number: 8177419
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer
  • Publication number: 20090268549
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: ROTO-MIX, LLC
    Inventors: BENJAMIN R. NEIER, RODNEY R. NEIER, GREGORY R. REIMER
  • Patent number: 7566166
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer
  • Publication number: 20070297284
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: ROTO-MIX, LLC
    Inventors: BENJAMIN R. NEIER, RODNEY R. NEIER, GREGORY R. REIMER
  • Patent number: 7191965
    Abstract: A material spreader includes a belt/chain assembly. The belt is mounted within the chamber of the material spreader and the chain remains out of contact with the material during the operation of the device. A sliding barrier is mounted at the rear of the belt, and moves from a forward position adjacent the front of the spreader to a rear position adjacent the rear of the spreader. One form of the hydraulic system utilizes a sensor for built up pressure within independently driven augers. In response to this pressure build up the sliding barrier speed is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer, David J. Brouwer, Luke D. Prouty, Elizabeth B. Rheingans, Jeff A. Schultz, Jason M. Schwiderski, Barbara M. Springman, Jeremy J. Waltz, David J. Gelhar, Kevin R. Wald, Todd E. Osman, James E. Shafer, Ross M. Groening
  • Patent number: 7172137
    Abstract: A material spreader includes a belt/chain assembly. The belt is mounted within the chamber of the material spreader and the chain remains out of contact with the material during the operation of the device. A sliding barrier is mounted at the rear of the belt, and moves from a forward position adjacent the front of the spreader to a rear position adjacent the rear of the spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer, David J. Brouwer, Luke D. Prouty, Elizabeth B. Rheingans, Jeff A. Schultz, Jason M. Schwiderski, Barbara M. Springman, Jeremy J. Waltz, David J. Gelhar, Kevin R. Wald, Todd E. Osman, James E. Shafer
  • Patent number: 6923393
    Abstract: The feed mixer of the present invention includes two upper horizontal augers having flighting thereon. Below and between the two upper augers is a rotor having helical paddle segments thereon. The two upper augers and the rotor all rotate in the same direction, but the two upper augers force material in one direction and the lower rotor forces material in the opposite direction. Knives on the outer edges of the upper augers and on the helical segments of the rotor act upon the hay to cut it and facilitate its mixing with other feed ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: J-Star Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer, Brent H. Whitaker, Mark T. Cooksey, Celso Luis Casale
  • Patent number: 6203185
    Abstract: A feed mixer comprising a plurality of mixing members wherein each mixing member is longitudinally mounted for rotation about an axis and the mixing members further comprises a chopper auger and a shredding auger, each having a flighting. In addition, the mixing members may also comprise a third mixing auger having a flighting. The auger flightings may further provide chopping knives, or sickle knives, on the outer peripheral edge of the flightings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: J-Star Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 6007008
    Abstract: A feed mixer comprising a plurality of mixing members wherein each mixing member is longitudinally mounted for rotation about an axis and at least one of the mixing members further comprises a chopper auger having double flighting. The double flighting may have similar or different outer diameters. The double flighting may further provide chopping knives, or sickle knives, on the outer peripheral edge of at least one of the flightings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: J-Star Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 5782559
    Abstract: A self-propelled material mixer is provided for mixing fluent and non-fluent material. The material mixer includes a mixing tank having one or mixing members therein. A drive system delivers power to the wheels of the material mixer. An operator maneuvers the material mixer using a control mechanism that controls both the speed and direction of the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: J-Star Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Dennis W. Waldron
  • Patent number: 5732892
    Abstract: A self-loading auger for a material mixer includes a shaft having two sections of flighting extending from each end towards the center of the shaft. Mounted along the flighting sections are a plurality of knife blades disposed perpendicular to the axis of the shaft so that as the shaft rotates and the flighting pushes material towards the center of the auger, the knife blades will cut the material along a straight line. Additional knife blades are mounted near the center of the auger between the points where the two flighting sections end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: J-Star Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 5544822
    Abstract: A hay cutter and fork lift implement are mounted on the three point hitch of a tractor with a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the inner ends of the hay cutter assembly and the fork lift assembly for applying equal and opposite pressure on each, such that when the cutter assembly reaches the limits of its downward travel by engaging the ground or being resisted by the hay being cut, the fork assembly will automatically pivot upwardly thereby raising the bale off the ground, allowing the cutting operation to be completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Roto-Mix Enterprise, Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 5462354
    Abstract: A livestock feed mixer includes a power source having a rotational power take-off. A mixer housing forms a mixing chamber for holding the feed ingredients and a rotatable mixing member is mounted within the mixing chamber. A variable speed power transfer mechanism is connected between the power take-off and the rotating mixing member for transferring power from the power source to the mixing member and for rotating the mixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Roto-Mix Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 5242121
    Abstract: A frame work is mounted on a 3 point hitch of a tractor and includes on its lower end a pair of bale support forks extending rearwardly. A pair of vertically disposed rails carry a vertically movable sickle cutter which extends parallel to the support forks and is centered to move therebetween when cutting through a bale positioned on the forks with its longitudinal axis parallel to the forks and the sickle cutter. The round bale of hay can be cut into half sections and then again into quarter sections. The bale support and cutter may be used for transporting bales with the sickle cutter pressing down against the top of the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Roto-Mix Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 5143310
    Abstract: A hay feed wall extends longitudinally of the mixer chamber with its lower edge closely adjacent to a chopper auger. A control wall extends laterally from a chamber side wall over the chopper auger to the feed wall to cause hay bales to be channeled into the chopper auger whereupon the hay is chopped by the knives on the outer peripheral edge of the auger flighting. The hay is then augered out of the chopping chamber into the mixing chamber where it is acted upon by a lower mixing auger and a rotor in the main chamber. The lower corner of the feed wall engages the lower portion of the control wall to pivot the control wall to a substantially vertical position as the feed wall is pivoted to that position by opertion of a cable connected to a winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Roto-Mix Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 4756626
    Abstract: A feed mixer includes a main chamber in which a rotor is located. The rotor includes at least one elongated wiper rigidly connected to a rotor bar for wiping contact with a curved wall portion of the chamber. The rotor bar is prevented from incurring any substantial pivotal movement and thereby maintains a substantially consistent and uniform angle between the wiper and the curved wall portion and wiping contact therewith. The rotor also includes a square in cross section axial center tube to which the rotor arms are connected and a circular in cross section axial drive shaft is positioned in the tube and extends the substantial length thereof. Right angle elements are positioned around the periphery of the shaft matingly engaging the inside right angle corners of the tube to lock the shaft to the tube for rotational movement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 4741625
    Abstract: An auger mixer includes paddles extending radially and laterally of the auger which have curved convex forward surfaces for engaging material in the mixer and moving it laterally of the auger and the chamber. The mixer includes a main chamber in which a rotor is located. The rotor includes at least one elongated wiper rigidly connected to a rotor bar for wiping contact with a curved wall portion of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier
  • Patent number: 4597672
    Abstract: A feed mixer includes a mixer tank with a bottom wall having two curved wall portions defining the bottom of a large main chamber and smaller auxiliary chamber with an elongated ridge therebetween. A rotor having several elongated rotor bars adjacent the outer periphery is supported in the main chamber for rotation in a direction for movement of the rotor bars across the bottom of the main chamber toward the auxiliary chamber. The auxiliary chamber includes a pair of stacked augers adapted for moving material from one end of the tank to the other in opposite directions. Material is thus continuously cycled from the main chamber into a lower portion of the auxiliary chamber where it is moved toward one end of the mixer, forced upwardly into an upper portion of the auxiliary chamber and then directed toward the opposite end of the tank while spilling back into the main chamber for efficient end-to-end mixing of even long stringy hay material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Stirco, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Donald L. Stirling
  • Patent number: 4506990
    Abstract: A feed mixer includes a mixer tank with a bottom wall having two curved wall portions defining the bottom of a large main chamber and smaller auxiliary chamber with an elongated ridge therebetween. A rotor having several elongated rotor bars adjacent the outer periphery is supported in the main chamber for rotation in a direction for movement of the rotor bars across the bottom of the main chamber toward the auxiliary chamber. The auxiliary chamber includes a pair of stacked augers adapted for moving material from one end of the tank to the other in opposite directions. Material is thus continuously cycled from the main chamber into a lower portion of the auxiliary chamber where it is moved toward one end of the mixer, forced upwardly into an upper portion of the auxiliary chamber and then directed toward the opposite end of the tank while spilling back into the main chamber for efficient end-to-end mixing of even long stringy hay material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Stirco Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Donald L. Stirling
  • Patent number: 4153376
    Abstract: Improved feed mixer apparatus, wherein interconnected, auger mixing conveyors are operatively connected to a crank arm driven by a pair of pivotably mounted hydraulic cylinders which are in turn driven by a hydraulic power source providing for smooth and timed transition from low pressure to high pressure in the retraction and extension chambers thereof, thereby to avoid damage and/or excessive wear to the crank arm and/or cylinder components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Neier