Patents by Inventor Calvin Meinders

Calvin Meinders 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: 20240032477
    Abstract: A baling system for baling crop material. The baling system includes one or more bale-forming belts, one or more rollers, and a bale formation chamber defined in part by the one or more bale-forming belts and the one or more rollers. The baling system also includes a crop feeding device operable to convey crop material towards the bale formation chamber and a redirecting assembly in a fixed position proximate the bale formation chamber to redirect stray crop material exiting the bale formation chamber towards the crop feeding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Bryce Heitman, Spencer Fynaardt, Calvin Meinders, Blake Wilson, JJ Dooyema
  • Publication number: 20230363313
    Abstract: A round baler is disclosed. The round baler includes a bale formation chamber and a rotor device having a plurality of teeth, the teeth having outer tips that define a circumferential path of travel of the rotor device. The round baler also includes a crop pickup device including a plurality of pickup tines connected to a rotating pickup reel and a plurality of stripper bands, each of the plurality of pickup tines passing through a gap formed between adjacent stripper bands. The crop pickup device has an engagement zone and a release zone, wherein the release zone is adjacent to the circumferential path of travel of the rotor device such that the rotor device and the pickup reel rotate and cooperate to convey crop material from the crop pickup device towards the bale formation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Grant Hoppes, Calvin Meinders, Andrew Irlbeck
  • Patent number: 10039237
    Abstract: Rotor assemblies for conveying crop material from a pick-up device of a baler apparatus into the baling chamber may include a rotor stripper having a head section with a collar and a tail section removably attached to the head section to remove crop material from the rotating teeth of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Luke Smith, Alex Knee, Jacob Limke, Calvin Meinders
  • Publication number: 20160366827
    Abstract: Rotor assemblies for conveying crop material from a pick-up device of a baler apparatus into the baling chamber are disclosed. In some embodiments, the assemblies include a rotor stripper having a head section and a tail section removably attached to the head section to remove crop material from the rotating teeth of the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Forage Innovations B.V.
    Inventors: Luke Smith, Alex Knee, Jacob Limke, Calvin Meinders
  • Publication number: 20130160661
    Abstract: A large round baler equipped with moisture sensing apparatus and a bale scale to improve information useful in baling and using bales. Moisture sensing begins after the bale reaches a predetermined diameter. A history of bale weights is used to estimate how much tension to apply to a belt tensioner to achieve both a target bale weight and a target bale size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Tom Duenwald, Scott Rempe, Calvin Meinders
  • Patent number: 7703391
    Abstract: A large round baler equipped with moisture sensing apparatus and a bale scale to improve information useful in baling and using bales. Moisture sensing begins after the bale reaches a predetermined diameter. A history of bale weights is used to estimate how much tension to apply to a belt tensioner to achieve both a target bale weight and a target bale size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Tom Duenwald, Scott Rempe, Calvin Meinders
  • Publication number: 20090314067
    Abstract: A large round baler equipped with moisture sensing apparatus and a bale scale to improve information useful in baling and using bales. Moisture sensing begins after the bale reaches a predetermined diameter. A history of bale weights is used to estimate how much tension to apply to a belt tensioner to achieve both a target bale weight and a target bale size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventors: Tom Duenwald, Scott Rempe, Calvin Meinders
  • Publication number: 20090217827
    Abstract: A large round baler equipped with moisture sensing apparatus and a bale scale to improve information useful in baling and using bales. Moisture sensing begins after the bale reaches a predetermined diameter. A history of bale weights is used to estimate how much tension to apply to a belt tensioner to achieve both a target bale weight and a target bale size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Tom Duenwald, Scott Rempe, Calvin Meinders
  • Publication number: 20060080836
    Abstract: An improved roller assembly for use in machinery such as round balers is disclosed. The roller assembly of the present invention reduces sensitivity to varying dimensional tolerances on the roller assembly and the structure to which the roller assembly is mounted. At least one elastic member is used to permit the axial position of at least one of the bearings on the roller assembly shaft to vary. Spring washers provide a predetermined, axial force to at least one of the bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: William Hood, Calvin Meinders, Scott Rempe
  • Publication number: 20060048481
    Abstract: Large cylindrical bales of hay, straw, or other forage or fodder are usually wrapped with a filament-type product, typically twine, or a sheet-type product, typically netwrap material, after a bale has reached a predetermined size. A method and apparatus are disclosed that permits the bale to continue to form during part of the wrapping process. A delay occurs between the initiation of the wrapping step and the alarm for the operator to stop the forward movement of the baler. By inserting the wrap material to an entry throat of the baler, new crop material may be added to the bale while the leading edge of the wrap material travels around the bale. The operator is notified only when the feed of additional crop material needs to be stopped for the wrapping operation to conclude. The present invention is applicable to the use of sheet or filament wrapping materials for binding round bales.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: William A. Hood, Thomas Walmsley, Calvin Meinders, Jerry Bandstra, Thomas Duenwald, Shane Bollinger