Patents by Inventor Chad S. Lookabill

Chad S. Lookabill 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).

  • Foliage separator for a transplanter
    Patent number: 8573142
    Abstract: Foliage separator for a transplanter, and more particularly an apparatus for separating the foliage of adjacent rows of seedlings which are grown in trays having a plurality of side-by side rows of seedling cells. The foliage separator includes a rotating beater bar, the beater bar being positioned at an angle with a progressive taper, the beater bar being mounted for movement with a carriage which carries a subassembly for picking up an entire row of seedlings from a nursery tray and positioning them for hand-off to a seedling loader group. An air knife may be mounted on the same carriage, the air knife facilitating separation by keeping the seedling foliage and stems up and helping the beater bar enter between adjacent rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignees: Faulring Mechanical Devices, Inc., Morning Star Company
    Inventors: Frank W. Faulring, Charles H. Hoffman, Chad S. Lookabill
  • FOLIAGE SEPARATOR FOR A TRANSPLANTER
    Publication number: 20120174839
    Abstract: Foliage separator for a transplanter, and more particularly an apparatus for separating the foliage of adjacent rows of seedlings which are grown in trays having a plurality of side-by side rows of seedling cells. The foliage separator includes a rotating beater bar, the beater bar being positioned at an angle with a progressive taper, the beater bar being mounted for movement with a carriage which carries a subassembly for picking up an entire row of seedlings from a nursery tray and positioning them for hand-off to a seedling loader group. An air knife may be mounted on the same carriage, the air knife facilitating separation by keeping the seedling foliage and stems up and helping the beater bar enter between adjacent rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Frank W. Faulring, Charles H. Hoffman, Chad S. Lookabill