Patents by Inventor Craig D. Roberts

Craig D. Roberts 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: 11317559
    Abstract: The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Curtis F. Hillen, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts, Kyle R. Schropp, Joshua S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 11197419
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a sectional header system carried by the chassis. The sectional header system includes a center section connected to the chassis, at least one additional section, and at least one coupling assembly that removably connects the center section to the at least one additional section. The at least one coupling assembly includes at least one actuator connected to the center section and the at least one additional section. The at least one actuator is located underneath the pivot point. The at least one additional section is configured for being coupled to the center section in harvesting of a crop material and decoupled from the center section and subsequently towable in transportation of the sectional header system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Craig D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20190357432
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a sectional header system carried by the chassis. The sectional header system includes a center section connected to the chassis, at least one additional section, and at least one coupling assembly that removably connects the center section to the at least one additional section. The at least one coupling assembly includes at least one actuator connected to the center section and the at least one additional section. The at least one actuator is located underneath the pivot point. The at least one additional section is configured for being coupled to the center section in harvesting of a crop material and decoupled from the center section and subsequently towable in transportation of the sectional header system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Craig D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10375881
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a sectional header system carried by the chassis. The sectional header system includes a center section connected to the chassis and having a pair of lateral ends, at least one additional section, and at least one coupling assembly. The at least one coupling assembly includes at least one actuator and at least one connector. The at least one coupling assembly removably connects the center section to the at least one additional section. The at least one additional section is coupled to the center section in harvesting of a crop material and the at least one additional section is decoupled from the center section in transportation of the sectional header system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Craig D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10292331
    Abstract: A draper belt system is provided that includes a first draper frame pivotally coupled to a second draper frame at a pivot joint. The pivot joint includes a central longitudinal axis about which rotation at the pivot joint occurs. The draper belt system includes a draper belt assembly including a first roller rotatably coupled to the first draper frame, a second roller rotatably coupled to the second draper frame, and a third roller rotatably coupled between the first and second draper frames. The third roller includes a central longitudinal axis about which the third roller rotates. The central longitudinal axis of the third roller is the same as the central longitudinal axis of the pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, Joshua S. Joyce, Kyle R. Schropp, John J. Conroy, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, James F. Rayfield
  • Publication number: 20190104676
    Abstract: A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement is provided. The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Curtis F. Hillen, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts, Kyle R. Schropp, Joshua S. Joyce
  • Patent number: 10172280
    Abstract: A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement is provided. The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Curtis F. Hillen, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts, Kyle R. Schropp, Joshua S. Joyce
  • Publication number: 20190000015
    Abstract: A draper belt system is provided that includes a first draper frame pivotally coupled to a second draper frame at a pivot joint. The pivot joint includes a central longitudinal axis about which rotation at the pivot joint occurs. The draper belt system includes a draper belt assembly including a first roller rotatably coupled to the first draper frame, a second roller rotatably coupled to the second draper frame, and a third roller rotatably coupled between the first and second draper frames. The third roller includes a central longitudinal axis about which the third roller rotates. The central longitudinal axis of the third roller is the same as the central longitudinal axis of the pivot joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, Joshua S. Joyce, Kyle R. Schropp, John J. Conroy, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, James F. Rayfield
  • Patent number: 10165726
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle that includes a chassis and a header with at least three header frames, including a center section, a first wing section, and a second wing section carried by the chassis. The header includes: at least three knife assemblies; and at least three knife drives, each of the knife drives being drivingly coupled to at least one of the at least three knife assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, Joshua Joyce, John J. Conroy, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, James F. Rayfield
  • Publication number: 20180338418
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a sectional header system carried by the chassis. The sectional header system includes a center section connected to the chassis and having a pair of lateral ends, at least one additional section, and at least one coupling assembly. The at least one coupling assembly includes at least one actuator and at least one connector. The at least one coupling assembly removably connects the center section to the at least one additional section. The at least one additional section is coupled to the center section in harvesting of a crop material and the at least one additional section is decoupled from the center section in transportation of the sectional header system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Ricketts, Craig D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10070575
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, the wing section being vertically moveable relative to the center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, the wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis in the transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis in the harvesting position; and an actuator linked to the wing section and configured to vertically move the wing section from the harvesting position to the transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Wenger, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, James F. Rayfield, John J. Conroy
  • Publication number: 20180177121
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: at least three knife assemblies; and at least three knife drives, each of the knife drives being drivingly coupled to at least one of the at least three knife assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, Joshua Joyce, John J. Conroy, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, James F. Rayfield
  • Patent number: 9961828
    Abstract: A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement is provided. The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a floor assembly and a knife assembly. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar. The floor assembly includes a floor extending from the cutter bar and a cover extending from the floor. The knife assembly is covered by and situated below the floor assembly. In operation the cover drapes over a rigid frame of a header shielding the knife assembly from debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20180035598
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, the wing section being vertically moveable relative to the center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, the wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis in the transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis in the harvesting position; and an actuator linked to the wing section and configured to vertically move the wing section from the harvesting position to the transport position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bradley J. Wenger, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, James F. Rayfield, John J. Conroy
  • Patent number: 9538703
    Abstract: The knife head mounts to the sickle to hold a plurality of knife sections thereon while allowing removal of the knife sections individually without major disassembly for ease of in field repair and replacement. A knife pin of the knife head connects to a knife arm driven by the sickle drive mechanism and is removable from above also without major disassembly. The knife pin connection provides a vertical self adjustment capability to accommodate sickle wear and vertical misalignment between the sickle and drive. And the knife arm is streamlined for cut plant material flow thereabout and is also adapted for ease of removal and field repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Gary L. Bich, David M. DeChristopher, Andrew R. Wilbert, Blaine R. Noll, Craig D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20160135366
    Abstract: A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement is provided. The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a floor assembly and a knife assembly. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar. The floor assembly includes a floor extending from the cutter bar and a cover extending from the floor. The knife assembly is covered by and situated below the floor assembly. In operation the cover drapes over a rigid frame of a header shielding the knife assembly from debris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20160066503
    Abstract: A cutter guard assembly for a knife drive of an agricultural farm implement is provided. The cutter guard assembly includes a cutter bar assembly, a window frame, and a floor sheet. The cutter bar assembly has a cutter bar and a reciprocating knife assembly operatively connected to a knife drive. The window frame is rigidly attached to the cutter bar. The window frame includes an opening through which a knife arm of the reciprocating knife assembly extends through. The floor sheet extends rearwardly from the cutter bar and pivots relative to the window frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Curtis F. Hillen, Andrew V. Lauwers, Craig D. Roberts, Kyle R. Schropp, Joshua S. Joyce
  • Publication number: 20140230398
    Abstract: The knife head mounts to the sickle to hold a plurality of knife sections thereon while allowing removal of the knife sections individually without major disassembly for ease of in field repair and replacement. A knife pin of the knife head connects to a knife arm driven by the sickle drive mechanism and is removable from above also without major disassembly. The knife pin connection provides a vertical self adjustment capability to accommodate sickle wear and vertical misalignment between the sickle and drive. And the knife arm is streamlined for cut plant material flow thereabout and is also adapted for ease of removal and field repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Joel T. Cook, Gary L. Bich, David M. DeChristopher, Andrew R. Wilbert, Blaine R. Noll, Craig D. Roberts
  • Patent number: RE49178
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis and a header carried by the chassis. The header includes: a center section supporting at least one center cutter and having a pair of lateral ends; a wing section linked to one of the lateral ends of the center section and supporting at least one wing cutter, the wing section being vertically moveable relative to the center section between a harvesting position and a transport position, the wing section being pivotable about a generally vertical pivot axis in the transport position and substantially prevented from pivoting about the pivot axis in the harvesting position; and an actuator linked to the wing section and configured to vertically move the wing section from the harvesting position to the transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley J. Wenger, Zachary Long, Craig D. Roberts, Andrew V. Lauwers, Blaine R. Noll, James F. Rayfield, John J. Conroy