Patents by Inventor Lawrence D. Retzlaff
Lawrence D. Retzlaff 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).
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Patent number: 10271480Abstract: A baling system acts at shut-down to automatically pre-position a plunger so that it is just past a rear-dead-center position when the baler is restarted, thereby minimizing the load on a power take-off during the next restart. In particular, when the power take-off is deactivated, a control unit automatically brakes the power take-off so that the plunger stops in the desired position. Alternatively, the baling system acts at restart-up to automatically repeatedly activate and deactivate the power take-off in order to accelerate the plunger to a predetermined minimum operating speed before activating the power take-off for continuous operation, thereby maximizing a flywheel's momentum during the restart.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2018Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Lawrence D. Retzlaff, Robert J. Waggoner, Kevin M. Tacke
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Patent number: 10212889Abstract: A system for ejecting a bale from a baler, wherein the ejection process is controlled by a control unit with input from various sensors and from a remote operator located on a tractor. The control unit automatically positions a chute, controls a power take-off from the tractor, depressurizes and opens a chamber door, ties the bale, selects and causes ejector teeth to project into a forming chamber to engage the bale, causes the ejector teeth to move toward a discharge outlet such that the engaged bale moves with them toward and through the discharge outlet, and determines when the bale has fully ejected from the baler. The remote operator may choose to eject only the bale or to eject the entire contents of the forming chamber, and if the former, the control unit determines the bale's length and selects a subset of the ejector teeth that corresponds to that length.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Lawrence D. Retzlaff, Robert J. Waggoner, Maynard M. Herron
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Patent number: 10130041Abstract: A system for ejecting a bale from a baler, wherein the ejection process is controlled by a control unit with input from various sensors and from a remote operator located on a tractor. The control unit automatically positions a chute, controls a power take-off from the tractor, depressurizes and opens a chamber door, ties the bale, selects and causes ejector teeth to project into a forming chamber to engage the bale, causes the ejector teeth to move toward a discharge outlet such that the engaged bale moves with them toward and through the discharge outlet, and determines when the bale has fully ejected from the baler. The remote operator may choose to eject only the bale or to eject the entire contents of the forming chamber, and if the former, the control unit determines the bale's length and selects a subset of the ejector teeth that corresponds to that length.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Lawrence D. Retzlaff, Robert J. Waggoner
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Publication number: 20180303036Abstract: A baling system acts at shut-down to automatically pre-position a plunger so that it is just past a rear-dead-center position when the baler is restarted, thereby minimizing the load on a power take-off during the next restart. In particular, when the power take-off is deactivated, a control unit automatically brakes the power take-off so that the plunger stops in the desired position. Alternatively, the baling system acts at restart-up to automatically repeatedly activate and deactivate the power take-off in order to accelerate the plunger to a predetermined minimum operating speed before activating the power take-off for continuous operation, thereby maximizing a flywheel's momentum during the restart.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Lawrence D. Retzlaff, Robert J. Waggoner, Kevin M. TACKE
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Patent number: 10091942Abstract: A baling system acts at shut-down to automatically pre-position a plunger so that it is just past a rear-dead-center position when the baler is restarted, thereby minimizing the load on a power take-off during the next restart. In particular, when the power take-off is deactivated, a control unit automatically brakes the power take-off so that the plunger stops in the desired position. Alternatively, the baling system acts at restart-up to automatically repeatedly activate and deactivate the power take-off in order to accelerate the plunger to a predetermined minimum operating speed before activating the power take-off for continuous operation, thereby maximizing a flywheel's momentum during the restart.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Lawrence D. Retzlaff, Robert J. Waggoner, Kevin M. Tacke
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Publication number: 20170276623Abstract: A system for determining an amount of and applying a preservative to an individual charge of crop material, wherein the charge is combined with other charges to form a bale. Loose crop material is collected and packed into a feeder chute in such a manner as to pre-compress the material to form the charge. A moisture content of the charge is measured by a sensor while the charge is still in the feeder chute. The charge is moved into a forming chamber, and a control unit determines a correct amount of a preservative to apply to the charge based on the moisture content. The correct amount of the preservative is applied to the charge either before or after the charge is incorporated into the bale. Thus, the system measures the moisture content of each charge, and measures the moisture content of the same charge to which the preservative is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2015Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Lawrence Grant MacNeill, Patrick Kendrick, Maynard M. Herron, Shane Bollinger, Lawrence D. RETZLAFF
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Publication number: 20170273248Abstract: A system for ejecting a bale from a baler, wherein the ejection process is controlled by a control unit with input from various sensors and from a remote operator located on a tractor. The control unit automatically positions a chute, controls a power take-off from the tractor, depressurizes and opens a chamber door, ties the bale, selects and causes ejector teeth to project into a forming chamber to engage the bale, causes the ejector teeth to move toward a discharge outlet such that the engaged bale moves with them toward and through the discharge outlet, and determines when the bale has fully ejected from the baler. The remote operator may choose to eject only the bale or to eject the entire contents of the forming chamber, and if the former, the control unit determines the bale's length and selects a subset of the ejector teeth that corresponds to that length.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2015Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Lawrence D. Retzlaff, Robert J. Waggoner
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Publication number: 20170265398Abstract: A baling system acts at shut-down to automatically pre-position a plunger so that it is just past a rear-dead-center position when the baler is restarted, thereby minimizing the load on a power take-off during the next restart. In particular, when the power take-off is deactivated, a control unit automatically brakes the power take-off so that the plunger stops in the desired position. Alternatively, the baling system acts at restart-up to automatically repeatedly activate and deactivate the power take-off in order to accelerate the plunger to a predetermined minimum operating speed before activating the power take-off for continuous operation, thereby maximizing a flywheel's momentum during the restart.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2015Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Lawrence D. Retzlaff, Robert J. Waggoner, Kevin M. TACKE
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Publication number: 20170265400Abstract: A system for ejecting a bale from a baler, wherein the ejection process is controlled by a control unit with input from various sensors and from a remote operator located on a tractor. The control unit automatically positions a chute, controls a power take-off from the tractor, depressurizes and opens a chamber door, ties the bale, selects and causes ejector teeth to project into a forming chamber to engage the bale, causes the ejector teeth to move toward a discharge outlet such that the engaged bale moves with them toward and through the discharge outlet, and determines when the bale has fully ejected from the baler. The remote operator may choose to eject only the bale or to eject the entire contents of the forming chamber, and if the former, the control unit determines the bale's length and selects a subset of the ejector teeth that corresponds to that length.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2015Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Lawrence D. Retzlaff, Robert J. Waggoner, Maynard M. Herron
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Patent number: 9107347Abstract: Knotter operation on a crop baler or the like is controlled electronically by a programmable electronic control unit. Rotary and/or linear electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive motors are utilized to drive the knotting components and are controlled by the electronic control unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Edward W. Esau, Lawrence D. Retzlaff
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Patent number: 8468937Abstract: A method of electronically sensing the fill of material in a stuffer chute and tripping a stuffer of a baler.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Robert A. Matousek, Patrick Kendrick, Jason Seeger, Lawrence D. Retzlaff
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Publication number: 20130118366Abstract: Knotter operation on a crop baler or the like is controlled electronically by a programmable electronic control unit. Rotary and/or linear electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic drive motors are utilized to drive the knotting components and are controlled by the electronic control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: AGCO CORPORATIONInventors: Edward W. Esau, Lawrence D. Retzlaff
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Publication number: 20120266764Abstract: A method of electronically sensing the fill of material in a stuffer chute and tripping a stuffer of a baler.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: AGCO CorporationInventors: Robert A. Matousek, Patrick Kendrick, Jason Seeger, Lawrence D. Retzlaff
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Patent number: 8291818Abstract: A method of electronically sensing the fill of material in a stuffer chute and tripping a stuffer of a baler. A combine harvester and baler for biomass collection. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with defection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: AGCO CorporationInventors: Robert A. Matousek, Patrick Kendrick, Jason Seeger, Lawrence D. Retzlaff
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Publication number: 20110023731Abstract: A method of electronically sensing the fill of material in a stuffer chute and tripping a stuffer of a baler. A combine harvester and baler for biomass collection. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with defection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: AGCO CORPORATIONInventors: Robert A. Matousek, Patrick Kendrick, Jason Seeger, Lawrence D. Retzlaff
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Publication number: 20110029909Abstract: A user interface with biomass deflection information for biomass collection. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with defection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: AGCO CORPORATIONInventors: Robert A. Matousek, Patrick Kendrick, Lawrence D. Retzlaff