Patents by Inventor Mark A. Schuler

Mark A. Schuler 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: 11744173
    Abstract: A cutting knife includes a base coupled to a head unit of an agricultural combine harvester. The cutting knife includes a blade extending away from the base. The blade includes an edge and a plurality of cutting teeth formed from the edge. The plurality of cutting teeth includes a first grouping of teeth positioned along the edge having a first pitch. The plurality of cutting teeth includes a second grouping of teeth positioned along the edge having a second pitch less than the first pitch. The first grouping of teeth is positioned closer to an end of the blade opposite the base than the second grouping of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark Schuler, Shreyas Modak
  • Patent number: 11122736
    Abstract: A roller is connected to a harvesting platform for movement with a combine over a ground surface in a direction of travel. The roller includes a first portion defining a first diameter and including a first material, and a second portion defining a second diameter and including a second material. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The second portion substantially surrounds the first portion, the second material has different material properties than the first material. The roller extends in the direction of travel and rotates about a second axis which extends generally parallel to the direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Ethan D. Lardner, Bryan R. Yanke, Mark Schuler
  • Publication number: 20210161069
    Abstract: A cutting knife includes a base coupled to a head unit of an agricultural combine harvester. The cutting knife includes a blade extending away from the base. The blade includes an edge and a plurality of cutting teeth formed from the edge. The plurality of cutting teeth includes a first grouping of teeth positioned along the edge having a first pitch. The plurality of cutting teeth includes a second grouping of teeth positioned along the edge having a second pitch less than the first pitch. The first grouping of teeth is positioned closer to an end of the blade opposite the base than the second grouping of teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Mark Schuler, Shreyas Modak
  • Patent number: 10945374
    Abstract: A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit moving in a direction of travel. The skid plate includes a body, and a contact surface at least partially defined by the body, the contact surface including a leading edge facing the direction of travel and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, where the contact surface at least partially defines a groove, where the groove defines a groove width, and where the groove width varies as the groove extends away from the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Shreyas Modak, Mark Schuler, Adam L. Heeren, Sai K. Nandigam
  • Patent number: 10813290
    Abstract: A crop ramp and belt support component for an agricultural harvesting head is provided. The crop ramp and belt support component includes a forward portion, a rear portion, and a belt support portion that are generally planar. The forward portion is inclined relative to the rear portion, and the rear portion extends from the forward portion. The belt support portion is substantially parallel to the rear portion and is configured to extend at least partially below an interior surface of a belt conveyor. The forward portion, the rear portion, and the belt support portion are fabricated as a unitary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Shreyas P. Modak, Mark A. Schuler
  • Publication number: 20200323131
    Abstract: A roller is connected to a harvesting platform for movement with a combine over a ground surface in a direction of travel. The roller includes a first portion defining a first diameter and including a first material, and a second portion defining a second diameter and including a second material. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The second portion substantially surrounds the first portion, the second material has different material properties than the first material. The roller extends in the direction of travel and rotates about a second axis which extends generally parallel to the direction of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan D. Lardner, Bryan R. Yanke, Mark Schuler
  • Patent number: 10765060
    Abstract: A cutting knife includes a base coupled to a head unit of an agricultural combine harvester. The cutting knife includes a blade extending away from the base. The blade includes an edge and a plurality of cutting teeth formed from the edge. The plurality of cutting teeth includes a first grouping of teeth positioned along the edge having a first pitch. The plurality of cutting teeth includes a second grouping of teeth positioned along the edge having a second pitch less than the first pitch. The first grouping of teeth is positioned closer to an end of the blade opposite the base than the second grouping of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Schuler, Shreyas Modak
  • Patent number: 10645877
    Abstract: A header for a combine harvester includes a center section having a first draper belt configured to move crop material in a first direction. The header also includes a wing pivotably coupled to the center section about a pivot axis and extending laterally away from the center section. The header also includes a second draper belt coupled to the wing and configured to move crop material in a second direction different than the first direction. The wing and the second draper belt are in a fixed positional relationship with each other, such that the wing is configured to remain at a constant distance from the second draper belt at all points along the wing during pivoting movement of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Braet, Bryan R. Yanke, Michael L. Vandeven, Brian Busath, Joshua R. Pierson, Mark Schuler
  • Publication number: 20200113135
    Abstract: A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit moving in a direction of travel. The skid plate includes a body, and a contact surface at least partially defined by the body, the contact surface including a leading edge facing the direction of travel and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, where the contact surface at least partially defines a groove, where the groove defines a groove width, and where the groove width varies as the groove extends away from the leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Shreyas Modak, Mark Schuler, Adam L. Heeren, Sai K. Nandigam
  • Publication number: 20190373815
    Abstract: A crop ramp and belt support component for an agricultural harvesting head is provided. The crop ramp and belt support component includes a forward portion, a rear portion, and a belt support portion that are generally planar. The forward portion is inclined relative to the rear portion, and the rear portion extends from the forward portion. The belt support portion is substantially parallel to the rear portion and is configured to extend at least partially below an interior surface of a belt conveyor. The forward portion, the rear portion, and the belt support portion are fabricated as a unitary component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Shreyas P. Modak, Mark A. Schuler
  • Publication number: 20190364726
    Abstract: A cutting knife includes a base coupled to a head unit of an agricultural combine harvester. The cutting knife includes a blade extending away from the base. The blade includes an edge and a plurality of cutting teeth formed from the edge. The plurality of cutting teeth includes a first grouping of teeth positioned along the edge having a first pitch. The plurality of cutting teeth includes a second grouping of teeth positioned along the edge having a second pitch less than the first pitch. The first grouping of teeth is positioned closer to an end of the blade opposite the base than the second grouping of teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Schuler, Shreyas Modak
  • Patent number: 10264729
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting head having an elongate frame, a rear wall, side conveyors and a center conveyor. The side conveyor having an endless belt conveyor with an endless recirculating belt supported on an idler roller and a drive roller. The side conveyor is driven by an endless drive belt nested within the endless recirculating belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark Schuler, Nathaniel R. Bernklau
  • Publication number: 20190110403
    Abstract: A header for a combine harvester includes a center section having a first draper belt configured to move crop material in a first direction. The header also includes a wing pivotably coupled to the center section about a pivot axis and extending laterally away from the center section. The header also includes a second draper belt coupled to the wing and configured to move crop material in a second direction different than the first direction. The wing and the second draper belt are in a fixed positional relationship with each other, such that the wing is configured to remain at a constant distance from the second draper belt at all points along the wing during pivoting movement of the wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew J. Braet, Bryan R. Yanke, Michael L. Vandeven, Brian Busath, Joshua R. Pierson, Mark Schuler
  • Publication number: 20190098832
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Schuler, Nathaniel R. Bernklau