Patents by Inventor Nathan Ensminger

Nathan Ensminger 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).

  • Baler slacker arm sensor for protecting against needle over-tension conditions
    Patent number: 11856895
    Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to wrap twine around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism broadly includes a baling needle, a twine tensioner, and a sensor. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard D. Regier, Dino Rey Valdez, Maynard M. Herron, Patrick Kendrick, Nathan Ensminger
  • Twine severing blade for protecting against baler needle over-tension conditions
    Patent number: 11382278
    Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard D. Regier, Dino Rey Valdez, Maynard M. Herron, Patrick Kendrick, Nathan Ensminger
  • TWINE SEVERING BLADE FOR PROTECTING AGAINST BALER NEEDLE OVER-TENSION CONDITIONS
    Publication number: 20210195843
    Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to form crop material into a bale. The bale binding mechanism includes a baling needle and a twine tensioner. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element. The guide element is shiftable into and out of a twine feed position associated with upward advancement of the tensioned twine section, with the guide element operable to define an offset twine section offset from the twine feed axis in the twine feed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard D. Regier, Dino Rey Valdez, Maynard M. Herron, Patrick Kendrick, Nathan Ensminger
  • BALER SLACKER ARM SENSOR FOR PROTECTING AGANIST NEEDLE OVER-TENSION CONDITIONS
    Publication number: 20210195844
    Abstract: A bale binding mechanism is configured to wrap twine around a bale of severed crop material. The bale binding mechanism broadly includes a baling needle, a twine tensioner, and a sensor. A baler chassis presents a baling chamber in which the bale is formed. The baling needle is shiftable up and down relative to the baling chamber, with the needle being shiftable to advance twine upwardly along an end of the bale. The twine tensioner is configured to maintain tension on a tensioned twine section extending between the twine tensioner and the needle, with the tensioned twine section defining a twine feed axis. The twine tensioner includes a tension device that restricts upward advancement of the tensioned twine section. The twine tensioner also includes a shiftable guide element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard D. Regier, Dino Rey Valdez, Maynard M. Herron, Patrick Kendrick, Nathan Ensminger