Patents by Inventor Rainer Schafer
Rainer Schafer 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: 8856998Abstract: A mobile floor cleaning machine is provided, having a chassis on which running wheels are rotatably mounted, and having at least one cleaning unit which has at least one cleaning tool and is coupled to the chassis via a guide member. To improve the floor cleaning machine in such a way that the risk of damage to the floor cleaning machine or to an obstacle in the event of a frontal collision with the obstacle may be minimized, it is proposed that the guide member is elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning machine.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Rainer Schäfer, Frank Nonnenmann
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Publication number: 20140253699Abstract: Recent production methods for 3D video as a general rule generate stereo images in a same phase of movement. The left and right images of a stereo pair thus image the recorded (or rendered) scene at a same point of time. Correct reproduction consequently requires the two images to be shown concurrently. This is, however, not true for all apparatuses such as, for example, 3D television sets including the so-called shutter technology, which show the left and right images in temporal succession. This temporally offset reproduction of the two stereo images results in clearly perceivable image errors. The invention describes a method for compensating such image errors. This is achieved by interpolating the images of one of the channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2012Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: INSTITUT FUR RUNDFUNKTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Rainer Schafer, Peter Tho Pesch
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Publication number: 20140218489Abstract: Some 3D video display apparatuses reproduce the two stereo channels in a temporally offset manner, which may bring about the occurrence of interfering image errors. Appropriate dispositions allow to compensate such image errors entirely or in part. In the reproduction of 3D video it is not definitely possible to recognize whether, and in what form, such dispositions are being employed in a display apparatus. The invention discloses a test signal generator and a test signal which allow to examine the error compensation dispositions being employed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2012Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: INSTITUT FUR RUNDFUNKTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Rainer Schäfer, Peter Tho Pesch
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Publication number: 20130247313Abstract: A mobile floor cleaning machine is provided, having a chassis on which running wheels are rotatably mounted, and having at least one cleaning unit which has at least one cleaning tool and is coupled to the chassis via a guide member. To improve the floor cleaning machine in such a way that the risk of damage to the floor cleaning machine or to an obstacle in the event of a frontal collision with the obstacle may be minimized, it is proposed that the guide member is elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Alfred Karcher GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Rainer Schäfer, Frank Nonnenmann
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Patent number: 8276355Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine is provided having a frame, a crop processing unit that is movable with respect to the frame between an operating position, in which it is inserted into a channel through which crop can flow, and a non-operating position outside the channel. A transport unit is provided with a first arm articulated to the frame of the harvesting machine pivotably about a first vertical axis, a winch and a traction device connected to the winch for lifting the crop processing unit out of its non-operating position and for moving the crop processing unit into a position outside the harvesting machine. The transport unit further is provided with a second arm holding the traction device and articulated to the outer end of the first arm pivotably about a second vertical axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2011Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rainer Schäfer, Manfred Engel, Christoph Spallek
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Publication number: 20120167536Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine is provided having a frame, a crop processing unit that is movable with respect to the frame between an operating position, in which it is inserted into a channel through which crop can flow, and a non-operating position outside the channel. A transport unit is provided with a first arm articulated to the frame of the harvesting machine pivotably about a first vertical axis, a winch and a traction device connected to the winch for lifting the crop processing unit out of its non-operating position and for moving the crop processing unit into a position outside the harvesting machine. The transport unit further is provided with a second arm holding the traction device and articulated to the outer end of the first arm pivotably about a second vertical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2011Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventors: Rainer Schäfer, Manfred Engel, Christoph Spallek
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Patent number: 7555882Abstract: The agricultural harvesting machine having a crop picking head includes a pickup conveyer which can be driven so as to pick up the harvested crop at a first adjustable speed, a discharge conveyer which can be driven so as to receive the harvested crop picked up by the pickup conveyer, transport the harvested crop, and discharge the harvested crop at a second adjustable speed, and a feed-in conveyer disposed in a feed-in channel of the harvesting machine that can be driven so as to receive the harvested crop from the discharge conveyer, transport the harvested crop, and discharge the harvested crop to a harvested crop processing unit at a third adjustable speed. The third speed and the first speed are independent of one another, and the second speed is defined by the first and third speeds and falls in a range between the first and third speeds.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Steffen Clauss, Stefan Bohrer, Rainer Schäfer, Jürgen Hofer, Peter Pirro
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Patent number: 7540136Abstract: The invention relates to a field chopper having at least one rotatable lower rough-press roll and at least one rotatable upper rough-press roll. Between the rough-press rolls crop is pressed and fed to a chopping drum where blades chop the crop. A space is defined down stream of the moveable rough-pressing roll between the chopping drum, the stream of pressed crop and the movable rough-press roll. Located in this space is a pressing element that acts on the pressed crop and which exerts a rough-pressing effect on the pressed crop downstream of the movable rough-press roll and upstream of the chopping drum.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Rainer Schäfer
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Publication number: 20080078153Abstract: A foreign body detector for an agricultural harvester is provided having a sensing element which is fitted such that it is movable transversely to a direction of conveyance of the crop and which, during the harvesting operation, bears against the received crop. The foreign body detector has a position sensor set up to register the position of the sensing element, and an evaluation circuit, which can be operated to calculate, on the basis of the signals of the position sensor, information relating to the velocity and/or acceleration of the sensing element and, for the purpose of generating a signal value indicating the take-up of a foreign body, to make a comparison with a threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventor: Rainer Schafer
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Patent number: 7311448Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a harvesting machine, including a bearing configured to couple a rotatable shaft with a chassis of the harvesting machine, a first element coupled with the shaft so as to be rotatable therewith, and a second element coupled with the chassis of the harvesting machine. Additionally, at least a portion of the second element is substantially concentrically enclosed by the first element and the first and second elements cooperate to define a contactless seal configured to substantially prevent contamination of the bearing. The shaft is coupled with a product treating element, such as a crop feeding and/or processing element that is driven or idle rotating.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Manfred Engel, Joseph A. Teijido, Claus-Josef Vogelgesang, Fritz K. Lauer, Wolfram Elsner, Rainer Schäfer, Joshua D. Bacon
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Patent number: 7261632Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine having an internal combustion engine, a propulsion system that can be operated to cause the harvesting machine to move across a field with a propulsion speed, a crop material pick-up device for picking up the crop material from a field, a crop material processing device for processing the crop material that has been picked up, a control unit for specifying the speed of the internal combustion engine, and a through-put measurement device for determining the through-put of the harvesting machine. The control unit can be operated to vary the speed of the internal combustion engine depending on the signal from the through-put measurement device. In this manner the RPM of the internal combustion engine that is most favorable in terms of fuel consumption and that corresponds to the power to be applied at a given through-put can be specified.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Peter Pirro, Jürgen Hofer, Stefan Bohrer, Rainer Schäfer, Steffen Clauss
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Publication number: 20070137160Abstract: The invention relates to a field chopper having at least one rotatable lower rough-press roll and at least one rotatable upper rough-press roll. Between the rough-press rolls crop is pressed and fed to a chopping drum where blades chop the crop. A space is defined down stream of the moveable rough-pressing roll between the chopping drum, the stream of pressed crop and the movable rough-press roll. Located in this space is a pressing element that acts on the pressed crop and which exerts a rough-pressing effect on the pressed crop downstream of the movable rough-press roll and upstream of the chopping drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2006Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventor: Rainer Schafer
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Publication number: 20070113533Abstract: The invention relates to a feeding device (32) for a field chopper (10), comprising: at least one rotatable lower feedroll (34, 35), at least one rotatable upper feedroll (36, 37), between which a windrow can be fed and led to a chopping device (22), and an external force-activated adjustment drive (68), with which the position of at least one of the feedrolls (36, 37) can be changed relative to the other feedroll (34, 35). It is proposed that a spring (58) be arranged between the adjustment drive (68) and the feedroll (36, 37) that can be moved by this drive. The spring (58) enables the movable feedroll (36, 37) to react more quickly or immediately to sudden changes in windrow height independent of the inertia of the adjustment drive (68).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2006Publication date: May 24, 2007Inventors: Rainer Schafer, Matthew Dold
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Publication number: 20060185337Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a harvesting machine, including a bearing configured to couple a rotatable shaft with a chassis of the harvesting machine, a first element coupled with the shaft so as to be rotatable therewith, and a second element coupled with the chassis of the harvesting machine. Additionally, at least a portion of the second element is substantially concentrically enclosed by the first element and the first and second elements cooperate to define a contactless seal configured to substantially prevent contamination of the bearing. The shaft is coupled with a product treating element, such as a crop feeding and/or processing element that is driven or idle rotating.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2005Publication date: August 24, 2006Inventors: Manfred Engel, Joseph Teijido, Claus-Josef Vogelgesang, Fritz Lauer, Wolfram Elsner, Rainer Schafer, Joshua Bacon
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Publication number: 20050279073Abstract: The agricultural harvesting machine having a crop picking head includes a pickup conveyer which can be driven so as to pick up the harvested crop at a first adjustable speed, a discharge conveyer which can be driven so as to receive the harvested crop picked up by the pickup conveyer, transport the harvested crop, and discharge the harvested crop at a second adjustable speed, and a feed-in conveyer disposed in a feed-in channel of the harvesting machine that can be driven so as to receive the harvested crop from the discharge conveyer, transport the harvested crop, and discharge the harvested crop to a harvested crop processing unit at a third adjustable speed. The third speed and the first speed are independent of one another, and the second speed is defined by the first and third speeds and falls in a range between the first and third speeds.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2005Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Steffen Clauss, Stefan Bohrer, Rainer Schafer, Jurgen Hofer, Peter Pirro
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Publication number: 20050279070Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine having an internal combustion engine, a propulsion system that can be operated to cause the harvesting machine to move across a field with a propulsion speed, a crop material pick-up device for picking up the crop material from a field, a crop material processing device for processing the crop material that has been picked up, a control unit for specifying the speed of the internal combustion engine, and a through-put measurement device for determining the through-put of the harvesting machine. The control unit can be operated to vary the speed of the internal combustion engine depending on the signal from the through-put measurement device. In this manner the RPM of the internal combustion engine that is most favorable in terms of fuel consumption and that corresponds to the power to be applied at a given through-put can be specified.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2005Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Peter Pirro, Jurgen Hofer, Stefan Bohrer, Rainer Schafer, Steffen Clauss
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Publication number: 20050238271Abstract: A bearing assembly of a crop conveying and/or crop processing element for a harvesting machine includes a rolling contact bearing, a stationary disk spaced axially away from the rolling contact bearing and an impeller disk rotating with the crop conveying and/or crop processing element. The stationary disk is positioned between the rolling contact bearing and the impeller disk such that interaction of the stationary disk with the impeller disk prevents intrusion of undesirable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2005Publication date: October 27, 2005Inventors: Rainer Schafer, Claus-Josef Vogelgesang, Manfred Engel
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Patent number: 6282875Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester includes a main frame supported on front and rear pairs of wheels. A crop intake arrangement extends forwardly between the front wheels and releasably mounted thereto is the central component of a rowless header having right- and left-hand components pivotally attached to the central component for movement between a raised non-operative transport position for transport within a legal width and a lowered operative position wherein they extend outwardly beyond the front wheels. One of several transport wheel arrangements are selectively coupled to one or the other or both of the crop intake arrangement and the central component of the rowless header for supporting at least some of the weight of the header so that this weight is not borne by the axle of the front wheels of the forage harvester vehicle, thereby making the forage harvester legal to travel on roads where there is an axle load limit.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2000Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Eberhard Holtkotte, Rainer Schafer, Claus-Joseph Vogelgesang, Richard Wubbels
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Patent number: 6246785Abstract: Method for the automated, microscope-aided examination of tissue samples or samples of body fluids with the aid of neural networks. In a first method of examination the sample is firstly classified according to its type and subsequently a digitalized image is divided into connected segments which are examined by one or several neural networks. The sample is classified as pathological if cell types are present which do not belong to the type of sample or if structural cell or tissue changes are present. In a second method of examination the digitalized image is again segmented and the segments are examined for the presence of a cell object. This is followed by an examination whether the cell object is an individual cell or a cell complex. In a third step of the analysis it is determined whether the found cell object is located on one of the image borders. If this is the case then a further image is recorded in which the found cell objects are completely included.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Roche Diagnostics GmbHInventors: Bela Molnar, Rainer Schäfer, Winfried Albert
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Patent number: 5420042Abstract: Method for the analytical determination of the concentration of a component of a medical sample, in which a reaction of the sample with reagents leads to a time-dependent change S(t) in a measured quantity S and the concentration C correlates according to an evaluation curve C(X) with an input variable X derived from S(t), in which the calibration curve is ambiguous for at least a portion of the possible X values. In order to assign an input variable X to one of the sub-sections and thereby to obtain an unambiguous correlation to a particular concentration C, a training run and an analysis run are performed. In the training run, a discrimination algorithm is performed at least once, in which a discriminator set is generated from measurements of S(t), a score is generated in each case from the latter with a multivariate statistical technique and it is checked whether the scores can be divided into separate subsets, in which the concentrations are correctly assigned to the sub-sections of the calibration curve.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1993Date of Patent: May 30, 1995Assignee: Boehringer Mannheim GmbHInventors: Rainer Schafer, Christoph Berding, Fridl Lang, Wilheim Kleider, Peter Wolf