Patents by Inventor Robert L. FIGGER

Robert L. FIGGER 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: 10492371
    Abstract: A bale identification assembly for use with an agricultural baler having a first supply roll mounted on the baler providing a binding material used by the knotter system to bind the formed bale, wherein the binding material on the first supply roll is free of identification tags. The bale identification assembly includes a second supply roll mounted on the baler providing an identifying filament. The knotter system joins the identifying filament from the second supply roll with the binding material from the first supply roll while tying a knot to bind the formed bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hamilton, Emmanuel Regis Magisson, Daniel Soldan, Grant Lewis Good, Robert L. Figger, Shane A. Bollinger
  • Publication number: 20190327893
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a machine, comprising: a chassis supporting a hydraulic float assembly, the hydraulic float assembly comprising first plural cylinders and a first control component; a header coupled to the hydraulic float assembly, the header comprising: a frame comprising processing components on an upper side of the frame and plural skid plates on a lower side of the frame, the plural skid plates adjustably coupled to the frame via respective second plural cylinders; and a controller configured to: receive a first input; and provide a first signal to a second control component coupled to the second plural cylinders based on the first input, the second control component configured to adjust fluid flow through the second plural cylinders based on the first signal, the second plural cylinders causing adjustment of a position of the plural skid plates based on the adjusted fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hamilton, Robert L. Figger
  • Publication number: 20190269074
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a variable width twine disc assembly, comprising: a fixed assembly comprising a first disc (24) having notches spaced along a periphery of the first disc (24) and a shaft (28); and a second disc (22) having notches spaced along a periphery of the second disc (22) and configured to be moveably adjusted along the shaft (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Robert L. Figger, David A. BECKER
  • Publication number: 20190266466
    Abstract: A bale identification assembly has a binding material with identification tags at spaced intervals is used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale. A read module with an antenna transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from identification tags. The bale identification assembly has a bale drop sensor with a paddle. As a completed bale passes through the discharge chute, the completed bale interacts with the paddle causing the bale drop sensor to activate. Activation of the bale drop sensor activates the antenna for a specified active cycle, and during its active cycle, the read module assigns any identification tag that is sensed to the completed bale that is leaving the discharge chute. A controller receives information from at least one crop sensor and/or bale sensor and associates the information about the completed bale with the identification tag on the completed bale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hamilton, Emmanuel Regis Magisson, Daniel Soldan, Grant Lewis Good, Robert L. Figger, Shane A. Bollinger
  • Patent number: 10375889
    Abstract: A dual conveyor assembly for a windrower includes upper and lower conveyors. Each conveyor includes an endless conveyor element and rotatable supports spaced along a longitudinal conveyor path and entrained by the endless conveyor element. The endless conveyor elements define vertically spaced opposed runs that define the longitudinal conveyor path therebetween. The opposed runs are operable to be driven together to move a flow of severed plant material along the path. At least one of the opposed runs is shiftable relative to the other opposed run in an upright direction, while the runs are driven together, such that the opposed runs remain in moving engagement with the flow of severed plant material as the amount of severed plant material passing between the opposed runs varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Figger, Robert A. Matousek, Shane A. Bollinger
  • Patent number: 10303997
    Abstract: A bale identification assembly has a binding material with identification tags at spaced intervals is used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale. A read module with an antenna transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from identification tags. The bale identification assembly has a bale drop sensor with a paddle. As a completed bale passes through the discharge chute, the completed bale interacts with the paddle causing the bale drop sensor to activate. Activation of the bale drop sensor activates the antenna for a specified active cycle, and during its active cycle, the read module assigns any identification tag that is sensed to the completed bale that is leaving the discharge chute. A controller receives information from at least one crop sensor and/or bale sensor and associates the information about the completed bale with the identification tag on the completed bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hamilton, Emmanuel Regis Magisson, Daniel Soldan, Grant Lewis Good, Robert L. Figger, Shane A. Bollinger
  • Publication number: 20190053437
    Abstract: A knotter assembly for a baler, the knotter assembly configured to form knots in strands of a binding material used to secure a formed bale. The knotter assembly includes a generally circular knotter disc, a rotary billhook, and a pinion which is disposed for meshing engagement with a pair of circumferentially spaced gear stretches on the knotter disc such that rotational movement of the billhook is driven by the knotter disc through engagement of the gear stretches with the pinion. The billhook includes a billhook shaft, wherein the billhook shaft has a notch formed along a portion of the billhook shaft that extends parallel to an axis of the billhook shaft. The pinion includes a key that extends into a pinion opening configured to receive the billhook shaft such that the key engages with the notch to connect the pinion with the billhook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Robert L. FIGGER, David A. Becker, Patrick Kendrick
  • Publication number: 20190053436
    Abstract: A knotter assembly for a baler, the knotter assembly configured to form knots in strands of a binding material used to secure a formed bale. The knotter assembly includes a generally circular knotter disc, a rotary billhook, and a pinion which is disposed for meshing engagement with a pair of circumferentially spaced gear stretches on the knotter disc such that rotational movement of the billhook is driven by the knotter disc through engagement of the gear stretches with the pinion. The billhook includes a billhook shaft, wherein the billhook shaft is received in an opening of the pinion. A retaining clip engages the billhook shaft to couple the billhook with the pinion. The retaining clip is C-shaped with a mouth configured to receive the billhook shaft and teeth that engage a groove around at least a portion of the circumference of the billhook shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Robert L. FIGGER, David A. Becker, Patrick Kendrick
  • Publication number: 20180295781
    Abstract: A bale identification assembly for use with an agricultural baler having a first supply roll mounted on the baler providing a binding material used by the knotter system to bind the formed bale, wherein the binding material on the first supply roll is free of identification tags. The bale identification assembly includes a second supply roll mounted on the baler providing an identifying filament. The knotter system joins the identifying filament from the second supply roll with the binding material from the first supply roll while tying a knot to bind the formed bale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hamilton, Emmanuel Regis Magisson, Daniel Soldan, Grant Lewis Good, Robert L. Figger, Shane A. Bollinger
  • Publication number: 20180260674
    Abstract: A bale identification assembly has a binding material with identification tags at spaced intervals is used by a knotter system to bind a formed bale. A read module with an antenna transmits interrogator signals and also receives authentication replies from identification tags. The bale identification assembly has a bale drop sensor with a paddle. As a completed bale passes through the discharge chute, the completed bale interacts with the paddle causing the bale drop sensor to activate. Activation of the bale drop sensor activates the antenna for a specified active cycle, and during its active cycle, the read module assigns any identification tag that is sensed to the completed bale that is leaving the discharge chute. A controller receives information from at least one crop sensor and/or bale sensor and associates the information about the completed bale with the identification tag on the completed bale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin J. Hamilton, Emmanuel Regis Magisson, Daniel Soldan, Grant Lewis Good, Robert L. Figger, Shane A. Bollinger
  • Publication number: 20170359958
    Abstract: A dual conveyor assembly for a windrower includes upper and lower conveyors. Each conveyor includes an endless conveyor element and rotatable supports spaced along a longitudinal conveyor path and entrained by the endless conveyor element. The endless conveyor elements define vertically spaced opposed runs that define the longitudinal conveyor path therebetween. The opposed runs are operable to be driven together to move a flow of severed plant material along the path. At least one of the opposed runs is shiftable relative to the other opposed run in an upright direction, while the runs are driven together, such that the opposed runs remain in moving engagement with the flow of severed plant material as the amount of severed plant material passing between the opposed runs varies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. FIGGER, Robert A. Matousek, Shane A. Bollinger
  • Patent number: 9736976
    Abstract: An agricultural work vehicle is operable to be advanced along the ground to sever a swath of standing forage plants and to lay the severed forage material into a windrow. The agricultural work vehicle includes a powered chassis, a harvesting header, and a quick-attachment header adapter. The header adapter is shiftably supported by the powered chassis and is configured to selectively support the harvesting header. The header adapter includes an adapter frame, having end supports and a center support, and a selectively actuatable latch assembly supported on the adapter frame. The latch assembly is associated with at least one of the supports to releasably secure the harvesting header to the adapter frame when the latch assembly is engaged and permit disconnection from the adapter frame when the latch assembly is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Figger
  • Publication number: 20170188519
    Abstract: An agricultural baler includes a baler chassis and a stuffer mechanism. The stuffer mechanism includes a fork and a motor. The fork is shiftably supported to move along a loading duct during each of a series of stuffing strokes. The fork is operable in a sweeping position, where the fork extends at least partly into the duct, to provide a full stuffing stroke by loading a charge of crop material from the loading duct into a baling chamber. The fork is shiftable by the motor from the sweeping position to a retracted position, where the fork is moved out of the duct. The fork is shiftable into the retracted position for at least part of a respective stuffing stroke where at least some of the charge of crop material in the loading duct is not loaded into the baling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. FIGGER, Kevin J. Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20160128261
    Abstract: An agricultural work vehicle is operable to be advanced along the ground to sever a swath of standing forage plants and to lay the severed forage material into a windrow. The agricultural work vehicle includes a powered chassis, a harvesting header, and a quick-attachment header adapter. The header adapter is shiftably supported by the powered chassis and is configured to selectively support the harvesting header. The header adapter includes an adapter frame, having end supports and a center support, and a selectively actuatable latch assembly supported on the adapter frame. The latch assembly is associated with at least one of the supports to releasably secure the harvesting header to the adapter frame when the latch assembly is engaged and permit disconnection from the adapter frame when the latch assembly is disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventor: Robert L. FIGGER