Patents by Inventor Rodney R. Neier

Rodney R. Neier 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).

  • Publication number: 20230044138
    Abstract: An autonomous feed delivery system for evenly dispensing a specified amount of feed into a specified distance such as a feed bunk. This results in a concisely controlled rate of discharge per linear distance which is critical to achieving an even and accurate delivery of the specified amount of feed into the feed bunk. Features can include using a georeferenced map of feed bunks to identify correct feed rations to the correct bunks based on a prescription for each bunk, and preventing feed dispensing outside of bunk locations, load sense hydraulic control to provide hydraulic power to dispensing independent of vehicle engine rpm, and interruption of bulk feed supply to the dispensing sub-system if indications of overload are sensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: RODNEY R. NEIER, MARK T. COOKSEY, KELLY J. WITTMAN, ROSS M. GROENING, ANDREW FILLINGIM, TIMOTHY SPENCER, CORBIN DALE BALDWIN, LEONARD GASIOR, JENNIFER ANNE OGLES
  • Patent number: 8657485
    Abstract: An agricultural mixer includes a hydraulic drive system. The mixer includes an automatic jam-resolving feature, whereby if an auger becomes jammed, the drive system will cause the auger to rotate in a reverse direction for a period of time to resolve the jam. The hydraulic drive system will maintain a speed of rotation of the auger at a relatively constant rate during mixing while choosing an efficient displacement setting for the hydraulic motor. The auger is maintained at a constant speed during a discharge mode by maintaining the motor in a maximum displacement setting. A clean-out mode is provided wherein the auger is rotated at a maximum speed to aid in cleaning out the last remaining feed mixture in the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney R. Neier, Allin L. Butcher, James E. Shafer, Ross M. Groening
  • Patent number: 8342738
    Abstract: A mixer includes a housing having one or more augers therein. The augers are turned so that they lift the material being mixed upwardly. Fixed on the side walls, which include baffles, are one or more deflectors which impart a downward motion on the mixture being mixed so that the mixture is tumbled upwardly by the augers and downwardly by the deflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Rodney R. Neier, Allin L. Butcher, Ross M. Groening, Conway B. Price
  • Patent number: 8177419
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer
  • Publication number: 20120008457
    Abstract: An agricultural mixer includes a hydraulic drive system. The mixer includes an automatic jam-resolving feature, whereby if an auger becomes jammed, the drive system will cause the auger to rotate in a reverse direction for a period of time to resolve the jam. The hydraulic drive system will maintain a speed of rotation of the auger at a relatively constant rate during mixing while choosing an efficient displacement setting for the hydraulic motor. The auger is maintained at a constant speed during a discharge mode by maintaining the motor in a maximum displacement setting. A clean-out mode is provided wherein the auger is rotated at a maximum speed to aid in cleaning out the last remaining feed mixture in the mixer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ROTO-MIX, LLC
    Inventors: RODNEY R. NEIER, ALLIN L. BUTCHER, JAMES E. SHAFER, ROSS M. GROENING
  • Publication number: 20110121114
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixer that includes at least one multi-flighted auger for mixing together materials, especially livestock feed. The multi-flighted auger rotates about a generally vertical axis. The flights include a kicker knife at the bottom and chopper knives around their periphery. The upper surface of the flights may be perpendicular to a shaft about which the auger rotates, or may be concave or slanted generally upwardly to encourage the material being mixed to remain in contact with the auger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: ROTO-MIX, LLC
    Inventors: RODNEY R. NEIER, ALLIN L. BUTCHER, ROSS M. GROENING, MARK T. COOKSEY, CONWAY B. PRICE, JAMES E. SHAFER
  • Publication number: 20090268549
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: ROTO-MIX, LLC
    Inventors: BENJAMIN R. NEIER, RODNEY R. NEIER, GREGORY R. REIMER
  • Publication number: 20090190440
    Abstract: A mixer includes a housing having one or more augers therein. The augers are turned so that they lift the material being mixed upwardly. Fixed on the side walls, which include baffles, are one or more deflectors which impart a downward motion on the mixture being mixed so that the mixture is tumbled upwardly by the augers and downwardly by the deflectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: ROTO-MIX, LLC
    Inventors: RODNEY R. NEIER, ALLIN L. BUTCHER, ROSS M. GROENING, CONWAY B. PRICE
  • Patent number: 7566166
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer
  • Publication number: 20070297284
    Abstract: An animal feed mixer includes a housing forming first and second chambers. An upper auger and a lower auger are mounted in one of the chambers and a rotor is mounted in the other of the chambers. The rotor includes a plurality of arm assemblies that are staggered with respect to one another, that overlap one another in length, and that have paddles affixed to the outer ends of radially extending arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: ROTO-MIX, LLC
    Inventors: BENJAMIN R. NEIER, RODNEY R. NEIER, GREGORY R. REIMER
  • Patent number: 7191965
    Abstract: A material spreader includes a belt/chain assembly. The belt is mounted within the chamber of the material spreader and the chain remains out of contact with the material during the operation of the device. A sliding barrier is mounted at the rear of the belt, and moves from a forward position adjacent the front of the spreader to a rear position adjacent the rear of the spreader. One form of the hydraulic system utilizes a sensor for built up pressure within independently driven augers. In response to this pressure build up the sliding barrier speed is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer, David J. Brouwer, Luke D. Prouty, Elizabeth B. Rheingans, Jeff A. Schultz, Jason M. Schwiderski, Barbara M. Springman, Jeremy J. Waltz, David J. Gelhar, Kevin R. Wald, Todd E. Osman, James E. Shafer, Ross M. Groening
  • Patent number: 7172137
    Abstract: A material spreader includes a belt/chain assembly. The belt is mounted within the chamber of the material spreader and the chain remains out of contact with the material during the operation of the device. A sliding barrier is mounted at the rear of the belt, and moves from a forward position adjacent the front of the spreader to a rear position adjacent the rear of the spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Roto-Mix, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer, David J. Brouwer, Luke D. Prouty, Elizabeth B. Rheingans, Jeff A. Schultz, Jason M. Schwiderski, Barbara M. Springman, Jeremy J. Waltz, David J. Gelhar, Kevin R. Wald, Todd E. Osman, James E. Shafer
  • Patent number: 6923393
    Abstract: The feed mixer of the present invention includes two upper horizontal augers having flighting thereon. Below and between the two upper augers is a rotor having helical paddle segments thereon. The two upper augers and the rotor all rotate in the same direction, but the two upper augers force material in one direction and the lower rotor forces material in the opposite direction. Knives on the outer edges of the upper augers and on the helical segments of the rotor act upon the hay to cut it and facilitate its mixing with other feed ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: J-Star Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Neier, Rodney R. Neier, Gregory R. Reimer, Brent H. Whitaker, Mark T. Cooksey, Celso Luis Casale