Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Hoffman

Thomas J. Hoffman 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: 12604810
    Abstract: An agricultural machine includes: a pickup configured to pick up material from a ground; a conveyor configured to eject the material provided thereon by the pickup; a wind guard configured to change a trajectory of the material from the pickup to the conveyor; a wind guard actuator operatively coupled to the wind guard; and a controller configured to control the wind guard actuator to adjust a position of the wind guard to adjust a distribution of the material relative to the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Damion D. Babler, Dana E. Redman, Dennis Williams, Reid L. Christ, Thomas J. Hoffman, Timothy G. Osterhaus, William J. Bassett
  • Publication number: 20250367619
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials for livestock feed including a container that receives the materials, agitators that mix the materials in the container, a driveline that drives the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, a power source that provides an input speed at an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source and having a hydrostatic loop to provide a speed ratio between the input speed and the output speed, a plurality of sensors positioned between the power source and the agitators that provides mixing signals commensurate to mixing parameters, and an electronic control unit configured to receive the mixing signals, extract mixing parameter values from the mixing signals, and actuate the continuously variable transmission and adjust the speed ratio based on the mixing parameter values to enhance efficiency of the mixing of the materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan ROWNTREE, Rodney ZIMMERMAN, Aaron WEPNER, Thomas J. HOFFMAN
  • Publication number: 20250338798
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic wrapping a row of bales in a bale wrapper, including placing a first bale on a loading table. The wrapping cycle including rotating a wrapping hoop to apply a wrapping material to a bale surface, moving a bale pushing device from a first position toward a second position to push the first bale through the wrapping hoop, dispensing from a first material applicator and a second material applicator, changing a wrapping application parameter for applying the wrapping material based on an intermediate position within the row of bales, continuing to move the bale pushing device until the second position is reached, stopping the rotation of the wrapping hoop, and moving the bale pushing device to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2025
    Publication date: November 6, 2025
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Shane WILLIAMS, Justin H. MAINWARING, Grant J. HEINEMAN, Jacob L. PETERSON, Dana Eric REDMAN, Thomas J. HOFFMAN
  • Patent number: 12420250
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials for livestock feed including a container that receives the materials, agitators that mix the materials in the container, a driveline that drives the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, a power source that provides an input speed at an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source and having a hydrostatic loop to provide a speed ratio between the input speed and the output speed, a plurality of sensors positioned between the power source and the agitators that provides mixing signals commensurate to mixing parameters, and an electronic control unit configured to receive the mixing signals, extract mixing parameter values from the mixing signals, and actuate the continuously variable transmission and adjust the speed ratio based on the mixing parameter values to enhance efficiency of the mixing of the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Rowntree, Rodney Zimmerman, Aaron Wepner, Thomas J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12382873
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic wrapping bales in a bale wrapper, including placing a bale on a loading table and performing a wrapping cycle. The wrapping cycle including rotating a wrapping hoop to apply a wrapping material to a bale surface, moving a bale pushing device from a first position toward a second position to push the bale through the wrapping hoop, dispensing from a first material applicator and a second material applicator, comparing a theoretical applied wrapping material quantity to an actual applied wrapping material quantity, adjusting a ratio of moving speed of the bale pushing device to rotational speed of the wrapping hoop, to apply a predetermined amount of wrapping material, continuing to move the bale pushing device until the second position is reached, stopping the rotation of the wrapping hoop, and moving the bale pushing device from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Shane Williams, Justin H. Mainwaring, Grant J. Heineman, Jacob L. Peterson, Dana Eric Redman, Thomas J. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20240365715
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic wrapping bales in a bale wrapper, including placing a bale on a loading table and performing a wrapping cycle. The wrapping cycle including rotating a wrapping hoop to apply a wrapping material to a bale surface, moving a bale pushing device from a first position toward a second position to push the bale through the wrapping hoop, dispensing from a first material applicator and a second material applicator, comparing a theoretical applied wrapping material quantity to an actual applied wrapping material quantity, adjusting a ratio of moving speed of the bale pushing device to rotational speed of the wrapping hoop, to apply a predetermined amount of wrapping material, continuing to move the bale pushing device until the second position is reached, stopping the rotation of the wrapping hoop, and moving the bale pushing device from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Shane WILLIAMS, Justin H. MAINWARING, Grant J. HEINEMAN, Jacob L. PETERSON, Dana Eric REDMAN, Thomas J. HOFFMAN
  • Publication number: 20240349651
    Abstract: Provided are systems, apparatus, and methods for use with mergers. A method for processing a material on a ground surface includes detecting, via one or more sensors, an object of interest associated with the material when a merger is forming a windrow on the ground surface. The method also includes a step for facilitating removal of the object of interest from the material in response to the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Damion D. BABLER, Dana E. REDMAN, Dennis WILLIAMS, Reid L. CHRIST, Thomas J. HOFFMAN, Timothy G. OSTERHAUS, William J. BASSETT
  • Patent number: 12063894
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic wrapping bales in a bale wrapper, including placing a bale on a loading table and performing a wrapping cycle. The wrapping cycle including rotating a wrapping hoop to apply a wrapping material to a bale surface, moving a bale pushing device from a first position toward a second position to push the bale through the wrapping hoop, dispensing from a first material applicator and a second material applicator, determining presence of the wrapping material, by a sensor on the wrapping hoop, adjusting based on the determining, a ratio of moving speed to rotational speed of the wrapping hoop, to apply a predetermined amount of wrapping material independent of the presence of wrapping material dispensing, continuing to move the bale pushing device until the second position is reached, stopping the rotation of the wrapping hoop, and moving the bale pushing device to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Shane Williams, Justin H. Mainwaring, Grant J. Heineman, Jacob L. Peterson, Dana Eric Redman, Thomas J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 12063892
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for use with mergers for processing a material on a ground surface includes detecting, via one or more sensors, an object of interest associated with the material when a merger is forming a windrow on the ground surface. The method also includes a step for facilitating removal of the object of interest from the material in response to the detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Damion D. Babler, Dana E. Redman, Dennis Williams, Reid L Christ, Thomas J. Hoffman, Timothy G. Osterhaus, William J. Bassett
  • Publication number: 20240016095
    Abstract: A system and method for automatic wrapping bales in a bale wrapper, including placing a bale on a loading table and performing a wrapping cycle. The wrapping cycle including rotating a wrapping hoop to apply a wrapping material to a bale surface, moving a bale pushing device from a first position toward a second position to push the bale through the wrapping hoop, dispensing from a first material applicator and a second material applicator, determining presence of the wrapping material, by a sensor on the wrapping hoop, adjusting based on the determining, a ratio of moving speed to rotational speed of the wrapping hoop, to apply a predetermined amount of wrapping material independent of the presence of wrapping material dispensing, continuing to move the bale pushing device until the second position is reached, stopping the rotation of the wrapping hoop, and moving the bale pushing device to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Shane WILLIAMS, Justin H. MAINWARING, Grant J. HEINEMAN, Jacob L. PETERSON, Dana Eric REDMAN, Thomas J. HOFFMAN
  • Publication number: 20220054998
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials for livestock feed including a container that receives the materials, agitators that mix the materials in the container, a driveline that drives the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, a power source that provides an input speed at an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source and having a hydrostatic loop to provide a speed ratio between the input speed and the output speed, a plurality of sensors positioned between the power source and the agitators that provides mixing signals commensurate to mixing parameters, and an electronic control unit configured to receive the mixing signals, extract mixing parameter values from the mixing signals, and actuate the continuously variable transmission and adjust the speed ratio based on the mixing parameter values to enhance efficiency of the mixing of the materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: KUNH NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan ROWNTREE, Rodney Zimmerman, Aaron Wepner, Thomas J. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11185833
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials for livestock feed including a container that receives the materials, agitators that mix the materials in the container, a driveline that drives the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, a power source that provides an input speed at an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source and having a hydrostatic loop to provide a speed ratio between the input speed and the output speed, a plurality of sensors positioned between the power source and the agitators that provides mixing signals commensurate to mixing parameters, and an electronic control unit configured to receive the mixing signals, extract mixing parameter values from the mixing signals, and actuate the continuously variable transmission and adjust the speed ratio based on the mixing parameter values to enhance efficiency of the mixing of the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Rowntree, Rodney Zimmerman, Aaron Wepner, Thomas J. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20210045292
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for use with mergers are disclosed. A disclosed method for processing a material on a ground surface includes detecting, via one or more sensors, an object of interest associated with the material when a merger is forming a windrow on the ground surface. The method also includes a step for facilitating removal of the object of interest from the material in response to the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC
    Inventors: Damion D. Babler, Dana E. Redman, Dennis Williams, Reid L. Christ, Thomas J. Hoffman, Timothy G. Osterhaus, William J. Bassett
  • Patent number: 10736347
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials having a container to receive the materials, agitators, a driveline to drive the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, an power source to provide an input speed with an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source, and an electronic control unit configured to adjust a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission to provide a linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a slope, when the input torque is below a control input threshold, and to follow a corrected linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a corrected slope smaller than the slope when the input torque is above the control input threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Rowntree, Jacob Veeder, Rodney Zimmerman, Aaron Wepner, William Bassett, Thomas J. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20200077694
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials having a container to receive the materials, agitators, a driveline to drive the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, an power source to provide an input speed with an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source, and an electronic control unit configured to adjust a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission to provide a linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a slope, when the input torque is below a control input threshold, and to follow a corrected linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a corrected slope smaller than the slope when the input torque is above the control input threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan ROWNTREE, Jacob VEEDER, Rodney ZIMMERMAN, Aaron WEPNER, William BASSETT, Thomas J. HOFFMAN
  • Patent number: 10499680
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials having a container to receive the materials, agitators, a driveline to drive the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, an power source to provide an input speed with an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source, and an electronic control unit configured to adjust a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission to provide a linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a slope, when the input torque is below a control input threshold, and to follow a corrected linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a corrected slope smaller than the slope when the input torque is above the control input threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Rowntree, Jacob Veeder, Rodney Zimmerman, Aaron Wepner, William Bassett, Thomas J. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190366287
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials for livestock feed including a container that receives the materials, agitators that mix the materials in the container, a driveline that drives the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, a power source that provides an input speed at an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source and having a hydrostatic loop to provide a speed ratio between the input speed and the output speed, a plurality of sensors positioned between the power source and the agitators that provides mixing signals commensurate to mixing parameters, and an electronic control unit configured to receive the mixing signals, extract mixing parameter values from the mixing signals, and actuate the continuously variable transmission and adjust the speed ratio based on the mixing parameter values to enhance efficiency of the mixing of the materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Rowntree, Rodney Zimmerman, Aaron Wepner, Thomas J. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20180255823
    Abstract: A control system for mixing materials having a container to receive the materials, agitators, a driveline to drive the agitators at an output speed with an output torque, an power source to provide an input speed with an input torque, a continuously variable transmission that connects the driveline and the power source, and an electronic control unit configured to adjust a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission to provide a linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a slope, when the input torque is below a control input threshold, and to follow a corrected linear relationship between the input torque and the output torque with a corrected slope smaller than the slope when the input torque is above the control input threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: KUHN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan ROWNTREE, Jacob VEEDER, Rodney ZIMMERMAN, Aaron WEPNER, William BASSETT, Thomas J. HOFFMAN
  • Patent number: 6123176
    Abstract: An elevator rope tension monitoring assembly is disclosed. The rope tension monitoring system includes a plurality of sensors that produce an output corresponding to the level of tension in each of the ropes. A controller compares the relative levels of sensed tension and generates a warning signal if a sufficient deviation in the relative level of tension in the ropes is observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Hugh J. O'Donnell, Thomas J. Hoffman, Frederick H. Barker
  • Patent number: 5886308
    Abstract: An elevator rope speed monitoring assembly is disclosed. The rope speed monitoring assembly includes a plurality of sensors that monitor the movement of the individual ropes. The sensors output a signal indicative of the speed of the movement of the ropes. A controller compares the relative movement of the ropes and generates a warning signal if a sufficient deviation between relative rope speeds is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Ericson, Hugh J. O'Donnell, Thomas J. Hoffman