By Rotation Of Contents Patents (Class 53/211)
  • Patent number: 10820527
    Abstract: A baler for use with a netwrap roll, where the baler includes a frame supported on one or more wheels, a housing coupled to the frame and at least partially defining a baling chamber therein, a netwrap assembly having a netwrap frame coupled to the housing and at least partially defining a netwrap chamber, and a loading device at least partially positioned within the netwrap chamber. Where the loading device includes a first frame fixed relative to the netwrap frame, a second frame movable relative to the first frame between a frame stowed position and a frame deployed position, and a carriage movable relative to the second frame between a carriage stowed position and a carriage deployed position, and wherein the carriage is configured to support the netwrap roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Phani Anaparti, Subhadra I. Maithili
  • Patent number: 10427812
    Abstract: An all-model aluminum product automatic packing machine, comprises: a rack (1), a packing mechanism (2) disposed on the rack (1), and a feeding mechanism (3) for delivering an aluminum product to the packing mechanism (2). The packing mechanism (2) comprises universal clamps (4) symmetrically disposed at two ends of the rack (1); the universal clamps (4) fix one end of the aluminum product, and rotates under the driving of a rotating motor (5), and stretches and retracts under the driving of the pneumatic push rod (6). The rack (1) is provided with a packing platform (7) thereon; and one side of the packing platform (7) corresponding to the universal clamp (4) is provided with a pressing piece (8) capable of turning upward. The packing machine realizes linear automatic packing of all-model aluminum products, improves packing quality and packing efficiency, and saves labor and energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG JMA ALUMINIUM PROFILE FACTORY (GROUP) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Decai Niu
  • Patent number: 10390492
    Abstract: A harvester and a crop accumulator combination. The harvester is configured to transfer a harvested crop to the crop accumulator. The crop accumulator comprises at least one actuator to selectively discharge the harvested crops onto a field. A GPS unit is configured with at least one virtual trip line. An ECU is in communication with the GPS unit. The ECU is configured to selectively command the actuator of the crop accumulator to discharge harvested crop onto the field when the ECU receives a signal from the GPS unit when at least one of the virtual trip line is being approached, the virtual trip line is being crossed, and the virtual trip line has been crossed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 10358245
    Abstract: A method of wrapping a load with a stretch wrapping system utilizes a system for monitoring film properties, a module in the stretch wrapping systems controller to analyze the data or film properties and further utilize the data to determine, at least in part, appropriate machine settings and or wrapping pattern for the film and execute by providing appropriate machine settings such that effective wrapping of the load and proper use of the film are achieved. The film properties include film stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventor: Paul Kurt Riemenschneider, III
  • Patent number: 10207834
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically rolling a napkin around a set of dining utensils, wherein the apparatus can repeat the method quickly to individually wrap a plurality of sets of utensils in napkins. The apparatus comprises a housing for a first transfer unit for receiving a set of unwrapped utensil and a napkin and configured to automatically deliver the unwrapped utensils and napkin to a platform for wrapping. A lift plate holds a plurality of napkins and delivers a single napkin to unwrapped silverware. A rolling assembly rotatable around the unwrapped utensils and the napkin is configured to hold the utensils and to roll the napkin around the unwrapped utensils and to deliver the wrapped utensils to a second transfer unit configured to provide the wrapped utensils to a bin for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Beck
  • Patent number: 9776748
    Abstract: Control of a wrapping apparatus is facilitated by enabling an operator to input a load containment force requirement and/or a minimum number of layers of packaging material to be applied to a load, with a wrap control system automatically determining wrap force and other parameters required to meet user input requirements and/or parameters to minimize the expertise required of an operator and to provide more consistent and reliable wrapping of loads. In addition, a wrapping apparatus may be controlled to apply at least a minimum number of layers of packaging material to a load throughout a contiguous region thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Michael P. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9635814
    Abstract: A harvester and a crop accumulator combination. The harvester is configured to transfer a harvested crop to the crop accumulator. The crop accumulator comprises at least one actuator to selectively discharge the harvested crops onto a field. A GPS unit is configured with at least one virtual trip line. An ECU is in communication with the GPS unit. The ECU is configured to selectively command the actuator of the crop accumulator to discharge harvested crop onto the field when the ECU receives a signal from the GPS unit when at least one of the virtual trip line is being approached, the virtual trip line is being crossed, and the virtual trip line has been crossed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy J Kraus
  • Patent number: 9326449
    Abstract: A binding apparatus for a baling machine includes a dispensing mechanism for dispensing at least two strips of binding film and guiding the strips of film simultaneously onto the surface of a rotating bale. The dispensing mechanism lays the strips of film side-by-side on the bale surface to form a combined strip having a width greater than the width H of each individual strip of binding film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: KUHN-GELDROP B.V.
    Inventors: Leonardus Hendirkus Maria Van Amstel, Henricus Petrus Gerardus Bullens
  • Patent number: 9284079
    Abstract: A turntable assembly for a stretch wrapping machine comprises a frame, a hub rotatably mounted to the frame on a shaft, a turntable mounted to the hub, and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted to the frame defining a generally horizontal supporting plane for the turntable. Each roller has an axis of rotation generally parallel to the supporting plane and generally passing through the turntable axis of rotation. The frame is constructed so as to elastically deform, upon a load being placed upon the turntable that results in the load not being evenly supported by the rollers, to permit the roller axis of rotation to tilt relative to the horizontal supporting plane while still passing through the turntable axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Hendren, Gary L. Peters, Thomas E. Phillips
  • Patent number: 9016033
    Abstract: A film clamping and cutting device of a film wrapping machine is revealed. A connecting plate of a film clamping and cutting unit is located by a braking part. Moreover, by moment of a rotating machinery before stopping, a film clamping and cutting unit main body assembled on the rotating machinery is driven to continue moving. Under the movement of the unit main body, a pulling force is generated by a pull cord arranged between the connecting plate and a vertical-wheel of the unit main body. The pulling force rotates the vertical-wheel so that both a film clamping and cutting rod assembled with the vertical-wheel and a clamp fall toward a blade block to clamp and cut off a film. The film is also pulled and cut by an elastic recovery force of the film clamping and cutting rod. Therefore automatic film clamping and cutting is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Tien Heng Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sheng-Tian Ciou
  • Patent number: 9016032
    Abstract: A round baler is provided having a web wrap apparatus with a feeder transporting web to a bale chamber. The feeder has a lower fixed carrier and an upper pivotable feeder plate. In order to assure, that the web is caught, when it is transported by baling elements into the bale chamber, the feeder is provided with at least one partially or totally elastic web sheet extending toward the bale chamber and acting on a free portion of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Emmanual Chapon, Pascal Gresset
  • Patent number: 8656686
    Abstract: An improved net cutting assembly that may be used with an agricultural baler net wrapping system. More particularly, an up-cut net knife for improved cutting of wrapping material (e.g., a net) used to wrap bales of crop material in an agricultural baler. The up-cut net knife assembly improves net cutting performance by providing an up-cut net knife that moves in the same direction as the net whereby the motion of the net helps the knife get into the cut position. Further, embodiments of the up-cut knife assembly move the up-cut knife cutting edge at substantially the same speed and in the same direction as the net to be cut. This motion of the up-cut knife allows the up-cut knife to be lifted up into the net motion using a driver and then to continue on with no relative motion—or at least minimal relative motion of the knife to the net—until the knife gets into the cut position. In the cut position, the knife stops and the net is pulled against the knife blade resulting in cutting the net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Kevin M. Smith
  • Patent number: 8650837
    Abstract: A product roll packaging apparatus includes a transfer unit for lifting and transferring a product roll from a conveyor, a wrapping unit for wrapping a protective sheet around the roll and attaching an end thereof with an adhesive tape, a protective sheet supply unit for cutting off the sheet from a sheet roll and supplying it along a protective sheet path line to the wrapping unit, and a tape supply unit for supplying the tape to the end of the cut sheet. The transfer unit includes a position correcting mechanism for establishing a reference line depending on the roll size, and bringing a reference end face of the roll into alignment with a vertical plane including the reference line. The protective sheet supply unit includes an edge position control mechanism for bringing a reference edge of the sheet into alignment with the reference line corresponding to the roll size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Watanabe, Tsutomu Tada, Nobuyasu Akiyoshi, Yasushi Kikuchi, Toshiaki Kenmotsu
  • Patent number: 8641027
    Abstract: A turntable for a wrapping machine for rotating an article to be wrapped up, the turntable including a rotatable round cover plate comprising two grooves in parallel with each other and arranged at a distance from each other that corresponds to the distance between the forks of the lifting fork of a pallet truck, wherein the grooves extend from the edge of the cover plate on both sides of the diameter of the cover plate and in parallel to the diameter, and wherein the grooves are adapted to receive the forks of the lifting fork so that the article to be wrapped up can be conveyed by the pallet truck onto the cover plate to be supported by it, and respectively off the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Oy M. Haloila AB
    Inventors: Janne Koskela, Pavel Basharanov
  • Publication number: 20130340386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wrapping device for enveloping or packing in particular agricultural crop bales, including a wrapping floor for receiving and rotating the pressed crop bale and a guide frame for at least one wrapping material carrier for wrapping the bale on the wrapping floor with wrapping material in the form of webs, wherein the guide frame is height adjustable, in order to set the center of the wrapping material approximately at the location of the center of the crop bale to be wrapped. In order to be able to adapt wrapping devices having a guide frame to bales of different bale diameters, the guide frame should be pivotable about a horizontal axle which is situated parallel to the axis of rotation of the crop bale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jacobus REIJERSEN VAN BUUREN
  • Patent number: 8601770
    Abstract: A web wrap apparatus is provided in conjunction with a round baler. The web wrap apparatus has a feeder, a separator for the web, and a motion means. An actuator is provided at the motion means, which assists the separator in cutting the web, when the separator gets close to a cutting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Fredéric Paillet, Pascal Gresset, Jean Viaud, Emmanuel Chapon
  • Patent number: 8578686
    Abstract: A wrapper for wrapping bales of crop material includes a frame, a wrapping table, a wrapping device, and a loading device. The loading device includes a pivotable loading structure, and at least one actuator to move the loading structure between a pick-up position and a release position, wherein the loading structure comprises two loading arms between which the bale can be arranged. A pivotable grip arm is mounted on each loading arm. The pivotable grip arms are pivotable with respect to the loading arms between a closed position and an open position, and the at least one actuator is arranged to also move at least one of the grip arms between the open and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Forage Innovations B.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jacobus Reijersen Van Buuren
  • Patent number: 8555604
    Abstract: A wrapper for wrapping bales, in particular round bales of crop material, includes a frame, a wrapping table to support the bale during wrapping, a wrapping device to wrap wrapping material about the bale. In particular, the wrapper has at least two lateral guiding elements arranged to enclose a bale supported on the wrapping table to limit lateral movement of the bale. At least one of the lateral guiding elements is movable between an open position and a closed position, so that the distance between top ends of the lateral guiding elements is larger in the open position than in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Forage Innovations B.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jacobus Reijersen Van Buuren
  • Publication number: 20130255196
    Abstract: A bale wrapping apparatus includes a bale engager to engage an end of a bale and a bale engager mover to move the bale engager between a bale engaging position in which the bale engager faces in a first direction and a bale releasing position in which the bale engager faces in a second direction such that a bale can be engaged and disengaged by the bale engager while the bale engaging apparatus is propelled in one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FRONT MACHINERY LIMITED
    Inventor: John Johnston
  • Patent number: 8544241
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wrapping device for enveloping or packing in particular agricultural crop bales, including a wrapping floor for receiving and rotating the pressed crop bale and a guide frame for at least one wrapping material carrier for wrapping the bale on the wrapping floor with wrapping material in the form of webs, wherein the guide frame is height adjustable, in order to set the center of the wrapping material approximately at the location of the center of the crop bale to be wrapped. In order to be able to adapt wrapping devices having a guide frame to bales of different bale diameters, the guide frame should be pivotable about a horizontal axle which is situated parallel to the axis of rotation of the crop bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Lely Patent N.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jacobus Reijersen-Van Buuren
  • Patent number: 8522513
    Abstract: An agricultural system for wrapping bales includes a baling device to form a cylindrical bale in a baling chamber, and a wrapping device to wrap the bale in wrapping material. The wrapping device includes a wrapping table to support the bale during wrapping, as well as a wrapping mechanism, and a transfer device to transfer a bale ejected from the baling chamber to the wrapping table. The transfer device includes a pivotable support to support a bale. The pivotable support is at least pivotable between a receive position to receive a bale from the baling chamber, and a release position, wherein the bale is released on the wrapping table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Lely Patent N.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jacobus Reijersen Van Buuren
  • Patent number: 8516779
    Abstract: A bale wrapping attachment for a baler that forms round bales is mounted at a rear portion of the baler and includes a support for a supply of wrapping material that is formed as a web and rolled into a roll. The web is passed across a fixed, non-rotating feed bar. The wrapping attachment includes a guillotine type knife that cooperates with a cross frame member forming an anvil. The knife is slidable between a retracted position and a cutting position wherein a knife carried by the cutter engages the cross frame member to sever material underneath the knife. When the knife is in its retracted position, the non-rotating feed bar is moved to a position wherein wrapping material draped over the feed bar contacts exposed surfaces of bale forming belts from the baler, causing the wrapping material to be carried with the belts and into the bale chamber to wrap around the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Duratech Industries International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick D. Bennett, Aaron J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8474224
    Abstract: Apparatus for a wrapping machine for wrapping a product with a film made of plastics, comprising a table which rotates around a wrapping axis and which supports the product to be wrapped, a frame provided with a plurality of supporting wheels, which are mounted free to rotate around respective rotating axes and which support the table, wherein the supporting wheels are connected to the frame so that the respective rotating axes are tiltable with respect to a supporting plane of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Robopac S.p.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Rossi
  • Patent number: 8424271
    Abstract: The process for wrapping loads, in particular palletised loads, comprises the following phases: providing a rotating platform that is suitable for receiving a load to be wrapped and which has advancement means for advancing the load in an advancing direction, and a movement machine for moving a wrapping head along a substantially vertical direction for co-operating with the rotating platform to wrap the load with a covering sheet, the wrapping head having cutting means for cutting the covering sheet to form a cut end, and joining means for connecting the cut end to the load; placing the load to be wrapped on the rotating platform; wrapping the load on the rotating platform with the covering sheet to define a stabilizing wrap; turning the rotating platform so the advancing direction is towards the wrapping head; advancing the wrapped load on the rotating platform in the direction approaching the wrapping head until located in proximity to the head itself; and then cutting the covering sheet to form a cut en
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Bema S.R.L.
    Inventor: Emilio Murarotto
  • Patent number: 8322119
    Abstract: The agricultural system includes a baling device having a bale forming mechanism to form a bale including a pivotable rear flap to open a baling chamber in which the bale can be formed, and a wrapping device to wrap the bale in wrapping material, the wrapping device including a wrapping table to support the bale during wrapping and wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has one or more movable parts that can be rotated during wrapping along a trajectory around the bale supported on the wrapping table. The wrapping device is partially located below the baling device, wherein the trajectory of the one or more moving parts of the wrapping device and a trajectory of the pivotable rear flap of the baling device are non-overlapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Lely Patent N.V.
    Inventor: Willem Jacobus Reijersen Van Buuren
  • Patent number: 8276349
    Abstract: A method of applying stretch film wrapping to an agricultural bale (10) which is of rectangular cross section and using a bale wrapper apparatus which comprises: a table which supports the bale (10) and which operates to rotate the bale generally about its longitudinal axis (11) during a wrapping cycle; a dispenser reel arrangement (12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 25) from which stretch film wrapping is withdrawn so as to form successive overlapping windings of film which cover the bale; and means which applies relative rotation between the table and the dispenser reel arrangement about a second axis (14) which extends substantially perpendicular to said first axis during the wrapping cycle; in which: each winding of film includes a longitudinal edge strip portion and an adjoining longitudinal strip portion; and the longitudinal edge portion has different deformation properties from the deformation properties of said adjoining portion so as to be more readily extensible under a given load than said adjoining port
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Kuhn-Geldrop B.V.
    Inventors: Leonardus Hendrikus Maria Van Amstel, Jacobus Izaak Van de Walle
  • Patent number: 8261512
    Abstract: A baler with a bale pressing chamber for agricultural stalk materials is connected with a wrapping device comprising a wrapping table for the enveloping of a bale with foil via at least one support frame carried by a chassis, between the baler and the wrapping device at least one actively driven bale transfer device for the transfer of the finished bale from the bale pressing chamber to the wrapping table of the wrapping device is present, and as a function of the inclination of the baler and/or the wrapping device to the perpendicular the operational sequence of the transfer of the bale from the bale pressing chamber to the wrapping device is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Usines Claas France SAS
    Inventors: Christoph Gette, Lionel Hasse, Olivier Plenert
  • Patent number: 8215086
    Abstract: A rewinder machine for the production of rolls of web material is described, comprising: a winder unit (3, 5, 7); a path for delivering the web material (N) to said winder unit; a system for continuously feeding said web material into said winder unit; a distributor (31) of a sheet material (F) for wrapping the rolls formed by said winder unit, installed and operated so as to deliver a length of sheet material to said winder unit on completion of the winding of each roll without stopping the forward feed of the web material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fabio Perini S.p.A.
    Inventors: Romano Maddaleni, Mauro Gelli
  • Patent number: 8191337
    Abstract: A stretch wrap device for delivering stretch wrap film to a coil of cable or other filament type product being wound on a rotating mandrel and a traversing assembly for delivering stretch wrap film to the coil of cable or other filament type product; the traversing assembly including a stretch wrap module for traversing parallel to the rotating mandrel; the stretch wrap module including a motor and roller assembly for contacting and transporting the stretch wrap film toward the rotating mandrel so that an end of the stretch wrap film engages the coil of cable or other filament type product, and the continued rotation of the mandrel causing the end of the stretch wrap film to cover the surface of the wound coil of cable or other filament type material; the stretch wrap module also includes a compressed air generator and air jets for supporting the end of the stretch wrap film with compressed air, the end of the stretch wrap film engaging the coil of cable or other filament type with the completion of the windi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: REELEX Packaging Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Moore
  • Patent number: 8166732
    Abstract: A stretch wrap machine for wrapping a product comprising a base, a turn table on the base for rotating the product, a source of stretch wrap connected to the base, and a wrapping assembly configured to bring an end of the stretch wrap above the product, cut the stretch wrap at a position above the product after the product has been wrapped and/or hold an end of the stretch wrap at a position above the product as the turntable begins rotating the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Cousins Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Neil G. Cousins, Boris Radovanovic
  • Patent number: 8091326
    Abstract: A combined baler/bale wrapper (1) comprises a chassis (5) on which a baler (10) and a bale wrapper (11) are mounted. The baler (10) comprises a stationary segment (18), a lower segment (19) and an upper segment (20) all of which carry bale forming rollers (25) which define a bale forming chamber (15) within which a round bale (2) is formed. The lower segment (19) and the upper segment (20) are pivotal about first and second pivot axes (35,40), respectively from a bale forming position (FIG. 5) to a discharge position (FIG. 1) for transferring a bale upwardly rearwardly from of the bale forming chamber (15) directly onto first and second bale supporting rollers (50) of the bale wrapper (11). The bale supporting rollers (50) rotate the bale (2) about a first wrapping axis (53) while a carrier ring (55) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers (54) about a second horizontal wrapping axis (56) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale (2) for wrapping thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Welmount Limited
    Inventors: Padraic Christopher McHale, Martin William McHale, James John Heaney, Gerard Patrick Sheridan, Patrick Thomas O'Connor, John Patrick Biggins
  • Patent number: 8087216
    Abstract: RFID tags pre-installed on bale wrap segments provide location information for a specific area of the bale wrap. RFID tag readers located on the cotton harvester provide signals for use by the module wrapping apparatus for initiating a cutting or separating operation, once a module has been wrapped, and for warning an operator of a situation where the wrapping function has not proceeded in an orderly fashion after a signal for starting the wrapping function has been received. A wrapped module carries the pre-installed RFID tags which are readable by RFID readers carried by module handlers in the field and/or at the gin input which identify the modules and establish a position to which the module may be automatically oriented so that an ideal module wrap cutting location is easily calculated. The RFID tag reading taken in the field or at the gin thus senses the number on the tag as well as the location of the tag, and the module identification is input to an electronic database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: James Thomas Noonan, Donald Lee Goodrich, Jesse Dru Haecker, Jerry Bob Hall, Mark Alan Cracraft, Earl Franklin Canfield
  • Patent number: 8069638
    Abstract: A baler for making large cylindrical modules of cotton includes an expansible module-forming chamber comprising a plurality of module-forming belts that are supported in side-by-side relationship across a plurality of fixed and movable belt support rolls. The module-forming chamber includes a fixed front section and a movable rear section in the form of a discharge gate mounted to an upper rear location of the front section for pivoting between a lowered baling position and a raised discharge position. Located at the bottom of the baling chamber between a bottom fixed belt support roll and a lower front roll of the lowered discharge gate is an inlet through which cotton passes into the module-forming chamber. A module wrapping arrangement is carried on the discharge gate for selectively feeding a length of plastic sheet material into the inlet for being wrapped about the circumference of a cotton module formed in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Wigdahl, Scott David Weber
  • Patent number: 8046973
    Abstract: The machine (100) comprises a supply station (S1) destined to receive a mattress (M) to be conveyed to a rolling station (S2) comprising a plurality of rolling rollers (1), partly arranged in a fixed section (21) of the station (S2) and partly arranged in an openable section (22), arranged in respective curved lines to define internally thereof a practically-cylindrical rolling chamber (10) with horizontal axes. Sliding organs (3) are interposed between the fixed section (21) and the openable section (22), for regulating a mutual distance between the fixed section (21) and the openable section (22) in order to vary, within a predetermined range, a base area of the rolling chamber (10) and in order to determine corresponding rolling diameters of the mattress (M) comprised between a minimum value (D1) and a maximum value (D2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Teknomac S.r.l.
    Inventor: Cesare Petrolati
  • Patent number: 8011295
    Abstract: An automated bale wrapping control system for a round baler that includes a simplified remotely installable operator interface for installation on a tractor. The simplified operator interface includes manual operated, mechanical input switches for selecting system on/off, number of wraps, twine or net wrapper selection, manual extension/retraction of the wrapping mechanism, and/or manual wrap cycle initiation. An audible alarm provides feedback to the operator for monitoring the baling and wrapping processes and for alerting the operator to abnormal conditions in the baling and/or wrapping processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Mark K. Chow, James D. Walker, Justin R. Ringwald
  • Patent number: 8001746
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are described for manufacturing and/or packaging of multiple items simultaneously, in particular the handling and placement for packaging of the items on an assembly line. In particular, the apparatus and method are for use in changing the center spacing of the simultaneously manufactured items between two locations on the assembly line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Parmalat Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Edwards, Michael Elent
  • Publication number: 20110099944
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating hygienic storage and disposal of waste packages such as used disposable diapers include a housing, a lid, and a bag unit having a bag frame and an attached single use flexible bag. The flexible bag is pleated and larger in cross-section at a lower portion than it is at the connection to the bag frame. The bag frame is releasably mounted to the housing so that it will not rotate. The lower portion of the flexible bag is positioned in a storage chamber of the housing that is shaped so as to align and center the bag. A rotatable member having radially extending flexible fingers is engaged with an intermediate portion of the bag. When the lid is closed, the rotatable member will twist the intermediate portion of the bag, sealing odors in the lower portion of the bag. A parent or caregiver will push the waste package through the resistance of the twisted intermediate portion into the lower portion of the bag, and close the lid to re-seal the twisted portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: MUNCHKIN, INC.
    Inventors: Steven B. Dunn, Mark A. Hatherill, Kevin D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110099945
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating hygienic storage and disposal of waste packages such as used disposable diapers include a housing, a lid, and a bag unit having a bag frame and an attached single use flexible bag. The flexible bag is pleated and larger in cross-section at a lower portion than it is at the connection to the bag frame. The bag frame is releasably mounted to the housing so that it will not rotate. The lower portion of the flexible bag is positioned in a storage chamber of the housing that is shaped so as to align and center the bag. A rotatable member having radially extending flexible fingers is engaged with an intermediate portion of the bag. When the lid is closed, the rotatable member will twist the intermediate portion of the bag, sealing odors in the lower portion of the bag. A parent or caregiver will push the waste package through the resistance of the twisted intermediate portion into the lower portion of the bag, and close the lid to re-seal the twisted portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: MUNCHKIN, INC.
    Inventors: Steven B. Dunn, Mark A. Hatherill, Kevin D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7908831
    Abstract: A stretch wrap rope converter and wrapping system includes: a.) a wrapping apparatus having: (i) a frame for movement of a carriage; (ii) the carriage moveably mounted to the frame and adapted to hold at least one rotatable roll of stretchable film material thereon and being adapted to generate two separate streams of film therefrom; (iii) drive mechanism connected to the carriage; (iv) a stretch wrap rope converter functionally connected to the carriage so as to receive the first stream of film and the second stream of film, the converter having a first orifice for diminishing the first film to create a first rope, and having a second orifice for diminishing the second film to create a second rope, and having rope rotation mechanism so as to rotate the first orifice and the second orifice through an arc in either a reciprocal fashion and/or a circular fashion to cause the first rope and the second rope to move toward, cross and then away from one another; b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Michael E. Dugan
  • Patent number: 7900427
    Abstract: A loading device for the wrapping material roll of a wrapping mechanism is provided. The wrapping material roll can be placed on a carrier of the loading device and moved into an operating condition, where it is held in position by means of a roller. The roller is brought into operating position by an activating device, as soon as the carrier is moved out of its loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Emmanuel Chapon, Jean Viaud, Benoit Camus
  • Patent number: 7805912
    Abstract: A wrapping means tensioning device is provided for a round baler and comprises an idler assembly and an application assembly. Wrapping means, like net, when drawn during a wrapping cycle acts onto the idler assembly, which in turn will press an application element of the application assembly against a roll, on which wrapping means is stored. This provides for proper tension during a wrapping cycle without the need for springs or the like, the force of which would need to be overcome, when a wrapping device is brought into a non-operative loading mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Henry D. Anstey
  • Patent number: 7775016
    Abstract: A stretch wrap machine for wrapping a product comprising a base, a turn table on the base for rotating the product, a source of stretch wrap connected to the base, and a wrapping assembly configured to bring an end of the stretch wrap above the product, cut the stretch wrap at a position above the product after the product has been wrapped and/or hold an end of the stretch wrap at a position above the product as the turntable begins rotating the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventors: Neil G. Cousins, Boris Radovanovic
  • Patent number: 7694491
    Abstract: RFID tags pre-installed on bale wrap segments provide location information for a specific area of the bale wrap. RFID tag readers located on the cotton harvester provide signals for use by the module wrapping apparatus for initiating a cutting or separating operation, once a module has been wrapped, and for warning an operator of a situation where the wrapping function has not proceeded in an orderly fashion after a signal for starting the wrapping function has been received. A wrapped module carries the pre-installed RFID tags which are readable by RFID readers carried by module handlers in the field and/or at the gin input which identify the modules and establish a position to which the module may be automatically oriented so that an ideal module wrap cutting location is easily calculated. The RFID tag reading taken in the field or at the gin thus senses the number on the tag as well as the location of the tag, and the module identification is input to an electronic database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: James Thomas Noonan, Donald Lee Goodrich, Jesse Dru Haecker, Jerry Bob Hall, Mark Alan Cracraft, Earl Franklin Canfield
  • Publication number: 20100024357
    Abstract: A baler and wrapper combination comprises a baler, a bale wrapper, and a bale transport table. The bale transport table is movable between a bale receiving position at a bale output location of the baler, a wrapping position at which the wrapper can wrap a bale located upon the bale transport table with a sheet material, while movable bale support elements rotate the bale around its horizontal central axis, and a bale depositing position in which a wrapped bale can be deposited on the ground. The bale support elements are arranged to be moved in the bale depositing position into an orientation in which the bale is deposited on its flat end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7617653
    Abstract: A baling press having a pressing chamber and an apparatus for wrapping a bale in a wrapping web and having at least one rotating conveyor element is proposed, wherein the conveyor element advances the wrapping web to the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Emmanuel Chapon
  • Publication number: 20090188213
    Abstract: A box wrapping assembly and method incorporates a framework having a special top hold-down platen that functions with a cooperating fixture that is affixed to a rotatable turntable. Using this assembly and method, the operator can place four sidewall panels in a self-positioning fixture and panel-capturing platen prior to wrapping. Stretch film is connected to the fixture by means of hook device and the stretch film is automatically pre-stretched to a rope of stretched film for particular application where the box contents are intended to be contained within the box under pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Daniel M. LARDINOIS
  • Publication number: 20090178374
    Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping a load may include a film dispenser for dispensing a film web including a film dispensing drive. The apparatus may also include a rotational drive system for providing relative rotation between the load and the dispenser during a wrapping cycle. The apparatus may further include a controller configured to operatively couple the film dispensing drive and the rotational drive system such that, for any portion of a revolution of the film dispenser relative to the load during the wrapping cycle, the film dispenser dispenses a selected length of the film web corresponding to the portion of the revolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, Robert D. Janes, SR., Michael Mitchell, Thomas Harris, Richard L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7540124
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a plurality of tubes which includes a plurality of supporting stations, each of which includes a pair of stanchions upon which pulleys are positioned. An endless belt is threaded along the pulleys and one of the pulleys is driven by a drive motor to move the endless belt to rotate a bundle of tubes positioned on the belt. A roll of stretch wrapping plastic material such as polyethylene is disposed upon a trolley movable along a rail. The polyethylene plastic film engages the exterior of the bundle of tubes and as the bundle rotates, the film is moved from the roll to encompass and wrap the bundle of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Western Tube & Conduit Corporation
    Inventor: Sherman Dean Anderson
  • Patent number: 7516694
    Abstract: A firewood bundler device includes a base member having first and second opposed, vertical arm members extending from the base member. A U-shaped, wood support member is attached at an end of each arm member, with an open end opposite the base member. A wrapping support member is rotatably attached to an end of one arm member and includes a spindle section extending therefrom, the spindle section movable in a circular path around the wood support members upon rotation of the wrapping support member. The spindle section holds a roll of wrapping material. A rotation device is operatively connected to the wrapping support member for imparting rotational movement thereto and to the spindle section. Multiple pieces of firewood placed in the U-shaped supports are encircled with wrapping material by rotation of the wrapping support member holding a roll of wrapping material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: Scott M. Eifler
  • Patent number: 7509785
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a roll-baler of a construction, in which the rotational movement of its rear chamber of the bale chamber for its opening and closing is done smoothly, while its lock mechanism is designed to be simple, so that the bale-shaping material of a short length may be fed into the bale chamber 4 through its inlet port “a”. In this type of the roll-baler, the bale chamber 4 is mounted on the machine body 1 at its position, where the inlet port “a” of the bale chamber 4 is open frontward, and the terminal end part 3a of the transporting conveyor 3 is so made as to its conveying surface forming an inclined surface “c” which is downwardly slanted, the inclined surface “c” being disposed at a position to constitute a part of the peripheral wall of the bale chamber 4, in opposition to the lower half side of the peripheral surface of the roll bale R to be formed within the bale chamber at the place where the inlet port “a” of the bale chamber 4 is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignees: Takakita Co. Ltd., Institute of Agricultural Machinery, Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution
    Inventors: Kouichi Fukumori, Akira Muraki, Yuji Uemura, Masanobu Okumura, Nobuki Yamana, Hirokatsu Shito, Yukinori Shibuya