Raking And Bundling Patents (Class 56/341)
  • Patent number: 7331280
    Abstract: A large round baler includes a bale forming assembly and a chassis constructed as separate units which, when disconnected and displaced from each other either entirely at an interface between the units or by tilting one unit about a longitudinal axis at one side of the interface, permit one or more flexible endless baling elements to be mounted in place on the baling assembly. Cross beams, which extend between and interconnect the opposite side structures of the bale forming assembly are located such, that they do not obstruct the space required to slide the endless baling element(s) over the baling assembly and into engagement with the bale forming rolls. Mounting of the flexible endless baling element requires the removal of one or more baling element support rolls from opposite side structures of the baling assembly and/or from opposite arms of a tensioning assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7331168
    Abstract: A baler with a rectangular baling chamber and in which a baling piston is accommodated. A supply channel with a supply arrangement for the conveying and compressing of crop in the supply channel and for bringing the compressed harvested crop into the baling chamber and with a sensor arrangement for the determination of the loading on at least one component of the baler. The crop to be baled is pre-compressed in the supply channel by a compression fork before it is pushed into the baling chamber by a loading fork. The sensor arrangement is configured in such a way that it detects or can detect one or more values that represent the distribution of the harvested crop with respect to the width of the supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Dubois
  • Publication number: 20080028738
    Abstract: A press is provided with a feed channel, whose feed channel wall, in the event of overload, can be pivoted away from a feed rotor. The pivotal motion of the feed channel wall is realized about an upstream bearing, which, by means of a link, is itself moved away from the feed rotor in an upright guide. The motion within the guide is derived from the pivot motion of the feed channel wall away from the feed rotor. A hydraulic cylinder, working against a spring defined by an accumulator, is coupled to a downstream end of the channel wall and resists movement of the channel wall away from the feed rotor, but yields under a preselected crop load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Publication number: 20080028737
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly is provided on a baler between a crop take-up arrangement and a baling chamber. The conveyor assembly includes a guide member assembly having an upwardly facing guide surface defining a lower limit of a crop conveying channel having an upper limit defined by an undershot rotor positioned above the guide surface. The conveyor assembly further includes a cutting arrangement mounted to a lower side of the guide member and having knives located for projecting through slots provided in the guide member. The cutting arrangement can be lowered together with the guide member, as well as shifted transverse to the forward operating direction relative to the guide member. In this way jams can be avoided or removed, and the cutting arrangement can be brought into a position accessible for purposes of maintenance, as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Emmanuel Chapon
  • Publication number: 20080022648
    Abstract: Cotton harvester frame structure includes main structural members elevated to approximately cab floor level and extending horizontally rearwardly in a planar fashion over the engine compartment and the rear axle. The structural members attach to the central portion of the rear axle to provide added clearance for larger wheels and tires. The single elevated plane of the main frame structure provides simplified attachment of a power module including a transversely mounted engine. Access areas under the main structural members are of sufficient minimum width and height to allow an operator or an assembler to stand fairly erect while accessing most areas of the power module and a harvester fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey Robert Fox, Michael Lee Pearson, Robert Matthew Bares
  • Publication number: 20080022649
    Abstract: A round baler is disclosed having a bale forming chamber. A duck bill, which comprises a pair of elongate plates that are biased towards one another to grip the wrapping material between them, is movable between an advanced position and a retracted position to introduce the free end of a wrapping material drawn from a supply roll into the bale forming chamber of the baler. A cutting device is located between the retracted position of the duck bill and the bale forming position for severing the length of wrapping material wrapped around the bale in the bale forming chamber at the end of a bale wrapping cycle from the supply roll. In the invention, a clamping device is provided to apply an additional force to urge the plates of the duck bill towards one another while the duck bill is in the retracted position in order for the wrapping material to be gripped more firmly between the plates of the duck bill between bale wrapping cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Hans Joseph De Gersem
  • Patent number: 7320202
    Abstract: An apparatus for picking, conveying, stacking and bundling lumber pieces from the ground for example for removing stacked support lumber during laying of a pipe line comprises a tracked vehicle to which is attached a frame carrying a transport conveyer along the side of the vehicle forwardly and downwardly toward the ground. At the forward picking end is provided a picker roller for lifting the lumber pieces from the ground. On one side of the picker roller is provided a drive conveyer which is generally vertical and operable in forward and reverse direction to orient the pieces. On the side opposite to the drive conveyers provided a vertical blade with a rearwardly inclined inner portion which blade can pivot inwardly to push the lumber pieces toward the drive conveyer and to enclose and squeeze the pieces to a position inward of the side of the conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventors: James A. McLeod, Murray Pisony
  • Patent number: 7311040
    Abstract: A cylindrical baling press including a roller around which a belt is arranged to partially surround a baling chamber. In the region of the roller, the belt relinquishes contact with a cylindrical bale being formed within the baling chamber. In this region of the roller, a lateral wall enclosing the pressing chamber is provided with a bulge or an opening, which makes it possible for material present in a space between two belt sections to be engaged by the rotating cylindrical bale and expelled through the opening or back into the bale. This configuration avoids, or at least reduces, the chance of jamming caused by crop materials around the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7296393
    Abstract: An improved stuffer mechanism for a baler having an array of feeder fingers uniformly spaced across a stuffer feeder table and a centrally located support bearing for the stuffer feeder finger crankshaft that does not disrupt the uniform feeder finger spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: John R. McClure, William Dale Hotaling
  • Patent number: 7287365
    Abstract: A baler with a rectangular baling chamber and in which a baling piston is accommodated. A supply channel with a supply arrangement for the conveying and compressing of crop in the supply channel and for bringing the compressed harvested crop into the baling chamber and with a sensor arrangement for the determination of the loading on at least one component of the baler. The crop to be baled is pre-compressed in the supply channel by a compression fork before it is pushed into the baling chamber by a loading fork. The sensor arrangement is configured in such a way that it detects or can detect one or more values that represent the distribution of the harvested crop with respect to the width of the supply channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Dubois
  • Patent number: 7275360
    Abstract: A large round baler includes inner and outer runs of bale-forming belts that define a space between them in which brittle crop may fall through the gaps between adjacent belts and build up between the belt runs. In order to avoid wrapping problems a crop passage is provided at opposite sides of the space through which crop may pass from the space and gravitate to a crop feeding device which picks up crop from the ground and delivers it to the bale-forming chamber delimited by the inner run of belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Publication number: 20070209530
    Abstract: A rotobaler is provided with an inclination sensor that recognizes an inclination to the side as well as in the longitudinal direction. This inclination sensor generates a signal coupled to a computer that, in turn, controls a display arrangement in order to indicate whether a base that is to be unloaded from the rotobaler can be safely unloaded considering the existing inclination of the rotobaler. In the event an unsafe inclination is present, either the computer sends out a control signal which blocks an operation for depositing the bale on the ground, or causes the bale to be oriented in such a way during the discharge process that the longitudinal centerline of the bale is parallel to the inclination of the slope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7263927
    Abstract: A twine dispensing arm of a wrapping arrangement for a large round baler is provided with a dispensing end defined by a component which, at the time when twine wrapped about a bale is separated from a length of twine carried by the arm, prevents a length of recoiling twine from becoming entangled or incorrectly oriented for a subsequent wrapping cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Raymond Uros, Jerome Simon, Frederic Paillet, Alain Lucot
  • Patent number: 7261032
    Abstract: A direct-fired steam generator used for supplying steam for re-hydrating dry crop during baling is controlled so as to produce a desired constant steam temperature output by collecting data from which the heat output of the steam generator can be calculated and using this calculation together with the difference between the actual steam temperature and the desired steam temperature to control the amount of process water sent to the steam generator in order to correct any error in steam temperature. Steam temperature is measured in either one of the steam injection manifolds or in an injection tube coupled to an injection manifold so as to be close to the point of application of the steam to the crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Walter Mark Schlesser, Eric Ryan Lang
  • Patent number: 7222566
    Abstract: A rotary baler having a variable size baling chamber for the formation of a cylindrical bale. The baler is configured to measure diameter and the shape of the bale. To measure the shape of the bale, the baler is provided with at least one sensor arranged to generate information regarding the diameter of a bale formed in the baling chamber. The sensor is a non-contacting sensor and is arranged to detect the position of the outer surface of the bale or the surface of an endless conveying element located about the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Stéphane Biziorek
  • Patent number: 7210281
    Abstract: An assembly for securing a loose yarn end on a cylindrical bale by the use of a band. The band can be conducted to a baling chamber by an advance assembly driven by a motor, where the band can be wrapped around a cylindrical bale in the region of the loose yarn end. The advance assembly is connected to the motor by an overrunning clutch that establishes a drive connection between the motor and the advance assembly only in a first motion transmission direction. The drive connection is established when the motor rotates in a first direction and the advance assembly conveys the band in the direction of the baling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7204074
    Abstract: When harvesting forage in the form of a large round bale, for instance, there are times in which a windrow of forage material lies outside the side boundaries of the bale-forming chamber. This may be due to the windrow being made wide by machinery having driven through it, or by wind, or because of the need to turn the forage harvesting equipment tightly. A wide pickup, notably wider than the width of the bale-forming chamber, provides a solution to this common problem. Dual augers at each end of the wide pickup provide the force to direct the forage into a narrower path, to enter the bale-forming chamber. The orientation and size of the augers permits the pickup header to reside in the same location it would if it was not wider than the baler. Tines or teeth of various rigidities and shapes are provided in the pickup for more effective pickup of the forage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jerry E. Bandstra, Bradley D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7197979
    Abstract: A controlled bale ejection mechanism for an agricultural baler is provided. The mechanism includes a bale support which is positioned below the bale when it is ejected, that catches and supports the bale. The bale support is then translated rearward by a hydraulic cylinder and guided by support rails. As the bale support and bale approach the desired location, the bale support is lowered by tilting the rail assembly downward. An articulating shoe is used to support and lower the rails. The bale support tilts as it is lowered, thereby creating a dumping action. If additional tilting is required due to geometry limitations, additional bale support tilt can be created by a weight shift of the bale support, changing the trajectory of the rail or torque induced by the bale support cylinder. The bale is set down on the ground and the ramp assembly resets to prevent the bale from rolling forward and preparing for the next cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Daniel Eric Derscheid
  • Patent number: 7194851
    Abstract: A baler is equipped with a crop re-hydration system including a steam injection manifold mounted for discharging steam onto a windrow of crop as the windrow is being fed into the baler. The steam injection manifold has a steam discharge orifice arrangement which can be adjusted to vary the discharge width. A flexible duct guides discharged steam to the crop windrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Timothy James Kraus, Randall John Rigdon, Daniel James Meyer
  • Patent number: 7191699
    Abstract: A shield is provided for preventing crop build-up above the axle and behind the pickup frame from interfering with the closure of the gate after bale discharge. A spring member is interposed between the baler frame and a deflector surface. Preferably the spring member occupies the entire space between the baler frame and the deflector thereby preventing any accumulation of crop material in that space. As the gate of the baler begins to close a gate shield of the baler contacts the deflector surface and compresses the spring member allowing the deflector surface to deflect toward the baler frame. Because crop material cannot build up in the area occupied by the spring member and deflector surface, deflection of the deflector surface provides a clean path for the gate shield allowing the gate to close without interference from crop material build-up. When the gate is opened again the spring member expands pushing the deflector surface and any accumulated crop material toward the center of the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Henry Dennis Anstey, John David Burger, Steven Dave Anton, Steven R. Pilcher
  • Patent number: 7181899
    Abstract: A machine for collecting and pressing a crop to roll-shaped bales has a crop collecting device and a bale-forming device with a winding chamber arranged downstream of the crop collecting device. The bale-forming device is guided about first and second stationary deflection devices. Guides are positioned between the first and second stationary deflection guides. During a first bale-forming phase, the bale-forming device travels along a spatially determined movement path on the guides. During a subsequent bale-forming phase, the bale-forming device is transferred to additional movement paths that are independent of the guides and are determined by the diameter of the bale. The maximum bale diameter is selectable by moveable control devices. After the bale reaches the selected maximum diameter, the bale-forming device initiates a compression phase and exerts a compression force on the bale from the exterior to the interior of the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Bernard Krone GmbH
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Klaus Martensen
  • Patent number: 7181898
    Abstract: A machine for collecting and pressing a crop to roll-shaped bales has a crop collecting device and a bale-forming device defining a winding chamber arranged downstream of the crop collecting device. At least a first and a second stationary deflection devices are provided, wherein the bale-forming device is guided about the first and second stationary deflection devices. Stationary guides are positioned between the first and second stationary deflection guides. The bale-forming device, during a first bale-forming phase, travels along a spatially determined movement path and is supported on the stationary guides. The bale-forming device is lifted off the stationary guides during a second bale-forming phase. For compressing a bale to be formed after reaching a preset bale diameter, the bale-forming device exerts on the bale to be formed in a compression phase a compression force in a direction from the exterior to the interior of the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Bernard Krone GmbH
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Klaus Martensen
  • Patent number: 7181900
    Abstract: A baler having an inlet area for receiving netwrap wherein it is a short distance between the drum roller and the closest belt roller. The netwrap guide at bottom of baler includes a feed pan having flexible net guides that are narrower than the bale forming belts. This netwrap guide has supporting cross members underneath it but there are no cross members in close vicinity to the lower belt roller to keep excess crop from accumulating there. There is also a netwrap guide at front of the baler for feeding netwrap material into contact with the periphery of a formed bale, including a guide positioned generally above the pickup for directing crop material previously inserted into the bale formation chamber and the netwrap material away from the pickup. The baler also has a novel netwrap feeding and cutting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: William A. Hood, Thomas R. Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7171892
    Abstract: A round baier is provided with a single set of baling means such as belts, which are rotated over a series of fixed and mobile rolls. In order to form a bale of a large diameter several loops are formed in said baling means, which loops are controlled by two pivot arms. On a first pivot arm at least three rolls are provided, of which one is an idler roll, and on the second pivot arm at least one idler roll is provided, which all create loops to avoid slack in the baling means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7165491
    Abstract: A round baler having a single set of baling means, such as belts, which are trained over a serious of fixed and mobile rolls to form a bale having a larger diameter. Several loops are formed in the baling means. The loops are controlled by two pivot arms, and the position of these pivot arms is controlled by a common actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7162951
    Abstract: A round baler is provided with a single set of baling means like belts, which are trained over a series of fixed and mobile rolls. In order to form a bale of a large diameter several loops are formed in said baling means, which loops are controlled by two pivot arms. One of the pivot arms partially coincides with the potential bale chamber. As a result, the pivot arm does not extend beyond the boarder of the side structure during its movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Emmanuel Chapon
  • Patent number: 7162950
    Abstract: A round baler having storage and dispensing mechanisms for both twine and net/plastic wrapping materials for the bales can be modified to provide a lower cost twine baler. A pivoting dispensing assembly across the front of the baler is replaceable by a similar-sized twine box to convert the baler to an all-twine baler with sufficient twine storage to make the machine efficient in field operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: John R. McClure, Fred M. Horchler, Jr., Ronald L. McAllister, James T. Clevenger, Jr., John H. Merritt, Cecil R. Sudbrack, Joseph N. Smith
  • Patent number: 7156015
    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 2, 2007
    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: 7140294
    Abstract: A large round baler includes a combined tensioning and ejecting arrangement comprising a tensioning arm assembly mounted to an upper front region of the baler sidewalls. The tensioning arm assembly operates such that, after formation of a bale in the baling chamber and the discharge gate has been swung to its raised discharge position, the tensioning arm assembly pivots into a region occupied by the completed bale so as to positively eject the bale. The combined tensioning and ejecting arrangement includes front and rear arm assemblies which define a compact assembly and share a pair of double-acting tensioning actuators and a single-acting ejection actuator. The tensioning arm assembly may be used with a baler having a light weight bale discharge gate or with a baler having a discharge gate formed in part by rear sections of sidewalls forming opposite sides of the baling chamber. In an alternate embodiment, the ejection actuator is replaced with a coil extension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Henry Dennis Anstey, Daniel Eric Derscheid
  • Patent number: 7140170
    Abstract: A device for determining and controlling a bale length on a pick-up baler for agricultural harvested material has a pick-up device, a feed channel connected to the pick-up device, and a pressing channel with pressing piston connected to the feed channel. A conveying device conveys the harvested material through the feed channel into the pressing channel. The pressing piston compacts the harvested material. A sensor detects a bale growth resulting upon compression of the harvested material during the feed stroke from the feed channel into the pressing channel. An electronic evaluation device is connected to the sensor that supplies a bale growth value to the electronic evaluation device where it is converted into an averaged operand or a statistical operand for determining a required number of feed strokes for reaching the nominal bale length. After the computed number of feed strokes is reached, the binding device is triggered for tying the finished bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Bernard Krone GmbH
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Klaus Martensen
  • Patent number: 7124568
    Abstract: A rotor stripper mount pivotably fixed at its ends to the rotor frame of a round baler for arcuate fore-and-aft movement selectively fixable to the rotor frame. The arcuate fore-and-aft movement alters the distal relationship between the stripper channels and the rotor fingers and surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: William D. Hotaling
  • Patent number: 7114435
    Abstract: In known large round balers, a rotating side wall is provided that can be pivoted away from a baling chamber either in a straight line or about a pivot axis, so that the pressure on the end faces of the cylindrical bale is reduced during the unloading process. A large round baler is proposed in which a support structure provided with rolls for supporting one or more flexible bale-forming elements, which can be pivoted about a pivot axle that penetrates the side walls of the baling chamber. At least one side wall is provided with a ramp having an inclined surface which is ramped outwardly from the side wall from top to bottom. The support structure is provided with an abutment member that can slide on the surface of the ramp so as to move from bottom to top when the support structure is raised to effect a discharge of a formed bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Daniel Eric Derscheid
  • Patent number: 7111548
    Abstract: A large round baler includes a bale forming assembly and a chassis constructed as separate units which, when disconnected and displaced from each other either entirely at an interface between the units or by tilting one unit about a longitudinal axis at one side of the interface, permit one or more flexible endless baling elements to be mounted in place on the baling assembly. Cross beams, which extend between and interconnect the opposite side structures of the bale forming assembly are located such, that they do not obstruct the space required to slide the endless baling element(s) over the baling assembly and into engagement with the bale forming rolls. Mounting of the flexible endless baling element requires the removal of one or more baling element support rolls from opposite side structures of the baling assembly and/or from opposite arms of a tensioning assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7104189
    Abstract: A twine restrictor is disclosed having the advantages of simplicity and reliability. The twine restrictor is generally formed from solid or hollow stock. It is left free floating while being restrained sufficiently to avoid loss. Twine is passed over a substantially horizontal surface of a twine arm assembly and the twine restrictor is simply placed on the twine, providing a force up to a value equal to its weight on the twine. The twine restrictor is unaffixed and no springs are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Jerry E. Bandstra
  • Patent number: 7096653
    Abstract: Yield monitor apparatus and method for a forage processing machinery are provided according to the invention. The yield monitor measures a forage yield by measuring a forage volume increment accumulation. In one embodiment of the invention, the yield monitor includes a volume increment accumulation measuring device generating a volume increment accumulation signal substantially related to a forage mass and a computer that receives the volume increment accumulation signal. The computer generates a yield amount based upon the accumulation signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters. The yield monitor may generate a yield amount, with the yield amount capable of being stored and displayed to a forage processing machinery operator. Alternatively, the yield monitor may generate a groundspeed control signal that is used by the forage processing machinery to control a forage processing machinery groundspeed or other forage processing machinery parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Shinners, Neil G. Barnett, Walter M. Schlesser
  • Patent number: 7093407
    Abstract: Disclosed is a large round bale wrapped with a protective covering for permitting it to be stored outside. The covering is constructed of one or more layers of semi-permeable material. It is possible for an additional layer to be added to a region of the baler to be placed on the ground during storage, this additional layer resulting in the covering becoming essentially non-permeable in the region of the additional layer. A baler for applying the covering to a bale is disclosed together with a device for placing a visual marker on the bale so as to aid a person handling a discharged bale in knowing where the region covered with the additional layer of material is located so that this region may be manipulated into ground contact for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Henry Dennis Anstey, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7093406
    Abstract: Disclosed is a large round bale wrapped with a protective covering for permitting it to be stored outside. The covering is constructed of one or more layers of semi-permeable material. It is possible for an additional layer to be added to a region of the baler to be placed on the ground during storage, this additional layer resulting in the covering becoming essentially non-permeable in the region of the additional layer. A baler for applying the covering to a bale is disclosed together with a device for placing a visual marker on the bale so as to aid a person handling a discharged bale in knowing where the region covered with the additional layer of material is located so that this region may be manipulated into ground contact for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Henry Dennis Anstey, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7059242
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cotton module building utilizing one or more augers on a compactor frame movable for compacting cotton in a cotton compacting chamber of the module builder. The auger or augers are rotatable for moving accumulated cotton in opposite directions therein, and are tiltable by contact with cotton accumulated unevenly in the chamber. A position or positions of the auger or augers are sensed for detecting tilting of the auger or augers. A controller responsively controllably operates the auger or augers for moving cotton in contact therewith in an appropriate direction for reducing the tilting and more evenly distributing the cotton. The cotton can then be compacted into a cotton module having desired dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Dwight D. Lemke, Michael J. Covington, Hyppolite Kuissi, Tracy R. Archer
  • Patent number: 7055425
    Abstract: A large round baler comprises a baling chamber and a door that is arranged in the rear area of the baling chamber and includes a pair of wings mounted to opposite sides of the baler so that each is displaceable about an upright pivot axis between a closed position, in which the wings extend inwardly along the rear of the baling chamber, and an open position, in which a passage is defined through which a finished bale can pass after being ejected from the baling chamber. The baler may be of a type including a carrier for bale-forming devices that can be displaced in the baling chamber, independently from the door, between a bale-forming position and a bale ejection position, and that the door, when closed, blocks direct access to the carrier and the devices for forming the bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jean Viaud, Sebastien Guillemot, Daniel Derscheid
  • Patent number: 7047876
    Abstract: A bale kicker for a round baler that employs an adjustable torsion bar, or bars, to impart a rearward force to an exiting bale to ensure that the completed bale is clear of the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Larry L. Hoover, Fred M. Horchler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7047719
    Abstract: A large rectangular baler is equipped with a stuffer fork used both for blocking crop, that is being pre-compressed in a supply channel, from passing through an inlet of a baling chamber, and for sweeping the pre-compressed crop into the baling chamber once a pre-selected condition has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Dubois
  • Patent number: 7043892
    Abstract: A multiple baling system for allowing a user to bale hay from a field. The multiple baling system includes a frame assembly being designed for being towed behind the tractor. Each of a plurality of baling implements is pivotally coupled to the frame assembly. A drive assembly is coupled to the frame assembly and is coupled to a power take off of the tractor for transferring power to the baling implements. The frame assembly is selectively actuated to selectively change the positioning of the baling implements to allow the baling implements to collect the bay from the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventor: Anthony Kessler
  • Patent number: 7024989
    Abstract: An arrangement is proposed that responds to the upward movement of a discharge gate, which forms a rear housing section of a baling chamber to the cylindrical bale in such a way that contact elements of the arrangement are pressed into the surface of the cylindrical bale, preferably by means of a servo motor, in order to reliably grasp the cylindrical bale and move it together with the gate until the bale is free of a fixed forward section of the baling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: David C. Preece
  • Patent number: 7021207
    Abstract: Cutting devices are known in rectangular baling presses that can be taken out of operation so that cut or uncut harvested material is selectively pressed. However, this is disadvantageous since it is difficult to hold cut harvested material together with binder twine under high tension. A rectangular baling press is proposed in which the cutting device is taken out of operation at least at the start and end of bale formation so that the twine presses only against uncut material at the end of the bale. The cutting device may additionally be taken in and out of operation during formation of the bale so that upper and lower layers of the bale are also formed by uncut material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Dubois
  • Patent number: 7017717
    Abstract: A large round baler is provided with a twine wrapping arrangement including a twine dispensing arm, a twine separating or severing device located between the dispensing arm and a baling chamber and a twine brake located between the separating device and the baling chamber. The twine brake is constructed of spring elements that are yieldably biased together, preferably in the form of a coil tension spring having a guide finger for guiding twine into a nip formed between the finger and a first coil of the spring, this nip receiving a length of twine extending between the dispensing arm and a bale being wrapped with the twine, with the twine becoming wedged between adjacent coils of the spring. As an alternative construction, a stack of Belleville springs are held together by bolt and nut assembly, with the nip being defined between adjacent springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Claude Georget
  • Patent number: 7003933
    Abstract: A roll baler equipped with a hopper 2, and a transporting conveyor 3 for carrying bale shaping material discharged from beneath a discharge port 20 defined in the bottom face of the hopper 2 into a material receiving port 40 of the bale-shaping chamber, wherein the transporting conveyor 3 is divided into two parts of: a hopper-side transporting conveyor 3a provided in a space extending from beneath the discharge port 20 to the front position beneath the delivery mechanism 5; and a bale-shaping-chamber side transporting conveyor 3b provided in the space extending from beneath the delivery mechanism 5 to the receiving port 40 of the shaping chamber 4, both these hopper-side transporting conveyor 3a and bale-shaping-chamber-side transporting conveyor 3b being each driven independently one from the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignees: Takakita Co., Ltd., Institute of Agricultural Machinery Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution
    Inventors: Kouichi Fukumori, Akira Muraki, Yuji Uemura, Masanobu Okumura, Yukinori Shibuya, Hirokatsu Shito, Nobuki Yamana
  • Patent number: 7000533
    Abstract: A bale unloading arrangement of a large round baler includes a bale take-up device mounted to a carrier which is in turn mounted to the axle of the baler for vertical pivoting movement beneath the baling chamber of the baler. A spring is mounted between the carrier and the axle for keeping the carrier in an elevated position until a completed bale is discharged onto the carrier. The carrier is shaped such that the bale take-up device, which is mounted for movement along the carrier, moves down the carrier to the rear and into a position for gently depositing the bale on the ground. The bale take-up device includes an upper bale-receiving structure that may be selectively pivoted about a fore-and-aft axis so as to deposit a bale on its end, and the carrier is mounted for being shifted sideways so that a bale deposited in this manner may be deposited outside the path traveled by the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Daniel Eric Derscheid, Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 7000371
    Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a bale processing arrangement in the form of a bale wrapping arrangement. A wrapping table is mounted to a guide arrangement for guided movement between a bale-receiving position and bale wrapping and bale discharge positions. The guide arrangement includes two sections, one of which can be moved to a near vertical non-operating position so as to diminish the overall length of the baler and processing arrangement. The wrapping arm of the bale wrapping arrangement can be dismounted for an operating mode where formed bales are deposited directly on the ground by the wrapping table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6994020
    Abstract: A large round baler includes a discharge or outlet gate mounted for swinging vertically about a horizontal transverse axis located approximately at the center of a baling chamber. In one of several variations, two hydraulic cylinders, that are arranged offset to each other, engage the outlet gate at various radial positions, so that both actuating devices cannot simultaneously reach a dead center or a blocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jean Viaud
  • Patent number: 6988354
    Abstract: An overshot rotary conveyor includes a plurality of sets of flat tines welded to a cylindrical shaft at respective locations spaced across the shaft, each tine including a curved leading edge. Located on the opposite sides of each flat tine and having forward ends received about the cylindrical shaft is a stripper including upper and lower sections. The upper and lower stripper sections include are joined at their forward ends, which define a cylindrical opening disposed about the cylindrical shaft, by a flexible hinge section so that the stripper is of a one-piece construction. The flexible hinge section permits the upper and lower stripper sections to be hinged apart so as to permit the stripper to be received on, or removed from, the cylindrical shaft. Various surfaces of the lower stripper section and surfaces in the vicinity of the flexible hinge section work to prevent stray crop from wrapping about the cylindrical shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Amber Rae Pargmann, Henry Dennis Anstey