With Choppers Patents (Class 56/60)
  • Patent number: 11369062
    Abstract: A feeder unit for an agricultural baler includes: a first rotor including a plurality of first extensions extending therefrom, the first rotor being configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation at a first rotation speed; and a second rotor arranged in parallel with the first rotor relative to the axis of rotation and including a plurality of second extensions extending therefrom that intermesh with the plurality of first extensions, the second rotor being configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation at a second rotation speed that is different from the first rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jason L. Shonk
  • Patent number: 10172286
    Abstract: Stalk rolls are used for a corn harvester or combine having a chassis, an engine, a cab mounted to the chassis with a head mounted at the front of the body. The head includes an auger, row separators, corn stalk gathering assemblies between the row separators and ear removal assemblies. Each ear removal device includes a pair of stalk rolls. Each stalk roll has a core and longitudinally extending flutes about a periphery of the corn extending along the core. Each stalk roll has a straight first section and a tapered second section. The flutes on each stalk roll have different lengths and end at different locations at the front of the stalk roll. The flutes of the stalk roll may also have notches and different shaped leading edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Oxbo International Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M Schloesser, Mitchel Paulson
  • Patent number: 10058027
    Abstract: A row unit system for a corn header of an agricultural harvester, the row unit system including a plurality of row units and a plurality of chopper assemblies. A first row unit and an adjacent second row unit are each coupled to the corn header, with each row unit having a first and second leg. The first and second legs are substantially a mirror image of each other. The chopper assemblies are positioned proximate to the legs of the row units and include a chopper assembly nested between the second leg of the first row unit and the first leg of the second row unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: James M. Gessel, Joel T. Cook, Eric L. Walker, Michael L. Berggren, Brian P. Crow
  • Patent number: 9635807
    Abstract: A harvesting header for a row crop machine has a plurality of row units having fore-and-aft extending arms forming a passageway, a gathering mechanism to gather stalks into the passageway, snap rolls to pull the stalks downwardly through the passageway, and a knife set to cut the stalks in the passageway. The knife set includes a pair of opposing blades, each blade having a main portion with an inner edge located on a first side of a centerline of the passageway and a cutting protrusion with a sharpened cutting edge extending across the centerline toward the opposing blade. The cutting protrusions are offset longitudinally from one another such that the cutting protrusion of one of the blades is a different distance from a mouth of the passageway than the cutting protrusion of the opposing blade such that there is a continuous gap between the blades along the length of blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Randy Lohrentz
  • Publication number: 20140230395
    Abstract: This invention is to a corn stalk material and its preparation method and apparatus. The corn stalk material is the peel of the corn stalk which is one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a silk-shaped peel of the corn stalk and a strip-shaped peel of the corn stalk with residual pulp of the corn stalk. The method for the corn stalk material includes the following steps: 1) using an agricultural harvester to harvest the corn stalk; 2) when harvesting, the corn stalk being separated, and obtaining a pulp, a leaf and a peel of the corn stalk respectively; 3) collecting peel of the corn stalk when a moisture content is 15˜45%; The collected pulp and leaf of the corn stalk are as feed, or fermented to produce lactic acid or alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Shandong Tralin Paper Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hongfa LI, Xinsheng Hua, Yanjin BI
  • Publication number: 20140165522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a harvesting conveyors module, particularly appropriate for sugar cane harvesting, comprising a lifting mechanism (1) arranged horizontally and able to be vertically moved; a base cutting mechanism (7); a deflector mechanism (6) arranged above the lifting mechanism (1) and configured to deflect and aid the displacement of cutted stems to a pulling mechanism (9), said pulling mechanism comprising conveyors, an upper conveyor (10) and a lower conveyor (11); a lifting roll (8) placed near to the lower end of the conveyors (10, 11); a transferring mechanism (12) appropriate to receive the stems from pulling mechanism (9) and transfer them to a chopper mechanism (13), said chopper mechanism (13) being arranged in sequence to the said transferring mechanism (12), and a stretcher mechanism (14) acts on the upper conveyor (10) of the pulling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais CNPEM
    Inventors: Oscar Antonio Braunbeck, Efraim Albrecht Neto, Guilherme Ribeiro Gray, Jose Leonardo Camargo De Campos
  • Publication number: 20140150393
    Abstract: A knife carrier for a chopper drum is formed with a plurality of knife carrier segments, each designed as a circular-ring disk section of a circular-ring disk that can be accommodated on an outer diameter of a circular-cylindrical drum body of the chopper drum. The knife carrier segments each have an outer-peripheral surface having a predetermined number of knife receptacles. The knife carrier segments each have a circumferential length such that all the knife carrier segments form the circular-ring disk when placed next to one another along the circumferential length thereof. Each knife carrier segment has fixing means for the defined positioning of the knife carrier segments with respect to the drum body and for the detachable attachment of the knife carrier segment on the outer diameter of the drum body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: CLAAS SAULGAU GMBH
    Inventor: Martin Stengele
  • Publication number: 20140059994
    Abstract: The invention relates to an attachment device (2) for harvesting stalky stem material (6), comprising: stem dividers (4); cutting devices (8) for cutting off the stalky stem material (6); conveying devices (10) for conveying the cut stalky stem material (6) away; a number of picking units (12) distributed over the working width of the attachment device (2) for separating crops from the stalks, each picking unit having at least one picking roller (14) and a picking gap (16) associated with the picking roller (14); a milling device (18) associated with each picking unit (12) for the stalks; and a device (20) for collecting and bringing together removed crops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CARL GERINGHOFF GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Klemens Surmann, Andre Hemmesmann, Robert Sonnen
  • Publication number: 20140053523
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Patent number: 8534036
    Abstract: A corn picker has at least two feed and snapping units which are driven by a drive shaft at the same operating speed, and each of which is equipped with a snapping gap and an intake conveyor mechanism which draws the plants into the snapping gap which is used to separate crops from the plants, and a chopping device for fragmentizing the stalks of the plants, which is disposed downstream of the particular intake conveyor mechanism, and the chopping unit has a drive which can be used to adapt the drive speed of the chopping unit when the operating speed of the feed and snapping units changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Zegota, Sandor Esses, Tibor Lenti, Gabor Fuchs
  • Patent number: 8402727
    Abstract: A stalk-chopper, in particular for a machine for harvesting maize, comprising a hollow casing having a central portion and two box-section arms that extend in cantilever fashion from the central portion according to a U-shaped configuration, the box-section arms being set at a distance from one another in a transverse direction and having respective distal ends set at a distance from the central portion in a longitudinal direction, two rotating output members projecting on the outside of said box-section arms at the respective distal ends of said box-section arms, the output members being carried in a rotatable way by the respective arms about respective mutually parallel axes of rotation, two rotary cutting devices connected to respective output members and having respective cutting diameters partially overlapping one another; and a transmission device housed within said hollow casing and provided for driving said output members in rotation in concordant directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Olimac S.r.l.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Carboni
  • Publication number: 20120159917
    Abstract: A knife for cutting crop stalks and impacting the cut crop stalks to prevent damage to the tires of agricultural vehicles. Leading and trailing edges of the knife oppose one another and define a trailing face therebetween. The leading edge is higher than the trailing edge to cut stalks and the tailing edge is angled downward in trailing relationship to the leading edge so that as the knife cuts a crop stalk the trailing face also impacts the cut stalk to force it downward to the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Randy Lohrentz
  • Patent number: 8196379
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Patent number: 8141332
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Publication number: 20120055131
    Abstract: A corn picker has at least two feed and snapping units which are driven by a drive shaft at the same operating speed, and each of which is equipped with a snapping gap and an intake conveyor mechanism which draws the plants into the snapping gap which is used to separate crops from the plants, and a chopping device for fragmentizing the stalks of the plants, which is disposed downstream of the particular intake conveyor mechanism, and the chopping unit has a drive which can be used to adapt the drive speed of the chopping unit when the operating speed of the feed and snapping units changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Zegota, Sandor Esses, Tibor Lenti, Gabor Fuchs
  • Publication number: 20120042618
    Abstract: A tilting crop stalk chopper on a header for harvesting crops. The chopper is moveably coupled to the header such that the chopper moves between first and second positions to vary the angle at which crops are cut. The movement of the chopper into first and second positions is independent of the position of the row units of the header relative the ground. In one embodiment, a gear box coupled to the chopper is moveable to the chopper between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Randy Lohrentz, Robert A. Matousek
  • Publication number: 20120023883
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Patent number: 8087223
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Publication number: 20110173942
    Abstract: A cornhead row unit is provided including first and second longitudinally extending stripper plates mounted on a frame and having opposed stripping edges which define a gap between them. The frame further includes a resilient device arranged and disposed to adjustably transversely urge the first stripper plate on the frame toward the second stripper plate to vary the width of the gap. An adjusting arrangement connecting the frame and the second stripper plate selectably and transversely moves the second stripper plate with respect to the first stripper plate to vary the width of the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Trevor KOWALCHUK
  • Publication number: 20110146217
    Abstract: A stalk-chopper, in particular for a machine for harvesting maize, comprising a hollow casing having a central portion and two box-section arms that extend in cantilever fashion from the central portion according to a U-shaped configuration, the box-section arms being set at a distance from one another in a transverse direction and having respective distal ends set at a distance from the central portion in a longitudinal direction, two rotating output members projecting on the outside of said box-section arms at the respective distal ends of said box-section arms, the output members being carried in a rotatable way by the respective arms about respective mutually parallel axes of rotation, two rotary cutting devices connected to respective output members and having respective cutting diameters partially overlapping one another; and a transmission device housed within said hollow casing and provided for driving said output members in rotation in concordant directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Lorenzo Carboni
  • Publication number: 20110113743
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Patent number: 7905078
    Abstract: A machine for the harvest of stalk-like plants with a cutting arrangement for cutting plant stalks that extends in a plane terminating in a cutting edge and a conveying arrangement for taking up and conveying away the cut plant stalks. The plane of the cutting arrangement is inclined upward in the forward operating direction (V) of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Clemens Rickert, Jens Grobmeier, Martin Hüning, Leo Schulze Hockenbeck, Clemens Weitenberg
  • Patent number: 7856800
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Publication number: 20100313539
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventor: James E. STRAETER
  • Patent number: 7819998
    Abstract: There is described a method of forming a touch screen laminate for use in a resistive touch screen display, the method comprising the steps of bonding a layer of ultra-thin glass to a polymer layer by means of an optical adhesive applied uniformly between the glass layer and the polymer layer and applying a non-electrically conductive insulating layer to a lower surface of the polymer layer in a peripherally extending band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Albert M. David
  • Publication number: 20100257831
    Abstract: A chopping assembly for a harvesting implement having a blade assembly, a housing, and a guide. The blade assembly is disposed within the housing and the guide directs cornstalks toward an input port on the housing. The blade assembly not only cuts the cornstalk from its root but also chops the stalk into stover. A fluid dynamic force is created by the blade assembly to direct the stover with the aid of the housing to an output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: James E. Straeter
  • Publication number: 20100083627
    Abstract: The invention relates to a harvester adapter with stalk shredder for harvesting grain crops, particularly sunflower, comprising a frame structure attached to a combine harvester, and at least two crop gathering units having a snout, where the crop gathering units are secured to the frame structure. Neighbouring crop gathering units are arranged such that a channel with an open leading end is formed between them, with a stalk gathering unit being disposed in driving connection with a harvesting mechanism on at least one side of the channels. The adapter has a collecting auger disposed rearward from the harvesting mechanism and at least one stalk shredder unit attached to the frame structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Optigep KFT
    Inventors: Lajos Nagy, Kornel Gyenes, Gyorgy Lipusz, Gabor Sagi, Imre Takacs, Gabor Kincses, Laszlo Szalkai
  • Patent number: 7540136
    Abstract: The invention relates to a field chopper having at least one rotatable lower rough-press roll and at least one rotatable upper rough-press roll. Between the rough-press rolls crop is pressed and fed to a chopping drum where blades chop the crop. A space is defined down stream of the moveable rough-pressing roll between the chopping drum, the stream of pressed crop and the movable rough-press roll. Located in this space is a pressing element that acts on the pressed crop and which exerts a rough-pressing effect on the pressed crop downstream of the movable rough-press roll and upstream of the chopping drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Rainer Schäfer
  • Patent number: 7475529
    Abstract: The invention relates to a harvesting apparatus (10), particularly a corn picker, comprising two drawing-in and picking units (18), each of which is provided with a picking gap (24) and a drawing-in device (26) that can be operated so as to draw plants into the picking gap (24) by means of which the infructescences can be separated from the plants. The inventive harvesting apparatus (10) further comprises a stalk chopper (32) that is disposed downstream of the drawing-in device (26), is used for comminuting the plant stalks, and is provided with a knife (36) which can be rotated about a shaft extending at least approximately in a vertical direction. The invention is characterized in that the envelope circle (38) described by the knife (40) of the stalk chopper spans at least the drawing-in devices (26) of two adjacent drawing-in and picking units (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Richard Wübbels, Josef Schulze Eissing
  • Publication number: 20070137160
    Abstract: The invention relates to a field chopper having at least one rotatable lower rough-press roll and at least one rotatable upper rough-press roll. Between the rough-press rolls crop is pressed and fed to a chopping drum where blades chop the crop. A space is defined down stream of the moveable rough-pressing roll between the chopping drum, the stream of pressed crop and the movable rough-press roll. Located in this space is a pressing element that acts on the pressed crop and which exerts a rough-pressing effect on the pressed crop downstream of the movable rough-press roll and upstream of the chopping drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventor: Rainer Schafer
  • Patent number: 7047717
    Abstract: A feeding and picking device is provided with a rotating feeding device defining a feeding radius. The feeding device is rotated about a vertical feeding axis. The picking device comprises a snapping channel formed by snapping bars under which is located at least one snapping roll. A chopping device is located beneath the picking device. The chopping device defines a chopping radius that overlies the feeding radius of the feeding device. The chopping device is rotated about a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Norbert Wolters, Richard Wübbels
  • Patent number: 6959529
    Abstract: A forage harvester is equipped with a harvesting platform including a plurality of side-by-side mounted rotary collection and mowing drums that operate to feed stalk-like crops into a transport conduit located behind the collection and mowing drums. A pair of transport devices are mounted for rotating about respective axes located on opposite sides of a feed channel leading to an infeed channel of the forage harvester. The axes of rotation of the transport devices are tilted forward from the vertical and the transport devices include entrainment elements formed of disks having a plurality of long teeth formed thereabout, the long teeth projecting into the transport channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventor: Richard Wübbels
  • Patent number: 6775967
    Abstract: A crop harvester header includes a plurality of intake and mowing drums mounted in side-by-side relationship to each other across the width of the header. Located to the rear of the intake and mowing drums for receiving crop delivered to the rear by them are a pair of slope conveyor drums respectively located on opposite sides of a longitudinal center plane of the header and at opposite sides of an inlet passage leading to feed rolls for introducing the crop into a chopper drum of the harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Richard Wübbels
  • Patent number: 6584755
    Abstract: A kernel processor includes a pair of rollers which are controlled such that the spacing between them varies inversely, or such that the contact pressure between them varies directly, in response to varying moisture content of the crop material being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Eberhard Holtkotte
  • Patent number: 6550231
    Abstract: A harvesting machine such as a self-propelled pick-up chopper including a feeder housing having supplying elements and which can be transferred from a swiveled-in operating position about an axle into a swiveled-up maintenance position. In order to be able to transfer the feeder housing rapidly into the swiveled-up maintenance position, the feeder housing can be swung out of the way forward towards the ground in the driving direction about an essentially horizontal axle aligned transversely to the traveling direction of the machine. The supplying elements of the feeder housing can be driven over a drive shaft having a first portion which can be swiveled in the same direction with the feeder housing and a second portion different than the first portion which can be expanded and contracted telescope-like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Bernard Krone GmbH
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Karl-Heinz Radke, Thomas Strobel, Dieter Berth
  • Patent number: 6430907
    Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester is equipped with a header including intake and plucking arrangements which, in the case of corn, separate the ears from the stalk and conveys them in different streams to the harvester. The harvester has a conventional cutter drum that receives the stalks and cuts them into short lengths, and has a hammermill which receives the corn ears and chops them into small pieces. The corn stalk pieces and the chopped ears can be recombined and discharged from the harvester into a trailer as whole plant silage, or can be delivered in separate streams to separate trailers or separate containers of the same trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Norbert Wolters, Richard Wübbels
  • Patent number: 6412259
    Abstract: The device for harvesting corn or similar cereals, which can be constructed particularly as an attachment for combine harvesters or field choppers, having two gathering rollers, which are disposed on either side of a gathering gap for separating the fruit from the plant part bearing it, are driven to rotate about axes of rotation pointing in the direction of travel of the device and are provided with several longitudinally extending cross members, ribs or similar projections, forming working edges protruding over the basic bodies of their rollers. The working edges of the gathering rollers, disposed distributed over the perimeter of the basic bodies of the rollers, traverse working surfaces tapering conically towards the front end of the gathering rollers and with one another or with the basic body of the respectively adjacent gathering roller, form the boundary of the passage gap. The axes of rotation of the gathering rollers converge towards the front ends of the gathering rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Claas Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Ludger Wiegert
  • Publication number: 20020029553
    Abstract: A baler for making rectangular crop bales has a generally horizontally disposed fore-and-aft extending baling chamber. The pickup of the baler is disposed underneath the baling chamber in line with the path of travel of a reciprocating plunger in the overhead chamber. An in-line transfer duct leads generally upwardly and rearwardly from the pickup to the bottom of the chamber. An enclosed crop flow passage is defined from a point immediately behind the pickup to a point located at the opening in the bottom of the baling chamber and presents a forwardmost cutting zone, a packing zone behind the cutting zone, and an accumulating zone behind the packing zone. Cutter apparatus within the cutting zone reduces the crop materials into smaller pieces as they flow through the cutting zone, whereupon a separate packer takes the materials from the rear side of the cutter apparatus and packs them in a downstream direction toward the accumulating zone where they form into a charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas G. Schrag, Kelly Booton
  • Publication number: 20020020162
    Abstract: A forage harvester header includes a plurality of intake and mowing arrangements disposed side-by-side across the width of the header and adapted for being driven about respective upright axes. Located behind the intake and mowing arrangements and leading to a centrally located discharge channel is a transverse conveying channel having upright conveying drums associated therewith to aid in moving the harvested crop stalks toward the discharge channel. A table is provided across the top of the center two intake and mowing arrangements and mounted centrally in the table is a conveyor arrangement which operates to gather and deliver rearwardly any crop stalks which emerge from the transverse conveying channel and go across the table in the vicinity of the conveyor arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Richard Wubbels, Norbert Wolters
  • Publication number: 20010037638
    Abstract: A harvesting machine, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper for picking up and chopping corn, wilted grass, green feed and similar harvested material includes a feeding housing, which is disposed ahead of a chopping device and accommodates feeding rollers, which can be driven. In order to have created a harvesting machine, which can be adapted to different use conditions, provisions are made so that more than two pairs of feeding rollers are provided, which are disposed consecutively in the feed-conveying direction and the upper rollers of which in each case can be driven over a common driving mechanism the common driving mechanism for adjusting the height of the upper rollers, having at least one driving element, which passes through the feeding housing and the position of which can be changed, and this driving element and the upper rollers being disposed so that they can be shifted by sliding in each case in guides at the side of the feeding housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Thomas Strobel
  • Patent number: 6298643
    Abstract: A machine for mowing and chopping corn and similar stalk-like harvested crops has a number of drawing-in and mowing drums which rotate about a vertical axis and which are provided with protruding driver gear rims. The drawing-in and mowing drums are disposed in the transverse direction on either side of the vertical longitudinal center plane of the machine centrally ahead of a chopper which has an insertion duct which takes up the cut, harvested crops. The insertion duct is bounded above and below by two insertion rollers disposed at a height from one another and laterally by two conveying drums which are at a transverse distance from one another. The conveying drums transport the cut, harvested crops along and rotate about vertical axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Richard Wuebbels, Norbert Wolters
  • Patent number: 6217245
    Abstract: A writing instrument is manufactured in a unique manner by the application of three layers of materials which provide an overall partially transparent and iridescent glitter coated pen or pencil configuration. The main body can be of plastic or wood and has a base coat of a relatively dark colorant such as a lacquer paint applied to the barrel of the writing instrument. A layer of wood and plastic adhesive preferably of a resin-type adhesive such as polyvinyl acrylic adhesive is then applied over the base colorant coat and glitter is deposited thereon preferably at a thickness of only one glitter particle. This glitter is preferably relatively small being approximately 0.08 millimeters in particle size and is preferably electrostatically deposited onto the glue or adhesive layer prior to curing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Flying Color Toys, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda El-Fakir, Richard Ginelli, Benjamin Tao
  • Patent number: 6062009
    Abstract: A two-row cane harvester 10 simultaneously harvests two rows of sugar cane in a green tropical cane field. A pair of topper mechanisms 54 top the cane stalks while base cutters 80 base cut the cane. Base cut cane is received base first into the harvester intake. The cane is cleaned in a whole stalk condition with a cleaning mechanism 92 that includes a plurality of rotating tines 100 moving in a direction to engage and force the cane leaves toward a base of the cane stalk, thereby efficiently stripping the cane leaves. An extractor blower 106 removes the leaves from the rotating tines and the cleaned cane. A stalk cutter mechanism 120, 122 may be adjusted to cut the cleaned cane stalks into selected billet lengths. Cane is preferably fed into the cutter mechanism at a speed greater than the ground speed of the harvester moving through the field. Another blower or fan may be used to remove remaining leaves from the billets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Louisiana Cane Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Caillouet
  • Patent number: 6032444
    Abstract: A non-row-sensitive forage harvesting header for attachment to a mobile frame carrying a chopper has a pair of rotatable cutting discs for severing stalks as the frame moves across a field. Positioned above the cutting discs are a pair of drum-shaped transfer devices rotatable in opposite directions about upright axes coaxial with the rotational axes of the respective cutting discs for gathering severed stalks to a central location between the devices. A pair of endless gripping elements extend about respective ones of the transfer devices and present opposed rearwardly moveable runs extending between the central location and the chopper when the header is attached to the frame. The opposed runs of the gripping elements are operable to cooperatively grip each gathered stalk therebetween while moving the stalk rearwardly from the central location to the chopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Hay & Forage Industries
    Inventors: Maynard M. Herron, Howard J. Ratzlaff, Ferol S. Fell
  • Patent number: 5979151
    Abstract: A self-propelled chopper forage harvester has a flap assembly at the discharge end of a pivotable ejector pipe. A hydraulic actuator moves the flap assembly about a generally horizontal axis for directing the projection of the forage. The flap assembly is removably mounted so it can be either at a position at the top of the discharge end of the ejector pipe for filling open-top forage boxes or at a position 180 degrees therefrom and at the bottom of the discharge end for filling closed-top forage boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Claas KGaA
    Inventors: Lambert Sanders, Heinrich Isfort, Karl-Heinz Landwehr
  • Patent number: 5921071
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, such as a forage harvester, comprises a feeder means for feeding crop material to crop processing means and a feeder arrest means for immediately arresting at least a portion of said feeder means upon detection of a foreign object. Said arrest means comprises a ratchet wheel mounted onto the drive line of said feeder means and an electrical actuator means for loading a pawl into engagement with said ratchet wheel.The harvesting machine comprises a means for automatically monitoring the good operative condition of the electrical actuator means and the means for generating an alarm signal upon detection of a bad operative condition by said monitoring means. The monitoring means checks the condition of the electrical actuator and its circuitry by applying a voltage thereto during a short interval and monitoring the response during or immediately after said interval. The length of this short interval is chosen to preclude actual engagement of the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bert J.F. Paquet, Patrick F. Geladi
  • Patent number: 5890353
    Abstract: An adjustable chopper shaft is disclosed including a chopper shaft (14), a gear (18) concentrically mounted on the chopper shaft, the gear being accomodated in a gearbox (40). A setup (30, 32) for selectively allowing rotation of the chopper shaft relative to the gear are provided and this setup for selectively allowing rotation of the chopper shaft relative to the gear is located externally of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Westhill Engineering Construction
    Inventor: Wayne Brown
  • Patent number: 5875622
    Abstract: A harvesting apparatus for a crop has a separator for separating grain from the stalks. The separator has a platform adjustable to different heights positioned on the front end of the separator. The separator also has a rearward end for discharging stalks separated from the grain. A cutter is attached to the front end of the platform and is capable of cutting the crop close to the ground and feeding both the crop and the stalks into the platform. A chopper is interposed between the cutter and the platform so that the stalks of the crop are comminuted prior to entering the platform and prior to the grain being separated from the stalks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventor: Eugene A. Stoll
  • Patent number: 5852922
    Abstract: A machine for cutting and chopping corn and similar stalk-like harvested crops independently of rows includes drawing-in and cutting drums which are overlapped on the upper side in the region of their rotational sector by cover plates which interact each with a divider point for the harvested crops to be cut. The divider point extends in the driving direction. The outer edge of the cover plates in the region adjoining the respective divider point has an arching counter to the driving direction. The arching exposes the driving teeth of the associated drawing-in and cutting drum and forms an opening for the entry of the harvested crop between the driving teeth. This opening can optionally be closed by means of a blocking element depending on the nature of the crops being harvested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Matthias Sievers Over Behrens, Richard Wuebbels, Leo Schulze Hockenbeck
  • Patent number: 5749208
    Abstract: The mowing implement of a mowing apparatus, rotating about a vertical axis, is driven over a transmission comprising a freewheel mechanism and driving pins. A drive shaft is connected with the freewheel mechanism so that there cannot be any mutual rotation therebetween. In a basic orientation parallel to the axis of rotation of the mowing implement, these driving pins produce a driving connection between the freewheel mechanism and the mowing implement for driving the latter. In the event of a stoppage of the drive shaft, the driving pins, together with the freewheel mechanism, carry out a lifting motion, which interrupts the driving connection between the mowing implement and the freewheel mechanism. During their lifting motion, the driving pins activate a braking device in the region of the interior of the transmission housing above the freewheel mechanism. This braking device rapidly brings the mowing implement, which continues to run, to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Kemper GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Wuebbels, Alfons Resing