Patents Examined by Thomas B. Will
  • Patent number: 12290025
    Abstract: In some instances, stalk conditioners for conditioning stalk stubble present in a field after harvesting of a crop may include a bracket configured to be secured to a piece of agricultural equipment, such as an implement; an arm pivotably coupled to the bracket; and a blade that is disposed in a slot formed in the arm. The blade may be rotatable relative to the arm. The blade and arm may be configured to engage stalks stubble within a field following harvesting of crops, including during the course of a harvesting operation, to break and cut the stalks so as to promote decomposition of the stalk stubble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Marcus A. Jacobson, Duane M. Bomleny
  • Patent number: 12291841
    Abstract: A full-hydraulic automatic diaphragm wall cutting-grooving machine includes a supporting frame, a cutting device, a cutting driving device and a verticality detection device. The verticality detection device is used to detect the verticality and flatness of the diaphragm wall during the cutting process, the cutting device is used to drive the supporting frame and an equipment arranged on the supporting frame to move and cut, the cutting driving device is used to drive and adjust the cutting device in different directions. The verticality detection device is used to realize the automatic measurement of the verticality of the wall and the bottom surface and the flatness of the wall during the cutting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SUNHUI MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zengdi Shang, Huijian Cai, Zhen Shang, Bin Lei, Gende Shan
  • Patent number: 12284945
    Abstract: In general terms, the present invention provides a storage system for a fruit or vegetable picking system, in which picked fruit or vegetables are delivered to a fixed filling location of the storage system, and then moved, by a robotic handling mechanism of the storage system, to one of many container locations where filled containers (punnets) are temporarily stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Fieldwork Robotics Limited
    Inventors: Ignacio Martin Requena, Maximilian Knolseisen, Martin Stoelen
  • Patent number: 12284928
    Abstract: An implement operating apparatus has a U-shaped drive frame supported on drive wheels, each pivotally mounted about a vertical wheel pivot axis. A steering control selectively pivots each drive wheel. A power source is connected through a drive control to rotate the drive wheels in either direction. First and second implements are configured to perform implement operations and to rest on the ground and when the drive frame is maneuvered to an implement loading position with respect to each implement, the implement is connectable to the drive frame and movable to an operating position supported by the drive frame. When the implement is in the operating position, the steering and drive controls are operative to move and steer the drive frame and implement along a first travel path or a second travel path oriented generally perpendicular to the first travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: DOT Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Norbert Beaujot
  • Patent number: 12284941
    Abstract: A screening device and a self-propelled harvester with a screening device. The screening device includes at least one suction nozzle that has an elongated hollow body with at least one suction opening which extends sectionally in the longitudinal direction and transverse direction of the hollow body, and is connected by at least one air duct in the interior of the hollow body to a connection arranged in the hollow body for connecting to a vacuum source. The suction opening is positioned facing a screen of the screening device. The air duct has a cross-sectional shape that increases in the vertical direction toward the connection starting from an outer end of the suction nozzle. An inner contour facing the suction opening of the air duct has a contour that substantially corresponds to an airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Topmöller, Thomas Tiggemann, Roger Helmut Koitzsch, Norbert Vorwerk
  • Patent number: 12284940
    Abstract: A harvested material receptacle for a harvester. The harvested material receptacle includes a hopper that is open at the top with a substantially polygonal opening cross-section and extension elements arranged in pairs opposite each other. The extension elements are each pivotably articulated about a substantially horizontally running pivot shaft at the edge of an opening of the hopper to transition the extension elements from a substantially closed transport position into an open receiving position and vice versa, wherein the extension elements that are opposite one another lie sandwich-like on each other when in their transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Burbank
  • Patent number: 12279559
    Abstract: A harvesting unit including a chassis intended to be moved along rows of plants to be harvested, and a shaker system including a shaker device including: a drum operable to detach a crop from the plants, the drum including a drum shaft mounted for rotation on the chassis about a vertical axis and shaker organs mounted to the drum shaft; a rotational driving mechanism for the drum including a driven body and a first driving device engaged with the driven body to steer its rotation about the vertical axis; an oscillatory driving mechanism for the drum about the vertical axis including comprising an eccentric module and a second driving device engaged with the eccentric module to steer its rotation, the eccentric module being connected to the drum shaft by a mechanical member arranged to transform the eccentric rotation of the eccentric module into an oscillation of the drum shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Laurent Le Brech, David Beleteau
  • Patent number: 12279550
    Abstract: An autonomous robotic lawnmower (1) is disclosed. The robotic lawnmower (1) comprises a driving unit (3) comprising one or more drive wheels (5) and a cutting unit (7) arranged to cut grass when in a cutting position relative a ground surface (9). The lawnmower (1) further comprises a folding mechanism (11) allowing the cutting unit (7) to be pivoted relative the driving unit (3) around a pivot axis (ax) from the cutting position to a pivoted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Mats Svensson, Ronny Olsen
  • Patent number: 12281453
    Abstract: A snow plow assembly comprises an angle frame adapted to be operably mounted to a vehicle, a quadrant frame, a plow blade mounted to the quadrant frame, a drive link pivotally connected to the angle frame and the quadrant frame at first and second pivot points, respectively, a swing link pivotally connected to the angle frame and the quadrant frame at third and fourth pivot points, respectively, the angle frame, quadrant frame, drive link, and swing link, and the first, second, third, and fourth pivot points defining a four-bar linkage, and a first actuator pivotally connected on one end to the angle frame at a fifth pivot point and pivotally connected on the other end to the drive link at a sixth pivot point, wherein extending the first actuator causes the quadrant frame and hence the plow blade to rotate in a first direction from a neutral position generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and retracting the first actuator causes the quadrant frame and hence the plow blade to rotate in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Douglas Dynamics, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gatesy R. C. D. Gates, Andre Valmont Leblond, Craig D. MacIntosh
  • Patent number: 12279557
    Abstract: A piston lock system comprising: a cylinder, a rod receiver fixed to the cylinder, a piston slidably mounted to the cylinder, and a rod fixed to a free end of the piston and extending parallel to the piston to be located within the rod receiver. The piston and rod are movable relative to the cylinder and rod receiver between a retracted position and an extended position. A lock pin is mounted to the rod receiver and movable between a unlocked position in which the lock pin does not intersect a path of the rod, and a locked position in which the lock pin intersects the path of the rod and prevents the rod and piston from moving to the retracted position. Lock pins of multiple actuators can be connected to operate in unison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Tim Oliebos, Stijn Bailliu, Bjorn Depoortere
  • Patent number: 12274207
    Abstract: A pickup reel assembly that includes a hub and multiple bat assemblies where each bat assembly rotates through a functional area where it moves crop material into a harvester, and a non-functional area where it does not move crop material into the harvester. Each bat assembly rotates at a first speed through the functional area and at a second speed through the non-functional area, where the second speed is greater than the first speed. A nominal speed shaft can rotate at the first speed, and an increased speed shaft can rotate at the second speed. Cogs can couple the bat assembly to the increased speed shaft when it is in the non-functional area. The cogs can also couple the bat assembly to the nominal speed shaft when it is in the functional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shreyas P. Modak, Aditya Patil, Bryan R. Yanke, Cristiano Engelmann, Sam West, Richard A. Snell, Jr., Jesus Carlos Tinoco
  • Patent number: 12268126
    Abstract: Ear lifter for crops having a support bar, wherein the support bar extends in a major direction of extension and has a fastening portion, a middle portion and a skid portion arranged one after the other in the major direction of extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: SMF—HOLDING GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Höller
  • Patent number: 12268123
    Abstract: A riding vehicle may include a blower assembly, a mower deck, and a power source. The blower assembly may be configured to direct air from an air inlet to at least one air outlet to move surface debris. The mower deck may be configured to cut a lawn formed of grass or other vegetation. The blower assembly may be configured to direct air to an interior space of the mower deck for assisted discharge of cuttings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Inventor: Ricky A. Weihl
  • Patent number: 12262652
    Abstract: A scraper system for an agricultural machine includes a frame, an opener disc coupled to the frame, a gauge wheel positioned adjacent the opener disc and configured to rotate relative to the frame, and a scraper configured to rotate with the gauge wheel to remove soil or debris from the opener disc. The scraper is ring-shaped, directly coupled to the gauge wheel, and spaced apart from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Rogerio L. Kroth
  • Patent number: 12264450
    Abstract: A hydraulic excavator tool adapted to be secured to the distal working end of an excavator boom including a main tool assembly with a tool framework, a spaced apart pair of connection flanges fast with the tool framework, and, a structural tubular casing integral with the tool framework extending across and through the tool framework and through the flanges, plus a rotary hydraulic actuator within the tubular casing extending between the connection flanges and providing a rotational drive motion to a drive axle extending between the connection flanges adapted to provide a controlled rotary drive motion of the axle adjacent the connection flanges, and a working tool framework fast to the axle adjacent each of the connection flanges for relative controlled rotation of the working tool framework about the drive axle between the tool framework and a working position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: AMI Attachments Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Oscar Frey, Dwight Colin Myer
  • Patent number: 12258725
    Abstract: A front bucket loader apparatus for operating in low overhead space environments comprises a front bucket with a bottom plate with a front edge, an opposing back edge, a left edge and an opposing right edge. The front bucket further has a left side wall attached to the left side of the bottom plate and a right side wall attached to the right side of the bottom plate. Further, it is configured with a top support bracket attached to the left side wall and to the right side wall. Further, the front bucket has a pivotable serpentine back wall, the pivotable serpentine back wall having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being supported by the top support bracket and the lower portion of the pivotable serpentine back wall configured for engaging the bottom plate of the front bucket. Lastly the front bucket has a slatted rear mount directly opposing the pivotable serpentine back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: John Ryan Farms LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Ryan, John N. Ryan
  • Patent number: 12252853
    Abstract: In some implementations a lift assembly for a snow wing assembly may include a first lifting mechanism, coupled to the motor grader, configured to lift the snow wing assembly a first portion of a bench height associated with a moldboard via a first hydraulic cylinder. The lift assembly may include a second lifting mechanism, coupled to the first lifting mechanism and the moldboard, configured to lift the moldboard of the snow wing assembly a second portion of the bench height via a second hydraulic cylinder. The lift assembly may include one or more valves included in a hydraulic circuit of the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder, configured to divert a flow of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit away from a first stage hydraulic cylinder and to a second stage hydraulic cylinder, based on a pressure value associated with the first stage hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Kovalick, Bruce Raymond Vahling, Ernest Everett Stoops
  • Patent number: 12252058
    Abstract: A sprayer tank support frame that can be selectively coupled to a roll bar of a lawn mower or tractor while the roll bar is in a raised/elevated position or in a lowered/retracted position. An operator can discharge contents of the sprayer tank while on the support frame in either the raised/elevated or lowered/retracted position and while operating the lawn mower or tractor. The sprayer tank support frame can be adapted to be a universal support frame for use with roll bars of differing sizes and/or dimensions. The sprayer tank support frame can be adapted to be a universal support frame for use with tanks of differing sizes and/or dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Inventor: Charles H. Rood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12250906
    Abstract: A multipurpose machine for cultivating trees, comprising an inverted U-shape structure that enables the machine to pass over existing trees to carry out pruning, disinfection or fruit picking tasks, provided at the bottom with wheels, driven by at least one motor that autonomously facilitates the movement thereof, and respective upper frames that telescopically couple to each other, being driven by respective cylinders to move the portion of the structure on the right with respect to the one on the left in order to vary the width of the machine. Likewise, the machine has the ability to raise or lower the upper structure of the same to adapt it to the height of the trees to be cultivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: IANUS INGENIERIA, S.L.U.
    Inventor: Jose Ortiz Cicuendez
  • Patent number: 12245547
    Abstract: A lawn mower may include: a blade configured to cut grass; a grass collection unit configured to collect the grass cut by the blade; and a fan configured to generate an air flow that blows the grass cut by the blade toward the grass collection unit. The grass may include heavy grass cut long by the blade and light grass cut short by the blade. Among the heavy grass and the light grass having entered the grass collection unit, the grass collection unit may be configured to collect the heavy grass and discharge the light grass out of the grass collection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kutsuna