Abstract

A grain loss sensing system for a combine harvester. The grain loss sensing system employs at least one emitter and receiver on the combine harvester and uses what is received by the receiver to calculate grain loss. The system can be configured to use, for example, microwave, ultraviolet, x-ray and/or photographic technology. The results are used to differentiate between grain and MOG. The results are relayed to the operator so that the operator can make adjustments and/or the combine harvester host controller receives this information and responds by making adjustments automatically.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01D 41/127 - Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines

Goods & Services

Agricultural machinery, namely, sieves and chaffers for harvesters, and louver positioning systems for incorporation into sieves and chaffers for harvesters

Goods & Services

Mail services, namely, processing international and domestic mail for infusion into established postal services; business services, namely, invoicing services in the nature of preparation of printed materials for mailing for others; Business services, namely, preparation of printed materials for mailing for others On-line document delivery via a global computer network; on-line document delivery of invoices via a global computer network

Goods & Services

Business services, namely, preparation of printed materials for mailing for others; mail services, namely, processing international and domestic mail for infusion into established postal services On-line document delivery of invoices via a global computer network; on-line document delivery via a global computer network

Goods & Services

Downloadable computer software for designing, creating, generating, and processing documents; downloadable computer software for on-line document delivery via a global computer network

Abstract

A louver position sensing system for a sieve and chaffer of a combine harvester. One system provides that at least one sensor is in actual, physical contact with one or more louvers of the sieve and chaffer. Another system provides that a one or more magnet holders are mounted on louvers and, spaced away, sensors sense magnets in the magnet holders to determine the rotational position of the louvers. Either system allows for accurate, on-the-fly adjustment of the louvers in order to maximize the efficiency of operation of the sieve and chaffer. Preferably, the sensing systems are configured such that sensed position of the louvers is broadcast on the CAN bus of the combine harvester. As a result, the position information can be used to dynamically adjust the openings between the louvers of the sieve and chaffer to achieve more efficient grain cleaning as the machine and field variables change.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01F 12/44 - Grain cleanersGrain separators
• A01D 41/127 - Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• A01D 75/28 - Control mechanisms for harvesters or mowers when moving on slopesDevices preventing lateral pull
• G01R 33/07 - Hall-effect devices
• H04L 12/40 - Bus networks
• G05D 1/00 - Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots

Goods & Services

Downloadable computer software for designing, creating, generating, and processing documents; downloadable computer software for generating and processing documents, namely, computer software that meets postal service automation standards, particularly in high-volume mail finishing operations, by providing coding for address accuracy using a Coding Accuracy Support System and bar coding, Presort Accuracy Validation and Evaluation certified sorting for postal discounts, mail manifesting for elimination of metering, document design capability to enhance the presentation of finished documents, and/or robust Optical Mark Recognition or bar coding for proper, secure function of automated, smart folding or inserting equipment and marketing documents for others

Abstract

A high strength sieve which is lightweight and durable without having to add springs, and without requiring a high level of force to effect adjustment of the louvers. The high strength sieve utilizes hollow tubes to support the louvers. Providing hollow tubes (i.e., rather than solid wires) allows for larger diameter holes to be used in the frame. This provides for increased bearing surfaces, as well as provides for better tolerances. This reduces the movement of the tubes within the holes. Preferably, the tubes are mounted in the frame through holes which are extruded, thereby providing for increased bearing surfaces and a tighter fit. The extruded holes also provide a natural lead-in for the insertion of the tubes (i.e., during assembly of the sieve). Alternatively, solid wires can be provided extending through the extruded holes instead of hollow tubes.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01F 12/44 - Grain cleanersGrain separators

Abstract

A butterfly valve for controlling gas flow is disclosed. The butterfly valve may include a valve body, the valve body defining a bore and a shaft configured for rotatable motion with respect to the valve body and including a shoulder. The butterfly valve may further include a disk housed within the bore, operatively coupled with the shaft, and configured to control gas flow through the bore based on a rotational position of the shaft relative to the valve body. The butterfly valve may further include a ball bearing operatively coupled with the shaft and including a ball and a race. The butterfly may further includes a spring configured to provide an axial force on the shaft, the axial force configured to press the shoulder of the shaft against the race of the ball bearing to prevent an outer edge of the disk from contacting an inner wall of the bore.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16K 1/22 - Lift valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with pivoted closure members with pivoted discs or flaps with axis of rotation crossing the valve member, e.g. butterfly valves
• F16K 1/226 - Shape or arrangement of the sealing
• F16K 37/00 - Special means in or on valves or other cut-off apparatus for indicating or recording operation thereof, or for enabling an alarm to be given

Abstract

A tine for use with a harvester. The tine is preferably an injection molded polymer pickup reel tine, which uses a front-to-rear mold parting line direction. The tine preferably has a snap ring or strap portion which is configured to engage a bat tube, as well as a finger portion which is configured to engage the crop during harvesting. Preferably, the front-to-rear parting line is along both portions. The front-to-rear parting line allows for the ability to provide a deep front-to-rear cross section for rigidity at the high stress area of the tine. Two front-to-rear material saving features can be utilized to minimize material usage and allow for relative consistent wall thickness, which results in a rigid cross section that maintains deflection stability in the normal direction of deflection. The preferred form of the tine cross section includes three deep oval sections or projections, connected by two oval depressions, but other variations are entirely possible while still resulting in effectively the same benefits.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01D 57/02 - Devices for leading crops to the mowing apparatus using reels

Abstract

A roller frame assembly for a pick-up reel of a harvester, where the roller frame assembly is adjustable in that its position can be easily adjusted relative to a position of a drive shaft of the pick-up reel, thereby effectively converting the pick-up reel from a flip reel to a non-flip reel, and vice versa.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01D 57/03 - Devices for leading crops to the mowing apparatus using reels with supplementary controlled movement of the crop-engaging members, e.g. of the tines
• A01D 57/04 - Arrangements for changing the position of the reels

Goods & Services

Computer software that meets postal service automation standards, particularly in high-volume mail finishing operations, by providing coding for address accuracy using a Coding Accuracy Support System and bar coding, Presort Accuracy Validation and Evaluation certified sorting for postal discounts, mail manifesting for elimination of metering, document design capability to enhance the presentation of finished documents, and/or robust Optical Mark Recognition or bar coding for proper, secure function of automated, smart folding or inserting equipment and marketing documents for others

Goods & Services

(1) Agricultural components and implements, namely, pickup reels for harvesters, paddle tines, harvester reel kits comprising harvester reel attaching brackets, rollers and roller tracks; agricultural tillage equipment, namely, aerators, harvester sieves and chaffers.

Goods & Services

Agricultural components and implements, namely, pickup reels for harvesters, [ paddle tines, ] harvester reel kits comprising harvester reel attaching brackets, rollers and roller tracks; agricultural tillage equipment, namely, [ aerators, ] harvester sieves and chaffers

Goods & Services

computer software for formatting and organizing names and addresses to meet postal service automation standards

Goods & Services

Sieves for harvesting machines

Goods & Services

computer software for formatting and organizing names and addresses to meet postal service automation standards

Abstract

A high strength sieve which is lightweight and durable without having to add
springs, and
without requiring a high level of force to effect adjustment of the louvers.
The high strength
sieve utilizes hollow tubes to support the louvers. Providing hollow tubes
(i.e., rather than solid
wires) allows for larger diameter holes to be used in the frame. This provides
for increased
bearing surfaces, as well as provides for better tolerances. This reduces the
movement of the
tubes within the holes. Preferably, the tubes are mounted in the frame through
holes which are
extruded, thereby providing for increased bearing surfaces and a tighter fit.
The extruded holes
also provide a natural lead-in for the insertion of the tubes (i.e., during
assembly of the sieve).
Alternatively, solid wires can be provided extending through the extruded
holes instead of
hollow tubes.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01F 12/44 - Grain cleanersGrain separators

Abstract

A louver position sensing system for a sieve and chaffer of a combine harvester. The system provides that at least one sensor is in actual, physical contact with one or more louvers of the sieve and chaffer. More than one sensor can be utilized where multiple sensors are connected to multiple louvers of the sieve. The directly coupled sensing of the rotational position of the louver(s) allows for accurate, on-the-fly adjustment of the louvers in order to maximize the efficiency of operation of the sieve and chaffer. Preferably, the sensing system is configured such that sensed position of the louvers is broadcast on the bus of the combine harvester. As a result, the position information can be used to dynamically adjust the openings between the louvers of the sieve and chaffer to achieve more efficient grain cleaning as the machine and field variables change.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01D 41/127 - Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• A01F 12/44 - Grain cleanersGrain separators

Abstract

A louver position sensing system for a sieve and chaffer of a combine
harvester. One
system provides that at least one sensor is in actual, physical contact with
one or more louvers of
the sieve and chaffer. Another system provides that a one or more magnet
holders are mounted
on louvers and, spaced away, sensors sense magnets in the magnet holders to
determine the
rotational position of the louvers. Either system allows for accurate, on-the-
fly adjustment of the
louvers in order to maximize the efficiency of operation of the sieve and
chaffer. Preferably, the
sensing systems are configured such that sensed position of the louvers is
broadcast on the CAN
bus of the combine harvester. As a result, the position information can be
used to dynamically
adjust the openings between the louvers of the sieve and chaffer to achieve
more efficient grain
cleaning as the machine and field variables change.

IPC Classes  ?

• A01D 41/12 - Details of combines