or Trap and drain assembly for draining waste liquids while blocking odors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a flush free drain trap system. The trap of the invention may be used in any trap system intended to block a back flow of odors from the waste line. A sealant liquid floats on top of the waste liquid in the trap to block odors. The trap uses one passageway to pass liquids to the sewer line, similarly to a conventional drain system, for preventing overflow and allowing cleaning. A second passageway allows the trap to dispose of small amounts of the waste liquid though an opening and a valve operated by the buoyancy caused by the accumulation of waste liquid in the trap. In normal use, waste liquid is passed to the sewer line without loss of sealant liquid. Furthermore, the performance of the trap is not affected by the evaporation of the waste liquid when the trap is unused. Full Article
or Drain valve core By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Various embodiments of a device for regulating a fluid flow are described that can include first and second downwardly-sloping valves that are biased in a closed position to prevent odors from escaping the device. The device can also include first and second downwardly-sloping valve seats, and configured such that an end portion of the first valve can be seated beneath the first valve seat and an end portion of the second valve can be seated beneath the second valve seat when the first and second valves are in a closed position, respectively. Full Article
or Toilet training devices for small children By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A toilet training device includes an odor remediation system for absorbing or masking odors that may be created during toilet training. The odor remediation system may include a modular odor remediating insert that may be releasably positioned within a recess that is provided within the toilet training device. The odor remediating insert may include an odor absorbing substance such as sodium bicarbonate, an odor masking substance such as a fragrance or a combination of an odor absorbing substance and an odor masking substance. The toilet training device also includes a system for dispensing wipes that may utilize a recess that is defined in a side wall of the main body portion of the toilet training device. A wipes cartridge is designed so that it can be used to conveniently dispense wipes regardless of whether it is separated from the toilet training device or mounted within the recess of the toilet training device. Full Article
or Method for controlling automatic head care system and automatic hair washing system, and automatic head care system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is an automatic head care system and an automatic hair washing system for caring a person's head in a safe and effective manner without applying a straining force on the person's neck. In order to achieve the object, the following steps are performed in turn: a head receiving step in which a pair of arms 114L, 114R are placed at positions for receiving a person's head 10 on a suppotring body 112; a water washing step in which water ejected from a plurality of nozzles 110 is poured to the head 10 while the pair of arms 114L, 114R are swung; a shampoo step in which washing liquid ejected from the plurality of nozzles 110 is poured to the head 10 while the pair of arms 114L, 114R are swung; and a head care step in which the head 10 is cared by performing the push-rotating of the pair of arms 114L, 114R in the direction of approaching the head 10 so as to bring the plurality of contacts 109 into contact with the head 10 and by swinging the pair of arms 114L, 114R while moving the plurality of contacts 109. Full Article
or Shower door assembly with an integral directional draining system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shower door assembly with an integral directional draining system including a shower door frame having a frame body defining a horizontal drain channel and a plurality of drain holes, at least one side panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the side panel being sized and configured to be fixedly attached to the frame body and the second end of the side panel further including a hinge mount, and at least one door defining a hinge mount rotatably connected to the hinge mount of the side panel and a door drain channel, the door having an upper portion and lower portion. The door of the present invention flares upward and bows outward such that the upper portion of the door is farther away from the shower door frame than the lower portion of the door. Full Article
or Apparatus for waterfall effect By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus that includes two separate reservoirs wherein the first reservoir is molded into the body of the larger artificial body of water and filled using a standard pump from the main body of water. From the larger body of water, the water is then moved upward through the apparatus through the manual opening of a valve assembly. Once the valve assembly is opened, the water moves through the valve assembly and through a grate and into a second reservoir. From this second reservoir, the water is pulled by the force gravity over the spillway into the main body of water, creating a clean, sheer waterfall effect. Full Article
or Expandable rack for a sink By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Full Article
or Apparatus and method for treating excreta By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and method for automatically receiving and treating excreta. The apparatus for treating excreta according to the present invention includes: a port with an excreta-receiving portion for receiving the excreta of patients; an excreta storage unit which suctions and stores excreta from the excreta-receiving portion; an excreta suctioning unit which is connected to the excreta storage unit; a wash water supply unit which supplies wash water to the port, wherein the port has an air spray nozzle and an air intake port connected to an air intake line; and a flow channel switching unit, one side of which is selectively connected either to the excreta suctioning line or to the air intake line which are connected through the excreta storage unit, and the other side of which is connected to the excreta suctioning unit. Full Article
or Tap mounting for a plumbing fixture By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tap mounting (11) for mounting a tap to a plumbing fixture (66), the plumbing fixture having a surface with an aperture (64). The tap mounting (11) comprises an over-surface mounting part (12), an under-surface mounting part (13) defining a threaded aperture (58), a threaded elongate member (40) and a second elongate member (28). In use the over-surface mounting part is above the surface of the plumbing fixture, the under-surface mounting part is below the surface of the plumbing fixture. The elongate members extend from the over-surface mounting part through the plumbing fixture aperture and the threaded elongate member passes through the threaded aperture of the under-surface mounting part. Rotation of the under-surface mounting part is prevented by the second elongate member. The threaded elongate member comprises an internal bore and is configured for connection to a hose. On installation of the tap mounting, the under-surface mounting part is arranged to be passed through the plumbing fixture aperture substantially without deformation, and the tap mounting is configured to enable it to be secured to the plumbing fixture by manipulation of the tap mounting substantially wholly at or above the surface of the plumbing fixture. Full Article
or Toilet overfill regulator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A kit for calibrating an amount of water required by a toilet with an amount of water to be supplied to the toilet has a first recorder for determining an amount of water in a toilet bowl, a second recorder for determining an amount of water in a toilet tank if the water in the toilet bowl reaches a determined level, and a valve for setting an amount of water delivered to the tank if the water reaches a determined level in the tank. Full Article
or Portable shower apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A portable shower apparatus includes a shower head, funnel adapter, mounted on an air evacuator tube, for use with a conventional fluid container. The shower head includes a shower face plate having a plurality of fluid dispensing holes; shower face plate is circumvented by a ring connector having internal threads. The funnel adapter includes two opposing openings having cylindrical connector pieces, a first cylindrical connector piece and a second cylindrical connector piece; first connector piece having a greater diameter than the second connector pieces. The shower head ring connector is threadably coupled to the first connector piece while a preexisting filled fluid container is coupled to the second connector piece. When the portable shower is inverted, fluid, preferably water, flows from the fluid container towards the user. Other embodiments are disclosed including a variety of transitional adapters to use with a variety of sizes of conventional fluid containers. Full Article
or Shower curtain incorporating entertainment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shower curtain is provided with two pockets adapted to receive spaced apart stereo speakers and a third pocket adapted to receive a personal entertainment system. The third pocket is provided with a clear inside window pane facing the inside of the shower and adapted for finger-touch control through the window pane. A closure system integral with the shower curtain is provided for external access to the pockets. In one embodiment, the closure system for access to the pockets is a tongue-in-groove fastening arrangement that provides external access to a personal entertainment system as well as a channel through which wires run to couple the entertainment system to the speakers. Full Article
or Integrally formed water and space saving lavatory-toilet fixture By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT This integrally formed water and space saving lavatory-toilet fixture enables hand washing with potable water from an existing toilet, recycles effluent completely, and provides sanitary, seamless, one-piece, full perimeter tank closure. A flexible hose re-directs supply away from the overflow through an interior fixture cavity and top cast opening toward a basin, that drains back into the reservoir as effluent; supplementing the required volume of water to complete one flush cycle. A cast sidewall basin opening is formed allowing potential drainage to flow through an internal hollow cavity directly into the tank reservoir below. The integrally formed fixture also includes a sloped front wall allowing additional hand washing space, vertically aligned space saving side and rear walls, and, an integrally formed perimeter rim conforming to the shape of the toilet tank edging below, providing hygienic, continuous tank containment and secure, detachable mounting. Full Article
or Automatic roll-back and return-to-position for header tilt on an agricultural machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A windrower with a harvesting header with a crop cutting assembly for severing crop from the ground windrower has a header pitch sensor for measuring a fore/aft pitch angle and a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system moves the header between an operating height and a raised position, and also controls a fore/aft pitch angle. An electronics control module provides an output to activate solenoid valves in the hydraulic system to move the header between the operating height and the raised position and to select a desired pitch angle. When the header moves from the operating height to the raised position, the electronics control module operates the header hydraulic system to move the header to the zero-tilt condition, and upon lowering the header back the operating height, the electronics control module automatically returns the header to the selected pitch angle it was in at the start of the cycle. Full Article
or Control apparatus for unmanned autonomous operating vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST In an apparatus for controlling an unmanned autonomous operating vehicle having an electric motor supplied with power from a battery for operating an operating machine, and magnetic sensors for detecting intensity of a magnetic field of an area wire and controlled to run about in an operating area defined by the area wire through wheels driven by the prime movers to perform an operation using the operating machine and to return to a charging device installed on the area wire so as to charge the battery, there is provided with a turn-back portion formed by bending the area wire at an appropriate position and again bending the area wire to return in a same direction with a predetermined space so as to divide the operating area into a plurality of parts and vehicle running is controlled to be prohibited from going across the turn-back portion. Full Article
or Electromotive drive device for construction machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST An electromotive drive device of an electric motor-driven mini-excavator, which is capable of lengthening its operating time, includes an electric power storage device, a motor-generator, a hydraulic pump, a plurality of directional control valves which respectively control the flow of pressurized fluid, and a plurality of operating devices which respectively operate the plurality of directional control valves. The electromotive drive device is provided with a bidirectional converter which decelerates the motor-generator to an idle revolution speed when X seconds have elapsed in a state in which the plurality of directional control valves are all not operated. The bidirectional converter performs regenerative control to convert an inertial force of a rotor of the motor-generator to power and charge the electric power storage device when it decelerates the motor-generator from a standard revolution speed to the idle revolution speed. Full Article
or Initiating tractor stop and bale wrap function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A combination tractor and baler is provided to automate tractor stopping and baler wrapping while incorporating operator interaction to improve the efficiency of the tractor and baler combination in operation. Automated control systems and manual operator devices are utilized to improve the timing of the tractor stop and baler wrapping time sequences. Various methods to improve efficiency, including methods to synchronize tractor stop with wrapping activation are provided. Full Article
or Fixed line head for flexible line rotary trimmers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A trimmer head for use with a plurality of lengths of flexible cutting line in a flexible line rotary trimmer having a plurality of line holders rotatably mounted thereon. Each line holder defines a pair of laterally spaced apertures in an upper surface thereof, a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, terminating in an extended end thereof and communicating with the laterally spaced apertures. An interior guide surface extends along a curvilinear path from the spaced apertures to the passageway and a web extends between the apertures whereby end portions of lengths of cutting line can be extended into and through the spaced openings, along the guide surfaces into and through the passageway and outwardly therefrom, whereupon lengths of line extend about and are held against the web with portions of the line projecting from the passageways in the line holders for the cutting of vegetation. Full Article
or Load control system and method for an agricultural harvester By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for controlling a load on an agricultural harvester (100) comprising a first sensor (124, 126, 128, 130) to sense a first load, a second sensor (132, 134, 136, 138) to sense a second load, an electronic control unit (200) coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, the electronic control unit (200) being configured to determine a difference between the first load and the second load, and to either (a) raise a harvesting head (102) or (b) stop the agricultural harvester (100), or (c) both, when the difference exceeds a threshold load. Full Article
or Automatic driveshaft coupler for auto header hookup By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104); a driveshaft (114) supported on the feederhouse (104), the driveshaft (114) having a first coupler (116) fixed to one end of the driveshaft (114), the first coupler (116) comprising a coupler body (420), a piston (416) disposed in the coupler body (420), and a first key (302) mechanically coupled to the piston (416) to be extended or retracted by the piston (416) to engage a mating coupler on a second driveshaft (120) of an agricultural harvesting head (106) that is supported on the feederhouse (104). Full Article
or Drive assembly for an agricultural harvesting platform By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A drive arrangement for driving a first sickle bar section (42) and a second sickle bar section (36) of a harvesting platform (20) comprises a first gearbox (54) and the second gearbox (74) having an output drivingly connected to a respective first end of a respective sickle bar section (36, 42). Drive trains connect the first gearbox (54) and the second gearbox (74) to an input drive shaft (24). At least one of the drive trains comprises a belt drive. A synchronization transmission (82) is coupled to the second ends of the sickle bar sections (36, 42) and couples them in opposite movement directions. Full Article
or Baler attachment for optionally changing the orientation of bales being released from a baler By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bale turning apparatus for attachment to a baler to generally align the cylindrical of the bales in each row as the bales are released from the baler. Using the disclosed invention, the bales are essentially turned ninety degrees from the orientation of bales from the position that they are typically released from a round baler. By accomplishing this general alignment of the cylindrical axis of each bale in each row, when baling corn stover or other row crops, the bale loading operation can later be done more efficiently by driving down the rows in the same direction as the combine and baler have traveled. Full Article
or Air intake configuration for an agricultural harvesting machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An agricultural work vehicle includes a vehicle body having longitudinally extending sides. An enclosed engine compartment is configured within the vehicle body. An air inlet is defined in side of the vehicle body for intake of air into the engine compartment. A grain bin forward of the engine compartment includes a grain bin extension skirt mounted above the grain bin. An intake housing is mounted over the air inlet in the vehicle body side and includes a forwardly extending portion mounted alongside the grain bin extension with an inlet opening oriented so as draw air primarily from an area forward of the engine compartment and above the vehicle body. Full Article
or Work vehicle with a mower unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A work vehicle includes wheels and a mower unit that are driven by power from an engine, and a mower driving detecting section for detecting power transmission condition to the mower unit. An isochronous controlling section controls the engine in an isochronous control mode for maintaining an engine rotational speed at a predetermined fixed value, independently of an engine load. A droop controlling section controls the engine in a droop control mode for varying the engine rotational speed in dependence on the engine load. If power is transmitted to the mower unit, the isochronous control mode is selected. Full Article
or Conditioning device for a forage harvester By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A conditioning device for a forage harvester is equipped with a first roller, profiled in the axial direction, and a second roller, also profiled in the axial direction. The two rollers are rotated, around their axes, in opposite directions and are aligned parallel to one another. An element, profiled, in the axial direction, in a manner complementary to the profile of the first roller and adjacent to the circumference of the first roller, for the removal of crop residues from the roller, extends in a circular arc over a part of the circumference of the first roller. Full Article
or Dual-pivoted quick bale ejector for round baler By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a baler ejection system that may be used with an agricultural harvester, such as a round baler, waste baler, combine, or cotton harvester. More particularly, the bale ejection system uses the motion of two pairs of parallel arms that extend transversely from the sidewalls of a bale chamber at two sets of distinct pivot points. When activated by the operator of the bale ejection system, the two pairs of parallel arms raise simultaneously to expose an outlet through which the bale may be ejected. The bale ejection system is designed to allow a larger outlet for the bale evacuation as compared to existing bale ejection systems that employ circular motion to expose the bale outlet. A formed bale may become ejected by one or more conveyer belts that exert a rearward force on the bale within the bale chamber. Full Article
or Biomass storage system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for forming a water storage material from a biomass input material using supercritical or subcritical fluid processing, the water storage material capable of absorbing a liquid and releasing the liquid. The apparatus utilizes supercritical fluid processing, subcritical fluid processing, charring, or a combination thereof. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control the apparatus. The apparatus further including a processing station configured to hold the biomass input material, and to use the biomass input material for processing into the water storage material. Full Article
or Shield apparatus for agricultural implement header By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shield apparatus is mounted on the header of an agricultural implement which includes a rotatable collecting member to direct collected material rearwardly towards a rear discharge opening. The shield apparatus includes a panel member and a mounting bracket assembly which supports the panel member above the rear discharge opening of the header spanning in a lateral direction transversely to the forward working direction such that the panel member extends from a rear edge rearward of the collecting member to a front edge which is spaced forward and upwardly in relation to the rear edge. The shield apparatus ensures that material thrown upwardly above the rear of the header frame is redirected downwardly into the rear discharge opening of the header for collection by the implement in the usual manner. The shield apparatus does not interfere with the visibility of the operator when the panel member is clear. Full Article
or Pneumatic fruit decelerator body By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A decelerator apparatus for mounting at the end of a pneumatic or gravity-fed fruit harvesting or delivery tube. The decelerator comprises a housing with a moving decelerator body aligned with a fruit-receiving inlet connected to the delivery tube. The decelerator body, for example a padded rotating wheel, moves at a speed slower than the speed at which the fruit is delivered into the housing, includes multiple depressions or indentations for receiving and separating fruit, and further defines a compressive deceleration path that moves the fruit in a compressive but protective fit toward a housing exit, releasing the fruit after the fruit has been decelerated to the speed of the moving body. Full Article
or Suspension system for wheel rakes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A suspension system for forage rakes having at least one floating forage rake wheel has a hydraulic cylinder is used for both lift and suspension of the floating forage rake wheel. A hydraulic accumulator provides expansion room for hydraulic fluid to move in and out of the hydraulic cylinder during suspension. Full Article
or Machine with ground working elements providing improved stability By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A grass cutting machine with two cutting units mounted on opposite sides of the chassis has an inclinometer monitoring the left/right inclination of the chassis. If the inclination value exceeds a defined threshold, the higher of the two cutting units is lifted to improve stability. Full Article
or Agricultural working machine having at least one control unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An agricultural working machine has a one control/regulating unit designed to adjust and monitor working parameters, quality parameters or both of the agricultural working machine that influence a harvesting process. The adjusting and monitoring are carried out in an automatable manner by the control/regulating unit using stored families of characteristics. The agricultural working machine also has at least one display device for depicting setpoint values and actual values of the working parameters, quality parameters or both. The control/regulating unit actuates defined measurement points in the stored families of characteristics and the specifically actuated measurement points are located in the boundary regions of the family of characteristics or outside the active working region of the particular family of characteristics. Full Article
or Mower cutting deck having a height of cut adjustment system with deck suspension linkages that each have an easily acessible threaded adjuster for deck truing or rake angle setting purposes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mower carrying a rotary cutting deck has a height of cut system for adjusting the vertical position of the deck relative to the mower frame for changing or adjusting the height of cut. The height of cut system comprises a pair of parallel cross shafts that carry a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages that connect to the deck, the cross shafts and linkages pivoting jointly with one another and with a pivotal control lever. One of the cross shafts carries a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the deck. The control lever is maintained in a plurality of adjusted pivotal positions by a height selection bracket fixed to the frame with the height selection bracket being capable of having its position changed or adjusted relative to the frame by a single adjustment bolt. Each suspension linkage has its effective length adjusted by turning a threaded adjuster carried at the upper end of a connecting rod that is part of each linkage to allow the deck to be leveled relative to a reference plane. The adjustment of the height selection bracket is accomplished without affecting the length adjustments previously made to any of the suspension linkages. Full Article
or Harvesting machine for erecting and threshing and collecting crop materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A harvesting machine for threshing crop materials includes a platform supported in front of a chassis, an erecting device having a number pairs of guiding bars attached to the platform and having a channel formed between two bar members of each pair of guiding bars, a guiding element disposed between every two adjacent pairs of guiding bars for guiding a stalk of the crop materials into the channel of the guiding bars, a number of pawls extended into the channel for sending the stalk of the crop materials into the channel, and a cutting device having two or more cutting elements for cutting the stalk into a lower base segment that carries no grain and an upper straw segment that carries grains. Full Article
or Method and apparatus for measuring reflective intensity of display surface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a method for measuring reflective intensity of display surface, including: obtaining a luminance value of a first display and a luminance value of a second display when displaying, the first display and the second display having the same observed luminance, the peripheral of the surface of the first display being surrounded by light-shielding object, the first display and the second display being placed side by side; and obtaining the reflective intensity of the display surface in the ambient based on the luminance value of the first display and the luminance values of the second display when displaying. As such, the present invention provides convenient and accurate means to measure the reflective intensity of display surface. Full Article
or Rake positioned between a flail rotor and an auger By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A flail rotor head attachment for use with any type harvesting machine having crop residue processing elements and including an input opening for receiving crop residue. The attachment includes a frame structure for operatively coupling the attachment to the harvesting machine, a flail rotor and an auger each mounted on the frame structure and a drive mechanism for rotating the flail rotor and the auger. The flail rotor includes a plurality of cutting elements for picking up and chopping crop residue from a field. The auger includes at least two flightings positioned in opposite directions for funneling crop residue towards the opening of the harvesting machine. Another embodiment includes a rake positioned between the flail rotor and the auger, the rake and the flail rotor rotating in the same direction and the auger rotating in an opposite direction. Full Article
or Mower for mowing around fence and railing posts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mower assembly is provided for cutting around a post. A support structure supports the mower assembly in cantilever fashion. The mower assembly includes a plurality of mower units with each mower unit having a rotary blade. Two or more mower units cooperate to engage and cut around a post and, during the process, the entire mower assembly rotates about an axis enabling the mower units to encircle and efficiently cut grass and other vegetation about the post. Full Article
or Combine harvester and associated method for gathering grain By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A combine harvester is provided that separates grain material from material other than grain using multiple processing areas, including a harvesting area, a feederhouse area, a threshing area, a cleaning area, and a grain delivery area. In a location at or prior to entering one of the processing areas, the material may be collected and held until a collection threshold is reached. Once it is determined that the collection threshold is reached, the material forming a first group of material may be transported from the location to the processing area or a subsequent processing area. The first group of material is transported from the location to the processing area or the subsequent processing area substantially simultaneously and thus simulates the gathering of a large amount of crop material even when small plots are involved. In this way, reduced cycle times may be achieved, and the efficiency benefits of large-plot harvesting may be extended to small-plot applications. Full Article
or Harvester for leafy vegetables By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A harvester having one or more cutting blades for cutting leafy vegetables with a rotating brush for sweeping harvested leaves into a basket or enclosure. The blades are driven by an oscillatory drive mechanism. The brush may have limp bristles. The harvester may be hand-carried and operated by a motor, which drives both the brush and the cutting blades. Full Article
or Height of cut system for lawn mower By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A deck lifting and height of cut assembly for a lawn mower, in which the deck lifting assembly includes at least one movable component and the height of cut assembly includes a height adjustment mechanism having a plurality of stop surfaces. A prop extends between the movable component of the deck lifting assembly and a first stop surface of the height adjustment mechanism to prevent the cutting deck assembly from lowering below a first height. The height adjustment mechanism is adjustable to place a second stop surface in engagement with the prop so that the cutting deck assembly is prevented from lowering below a second height different from the first height. The prop may also be used to maintain the cutting deck assembly in the full-up position during travel of the lawn mower between work areas. Full Article
or Cutter guard for a lawn mower By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cutter guard for a rotating blade of a lawn mower, particularly for a robotic, self-guided or autonomous lawn mower forms a cutting bowl in which the blade is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis. The guard comprises a generally planar guard section surrounded by an arcuate section, transverse edges of which define an opening in the cutter guard, which in operation is pointed to the front of the lawn mower, to allow uncut grass to be accessed by the cutting blades. The arcuate section comprises a plurality of apertures. Full Article
or Reel lawn mower with main body, reel cutting unit, and connection structure for connecting reel cutting unit to main body such that reel cutting unit is rollable By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A reel lawn mower which has a connection structure for connecting a reel cutting unit to a main body. The reel cutting unit has a spiral cutting reel which is rotated by a prime mover to cut grass together with a bedknife. In the connection structure, in order to connect the reel cutting unit to the main body so that the reel cutting unit rolls around a virtual horizontal line perpendicular to the shaft center of the cutting reel in the center of the axial direction of the cutting reel, the reel cutting unit includes a connecting arm with an arc portion shaped so as to follow a virtual arc centered on the virtual horizontal line. The connecting arm is slidably supported so as to prevent the arc portion from coming off the virtual arc. Full Article
or Nut tree pickup and debris separator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A nut tree pickup and debris separator comprising three separate but serially interconnected stages, each including optimized structural and functional features for nut harvesting. The first stage includes a rotary pickup brush and an endless conveyor. The conveyor is constructed from a plurality of parallel bars with flights therebetween, the rods being arranged in spaced relation to retain nuts and pass debris. The second stage comprises an inclined rotating drum whose sidewall includes a plurality of elongated apertures passing therethrough, sized to retain nuts and pass debris. An inner side of the sidewall has a helical flight, sized, configured, and arranged to convey and tumble nuts and debris through the drum, with debris falling through the apertures. The third stage includes vertically offset, tandem conveyors and a cleaning fan to remove any remaining debris from the nuts as the stream falls from the end of one conveyor onto the other. Full Article
or Folding divider assembly for corn header and method of operation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A corn header has a row unit frame and an auger sweeping ears of corn toward a center of the corn header. A corn row divider assembly has a snout and gatherer hood hingeably coupled to, and aft of, the snout. An aft end of the gatherer hood is located beneath and to the rear of the fore end of the auger in an operational configuration of the divider assembly. The divider assembly further has a four-point hinge assembly coupling the aft end of the gatherer hood to the row unit frame. The four-point hinge assembly is configured to pivot the gatherer hood between the operational configuration and a non-operational configuration in which the gatherer hood is in a raised condition. The four-point hinge assembly moves the aft end of the gatherer hood forward so that the gatherer hood clears the auger when pivoting to the non-operational configuration. Full Article
or Windguard mechanism of a pick-up for an agricultural machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A windguard mechanism comprising a pair of arms attachable to an agricultural machine and a windguard plate extending between the pair of arms and positioned to hold down crop material processed by a pickup mechanism. The windguard plate comprises a first plate fixed between the pair of arms and a second plate positioned movably with respect to the first plate, wherein working surfaces of the first plate and of the second plate form a windguard working surface of an area independent on the position of the second plate. Full Article
or Drive mechanism for a windrow merger By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A windrow merger includes at least one pickup head member and an internal drive assembly disposed within a longitudinal aperture defined internal to the at least one pickup head member, the drive assembly being for imparting a rotational motion to a plurality of tines by means of a drive shaft operably coupled thereto, the drive shaft extending in opposed directions from the drive assembly. A method of forming the windrow merger is further included. Full Article
or Rotary implement having hard metallic layer and method therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotary implement includes a metallic body that is rotatable around an axis. The metallic body includes a tapered leading edge having an interface surface and an opposite, free surface. The metallic body has a first composition. A metallic layer has a first side surface that is attached to the interface surface and a free, second side surface opposite from the first side surface. The metallic layer has a second, different composition from the first composition. A rotary machine can include an actuator and the rotary implement operably coupled to the actuator. A method for making a rotary implement includes providing the metallic body that has the tapered leading edge having the interface surface and the opposite, free surface. The metallic layer is then attached to the interface surface of the metallic body. Full Article
or Structure for Die Probing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A package includes a device die, which includes a metal pillar at a top surface of the device die, and a solder region on a sidewall of the metal pillar. A molding material encircles the device die, wherein a top surface of the molding material is substantially level with a top surface of the device die. A dielectric layer overlaps the molding material and the device die, with a bottom surface of the dielectric layer contacting a top surface of the device die and a top surface of the molding material. A redistribution line (RDL) extends into the dielectric layer to electrically couple to the metal pillar. Full Article
or Semiconductor Device and Method of Forming Ultra High Density Embedded Semiconductor Die Package By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device has a plurality of semiconductor die. A first prefabricated insulating film is disposed over the semiconductor die. A conductive layer is formed over the first prefabricated insulating film. An interconnect structure is formed over the semiconductor die and first prefabricated insulating film. The first prefabricated insulating film is laminated over the semiconductor die. The first prefabricated insulating film includes glass cloth, glass fiber, or glass fillers. The semiconductor die is embedded within the first prefabricated insulating film with the first prefabricated insulating film covering first and side surfaces of the semiconductor die. The interconnect structure is formed over a second surface of the semiconductor die opposite the first surface. A portion of the first prefabricated insulating film is removed after disposing the first prefabricated insulating film over the semiconductor die. A second prefabricated insulating film is disposed over the first prefabricated insulating film. Full Article
or METHOD OF MARKING A SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of making a semiconductor device can include providing a wafer comprising a plurality of semiconductor die, wherein each semiconductor die comprises an active surface and a backside opposite the active surface. A photosensitive layer can be formed over the wafer and on a backside of each of the plurality of semiconductor die within the wafer with a coating machine. An identifying mark can be formed within the photosensitive layer for each of the plurality of semiconductor die with a digital exposure machine and a developer, wherein a thickness of the identifying mark is less than or equal to 50 percent of a thickness of the photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer can be cured. The wafer can be singulated into a plurality of semiconductor devices. Full Article