United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

Ted Stanley Kornecki

Corey M Kichler

Henry Allen Torbert, Iii

Stephen A Prior

Randy L Raper

The active coulter system includes a pivotable support structure that vertically adjusts the position of an active coulter component to compensate for changes in the contour of a target field. In the preferred embodiment, a proximity sensor and an associated controller are in electronic communication with a linear actuator assembly. Based on data from the proximity sensor, the controller sends electronic instructions to the linear actuator assembly to automatically move the active coulter component vertically. The system also optionally includes a torque/speed sensor that can operate independently to control the torque and/or power supplied to the active coulter component, or the sensor can interface with the controller and anticipate changes in power needs and increase/decrease power before the operation of the active coulter component is affected.

Modular device for cutting cover crop residue

The transplanter is designed to harness power from a walk-behind tractor to help small farmers transplant (among other things) seedling vegetables. As a farmer guides the walk-behind tractor, a movable feeder tube assembly comprising a plurality of feeder tubes moves latterly back and forth. When a feeder tube aligns with a pivotable transfer tube, a seedling in the feeder tube is deposited in the transfer tube so that the seedling descends down the transfer tube into a furrow for planting. The transfer tube then pivots so that a kicker panel on the bottom of the transfer tube pushes the seedling rearwardly and thereby helps to enable the seedling to remain vertical.

Transplanter for a walk-behind tractor

The residue manager deflects cover crop stalks and flattens cover crop residue during a no-till or minimum-till agricultural planting process. The residue manager apparatus comprises an 'A' shaped frame. A leading portion of the frame is designed to deflect cover crop stalks. Press shoes attached to an intermediate portion of the frame depress cover crop residue that is not deflected by the leading portion. The trailing portion of the residue manager frame is configured to attach to existing planting mechanisms, such as seed drills. As the residue manager is propelled across a field of cover crops, the residue manager deflects cover crop stalks and depresses cover crop residue adjacent to the planting mechanism so that the planting process is not obstructed by the cover crop biomass on the surface of the field.

Cover crop residue manager

The powered rolling and crimping device is used to terminate cover crops in a minimum tillage soil conservation system. The device includes a powered crimping mechanism in combination with a crop roller. Power is transferred from a tractor power takeoff to a plurality of cam mechanisms via mechanical gearbox. The cam mechanisms raise and lower a crimping bar. As an operator directs a walk-behind tractor across a field of cover crops, a crop roller first flattens the crops and the powered crimping bar crimps the crops, thereby terminating the cover crops without severing the crop stalks disturbing the soil.

Powered rolling and crimping device for crop termination

The multi-stage crop termination system includes a main frame assembly connected to first and second roller frames. A first roller is installed in the first roller frame and a second roller is installed in the second roller frame. A compression frame extends between the main frame and the second roller frame so that a downwardly compression force is applied to the second roller. In the preferred embodiment, the first roller is a smooth drum and the second roller is a central cylindrical drum with a plurality of crimping bars extending outwardly from the drum. In operation, crops are flattened by the first roller and then crimped by the second roller. A pivot joint between the first roller frame and the second roller frame ensures that the second roller is able to maintain contact with the ground as the system traverses uneven terrain.

Multistage crop roller

A cover crop termination system includes a smooth drum and a crimping arm assembly operatively connected to the drum through a cam mechanism including a cam follower. The crimping arm assembly includes a plurality of crimping assemblies having crimping bars which crimp the cover crop after it has been rolled in order to prevent resprouting of the crop.

Roller system for cover crop termination

The rotary crimper for elevated crop beds is designed to crimp and mulch a field of crops with an elevated bed-type structure. The rotary crimper has a tubular inner roller and a plurality of crimping members extending from the inner roller. The crimping members have at least two projecting portions and at least one non-projecting portion. Structural support braces are disposed between the crimping members and crimping plates extend from the support braces. Additional crimping structures also extend the length of the inner tubular roller between the crimping members. In operation, the non-projecting portions of the crimping members and the crimping structures crimp the crops on the elevated portion of the beds, and the crimping member projecting portions and the crimping plates crimp the crops in the furrows between the elevated beds.

Growing community of inventors

Auburn, AL, United States of America

Ted Stanley Kornecki