The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 2014
Filed:
Jan. 28, 2014
Altria Client Services Inc., Richmond, VA (US);
C. Regan Scott, Midlothian, VA (US);
Curtis M. Hinton, Glen Allen, VA (US);
Tyrone M. Murray, Midlothian, VA (US);
Martin Heidorn, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Altria Client Services Inc., Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for harvesting agricultural row crops having stalks. The apparatus includes an inclined arm comprising a first section, the first section including: a stalk inlet arranged to receive stalks of row crops; and a cutter arranged to cut stalks received by the stalk inlet; the inclined arm further comprising: a biasing guide assembly disposed along the inclined arm, the biasing guide assembly comprising a plurality of individual biasing members; and a conveyor arranged to engage each received stalk and move each engaged stalk along the biasing guide assembly; the conveyor and the biasing guide assembly mutually arranged such that the biasing guide assembly is operative to apply an accommodating clamping force upon each engaged stalk sufficient to keep each engaged stalk substantially upright as it is conveyed along at least a portion of the arm; the accommodating clamping force accommodating possible differences in stalk diameters from one stalk to another, the plurality of individual biasing members arranged to maintain a substantially constant compressive force on each engaged stalk.