US 11,950,537 B2
Automated roll conditioner adjustment system for an agricultural harvesting machine
Benjamin Steidinger, Germansville, PA (US); Jeffrey B. Fay, II, Oxford, PA (US); Kevin M. Smith, Narvon, PA (US); and Jeffrey Laux, Lancaster, PA (US)
Assigned to CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed by CNH Industrial America LLC, New Holland, PA (US)
Filed on May 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/324,810.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/027,015, filed on May 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0360857 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A01D 82/02 (2006.01); A01D 43/10 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 82/02 (2013.01) [A01D 43/102 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crop conditioning device for an agricultural harvesting machine, comprising:
a frame;
a first conditioning roll connected to the frame;
a second conditioning roll connected to the frame such that the second conditioning roll is movable relative to the first conditioning roll, the second conditioning roll being located at a distance away from the first conditioning roll for defining a roll gap in between the first conditioning roll and the second conditioning roll, the first conditioning roll and the second conditioning roll being configured for conditioning a crop material;
a tension mechanism connected to the second conditioning roll, the tension mechanism comprising a first tension arm coupled to a first side of the second conditioning roll, a second tension arm coupled to a second side of the second conditioning roll, a tension member extending between the first tension arm and the second tension arm, and a tension actuator operably connected to the tension member, the tension member being configured for applying a tension force on the second conditioning roll via the first and second tension arms, and the tension actuator being configured for adjusting the tension force applied by the tension member;
a roll-gap mechanism connected to the second conditioning roll, the roll-gap mechanism being configured for moving the second conditioning roll to adjust the roll gap; and
a controller operably connected to at least one of the tension mechanism and the roll-gap mechanism, the controller being configured for automatically setting at least one of an initial tension force and an initial roll gap dependent upon at least one of a type of crop material and at least one operational setting.