Robert E Holmes

US Patent:

45152918, May 7, 1985

Filed:

Sep 29, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/428097

Inventors:

Robert G. Holmes - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center - Wooster OH

International Classification:

A01C 500
B65G 5904

US Classification:

221211

Abstract:

A seed planter comprises a seed transport member, usually in the form of a disc, having a number of depressions provided with ramp surfaces sloping downwardly from the surface of the seed transport member into the depression. Air is fed into the deepest portion of the depression and a single seed is trapped in this portion by the low pressure region which forms between the seed and the walls of the depression. Ejection of the seed from the depression is accomplished by increasing the pressure in this low pressure region. The planter is capable of metering spherical seeds very accurately at metering rates of about 40 seeds per second and can be made of small width so that a single row of planters on a planter assembly can plant closely spaced rows. The planter can also be used for sorting seed, for example by distinguishing spherical seeds from flat seeds. A planter assembly capable of planting multiple rows of seeds is provided by mounting a plurality of the seed planters on a frame.

US Patent:

41767500, Dec 4, 1979

Filed:

Sep 6, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/940075

Inventors:

Robert G. Holmes - Columbus OH

Assignee:

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center - Wooster OH

International Classification:

B07C 100
A01D 3302

US Classification:

209699

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for sorting objects exhibiting identifiable dynamic response to vibrational phenomena, such objects including potatoes, onions, tomatoes and other comestibles. The system utilizes an elongate sorting zone incorporating a surface which oscillates at a predetermined frequency and amplitude which varies from a minimum at the input of the zone to a maximum value at the output thereof. The objects to be sorted move along the zone supported from two positions for a coding interval promoting their dynamic reaction with the oscillatory surface. Objects with higher resilience characteristic are rejected from the zone, while those exhibiting a lesser resilence are transported therethrough. The oscillatory surface is dynamically balanced and readily mounted upon field harvesting devices. By adjustment of frequency of the sorting zone oscillatory surfaces, a multi-stage sorting system is made available.

US Patent:

RE311693, Mar 8, 1983

Filed:

Jun 5, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/156600

Inventors:

Robert G. Holmes - Columbus OH

Assignee:

Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center - Wooster OH

International Classification:

B07C 100

US Classification:

209699

Abstract:

Method, apparatus and system for sorting objects exhibiting identifiable dynamic response to vibrational phenomena, such objects including tomatoes and other comestibles. The system utilizes an elongate sorting zone incorporating a surface which oscillates at a predetermined frequency and amplitude which varies from a minimum at the input of the zone to a maximum value at the output thereof. Conveyor belts transport the objects to be sorted along the zone for a coding interval promoting their dynamic reaction with the oscillatory surface. Objects with higher resilience characteristic are rejected from the zone, while those exhibiting a lesser resilience are transported therethrough. The oscillatory surface is dynamically balanced and readily mounted upon field harvesting devices. By adjustment of frequency of the sorting zone oscillatory surfaces, a multistage sorting system is made available.

US Patent:

56569033, Aug 12, 1997

Filed:

Feb 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/599866

Inventors:

Fang Shui - Columbus OH
Robert G. Holmes - Hilliard OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University Research Foundation - Columbus OH

International Classification:

B25J 300
H02K 2906
G05B 1942

US Classification:

3185681

Abstract:

Both a pneumatic, linear actuator operating as a slave actuator and a master linear actuator formed by an electric motor driven screw mechanism are linked to drive a load. The high accuracy master linear actuator has a conventional control system which dominates the control of load position or other control variable. A force sensor detects the force applied to the load by the master actuator or the force is calculated by a computer and the sensed force signal is applied to a slave actuator control to cause the slave to apply a supplemental force, typically considerably greater than the master actuator force, to the load as a function of the master actuator force. This obtains the high accuracy characteristic of the master actuator system simultaneously with the high force characteristic of the slave actuator.

US Patent:

41163397, Sep 26, 1978

Filed:

Mar 17, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/778794

Inventors:

Robert G. Holmes - Columbus OH

Assignee:

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center - Wooster OH

International Classification:

B07C 100

US Classification:

209699

Abstract:

Method, apparatus and system for sorting objects exhibiting identifiable dynamic response to vibrational phenomena, such objects including tomatoes and other comestibles. The system utilizes an elongate sorting zone incorporating a surface which oscillates at a predetermined frequency and amplitude which varies from a minimum at the input of the zone to a maximum value at the output thereof. Conveyor belts transport the objects to be sorted along the zone for a coding interval promoting their dynamic reaction with the oscillatory surface. Objects with higher resilience characteristic are rejected from the zone, while those exhibiting a lesser resilience are transported therethrough. The oscillatory surface is dynamically balanced and readily mounted upon field harvesting devices. By adjustment of frequency of the sorting zone oscillatory surfaces, a multi-stage sorting system is made available.

US Patent:

49366785, Jun 26, 1990

Filed:

Mar 21, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/170788

Inventors:

Gregory P. Gordon - Wooster OH
Robert G. Holmes - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G01B 1100

US Classification:

356375

Abstract:

An apparatus for detecting the relative position of a remote object, such as a vehicle, upon a construction or agricultural site in cartesian, polar or other coordinates. A laser light beam is scanned in a circular path from a selected reference point at the site through a generally horizontal plane above the site. A pair of photo detectors which are spaced a selected distance are mounted to the remote object in the plane of the scanning beam. The beam is scanned at a constant velocity and the time of its alignment along a reference radial, and its interception with each of the two spaced photo detectors is detected and used to compute the position of the remote object.

US Patent:

52729494, Dec 28, 1993

Filed:

Sep 23, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/949589

Inventors:

Robert Holmes - Hilliard OH

Assignee:

Buckeye Bluegrass Farms, Inc. - Ostrander OH

International Classification:

A01B 4504

US Classification:

83870

Abstract:

A device which cuts sods that are grown over plastic sheeting without cutting or damaging the plastic sheeting which is then retained in place to be used again for subsequent crops. The cutter performs four functions: (1) it inserts a vibrating lifting plate between the plastic and the sod and separates and lifts the sod off the plastic; (2) it conveys the sod to the cutting mechanism; (3) it cleanly cuts the sod; and (4) it leaves the plastic undamaged. After cutting, the sod can be harvested by a roller attached behind the cutting mechanism so that the cutting and rolling are done in one operation or the rolling can be done separately at a later time. The mechanism can be arranged in multiples on a toolbar; and the cutter can be attached to conventional sod harvesting equipment with only slight modification.

US Patent:

45330662, Aug 6, 1985

Filed:

Sep 29, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/434267

Inventors:

Robert G. Holmes - Columbus OH
Scott A. Shearer - Columbus OH

Assignee:

Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center - Wooster OH

International Classification:

B65G 1502
B65H 308

US Classification:

221211

Abstract:

A seed planter comprises a seed transport member having a porous surface and an air jet directed normally to this surface. The porous surface is moved past a plurality of seeds, whereupon the air jet retains a single seed on the porous surface, and the seed transport member carries this retained seed to a seed unloading station, where the impingement of the air jet upon the surface is interrupted, thus allowing the retained seed to fall from the porous surface. The planter is capable of metering both flat and spherical seeds very accurately at metering rates of about 40 seeds per second and can be made of small width so that a single row of planters on a planter assembly can plant closely spaced rows. A planter assembly capable of planting multiple rows of seeds is provided by mounting a plurality of the seed planters on a frame.