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US 12,690,514 B2Granted
Automatic feed system for a trimmer
AssigneeFireFly Automatix, Inc.
InventorsWilliam M. Decker, Eric E. Aston, Mark C. LeBlanc, Daniel A. Aposhian, Steven R. Aposhian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic feed system for a trimmer is provided. Such trimmers include a line that can be spun at high speeds to cut vegetation along roadsides or other areas. The automatic feed system is configured to dynamically detect the current length of the line and automatically feed the line to maintain a maximum or desired length for cutting. This length may typically correspond with the radius of a trimmer deck in which the line spins.
Claims20
A trimmer having an automatic feed system comprising:
- a line that is configured to be spun to cut vegetation, the line also being configured to be fed to extend a length of the line;
- a drive motor that causes the line to be spun;
- one or more line securing members through which the line is fed;
- a feed motor that controls the one or more line securing members including to apply a holding force to the one or more line securing members to prevent the line from being fed;
- and
- a control system that is configured to monitor the holding force applied by the feed motor while the line is spun by the drive motor and to determine, from the holding force, when the line is less than a maximum or desired length, including by using a current holding force and a known holding force associated with a known length of the line, wherein the control system is also configured to automatically feed the line based on the holding force to reach the maximum or desired length, wherein the current holding force is a force applied by or through the feed motor to cause the one or more line securing members to prevent the line from being fed while the line is spun, and wherein the known holding force is associated with the line having the maximum or desired length.
3 more elements
A trimmer having an automatic feed system comprising:
- a line that is configured to be spun to cut vegetation, the line also being configured to be fed to extend a length of the line;
- a drive motor that causes the line to be spun;
- one or more line securing members through which the line is fed;
- a feed motor that controls the one or more line securing members including to apply a holding force to the one or more line securing members to prevent the line from being fed;
- and
- a control system that is configured to automatically feed the line by:
- monitoring a current holding force applied by the feed motor to prevent the line from being fed while the line is spun and has an unknown length;
- obtaining a known holding force associated with preventing a line from being fed while the line is spun and has a known length;
- calculating, from the current holding force and the known holding force, a current length of the line;
- and
- automatically feeding the line to cause the line to have a maximum or desired length;
- wherein the current holding force is a force required by the feed motor to cause the one or more line securing members to prevent the line from being fed while the line is spun and has the unknown length, and wherein the known holding force represents a force required by a feed motor to cause one or more line securing members to prevent a line from being fed while the line is spun and has the known length, the known length being the maximum or desired length.
9 more elements
An automatic feed system for a trimmer comprising:
- a line feed unit that is secured to a deck, the line feed unit containing a line and being configured to rotate relative to the deck to cause the line to spin within the deck;
- a drive motor that is configured to cause the line feed unit to rotate;
- one or more line securing members through which the line passes;
- a feed motor that is configured to control the one or more line securing members including to apply a holding force to the one or more line securing members to prevent the line from being fed;
- a control system that is configured to monitor the drive motor and the holding force applied by the feed motor to determine a current length of the line based on a current holding force and a known holding force associated with a known length of the line, wherein the control system is also configured to automatically feed the line when the current length of the line is determined to be less than a maximum or desired length, wherein the current holding force is a force applied by or through the feed motor to cause the one or more line securing members to prevent the line from being fed while the line is spun, and wherein the known holding force is associated with the line having the maximum or desired length.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.