Patents Assigned to Jervis B. Webb Company
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Patent number: 5916285Abstract: This invention relates to a swivel caster fitted with rotational and swivel angle measurement sensors mounted to a driverless vehicle so that the lateral motion of the vehicle can be detected and accounted for by the vehicle's navigation and guidance system. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a driverless vehicle comprising a navigation and guidance system having an angular motion sensor and a track wheel caster assembly equipped with a caster pivot sensor and a wheel rotation sensor to determine the relative position of the vehicle by taking into account substantially all movement of the vehicle along the surface upon which the vehicle is travelling. These sensors enable the navigation system to more accurately determine the vehicles current position and enable the guidance system to better guide the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1996Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Cornell W. Alofs, Ronald R. Drenth
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Patent number: 5909798Abstract: A system for rapidly receiving and storing a quantity of loose copy, for example newspapers, from a high speed printing press and dispensing them to the point-of-use without having to undergo the traditional operation of bundling the newspapers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a newspaper delivery system comprising a conveyor system for receiving a continuous stream of loose, unbound, newspapers directly from a high speed printing operation, an over-the-road vehicle having a cargo area equipped with a loose copy storage unit for receiving the loose newspapers supplied by the conveyor system and storing the newspapers during transport; and means for dispensing a selected quantity of newspapers once the truck arrives at a delivery destination.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1997Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Robert L. Shaver, Alfred J. Kafka, Matthew C. Carey
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Patent number: 5825481Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus and a method for optically detecting and determining the angular position of a target. The apparatus comprises a pair of optic sensors arranged so that at least a portion of their sensing areas overlap. Their overlapping areas define the total sensing, or active sensing, area for the apparatus. Each of the optic sensors in the apparatus senses light, or other optically sensible transmission, either projected or reflected from a target positioned within the total sensing area and produces a signal relative to the amount of light sensed. The signals are then interpreted to determine the angular position of the target based on the relative signals from the optic sensors. The method of the present invention determines the angular position of a target within an area, defined by the overlapping sensing areas of a pair of optic sensors, by interpreting the relative signal intensities from the pair of optic sensors.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Cornell W. Alofs, Ronald R. Drenth
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Patent number: 5785483Abstract: The present invention is a bulk storage facility having a reclaim system for providing a continuous controlled feed of difficult to handle cohesive materials characterized by their tendency to pack together to form relatively self-sustaining walls which are substantially resistant to avalanching. The system comprises a reclaimer that passes over the top surface of a mound of material collecting an infinitely variable depth of material and conveying the material outwardly to a collection conveyor located at the periphery of the mound's base.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1996Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventor: Theodore Perry Smyre
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Patent number: 5620084Abstract: A chain propelled belt conveyor having a centrally mounted single strand of roller chain. The roller chain drives the belt and supports the belt along the upper load carrying run of the belt. Pairs of conveyor trolleys support the central portion of the belt about the return non-load carrying run of the belt. A track having a horizontal rail extending between a pair of opposed C-shaped channel sections is used to guide the roller chain assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1995Date of Patent: April 15, 1997Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventor: William A. Mensch
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Patent number: 5598784Abstract: An improved conveyor track system is provided wherein the track segments are provided with longitudinal channels of T-shaped cross-section which are offset from the centerline of the track and which accept rectangular splice bars that are used to secure the track segments together. The system is provided with a series of yokes which are connected to the track segments by means of bolts and rectangular connectors disposed in the longitudinal channels of the track segments, and whose position on the track segments is adjustable in both a horizontal and vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1994Date of Patent: February 4, 1997Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Robert Kubsik, Robert Goryca, James P. Johnson, Eric T. Nemeth
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Patent number: 5575375Abstract: A system for the storage of early baggage includes a storage conveyor with multiple tray carriers for receiving early bags from the baggage handling system, for example, of an airport and for discharging early bags onto the baggage handling system. The storage conveyor is arranged in a serpentine fashion for efficient use of horizontal space and includes evenly spaced entry and discharge stations. The system can deliver bags to the baggage handling system in a selected period of time to account for changes in flight departure times or changes in a passenger's travel plans.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1995Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Donald Sandusky, Ronald K. Taylor, Donald L. Anderson
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Patent number: 5562041Abstract: The present invention provides a carrier stopping device for a conveyor having a disengageable propelling member, such as a power and free conveyor. The stopping device preferably utilizes a linear induction motor to activate a stop plate of the stopping device. The stop plate is locked in an extended position and a retracted position by a locking pin which reacts to the electromagnetic force of the linear induction motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1994Date of Patent: October 8, 1996Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventor: Daniel S. Ellens
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Patent number: 5544733Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor that ensures the orientation of an item in a prone position when the item is fed onto a main conveyor. By ensuring the orientation of an item in a prone position, the invention can be used to transport luggage or equipment, such as wheeled luggage or golf bags, to an end distribution area. The conveyor provides for an in-feed section, an intermediate section and a discharge section of a conveyor. The in-feed and discharge sections both run parallel to the main support frame of the conveyor and provide a flat area to receive and discharge the material to be transported. The intermediate section extends between the receiving and delivery section and discharge section of the conveyor and has a V-shaped contour so as to tip the item being transported into a prone position.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1994Date of Patent: August 13, 1996Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventor: Robert Shaver
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Patent number: 5467084Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of a mobile vehicle relative to a fixed location marker device which comprises a coil energized to emit a magnetic field composed of lines of magnetic flux extending radially and arcuately from the ends of the coil's longitudinal axis. A sensor unit mounted on the mobile vehicle comprises four identical sensing coils each responsive to the frequency of the magnetic field of the marker device and each having a major axis. These sensor coils are supported in two pairs with the major axes of the sensor coils of each pair disposed on either side of a common central plane and extending parallel thereto, this common central plane extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the marker device coil. Each pair of sensor coils is arranged in an X pattern in which their major axes cross each other medially and perpendicularly to define a center for the coil pair.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1994Date of Patent: November 14, 1995Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Cornell W. Alofs, Ronald R. Drenth
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Patent number: 5413205Abstract: A system for the storage of early baggage includes a storage conveyor for receiving early bags from the baggage handling system, for example, of an airport and for discharging the early bags onto said baggage handling system. The storage conveyor is arranged in a serpentine fashion for efficient use of horizontal space and includes evenly spaced entry and discharge stations. The system can deliver bags to the baggage handling system in a selected period of time to account for changes in flight departure times or changes in a passenger's travel plans.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1993Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Ronald K. Taylor, Donald L. Anderson
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Patent number: 5377817Abstract: A bi-directional accumulation roller conveyor includes a plurality of upper load carrying rollers longitudinally coextensive with and superimposed over a plurality of lower load carrying rollers, a drive for driving the upper and lower load carrying rollers for counter rotation with respect to each other, a first clutch for drivingly engaging the upper load carrying rollers, a second clutch for drivingly engaging the lower load carrying rollers, a actuator for disengaging the clutches respectively in response to the presence of a pallet on each terminal end of the upper or lower plurality of load carrying rollers and a lifting device for transferring pallets between the upper and lower load carrying rollers thereby providing a continuous loop of conveyable pallets and managing pallet flow.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1993Date of Patent: January 3, 1995Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventor: Robert E. Kohl
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Patent number: 5363951Abstract: An endless belt conveyor has vertically spaced, oppositely moving, upper and lower load carrying runs having entrance and exit ends, with the entrance end of one run being adjacent to the exit end of the other run. A first series of rollers disposed between the exit end of the upper run and the entrance end of the lower run direct the belt downwardly, around a drive roller driven by a first drive unit, around a dynamic takeup roller, toward the entrance end of the lower run along a first depressed section of belt travel below the level of the lower run, and upwardly to the entrance end of the lower run from a static takeup installed below the lower run.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventor: William A. Mensch
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Patent number: 5335777Abstract: A method of and apparatus for tracking data associated with a load being conveyed on a belt conveyor between a source station including a source station load sensor and a destination station including a destination station load sensor includes the steps of: generating a data record for the load at the source station, loading the data record into a programmable controller for controlling the conveyor, generating a pulse signal having a number of pulses directly proportional to the travel of the belt conveyor, establishing an expectation window indicating expected arrival of the load at the destination station, establishing a distance field for the load using the smaller of the distance between the load and any preceding load on the belt conveyor or the distance between the load and the destination load sensor, sensing the leading edge of the load by the destination station load sensor, comparing the distance between the source and destination load sensors and detecting any slippage of the load on the belt andType: GrantFiled: October 15, 1993Date of Patent: August 9, 1994Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Christopher J. Murphy, Ronald E. Bliss
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Patent number: 5285889Abstract: An attachment member for securing a pair of conveyor trolley brackets to a conveyor chain center link has a stem portion insertable through the center link between the trolley brackets to position recesses thereon in engagement with the center link sides and has a pair of integral end portions which overlap the opposite ends of the trolley brackets, which overlappingly engage the center link sides, and which form buffers for the ends of chain side bars connected to the center link. The attachment member is preferably formed of an impact noise suppressing material such as nylon.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1992Date of Patent: February 15, 1994Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventor: Clayton C. McDonald
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Patent number: D354385Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1993Date of Patent: January 10, 1995Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Daniel S. Ellens, Robert A. Goryca, Theodore A. Tylman
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Patent number: D370759Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1994Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Jervis. B. Webb CompanyInventors: Robert Kubsik, Robert Goryca, James P. Johnson, Eric T. Nemeth
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Patent number: D371666Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1994Date of Patent: July 9, 1996Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Robert Kubsik, Robert Goryca, James P. Johnson, Eric T. Nemeth
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Patent number: D384470Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1996Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Robert Kubsik, Robert Goryca, James P. Johnson, Eric T. Nemeth
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Patent number: D384471Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1996Date of Patent: September 30, 1997Assignee: Jervis B. Webb CompanyInventors: Robert Kubsik, Robert Goryca, James P. Johnson, Eric T. Nemeth