Patents Examined by Douglas Hess
  • Patent number: 11504755
    Abstract: A device for producing strip material, such as a hot strip. The device includes lateral guide elements which are arranged on both sides of the strip material and, in particular, along a roller table having several rollers, and at least one rotating wear body on each side guide element. In order to minimize the wear of guide elements when transporting the strip material over a roller conveyor, a speed control device regulates a rate of speed of the at least one wear element. Further, a position control device is provided for setting an extended position of the at least one wear element. The position control device sends control signals to a positioning drive for extending the at least one wear body to an extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Holzhauer, Ulrich Cramer, Andreas Kastner, Magnus Treude
  • Patent number: 11498769
    Abstract: The invention employs a folding arm conveyor that rotates horizontally. The folding arm conveyor is mainly composed of an undercarriage mounted on the ground of a stockyard, a tower body mounted on the undercarriage, a balance arm, a conveying arm, a tower top, and other main components, wherein the balance arm, the conveying arm, and the tower top are mounted on the tower body. The conveying arm is provided with two portal frames (I) and (II) and an unloading trolley. The tower body is provided with a gyration apparatus and a hopper. The balance arm is provided with a balance trolley. The folding arm conveyor can rotate horizontally, and the conveying arm can be folded and retraced by controlling the wind rope by the windlass, so that the folding arm conveyor can be prevented from colliding with other devices or buildings during the rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Changsha University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Juan Huang, Lairong Yin, Tao Ling, Le Xiao, Jinxing Wang, Yuyang Peng, Peng Xu, Minhui Chen
  • Patent number: 11498820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for providing stopper elements that are sorted in order to feed a downstream workstation. The devices comprising a lifting means; a means or referencing said stopper elements one by one, located downstream from the lifting means; a conveyor for bringing the referenced elements to said workstation, positioned at the outlet of said referencing means; a vision means for verifying the conformance of said elements in an inspection zone extending at the level of the referencing means and/or of the conveyor; and a means for expelling those elements that do not conform located downstream of said vision means. The inspection zone comprises at least two successive sections each including a distinct color. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SIDEL ENGINEERING & CONVEYING SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Emmanuel Roth, Daniel Spiesser, Arnaud Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11498780
    Abstract: A glass product transport apparatus is provided. The glass product transport apparatus includes a slotted element assembly configured to engage a narrowed portion of a glass product. A carriage assembly has a longitudinal slot configured to receive the slotted element assembly for longitudinal movement. An actuator is connected to the slotted element assembly and configured to move the slotted element assembly in a longitudinal direction. A rail structure is configured to support the carriage assembly. The slotted element assembly is configured to retain the glass product in the event power is removed from the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Robex, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Parker, Aaron J. Peper
  • Patent number: 11493789
    Abstract: A handling equipment for a placement shelf of display panel is provided. The handling equipment includes a rack, a rotatable driving wheel and a cleansing device. The cleansing device is configured to cleanse the driving wheel. The driving wheel and the cleansing device both are disposed on the rack. The cleansing device contacts with the driving wheel. The driving wheel is configured to contact a bottom frame of the placement shelf of display panel. The driving wheel is disposed with a cleaning layer on the radial periphery of the driving wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED, CHONGQING HKC OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Po-Sung Pan
  • Patent number: 11492207
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for grouping containers, comprising a plurality of transfer pallets for conveying containers upright on a pallet surface and a first transfer device comprising a first transfer platform and an infeed manipulator, wherein the pallet surface of each transfer pallet has a plurality of ridge-like elevations forming a support surface for the containers, and wherein the first transfer platform has a comb-shaped outlet area configured for allowing the ridge-like elevations of the pallet surface to pass through the intermediate spaces of the comb-shaped outlet area for taking over the at least one container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Helmut Schuesslburner
  • Patent number: 11485581
    Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus (20) includes a spiral conveyor system (22) configured into an ascending spiral stack (26). An air balance tunnel (40) includes a tunnel housing (76) positioned inside of a thermal processing chamber adjacent an outlet opening (36). A conveyor belt (24) travels through the housing on its way out of the processing chamber. An air pervious ejector assembly (78) is positioned within the housing at an elevation above the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious evacuation sheet (80) is located within the housing at a location beneath the conveyor belt (24). An air pervious cover assembly (150) is positioned over the conveyor belt (24) at a location just before the conveyor belt enters the air balance tunnel (40). The cover sheet (150) is connectable to the ejector assembly (78) so as to remove the ejector assembly from the tunnel housing (76) by manually moving the cover assembly (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies AB
    Inventors: Kenny Tobias Norén, Nedjada Ribic, Patrik Torbjörn Dalhult, Lars Johan Siljeborn
  • Patent number: 11485523
    Abstract: The technology described herein generally relates to particular form of folded package. The package packages loose particles into a conical container and secures the filling with a folded distal end. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied as filling and the package may further be provided with a fluid core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventors: Mark W. Holderman, Gregory A. Russell
  • Patent number: 11477988
    Abstract: A system and a method for automatic transfer of carcass parts suspended from a first carrier to being suspended from a second carrier. The carcass parts may be a half carcass that may have been eviscerated and cleaned. The first carrier may be an industry standard gambrel or a single carrier or a Marel DeboFlex carrier, for example a Euro Carrier. The second carrier may be a single carrier, for example a Euro Carrier, or a Marel DeboFlex carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MAREL MEAT B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Johannes Meerdink, Franciscus Theodorus Henricus Johannes Van Der Steen, Adriaan Ebergen, Ronald Kranenbarg
  • Patent number: 11465853
    Abstract: A bag transfer apparatus includes a plurality of holding units which include a first holding unit and a second holding unit provided to be adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction and are provided to be able to move, wherein each of the plurality of holding units includes: a left support unit which supports one side portion of a bag; and a right support unit which supports another side portion of the bag, and wherein one of the right support unit of the first holding unit and the left support unit of the second holding unit is positioned above the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: PACROFT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kakue Nakamoto, Tohru Yoshikane
  • Patent number: 11459186
    Abstract: A step-wise feeding device of containers equipped with a mouth, a plane of symmetry passing through the mouth, includes support bases and transportation means of the support bases in a feeding direction. Each support base can be associated with and dissociated from the transportation means, and each support base includes a clamping group of a container, the clamping group having a closed clamping position and an open loading and unloading position. The clamping group is a gripper-type including two side boards, sustained by supports on opposite sides of the support base, which move in a self-centering manner with respect to an axis. Each support base has a bearing plane for the bottom of the container, on which a virtual point is defined, arranged on a longitudinal axis at a fixed distance from a front end of the support base, for centering the mouth of any container arranged on the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: OCME S.R.L.
    Inventor: Umberto Martini
  • Patent number: 11459178
    Abstract: A sorting installation, in particular for transporting and/or sorting items to be conveyed, includes a transport path, a stator arranged adjacent to the transport path and a transport unit configured to move on the transport path in a movement direction. The transport unit includes a conveyor element for loading and/or unloading an item, and a conveyor rotor for driving the conveyor element. The conveyor rotor includes a permanent magnet and interacts electromagnetically with the stator for rotation about an axis of rotation. A latching apparatus applies a detent torque on the conveyor rotor, when the conveyor rotor interacts electromagnetically with the latching apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Dieges, Herbert Pommer
  • Patent number: 11459179
    Abstract: A vertical dough conveyor includes a base frame, and a vertical conveyor assembly pivotably connected to the base frame for pivoting movement between a use position and an access position. The vertical conveyor assembly includes a first conveyor belt unit and a second conveyor belt unit, wherein the second conveyor belt unit is pivotably connected to the first conveyor unit such that, when the vertical conveyor assembly is in the access position, the first conveyor belt unit is pivotably movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a belt of the second conveyor belt unit is positioned in opposed relation to a belt of the first conveyor belt unit to define a dough feed gap therebetween. In the second position, the belt of second conveyor belt unit is pivoted away from the belt of the first conveyor belt unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Joel J. Everhart
  • Patent number: 11452296
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for the industrial manufacture of bakery products, such as long or elongated breads, rolls, baguettes, Parisian breads, round loaves. The apparatus includes a conveyor for conveying at least one piece of dough on a conveying surface in a transport direction, a substrate which is arranged above said conveyor. The substrate includes a contact surface at a side facing the conveyor. The apparatus is configured for providing a relative movement between the contact surface and the conveying surface. The contact surface is configured for touching an upper side of said at least one piece of dough on said conveying surface. And the apparatus further includes a heating device configured for heating at least a part of a circumference of the at least one piece of dough facing the contact surface for forming a film on said part of the circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KAAK GROEP B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Vermeulen, Nigel Justin Morris
  • Patent number: 11447348
    Abstract: A single drive dual hopper conveyor system is presented having a center conveyor system and a pair of side conveyor systems that are connected to one another. A single motor is connected to the center conveyor system and drives movement of a belt within the center conveyor system. The connection of the center conveyor system to the side conveyor system causes the belts of the side conveyor systems to be simultaneously driven as the belt of the center conveyor system is driven. This arrangement eliminates the need for multiple motors. A guide at the center of the belts is configured to guide the belts through the center of the housings and prevent the buildup of grain within a cut-out section of the flights of the belt that is needed to allow access to the links of the belts to facilitate driving of the belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SUKUP MANUFACTURING CO.
    Inventors: Chris Heilskov, David Jay Brownmiller, Adam Zweck, Dustin Platte
  • Patent number: 11447340
    Abstract: A modular processing machine includes a first module comprising a first mounting plate including a first hole, and a first rail extending along a longitudinal axis, the first rail having a first axial end facing the first hole, the first hole being coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis. A second module comprises a second mounting plate including a second hole coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a second rail extending coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis, the second rail having a second axial end facing the second hole. The first rail has a first alignment feature at the first axial end thereof, and the second rail has a second alignment feature at the second axial end thereof. The first alignment feature is engaged with the second alignment feature to coaxially align the first rail with the second rail along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: OSGOOD INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Cristian Toquica, Brandon Hallinan
  • Patent number: 11447342
    Abstract: To provide a ball transfer and a seal member for a ball transfer, a seal member is employed which is characterized in that it has a seal member employing pile fiber that, at a ball transfer having a main body which has a socket, an inner surface of which is a hemispherical concave surface, a plurality of ball bearings arranged at the main exterior socket, a primary ball, diameter of which is greater than that of said ball bearings and which is rotatably supported by the socket by way of the ball bearings, and a housing-like case which surrounds the main body socket and rotatably supports the ball bearings and the primary ball at a bearing portion thereof and which has a hole from which a portion of the primary ball is made to protrude at an upper surface of the primary ball socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: SANWA TECHNO CO., LTD., FREEBEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuro Fukui, Toshio Takino, Kaito Oomae, Nagamasa Maruyama, Hiroyuki Furuuchi, Atsushi Sakane
  • Patent number: 11447341
    Abstract: A combine feeder slat having a first base, a second base, and a slat body. The bases are located at respective ends of the slat, and have respective upper and lower surfaces. The slat body extends longitudinally and connects the bases. The slat body has a variable profile as viewed along the longitudinal direction, that transitions from a first profile shape at the first base, to an intermediate profile shape between the first base and the second base, to a second profile shape at the second base. The intermediate profile shape includes a front lip, a rear lip, and an upward-facing concave projection that connects the front lip to the rear lip and extends below an attachment plane defined between the first lower surface and the second lower surface. The first base, second base, and slat body are made from a unitary wrought metal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan E. Isaac, Cale Boriack, Trevor Book
  • Patent number: 11440738
    Abstract: A contact protection structure can be positioned on a belt body to prevent a pinching gap, where the belt body presents a conveyor belt deflected by a roller, and where a roller holder supporting the roller and attachable to the belt body also supports the contact protection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Wipotec GmbH
    Inventors: Kay-Eric Schmidt, Markus Jochen Walter
  • Patent number: 11440737
    Abstract: A support station includes a frame, at least two support rollers separated transversely by a gap, and a nip angle protector, which includes, for the or each gap, a gap protector placed longitudinally opposite the gap on an upstream side of the gap. The support station can be manufactured by obtaining a profile with a continuous upper edge and a continuous lower part along its entire length, and cutting the space and the slots, by T-punching the profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: René Brunone