Patents Examined by Douglas Hess
-
Patent number: 11434090Abstract: A system for automatic unloading of parcels from a container or trailer includes a base belt (310), a plurality of inserts (320, 322, 420, 422, 520, 522) and an automated unloading apparatus (200) with a ramp (230) and a conveyor (226). The ramp (230) is configured to pass under the base belt (310) and the conveyor (226) is configured to remove a plurality of items (370) when the automated unloading apparatus (200) moves into an interior of the container or trailer (350), and the base belt (310) is configured to be installed in a first section (360) of a floor (356) of the container or trailer (350), and the plurality of inserts (320, 322, 420, 422, 520, 522) is configured to be installed in a second section (362, 364) of the floor (356) of the container or trailer (350), such that the plurality of items (370) is either located on the base belt (310) or on the plurality of inserts (320, 322, 420, 422, 520, 522).Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2018Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Siemens Logistics LLCInventor: Luiz Carlos Harres
-
Patent number: 11427411Abstract: A guiding device for a positioning plate of a transport device for gripping, holding, guiding and transporting bottle-like containers. In order to provide non-rotational guiding and stabilizing of the positioning plate and/or gripper devices, the guiding device includes an elongated hollow body having a plurality of guide recesses that are formed along the hollow body. A transport device having such a guiding device is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: TYROLON-SHULNIG GMBHInventor: Schulnig Elmar
-
Patent number: 11427415Abstract: An automatic loading and unloading device includes a frame, an unloading unit, a receiving unit and a receiving link unit. The frame defines a processing area, an unloading area and a receiving area. The unloading unit includes an unloading slide rail, and an unloading drive group movably disposed on the unloading slide rail for driving at least one plate to move from the processing area to the unloading area. The receiving unit includes a receiving slide rail, and a receiving lift group movably disposed on the receiving slide rail for driving the at least one plate to move from the unloading area to the receiving area. The receiving link unit interconnects the unloading drive group and the receiving lift group.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: POU CHEN CORPORATIONInventors: Chien-Yu Hsu, Wen-Pao Chang, Yao-Hsin Wang, Chung-Shun Hung
-
Patent number: 11426830Abstract: A transfer machine for machining operations includes a frame, a rotary table with a rotary feeding movement relative to a machine axis, a plurality of workpiece-holder members associated with the rotary table and spaced by a working radius (r) from the machine axis, and a plurality of workstations accessible by the workpiece-holder members as a result of the feeding movement of the table. The transfer machine further includes at least one rotary unit able to rotate a workpiece-holder member about a respective axis and relative to the table, wherein the rotary unit includes a motor assembly located in the machine base at a distance (d) from the machine axis which is less than the working radius (r).Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2016Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: MIKRON SA AGNOInventor: Nicola Spada
-
Patent number: 11420826Abstract: A system for detecting properties of a rubber product is disclosed. The system includes a dipole antenna and circuitry. The dipole antenna is configured to obtain antenna measurements and measure for a resonance frequency of a conductive resonator (200), wherein the dipole antenna (200) is positioned at a first position (A) and a second position (B). The circuitry is configured to determine one or more resonator properties (X) based on the antenna measurements.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: ContiTech Transportbandsysteme GmbHInventor: Jack Bruce Wallace
-
Patent number: 11412799Abstract: A button fastener transfer device can detect a fastener with one or more legs are bent radially outward. The button fastener transfer device includes a transfer path for passing the fastener with the base down; a movable member movable in the transfer path for moving the fastener downstream in the transfer path; a rotation applying part capable of contacting the fastener moving in the transfer path and configured to rotate the fastener in the circumferential direction of the base; at least one first conductive member and at least one second conductive member, which are normally electrically isolated from each other; a detection part configured to detect a non-normal fastener having at least one non-normal leg bent radially outward; and an energization mechanism configured to cause an electric current to flow between the first conductive member and the second conductive member if the detection part detects the non-normal fastener.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: YKK CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Kanazawa, Ryusaku Watanabe
-
Patent number: 11407597Abstract: A system for sorting and delivering packages to one of a plurality of loading points includes a first movable cart positioned adjacent a first conveyor in a receiving position to receive packages from the first conveyor, a second movable cart positioned in a staging position, the second movable cart being empty, and a vehicle selectively engageable with the second movable cart to move the second movable cart from the staging position to the receiving position while simultaneously abutting and displacing the first movable cart from the receiving position to a transfer position.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Siemens Logistics LLCInventors: Michael D. Carpenter, Francisco Grupp
-
Patent number: 11407595Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for performing article singulation are provided. An article singulator can include an intake conveyor, an out-take conveyor, and multiple intermediate conveyors. The intake conveyor can receive multiple articles and convey the articles to the multiple intermediate conveyors. Further, the out-take conveyor may convey singulated articles from amongst the multiple articles (e.g. to an outfeed). Further, the multiple intermediate conveyors may include successive conveyors to convey the articles and provide the singulated articles to the out-take conveyor. In some examples, each successive conveyor of the multiple intermediate conveyors may be positioned at a lower level than a preceding conveyor. Further, each successive conveyor can convey the articles in a different direction and at a different speed than a preceding conveyor such that the articles are singulated upon conveyance by the article singulator.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLCInventors: Todd Eliot Green, Darius Scott, Christopher Quaglia, Rui Cai, Robert Anderson, Carl Gunter
-
Patent number: 11401113Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for monitoring a transverse position of a conveyor belt or its material load. A processor receives a digital video or digital images capturing movement of the conveyor belt and the material load. The processor segments the images or frames into a group of contiguous pixels representative of the conveyor belt, and the material load, such as by moving object detection, using background segmentation and threshold processing, pixel intensity-based segmentation or image texture-based segmentation. The processor determines a pixel coordinate of the group of contiguous pixels, which is indicative of the transverse position of the conveyor belt or the material load. The processor generates an alarm or report or a data signal, which depends, directly or indirectly, on the determined pixel coordinates.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: SYNCRUDE CANADA LTD. IN TRUST FOR THE OWNERS OFInventors: Mark Polak, Michael Carniato
-
Patent number: 11401067Abstract: A tray sealing machine comprises a gripper device including first and second tray grippers that operate together to take up trays provided by a feed unit and transport them to a sealing station that is downstream in a production direction. A speed of the first and second tray grippers in the production direction when respectively performing a closing motion from a respective initial position toward a respective closing position can be accelerated such that the speed of the first and second tray grippers in the production direction relative to a belt speed of the feed unit during a predetermined first time interval is slower than the belt speed, and during a subsequent predetermined second time interval until the respective closing position has been reached is greater than the belt speed, so that gripper fingers on the first and second tray grippers immerse into respective position windows located between the trays.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KGInventors: Albert Gabler, Peter Buchberger
-
Patent number: 11396383Abstract: An unmanned article storage box for automatically receiving an article from a drone and storing the article includes: a box main body configured to form an accommodating space for storing the article therein; an article receiver configured to slidingly be carried in and out from the box main body; a sliding unit configured to slidingly move the article receiver by having a first end that is fastened to the article receiver and a second end that is fastened to an inside of the box main body; a power unit configured to transfer a power to enable the article receiver to move along the sliding unit; and a controller configured to control the power unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Inventor: Kwan Doo Kim
-
Patent number: 11396393Abstract: A box packing device includes a push-in mechanism, a retention mechanism, a guide, and a control unit. The push-in mechanism pushes, into a box that is in a state in which an opening thereof faces sideways, the article through the opening. The retention mechanism retains the box that is in a state in which the opening faces sideways and lowers the box after the article have been pushed into the box by the push-in mechanism. The guide opposes the opening and is configured to prevent the article from falling out from the opening of the box that has been lowered by the retention mechanism. The control unit temporarily increases the distance between the box and the guide after the article have been pushed into the box by the push-in mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: ISHIDA CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Yokota, Tatsuya Arimatsu
-
Patent number: 11396430Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a first pop-up belt abutting a first cam. The first pop-up belt is configured to facilitate movement of a package between a first conveyor and a second conveyor. a separator wall abuts a second cam. The separator wall is configured to control movement of the package between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. In response to the camshaft rotating in a first direction, the first cam causes the first pop-up belt to extend out from the first conveyor. The second cam causes the separator wall to move to a first position. I in the first position, the separator wall allows the package to move from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. In response to the camshaft rotating in a second direction, the first pop-up belt move to a retracted position while the separator wall to move to a second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLCInventors: Carson Phillips, Darius Scott, Todd Eliot Green
-
Patent number: 11383934Abstract: For use in a reciprocating floor slat conveyor system having formed slats made of steel, a gap filler for sealing the gaps between side-by-side steel slats includes a portion that extends upwardly into the gap, and a lower portion that is connected to one of the side-by-side slats. The gap filler is installed by pushing down the gap filler into the gap between slats.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Keith Manufacturing Co.Inventors: Daniel Jackson, John Cook
-
Patent number: 11377308Abstract: A method and device in which a respective laundry piece initially is automatically gripped at a location and pulled apart. The automatic gripping of laundry pieces for feeding to an infeed machine requires a plurality of handling procedures which for reliable automation have to be coordinated. The laundry piece is subsequently reoriented such that said laundry piece can be acquired in a manner which is favorable in terms of the subsequent steps, which can take place in front of a wall that stabilizes the laundry piece. Once the laundry piece has been gripped in the region of a periphery, the laundry piece, as a function of which periphery has been gripped and by way of which alignment the laundry piece is to be fed to the infeed machine, is pulled longitudinally or transversely onto a conveyor that transports said laundry piece to the infeed machine.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbHInventors: Wilhelm Bringewatt, Markus Nolte, Engelbert Heinz
-
Patent number: 11365057Abstract: A plurality of slats having a head and a tail form a conveyor system. A sorter travels laterally across the slat to divert parcel across the slat. Each of the slats has a front edge and a rear edge located longitudinally apart from each other. The front edge and the rear edge are located at different vertical heights to create overlap between adjacent slats. The lower edge positioned vertically below the upper edge has an upper surface that curves downward from the conveying surface to the lower edge. The upper edge positioned vertically above the lower edge has a lower surface that curves downward from the upper edge towards the lower edge. A retention lip extends upward between the lower edge and the conveying surface to trap articles within the retention curve between the retention lip and the conveying surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: HYTROL CONVEYOR COMPANY, INC.Inventor: Paul D. Wallace
-
Patent number: 11358846Abstract: A level compensator system may be configured to receive containers of different heights and position them at the same level. The level compensator system can include engagement platforms for engaging with the containers. The engagement platforms can move between an engagement configuration for engaging with the containers and a conveyance configuration for conveying of the containers relative to the level compensator.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James Patrick Dwyer, Raul A. Passarini, Eli Douglas Girod, Roland J. Menassa
-
Patent number: 11358808Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a first pop-up belt abutting a first cam. The first pop-up belt is configured to facilitate movement of a package between a first conveyor and a second conveyor. a separator wall abuts a second cam. The separator wall is configured to control movement of the package between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. In response to the camshaft rotating in a first direction, the first cam causes the first pop-up belt to extend out from the first conveyor. The second cam causes the separator wall to move to a first position. I in the first position, the separator wall allows the package to move from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. In response to the camshaft rotating in a second direction, the first pop-up belt move to a retracted position while the separator wall to move to a second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLCInventors: Carson Phillips, Darius Scott, Todd Eliot Green
-
Patent number: 11337364Abstract: A selective transplanter is provided for transplanting seedlings from a tray to seedling planting apparatus. The tray includes a plurality of cells for holding plugs of growing medium containing seedlings. The transplanter is arranged to eject plugs from the cells of the tray to a conveyor which conveys the plugs to the seedling planting apparatus. The transplanter is arranged to remove plugs that do not contain germinated seedlings from the conveyor at a removal position before they are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus. A seedling retention roller engages with plant material of the seedlings projecting from the plugs at the removal position before the plugs are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus, preventing removal of plugs containing seedlings with projecting plant material. The transplanter provides the advantage that the plugs containing seedlings can be planted in rows in a field without dud plugs being planted, leaving the rows substantially gap free.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: WILLIAMES PTY LTDInventor: Geoffrey Alan Williames
-
Patent number: 11332316Abstract: A link for a conveyor chain includes a first portion and a second portion laterally spaced apart from the first portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging pin, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging pin. The first sprocket-engaging pin and the second sprocket-engaging pin protrude laterally away from one another. The first sprocket-engaging pin and the second sprocket-engaging pin may each have an oblong cross-section. At least one retainer can secure a connecting pin against movement relative to at least one of the first portion and the second portion, and each retainer can be positioned substantially within one of the first portion and the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLCInventors: Aaron Philip Walker, Christopher George Stewart