Patents Examined by Douglas Hess
  • Patent number: 11325788
    Abstract: A two-loop cross-belt sorter includes at least one loop-shaped track (1); two cross-belt trolley groups (2), and forms two side-by-side conveyance loops able to circulate on the loop-shaped track (1), and a power apparatus (3) that drives the two cross-belt trolley groups (2) to move along the loop-shaped track (1). The two-loop cross-belt sorter uses two sets of trolleys on a loop-shaped track, allows the space inside the loop to be utilized and the quantity of cross-belt trolleys to be increased without increasing the area occupied by the sorter, thus doubling sorting capacity, while allowing parcels to be transferred between cross-belt trolleys on the two conveyance loops, thereby reducing the idle rate of the trolleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SUZHOU JINFENG IOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xi Cai, JinCheng Li
  • Patent number: 11319164
    Abstract: The invention relates to a charging unit of a material processing apparatus having a charging hopper, the side walls (22) and rear walls (23) of which can be folded over between a working and a transport position by means of actuators (40, 50). A deflection element is provided, which converts the movement of an actuator during a portion of a movement thereof into a rotational movement of the rear wall or of the side wall and, during a further portion, into a translational movement. As a result of the rotational movement, the rear and side wall can be pivoted between the working and transport position, while by means of the translational movement, the rear and side wall can be connected to each other by means of an appropriate closure (60). By means of the deflection element, a simple, self-securing, and economical structure of the charging hopper is made possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Christian Weller
  • Patent number: 11319156
    Abstract: A sorting module including two groups of transportation rollers, the two groups of transportation rollers include at least one group of irregular rollers, the other group of transportation rollers are regular rollers or irregular rollers, each group of transportation rollers include at least one row of transportation rollers, each row of transportation rollers include at least one transportation roller; the rotation center lines of each row of transportation rollers are on one straight line, and the rotation center lines of the two groups of transportation rollers are generally perpendicular to each other. A conveying device including the sorting module is simple in structure and low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SUZHOU SUXIANG ROBOT INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT CO., LTD
    Inventor: Lining Sun
  • Patent number: 11299351
    Abstract: A telescoping rotatable tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft has a first material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft has a second material-engaging element extending from an exterior surface of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to extend from and retract within an interior space presented by the first shaft. The first shaft includes at least one helical-shaped groove extending along an interior surface of the first shaft. The second shaft includes at least one guide element extending from the exterior surface of the second shaft. The guide element is configured to engage with the groove, such that as the second shaft extends from and retracts within the first shaft, the second shaft is configured to rotate with respect to the first shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Bergkamp Incorporated
    Inventors: Alan R. Bergkamp, Jason J. Bergkamp, Caleb Abell, Adam Ray
  • Patent number: 11299350
    Abstract: A transport bag (10) for a suspended conveyor system, particularly a rail-guided conveyor system or a transport chain conveyor system, has a conveyor member, particularly a carriage (20) of a rail-guided (41) conveyor system or a conveyor chain link of a transport chain conveyor system, and a transport bag (10) having a receiving region for receiving one or a plurality of units of goods (91). The transport bag is attached, via a suspension means (17), in a suspended manner to a carrying means (23) of the conveyor member. The transport bag has two frame brackets (15, 16) which are pivotally connected to the suspension means. The two frame brackets (15, 16) are substantially 2-fold rotationally symmetrical to one another, but not mirror symmetrical to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventors: Roberto Fenile, Martin Ruge
  • Patent number: 11299352
    Abstract: An automatic cart transport system. A track located in a factory working floor provides a trackway for an endless flexible conveyor chain. A plurality of chain units including a first chain portion having vertical rollers and a second chain portion having horizontal rollers are flexibly coupled, and the chain is advanced along the trackway by a drive motor. The chain units support thereabove, but within the track, a coupling plate having therein an aperture for accepting and capturing a chain connection shaft which is detachably connected to a cart. The cart is automatically towed along a defined pathway on the working floor of a factory by the chain, when connected to the coupling plate on the endless flexible conveyor chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA WHEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hun Choe
  • Patent number: 11299355
    Abstract: A method and system for picking up painted panels of different dimensions and finishes includes inserting the painted panels into a selective sorting system having two superimposed mobile conveyor sectors of a predefined length and with a driving motor for the alternate advancement in one of two directions. The two mobile conveyor sectors move vertically synchronously and are arranged alternately and in series with a fixed conveyor sector. After uploading in the selective sorting system, the painted panels are kept inside the selective sorting system for a time sufficient for drying, and are withdrawn through an upload and download system, which includes software memorizing the position of the uploaded panels, actuating the lifting and/or lowering motors of the mobile conveyor sectors, and advancing the mobile conveyor sectors and the fixed conveyor sector so as to move the panels due for a customer order, temporarily storing undesired panels in a buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gianni Raggi, Massimo Dovadola
  • Patent number: 11292673
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a switch device for a transfer point between a first and a second rotatable star wheel, at which transfer point objects can be transferred selectively from the first star wheel to the second star wheel. The switch device includes a base in the region of the transfer point for supporting the objects transported by the star wheels; a first and a second wall portion that extend in the region of the transfer point; a drive mechanism for driving the movement of the wall portions; and a control means for actuating the drive mechanism. The first and the second wall portions are individually vertically movable by the at least one drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: BAUSCH + STRĂ–BEL MASCHINENFABRIK ILSHOFEN GMBH + CO. KG
    Inventors: Timo Kupfer, Daniel Spieler
  • Patent number: 11292669
    Abstract: When a conveyance abnormality occurs in a driving conveyor, runaway of a conveying member that supports a conveyance object is stopped. An endless conveyor is provided with a plurality of the conveying members spaced apart from each other, and an endless element is provided with a plurality of engaging members spaced apart from each other and engaged with the conveying members from the conveyance direction, in which the endless element receives a driving force with the engaging member from the conveyor via the conveying member to thereby travel. When the conveyance abnormality in which the conveying member travels autonomously is detected, the endless element is stopped by giving of a braking force, and the runaway of the conveying member is stopped by the engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manabu Tashiro
  • Patent number: 11279561
    Abstract: A delivery chute for use on a concrete mixer truck has automated systems to allow for repositioning and reconfiguration without requiring an operator to manipulate components. The chute is configured to have multiple segments that can be folded/nested with one another for transport and can be positioned in an extended configuration thereby forming a continuous delivery surface for purposes of delivering concrete to a desired location. Powered mechanisms are used to reposition these segments, thus eliminating the need for operators to handle chute segments at all. A control system is provided to coordinate operation of components so proper sequences are followed during folding, unfolding, raising, lowering and swinging operations. An operator can control each of these operations using a remote control, having single buttons to carry out specific operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Garwin McNeilus, Grant McNeilus, Brian Meldahl, Jay Attleson, James Cunningham
  • Patent number: 11279507
    Abstract: A working station for a packaging machine, wherein the working station has a lifting unit having a pressure source and a lifting actuator connected to the pressure source. The lifting actuator comprises a hose comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, and a seal having a seal cap engaging the outer surface. The seal further comprises an insert engaging the inner surface. Furthermore, the seal clamps a clamping portion of the wall of the hose between the insert and the seal cap in a fluidtight, preferably gastight, manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG
    Inventors: Konrad Moessnang, Tobias Guggenberger
  • Patent number: 11278033
    Abstract: A food-product loader has a conveyor passing through its cabinet, and the cabinet is formed with a bulk hopper. The loader is loaded with elongate pieces of food-product by way of dumping a heaping mass of the food-product pieces into the bulk hopper all at one time. The loader ultimately handles the heap of food-product pieces such that, the loader loads the pieces onto the conveyor in neat lanes, with individual pieces slightly spaced apart from one another. To do this, the loader is constructed with a series or array of soft-sided dispensing sleeves or funnels which are mechanically massaged to tease out one piece at a time, and only one piece at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventors: Robert G. Nothum, Jr., Ryan D. Nothum
  • Patent number: 11279511
    Abstract: A machine for treating or conveying containers, comprising a guide extending along a feed direction for feeding the containers and a plurality of carriages for supporting the containers slidably mounted on a same guide consecutively to each other; said guide and each carriage together defining respective linear motors. Each support carriage comprises at least a part of respective gripping means and, in particular, two gripping means respectively mounted on different and consecutive carriages along the same guide. The carriages are movable towards or away from each other so as to regulate the reciprocal distance along the feed direction for feeding the containers and define a picking area of the gripping means between them as a function of the type of container to be picked or released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: MAKRO LABELLING S.R.L.
    Inventor: Simone Marcantoni
  • Patent number: 11273994
    Abstract: A loading apparatus for a granular material conveyor system having a conveyor belt is described. The apparatus has a chute assembly mounted to a frame over the conveyor belt and having an adjustment mechanism and a positional lock assembly connected to the chute assembly and the frame for adjusting an upper surface of the chute assembly to a desired angle within a range of possible angles. One or more side deflector panels are mounted to the frame over the conveyor belt and an adjusting rod assembly connects the deflector panels to the frame for adjusting an angle of the deflector panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Benetech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Huskisson, Kevin Jasin, Robert Cucchi
  • Patent number: 11268759
    Abstract: An enclosure includes a furnace 1 and plates 7A to 7D arranged in the furnace 1 and used for placement of articles 5. Each of the plates 7A to 7D is movable vertically in the furnace 1. The enclosure further includes guide members 60A and 60B, each of which is disposed adjacent to a side of one plate of the plates 7A to 7D that is disposed at a loading/unloading position where the articles 5 are allowed to be loaded into or unloaded from the furnace 1. The guide members 60A and 60B guide the articles 5 and are rotatable with vertical movement of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Tanaka, Hisashi Beppu
  • Patent number: 11267658
    Abstract: A device for emptying transport bags conveyed in a suspended manner, includes a conveying system via which transport bags may be supplied in a suspended manner along a conveying path. The transport bags have a pocket that is open at the top when in the filled state and a front side. A circulating conveyor belt for receiving piece good units transported in the transport bags is included, and in a contact section, the conveying paths of the conveying system and the conveyor belt are situated relative to one another in such a way that the distance between the conveying paths of the conveying system and the conveyor belt become continuously smaller, so that when a transport bag is conveyed along the contact section, the front side of the pocket of the transport bag contacts and comes to rest on the conveyor belt, and the transport bag is thereby pivoted backwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventors: Roberto Fenile, Erwin Stauber
  • Patent number: 11267663
    Abstract: A material (e.g., proppant) handling system includes a storage container, a mechanical conveyor system, and a pneumatic conveyor system. The mechanical conveyor system is configured to convey material from an unloading station to a conveyor system discharge and into an inlet of the storage container (e.g., at an elevation that is higher than the unloading station). The pneumatic delivery system is configured to deliver material from the storage container to an off-system destination (e.g., a silo or the like), pneumatically. In a typical implementation, the storage container, the mechanical conveyor system, and the pneumatic conveyor system are all on, or connected to, or supported by one common chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Quickthree Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Alvin Herman, Erin Herman, William John Young
  • Patent number: 11261027
    Abstract: A liner protects an interior surface of a chute that transfers workable foundry molding mix from a mixer to a machine for molding and hardening. The liner has an upper border portion and body portion. The upper border portion secures the liner to an upper portion of the chute. The body portion has at least one panel of a flexible material and is sized and adapted to line the interior surface of the chute. The liner also has a plurality of apertures through the upper border portion for attaching the upper border portion to the upper portion of the chute. The flexible material of the body portion is a woven fabric with polymeric fibers and, optionally, a polymeric coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ASK Chemicals LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Edward Lipford
  • Patent number: 11261031
    Abstract: A conveyor pan for a chain scraper conveyor comprises a bottom plate and a pair of side profiles fixed to the bottom plate by welding. The conveyor pan has an increased wear resistance, in particular due to a specific geometry of a weld groove formed between the profile rails of the side profile and the bottom plate. The weld groove extends deeper into each profile rail, resulting in a more durable weld connection during use of the conveyor pan. In addition, a geometry of a pocket member for connecting adjacent conveyor pans and an inspection opening formed in the bottom plate have also been improved to result in an increased strength of the conveyor pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Pietrala, Uwe Tillessen, Eugen Baier
  • Patent number: 11254510
    Abstract: A smart moving platform for transport of components in manufacturing includes a vehicle body, a transmission device, a conveying system, a detection device, a tag installation device, a control unit, and a tag reader. The conveying system conveys components. The detection device detects a location of the component and in a first predetermined area, the tag installation device installs and activates a tag on the component. The control unit writes component information to the activated tag and sets a predetermined period. The tag starts to count time elapsing, and the conveyor belt conveys the component to a second predetermined area. The tag reader reads the component information, the elapsed time, and a predetermined period of the tag. When the elapsed time matches the predetermined period, the conveying system sends the component to a third predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SHUNSIN TECHNOLOGY (ZHONG SHAN) LIMITED
    Inventors: Jhe-Wei Jhang, Chih-Yuan Chen, Shun-Long Lee