Patents by Inventor Brenton L Smith
Brenton L Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9617019Abstract: An automated method for forming a packaged good article includes establishing a continuous path of travel for a mandrel. The mandrel defines an open interior between a package side and a loading side. With the mandrel at a first angle, a packaging material is wrapped about the mandrel at a first station along the path of travel to define a partial package. Product is dispensed into the partial package at a second station. With the mandrel at the second angle, the partial package and the mandrel are separated from one another at a third station. The first angle of the mandrel (at the first station) differs from the second angle of the mandrel (at the third station). The partial package is closed to form a packaged good article. In some embodiments, the mandrel is horizontal at the first station and is vertical at the third station.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Publication number: 20130333332Abstract: An automated method for forming a packaged good article includes establishing a continuous path of travel for a mandrel. The mandrel defines an open interior between a package side and a loading side. With the mandrel at a first angle, a packaging material is wrapped about the mandrel at a first station along the path of travel to define a partial package. Product is dispensed into the partial package at a second station. With the mandrel at the second angle, the partial package and the mandrel are separated from one another at a third station. The first angle of the mandrel (at the first station) differs from the second angle of the mandrel (at the third station). The partial package is closed to form a packaged good article. In some embodiments, the mandrel is horizontal at the first station and is vertical at the third station.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Patent number: 8511048Abstract: An automated method for forming a packaged good article includes establishing a continuous path of travel for a mandrel. The mandrel defines an open interior between a package side and a loading side. With the mandrel at a first angle, a packaging material is wrapped about the mandrel at a first station along the path of travel to define a partial package. Product is dispensed into the partial package at a second station. With the mandrel at the second angle, the partial package and the mandrel are separated from one another at a third station. The first angle of the mandrel (at the first station) differs from the second angle of the mandrel (at the third station). The partial package is closed to form a packaged good article. In some embodiments, the mandrel is horizontal at the first station and is vertical at the third station.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Publication number: 20100326016Abstract: An automated method for forming a packaged good article includes establishing a continuous path of travel for a mandrel. The mandrel defines an open interior between a package side and a loading side. With the mandrel at a first angle, a packaging material is wrapped about the mandrel at a first station along the path of travel to define a partial package. Product is dispensed into the partial package at a second station. With the mandrel at the second angle, the partial package and the mandrel are separated from one another at a third station. The first angle of the mandrel (at the first station) differs from the second angle of the mandrel (at the third station). The partial package is closed to form a packaged good article. In some embodiments, the mandrel is horizontal at the first station and is vertical at the third station.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Patent number: 7559186Abstract: A packaging apparatus for wrapping a carton around a packaged product comprises a box mandrel conveyor including a plurality of mandrels which support the packaged product thereon. Packages are precisely fed to the mandrels of the box mandrel conveyor by a conditioning conveyor. Carton blanks are delivered to a conveying system from a carton magazine and are conveyed in vertical confronting relation to a mandrel. Each mandrel moves the carton blank against a plow device thereby causing the carton blank to be folded around a mandrel containing a package. Folding and compression devices are provided for folding and compressing an end panel against a manufacturer's flap. Suitable flap closing means close the end flaps and upper and lower flaps after the mandrel is withdrawn from the carton.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Inventor: Brenton L Smith
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Patent number: 6955032Abstract: A shuttle packaging machine includes a support structure having a servomotor driven shuttle device mounted thereon. A transfer arm having suction cups clamps, removes and holds a shipping blank on the shuttle device during all of the packaging functions. The major and minor flaps of the shipping container are held open during the loading of the container. Tucking or folding plows and pneumatic cylinders fold and hold the major and minor flaps. The “shuttle action” of the shuttle device during loading and flap folding allows for a compact arrangement as well as minimizing the number of parts required.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2003Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Inventor: Brenton L Smith
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Publication number: 20040226270Abstract: A shuttle packaging machine includes a support structure having a servomotor driven shuttle device mounted thereon. A transfer arm having suction cups clamps, removes and holds a shipping blank on the shuttle device during all of the packaging functions. The major and minor flaps of the shipping container are held open during the loading of the container. Tucking or folding plows and pneumatic cylinders fold and hold the major and minor flaps. The “shuttle action” of the shuttle device during loading and flap folding allows for a compact arrangement as well as minimizing the number of parts required.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Patent number: 5996881Abstract: A convertible folder is formed from a single blank and includes a pair of folder panels hingedly connected along a fold line. A pocket defining panel is folded against one of the folder panels and cooperates therewith to form a pocket for containing documents.A small tab supporting panel is secured to and folded against the pocket defining panel in the preferred embodiment. An identifying tab is movably secured to the tab defining panel and is moveable between a display position and an out-of-the-way position to allow delivery/presentation folder to be readily converted to a conventional file folder.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Patent number: 5701726Abstract: A continuous, multiline packaging apparatus for continuously conveying, turning, and loading non-round bottles includes infeed conveyors which convey non-round bottles to timing screw conveyors. The timing conveyors are operable to space the bottles a predetermined distance apart and to feed the lines of spaced bottles to turning conveyors. The turning conveyors are each comprised of high and low speed conveyor chains, and guide rails. The turning conveyors first turn the bottles to an intermediate angled position and thereafter further turn the bottles to a loading position. A grouping conveyor comprising a plurality of fights cooperates with the turning conveyors to cause the bottles to form groups which are transferred to a loading device. The loading device continuously shifts the grouped bottles laterally into cartons as the bottles are continuously moved in a downstream direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1997Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Brenton Engineering Co.Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Patent number: 5400894Abstract: An accumulator apparatus for accumulating product from a production line conveyor when a downstream stoppage occurs includes cylindrical compartmented rotary drum having a plurality shelves for supporting product thereon. A loading mechanism loads product from the conveyor upon each drum shelf when the downstream stoppage occurs. An unloading mechanism unloads product from each shelf of the drum when the downstream stoppage problem has been resolved.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1994Date of Patent: March 28, 1995Assignee: Brenton Engineering Co.Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Patent number: 5261782Abstract: A stacker apparatus for continuously stacking articles into vertical stacks for packaging into a case includes a pair of stacking plate assemblies which are mounted on a support frame for horizontal and vertical movement relative thereto. A synchronized cam drive system continuously and successively reciprocates the stacking plate assemblies through an elliptical path of travel to continuously upstack articles fed to the apparatus. The specific operational sequence of the apparatus and its construction provides a built-in surge release and obviates the need for definite shear point.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1991Date of Patent: November 16, 1993Assignee: Brenton Engineering Co.Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
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Patent number: 5104283Abstract: This invention relates to a container stacker having at least one moving member attached to an endless flexible element. The moving member delivers containers from a delivery device to a container receiving surface and moves the containers across the container receiving surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1990Date of Patent: April 14, 1992Assignee: Brenton EngineeringInventor: Brenton L. Smith