Patents by Inventor Kevin G. GORBY
Kevin G. GORBY 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: 10843889Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor for carrying sheets from a conveyor intake end to a conveyor discharge end and a hopper at the discharge end for receiving the sheets and guiding them as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform. The hopper has a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor and a first accumulator that includes a carrier and a support extending from the carrier through the backstop. The support is configured to rotate from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the backstop, and the carrier is movable linearly and vertically relative to the backstop with the support in the extended position from a raised location with the support outside the cascade path to a lowered location with the support in the cascade path.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric H. Crowe, Micah C. Sundstrom, Eric Stempihar, Kevin G. Gorby, Dalton Hege
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Patent number: 10351380Abstract: A diverter conveyor includes a frame supporting an upper conveyor that has an upstream end and a downstream end and that is configured to carry sheets in a first, downstream, direction. A plurality of nip rollers are mounted on the frame upstream of the upstream end of the upper conveyor and are spaced from the upstream end of the upper conveyor by a gap. The nip rollers feed the sheets along a main path to the upstream end of the upper conveyor. A rejection conveyor is supported by the frame and has a portion beneath the gap and extends away from the upper conveyor at an acute angle. A plurality of paddles are mounted at the first gap, and an actuator is operably connected to the paddles and configured to shift the paddles from a first position out of the main path to a second position in the main path.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric Stempihar, Dalton Hege, Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
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Patent number: 10343856Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a main conveyor configured to carry sheets in a downstream direction, an accumulator section downstream of the main conveyor configured to receive the sheets from the main conveyor, at least one tamping plate in the accumulator section, and at least one linear motor connected to the at least one tamping plate. The at least one linear motor is configured to move the at least one tamping plate back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction to tamp a stack of the sheets in the accumulator section.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric Stempihar, Eric H. Crowe, Samantha L. J. Armstrong, Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
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Patent number: 10329114Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor having a discharge end, a hopper at the discharge end configured to receive the sheets ejected from the discharge end and guide the sheets as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform associated with the hopper, the falling sheets forming a main stack on the platform, the hopper including a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor such that the sheets ejected from the discharge end impact against the backstop before forming the main stack, and a first accumulator having at least one first support extending through the backstop and shiftable from a retracted position to an extended position, the at least one first support being movable vertically relative to the backstop in the extended position from a raised location outside the cascade path to a lowered location in the cascade path.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: A. G. Stacker Inc.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric H. Crowe, Micah C. Sundstrom, Eric Stempihar, Kevin G. Gorby
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Publication number: 20180319614Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor for carrying sheets from a conveyor intake end to a conveyor discharge end and a hopper at the discharge end for receiving the sheets and guiding them as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform. The hopper has a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor and a first accumulator that includes a carrier and a support extending from the carrier through the backstop. The support is configured to rotate from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the backstop, and the carrier is movable linearly and vertically relative to the backstop with the support in the extended position from a raised location with the support outside the cascade path to a lowered location with the support in the cascade path.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2018Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric H. CROWE, Micah C. SUNDSTROM, Eric STEMPIHAR, Kevin G. GORBY
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Patent number: 10071873Abstract: A conveyor includes a first conveyor deck having a first plurality of contact elements, each having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, the first contact regions lying in a plane or being bounded by the plane and a second conveyor deck having a second plurality of contact elements, each having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, these contact regions lying in a second plane or being bounded by the second plane. The transport path of the conveyor is defined by the contact surfaces of the first and second contact elements in the contact regions, and the first plurality of contact elements are belts and the second plurality of contact elements are wheels.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
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Patent number: 10029877Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor, the top of the lower conveyor facing the bottom of the upper conveyor and defining with the bottom of the upper conveyor a sheet transport path. An air duct having an opening facing the top of the upper conveyor is mounted over the upper conveyor, and a fan is provided that is in fluid communication with the air duct. The fan draws air through the opening, into the air duct and out an exhaust vent. A housing substantially encloses the upper conveyor and the lower conveyor and is connected to the air duct, and the housing has a bottom opening located below the sheet transport path such that a majority of the air drawn through the opening by the fan passes through the upper conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: A.G. Stacker Inc.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
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Publication number: 20180105381Abstract: A conveyor includes a first conveyor deck having a first plurality of contact elements, each having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, the first contact regions lying in a plane or being bounded by the plane and a second conveyor deck having a second plurality of contact elements, each having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, these contact regions lying in a second plane or being bounded by the second plane. The transport path of the conveyor is defined by the contact surfaces of the first and second contact elements in the contact regions, and the first plurality of contact elements are belts and the second plurality of contact elements are wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Kevin G. GORBY, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
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Publication number: 20180105383Abstract: A diverter conveyor includes a frame supporting an upper conveyor that has an upstream end and a downstream end and that is configured to carry sheets in a first, downstream, direction. A plurality of nip rollers are mounted on the frame upstream of the upstream end of the upper conveyor and are spaced from the upstream end of the upper conveyor by a gap. The nip rollers feed the sheets along a main path to the upstream end of the upper conveyor. A rejection conveyor is supported by the frame and has a portion beneath the gap and extends away from the upper conveyor at an acute angle. A plurality of paddles are mounted at the first gap, and an actuator is operably connected to the paddles and configured to shift the paddles from a first position out of the main path to a second position in the main path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric STEMPIHAR, Dalton HEGE, Kevin G. GORBY, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
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Publication number: 20180105371Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a main conveyor configured to carry sheets in a downstream direction, an accumulator section downstream of the main conveyor configured to receive the sheets from the main conveyor, at least one tamping plate in the accumulator section, and at least one linear motor connected to the at least one tamping plate. The at least one linear motor is configured to move the at least one tamping plate back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction to tamp a stack of the sheets in the accumulator section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric STEMPIHAR, Eric H. CROWE, Samantha L.J. ARMSTRONG, Kevin G. GORBY, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
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Publication number: 20180105382Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor, the top of the lower conveyor facing the bottom of the upper conveyor and defining with the bottom of the upper conveyor a sheet transport path. An air duct having an opening facing the top of the upper conveyor is mounted over the upper conveyor, and a fan is provided that is in fluid communication with the air duct. The fan draws air through the opening, into the air duct and out an exhaust vent. A housing substantially encloses the upper conveyor and the lower conveyor and is connected to the air duct, and the housing has a bottom opening located below the sheet transport path such that a majority of the air drawn through the opening by the fan passes through the upper conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Kevin G. GORBY, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
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Patent number: 9771227Abstract: A layboy conveyor includes a first end and a second end and an upper conveyor having a top and a bottom and a first end and a second end and a lower conveyor having a top and a bottom and a first end and a second end. The lower conveyor top is disposed adjacent to the upper conveyor bottom and defines with the upper conveyor bottom a transport path configured to transport a sheet of material in a direction from the first end of the layboy conveyor to the second end of the layboy conveyor. A drive is operably connected to the upper conveyor and to the lower conveyor, and the drive is configured to drive the upper conveyor bottom and the lower conveyor top in the direction. A length of the lower conveyor top is adjustable.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Kevin G. Gorby, Eric H. Crowe, Samantha L. J. Armstrong
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Publication number: 20170137252Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor having a discharge end, a hopper at the discharge end configured to receive the sheets ejected from the discharge end and guide the sheets as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform associated with the hopper, the falling sheets forming a main stack on the platform, the hopper including a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor such that the sheets ejected from the discharge end impact against the backstop before forming the main stack, and a first accumulator having at least one first support extending through the backstop and shiftable from a retracted position to an extended position, the at least one first support being movable vertically relative to the backstop in the extended position from a raised location outside the cascade path to a lowered location in the cascade path.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2016Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric H. CROWE, Micah C. SUNDSTROM, Eric STEMPIHAR, Kevin G. GORBY
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Publication number: 20160130107Abstract: A layboy conveyor includes a first end and a second end and an upper conveyor having a top and a bottom and a first end and a second end and a lower conveyor having a top and a bottom and a first end and a second end. The lower conveyor top is disposed adjacent to the upper conveyor bottom and defines with the upper conveyor bottom a transport path configured to transport a sheet of material in a direction from the first end of the layboy conveyor to the second end of the layboy conveyor. A drive is operably connected to the upper conveyor and to the lower conveyor, and the drive is configured to drive the upper conveyor bottom and the lower conveyor top in the direction. A length of the lower conveyor top is adjustable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2015Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, JR., Kevin G. GORBY, Eric H. CROWE, Samantha L.J. ARMSTRONG
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Patent number: 9169075Abstract: A conveyor includes a frame having first and second spaced frame elements having outer sides and facing inner sides, first and second drive rollers between the first and second frame elements, a flexible belt mounted on the first and second drive rollers, first and second drive wheels connected to the first and second drive rollers, and a drive operably connected to the first and second drive wheels and configured to drive the belt in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: A. G. STACKER, INC.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Kevin G. Gorby, Eric H. Crowe, Samantha L. J. Armstrong
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Publication number: 20140318930Abstract: A conveyor includes a frame having first and second spaced frame elements having outer sides and facing inner sides, first and second drive rollers between the first and second frame elements, a flexible belt mounted on the first and second drive rollers, first and second drive wheels connected to the first and second drive rollers, and a drive operably connected to the first and second drive wheels and configured to drive the belt in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Kevin G. GORBY, Eric H. CROWE, Samantha L.J. ARMSTRONG
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Patent number: 8807323Abstract: A conveyor includes a frame having first and second spaced frame elements, first and second drive rollers between the frame elements, and a flexible belt mounted between the first and second drive rollers that has a load bearing portion and a return portion, the return portion extending between the first and second frame elements. The conveyor has a first end portion including the first drive roller, a second end portion including the second drive roller and a central portion including a midpoint between the first drive roller and the second drive roller, and the central portion of the conveyor includes a lift-table receiving space between the first drive roller and the second drive roller and between the first frame element and the second frame element, and the return portion of the belt extends between the load bearing portion and the lift-table-receiving space.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: A. G. Stacker, Inc.Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Kevin G. Gorby, Eric H. Crowe, Samantha L. J. Armstrong
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Publication number: 20130306442Abstract: A conveyor includes a frame having first and second spaced frame elements, first and second drive rollers between the frame elements, and a flexible belt mounted between the first and second drive rollers that has a load bearing portion and a return portion, the return portion extending between the first and second frame elements. The conveyor has a first end portion including the first drive roller, a second end portion including the second drive roller and a central portion including a midpoint between the first drive roller and the second drive roller, and the central portion of the conveyor includes a lift-table receiving space between the first drive roller and the second drive roller and between the first frame element and the second frame element, and the return portion of the belt extends between the load bearing portion and the lift-table-receiving space.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Kevin G. GORBY, Eric H. CROWE, Samantha L.J. ARMSTRONG