Patents by Inventor Robert L. Powell

Robert L. Powell 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).

  • Publication number: 20240140633
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Gregory L. NELSON, Christopher Ryan NEWCOMB, James D. EVANS, Thien NGUYEN, Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert V. POWELL
  • Patent number: 11945620
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Gregory L. Nelson, Christopher Ryan Newcomb, James D. Evans, Thien Nguyen, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert V. Powell
  • Patent number: 8657103
    Abstract: An apparatus has a continuous loop conveyor belt mounted on a frame. The conveyor belt has a first edge, a second edge, and a belt surface between the first edge and the second edge. The first edge is positioned relatively higher than the second edge such that the belt surface is at an angle with respect to a horizontal ground reference plane, and such that the belt surface slopes downwardly from the first edge toward the second edge. In addition, a sidewall is connected to the frame. The sidewall is positioned adjacent the second edge, and the sidewall is perpendicular to the belt surface and runs parallel to the second edge. Therefore, the sidewall prevents items from falling off the belt surface at the second edge. Further, a plurality of rectangular fins are connected to the belt surface. The fins are perpendicular to the sidewall and perpendicular to the belt surface. A vibrator is connected to the frame and transmits vibrations to the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, John P. Parsons, Robert L. Powell
  • Patent number: 8371568
    Abstract: This is a media transport system that can accommodate various size media or sheets. The system has a series of even sized bins that can accommodate both small and large sheets. Above the bins is located a sheet diverter that when lowered diverts the small sheets into a small portion of the even sized bin. When the sheet diverter is raised, it permits the large sheets to be unblocked by it and fall into the largest portion of the even sized bin. When the large sheets are housed in the bin, they are supported on a short pusher which is located between two large pushers. Both the small and large sheets are in substantial collated alignment when housed in the bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K Herrmann, John P Parson, Robert L Powell
  • Publication number: 20110297510
    Abstract: An apparatus has a continuous loop conveyor belt mounted on a frame. The conveyor belt has a first edge, a second edge, and a belt surface between the first edge and the second edge. The first edge is positioned relatively higher than the second edge such that the belt surface is at an angle with respect to a horizontal ground reference plane, and such that the belt surface slopes downwardly from the first edge toward the second edge. In addition, a sidewall is connected to the frame. The sidewall is positioned adjacent the second edge, and the sidewall is perpendicular to the belt surface and runs parallel to the second edge. Therefore, the sidewall prevents items from falling off the belt surface at the second edge. Further, a plurality of rectangular fins are connected to the belt surface. The fins are perpendicular to the sidewall and perpendicular to the belt surface. A vibrator is connected to the frame and transmits vibrations to the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas K. Herrmann, John P. Parsons, Robert L. Powell
  • Publication number: 20110291354
    Abstract: This is a media transport system that can accommodate various size media or sheets. The system has a series of even sized bins that can accommodate both small and large sheets. Above the bins is located a sheet diverter that when lowered diverts the small sheets into a small portion of the even sized bin. When the sheet diverter is raised, it permits the large sheets to be unblocked by it and fall into the largest portion of the even sized bin. When the large sheets are housed in the bin, they are supported on a short pusher which is located between two large pushers. Both the small and large sheets are in substantial collated alignment when housed in the bins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: DOUGLAS K HERRMANN, John P. Parsons, Robert L. Powell
  • Patent number: 5532593
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for obtaining rheological information about a fluid using nuclear magnetic resonance is disclosed herein. A fluid flowing through a tube is subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance imaging signals to obtain the velocity profile of the fluid. The pressure gradient between two points along the tube is also obtained. The shear rate is then determined from the velocity profile, and the shear stress is determined from the pressure gradient. From a single velocity profile, data is obtained over shear rates ranging from zero at the center of the tube to the maximum shear rate at the tube wall. Alternatively, the velocity spectrum can be obtained and used in the same manner. The shear stress versus shear rate curve can thereby be obtained from a single nuclear magnetic resonance image taken at a specific value of the pressure gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of California
    Inventors: James E. Maneval, Kathryn L. McCarthy, Michael J. McCarthy, Robert L. Powell