Patents by Inventor Samuel D. Griggs

Samuel D. Griggs 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: 20150073602
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Kim L. Poling, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20150040519
    Abstract: Packaging systems include a rotating table and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart spool mount assemblies mounted to the rotating table at respective clipper stations. The spool mount assemblies can include a laterally extending centrifugal force retention shaft that faces an outer perimeter of the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Kuo-Raid Grant Chen
  • Patent number: 8950573
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a pusher assembly, an electric motor, preferably a servo motor with a gear box, that drives a linear drive assembly. The devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the pusher assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Sean Michael Kieffer
  • Patent number: 8950574
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Kim L. Poling, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20150035460
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a pusher assembly, an electric motor, preferably a servo motor with a gear box, that drives a linear drive assembly. The devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the pusher assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Sean Michael Kieffer
  • Patent number: 8910776
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Kim L. Poling, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8855807
    Abstract: Computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting using actuators for operating barrier doors, pushers, and locks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew Lowder, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140256239
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, sheared casing and/or netting. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo-motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Kim L. Poling, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140230367
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a loading chute having a ceiling or door having at least a portion configured to open and close and a floor underlying and in cooperating alignment with the ceiling. The ceiling and floor are configured to cooperate to encase a product chamber with an axially extending open channel therebetween. At least one of the floor and ceiling reciprocates in a substantially vertical direction between a first loading position corresponding to when the ceiling is open and a second operative position corresponding to when the ceiling is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey
  • Patent number: 8746432
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a loading chute having a ceiling or door having at least a portion configured to open and close and a floor underlying and in cooperating alignment with the ceiling. The ceiling and floor are configured to cooperate to encase a product chamber with an axially extending open channel therebetween. At least one of the floor and ceiling reciprocates in a substantially vertical direction between a first loading position corresponding to when the ceiling is open and a second operative position corresponding to when the ceiling is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey
  • Publication number: 20140123596
    Abstract: Computer programs for systems with reruckers configured to automatically reruck casing material such as netting in an upstream direction on a chute or horn proximate in time to a clipping operation to pull a clipped end portion of the casing snugly against a discharge end of the chute or horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Matthew D. Lowder, Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May
  • Publication number: 20140047800
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically or semi-automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by pulling a covering material upstream of a product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute, then applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the covering material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8651923
    Abstract: Loading caps suitable to mount to product chutes for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a conical or frustoconical upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey
  • Publication number: 20140033646
    Abstract: Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching closure clips to a product held in casing and/or netting include a retractable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to the casing and/or netting; and a pair of clipper gathering plates attached to the clipper body so that the clipper gathering plates retract with the clipper mechanism, wherein, in operation, the clipper gathering plates gather casing and/or netting upstream of a product held therein prior to attachment of clips to the gathered casing and/or netting by the clipper mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 8641483
    Abstract: Systems with reruckers configured to automatically reruck netting in an upstream direction on a netting chute or horn proximate in time to a clipping operation to pull a clipped end portion of the netting snugly against a discharge end of the chute or horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Lowder, Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May
  • Publication number: 20140013705
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: clip spool cradles, improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey, William M. Poteat
  • Patent number: 8606393
    Abstract: Computer program products that operate packaging systems with an automated product pusher and clipper for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in a covering such as netting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 8584436
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically or semi-automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by pulling a covering material upstream of a product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute, then applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the covering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8578682
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey, William M. Poteat
  • Patent number: 8561663
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey, William M. Poteat