Endless Conveyor Or Portion Thereof Pivots About A Horizontal Axis Perpendicular To Path Patents (Class 198/369.2)
  • Patent number: 11161696
    Abstract: An object redirection mechanism for a conveying system is provided. The object redirection mechanism is configured to redirect an object moved by the conveying system from a first direction to a second direction. The object redirection mechanism includes an arm tunnel positioned proximate an end of a conveyor configured for moving an object in the first direction. The arm tunnel includes an object stop having an object stopping portion defining at least a first side of the arm tunnel at least substantially parallel with the second direction and configured to engage an object moving in the first direction. The object stopping portion defines at least one finger aperture to enable at least one of the rotationally-retractable fingers to, when aligned with the at least one finger aperture, rotate between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. A corresponding object conveying system and method of assembling an object stop are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Jarl Nicholas Sebastian, Anthony J. Turco, Jacob D. Wieneke
  • Patent number: 11066251
    Abstract: A conveyor for transporting a board along a path in a transport direction has an upstream section, a downstream section aligned with the upstream section and defining therewith a horizontal support plane, and a center section between the upstream and downstream sections. The center section is movable from a pass-through position aligned and level with the upstream and downstream sections to an offset position spaced therefrom horizontally or vertically. A platform underneath the center section is moveable vertically, and a lift moves the platform vertically between upper and lower positions. Hooks or grab can, when the center section is in the offset position and the platform is in the lower position, either pull a board off the platform and onto the downstream section or guide and deposit a board from the upstream section onto the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMPELKAMP MASCHINEN- UND ANLAGENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Hanssen, Lothar Steiner, Michael Vaessen, Christian Weiner
  • Patent number: 10968047
    Abstract: A self-adaptive luggage transfer device and system. The self-adaptive luggage transfer device includes a base, a conveyor mechanism, a lifting mechanism and a self-adaptive extendable transfer mechanism. The lifting mechanism is arranged between the conveyor mechanism and the base and is configured to drive the conveyor mechanism to lift. The self-adaptive extendable transfer mechanism is obliquely arranged between the conveyor mechanism and the base and is in transmission connection with the lifting mechanism. Two ends of the self-adaptive extendable transfer mechanism are movably connected to an output end of the conveyor mechanism and the base, respectively. The conveyor mechanism is configured to drive an end of the self-adaptive extendable transfer mechanism connected to the conveyor mechanism to lift in a first direction, and the lifting mechanism is configured to drive at least one end of the self-adaptive extendable transfer mechanism to move in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sichuan University
    Inventors: Wenqiang Li, Song Li, Chen Chen, Zhong Tang, Wu Zhao, Chuanxiao Li
  • Patent number: 10899033
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for uncut material detection while lifting from an automated cutting table select pieces of thin, flexible material. The apparatus comprises a structured energy source and a structured energy sensor. The structured energy can be used to detect undesired lifting of a peripheral portion of the flexible material resulting from the presence of uncut material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Arm Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek D. Black, Nathan R. Woodward, Damian J. Hendriks, Joseph W. Geisinger, Stephen G. Grupinski
  • Patent number: 10858194
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming packs from multiple packaging units includes three transporters, a deflector, and an exchange transporter having no more than one transport segment. A gap exists between the first transporter and the third transporter. Either the exchange transporter or the second transporter is in the gap. Movement of the deflector adjusts a lineal dimension of the gap so as to accommodate insertion of the exchange transporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Stuhlmann, Karl-Heinz Klumpe, Stefan Wagner, Jörg Koppers
  • Patent number: 10787319
    Abstract: A nose bar for a conveyor element with a frame part, having a head end including a gutter with a circle segment shaped cross section, a rod with a circular cross section, having a radius equal to the circle segment of the cross section in which the circular surface of the rod is arranged directly against the gutter of the frame part. A conveyor, and a production line, in particular for dough products, including a nose bar with a frame part, having a head end including a gutter with a circle segment shaped cross section, a rod with a circular cross section in which the circular surface of the rod is arranged directly against the gutter of the frame part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Radie B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Josephus Antonius Van Blokland
  • Patent number: 10696485
    Abstract: A packaging method is implemented via an industrial plant including a formation of packaging machines (M1-M4) arranged in succession and supplied via one and the same conveyor line (120). The method includes operating the machines further downstream as primary machines and the machines further upstream as reserve machines and establishing a constant presence of products on the conveyor line for each primary machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SOREMARTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Ratto, Sergio Mansuino
  • Patent number: 10696503
    Abstract: A tray assembly is provided for use with a carrier in a product sortation system. The tray assembly includes a platform to receive parcels loaded onto the carrier. A pair of movable edge members are disposed at opposite sides of the platform. Each edge member is integrated with a combination including a pair of pivotable support arms and a spring element intermediate of the support arms. Each support arm supports its edge member at one end and is pivotally mounted at another end to a tray framework. The spring element is fixedly mounted at one end to the tray framework and is connected at another end to its edge member in a biasing relationship. In response to an applied load resulting from a parcel bearing down on the edge member, the support arms pivot downward in a manner sufficient to allow the parcel to reach and then rest on the tray platform. At the same time as the support arms pivot, the spring element deflects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GB Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Porat, Israel Schechter
  • Patent number: 10407252
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly includes a trolley, a skid, a stationary cam member and a cam follower. The skid is positioned on the trolley. The stationary cam member is downstream of the trolley. The cam follower is fixed to the trolley for pivotal movement with respect thereto. The cam follower moves in response to contact with the stationary cam. With the trolley in a first location the cam follower moves to a release orientation. With the trolley moved to a second location the cam follower moves to a stop orientation. In the stop orientation a surface of the cam follower contacts the skit restricting movement thereof. In the release orientation the cam follower is moved away from the skid such that the skid is movable in the second direction past the cam follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Ramses Villanueva Vargas, Marco Antonio Cienfuegos Guzman, Victor Miguel Zuñiga Mendoza
  • Patent number: 10335833
    Abstract: A singulation conveyor for conveying and separating piece goods, in particular packages and/or consignments, along at least one transport track bearing the piece goods items is described, wherein in the transport track, in some sections, finger elements adjustable between a lower setting and an upper setting are provided, and wherein the free ends of the finger elements in the upper setting are arranged in an upper position above an adjoining region of the transport track in such a way as to manipulate the motional direction and/or the motional speed of respectively individual piece goods items independently of other piece goods items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Wolfram Grafe
  • Patent number: 10315326
    Abstract: A cold cuts cutting machine for cutting food, such as sausage, cheese or meat, for example, into slices, in particular for simultaneously slicing at least two pieces of stick-shaped food by means of a cutting blade. A minimization or a cancellation, respectively, of adhesive and frictional forces or the production of a noncutting pass, respectively, is to be make possible thereby and the supply of the food, which is to be sliced, is to be improved further. The cold cuts cutting machine includes a lower and an upper traction belt, between which the product bar can be guided such that the lower traction belt can carry out a relative movement, which is substantially vertical to the conveying direction of the product bar, with respect to a cutting latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mark Dennis Achenbach, Stefan Fritz
  • Patent number: 10221578
    Abstract: A personnel platform facilitates maintenance on a loop sorter of a material handling system in a distribution center. The personnel platform includes wheeled axle assemblies, having left and right wheel hub assemblies connected by a lateral support structure, engaged for longitudinal travel to opposing wheel channels of a section bed of the loop sorter that guide a train of material handling carriages. The personnel platform also includes a carrier platform comprising multiple sub-platforms, such that each sub-platform is pivotally attached to an adjacent sub-platform. Further, the personnel platform includes a rail assembly having upright structures and side rail assemblies attached between an adjacent pair of upright structures. Further, the side rail assemblies extend and retract according to changing spacing between the adjacent upright structures as the personnel platform moves along a curved section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventors: Murat Lee Newman, Damian Jay Saunders, Jameson Paul Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 9994397
    Abstract: A device and a method for portioning a flow of individual products having an input-side conveying device continuously supplying individual products and at least two output-side conveying devices for continuously discharging the products. The output-side conveying devices are arranged vertically above one another. The input-side conveying device continuously transfers the products to a first output-side conveying device. The input-side and/or the output-side conveying devices are able to be pivoted in their position to transfer the products to one of the at least two output-side conveying devices, continuously or in batches. The input and output-side conveying devices may be circulating conveyor belts, in the form of front and/or rear ends, which are movable in the direction of conveyance and cooperate so that during the phase of adjusting the position of the input and/or the output-side conveying devices, the products on the input-side may be supplied continuously at uniform spacings from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: LOESCH VERPACKUNGSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Tobias Hetzer, Roland Pleichinger
  • Patent number: 9889623
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an automated inflation device configured for inflating an inflatable structure, which can then be used—for example—as a protective packaging material. As described in detail herein, various embodiments of the inflation device are configured to be mounted on a wall for convenient installation and use. According to certain embodiments, the inflation device is configured to automatically inflate multiple inflatable chambers in the inflatable structure using an efficient inflation-at-a-distance method. Moreover, various embodiments are provided with one or more user input controls and/or remote sensors to enable a user to conveniently request inflation of a particular number of inflatable chambers or a particular length of the inflatable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Frayne, Paul Chudy, Tung Yiu Fok
  • Patent number: 9415605
    Abstract: The laser marking apparatus includes: a laser device; a first conveying portion that conveys an illuminated object to at least a region illuminated by a laser beam through the laser device; a second conveying portion, provided on an upstream side of the first conveying portion, able to convey the illuminated object in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to that of the first conveying portion; a switching mechanism, provided between the first conveying portion and the second conveying portion, which switches a conveyance destination of the illuminated object to the first conveying portion or the second conveying portion; and an imaging portion, provided in a vicinity of the second conveying portion, that captures an image of the illuminated object that is conveyed by the second conveying portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomohisa Ugajin
  • Patent number: 9085423
    Abstract: A device for feeding a book block, which is formed of at least one printed sheet and transported flat, to a processing station in a clocked manner includes a first and a second transport device. The first transport device has a comb-shaped introduction flap and transport units. The introduction flap includes teeth disposed on a base part and recesses formed between the teeth. The second transport device has a transport duct and a transport finger. The transport duct has a contact surface, a clearance and a gap. The first transport device engages, by the introduction flap, in the clearance. The recesses are open in a direction facing away from the transport duct. The transport units are disposed on a first side of the introduction flap. The introduction flap is connected to a controllable drive and has a pivot axis disposed on a second side of the introduction flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: MUELLER MARTINI HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Urs Moesli, Beat Hoerler
  • Publication number: 20140224906
    Abstract: A material processing apparatus comprising: a base; a first material processing unit, for example a crusher; a feed conveyor; and a second material processing unit, for example a screening unit. The feed conveyor and the second material processing unit are both movable with respect to the first material processing unit and with respect to each other so that material can be fed into the first material processing unit directly from the feed conveyor, or indirectly from the feed conveyor via the second material processing unit. The second material processing unit can be stored beneath the feed conveyor when not in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventors: Gordon Dunn, Raymond Young, Martin McGirr
  • Publication number: 20140216895
    Abstract: The present invention provides a material distribution system and method thereof, comprising first, second and third conveyors, first, second, third and fourth material distribution paths, first and second material distribution rockers, and a movable material-distributing guide plate. Material conveyed on the second conveyor is delivered to the first or second material distribution rocker by switching the movable material-distributing guide plate, material conveyed on the first or second conveyor is delivered to the first or second material distribution path by switching the first material distribution rocker, and material conveyed on the second or third conveyor is delivered to the third or fourth material distribution path by switching the second material distribution rocker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: WEN-CHENG LIU
  • Patent number: 8770378
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying products comprising at least one conveyor device being drivable by a drive shaft in order to supply the products to each of a plurality of output regions, wherein said conveyor device comprises a support structure which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation of said drive shaft for individually changing said output region. Said support structure is pivotably supported by a jointed arm arrangement at a support element spaced apart from said drive shaft such that, by moving said jointed arm arrangement, said support structure is pivotable about said axis of rotation of said drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventor: Sigfrid Bauer
  • Patent number: 8752691
    Abstract: A vertical switcher includes a first conveyor belt mobile in rotation about a first tilting axis and a second conveyor belt mobile in rotation about a second tilting axis. A movement device moves the first and the second conveyor belt between an aligned condition in which the mobile ends thereof (opposite the inlet end and the outlet end) are substantially flanked and a switching condition in which the mobile ends are distanced from one another in order to enable passage of one or more objects crossing between them. The movement device exhibits a main oscillating arm that is mobile about a rotation axis coupled slidably to respective surfaces of the first and the second conveyor element such as to define a resting relation with the respective conveyor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Mechanica Holding & Services S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Cristoforetti
  • Patent number: 8636135
    Abstract: The belt conveyer 10 includes guide members 100F and 100R. The guide members 100F and 100R are disposed between the endless belts 13A and 13B. The belt conveyer has a suction box 81 and a blower 91. The belt conveyor 10 becomes able to suction the air via the conveyance surface 10A that is the workpiece holding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130319817
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying device having a first and a second conveyor belt and a moveable turnout which directs a flow of products onto the first and/or second conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas Gahler
  • Patent number: 8528721
    Abstract: A sorter device and sorting apparatus for use in a conveyor line, and a conveyor line including such a sorter device and sorting apparatus. A sorting apparatus may be used in a conveyor line with an inspection device, and may include an infeed device and an outfeed device to move the products to and from a sorter device with a sorting element that can be swiveled downward. The sorter device may be equipped with at least one guide element that is arranged at a vertical distance from the sorting element and acts from above to guide the transport direction of a product that is moved on the sorting element. The guide element may be connected to the sorting element and may be designed to swivel therewith. An optional take-along device may also be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo Garvens GmbH
    Inventors: Katrin Eiserloh, Stefan Müller
  • Publication number: 20130153364
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying products comprising at least one conveyor device being drivable by a drive shaft in order to supply the products to each of a plurality of output regions, wherein said conveyor device comprises a support structure which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation of said drive shaft for individually changing said output region. Said support structure is pivotably supported by a jointed arm arrangement at a support element spaced apart from said drive shaft such that, by moving said jointed arm arrangement, said support structure is pivotable about said axis of rotation of said drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: WEBER MASCHINENBAU GMBH BREIDENBACH
    Inventor: Sigfrid Bauer
  • Patent number: 8312983
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking electrode plates includes a first and second transfer conveyor units, and an electrode plate support. The first transfer conveyor unit includes an addressing conveyor and a movable conveyor, and a power unit drives the movable conveyor upward and downward to vary the angle between the movable conveyor and the addressing conveyor. The second transfer conveyor unit has a plurality of conveyors located at different heights. The electrode plate support has a plurality of support plates which are placed vertically parallel to one another. The electrode plate support is moved upward and downward in a vertical direction via a conveyor device to move the support plates to positions adjacent to their own corresponding conveyors of the second transfer conveyor unit at different heights, and each of the support plates accepts an electrode plate from its own corresponding conveyor of the second transfer conveyor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventors: Lung Kuo, Chia-Shou Kuo
  • Patent number: 8157080
    Abstract: A product aggregating apparatus receives product with an in-feed conveyor assembly and provides the product in an aggregated, registered and/or organized form, such as to a product picking apparatus. The in-feed conveyor assembly includes at least one in-feed conveyor, each in-feed conveyor configured to deliver product to first and second locations. A product receiver assembly includes at least first and second product receiver carriages to receive product at the first and second locations, respectively. An aggregated product receiver assembly comprises a carriage configured for vertical movement to positions adjacent to each product receiver carriage. A pusher assembly, comprising a pusher carriage configured for vertical movement to positions adjacent to each product receiver carriage, contains pushers horizontally moveable to push product from the adjacent product receiver carriage and onto the carriage of the aggregated product receiver assembly for picking by an appropriate apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Pearson Packaging Systems
    Inventor: James A. Goodman
  • Publication number: 20120067694
    Abstract: A product redistribution device, including a pivotable main conveyor for conveying products, a storage apparatus for receiving the products at an input location and for outputting the temporarily stored products at a drop-off location, wherein the products can be pushed out at the drop-off location by a pushing device of the storage apparatus, wherein a discharge conveyor is available for receiving the pushed out products, wherein the product redistribution device includes a decoupling apparatus and a load conveyor for temporarily storing the products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: ROTZINGER AG
    Inventor: Kurt Philipp
  • Patent number: 8079457
    Abstract: A device for supplying boards to crosscut saws has a feeding device and a transverse transport unit arranged downstream of the feeding device. Several loading planes are arranged downstream of the transverse transport unit and positioned at different levels. The boards are supplied on the loading planes to a crosscut saw, respectively. The transverse transport unit is adjustable relative to the loading planes about an axis that is transverse to a transport direction of the boards on the transverse transport unit. A stop is adjustably arranged in the transport path of the boards on the transverse transport unit, wherein the stop, without sensing the boards, is adjustable exclusively by a control unit of the device. When the transverse transport unit is being adjusted into a new position relative to the loading planes, the stop prevents further transport of the boards to the loading planes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: GreCon Dimter Holzoptimierung Süd GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Alois Heinz
  • Patent number: 8069968
    Abstract: An apparatus for the discharge of an article, in particular of a flat mail item. A first conveyor device is able to transport the article in a primary transport path, a second conveyor device transports it in a branched transport path. A diverter is configured to leave the article either in the primary transport path or to discharge it into the branched transport path. A conveyor belt of the first conveyor device is guided around a roller. This roller is mounted onto the diverter. Thus a pivoting of the diverter from a standby position into a discharge position causes the roller and the conveyor belt resting upon the roller to be displaced perpendicular to the pivot axis of the diverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Armin Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20110259712
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking electrode plates includes a first and second transfer conveyor units, and an electrode plate support. The first transfer conveyor unit includes an addressing conveyor and a movable conveyor, and a power unit drives the movable conveyor upward and downward to vary the angle between the movable conveyor and the addressing conveyor. The second transfer conveyor unit has a plurality of conveyors located at different heights. The electrode plate support has a plurality of support plates which are placed vertically parallel to one another. The electrode plate support is moved upward and downward in a vertical direction via a conveyor device to move the support plates to positions adjacent to their own corresponding conveyors of the second transfer conveyor unit at different heights, and each of the support plates accepts an electrode plate from its own corresponding conveyor of the second transfer conveyor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Lung Kuo, Chia-Shou Kuo
  • Patent number: 8016101
    Abstract: A change-over mechanism causing a main support frame and a sub support frame to rotate is made up of a drive motor, a rotating body, and coupling rods. One end of the coupling rod is coupled to the rotating body, and the other end thereof is coupled to the main support frame. One end of the coupling rod is coupled to the rotating body, and the other end thereof is coupled to the sub support frame. When a belt junction conveyor is changed over between a first and a second transfer states, one of the coupling rods is pushed out and the other one is pulled by the rotating body rotating by an activation of the drive motor, so that the main and the sub support frames are rotated in the opposite direction from each other, and a direction of transport of products by an endless belt is changed over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sanki Engineering Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Nobuya Hishinuma
  • Patent number: 7934591
    Abstract: A check-in system for receiving and transporting luggage from a passenger comprising a conveyor for transporting luggage. The conveyor having a top surface on which luggage is received and which extends from a front end to a rear end, a floor being adjacent to the front end of the conveyor for supporting a passenger. The top surface of the front end of the conveyor is substantially flush with the floor such that luggage may be slid from the floor onto the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Squid, Inc.
    Inventor: David Pierce Jones
  • Patent number: 7788887
    Abstract: A filling device including a web-forming station (A), a filling station (B), a sampling station (C), and a retrieval station (D). A first box conveyor (3) for conveying boxes exiting a folder-gluer (1) and for forwarding them from the web-forming station (A) to the filling station (B) along a forwarding path (Ta). A second box conveyor (10) for conveying boxes forwarded by the first box conveyor (3) and for transferring them from the sampling station (C) to the retrieval station (D) along a transfer path (Tt).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Baenninger
  • Patent number: 7665596
    Abstract: Apparatus for the outflow of pressed items from a rotary press, with a first channel section connecting directly to the rotary press, to which at least two channel sections are connected, to which a deflector is attached, which is swivel mounted at an axis almost vertical to the longitudinal extension of the first and/or second channel section and optionally connects the first channel section with one of the other channel sections and a pivot drive for the deflector below or above the channel sections, characterized in that a bearing pin for the deflector is connected in a torque-proof manner with a channel section and the swivel drive is coupled with the deflector via a magnetic coupling eccentric to the bearing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fette GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Kolbe, Ulrich Arndt
  • Patent number: 7641043
    Abstract: The present invention provides a loading and unloading apparatus comprising in mutual cooperation a conveyor device (3) adjacent a roller table (2), where said conveyor device and roller table are pivotably mounted on a carrying structure (5), which structure, in use is vertically extendable and retractable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventor: Martin Vestergaard
  • Patent number: 7607467
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively dispensing a web from a plurality of rolls of serrated bags or layflat tubing comprises a web selector for selecting and advancing a web from the plurality of rolls; a bag driver for advancing the selected web and separating a bag from the web; and a bag transfer device for transporting the separated bag from the bag driver to a location for processing. A sealer/cutter is used to produce a bag from the layflat tubing. A method of selectively dispensing a web from a plurality of rolls of serrated bags or layflat tubing comprises selecting and advancing a web from the plurality of rolls of serrated bags; advancing the selected web and separating a bag from the web; and transporting the separated bag to a location for further processing. In the case of layflat tubing, the selected web is sealed and cut to make a bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory E. McDonald, Timothy S. Dennison, Glenn W. Killinger, Jeffrey L. Walker
  • Patent number: 7547184
    Abstract: In a station for forming a pile of layers of items, a surface receives layers of items to be transferred to a first support plane situated after the receiving surface. The items arranged in layers are moved along the receiving surfaces and the first support plane by driving chains connected by rods set crosswise to the receiving surface and support plane. The support plane is spaced apart from the receiving surface to define a window and a descending ramp is situated below the window. An additional conveyor formed by narrow slats or rolls, is situated at the window and is operated so that one flexible plate moves to cover and uncover the window, so that layers of items are alternately either carried from the receiving surface to the support plane or made to pass through the window and released on the descending ramp. The ramp can change inclination so as to connect the receiving surface to either one or the other of second and third support planes situated below the first support plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Tissue Machinery Company S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Dall'Omo, Christian Zabnoni
  • Patent number: 7530443
    Abstract: Provided is an angle change device for an automatic conveyor system. The angle change device includes: a slate conveyor having guiding grooves formed to cross the slate conveyor; lift units disposed to vertically cross the slate conveyer to lift a loaded material up from the guiding grooves of the slate conveyor; a forward/backward driving unit including driving sprockets between rails arranged to cross the slate conveyor between the lift units and a driving motor; a rotation guiding shaft pin; and a turntable carrier unit including a moving plate for dynamically approaching to or retreating from the slate conveyor and a rotating plate for repeatedly rotating about the rotation shaft in a clockwise and a counter clockwise at predetermined angle when the rotating guiding shaft pin catches the rotating plate while moving in a forward direction or in a backward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Jae Hyung Jeon
  • Publication number: 20090107801
    Abstract: An egg transport system has an egg transport module (10) where eggs are stored on a plurality of shelves (20) on a transportable frame (30) with wheels (11). The module (10) is loaded or unloaded by a loader (50, 150) and unloader (70), both of which can be vertical aligned to enable loading/unloading of a selected one of the shelves (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Colin James Smith
  • Patent number: 7472785
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly including a first conveyor frame configured to move along a path relative to a mounting frame and including a conveyor belt. The conveyor assembly further includes a second conveyor frame, connected to the first conveyor frame via a pivot, and configured to automatically rotate to change an angle between the first conveyor frame and the second conveyor frame in response to movement of the first conveyor frame relative to the mounting frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Kuhn North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Albright, Claude McFarlane, George Cicci
  • Patent number: 7455169
    Abstract: A conveying system with at least one conveying element (2), preferably a conveyor belt, with goods (3) conveyed on the same being delivered at the end of the conveying element (2) to a container (1) situated beneath the conveying element (2). In order to provide a conveying system which allows a transfer of the goods by the conveying element to the provided container without subjecting the goods to a likelihood of damage it is provided that the movable flap (6) in the position sealing the container opening can be pivoted to a position parallel to the inclined sliding surface (4) and is movably held in this position parallel to the sliding surface (4) in order to form a second sliding surface projecting into the container (1) and extending the inclined sliding surface (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: SSI Schäfer PEEM GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Schäfer
  • Patent number: 7341140
    Abstract: An off-loading conveyor of produce having utility in the discrimination and separation of watermelons includes a support structure defining a conveying path, an endless flexible element mounted on the support structure to extend and to move along the conveying path and support elements mounted to pivot from the conveying path and to move with the endless flexible element along the conveying path. The support elements are mounted to mounts which are attached to the endless flexible element. These elements are pivotally mounted to the mount and extend transversely across the conveying path of the conveyor from pivots in alternation from opposite sides of the conveying path. The support elements include elongate bodies which are pivoted adjacent one end and employ a rotatably mounted wheel adjacent the other end. The wheels define a conveying channel and are able to be lifted by cams upwardly to off load produce from either side of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: A. James Warkentin
  • Patent number: 7273142
    Abstract: A system for conveying a string of packaging cushions includes a machine capable of manufacturing the string and a conveyor adapted to transport the string. The conveyor has an inlet end to receive the string and an outlet end to deliver the string of packaging cushions. The inlet end of the conveyor is higher than the cushion outlet elevation of the machine. At least one pair of rolls are adapted to lift the string of packaging cushions from the machine through the nip of the rolls to the conveyor inlet elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Paul Van Huis, Kerry McKinley, Robert A. White, Jr., Michael Charney
  • Patent number: 7198752
    Abstract: For automatic transportation and lifting and lowering of specimens in an automatic stainer, a drive system comprises a motor (16) and a side wall assembly (40), the motor (16) being coupled on the drive side to a first (12) and a second (14) crank system. The first (12) and second (14) crank systems are respectively coupled to the side wall assembly (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Nussloch GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Thiem
  • Patent number: 7080541
    Abstract: An automatic feeding machine for transferring semi-manufactured products (40) between a progressive die (10) and a single station die (30), includes a frame (22), a feeding device (20), and a manipulator (50). The feeding device is positioned on the frame, which includes a curved slide (24), an active conveyor (27), a passive conveyor (25), and a locating table (23). The semi-manufactured products are transported on the active conveyor, the passive conveyor and the locating table in turn. Thereafter the semi-manufactured products are fetched by the manipulator. When the passive conveyor is fully occupied with semi-manufactured products, the active conveyor pivots to a position in alignment with the curved slide, so that unneeded semi-manufactured products slide out along the curved slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Ind(Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianping Xiong
  • Patent number: 6910570
    Abstract: A container transport system includes a first conveyor assembly at one transport plane, and a second conveyor assembly at another transport plane, and a transfer device for moving the containers between the conveyor assemblies. Each of the conveyor assemblies has a split conveyor to define a gap, and a further conveyor movable between a first position bridging the gap and a second position in which the further conveyor is moved outwardly transversely to the transport direction. The transfer device includes a convex portion disposed in proximity of one transport plane and a concave portion which can swing into the other transport plane. The container has a bottom underside formed in transport direction with at least one grooved recess which defines a leading edge and a trailing edge, as viewed in transport direction, with the convex and concave portions engaging only the leading and trailing edges of the container, as the container is moved between the transport planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
  • Patent number: 6851919
    Abstract: Equipment for superimposing layers of products to be packaged (P), comprising: a feed surface (12) associated to a first product-feed device (18); and a pair of preparation surfaces (24, 26) set on top of one another and designed to receive each a respective layer of products to be packaged (P), the preparation surfaces (24, 26) being associated each to a respective feed device (36, 38), the said feed devices (36, 38) being designed to cause synchronized advance of corresponding layers of products (P) along the preparation surfaces (24, 26). Both of the preparation surfaces (24, 26) are mobile so as to bring alternately the respective product-intake end (28, 30) into a position corresponding to the product-output end (16) of the feed surface (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Casmatic SpA
    Inventors: Andrea Cinotti, Mirko Cassoli
  • Patent number: 6776277
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor device for transporting and expelling material to be conveyed, especially flat postal items. The inventive device comprises vertically pivotable conveying modules that are arranged one behind the other. The aim of the invention is to reduce the closing time required by the pivoted conveyor module component to go back to the level of the succeeding conveyor module component. The component of the conveyor modules is designed in such a way that said component can also be driven in the vertical direction, whereby said component is the front component when seen in the conveying direction. Immediately after a material to be conveyed (3) has been expelled and when the next material to be conveyed (3) is transported further, said front component of the conveyor module (1) that succeeds the expelling conveyor module (1) is pivoted against the component that is pivoted for expelling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rolf Wiehler
  • Patent number: 6708813
    Abstract: A product sorter for diverting products (M) towards a plurality of positions by performing an up and down pivotal movement about an axis of rotation (G3) while the products (M) are successively transported includes a transport conveyor (2) adapted to be bent and including a conveyor frame (21), a rotatory drive body (22) mounted on one of opposite ends of the conveyor frame (21), a rotatory driven body (23) mounted on the other of the opposite ends of the conveyor frame (21), and an endless transport belt (24) trained around and between the rotatory drive and driven bodies (22, 23), a drive source (5) for driving the rotatory drive body (22) to drive the transport belt (24); and an actuator (6) for pivoting the support framework (3) up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6702095
    Abstract: A method and device for conveying packages supplied from at least one supply unit, via a transfer unit, to a switch unit formed by a conveyor, pivotable about a horizontal axis and in which the packages are carried to a first discharge conveyor in a first position of the switch unit and to a second discharge conveyor arranged above the first discharge conveyor in a second position of the switch unit. The method and device detect the size and the identity of the packages, and control the transport of the packages by the supply unit and/or the transfer unit influenced by the detecting of the size of the packages. The spacing between packages delivered to the switch unit that are carried to the same discharge conveyor is smaller than the spacing between packages delivered to the switch unit that are carried to a second discharge conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Vanderlande Industries Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus Wilhelmus Marinus Van Heeswijk, Petrus Theodorus Cornelis Vervoort, Marinus Adrianus Maria Potters, Johannes Antonius Henricus Maria Van Keulen, Ivo Johannes Van Der Meulen, Marcus Wilhelmus Maria Van Hoorn, Johannes Martinus Maria Van Boxtel