Endless Conveyor Or Portion Thereof Pivots About A Vertical Axis Patents (Class 198/369.5)
  • Patent number: 10766715
    Abstract: A system for diverting objects traveling along a conveyor includes an upstream conveyor segment having an inlet end and an outlet end and a downstream conveyor segment having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment is located to receive items from the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment. A conveyor shift mechanism is linked to both the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment and the inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment for carrying out lateral movement of the outlet end of the upstream conveyor segment in one lateral direction while simultaneously carrying out lateral movement of the inlet end of the downstream conveyor segment in an opposite lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SHUTTLEWORTH LLC
    Inventors: Gregory C. Stroud, Rhett E. Craig
  • Patent number: 10442628
    Abstract: An axle distance adjustment device is provided for a conveyor-driven fabric dyeing machine and includes a conveyor belt in the form of an endless loop arranged inside a machine body and a fixed roller and a movable roller respectively arranged at two ends of the conveyor belt. The fixed roller has a rotary axle having two ends mounted through bearings to bearing seats mounted on sidewalls of the machine body. The movable roller has a rotary axle having two ends mounted through bearings to position-adjustable bearing seats, which are coupled to hollow bearing seat bases mounted to the sidewalls of the machine body. The position-adjustable bearing seats are attachable to the hollow bearing seat bases at different locations so that an axle distance between the rotary axle of the fixed roller and the rotary axle of the movable roller is changed for adjustment of tightness of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: Chi-Lung Chang
  • Patent number: 10112782
    Abstract: A motor driven roller support assembly includes a motorized roller having a cylindrical outer surface that is configured to rotate, a support frame within which the roller is mounted, and a roller support connected to the support frame and engaging the outer surface of the motorized roller. The roller support may include a pair of support wheels for contacting the outer surface of the motorized roller, and include a pivot whereby the roller support is moveable relative to the support frame. The assembly may be integrated with a transfer conveyor, such as a right angle transfer having transfer blades that include belts driven by the motorized roller. The roller support engages the motorized roller in a direction that is generally opposite from the direction in which the belts engage the motorized roller to thereby counteract forces imparted by the belts on the motorized roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Paul L. Wetters, Leo A. Battreall, Joseph A. Fester
  • Patent number: 9707473
    Abstract: A stacking device for mahjong tiles includes a main frame, a link rod, a side frame, and a lift seat. The main frame is coupled with a turning wheel having a guide trough. The guide trough has an annular indentation section. The link rod has a retaining pivot portion, a link pivot portion, and a guide roller pivot portion pivotally connected with a first guide roller. The first guide roller is located in the guide trough. The side frame is provided with two rails. The rails are provided with a slide seat connected with a push board. The slide seat has a slide groove. The turning wheel can bring the slide seat to displace. The lift seat includes a platform and a slide board beneath the platform. The link pivot portion is pivotally connected to a lower end of the slide board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Tzu-Hsiang Tseng
  • Patent number: 9248981
    Abstract: A steerable wheel diverter system having a plurality of diverter wheels pivotally mounted at least partially within a common assembly and a powered roller mounted external to the common assembly may be provided in series with an ingress conveying apparatus and one or more egress conveying apparatuses. Providing the powered roller outside of the common assembly enables maintenance evaluations on the powered roller, or on a motor associated with the powered roller, to be performed quickly and easily, and without having to disassemble the common assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dallas Wayne Skoretz, Jefferson Benjamin Thompson, IV, Paul Lincoln McCurley
  • Patent number: 9004258
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly adapted to convey material comprising an offsetting conveyor having an offsetting conveyor tail end, an offsetting conveyor swing end, and an offsetting conveyor belt and being adapted to move between an offsetting conveyor centered position an offsetting conveyor angled position, and an offsetting conveyor offset position. The preferred conveyor assembly also comprises an offsetting conveyor swing actuator that is adapted to move the offsetting conveyor between the offsetting conveyor centered position and the offsetting conveyor angled position. The preferred conveyor assembly further comprises a chute having a chute feed end and a chute discharge end and being adapted to move between a chute centered position and a chute angled position. The preferred conveyor assembly still further comprises a chute actuator that is adapted to move the chute between the chute centered position and the chute angled position. A method for moving an offsetting conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Telsmith, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8955664
    Abstract: A junction conveyor is disclosed. The junction conveyor includes a stationary end and a switching end. A stationary assembly is disposed at the stationary end and a switching conveyor assembly disposed at the switching end. The junction conveyor includes a counter conveyor assembly between the stationary and switching conveyor assemblies. The junction conveyor includes a counter movement unit. The counter movement unit causes the counter conveyor assembly to move in an opposite direction as the switching conveyor assembly during switching from a home position to a switch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Pteris Global Ltd.
    Inventors: Kok Leng Lim, John Hee Kwee Sng
  • Patent number: 8919529
    Abstract: A dual position chute for parcel handling. In one embodiment, the device comprises a conveying track, an unloading station and a transition zone dual-position chute that is adapted to divert a package from an adjacent conveying track and between at least two substantially vertical discharge positions. In some examples, the chute includes an inlet, a positionable diverter door and at least one spatially-separated stationary diverter door that is downstream from the positionable diverter door. The system and chute provides for discharge of small parcels from an adjacent packing sorting conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Mantissa Corporation
    Inventors: David Patrick Erceg, Gonzalo Sotelo, Christopher K. Sales
  • Patent number: 8733534
    Abstract: A belt conveyor system with a distributing belt conveyor unit having upper and lower movable frame assemblies that are pivotally connected to a gear unit that simultaneously moves the lower movable frame assembly in opposition to the movement of the upper movable frame assembly, therein allowing the belt to track smoothly when transferring the articles between one branch belt conveyor unit and two or more branch belt conveyors units. The construction of the distributing belt conveyor unit allows for easy removal of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Pteris Global Limited
    Inventors: Kok Leng Lim, Hee Kwee Sng
  • Patent number: 8678170
    Abstract: Products (3) advancing in single file are divided into at least two files by a device comprising a main conveyor (10) from which the products (3) of the single file (7) pass onto a first outfeed conveyor (11) and onto a second outfeed conveyor (12) positioned with infeed ends at different heights, one above the other; the device also comprises a linking conveyor (26) between the main conveyor (10) and the outfeed conveyors (11, 12), consisting in a pair of looped belts (27, 28) presenting outer surfaces faced along a portion of predetermined length with a layer (35) of resilient material, thereby creating a channel (34) by which the main conveyor (10) is linked to the outfeed conveyor (11) positioned uppermost, and along which the products (3) are transferred cyclically to this same conveyor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Carrara, Daniele Civolani
  • Publication number: 20140054131
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly adapted to convey material comprising an offsetting conveyor having an offsetting conveyor tail end, an offsetting conveyor swing end, and an offsetting conveyor belt and being adapted to move between an offsetting conveyor centered position an offsetting conveyor angled position, and an offsetting conveyor offset position. The preferred conveyor assembly also comprises an offsetting conveyor swing actuator that is adapted to move the offsetting conveyor between the offsetting conveyor centered position and the offsetting conveyor angled position. The preferred conveyor assembly further comprises a chute having a chute feed end and a chute discharge end and being adapted to move between a chute centered position and a chute angled position. The preferred conveyor assembly still further comprises a chute actuator that is adapted to move the chute between the chute centered position and the chute angled position. A method for moving an offsetting conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Telsmith, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8439180
    Abstract: A conveyor cargo handling system for the synchronized, computerized loading and unloading of cargo containers from a vessel is comprised of at least two conveyor lines. Individually powered conveyor units, idler conveyor units, translate powered conveyor modules (“TPCM”), and rotate powered conveyor modules (“RPCM”), are remotely computer coordinated to operate in concert to safely and efficiently control traffic flow on the container terminal. The system eliminates much of the ground transportation conventionally utilized to move cargo containers to their storage destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventors: Dianren Zhang, Brian Hamill
  • Patent number: 8251202
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing goods delivered on one or more feeding conveyor belts onto two or more removal conveyor belts, wherein the feeding conveyor belts as well as the removal conveyor belts are subdivided into a plurality of individual conveyor belts which are arranged in parallel side by side and are driven jointly. A rotary table having an essentially circular contour and also comprising a plurality of parallel individual conveyor belts which are also allocated to a joint drive is positioned between the feeding and the removal conveyor belts, wherein the feeding and the individual removal conveyor belts each closely reach up to the individual conveyor belts of the rotary table and are, in essence, adjusted in their length to the circular contour of the rotary table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Klaus Edelmann
    Inventors: Klaus Edelmann, Helge Ehrhardt-Caspers
  • Patent number: 8232103
    Abstract: A method for replacing a first sample carried on a moving secondary conveyor onto a moving primary conveyor at a potential interference point while the primary conveyor is transporting a second sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Lynn Miller, Frank Jay Robb, Peter Louis Gebrian, Sandor Lajos Kovacs
  • Patent number: 8087510
    Abstract: A conveyor system for sorting items that are supplied in a random sequence via a conveyor including a plurality of conveyor sections 4, and including individual sorting means arranged in a row for directing the items to specific receiving positions at least one side of the sorting means. The sorting means are constituted by relatively short individually driven belt conveyor sections which are pivotably suspended on mainly vertical turning shafts (8), and which at a foremost end part (5) project in over a next belt conveyor section (4) in the row. By means of simple technical measures it is possible to counteract the drawbacks of corresponding prior art conveyor systems and to achieve further advantages that are very essential and new.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Univeyor A/S
    Inventor: Torben Christensen
  • Patent number: 7997319
    Abstract: A labeling device includes a conveyor belt for taking up a row of labels, and two label dispensers, each for dispensing labels from a dispensing sheet over a dispensing edge onto the conveyor belt. The label dispensers are disposed one behind the other, the dispensing edge of a rear one of the dispensers being shifted, so that the dispensing edges of the two label dispensers are one above the other. The conveyor belt is guided over a belt deflector for changing the course of the belt between two positions as to the dispensing edges, the belt deflector including a tilting lever, over which the conveyor belt is deflected and which can be swiveled between two positions. The conveyor belt is in a first position for taking up labels at the first dispensing edge and in a second position, for taking up labels at the second dispensing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Multivac Marking & Inspection GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Georg Austermeier
  • Publication number: 20100175966
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing goods delivered on one or more feeding conveyor belts onto two or more removal conveyor belts, wherein the feeding conveyor belts as well as the removal conveyor belts are subdivided into a plurality of individual conveyor belts which are arranged in parallel side by side and are driven jointly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Klaus Edelmann, Helge Ehrhardt-Caspers
  • Patent number: 7726461
    Abstract: In one embodiment, apparatus for controlling spacing of objects conveyed by an object conveyor and for selectively ejecting objects from the object conveyor include flights that extend transversely across the object conveyor to limit travel of the objects to control their relative spacing, and ejectors associated with the flights that can be selectively actuated to eject the objects whose travel has been limited by the associated flights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Robert F Risley
  • Patent number: 7703598
    Abstract: A distributing device for distributing closures, supplied from a supply line with outlet, over a plurality of manufacturing lines, each manufacturing line comprising a feed-in, comprises a distributing element, which distributing element comprises at least a number of guideways conforming to the number of manufacturing lines, each guideway comprising an entrance for the positioning of the guideway relative to the outlet of the supply line, an exit for the positioning of the guideway relative to the feed-in of the particular manufacturing line, and a passage connecting the entrance to the exit, as well as a displacement mechanism for the simultaneous positioning of an entrance of a specific guideway of the distributing element in line with the outlet of the supply line and, respectively, of an exit of the specific guideway in line with the feed-in of a manufacturing line, the entrances of the guideways being disposed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Stork Food & Dairy Systems B.V.
    Inventors: Arie Zalm, Johannes Cornelis Hansen
  • Publication number: 20080075577
    Abstract: A conveyance device suitable for an automobile assembling plant has an object loading and unloading conveyance device between a hanging conveyance line, in which a pallet supporting a door is conveyed while being supported by a hanging hanger, and an object loading and unloading position on the floor side. The conveyance device also has a pallet transferring position set above the object loading and unloading position, a horizontal conveyance device, which conveys a pallet between the pallet transferring position and a hanger stop position, and an elevating conveyance device which conveys the pallet vertically between the object loading and unloading position and the pallet transferring position. The elevating conveyance device rotates a plurality of pallet mounting bases in an endless cyclic elevating path while holding these in erect postures, and the pallet mounting bases are arranged at even intervals equal to the distance between the upper and lower positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Yoshio Shimizu, Yasushi Ishioka
  • Patent number: 7318722
    Abstract: Disclosed is a molded article conveyance apparatus (MACA) configured to convey a plurality of molded articles away a molding machine. The MACA includes a collection of row-dedicated queuing conveyors, wherein each row-dedicated queuing conveyor is configured to convey a portion of the plurality of molded articles away from the molding machine. The MACA also includes a sequential shunting conveyor configured to selectively move from one row-dedicated conveyor to another. The sequential shunting conveyor is also configured to receive and convey molded articles away from successively selected row-dedicated queuing conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Barrie Lloyd Drysdale
  • Patent number: 7306087
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling units within a flow from at least one incoming feeder track into at least one outgoing feeder track is provided, including at least one shifting unit for controlled shifting of the flow into one or more selectable paths of the outgoing feeder track, wherein the shifting unit is provided with a speed controller for controlling the speeds of the respective units and separation of the units in the longitudinal direction of flow, the separation enabling the controlled shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Flexlink Components AB
    Inventor: Björn Hamsten
  • Patent number: 6843358
    Abstract: A transfer conveying mechanism includes a transfer track supported by a transfer support arm. Above the transfer track is a chain guide and depending therefrom are transfer sprockets. Extending about the transfer sprockets is an endless chain having at least one push dog attached thereto. The push dogs move the carrier into and across the transfer track. Attached above the transfer support arm is a sprocket, which is rotatably connected to a pivot plate. The pivot plate is attached to a structural steel assembly from which the transfer conveying mechanism depends. As the sprocket is rotated by a motor and chain transmission, the transfer conveying mechanism rotates in order to direct a carrier to a desired conveyor track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Arthur B. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 6736253
    Abstract: Apparatuses for article handling, comprising one or more of a) an article-moving conveyor belt (1) designed to move along an underlying plate (55) which has a ridge portion (56), so that a substantial part of each article (21) will lie on one side or the other of the highest point of the conveyor belt; b) a lifting apparatus (4) for moving articles, e.g., PET bottles, from an in-feed point to discharge point located above the in-feed point, with the aid of a continuous row of movable article-carrying baskets (26-36) spaced apart along the length of driving belts or drive chains; and c) an article sorting apparatus (6) that is conveyed on a continuously moving conveyor belt (22) and includes a gate (15) that is designed to be able to move an article (21) away from the conveyor belt (22) sideways, and which in the neutral position of the gate (15) is designed to allow the article (21) to move past the gate (15) unaffected thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Tomra Systems ASA
    Inventors: Per Kåre Tvinnereim, Stig Finstad Evensen, Øivind Jørgensen
  • Patent number: 6702121
    Abstract: A rotating sorting device for sorting packaged goods has one or more linear supply conveyors and a plurality of removal locations arranged circularly about a central axle. One or more linear removal conveyors are positioned between the central axle and the removal locations and are arranged substantially radially. The linear removal conveyor rotates continuously about the central axle. The linear supply conveyor is positioned above or below the linear removal conveyor and has an end portion in a conveying direction of the linear supply conveyor. The end portion has an incline extending downwardly or upwardly toward the linear removal conveyor. A distribution control device controls the linear supply conveyor, the linear removal conveyor, and the removal locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: psb GmbH Materialfluss + Logistik
    Inventors: Niels Linge, Robert Klein, Ernst Kölsch, Martin Müller, Michael Dietzel
  • Patent number: 6564928
    Abstract: The deice for conveying flat objects edge-on in series at high speed between an entry (A) and an exit (B) of a conveying path comprises a routing system for diverting some of these flat objects towards another exit (B′) between the entry and the exit of the conveying path. This system comprises two mobile flaps (3, 4) kept mutually parallel and arranged between the entry and the exit of the conveying path, and two motorized endless belts (1, 2) moving between these two flaps and between which the flat objects conveyed are gripped, these two flaps being mounted so that they can pivot so as to route the flat objects either towards the exit (B) of the conveying path or towards the other exit (B′). A stationary post (6) is located at the point where the flat objects are routed downstream of the mobile flaps between the entry and the exit of the conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Solystic
    Inventors: Fabrice Darrou, Vincent Grasswill, Alain Danjaume
  • Publication number: 20030057059
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor system for transporting at least one linear entry stream of a product into exit streams of said product which are laterally offset in relation to the entry stream. The conveyor system is provided with two successive conveyor units (5, 6) whose adjacent downstream (7, 8) or upstream ends can be displaced in opposite directions in relation to each other, transversally to the direction of transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Guenther Weber
  • Patent number: 6520313
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and method for transporting test tubes (1) automatically between different processing stages and equipment in laboratories. In the method, the test tubes (1) are placed on transport bases (3) for transportation within the system and the identification data of the test tube (1) is read to identify the sample, after which the transport bases (3) can be moved within the transportation system with the aid of conveyors (15-18)to operation stations, for operations to be carried out on the test tube (1) or sample. The data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Thermo Clinical Labsystems Oy
    Inventors: Keijo Kaarakainen, Juha Korhonen, Ville Mäkelä
  • Patent number: 6347697
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a diverter positioned between an upstream conveyor and a pair of downstream conveyors and splits or switches a procession of objects conveyed by the upstream conveyor to one of the two downstream conveyors where both downstream conveyors are provided with a plurality of sensors along their lengths that detect the presence or absence of objects on the downstream conveyors at different positions along their lengths, subsequently supplying signals to diverter to control the diverter to switch between the two downstream conveyors to direct the objects conveyed by the upstream conveyor to the one of the two downstream conveyors having fewer objects being conveyed by the conveyor and also controls the speed of the upstream conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Ouellette Machinery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Ouellette, James P. Hritz
  • Patent number: 6220427
    Abstract: A displaceable conveyor is used to convey selected printed products to different destination points. A reversing device is positioned intermediate the different destination points and a rigid guide track. A partial guide path connects the reversing device with the rigid guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Ratz, Rudolf Stäb