By Distributing Items From One Stream Into Plural Streams Patents (Class 198/436)
  • Patent number: 11521795
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a robot system (23) for producing transformer cores (12), sheets of metal (16) from which a transformer core is constructed being received on at least two stacking tables (18) by means of a multiaxial robot (22) of the robot system, the sheets of metal being supplied to the robot and stacked adjacent to the robot in at least two storage positions (31) for different sheets of metal by means of a conveyor device (29), the robot and the conveyor device being controlled by a control device (17), sheets of metal being collected from the storage positions and being stacked on the stacking tables by means of the robot disposed between and above the stacking tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HEINRICH GEORG GMBH MASCHINENFABRIK
    Inventors: Volker Loth, Jost Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11345549
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to a diverter apparatus and method of using the same. In various embodiments, the diverter apparatus is configured to selectively direct an exemplary object traveling along a conveyor travel path to one of a plurality of adjacent conveyor locations. In various embodiments, the diverter apparatus may comprise a diverter conveyor surface, a cam follower, and a cam comprising a rotational range of motion about a cam shaft axis, the cam being physically engaged with the cam follower. Various embodiments are directed to a diverter apparatus configured to utilize a plurality of forces generated by the rotational motion of the cam to facilitate the transition of the directional configuration of the diverter conveyor surface from the first directional configuration to the second directional configuration, and, subsequently, from the second directional configuration back to the first directional configuration, again using the rotational motion of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventor: James Wayne Halsey
  • Patent number: 11247850
    Abstract: A divider system for diverting objects from an infeed lane into one or more discharge lanes includes a dividing screw set, a discharge screw set, and a diverting mechanism. The dividing screw set conveys a sequence of objects to an output end of the screw set where the objects are divided by rotation of the dividing screw set and outputted alternately to first and second discharge screws of the discharge screw set to form a first series of objects conveyed by the first discharge screw and a second series of objects conveyed by the second discharge screw. The divider system includes a diverting mechanism which can be selectively actuated to divert objects from one discharge screw to the other discharge screw to form a diverted group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Morrison Timing Screw Co.
    Inventors: Nick Lynn Wilson, Mark Burk
  • Patent number: 10633196
    Abstract: A divider system for diverting objects from an infeed lane into one or more discharge lanes includes a dividing screw set, a discharge screw set, and a diverting mechanism. The dividing screw set conveys a sequence of objects to an output end of the screw set where the objects are divided by rotation of the dividing screw set and outputted alternately to first and second discharge screws of the discharge screw set to form a first series of objects conveyed by the first discharge screw and a second series of objects conveyed by the second discharge screw. The divider system includes a diverting mechanism which can be selectively actuated to divert objects from one discharge screw to the other discharge screw to form a diverted group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Morrison Timing Screw Co.
    Inventors: Nick Lynn Wilson, Mark Burk
  • Patent number: 10364098
    Abstract: A bin is described for use on a robotic picking system grid. The bin is capable of removing liquids from beneath a robotic picking system following spillages or sprinkler deployments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd
  • Patent number: 10288596
    Abstract: A kit and method for manufacturing a reference standard for a water detection unit includes a substrate and a tray configured to receive the substrate therein. A tank is configured to receive at least one of the trays therein, wherein a fluorescent solution comprising water and uranine is provided to the tank via an inlet. The solution rises within the tank to saturate the substrate. The trays are then placed in a rotatable rack wherein the substrates are dried to remove excess solution. The dried substrates are then hermetically sealed within a transparent envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: GAMMON TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: James H. Gammon, Michael Leggiero, David Fetzer
  • Patent number: 10207876
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting trays. The transport device including a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt that is downstream and follows the first conveyor belt. The first and second conveyor belts may have either a single- or multi-track design. The second conveyor belt may include a parallelization device configured to slowing down and/or accelerate one or more trays being conveyed on the second conveyor. The parallelization device may comprises at least one carrier with at least one acceleration finger and may be selectively moveable to prevent, slow down, allow, or accelerate a movement of a tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller SE & CO. KG
    Inventor: Lars Ickert
  • Patent number: 9656750
    Abstract: A vehicle cargo compartment, comprising a housing receivable in a vehicle, and at least one latch mounted to the housing for locking a cargo unit in a fixed position. The latch comprises a latch housing mounted to the housing, and at least a first latch claw moveably mounted to the latch housing moveable between a latched and an unlatched position. A latch sensor system comprises a position sensor and a target, the position sensor adapted to detect and generate a latch signal when the target is in the predetermined position. The vehicle cargo compartment can be monitored easily and reliably when the first latch claw is in the latched position due to the position sensor and the target being arranged and adapted such that the predetermined position of the target is detected and the latch signal is generated, when the first latch claw is in the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Fischer, Stephan Kahle
  • Patent number: 9446846
    Abstract: A cargo loading system may comprise a non-transitory memory communicating with a processor, the non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may comprise partitioning a cargo hold into a forward partition and an aft partition, reading a first input from a first joystick and a second input from a second joystick, mapping the first input to a first power drive unit (PDU) in the forward partition, and mapping the second input to a second PDU in the aft partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Harms
  • Patent number: 9434120
    Abstract: A working device (1) to be used on blanks running essentially in a planar manner within a folding and gluing machine, with the outer printable surface originally oriented downwards. First turning device (10) turns over each blank so as to position its outer surface on the top. A transport device (20) moves each blank with the outer surface on the top. An action device (30) implements at least one of printing the outer surface of each blank on the one hand and monitoring the outer surface of each blank on the other hand, while the outer surface is facing up. A second turning device (40) turns over each blank again in order to reposition its outer surface downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: BOBST MEX SA
    Inventor: Lionel Cailloux
  • Patent number: 9126769
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a stream of products comprises an ingoing conveyor and an outgoing conveyor which are configured to convey the products along a conveying direction and which are arranged behind one another viewed in the conveying direction. At least two distributor conveyors which are arranged behind one another viewed in the conveying direction between the ingoing conveyor and the outgoing conveyor and which are each configured to convey the products along the conveying direction are displaceable independently of one another transverse to the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventor: Sigfrid Bauer
  • Patent number: 8910457
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a slicing machine (1) for cutting rows of slices (A) from several pieces of food product, and a loading unit (2) comprising a set of array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) arranged in parallel, a device for aligning each of the array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) with the slicing machine (1) for receiving successive rows of slices (A) arranged in a direction transverse to the forward movement direction while the array-forming conveyor belt is made to move forward synchronously with the operation of the slicing machine (1) until forming a partial array of slices (A) on each array-forming conveyor belt, and a transfer device for transferring a complete array of slices (A) formed by the partial arrays from the array-forming conveyor belts (7a, 7b, 7c) to a moving conveying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Metalquimia, S.A.
    Inventor: Narcis Lagares Corominas
  • Patent number: 8893875
    Abstract: A conveyor device for conveying flat articles on edge, for example as part of a postal sorting machine, includes a back belt and a front belt that define a first nip zone for conveying the flat articles along a first path, a conveying strip provided with a first slide plate supporting the flat articles and mounted to move between a working position in which it is situated adjacent to the first nip zone, the first slide plate being aligned with the nip zone, and a retracted position, in which it is remote from the first nip zone, the slide plate being taken out of alignment with the first nip zone for the purpose of allowing access to the first nip zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: SOLYSTIC
    Inventors: Damien Berliet, Olivier De Sousa, Arnaud Caron
  • Patent number: 8863937
    Abstract: The invention concerns a conveyor lane divider for dividing trays that are received in one lane from an infeed conveyor and are passed on to a two-lane production unit. The conveyor lane divider has a line motion control system that can be automatically initialized when starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Buchenberg, Alireza Taghipour, Alexander Kult, Bernd Happach, Albert Gabler
  • Patent number: 8839946
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for, in a conveying direction T during conveyance, continuously distributing a flow or products, for instance eggs, comprising: —a distributing assembly with at least two feed channels extending in a conveying direction T for each forming a single row of products, wherein at least edge elements compose the edges of these channels over a well-defined distribution length and wherein these edge elements are provided above and adjacent a conveying surface at the downstream end of a feed conveyor, and —a control for monitoring and controlling the distribution of the products over the channels, wherein, based on monitoring signals and control signals, from the downstream end of the channels, only two products are transferred simultaneously to the conveyor, wherein the control, based on the monitoring signals and control signals, increases or reduces the speed of the conveyor according to a continuous adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: FPS Food Processing Systems B.V.
    Inventors: Berend Derk Grootherder, Eddy Alfred Herre Van Der Goot, Barend Dinant Hardeman
  • Patent number: 8794174
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coating installation, in particular for painting motor vehicle bodies, comprising a transport path (2, 12), along which a plurality of coating objects (1) are transported one after the other through the coating installation, and a plurality of treatment stations (13-17, 18-22, 23-27), in which the coating objects (1) are treated. It is proposed that the transport path (2, 12) branches into a plurality of parallel branches (5-9), in each of which at least one of the treatment stations (13-17, 18-22, 23-27) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Durr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Herre, Uwe Siewert, Guenther Weihermueller
  • Publication number: 20130156536
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing arrays of absorbent articles with varying orientations, and a methods for forming alternating arrays of absorbent articles, suitable to be operated at a high speed, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: The Procter & Gamble Company
  • Publication number: 20130101377
    Abstract: A packaging system and associated method for use with a pharmaceutical dispenser provides a turnkey solution for packaging pharmaceutical products such as solid medications and nutritional supplements to be taken orally in health care settings, including but not limited to long term care (LTC) and assisted living settings. An overall pharmacy system and methodology begins with bulk medications and supplements introduced into the work flow, individually packaged and assembled into medpass orders per patient and delivered to the LTC facility or other institution for patient consumption. The process begins by converting bulk medications and supplements to packaged unit doses and ultimately individually packaged medpass bags for each patient on a 24-hour schedule. The design of the overall system and its individual components allows for physical control of each unit dose package from start to finish without any unit dose package “free fall” in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Remedi Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Remedi Technology Holdings, LLC
  • Patent number: 8322515
    Abstract: A conveyor system and a method for feeding articles of at least two different types to a downstream processing unit are disclosed. The conveyor system comprises an infeed unit for the articles, an arrangement zone downstream from the infeed unit, and a lane zone downstream from the arrangement zone. In the lane zone the articles are transported to the downstream processing unit in an ordered state. The infeed unit comprises at least two conveyor belts, to each of which there corresponds a direction of transport for the articles in a section of the arrangement zone, wherein the directions of transport enclose an angle between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Karl Rausch, Josef Mayer, Bruno Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120298482
    Abstract: A carrying segment comprises a first surface for receiving objects, a second surface, and at least a third and a fourth surface connecting said first surface and said second surface, a first engaging member arranged on said second surface and configured to be guided by a first guide of a slat conveyor, and a second engaging member arranged on said second surface on one side of the first engaging member and configured to be guided by a first switch of said slat conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Benson Hu, Markus Florentzson, Andreas Asper
  • 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: 8196733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for product changeover in a filling plant and to a bugger system for carrying out the method. A first product is passed through a primary buffer and then a second product is initially buffer-stored in a secondary buffer, and so a clear separation of the products is achieved and a product changeover can be carried out in upstream and downstream production machines without production coming to a standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hahn
  • Patent number: 8118155
    Abstract: In sorting workpieces by using a panel sorting device, a lateral movement amount of a cross shuttle is approximately half of a width W of the workpiece, which is remarkably smaller than that in a conventional device. Therefore, the workpieces can be efficiently transferred to the panel chute in a short cycle time, thereby improving the productivity of a press line. Further, since the workpieces are transferred to two lateral places adjacent to each other on the panel chute and the laterally adjacent workpieces are not unnecessarily separated from each other, the size of the panel chute can be reduced. This, along with the small movement amount of the cross shuttle, enables the whole panel sorting device to be reduced in size and the installation space for the panel sorting device to be also reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Oyabe SEIKI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Noda, Masaya Ito
  • Publication number: 20120031734
    Abstract: A sorter sorts one line of articles conveyed at an entrance into a plurality of lines of articles at an exit, relative to a width direction of an article conveyance direction. The sorter includes an elastic continuous conveyance body, an entrance rotation roller, an exit rotation roller and a drive device. The elastic continuous conveyance body is configured and arranged to support a bottom surface of each of the articles. The entrance rotation roller is a roller over which the continuous conveyance body is provided at the entrance. The exit rotation roller is a roller over which the continuous conveyance body is provided at the exit. The drive device is configured and arranged to slide the exit rotation roller in a direction orthogonal to the article conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazumi KITAGAWA, Yugo FUJITANI
  • Publication number: 20120024663
    Abstract: In a conveyor device including a branch path, the number of articles sorted to the branch path is counted accurately. The conveyor device conveys a plurality of articles and includes a main conveyor, a first branch path, a first detector, a second detector, a detection information processing section, and a charging conveyor. The first branch path branches from the main conveyor at a first branch point. The first detector and the second detector are arranged upstream and downstream, respectively, of the branch point along a conveyance direction and are arranged to detect articles on the main conveyor. The detection information processing section is configured to calculate the number of articles sorted to the first branch path based on a difference between the number of articles detected by the first detector and the number of articles detected by the second detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20110272242
    Abstract: A sortation conveyor is controlled such that a divert element which is determined to be longitudinally located too close to both of adjacent articles on the sortation conveyor for the divert element to be diverted without contacting both articles is not diverted when the first article to be diverted is diverted. That divert element may be diverted when the second article to be diverted is diverted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Troy E. Asman
  • Patent number: 8037998
    Abstract: A panel-carrying-out apparatus used for conveying panels ejected from a press machine includes: a semicircular sorting conveyor adapted to be driven switchably in a normal direction or a reverse direction; and a pair of straight conveyors respectively disposed at ends of the sorting conveyor. Each of the panels from the press machine is mounted on the center position of the sorting conveyor in terms of a conveying path. Specifically, an arced conveyor included in the sorting conveyor, on which each of the panels is initially mounted, is adapted to be driven switchably in the normal direction or the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Noda, Akio Kawato, Koji Uozumi
  • Patent number: 8025142
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of transporting food products (10) to a loading station (12) having a cooling conveyor (14) that selectively drops food product into a distributor (34). The distributor (34) separates product into at least two lanes (48, 50) and drops product onto a conveyor. A balancing and diverting conveyor (46) monitors and counts product in each lane (48, 50) and diverts product selectively based upon the sensed product. An orienter (70, 80) transfers product from a loading conveyor (68) to a buffer conveyor (72). The buffer conveyor (72) transfers product to a main conveyor (76) which transfers product to a loading head (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Marel Meat Processing Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Alexander, Kevin J. Hansen, Colin R. Hart, Joshua W. Higgins
  • Patent number: 7997401
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for displacing objects (2) relative to a transport track (10) along which the objects (2) are moved, comprising a plurality of displacement devices (4) which displace at least some of the objects (2) relative to this transport track (10), wherein the displacement devices (4) have at least one displacement element (6) which in at least one region can be brought into contact with the objects (2) in order to displace the latter relative to the transport track (10). According to the invention, the displacement elements (6) can pivot about a predefined pivot axis (S) and movement devices (8) which are respectively assigned to the displacement elements (6) are provided such that various displacement elements (6) can be displaced in their entirety relative to the transport track (10) onto different transport paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Manfred Fischer
  • Publication number: 20110180371
    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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A
    Inventors: Marco Carrara, Daniele Civolani
  • Patent number: 7971527
    Abstract: Images are printed on surfaces of discrete objects that are loaded onto an upstream end of a production path passing through a plurality of treatment stations and taken off a downstream end the path. The path passes through a plurality of treatment stations and is split at least one of the stations into a plurality of generally parallel lanes each having a respective treatment device or printer. At the one treatment station the objects are split up and fed to the lanes from the path, the images are printed on the objects in the lanes with the respective printers, and all the objects are returned to the path after printing. The objects move single-file downstream along the path upstream and downstream of the one station. Instead of printers, each lane can have some other type of treatment machine and the operations performed by these treatment machines in the lanes can be the same or different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: KBA-Metronic AG
    Inventors: Alfred Bausenwein, Rainer Endres, Peter Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7963386
    Abstract: Printed products are optionally processed in a preliminary stage (1) and a follow-up stage (2). The printed products are fed in a printed-product stream. The printed products, for optionally processing in the preliminary stage (1), are directed optionally, by means of a diverter (5), to different conveying paths (6.1, 6.2, 6.3), on which processing arrangements (10, 11, 12) are set up. The printed products are processed in the processing arrangements and then conveyed on. In an intermediate region, in which the conveying paths (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) of the preliminary stage (1) run parallel to one another and one beside the other, different conveying paths (7.1, 7.2) of the follow-up stage (2) can optionally be connected to the conveying paths (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) of the preliminary stage (1). Processing arrangements (13, 14) for optionally processing the printed products are also set up on the various conveying paths of the follow-up stage (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Hans Ulrich Stauber
  • Publication number: 20110036684
    Abstract: An article configuration system comprising a first conveyor (90) for transferring articles (B) from an input and a second conveyor (88), disposed at a non-linear angle relative to the first conveyor, for transferring articles to an output. The article processing system comprises a mechanism (30) for transferring articles from the first conveyor (90) to the second conveyor (88). The mechanism (30) is structured and arranged to facilitate the reorganisation of articles conveyed by the first conveyor such that when transferred to the second conveyor the articles are disposed in adjacent metered lanes (124a-124f) and wherein the number of adjacent metered lanes of articles conveyed by the second conveyor (88) is greater than the number of adjacent lanes of articles (100, 102) conveyed by the first conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Jean Christophe Bonnain
  • 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: 20090266676
    Abstract: An apparatus for resorting piece goods assortments and in particular packaging unit assortments, comprising a supply device which transports along a first predefined transport path a piece goods assortment containing a plurality of piece goods arranged in predefined geometric positions, and comprising at least one redistribution unit arranged at least partially downstream of the first supply device along the transport path (T) of the piece goods assortment, wherein the redistribution unit comprises at least one pick-up element for picking up an individual item of piece goods of the piece goods assortment or a group of piece goods of the piece goods assortment, and a discharge device which is arranged downstream of the redistribution unit along the transport path (T), wherein the pick-up element of the redistribution unit is movable in at least two different directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Richard Eschlbeck, Wolfgang Huber
  • Patent number: 7467703
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for separating imbricated flat products, in particular, folding boxes, with a delivery belt on which the products are supported in the form of an imbricated flow and are transported at a transport speed, with a transfer conveyor belt, disposed downstream of the delivery belt, which has a higher transport speed than the delivery belt. The transfer conveyor belt is designed as vacuum belt, or comprises a vacuum belt, and a retaining device is provided for the trailing flat products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Wilhelm Bahmueller Maschinenbau-Praezisionswerkzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Furthmüller, Bruno Fezer
  • Patent number: 7452179
    Abstract: A method and device for transferring packets, whereby two parallel, superimposed rows of packets are fed in a horizontal direction to a first transfer station, and the lead packets in the two rows are then conveyed in a vertical direction from the first transfer station to a second transfer station, where the lead packets are parted in the vertical direction; at this point, the parted lead packets are transferred in the horizontal direction to a heat-shrink unit having two parallel, superimposed, substantially horizontal channels, each of which is engaged by a respective row of packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: G.D Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Silvano Boriani, Stefano Negrini
  • Publication number: 20080257684
    Abstract: In a packaging system for packing cases with product, a product metering system is provided. The product metering system includes a first product lane along which a first product travels and a second product lane along which a second product travels. The second product is different from the first product. A first movable barrier has a first position that obstructs progress of the first product along the first product lane and a second position that allows progress of the first product along the first product lane past the first movable barrier. The first product lane and second product lane merge into a first common lane downstream of the first movable barrier, wherein when the first movable barrier is in the first position only the second product is metered to the first common lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Samuel D. Weller
  • Publication number: 20080251353
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the conveying of homogenized products having an n-track conveying section and a single-track conveying section adjoining it, wherein at least n+1 individual conveyors extending parallel to one another in a conveying plane adjoin the end of the n-track conveying section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ALPMA Alpenland Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Glas
  • Patent number: 7428957
    Abstract: An order picking station (30) to which storage containers (34) can be transported via a storage container conveyor line (36) and from which order containers (40), into which articles (38a, 38b) from the storage containers (34) are picked by an order picking person (32), can be transported away via an order container conveyor line (52), the order picking station (30) having a buffer (44) for a plurality of order containers (40) which are to be picked, and wherein the order containers (40) can be stored into the buffer (44) and/or removed from the buffer (44) by means of a shuttle (46) (FIG. 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: SSI Schaefer Peen GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Schaefer
  • 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: 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: 7270227
    Abstract: A material handling system and method of use for increasing throughput at security checkpoints. The material handling system includes a dual input conveyor with a merge conveyor leading to a detection system. At the output of the detection system is a diverting mechanism which will divert the items leaving the detection system to one of two output conveyors, corresponding to the input conveyors. A reject mechanism and accompanying conveyor may be provided, in addition to a bin return and control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Tonya K. Bender, Ronald L. Binning, Eugene Stradley, Shawn Younkin
  • Patent number: 7086521
    Abstract: An adjustable lane guide system comprising: 1) first and second generally parallel and spaced apart support bars; 2) a plurality of lane guides generally perpendicular to the support bars; and 3) a plurality of adjustable attachment mechanisms joining the lane guides to the first and second support bars. Each of the adjustable attachment mechanisms comprises a bearing block that engages the support bars; a pair of opposing wings on either side of the bearing block also engaging the support bars and each having first and second ends, the first ends hingeably attached to the bearing block and the second ends flared by a spring located between the pair of opposed wings such that pressure applied to each of the second ends causes the wings to be drawn toward each other against the pressure of the spring thereby allowing the adjustment mechanisms to move laterally along the support bar so that the distance between adjacent lane guides can be changed along the first and second support bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Bakery Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Pearce, Eric Wyman, Mark Manzi, Roland Lomerson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7040477
    Abstract: A transport system for transport of containers has a switch with an entry zone, an exit zone with at least two different transport paths for conveying a container, and a switch mechanism for selectively controlling the transport of the container to the transport paths. During their travel, the containers are supported by a support assembly, and aligned and advanced in a controlled manner in the entry zone by an alignment and propulsion mechanism. A propulsion and guide assembly in the exit zone is rendered operative in response to a transport of the container along the transport paths and includes at least two modules which respectively cooperate with the transport paths and are disposed in the exit zone below the plane of the support assembly. The modules are hereby so controlled that only the one of the modules is raised into a plane above the plane of the support assembly, when the container is transported along the associated transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Brixius, Dominik Gräfer, Albrecht Hoene
  • Patent number: 6981581
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for dividing one incoming lane of containers into a first and a second lane of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: CFS Palazzolo S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Salvoni
  • Patent number: 6964330
    Abstract: An elevated grade station drive system includes a plurality of conveyor sections for conveying workpieces downstream at a variable transfer speed along and between the plurality of sections according to control instructions provided by a control system. The output from at least one workpiece position sensor cooperates with corresponding upstream conveyor sections and provides workpiece position data to the control system. Each conveyor section has a corresponding variable frequency drive cooperating in variable speed driving engagement therewith. The control system controls each variable frequency drive so as to interlock adjacent conveyor sections for smooth translation of the workpieces between adjacent conveyor sections without crushing or binding the workpieces. The plurality of conveyor sections may include a plurality of lugged conveyors, which may be lugged chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: COE Newnes/McGehee, ULC
    Inventors: Darryl Irwin Kujat, Geoff David Wight, Edward K. Apted, Darren A. Ross, Danny C. White
  • Patent number: 6942087
    Abstract: The conveyor system (11) is used for transferring rows or large cycles (66) of sheet stacks (12) from the stacking station (20) of a paper converting machine, e.g. a small format cross-cutter to several parallel-running discharge conveyor belts (24, 25). For this purpose grippers or tongs (48) are provided, which are guided on gripper supports (39) and which can draw the stacks (12) from stacking station (20) via conveyor belts (24, 25). For each stacking position (21) there are two grippers (48, 48a), which in each case alternatively grip and transfer a stack, whilst the other gripper performs the return movement and passes into its waiting position upstream of the stacking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Bielomatik Leuze GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Axel Meyer
  • Patent number: 6889815
    Abstract: There are disclosed a conveying apparatus and a conveying system in which a force is efficiently transmitted to an article so as to smoothly convey the article in an arbitrary direction. In each of feed portions 15 provided at a conveying apparatus 10, 11 of the invention, a twist gear 34 is mounted on a twist base 16, and is disposed below feed rollers 17, and therefore the degree of freedom of the configurations of the twist gear 34 and feed rollers 17 are higher as compared with a conventional construction in which a feed roller is provided within a twist gear. Therefore, a compact design of the twist gear 34 can be achieved, and also the feed portions 15 and 15 can be disposed closer to each other as compared with the conventional construction. And besides, a large-size design of the feed rollers 17 can be achieved, so that an area of contact of the feed rollers 17 with the article can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignees: Asahi-Seiki Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Lemcos, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kanamori, Shoji Yaguchi, Yuichi Komazawa
  • Patent number: 6854586
    Abstract: A conveying device with a diverter having a curved path for conveying lightweight unstable articles, such as plastic bottles having a neck portion with a neck ring thereon. The unstable articles are conveyed along a first path to different ones of plural second paths through a third path at the diverter with the third path having first and second ends alignable with the first path and different ones of the plural second paths and a middle portion maintained in a curved configuration that is varied during aligning movement of the second end. A controller controls the aligning movement of the second end, preferably along a straight path, and the unstable articles are supported by engaging members in actuating guides to urge the unstable articles along the article paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Goldco Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. VanderMeer, Donald J. Simkowski