Having Cleaning Means Patents (Class 198/494)
  • Patent number: 11773948
    Abstract: A transmission is presented, including a spool having a bore. An outer member disposed on the spool, and a cord is configured to at least partially wrap around the outer member. The outer member is configured to constrict and unconstrict to a force applied to the outer member. In this way, rotation of the spool causes a tension force to be applied to the cord, and a greater tension force in the cord will cause the outer member to constrict more than a lower tension force in the cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Kevin W. O'Brien, Robert F. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 11334741
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting is described, and which includes providing a product stream formed of individual objects of interest having feature aspects which can be detected; generating multiple images of each of the respective objects of interest; classifying the feature aspects of the objects of interest; identifying complementary images by analyzing some of the multiplicity of images; fusing the complementary images to form an aggregated region representation of the complementary images; and sorting the respective objects of interest based at least in part upon the aggregated region representation which is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Key Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lodewyckx, Marc Van Daele, Timothy Justice
  • Patent number: 10679882
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment a semiconductor workpiece processing system having at least one processing tool for processing semiconductor workpieces, a container for holding at least one semiconductor workpiece therein for transport to and from the at least one processing tool and a first transport section elongated and defining a travel direction. The first transport section has parts, that interface the container, supporting and transporting the container along the travel direction to and from the at least one processing tool. The container is in substantially continuous transport at a substantially constant rate in the travel direction, when supported by the first transport section. A second transport section is connected to the at least one process tool for transporting the container to and from the at least one processing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC
    Inventors: Michael L. Bufano, Ulysses Gilchrist, William Fosnight, Christopher Hofmeister, Daniel Babbs, Robert C. May
  • Patent number: 10500689
    Abstract: A metal chip conveyor having an internal chip removal structure includes an endless conveyor belt. An accommodating room of a machine body is divided into an inner space and an outer space. Two sides of the conveyor belt assemble with chains each having chain links. Each chain link has a first opening facing the inner space and a second opening facing the outer space. A guiding block is arranged in the inner space. The guiding block has a bottom surface, a blocking face, and a guiding gap. The bottom surface faces to the conveyor belt. The guiding gap lies at one side of the blocking face and communicates with the chain links. Therefore, metal chips are stopped by the blocking face and are moved to the guiding gap, then drop to the outer space via the chain links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Fongei Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih Peng Cheng
  • Patent number: 10427261
    Abstract: A metal chip conveyor having an internal chip removal structure includes an endless conveyor belt. An accommodating room of a machine body is divided into an inner space and an outer space. Two sides of the conveyor belt are provided with chains each having chain links. Each chain link has a first opening facing the inner space and a second opening facing the outer space. Two support bushes are disposed at opposite sides of the casing. The conveyor belt passes around the support bushes and is supported by the support bushes. The support bushes cover the first openings of the chain links corresponding in position to the support bushes when the conveyor belt is running, thereby preventing the metal chips in the chain links from falling back into the inner space through the first openings and ensuring that the metal chips in the inner space to be discharged stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Fongei Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih Peng Cheng
  • Patent number: 10329125
    Abstract: A system for cleaning and conditioning handrails. A cleaning pad is curved to approximate the shape of a handrail, and is disposed on an arm. The arm may be mounted on a support structure, allowing it to be rolled up to an escalator handrail and left to do the cleaning while the escalator runs. When mounted, the arm may include a spring or piston to keep the arm in a particular position. A second cleaning pad may be included to dry or polish the handrail, the handrail going first through the cleaning pad and second through the drying pad. The arm may be hand-held, allowing a user to reach up or down steps or an incline. The cleaning pad may be mounted such that it rotates about the arm for storage, maintenance or better reach, such as around bends or corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Christian E Thomsen
  • Patent number: 10094843
    Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a transport plane and a cleaning device for cleaning the transport plane is presented. The cleaning device is adapted to automatically clean the transport plane similar to sample container carriers moving also on the transport plane. A laboratory automation system comprising such a laboratory sample distribution system is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal Malinowski, Achim Sinz, Florian Mueller
  • Patent number: 9960925
    Abstract: A server apparatus performs a remote conference by a plurality of communication apparatuses. When a recording start instruction is acquired from any one of the communication apparatuses, the server apparatus specifies, based on layout information of the communication apparatuses, a display area in which layouts of two or more image information are corresponding to each other between two or more of the communication apparatuses. The server apparatus combines two or more image data corresponding respectively to the two or more image information included in the specified display area and generates one first kind record data. The first kind record data includes the two or more image information which are arranged in the layout of the two or more image information included in the specified display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9856116
    Abstract: A self-driven device for cleaning moving handrail belts often found in electric escalators and walkways consists of a roller, fluid container, and fluid transfer apparatus. The roller rotates by being in contact with the moving belt and applies cleaning fluid to the belt to kill germs. The rotary motion of the roller is used to power the fluid transfer apparatus through a motion transfer mechanism. The fluid transfer apparatus transfers the fluid from a container, also provided within the device, to the roller. The present design acts in a way that does not require external power or complex control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Malek Y. S. Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 9725244
    Abstract: Material processing apparatus (20) includes a housing (22) with a plurality of vertically stacked inverting pan conveyors (42, 44) therein. Each conveyor (42, 44) includes a plurality of conveyor pans (50) traveling between and around aligned front and rear sprocket pairs (90, 92) to define upper and lower conveyor runs (52, 54). Each pan (50) has a perforated base plate (56) presenting a pair of opposed material-supporting surfaces (58, 60). As the pans (50) traverse the sprocket pairs (90, 92), they are inverted, and material (110) carried by the upper run pans (50) is transferred to the lower run pans (50) by passage of the material around and/or between the sprocket pair (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Eugene Van Dalsem, Eric Rokey, Dennis Howard Baumgartner, Jim Painter, Keith Erdley
  • Patent number: 9586765
    Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner is provided having a removable cleaner assembly that may be easily connected and disconnected from an elongate support member. The cleaner assembly includes one or more scraper blades mounted to an angle bar, an interface between the blades and the angle bar, and an interface between the blades and the support member. The blades have bodies that cover or surround the interfaces and reduce the likelihood of debris entering the interfaces and binding the blades to the angle bar and/or the support member. The cleaner further includes a securing mechanism with a pair of clamps for clamping the angle bar against seats of the elongate support. The clamps cause the angle bar to hold a base portion of the blades against the support member which permits the blade base portions to transmit loading from the conveyor belt directly to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventors: Marcus L. Krosschell, Brett E. DeVries, Richard W. Gilman
  • Patent number: 9573766
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for conveying absorbent articles may utilize a conveyor including a vacuum source in fluid connection with a deck. The deck may include a channel. The conveyor may include a belt having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and an aperture. The second surface of the belt may be in facing relationship with the deck such that the aperture is aligned with the channel. A first row of angled teeth and a second row of angled teeth may be connected with the second surface of the belt. The first row of angled teeth and the second row of angled teeth mesh with a first gear member and a second gear member, respectively. The first and second gear members may be attached to an axle member such that the first gear member and the second gear member rotate with the axle member to advance the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Todd Douglas Lenser, Zachary Aaron Freije
  • Patent number: 9540175
    Abstract: Material processing apparatus (20) includes a housing (22) with a plurality of vertically stacked inverting pan conveyors (42, 44) therein. Each conveyor (42, 44) includes a plurality of conveyor pans (50) traveling between and around aligned front and rear sprocket pairs (90, 92) to define upper and lower conveyor runs (52, 54). Each pan (50) has a perforated base plate (56) presenting a pair of opposed material-supporting surfaces (58, 60). As the pans (50) traverse the sprocket pairs (90, 92), they are inverted, and material (110) carried by the upper run pans (50) is transferred to the lower run pans (50) by passage of the material around and/or between the sprocket pair (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Eugene Van Dalsem, Eric Rokey, Dennis Howard Baumgartner, Jim Painter, Keith Erdley
  • Patent number: 9517887
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for conveying absorbent articles may utilize a conveyor including a vacuum source in fluid connection with a deck. The deck may include a channel. The conveyor may also include a belt including a first surface, an opposing second surface, and an aperture. The second surface of the belt may be in facing relationship with the deck such that the aperture is aligned with the channel. A first row of angled teeth and a second row of straight teeth may be connected with the second surface of the belt. The first row of angled teeth and the second row of straight teeth mesh with a first gear member and a second gear member, respectively. The first and second gear members may be attached to an axle member such that the first gear member and the second gear member rotate with the axle member advancing the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Todd Douglas Lenser
  • Patent number: 9510511
    Abstract: A round module builder for forming a round module. The round module comprises a feeder and a module-forming portion. The module-forming portion comprises at least one baler belt configured to receive a crop from the feeder, at least one baler roller sheave configured to drive the baler belt, and a module-forming chamber. The module-forming portion is configured to receive the crop and rotate the crop in the module-forming chamber into the round module. A powered brush is coupleable to the module-forming portion above the feeder and at least one of positioned in contact with the baler belt and positioned adjacent the baler belt. The powered brush is configured to remove the crop from the baler belt outside the module-forming chamber and return the crop to the feeder which returns the crop to the module-forming chamber where the crop is formed into the round module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Kevin J. Goering, John O. Rumohr, Rakesh Madurwar
  • Patent number: 9499351
    Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a transporting endless belt, a discharging head and a cleaning mechanism. The transporting endless belt has an adhesive support surface, and configured and arranged to intermittently transport a medium by supporting the medium on the adhesive support surface. The discharging head is configured and arranged to discharge a liquid onto the medium supported by the transporting endless belt. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning roller configured and arranged to clean the transporting endless belt by coming into contact with the transporting endless belt. When a total length of the transporting endless belt is L1, an intermittent transport distance of the transporting endless belt is L2, and a contact length of the cleaning roller with the transporting endless belt in a transport direction is L3, L3 is longer than L2, and L1 is a non-integer multiple of L2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seigo Momose, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9457355
    Abstract: A machine for de-aggregating a bale of insulation and blowing de-aggregated insulation, has a single upper de-aggregation member and a single lower de-aggregation member, each de-aggregation member having a rotary mounted shaft having a length and a plurality of paddles angularly staggered around the shaft and extending along the length of the shaft, the paddles of the upper de-aggregation member have first and second paddles having differing lengths and both the first and second paddles are interleaved with the paddles of the lower de-aggregation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Scott Card, Gerry Bowman, Jeff Zajac
  • Patent number: 9416500
    Abstract: In a self-propelled cold milling machine, in particular cold milling machine, for working ground surfaces, with a milling drum supported at a machine frame, no less than one conveying device arranged at the machine frame which accepts the milled-off material from the milling drum and discharges said milled-off material, in conveying direction, at a discharge end along a parabolic trajectory onto a point of discharge, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: that the conveying device comprises a shielding device at the discharge end, where said shielding device shields the material milled off and leaving the conveying device without influencing the parabolic trajectory on a part of the path to the point of discharge at least by means of lateral sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Ley, Philip Verhaelen, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9022206
    Abstract: A cleaning device is provided for removing debris from rotating conveyor rollers, and includes a housing constructed and arranged for insertion between two adjacent rotating rollers, the housing having a first set of cleaning wheels at a first housing end associated with a first of the conveyor rollers, and a second set of cleaning wheels located on an opposite end of the housing and associated with a second of the conveyor rollers. At least one of the cleaning wheels is reciprocable relative to the housing between a retracted position permitting insertion of the housing between the rollers, and a extended position extending the reciprocating wheel towards the adjacent roller for limiting lateral movement of the housing between the rollers. Upon movement of the housing between the rollers in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rollers, the cleaning wheels operationally engage and remove residue collected on the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventors: Ronald Edward Schenck, William James Doty, Anthony A. Henry
  • Patent number: 8978875
    Abstract: A cleaning device configured to clean an outer surface of a conveyor belt on a conveyor belt system is disclosed. The cleaning device can include a fluid dispensing device configured to dispense cleaning fluid to the outer surface of the conveyor belt. A wiping device is provided to remove excess cleaning fluid. A protective cover is provided that substantially covers at least the fluid dispensing device. Fastener mounts are provided to allow attachment of the cleaning device on top of the conveyer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Paul Barboni
  • Patent number: 8973738
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a conveyor system including a slotted track that defines an elongate path along which product is moved and that has opposed glide surfaces from which product is suspended. The conveyor system also includes a wall that is disposed above the track and that cooperates with the track to define a product passageway along the elongate path. The cleaning device includes a drive unit, a wheel rotatably coupled to the drive unit and engageable with the wall within the product passageway to move the drive unit along the slotted track, a glide coupled to the drive unit and engageable with the glide surfaces to support the drive unit on the slotted track, and a cleaning implement coupled to the drive unit to clean the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim J. Hilarides, Curtis H. Hubmann, Andrew M. Bober, Stephen C. Cook, Jonathan L. Ludtke, Justin M. Nunez, Daniel Bullis, Douglas E. Seals, Daniel J. Lee, Todd J. Bakken, Chris Sherwin
  • Patent number: 8973739
    Abstract: A snap-fit scraper blade is provided for being snap-fit onto a mounting pole. The scraper blade has a blade body including an upper scraping portion and a lower mounting portion. The lower mounting portion has depending legs with inner surfaces that are configured for snap-fitting the scraper blade body onto a square mounting pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing Company
    Inventor: Andrew J. Zieger
  • Patent number: 8967369
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a transferring apparatus, which includes a driving device, a number of guiding rollers arranged on two sides of the driving device and a number of vacuum cleaners arranged on the guiding rollers. The transferring apparatus of the present disclosure can remove the impurities generated in the transferring process of the substrate when transferring the substrate, which eliminates the bad effect on the following manufacturing processes of the substrate caused by the impurities generated in the transferring process of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Meina Zhu
  • Patent number: 8935823
    Abstract: A device for processing cores with a view to restoring same for reuse as good as new and unused cores a number of times for handling and carrying of different types of material webs, includes a number of processing units being arranged to act on the core for removal of material residues and possible other residues in the form of adhesive. The processing surface of the processing units is adapted and/or arranged to adapt itself to the surface of the core on at least the processing thereof under the exercise of a compression pressure between the core and the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Core Link AB
    Inventors: Jan Karlsson, Nils Strandh
  • Patent number: 8931630
    Abstract: An open frame design of conveyors that will allow inspection access as well as sanitation access to all surfaces of conveyors that carry products that could contain Food Allergens, materials that could cause reactions as well as provide proper sanitation access. For proper and safe operation these allergens and offending materials must be removed and therefore proper access to all surfaces must be provided so as to be able clean and remove allergens and offending materials from all surfaces as well as to provide access to visually confirm proper removal has been carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Norman Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8931622
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to milling machines and milling techniques, and more particularly, to apparatuses, milling machines and methods to control automatic loading and/or unloading of work pieces in relation to the adverse milling machine environments. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a subset of guide members constituting a staging region, a loader member configured to impart a loading force unto the work piece to transition the work piece from the staging region, and an effector coupled to the loader member. The effector is configured to apply a cleaning force to a path in a first interval of time and is configured further to transfer the loading force from the loader member to the work piece in a second interval of time, and an alignment device configured to align the subset of guide members and the effector to form a portion of the path in a first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Steve Simons
  • Patent number: 8857606
    Abstract: A formed wing pulley for use in belt conveyor applications. The pulley consists of a plurality of formed wings with or without clean-out ports, mated to a positive placement polygon shaped core. The polygon core may be mated to hubs and/or end disks with centered hubs, which can be locked onto to a fixed or rotating shaft. Each formed wing of the pulley may be mated to the positive placement polygon core at the bottom side of the wing profile, and can have round, half round, hex, or flat wing tips that serve as the contact surface or the tops of wings may serve directly as the contact surface for the belt at the top side of the wing profile. When in assembled form, the formed wing pulley provides a set of radial wings that rotate about a central axis to support conveyor belt operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Punching Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Kowalski, Brian J. Konieczny, Matthew L. Gies
  • Publication number: 20140251761
    Abstract: Wing pulleys that engage a conveyor belt during conveying operations are described. The wing pulley includes a central reinforcing disk that strengthens and stabilizes the pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo J. Laughlin
  • Patent number: 8770384
    Abstract: A transportation unit includes a transportation member and a cleaning member for cleaning foreign matters attached to a surface of the transportation member. The transportation member has the surface with a contact angle ? relative to n-dodecane between 10° and 45° (10°???45°) and a mirror index M between 60 and 200 (60?M?200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Takazawa
  • Publication number: 20140183001
    Abstract: A cleaning device is provided for removing debris from rotating conveyor rollers, and includes a housing constructed and arranged for insertion between two adjacent rotating rollers, the housing having a first set of cleaning wheels at a first housing end associated with a first of the conveyor rollers, and a second set of cleaning wheels located on an opposite end of the housing and associated with a second of the conveyor rollers. At least one of the cleaning wheels is reciprocable relative to the housing between a retracted position permitting insertion of the housing between the rollers, and a extended position extending the reciprocating wheel towards the adjacent roller for limiting lateral movement of the housing between the rollers. Upon movement of the housing between the rollers in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rollers, the cleaning wheels operationally engage and remove residue collected on the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventors: Ronald Edward Schenck, William James Doty, Anthony A. Henry
  • Publication number: 20140151190
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a transferring apparatus, which includes a driving device, a number of guiding rollers arranged on two sides of the driving device and a number of vacuum cleaners arranged on the guiding rollers. The transferring apparatus of the present disclosure can remove the impurities generated in the transferring process of the substrate when transferring the substrate, which eliminates the bad effect on the following manufacturing processes of the substrate caused by the impurities generated in the transferring process of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Meina Zhu
  • Patent number: 8732894
    Abstract: A cleaning bullet for use in a track can include a compressible body to clean the track, and a motorized device to propel the body through the track. In some embodiments, the motorized device includes wheels rotatably coupled to the device, a motor to drive the wheels, and a power source to supply power to the motor. Also, in some embodiments, one or more wheels engage an inner or outer surface of the track to move the motorized device along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim J. Hilarides, Carol A. Rouillard, Andrew M. Bober
  • Patent number: 8668076
    Abstract: A conveyor device (10) for conveying a material (M) through a treatment station (101) where the material (M) is subjected to a laser treatment (12) capable of leaving contamination residues on the conveyor (10). The conveyor (10) outlines a closed loop trajectory passing through, after removing the treated material (M), two brushing stations (103, 106) where the surface of the conveyor (10) is subjected to brushing with a washing station (104) interposed where the conveyor (10) is subjected to washing through the projection (1040, W) of washing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Pasqualoni, Serafino Lupinetti
  • Patent number: 8662292
    Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly with a housing profile that protects components positioned in an interior of the housing from spilt products and is easier to clean than previously known conveyor belt assemblies. The conveyor belt assembly of this invention includes a frame with a sloped surface positioned under the conveyor belt such that spilt product that falls through the conveyor belt lands on the sloped surface and gravity pulls the spilt product off the sloped surface to a side of the housing for easy clean up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Service Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Zachary Brackemyer, Jeff Dean, Danny Gonzalez, Gino Rigitano, Jerral Richardson
  • Patent number: 8662282
    Abstract: A pallet transferred by a pallet conveyor on a flat top conveyor belt is disclosed that includes a wiper blade for clearing debris from the conveyor belt. The pallet includes a pallet frame having a plurality of corner locations. The wiper blades are disposed at the corner locations to clear articles of debris from the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt moves relative to the pallet in a transfer direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Allen Withington, David Aaron Arlequeeuw, Daniel Marion
  • Publication number: 20140034452
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a system and methods for eliminating rinse and dewatering rescreens while cooling coarse aggregates, including in one embodiment a perforated wet belt conveyance system. According to another embodiment disclosed herein, a system and method for cooling cement is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: COLDCRETE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Lee, Jarrett Grindlay, Deborah Aleksa
  • Patent number: 8624203
    Abstract: A sterilizing system for sterilizing a continuous loop conveyor belt of a conveyor system is provided. The conveyor system includes a drive operatively connected to the conveyor belt and operative to move the belt between upper and lower flight paths. The upper flight path includes an exposed surface for receiving items. The sterilizing system includes a housing that is configured to at least partially cover the lower flight path. An ultraviolet light source is positioned in the interior of the housing. The light source is operative to emit ultraviolet light on the belt at the lower flight path to sanitize the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: JLT & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Tullo, Grant Jeffery Caven, Paul Jeffery Payne, Stylianos Derventzis
  • Patent number: 8590695
    Abstract: A technique for the conveyance of solid combustible material, having at least one conveying means, wherein the conveying means is supported at least partially by bearing means and/or drive means, in particular on a stand, and the apparatus having at least one collecting space located below the conveying means and having a height, at least one deflecting means for the deflection of solid combustible material towards the collecting space being located below at least one bearing means and/or below at least one drive means. Such an apparatus is suitable most especially for the conveyance of solid materials presenting a fire and/or explosion hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Clyde Bergemann DRYCON GmbH
    Inventor: Rafael Moreno Rueda
  • Patent number: 8579102
    Abstract: A belt cleaning system to clean a conveyor belt carrier surface includes a first cleaning assembly having a cleaning web sub-assembly. The cleaning web sub-assembly includes a supply roller, a take-up roller, a cleaning web and an applicator. The cleaning web extends from a supply of clean cleaning web wound on the supply roller to the take-up roller. The applicator is disposed intermediate the supply roller and the take-up roller to bias the cleaning web into contact with the conveyor belt carrier surface. The belt cleaning system may also include a second cleaning assembly positioned after the first cleaning assembly in the direction of travel of the conveyor belt. The cleaning webs of the first and second cleaning web sub-assemblies may be dry or wetted with a cleaning liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Xeorx Corporation
    Inventors: Derek A. Bryl, Richard P. Ficarra, Gordon B. Reid, Richard F. Scarlata, Thomas C. McGraw
  • Patent number: 8556063
    Abstract: A belt cleaning system to clean a conveyor belt having a carrier surface includes a dry ice blasting device and a debris recovery subsystem. The dry ice blasting device includes a delivery system having at least one nozzle disposed adjacent the conveyor belt. Dry ice pellets are discharged from the nozzle onto the conveyor belt carrier surface, whereby the dry ice pellets remove the debris from the carrier surface. The debris recovery subsystem includes a collector housing disposed adjacent to the conveyor belt carrier surface. The collector housing contains the debris removed from the conveyor belt carrier surface and directs the debris away from the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Ficarra, Thomas C. McGraw, Gordon B. Reid, Derek A. Bryl
  • Patent number: 8511459
    Abstract: A cigarette bundle feeder has a discharge duct which forms a lower part of a hopper and delivers filter cigarettes towards a bottom plate located under the hopper to produce a cigarette bundle, the discharge duct having a plurality of discharge passages arranged adjacent to each other in a width direction of the hopper to make the filter cigarettes flow downwards separately, the discharge passages opening in one direction; a front plate disposed at one side of and adjacent to the discharge duct, and extending in the width direction to cover the discharged passages of the discharge duct; and a plurality of suction holes formed in the front plate and having open ends that open towards the discharge duct, for sucking, through the open ends, tobacco shreds that spill from the cigarette ends of the filter cigarettes and drop into a gap between the front plate and the discharge duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Koichi Akagi, Shigenobu Kushihashi, Tetsuo Ueno
  • Patent number: 8499922
    Abstract: Scraping plates include: a first scraping plate 11 attached to chains 10, with an end surface 11c? thereof facing a receiving plate 14 being deviated from an attachment point c? where the first scraping plate 11 is attached to the chains 10, by a distance L1 to an opposite side of an advance direction a of the chains 10; and a second scraping plate 12 attached to the chains 10, with an end surface 12c? thereof facing the receiving plate 14 being deviated from an attachment point d? where the second scraping plate 12 is attached to the chains 10, by a distance L2 smaller than the distance L1 of the first scraping plate 11 to the opposite side of the advance direction a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hoshi, Ryosuke Yasumura, Takenori Nishizawa, Akifumi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20130161157
    Abstract: An open frame design of conveyors that will allow inspection access as well as sanitation access to all surfaces of conveyors that carry products that could contain Food Allergens, materials that could cause reactions as well as provide proper sanitation access. For proper and safe operation these allergens and offending materials must be removed and therefore proper access to all surfaces must be provided so as to be able clean and remove allergens and offending materials from all surfaces as well as to provide access to visually confirm proper removal has been carried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventor: Norman Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20130140140
    Abstract: A traveling deckle is adapted to run on each edge of a filter belt in a counter current belt washer system. The traveling deckle may be used to retain a slurry on the filter belt as the filter belt is passed through one or more vacuum and washing stages. The traveling deckle may be driven by the friction of the deckle against the belt. After the last vacuum point of liquor removal, the deckle returns to its starting point in an endless run. The deckle eliminates conventional curbing and troughing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Gregory Daniel Zilker
  • Publication number: 20130104709
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for slicing food products which can have a non-homogeneous structure. The device comprises a supply device, a cutting device, namely the slicer, and a removal device, preferably an endless conveyor belt. It is provided to have the device be designed to be self-cleaning. Sterilization of the device is likewise provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventor: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
  • Publication number: 20130037387
    Abstract: Docking station (1) with a clearing device for a channel (4) for the mass flow of rod-shaped articles (5) used in the tobacco industry, provided with storage means (2) containing the clearing device (3) wherein the storage means are adapted in such a way that they are led in into the channel in response to a signal of presence of the end face of mass flow at the place at which the clearing device is led in or out; moving means (14) for inserting the clearing device into the channel after the storage means have been led in into the channel; furthermore, the storage means are adapted in such a way that they are led out of the installation channel in response to the signal of presence of the end face of the cleaning device in the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND SP. Z O.O.
    Inventor: Adam Gielniewski
  • Patent number: 8297435
    Abstract: A germicidal irradiation approach to killing germs on conveyors and other check out surfaces in stores, such as grocery stores, which sell articles such as food items where possible contamination from leaks and the like is a concern. An adaptable, portable ultraviolet light apparatus is provided to irradiate surfaces such as conveyor belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Lathem
  • Publication number: 20120237260
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a belt unit that includes a belt-shaped image carrier stretched around and driven to rotate by a plurality of rollers; a belt tensioning unit that includes a tensioning member that is brought into contact with an image carrying surface of the belt-shaped image carrier and applies tension to the belt-shaped image carrier; and a cleaning unit that includes a cleaning member that is brought into contact with the image carrying surface of the belt-shaped image carrier and cleans the image carrying surface. The cleaning unit is supported by the belt tensioning unit in an attachable and detachable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Kenji SENGOKU, Ryuuichi Mimbu, Junpei Fujita, Osamu Ichihashi
  • Publication number: 20120228088
    Abstract: A conveying surface operating in a fashion of a conveying belt. The surface is formed to provide movement of material on the surface between two rollers. The conveying surface is formed by a continuous wire stretching in individual substantially parallel strands, between spiraled communications around the first roller and second roller. Spacing of the individual parallel strands of wire yields uninterrupted gaps for airflow therethrough and tensioning of the wire between the rollers eliminates sagging. The surface may be cleaned while moving by cleaning a return section of the wire strand between the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Nolton C. Johnson, JR.
  • Patent number: RE45145
    Abstract: A belt conveyor wing pulley is comprised of a plurality of V-shaped wings radially spaced about and connected to circumferential surfaces of a pair of spaced hubs. Gussets are connected to facing surfaces of adjacent wings and to the circumferential surfaces of the hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Superior Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Micah D. Zeltwanger, James M. Solvie