Opposed Endless Belts Patents (Class 198/626.1)
  • Patent number: 11570999
    Abstract: A method of mechanically removing skin from animal parts that have a bone part extending therein, including: moving the animal parts, suspended on shackles depending from an overhead conveyor, along a path of travel and cutting the part to separate the skin therefrom. The part moved into a skinning station in which the part is urged into engagement with skinning rolls. The skinning rolls are rotated and engage and draw the skin of the part therebetween. The skin is progressively pulled downwardly and away from underlying meat of the animal part as the part moved forwardly along its path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Foodmate US, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Steve Sosebee
  • Patent number: 11376780
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for treating plastic preforms (10) with a preform sorting device (2) comprising a sorting device (3) and a damming device (5) which transports the plastic preforms (10) along a first rectilinear transport path (T1), wherein the sorting device (3) is suitable and intended to bring the plastic preforms (10) into a predetermined orientation and the damming device (5) is suitable and intended to feed the plastic preforms (10) in an ordered manner to a heating device (12) arranged downstream of the preform sorting device (2), which heats the plastic preforms (10) to a temperature necessary for blow moulding, wherein the heating device (12) transports the plastic preforms (10) along a substantially second rectilinear transport path (T2) and a plurality of stationary arranged heating elements (14) are arranged along the second rectilinear transport path (T2). According to the invention, the preforms sorting device (2) and the heating device (12) are arranged on a common carrier (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Florian Geltinger
  • Patent number: 11305939
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting upright containers arranged in a single row, comprising a first clamping belt and a second clamping belt, between which the containers arranged in a single row are held and transported, and at least one first rotary cylinder and one second rotary cylinder, around which the containers held by the clamping belts are transported. The containers and the clamping belts are guided one after the other around the at least two rotary cylinders in such a way that the containers are each pressed against the respective rotary cylinder by the radially outer clamping belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Heuft Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Heuft, Olga Kasdorf
  • Patent number: 11142360
    Abstract: A unit for the control or management of articles includes a plant including an operating line including an upstream section for making the articles, including a log saw for cutting rolls off elongate logs, a packaging section including a packing section where the articles or rolls are packed, and a bagging section where the packs are placed in bags and/or a palletizing section where the packs or bags are placed on pallets. A conveying section transports products between the upstream section and the packaging section and/or between one packaging section and another downstream. A process controller controls the functioning of the plant sections. The unit includes a device for detecting and/or lighting a face of the product or pack and which is adapted to produce different images of the face, to exhibit different states of reflection of the light that is incident upon the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: PULSAR S.R.L.
    Inventor: Massimo Franzaroli
  • Patent number: 10994939
    Abstract: A rubberized pad with high flexibility, in particular for chains for handling/lifting product line products, has a vertical symmetry axis with a full base for coupling with the chain and a hollow upper part, including a wall opposed with respect to said base and suitable for engaging with a conveyed product. The pad has a total height and the upper part includes lateral walls having two semi-walls, with a thickness and connected with the wall, and two semi-walls having a thickness connected with the base. The pairs of semi-walls making between each other an angle (a1) directed toward the hollow part of the upper part, the semi-walls realizing an angle (a2) with respect to the vertical symmetry axis of the pad. The pad has a ratio between the height and thickness of ?10, in that the angle (a1) is ?90°, and in that the angle (a2) is ?40°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: REGINA CATENE CALIBRATE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Garbagnati, Norberto Cattaneo
  • Patent number: 10687476
    Abstract: The automated trimming of an untrimmed plant stem comprises a device for transporting an untrimmed plant stem to an imaging stage, using a camera to capture at least one image of the plant stem, sending the at least one image to a central processor which creates a trim map which constructs a pattern for moving a cutting armature along the plant stem, and trimming the plant stem by cutting structure of the cutting armature to change the untrimmed plant stem to a trimmed plant stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Bloom Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Thomas Gowa
  • Patent number: 10478988
    Abstract: A method involves conveying tissue logs in a saw conveyor. The conveyor has independent lane control cutting and variable conveyor flight length. In one aspect of the method a first tissue log is received in a lane of a conveyor. With a first log advancement member, the first tissue log is advanced in the lane of the conveyor for cutting with a tissue log saw. A second tissue log is received in the lane of the conveyor when the first tissue log has advanced sufficiently in the lane to accommodate the second tissue log in the lane. With a second log advancement member, the second tissue log is advanced in the lane of the conveyor for cutting with the tissue log saw independently of the step of advancing the first tissue log in the lane. The conveyor may also have multiple lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: PAPER CONVERTING MACHINE COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew J. Chike, Cory P. Gussert
  • Patent number: 10473237
    Abstract: A push rack pipe pusher having a base. A first frame coupled to the base. A second frame coupled to the base. A first pressurized cylinder coupled to the base. A second pressurized cylinder coupled to the base. A third pressurized cylinder coupled to the base. A fourth pressurized cylinder coupled to the base. A lower track conveyer system coupled to the base and positioned between the first frame and the second frame. An upper track conveyer system coupled to the pressurized cylinders and positioned between the first frame and the second frame. A control unit coupled to the upper track conveyer system, the lower track conveyer system, and the pressurized cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Broussard Brothers Inc.
    Inventors: Noah Raywood Broussard, III, Frank Andrew Young
  • Patent number: 10374530
    Abstract: A dual axis linear motion system utilizing one or more printed circuit boards embedded within a stage wherein the system components, including the controller, drive, and controller, may be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB), and the electrical communications between the system components and the power to the system components are supplied through traces or etchings on the printed circuit board, thereby omitting the need for additional power and communication cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Invetech, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin McCarthy
  • Patent number: 10272585
    Abstract: A conveyor system for advancing tissue logs has a first log advancement member that conveys a lead tissue log toward a discharge end of a lane via a first drive, and a second log advancement member that conveys a successive tissue log after the lead tissue log toward the discharge end of the lane via a second drive. A controller is coupled to the first and second drives. The controller is adapted and configured to control: the first drive to move the first log advancement member between a start and finish position, the second drive to move the second log advancement member between the start and finish position, and the first drive independently of the second drive. A plurality of like lanes may be provided and the controller may also control the first and second drives of one lane independently of the first and second drives of another lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: PAPER CONVERTING MACHINE COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew J. Chike, Cory P. Gussert
  • Patent number: 10155624
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly includes a first conveyor belt that defines a centerline extending in a conveying direction and a second conveyor belt that at least partially overlaps the first conveyor belt in the conveying direction. The conveyor assembly further includes a magnetic coupling that magnetically couples the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC
    Inventor: Stevie K. Nix
  • Patent number: 10087006
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus for conveying articles towards corresponding points of use and preferably located between an upstream machine for making rolls, in particular in the form of a saw machine for cutting rolls from a respective tube or elongate log, and at least corresponding first and second conveyers moving the articles towards corresponding downstream points of use or packaging machines. The apparatus includes a supporting frame for a conveyor which receives the articles from the machine which makes the articles and for a movable conveyor passing the articles respectively at least to first or second conveyors for conveying them downstream. The apparatus has a conveyor receiving the articles and includes a transporting unit engaging the articles at an off-center lower zone laterally opposite the lateral engagement zone where the articles are engaged by the lateral supporting conveyor of the upstream machine which makes the articles, or saw machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: PULSAR S.R.L.
    Inventor: Massimo Franzaroli
  • Patent number: 9815627
    Abstract: A high-angle conveyor system is provided. The high-angle conveyor system includes a primary conventional conveyor, a lower high-angle conveyor and an upper high-angle conveyor. The lower high-angle conveyor is disposed within the primary conveyor. Therefore, a portion of the primary conveyor is sandwiched in between the lower high-angle conveyor and the upper high-angle conveyor. Both of the lower high-angle conveyor and the upper high-angle conveyor are disposed at a high angle. Material is transported along the primary conveyor and then transported at a high angle in between the lower high-angle conveyor, the primary conveyor, and the upper high-angle conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Dos Santos International, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph dos Santos, Joseph Anibal dos Santos
  • Patent number: 9446552
    Abstract: A blow molding machine 1 has a blow molding section 10, an ejection section 20, and a delivery unit 100. In order to deliver a plurality of containers B to a device 200 of a post-process subsequent to the blow molding machine, the delivery unit includes a rail for holding, delivering and guiding the plurality of containers, and an elevation block raised and lowered relative to the rail. The elevation block includes a plurality of blades, an endless member to which the plurality of blades are fixed at a blow molding pitch, and a drive portion for driving the endless member to run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Yamaguchi, Masatoshi Ando, Takashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9375354
    Abstract: The apparatuses and methods herein may be configured to transport articles in the form of continuous lengths of substrates having thicknesses that varies along a machine direction and/or cross direction. The conveyance apparatuses may be configured to include a first carrier and second carrier, wherein each carrier includes an endless belt positioned adjacent to the other so as to define a nip region between the endless belts, the nip region extending in a machine direction and a cross direction. The carriers may also include compliant rollers in rolling contact with the endless belts. Each compliant roller may be elastomeric and adapted to provide a reaction force normal to the endless belt along the machine and/or cross direction of the nip region. As such, the compliant rollers help maintain and hold the endless belts in contact with both relatively thin and thick areas of the substrate advancing through the nip region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Todd Douglas Lenser, Uwe Schneider, David Carlton Ordway
  • Patent number: 9340308
    Abstract: A supply apparatus for spout-equipped bags conveys in parallel spout-equipped bags to a multiplex packing machine by changing intervals. An elongated-shape holding rail 14 aligning and holding many spout-equipped bags W in a straight line supplies the spout-equipped bags W to taking-out or removal positions c1a, c1b sequentially in a state where they are disposed at an interval P1 in a front-back direction a1 by an intermittently conveying part 1. An interval change conveying part 2 receives a plurality of holding rails 14 supplied to the taking-out or removal positions c1a, c1b and moves them to a pushing mechanism 4 by changing the interval P1 among the holding rails 14 to an interval P2. The interval change conveying part 2 includes a plurality of conveying members 20, 21 and an interval change mechanism part 23. The interval change mechanism part 23 changes an interval between the conveying members 20, 21 from the interval P1 to the interval P2 while the conveying members 20, 21 are moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Nakagawa, Yoshikatsu Nakahara, Kazunori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9340309
    Abstract: To exhaust a holding rail that has been emptied by a simple mechanism after pushing a plurality of spout-equipped bags from the holding rail to a transfer rail. An elongated-shape holding rail 14 aligning and holding many spout-equipped bags W in a straight line is moved to transfer positions c1 to c4 by a rail supply part 80. The conveyed holding rail 14 is held by a retention mechanism 3 in a state of being opposite to a transfer rail 60. A pushing member 52 reciprocates in a longitudinal direction of the holding rail 14 by having a bag conveying face 52b3, which contacts on the spout-equipped bag hung from the holding rail 14 and pushes the spout-equipped bag toward the transfer rail 60, and a rail pushing face 52b2, which contacts on the holding rail 14 and exhausts opposite the transfer rail 60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Nakagawa, Yoshikatsu Nakahara, Kazunori Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9242801
    Abstract: Components of a conveyor system designed to facilitate tight transfer of products onto and off a positively-driven, low tension conveyor belt. The conveyor system includes a tension amplifier in a returnway of a conveyor belt circuit for selectively increasing tension in the conveyor belt prior to infeed without increasing the low tension in the returnway prior to the tension amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Daniel Robert Hendrickson, James R. Honeycutt, Jr., Brian A. Trapani, Wayne A. Pertuit, Jr., Paul E. St. Pierre
  • Patent number: 9199405
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying preforms to a blow molding machine, including a sorter that sorts and uniformly orients the preforms. A gravity conveyor feeds the preforms from the sorter to the blow molding machine. A transfer device between the sorter and the conveyor transfers the preforms from the sorter to the conveyor. The sorter, the conveyor, and the transfer device all have stepless adjoined guiding surfaces with specific contours that guide the preforms through the apparatus. The transfer device is an element with a curved guiding surface adjusted to the contour of the guiding surface of the sorter at the end facing the sorter, while being adjusted to the contour of the guiding surface of the gravity conveyor at the end facing the gravity conveyor. The two contours of the guiding surfaces facing the ends of the two devices are different, the guiding surface is stepless between the two ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: KHS CORPOPLAST GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Heller, Dieter Holler
  • Patent number: 9126760
    Abstract: The installation includes a conveyor system having at least one conveyor provided with two conveyor bodies having active strands that are parallel to each other for receiving and transporting articles that are arranged successively between the active strands. One of the conveyor bodies has a natural leather material, at least on the active part thereof in direct contact with the items. The conveyor bodies have belts that are at least partially or fully formed using leather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventor: Cedric Bianchini
  • Publication number: 20150122616
    Abstract: A conveyor for conveying mineral material vertically includes a conveyor frame; at least two conveyor main rolls or pairs of conveyor main pulleys, a plurality of conveyor guide rolls or conveyor guide pulleys and a first and a second endless conveyor belt. The main rolls or pulleys are arranged on top of each other and the guide rolls or pulleys are arranged outside each conveyor main roll or pulley at a circumference of a circle. The endless conveyor belts alternate between being moved on either a main roll or a pair of main pulleys or on a group of guide rolls or guide pulleys. The endless conveyor belts are arranged to be moved at a speed that any material being conveyed stays in contact with the surface of either the first or the second endless conveyor belts when being moved on a the conveyor guide rolls or pulleys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Metso Minerals, Inc.
    Inventor: Keijo Viilo
  • Patent number: 9017240
    Abstract: A transporting apparatus for transporting flat, sheet-like material through one or more processing stations of a sheet-processing machine includes at least one upper conveying apparatus and at least one lower conveying apparatus with conveying devices which are in contact with one another. The upper and lower conveying apparatuses are fastened in such a way that they can be altered freely in length. A sheet-processing machine with a transporting apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Diehr, Martin Mertens, Sedat Padar
  • Patent number: 8939278
    Abstract: A deconsolidation device defines a flow path with an inlet which defines a first cross-section generally equivalent to a passageway cross-section of a particulate material extrusion pump and an outlet that defines a second cross-section different than the first cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Fitzsimmons
  • Patent number: 8893878
    Abstract: A pump system includes a pump that includes a first belt and a second belt that are spaced apart from each other to provide generally straight sides of a passage there between. There is an inlet at one end of the passage and an outlet at an opposite end of the passage, with a passage length that extends between the inlet and the outlet. The passage defines a gap distance in a width direction between the straight sides at the passage inlet. A hopper includes an interior space that terminates at a mouth at the passage inlet. At least one screw is located within the interior space of the hopper and includes a screw diameter in the width direction that is less than or equal to the gap distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Sprouse
  • Patent number: 8870518
    Abstract: A device and to a method for stacking plate-like products into a straight, cylindrical stack having an upper and a lower side and at least two side surfaces arranged at a distance from each other. In order to create a desired pretension in the stack already during stacking, which can even be maintained when individual products are added, the plate-like products are lifted against gravity from the bottom to the top into a stack nest, the products are held in the stack nest by applying a force on the side surfaces thereof to prevent dropping in the direction of gravity. While the force application is maintained, further products are added to the stack in the stack nest from the bottom side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Grohmann Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grohmann, Lothar Thommes, Charles W. McClure
  • Publication number: 20140308886
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus has a conveying path to supply a plurality of products for consumption having soft parts and intended for processing to a processing device. A conveying intermediate space has conveying surfaces that face one another and receive the products for consumption between them while applying pressure thereto. A first conveying surface comprises a flexible surface-deformable conveying cover and a row arrangement of pressure elements that are arranged next to one another in a row extending transverse to the conveying direction, each having a pressure-applying transverse profile extending transverse to the conveying direction, and are held to be displaceable in the height dimension direction of the conveying intermediate space against a restoring force such that each pressure element co-operates with the surface-deformable conveying cover during the passage of the products for consumption through the conveying path in order to form a variable conveyor cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Olaf Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8776985
    Abstract: A method for transporting containers or groups of containers, wherein the containers are conveyed along a predefined transport path and with a predefined distance (D) between the containers or groups of containers and a conveyor unit and a conveyor unit, which conveyor unit transports the containers by means of at least two first conveying elements for conveying the containers, which first conveying elements respectively move along a first predefined movement path on a circulating carrier, and which first conveying elements contact the containers with respectively one contacting body and in this way vary a distance between the containers or groups of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Johann Huettner, Martin Seger
  • Patent number: 8776986
    Abstract: A singulator for use with fruit handling equipment including spaced fruit supports driven at a particular speed, the singulator causing the fruit to assume single file for transfer to the fruit supports, the singulator including a first pair of belts arranged in a V formation travelling at different speeds, wherein the first pair of belts merges into a second pair of belts arranged in a V formation and both travelling at about the speed of the fruit supports, and wherein the second pair of belts is adapted to be operated so as to transfer the fruits substantially at the same speed as the fruit supports, whereby fruit are transferred to the fruit supports in single file whilst moving at the same speed as the fruit supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: MAF Agrobotic
    Inventor: Bruce Thomas Morley
  • Patent number: 8739962
    Abstract: A solids supply systems having a solids deaeration zone and a solids pump zone, and to methods for supplying the solids e.g., pulverized dry coal, to an application, e.g., gasification process. The solids deaeration zone includes a roller system containing a plurality of porous roller assemblies, or a belt system containing a plurality of porous belt assemblies. The solids deaeration zone is operable to deaerate and convey the solids to the solids pump zone. In the solids deaeration zone, the solids become sufficiently compacted prior to and upon entry into the solids pump zone to be effectively conveyed through the solids pump zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: James R. Bielenberg, Michael Raterman, Rathna P. Davuluri, John W. Fulton, Steven W. Meier
  • Publication number: 20140131173
    Abstract: There is described a feeding unit for feeding sealed packs of pourable food products to a folding unit configured to form folded packages from relative the packs; the feeding unit comprising a feeding conveyor adapted to receive packs at an inlet station of the feeding unit and to drive them to an outlet station of the feeding unit; the feeding conveyor comprising at least one push member movable cyclically and having a cooperating surface adapted to cooperate, in use, with a relative pack to push it towards the outlet station along a substantially rectilinear portion of an advancement path, wherein the cooperating surface has an involute-shaped profile. Furthermore, there is provided a corresponding method for feeding sealed packs of pourable food products to a folding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Richard Pedretti, Paolo Fontanazzi, Fabrizio Rimondi
  • Patent number: 8689966
    Abstract: A device for the elimination of trimmings of rolls or logs of ribbon-like material associated downstream with a shearing machine of at least one roll or log (11), fed by a feeding plane (13) of rolls (10) and head and/or tail rolls (24), consecutively. The device comprises a conveyor group (14) for carrying the rolls (10) and eliminating the head and/or tail rolls (24,24?), wherein the feeding plane (13) comprises rests (15) and the conveyor group (14) comprises flaps (21), both shaped, facing each other and spaced between each other to define central longitudinal openings (16 and 22) for the passage of pushers (17) which allow at least one roll or log (11) to advance; the conveyor group (14) having chains (20) on which flaps (21) are positioned, and having a length of chains (20) without flaps (21) that define a movable opening (23) between adjacent chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Gambini International S.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Gambini
  • Patent number: 8662284
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for locating at least one item of media at a desired location. The apparatus includes a first and further transport element for transporting an item of media along a transport path having a pre-determined plane of transport. The apparatus also includes at least one abutment surface that locates respective first and second lateral edge regions of the item or a central region of the item to a side of the plane of transport to provide an arcuate cross-section in at least a region of the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Suttie
  • Publication number: 20140021015
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for transporting at least one item of media. The apparatus includes at least one guide member providing a first guide surface that guides at least one item of media as the item is transported, at least one elongate slit in the guide surface and at least one belt member each extending along a respective slit and comprising a first belt portion that extends outwardly from the slit beyond the guide surface and a further belt portion that undercuts a region of the guide surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: NCR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony Boon, Frank B. Dunn
  • Patent number: 8631927
    Abstract: A chain for a particulate material extrusion pump includes a plurality of links, each of the plurality of links having a link body and a link ledge, wherein each link ledge of the plurality of links at least partially overlaps the link body of an adjacent one of the plurality of links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Saunders, John D. Brady
  • Patent number: 8567779
    Abstract: An apparatus for pressing flat materials onto a transport module with a transport belt includes a holding carrier for pressing elements being disposed under a feed table. At least one of the pressing elements is mounted on the holding carrier with a multiplicity of individual resilient or sprung constituent parts, or a multiplicity of pressing elements are disposed on the holding carrier below the transport belt in a transport direction. The pressing elements can protrude through an opening in the feed table, in order to provide suitable pressure from below on the transport belt of the transport module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Hantel, Wolfgang Muhl, Dieter Woelm, Axel Ortmann
  • Publication number: 20130277176
    Abstract: A gripper (12) is disclosed having a base (24) that extends from a first end a second end and includes resilient (32) fingers that extend from the base between the first end and the second end. The resilient fingers (32) may be configured to generally conform to and engage with articles (34) being transferred when the base is mounted to a conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Rick Corlett, Mike Chin, Dean A. Wieting
  • Patent number: 8550230
    Abstract: A method of moving opening devices configured to be attached to respective sealed packages of pourable food product involves: forward moving a plurality of linearly arranged opening devices in a forward direction along a path; stopping the forward movement of the linearly arranged opening devices by virtue of a forwardmost one of the opening devices contacting a stop positioned at a first position in front of the forwardmost opening device; pushing the stop to a second position at which the stop no longer prevents movement of the forwardmost opening device in the forward direction; and moving the forwardmost opening device in the forward direction past the stop located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Menozzi, Alessandro Morselli
  • Patent number: 8505739
    Abstract: A device for discarding trims formed by cutting machines during the cutting of paper logs, including an advancing plane on which paper rolls (R) and trims (RT, RC) advance along a given direction (A), wherein the trims can fall through a discontinuity provided on the advancing plane. The advancing plane is formed by a first extendible conveyor (1) and a second extendible conveyor (2). Each of the conveyors (1, 2) is connected with an extension and retraction device. The discontinuity on the advancing plane is realized or eliminated depending on the extended or not extended configuration of the conveyors (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Futura S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giulio Betti
  • Patent number: 8443964
    Abstract: An adjustable reservoir for articles such as smoking articles and smoking article filters comprises a plurality of conveyors mounted one above another in a vertical stack, each conveyor comprising an endless belt defining a curved conveying path of constant radius extending between two ends proximally spaced to define a gap through which articles carried by the belt may drop, and a drive mechanism operable to rotate at least one conveyor about the vertical axis of the stack so as to change the angular position of the gap of that conveyor relative to the gaps of adjacent conveyors. Changing the relative angular positions of the gaps allows the capacity of the reservoir to be adjusted, and further adjustment can be achieved by changing the direction of travel of the conveyor belts. The drive mechanism can be configured to move one or more groups of conveyors in unison, or to move each conveyor individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland SP. Z O.O.
    Inventor: Gary Fallon
  • Patent number: 8439184
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a roofing shingle apparatus and more particularly to an improved such apparatus for high speed shingle making generally when handling a double shingle line (one line overlaid on the other with the high side of each line on opposite sides to make a single mostly even thickness) in a more compact arrangement from the cutter to the stackers and catchers, but not limited to a slower single line of shingle making that uses a flipper at the discharge of the catcher shuttle and not limited to a four wide overlaid to four thicknesses of shingles in one line and scissor cut, not described in detail herein, before entering a single line delivery belt section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Arne Roy Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 8439185
    Abstract: A pump for transporting particulate material includes a passageway defined on each side between an inlet and an outlet by a moving wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Fitzsimmons
  • Patent number: 8424673
    Abstract: Device for transferring a reinforcing ply having the overall shape of a parallelogram and containing reinforcing threads with ferromagnetic properties and making a given angle b, smaller than 90°, with the longitudinal direction of the said reinforcing ply, comprising at least two transfer belts which overlap over a given length 1 and are separated by a given and small-sized distance, each of the belts comprising a magnetized region of trapezoidal shape, the bases of which are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the belts and are intended to hold the reinforcing ply firmly against the moving surface of the said transfer belts, characterized in that, in the region of overlap of the belts, the side of the trapezium connecting the two bases of the magnetized region of the first belt forms an angle a1 with the longitudinal direction which is smaller than the angle of the threads b, and the side of the trapezium connecting the two bases of the magnetized region of the second belt forms an angle a2 with the l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Establissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Stephane Ravat, Clement Dubois, Patrick Marchal
  • Patent number: 8413792
    Abstract: A method and device are provided to produce stacks composed of printed products. Printed products are supplied substantially vertically and in an overlapping flow with the aid of a first conveying device continuously to an essentially horizontally extending stack support. A stack is formed at the stack support, where the printed products are at least approximately lined up in an upright position. The stack on the stack support is transported with a second conveying device moving at a forward-feed speed and in a forward-feed direction. The stack is supported along a leading stack end against a support device that also moves in the forward-feed direction. A third conveyor acts upon a region of a lower edge of at least one printed product, which impacts the stack support, to move the at least one printed product in the forward-feed direction of the stack with a speed that corresponds at least to the forward-feed speed of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Markus Jegge, André Roth
  • Patent number: 8371796
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking veneer sheets is provided, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for delivering veneer sheets to a stacking point and means for placing veneer sheets on a stack to be formed. The conveyor means comprise a first and a second conveyor element disposed on opposite sides of a veneer sheet, said first and/or second conveyor element being provided with magnet elements arranged for cooperation with a conveyor element present on the opposite side, such that the veneer sheet to be fed in between the conveyor elements is pressed with a desired force between the conveyor elements and is movable thereby to a stacking point, which is provided with stopper means for stopping the veneer sheet and with means for releasing the veneer sheet from between the conveyor elements to enable its placement on a stack to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Raute Oyj
    Inventor: Pekka Runonen
  • Publication number: 20130015041
    Abstract: A device for the elimination of trimmings of rolls or logs of ribbon-like material associated downstream with a shearing machine of at least one roll or log (11), fed by a feeding plane (13) of rolls (10) and head and/or tail rolls (24), consecutively. The device comprises a conveyor group (14) for carrying the rolls (10) and eliminating the head and/or tail rolls (24,24?), wherein the feeding plane (13) comprises rests (15) and the conveyor group (14) comprises flaps (21), both shaped, facing each other and spaced between each other to define central longitudinal openings (16 and 22) for the passage of pushers (17) which allow at least one roll or log (11) to advance; the conveyor group (14) having chains (20) on which flaps (21) are positioned, and having a length of chains (20) without flaps (21) that define a movable opening (23) between adjacent chains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: GAMBINI INTERNATIONAL S.A.
    Inventor: GIOVANNI GAMBINI
  • Patent number: 8322518
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for recirculating articles on a belt conveyor. An article-recirculation path is formed in a pair of parallel conveyor belts running continuously in opposite directions. Article-supporting rollers in each belt rotate to transfer articles from one belt to the other in a transfer region at each end of the conveyor to form an endless recirculation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jonathan Ball
  • Patent number: 8307974
    Abstract: A track assembly for a particulate material extrusion pump according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a link assembly with a roller bearing. An insert mounted to a load beam located such that the roller bearing contacts the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Saunders, John D. Brady
  • Patent number: 8276741
    Abstract: A bottle cap orienting apparatus including a cap transfer assembly having a pair of opposing transfer belts each having curved first and second ends and upright facing straight sides opposingly spaced apart to define a gap sized to be equal to or greater than a height of the caps being transferred and reoriented for subsequent feeding into a bottle capping apparatus. A cap feed chute is positioned centrally between the first ends for conveying unoriented bottle caps in edge upright orientation into the gap. Each of the transfer belts have suction holes positioned along each of the transfer belts. A vacuum source within each belt draws air inwardly into the suction holes which holds caps against the belt. The belts move in unison to carry the bottle caps to the second ends where a cap stripper detaches each cap from the transfer belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventor: Steven A. Zittel
  • Publication number: 20120186946
    Abstract: A track assembly for a particulate material extrusion pump according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a link assembly with a roller bearing. An insert mounted to a load beam located such that the roller bearing contacts the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy Saunders, John D. Brady
  • Patent number: 8181767
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an inverting device which takes one or more articles from a first device, inverts the article(s), and discharges the article(s) onto a second device that may be at essentially the same relative height as the first device. The inverting device has a rotating device with two opposed surfaces that are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the height of the article. Once the article(s) has been moved into position in the rotating device, the rotating device rotates 180 degrees about a transverse axis, resulting in the inversion of the article. The new orientation of the article may facilitate further processing in a manufacturing environment, such as cleaning, filling, labeling, stacking or any other activity that relies on a specific product disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Weldon Machine Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Gales, Mark Alan Killian