With Means Controlling The Interrelated Operation Of Plural Sections Patents (Class 198/575)
  • Patent number: 11795001
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus includes a drive unit, a connection interface which transmits analog signals, and a drive control module which is coupled to the drive unit and to the connection interface via signal technology. The drive control module receives analog control signals via the connection interface in an operating state and controls the drive unit as a function of the analog control signals, outputs digital diagnostic signals via the connection interface in a digital communication state, and switches from the operating state to the digital communication state upon receipt of a switchover command. The switchover command is made up of a predetermined analog control signal or a predetermined sequence of analog control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze
  • Patent number: 10793372
    Abstract: A control device (1) for a goods transport conveyor (100) has a processor (10) that generates control signals for at least one drive motor (350) of a transport section (110; 120; 130) of the goods transport conveyor (100). The motor operates in stop-and-go mode. The processor (10) is configured to control the drive motor (350) by means of a forward phase and/or reverse phase when the transport section (110; 120; 130) of the goods transport conveyor (100) stops such that the torque (M(t)) produced by the drive motor (350) is reduced according to an adjustable stopping function. The processor (10) sets the stopping function depending on detected process data of the transport section (110; 120; 130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Interroll Holding AG
    Inventors: Huiping Niu, Normen Theis
  • Patent number: 10486759
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for conveying a vehicle component to a vehicle body with a robot device in an assembly station. The assembly station includes a provisioning position in which the vehicle component is provisioned for conveying to the vehicle body. The assembly station further includes a final assembly location at which the vehicle component is final-assembled on the vehicle body. The robot device grips the vehicle component in the provisioning position and conveys the vehicle component to the final assembly location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sascha Hahn, Uwe Hüttenmüller, Uwe Leers, Steve Geinitz, Manuela Patz, Dirk Klee, Steffen Lehmann, Norbert Possner
  • Patent number: 10464621
    Abstract: A pre-buck apparatus for a vehicle body assembling system comprises a pre-buck section and a main buck section that are set along a transfer path of a floor assembly. The pre-buck apparatus is formed in the pre-buck section, and while the side assembly is disposed in each of opposite sides of the transfer path in the pre-buck section, the pre-buck apparatus controls a lower portion of the side assembly, and the lower portion of the side assembly is pre-assembled to the floor assembly using a first welding robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hyun Gu Lee, Yoon Jang, Chang Ho Jung, Ki Haing Lee, Chi Hong Hwang, Deug Young So, Young do Kim
  • Patent number: 10351285
    Abstract: Robotic pick-and-place automation is used to transfer oral solid pharmaceuticals from moveable trays or canisters. Sensors are used to verify that the pharmaceuticals have been properly placed in the desired pharmaceutical locations precisely according to the patient prescription data. A pharmacist places pharmaceutical products within dispensing trays or canisters to present the pharmaceutical products for picking and placing via the robotic pick-and-place machinery. Once the canister or tray is located adjacent the pick-and-place device, a sensor or imaging unit associated with the pick-and-place device verifies that the pharmaceutical product the size, shape, and/or color of an expected pharmaceutical product that is to be placed within the packaging material in accordance with patient prescription data stored by a computer associated with the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MTS Medication Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Sweet, Edward D Kames, Heather Gileta, Robert Barrett, Alan Kraemer
  • Patent number: 10239710
    Abstract: A method for loading a pallet with different individual packs of a picked order includes a first method step in which the individual packs to be palletized are delivered in a conveyor cart, a second method step in which the individual packs are separated, positioned and prepared for palletizing in such a way that a palletizing station has access to all of the individual packs and a third method step in which the individual packs are picked in a sequence predetermined by the palletizing station and stacked on the pallet. A device for performing the method includes one or more palletizing stations with a storage device for the individual packs and with a continuous conveying loop acting as a conveying path for the conveyor cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ATLANTIC C Handels—und Beratungs GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Gaenz
  • Patent number: 10214358
    Abstract: A conveyor system comprising a series of rollers coupled to a side of a frame and configured to convey a plurality of conveyed articles thereacross along a direction of travel. Each of the rollers has a drive end. The series of rollers including a directly driven roller and a plurality of slave driven rollers disposed after the directly driven roller with respect to the direction of travel. The conveyor system includes a plurality of sheaves. Each of the sheaves is coupled to a drive end of one of the rollers. Each of the sheaves includes a plurality of V-shaped grooves formed in an outer surface thereof. The grooves are divided into an inner portion and an outer portion. An outer diameter of the inner portion of each of the sheaves is unequal to an outer diameter of the outer portion of each of the sheaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: LEWCO, INC.
    Inventor: Gerald T. Guerra
  • Patent number: 10160607
    Abstract: A motorized drive roller conveyor includes an upstream zone and a downstream zone, with each zone having a drive roller, an idler roller that is driven by the drive roller, and a sensor. The upstream zone and the downstream zone are controlled by a card, which measures a gap between a first item on the conveyor and a second item on the conveyor by beginning a counter when a trailing edge of the first item passes the sensor of the upstream zone and stopping the counter when a leading edge of the second item passes the sensor of the upstream zone to generate a counter value. If the first item is stopped in the downstream zone, the card of the upstream zone causes the drive roller of the upstream zone to advance the second item into the downstream zone for a distance derived from the counter value before stopping the transportation of the second item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Matthews International Corporation
    Inventors: Darin L. Danelski, Melvin W. Henry
  • Patent number: 9862550
    Abstract: A truck for examination of a vehicle body includes a moving module configured to move truck bases with a vehicle body fixed thereto, a sensor module configured to be moved by the moving module and to measure stop position distribution of the truck base that reaches a predetermined position, and a calibration module configured to adjust a position of the truck base based on the measured distribution. The examination truck may enhance reliability of measurement result of assembly precision in a system for measuring the assembly precision of the vehicle body in a vehicle body assembly line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jung Whan Yeum
  • Patent number: 9849580
    Abstract: A door separation device that is used for various kinds of vehicles to detach a door that is mounted on a vehicle body through a door hinge in a door separation process may include an upper side gripper and lower side gripper that is respectively on a base frame that can be mounted on an arm end of a robot and is movable in an upper and lower direction, and grips an upper end and a lower end of a door, a moving frame that is disposed on the base frame to be movable in a transfer direction of a vehicle body, and an upper side bolt separation unit and a lower side bolt separation unit that respectively has a pair of motorized runners for separating a bolt that is engaged with a door and an upper side hinge and a lower side hinge of a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hee Joon Wang
  • Patent number: 9796440
    Abstract: A common CRP cart for multiple vehicle models is disclosed. The common CRP cart may clamp a cowl panel, a roof rail and a package tray for assembling a vehicle body, and may move upwardly and downwardly at a working room for a build-up process. The common CRP cart may include a frame; a first aligning unit connected to one portion of the frame for clamping a cowl panel of various vehicle models having different specifications; a second aligning unit connected to another portion of the frame for clamping a roof rail of various vehicle models having different specifications; and a third aligning unit connected to the other portion of the frame for clamping a package tray of various vehicle models having different specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Yoon Jang
  • Patent number: 9415281
    Abstract: A manufacturing assembly and a method for locating a face insert in a golf club head during manufacture are disclosed herein. In particular, the manufacturing assembly comprises a face locating fixture sized to receive a golf club face insert and a pick fixture configured to removably attach to the face insert. The manufacturing assembly may further comprise a holding fixture sized to receive a golf club head and hold it in place while the face insert is aligned with the head during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: Alan C. Bettencourt, Robert Maple
  • Patent number: 9381651
    Abstract: A transfer device includes a suction unit capable of sucking an object and a transfer unit moving the suction unit. The suction unit includes a base member; a plurality of nozzles provided for a plurality of types of objects; a housing room formation unit attached to the base member, forming a housing room for housing the other end portion side of the plurality of nozzles, and including a sealing unit facing air outlets; a negative pressure generation unit generating negative pressure inside the housing room; and a drive unit driving the plurality of nozzles such that the air outlet of a nozzle selected from the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a type of the object is separated from the sealing unit, and the air outlet of a non-selected nozzle is bumped against the sealing unit to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Ochiishi
  • Patent number: 9344184
    Abstract: A method for the transmission of process data between different devices that are involved in a process for the production of food, in particular devices involved in a filling line, wherein the data communication between two devices takes place exclusively between at least one transmitter of a first device and at least one receiver of a second device, and/or between at least one transmitter of the second device and at least one receiver of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: ALBERT HANDTMANN MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schrader, Lothar Miller
  • Patent number: 9022203
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for loading workpieces in a flow direction into the spaced apart lugs on a lugged conveyor with the workpieces oriented transverse to the flow direction. The lug loader includes an array of pairs of endless conveyors configured to convey workpieces toward a lugged conveyor. The first and second endless conveyors of each pair are spaced laterally apart across the flow direction and aligned substantially in the flow direction. The array can form a continuous or discontinuous transport surface. Some pairs of endless conveyors in the array may overlap one or more other pairs of endless conveyors in the array. At least one pair of endless conveyors in the array may include two or more endless conveyors that are independently driven at different speeds and/or in different directions to de-skew a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Andre LaPierre, Damon Clinch
  • Publication number: 20150104286
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a picking station (5) for picking of articles from source loading aids (2) by an order picker into destination loading aids (6), wherein the loading aids (2, 6) are conveyed via a first conveyor system (18) to the picking station (5) and at the picking station (5) are provided for picking the articles and after a picking operation are discharged from the picking station (5) again via a second conveyor system. A control device can co-ordinate the conveying movements of the source loading aids (2) and destination loading aids (6) in such a manner that the source loading aids (2) and destination loading aids (6) required for processing a picking order are brought together before the picking operation in the picking station (5) onto a common picking conveyor (25) of the first conveyor system (18) passing through a working area (30) for the order picker, and are presented to the order picker arranged next to one another as a picking group on the picking conveyor (25).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: TGW Logistics Group GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Hansl, Reinhold Lackner
  • Patent number: 8985306
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for loading workpieces in a flow direction into the spaced apart lugs on a lugged conveyor with the workpieces oriented transverse to the flow direction. The lug loader includes an array of pairs of endless conveyors configured to convey workpieces toward a lugged conveyor. The first and second endless conveyors of each pair are spaced laterally apart across the flow direction and aligned substantially in the flow direction. The array can form a continuous or discontinuous transport surface. Some pairs of endless conveyors in the array may overlap one or more other pairs of endless conveyors in the array. At least one pair of endless conveyors in the array may include two or more endless conveyors that are independently driven at different speeds and/or in different directions to de-skew a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Andre LaPierre, Damon Clinch
  • Publication number: 20150068871
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a zone controller and a conveyor device which facilitate identification of a defective part when a defect occurs in a distributed control type conveyor device. There is provided a zone controller (10) which is used for a conveyor device (1) in which a plurality of zone conveyors (2) are arranged in series, which manages one or a plurality of the zone conveyors (2) to control an operation thereof, and which is configured to receive a signal from a different zone controller (10) and transmit a signal to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tachibana, Shigeki Fukata, Toshimasa Enoki
  • Patent number: 8931620
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a medium detecting method includes conveying a medium in a first direction along a first conveying path, and allowing the medium conveyed from the first conveying path to enter a second conveying path arranged with the first conveying path so that the medium is conveyed in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The method also includes allowing light emitting elements of first and second detecting sensors to irradiate light such that the light intersects the first and second conveying paths, and detecting the presence or absence of the medium based on whether or not light receiving elements of the first and second detecting sensors receive the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Eoka
  • Publication number: 20150001044
    Abstract: Machine (100) for forming a layer of objects, comprising: a belt (1) for conveying objects (2), having a forward movement direction (D1); means (6) for counting objects moving forward on the conveyor belt (1); means (7) for moving the objects (2) forward on the conveyor belt 1, said moving means (7) being configured to allow/prevent the objects (2) from passing from a first forward moving area (Z1) to a second forward moving area (Z2), based on the information provided by the counting means (6), said moving means (7) being configured to translate from a first operational position to a second operational position, and to translate from the second operational position to a third operational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Emmeti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luca Abretti
  • Patent number: 8893873
    Abstract: A material handling feed table having a driven conveyor mechanism to move a work piece. A reciprocating shuttle mechanism clamps and moves the work piece. A mechanism is provided to coordinate and operate movement of the driven conveyor mechanism in conjunction with the movement of the reciprocating shuttle mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: HE&M Inc.
    Inventor: Doug Harris
  • Patent number: 8844709
    Abstract: A card-shaped medium processing device may include an insertion port to which a card-shaped medium is inserted, a medium feeder capable of abutting with a card-shaped medium inserted from the insertion port to carry the card-shaped medium, and a motor for driving the medium feeder. A taking-in maximum value which is the maximum value of an output of the motor at the time of a taking-in operation of a card-shaped medium inserted from the insertion port is set to be smaller than an ejecting maximum value which is the maximum value of an output of the motor at the time of an ejecting operation of the card-shaped medium toward the insertion port. A control method for a card-shaped medium processing device may include the same relationship, i.e., the taking-in maximum value is set to be smaller than the ejecting maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Mizawa, Keiji Hoson, Shinya Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20140245703
    Abstract: A bread packaging apparatus for packaging bread in a bag, includes a first urging unit that comes into contact with a loaf of bread and conveys the loaf of bread along a conveying path; and a control unit for controlling a speed of the first urging unit. The control unit controls the speed of the first urging unit such that the speed when the first urging unit comes into contact with the loaf of bread is different from the speed when the first urging unit conveys the loaf of bread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Oshikiri Machinery Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Suzuki, Masami Umetsu, Takahiro Hasegawa, Shigehisa Sakamoto, Tamotsu Abe, Takeshi Nakamura, Tasuku Fujita
  • Patent number: 8789683
    Abstract: A crossing between two transport lines is configured for the horizontal transport of planar articles, preferably in the form of an imbricated stream, of which one transport line is led away at a crossing over the other transport line. Controllable means for transferring the transported articles from one of the transport lines to the other are provided, which, in a first setting, freely admit the transport of the articles on one of the transport lines and, in a second setting, divert the transported articles from one of the transport lines to the other. A transfer apparatus may include a flexible diversion line, which describes a space curve and which with a movable free end, in the first setting, maintains a distance to one of the transport lines and, in the second setting, engages with the free end in one of the transport lines to effect a diversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Urs Gadliger
  • Publication number: 20140197013
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for unloading a plurality of items from a carrier is provided. The items are preloaded in the carrier, in a column having a top row. The apparatus has a first conveyor which has a first end for approaching the top row, an opposite second end and a conveyor body connecting the first end and the second end. The first end has an end platform for receiving the top row and an arm associated with the end platform for transporting the top row onto the end platform. A second conveyor is operatively connected to the first conveyor for receiving the top row from the first conveyor and transporting the top row for further processing the top row. The apparatus also has a control unit for controlling the movement of the first conveyor and the second conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SANOFI-AVENTIS U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Brian Paul Byrne, Douglas Edward McLeester
  • Patent number: 8763784
    Abstract: In an apparatus for transporting containers, a first transport unit including a first drive unit transports the containers along a first transport section, and a second transport unit including a second drive unit transports the containers along a second transport section. First and second sensor units detect a condition of the containers transported by the first and second transport units. At least one control unit controls at least one of the first and second drive units in response to at least one of the first and second conditions detected by the corresponding first or second sensor units. At least one of the first and second sensor units includes a signal transmission unit that wirelessly emits a signal characteristic of the respective at least one first or at least one second condition to a receiving unit of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Manfred Ziegler, Martin Seger
  • Patent number: 8757363
    Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and program products that are used to control at least a portion of a conveyor, determine information about an article conveyed by the conveyor, or otherwise operate a conveyor are provided. One method includes detecting whether a second conveyor controller is connected to the first conveyor controller and, in response to detecting that there is a second conveyor controller connected to the first conveyor controller, identifying whether the second conveyor controller is connected to a predetermined network interface of the first conveyor controller. The method further includes configuring the first conveyor controller to rotate a motorized roller in a first predetermined direction if a second conveyor controller is connected to the predetermined network interface and configuring the first conveyor controller to rotate the motorized roller in a second predetermined direction if a second conveyor controller is not connected to the predetermined network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Insight Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar I. Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 8746437
    Abstract: The invention provides a method which minimizes the gaps between packages to the minimum required by the sorter. The gapping required to allow scanning the identification label(s) will be done first, then another gap adjustment (to reduce gaps) is done immediately after scanning. The induction control system requires inputs from additional sensors which are necessary to obtain certain package dimensions. This information (dimensions of the packages) is used by the control algorithm to calculate or select from a table based on package geometry, the minimum (or optimum) gaps required for scanning and by the sorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo N. Schiesser, Clyde Ko, Rhonda J. Verploegen
  • Publication number: 20140076689
    Abstract: An automatic parcel sorting apparatus and a sorting method thereof that use a 4-way crossed belt instead of a unidirectional or bidirectional crossed belt which is generally used in an automatic parcel sorting apparatus such as an automatic parcel sorting machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Young Won KIM, Dong Gil NA
  • Patent number: 8668074
    Abstract: A method for transferring an article from a first conveying device to a second conveying device, where at least one conveying device comprises at least one motor, including determining a load of the at least one motor, and adjusting the relative positioning of the first conveying device with respect to the second conveying device depending on the determined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Hartmut Davidson
  • Patent number: 8646592
    Abstract: A feeding control mechanism of packaging machine includes a chassis, a feeding guide, a forwarding device, a conveyor belt, and a feeding controller. The feeding guide is arranged at a front side of the chassis to forward a product into the chassis. The forwarding device includes a feeding channel defined by left and right pulleys for clamping and moving a product onto a conveyor belt. The feeding controller is arranged above the conveyor belt. The product tray carried by the conveyor belt are used to trigger first and second sensor of the chassis to activate the feeding controller for opening/closing stop pegs so as to control each product to be correctly positioned on each product tray of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Tzu-Chin Hung
    Inventor: Benison Liao
  • Patent number: 8602206
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a splicing belt, a supporting member, a driving module, a trigger module, a detecting module. The splicing belt is attached to the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt for joining the second conveyor belt to the first conveyor belt. The supporting member supports the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. The driving module drives the first conveyor belt to be moved relative to the supporting member. The trigger module is located between the supporting member and the first conveyor belt, and is triggered when the splicing belt is moved to be contacted with the trigger module. The detecting module records a trigger time when the trigger module is triggered, the trigger time is a material transition time at which the first materials being fed is changed to the second materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhen-Yu Miao, Zhong-Kun Xiao
  • Patent number: 8596446
    Abstract: A method and a device for generation formatted total packages 29 comprising a defined number of adjoining equally sized individual pieces 10 formed in particular of a food product, whereby the individual pieces 10 are transported along the conveyor lines laying on conveyor belts, Whereby the individual pieces 10 on a first conveyor belt B1 are supplied at a mutual distance and at a speed VB1 to a second conveyor belt B2, B3, which forms a buffer line and which adjoins the first conveyor belt B1 in transport direction, whereby the individual pieces 10 at the beginning of the second conveyor belt B2, B3 are accumulated to a buffer stack 21 of adjoining individual pieces 10, whereby the buffer stack 21 is transported on the second conveyor belt B2, B3 at the speed VB2 which is lower than VB1, whereby at the end of the second conveyor belt B2, B3 total packages 29 are separated from the buffer stack 21 by means of a discharging conveyor belt B4 which, during the process of separating from the buffer stack 21, has
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hochland SE
    Inventors: Andreas Biggel, Stefan Hofer
  • Patent number: 8590358
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for forming a metal container including one or more devices that are electronically coordinated to perform operations of local and/or extensive deformation over metal containers and one or more interface devices (12) wherein the motion among the devices is accomplished in an indirect way through elements adapted to coordinate and synchronize these same devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Frattini S.p.A. Construzioni Meccaniche
    Inventors: Roberto Frattini, Anthony Kendrick Nixon
  • Patent number: 8586899
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing food products is provided. The product conditioning system includes an inlet assembly, a pressurizeable tunnel and an outlet assembly. The inlet assembly and outlet assembly include a pair of vertically extending pressure vessels having entry and exit openings which are both sealable by doors to provide liquid and gaseous tight seals. The inlet and outlet assembly pressure vessels further include a pair of vertically extending parallel screws for transporting food products from one end of the pressure vessel to the other. The pressurizeable tunnel includes a heating stage having microwave sources for irradiating food products so as to pasteurize or sterilize prepackaged food. The pressurizeable tunnel further includes a heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage. Both the heat maintenance stage and product cooling stage include vertically extending pressure vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Mackay, E. Eugene Eves, II, Thomas D. Wendel
  • Patent number: 8561790
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a transport member having a conveying surface that is configured to transport articles in a transport direction, an endless strip and a drive for propelling the endless strip. A power tap off is provided between the strip and the transport member. The power tap off has an input that is driven by the strip and an output that drives the transport member. The power tap off provides a positive transfer of power from the strip to the transport member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Brayman, Ryan D. Tasma, Clinton R. Lupton, Floyd W. Butler
  • Patent number: 8480344
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus with a first conveyor and a second conveyor is used a the welding apparatus and a welding method for container bodies and in particular can bodies between which conveyors the object to be welded is handed over. A control unit determines the take over position and/or the conveying travel of the second conveyor and controls the conveyors accordingly, so that the take over occurs at the determined position and/or with the determined conveying travel of the second conveyor. This allows an easy and swift changing of the welding apparatus to different sizes of the objects to be welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Soudronic AG
    Inventor: Peter Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20130161158
    Abstract: A conveyor system includes a splicing belt, a supporting member, a driving module, a trigger module, a detecting module. The splicing belt is attached to the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt for joining the second conveyor belt to the first conveyor belt. The supporting member supports the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt. The driving module drives the first conveyor belt to be moved relative to the supporting member. The trigger module is located between the supporting member and the first conveyor belt, and is triggered when the splicing belt is moved to be contacted with the trigger module. The detecting module records a trigger time when the trigger module is triggered, the trigger time is a material transition time at which the first materials being fed is changed to the second materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: ZHEN-YU MIAO, ZHONG-KUN XIAO
  • Publication number: 20130105280
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a plurality of containers through a plurality of work stations including at least two conveyor assemblies, each conveyor assembly being adapted to sequentially convey at least one group of containers therealong in a row from one work station to another. The apparatus further includes a plurality of holder assemblies for holding the containers, some of the holder assemblies being associated with one of the conveyor assemblies and some of the holder assemblies being associated with the other conveyor assembly. The holder assemblies are located on the respective conveyor assemblies such that the plurality of containers are positioned adjacent to each other as they move through the plurality of work stations. A computer control system is programmable to control the coordinated operation of the conveyor assemblies so as to move such conveyor assemblies at different cycles of movement as the containers move through the work stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Nova Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Nova Packaging Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8419879
    Abstract: A method for combining with adhesive at least two flat products positioned at least partially one above the other is provided. The method includes moving first flat products in an overlapping flow along a guiding line in a conveying direction and separating the first flat products into a non-overlapping flow after leaving the guiding line and while being conveyed through an underneath-arranged conveying region. The method also includes supplying second flat products from underneath the first flat products with a synchronous time relative to the first flat products. The second flat products each have an adhesive surface. The method further includes combining a respective one of the first flat products along the adhesive covered surface of an underneath supplied respective one of the second flat products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Rickli
  • Patent number: 8403010
    Abstract: There is provided a tablet filling device, which can smoothly supply vials without any stop of the device even if the vials cause a jam within a stocker. The tablet filling device is related to removing a vial 9 from a stocker 21 accommodating a large number of vials 9 according to a prescription data, dispensing tablets into the vial 9 to fill the vial, and discharging the vial 9 filled with the tablets. The stocker 21 includes: a vial removing device 24 configured to scoop the vial 9 accommodated in the stocker 21 upward to remove the vial; and a vial conveying device 23 configured to convey the vial 9 toward the vial removing device 24. When a jam of the vial 9 occurs, the vial conveying device 23 is reversely driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg., Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Taniguchi, Minoru Tano, Yoshinori Maeji
  • Publication number: 20120298484
    Abstract: A crossing between two transport lines is configured for the horizontal transport of planar articles, preferably in the form of an imbricated stream, of which one transport line is led away at a crossing over the other transport line. Controllable means for transferring the transported articles from one of the transport lines to the other are provided, which, in a first setting, freely admit the transport of the articles on one of the transport lines and, in a second setting, divert the transported articles from one of the transport lines to the other. A transfer apparatus may include a flexible diversion line, which describes a space curve and which with a movable free end, in the first setting, maintains a distance to one of the transport lines and, in the second setting, engages with the free end in one of the transport lines to effect a diversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Urs Gadliger
  • Publication number: 20120292157
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus with a first conveyor and a second conveyor is used a the welding apparatus and a welding method for container bodies and in particular can bodies between which conveyors the object to be welded is handed over. A control unit determines the take over position and/or the conveying travel of the second conveyor and controls the conveyors accordingly, so that the take over occurs at the determined position and/or with the determined conveying travel of the second conveyor. This allows an easy and swift changing of the welding apparatus to different sizes of the objects to be welded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SOUDRONIC AG
    Inventor: Peter Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20120247926
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of transferring an article from a first drivable conveyor means to a second drivable conveyor means, said transfer of the article taking place during a synchronous phase in which said first and said second conveyor means have the same common speed as one another at any time. The method is characterized in that, during the synchronous phase, the common speed increases at least sectionwise and/or decreases at least sectionwise. The disclosure also relates to a corresponding conveyor system as well as to a packaging plant comprising such a conveyor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Peter Buchberger, Wolfgang Buchenberg, Wolfgang Gross
  • Patent number: 8240456
    Abstract: A regulation method for ordering a flow of two lines of products includes at least: —a first step of slowing when the spacing value between a first product pertaining to one of the lines and a second product, situated immediately upstream and pertaining to another of the lines is less than a first set value; and—a second step of slowing when the value of the spacing between a downstream product of the first line and the proximal product situated immediately upstream on the second line is lower than a second set value, the first step of slowing and second step of slowing being respectively implemented selectively so as to place in phase the spacings between the products of the first and second lines according to a sequence determined as a function of the device for transferring to cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Guillaume Duchemin, Christophe Poupon
  • Patent number: 8235202
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus with a first conveyor and a second conveyor is used a the welding apparatus and a welding method for container bodies and in particular can bodies between which conveyors the object to be welded is handed over. A control unit determines the take over position and/or the conveying travel of the second conveyor and controls the conveyors accordingly, so that the take over occurs at the determined position and/or with the determined conveying travel of the second conveyor. This allows an easy and swift changing of the welding apparatus to different sizes of the objects to be welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Soudronic AG
    Inventor: Peter Schreiber
  • Patent number: 8220617
    Abstract: The invention provides a device (10) for feeding sample containers (18) with an analysis sample (P) to be treated, to a treating apparatus (12) for treating the analysis sample (P), in particular to a centrifuge. The device comprises a conveyer (26, 27) for conveying at least one sample container (14) or at least one carrier containing a sample container (14), wherein the conveyer (26, 27) is configured for receiving multiple sample containers (14) and/or carriers and forms a circulating endless conveyer track. The device further comprises an input station (18) for handing over a sample container (14) or a carrier to the conveyer (26, 27). The input station (18) is displaced (V1, V2), with respect to the conveyer (26, 27), obliquely to the conveying direction (26b, 27b) Hof the conveyer (26, 27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus-Gunter Eberle
  • Patent number: 8215474
    Abstract: An accumulation and conveyor integrations system is provided which incorporates at least two separated conveying apparatus to convey, accumulate, and meter the output of product onto a downstream line. When a downstream apparatus goes offline, a method of controlling reentry or integration of upstream and downstream lines is provided. The system and method can maximize product output from the downstream line by enabling continued loading of an upstream conveyor at a given rate and subsequent downloading at a temporary increased rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy P. Van Brunt, Roger D. Pugh
  • Patent number: 8201681
    Abstract: The invention provides a method which minimizes the gaps between packages to the minimum required by the sorter. The gapping required to allow scanning the identification label(s) will be done first, then another gap adjustment (to reduce gaps) is done immediately after scanning. The induction control system requires inputs from additional sensors which are necessary to obtain certain package dimensions. This information (dimensions of the packages) is used by the control algorithm to calculate or select from a table based on package geometry, the minimum (or optimum) gaps required for scanning and by the sorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo N. Schiesser, Clyde Ko, Rhonda J. Verploegen
  • Patent number: 8186499
    Abstract: A modular conveyor system is disclosed in which components of each conveyor module is designed for wireless mesh communication. The communications may be within a module or between modules. Certain of the components may be powered by battery, such that the components may be completely wireless. The network may be entirely self-configuring such that the modules may be assembled and the network established in a straightforward manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Dale Brandt, Wayne H. Wielebski