Patents Assigned to Ackley Machine Corporation
  • Publication number: 20240082958
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to capsules, for example, softgel capsules for oral administration that have on their surface laser etching that penetrates at least partially into the surface of the capsule, reduces the structural integrity of the capsule while preventing exposure of the interior contents to the outside environment, and increases the rate of release of active ingredients contained within.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicants: Bayer HealthCare LLC, Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: Debanjan Das, Reinhard Walter, Javier Zumeta Perez, Alberto Prior Cabanillas, Gerard Meisel, Carlos Figueroa, Mark David Ford, Roland Norman Thurston, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11897001
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Patent number: 11851286
    Abstract: An apparatus that conveys pellet-shaped articles may include a hopper that receives a quantity of the pellet-shaped articles. The hopper may include one or more openings to direct a flow of air into the hopper to dislodge jamming or bridging of pellet-shaped articles within the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent M. Deluccia, Jr., James T. McNamee
  • Patent number: 11341341
    Abstract: A conveyer mechanism (110) may include one or more composition inspection units provided along the intended product transport path. The product's composition, e.g., it's ink composition, is compared with a predetermined standard, to determine whether the product is acceptable. A bar code (48, 45.1, 47.1, 85) may be provided to an external surface of the article for identification/traceability purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Daniel J. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11286119
    Abstract: An apparatus that conveys pellet-shaped articles may include a hopper that receives a quantity of the pellet-shaped articles. The hopper may include one or more openings to direct a flow of air into the hopper to dislodge jamming or bridging of pellet-shaped articles within the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent M. DeLuccia, Jr., James T. McNamee
  • Patent number: 10919076
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Patent number: 10201837
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Patent number: 9757772
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Patent number: 9734360
    Abstract: A conveyer mechanism (110) may include one or more composition inspection units provided along the intended product transport path. The product's composition, e.g., it's ink composition, is compared with a predetermined standard, to determine whether the product is acceptable. A bar code (48, 45.1, 47.1, 85) may be provided to an external surface of the article for identification/traceability purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Daniel J. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9468948
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Patent number: 9259766
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Patent number: 9101962
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Mark Ford
  • Patent number: 9004272
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and processing a plurality of articles includes a conveyer structured to convey a plurality of articles along a conveyer path and at least one processing station provided along the conveyer path to perform at least one processing operation. The conveyer path includes at least one loop or festoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventor: E Michael Ackley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150083548
    Abstract: A conveyer apparatus for inspecting and processing pellet-shaped articles, each of the pellet-shaped articles including a first side and a second side, the conveyer apparatus comprising: a conveyer including a plurality of carrier links to convey a plurality of pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined conveyer path; a first inspection unit including at least one camera to inspect the first side and/or the second side of each of the pellet-shaped articles and determine an orientation of each of the pellet-shaped articles on the conveyer; a processing unit including at least two processing devices, each on an opposite side of the conveyer to process the first side and the second side of each of the pellet-shaped articles; and a second inspection unit including at least one camera on each side of the conveyer to inspect the first side and/or the second side of the pellet-shaped articles after processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventor: E. Michael ACKLEY
  • Patent number: 8944242
    Abstract: A carrier bar to convey at least one pellet-shaped article along a predetermined conveyer path in a direction of travel, the carrier bar comprises at least one pocket adapted to receive a pellet-shaped article and each pocket having a pocket wall, and a product settling area included in each pocket and having a dimple defined in the product settling area by an edge, said dimple adapted to seat the bottom side of the pellet-shaped article, wherein said dimple is offset from a center of said product settling area and said dimple is shaped to position, hold, or bias a portion of the pellet-shaped article towards and/or against a portion of the pocket wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Vincent M. DeLuccia, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140260104
    Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael ACKLEY, Mark FORD
  • Patent number: D713866
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Vincent M. DeLuccia, Jr.
  • Patent number: D725163
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Ackley, Vincent M. Deluccia, Jr.
  • Patent number: D809576
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent M. DeLuccia, Jr.
  • Patent number: D847230
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent M. Deluccia, Jr.