Patents Assigned to J-TEC INDUSTRIES, INC.
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Patent number: 12221181Abstract: A tugger cart system used in an industrial setting, including a tugger cart and a controller. The tugger cart includes a tugger frame, a bay that is dimensioned to receive a rider cart, a platform configured to secure a rider cart within the bay, and at least one motor that pivots a plurality of wheels from side to side to steer the plurality of wheels. The tugger frame further includes a connector bracket that pivots from side to side along a vertical axis. The connector bracket is configured to attach the tugger frame to an adjacent tugger cart or tugger truck. A sensor system senses a degree that the connector bracket is pivoted relative to the tugger frame and generates an electronic signal. The controller receives the electronic signal from the sensor system and controls the motor to steer the plurality of wheels based on the electronic signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2022Date of Patent: February 11, 2025Assignee: J-TEC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Joseph Knepp, Ryan Merritt, Ryan Smock, Nicholas Kaiser, Christopher Camp
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Publication number: 20240343287Abstract: A tugger cart system used in an industrial setting, including a tugger cart and a controller. The tugger cart includes a tugger frame, a bay that is dimensioned to receive a rider cart, a platform configured to secure a rider cart within the bay, and at least one motor that pivots a plurality of wheels from side to side to steer the plurality of wheels. The tugger frame further includes a connector bracket that pivots from side to side along a vertical axis. The connector bracket is configured to attach the tugger frame to an adjacent tugger cart or tugger truck. A sensor system senses a degree that the connector bracket is pivoted relative to the tugger frame and generates an electronic signal. The controller receives the electronic signal from the sensor system and controls the motor to steer the plurality of wheels based on the electronic signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2024Publication date: October 17, 2024Applicant: J-tec Industries, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Knepp, Ryan Merritt, Ryan Smock, Nicholas Kaiser, Christopher Camp
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Publication number: 20230227088Abstract: A tugger cart system used in an industrial setting, including a tugger cart and a controller. The tugger cart includes a tugger frame, a bay that is dimensioned to receive a rider cart, a platform configured to secure a rider cart within the bay, and at least one motor that pivots a plurality of wheels from side to side to steer the plurality of wheels. The tugger frame further includes a connector bracket that pivots from side to side along a vertical axis. The connector bracket is configured to attach the tugger frame to an adjacent tugger cart or tugger truck. A sensor system senses a degree that the connector bracket is pivoted relative to the tugger frame and generates an electronic signal. The controller receives the electronic signal from the sensor system and controls the motor to steer the plurality of wheels based on the electronic signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Applicant: J-tec Industries, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Knepp, Ryan Merritt, Ryan Smock, Nicholas Kaiser, Christopher Camp
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Patent number: 11273857Abstract: A tugger cart includes a tugger frame having a first side member, a second side member, and a locking member disposed in between the first side member and the second side member. A first roller assembly is coupled to an inner surface of the first side member and a second roller assembly coupled to an inner surface of the second side member. Each of the first roller assembly and the second roller assembly include a roller assembly frame and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the roller assembly frame. The roller assembly frame supports the plurality of wheels at a slant that declines from a rear of the tugger frame to a front of the tugger frame. An actuator is configured to raise and lower the first roller assembly and the second roller assembly relative to the first side member and the second side member respectively.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: J-TEC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Joseph Wayne Knepp, Ryan Merritt, Christopher Jacob Camp
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Patent number: 11214439Abstract: A tugger cart includes a tugger frame having a first side member, a second side member, and a clasping member. A plurality of wheels are coupled to a bottom of the tugger frame. Each of the first side member and the second side member include a plurality of roller wheels rotatably coupled to an inner side and rotatable about a horizontal axis. The plurality of roller wheels align along an angled plane that declines from a rear of the tugger frame to a front of the tugger frame. The clasping member includes at least one fixed arm, at least one telescoping arm, an actuator, and a grab arm extendable and retractable from the at least one telescoping arm. The actuator converts the telescoping arm between an extended position and a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: J-Tec Industries, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Wayne Knepp, Christopher Jacob Camp, Wayne Andrew Knepp, Nicholas Michael Kaiser
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Publication number: 20190308651Abstract: According to some embodiments, an improved tugger and rider cart assembly system is presented. The system comprising a tugger cart with a central space to receive a rider cart; the tugger cart having both front side and rear side pluralities of transport wheels approximately parallel to, but not touching, ground; a front side and a rear side loading wheel positioned closer to the ground than the transport wheels; a rider cart having a first wing and a second wing, both wings having a curved portion; and wherein the loading wheels and wing curved portions can be operatively connected to allow a user to move the rider cart onto the tugger cart thereby allowing the tugger cart to transport the rider cart.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2018Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: J-Tec Industries, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Wayne Knepp, Kris A. Buckert, Nicholas Michael Kaiser, Ryan Wilham Greiner
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Publication number: 20150225007Abstract: A tugger cart that has a first side, a second side and a locking portion is provided. The first side and second side may include guide wheels aligned in an upward slant. The locking portion may include a rocking arm that is pivotally attached to the tugger cart. The rocking arm may include a lock pedal and an unlock pedal. A rider cart may include a first side and a second side. The first and second side may include wings that are slanted upward, similar to the guide wheels. The rider cart may be pushed onto the tugger cart and the wings may roll along the guide wheels. The rider cart may apply pressure to the lock pedal and the unlock pedal may pivot upward, locking the rider cart onto the tugger cart. To unlock the rider cart, the unlock pedal may be pushed downward, and the rider cart may be removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2014Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: J-TEC INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventor: Joseph Wayne Knepp