Patents Assigned to Laitram, L.L.C.
  • Transfer-roller destacker
    Patent number: 9630784
    Abstract: A destacking conveyor and a roller transfer device. The destacking conveyor includes an infeed conveyor feeding articles to a roller transfer device at a first elevation. A discharge conveyor at a lower elevation receives articles dropped from the roller transfer device. The roller transfer device comprises an array of closely spaced rollers whose axial lengths decrease with distance from the infeed conveyor to form an oblique drop-off edge over which articles drop and unstack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bryant G. Ragan
  • Shrimp processing system and methods
    Patent number: 9622492
    Abstract: Methods and systems using a vision system to process shrimp. The in-line or off-line vision system captures images of samples of shrimps. The processor produces a digital image of the shrimps in the samples. Shrimps exiting a peeler are imaged to determine the number of tail segments in or the percentage of full weight of each. The shrimps are classified by the number of intact segments, and quality, yield, and throughput computed from the classification results. The processor can control operational settings of the peeler based on the classification results. In a larger system including other shrimp-processing equipment besides the peeler, other points along the processing path can be imaged by camera or sensed by other sensors to determine processing quality and to make automatic operational adjustments to the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Charles J. Ledet, Robert S. Lapeyre, Bruce F. Taylor
  • Shrimp deveiner with adjustable blades
    Patent number: 9622494
    Abstract: A shrimp deveining machine with adjustable blades. The deveiner has an inclined trough with groups of blades arranged in a zig-zag pattern. The trough is lubricated by water to help shrimps advance along the blades, which slit the shrimps' backs to expose their veins. Blade-height adjusters adjust the height of the blades above the trough. Blade-angle adjusters adjust the angles of the blades relative to the length direction of the trough. Magnets are used to hold the blades in place for easy replacement. A feed tank at the entrance to the trough includes a serpentine path to separate the shrimps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Greve, Robert S. Lapeyre, Charles L. Borrello
  • Missort prevention system in a conveying system
    Patent number: 9592983
    Abstract: A missort prevention system prevents missorts in a sortation conveying system. The missort prevention system includes a sensor for detecting the presence of an unexpected article on a chute transitioning articles off of a conveyor and a missort preventer for blocking the further passage of the unexpected article on the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Costanzo, David Herbert Myers, Matthew L. Fourney
  • Conveyor system with roller assemblies
    Patent number: 9573772
    Abstract: A conveyance device comprises a sorting plate housing a plurality of roller assemblies and a series of narrow conveyor belts for conveying articles towards the sorting plate. In a first mode, the narrow conveyor belts bypass the roller assemblies and convey articles over the sorting plate. In a second mode, the conveyor belts bring an article into contact with the roller assemblies, which then manipulate the trajectory of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Matthew L. Fourney
  • Conveyor belt module with stepped hinge passageway
    Patent number: 9573767
    Abstract: A conveyor belt module comprises a module body and offset hinge elements extending from each end of the module body. On one end, the hinge elements include a progressively widening hinge passageway having hinge openings extending at different angles. The hinge openings progressively widen in a stepped manner to facilitate load sharing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Conveyor system with transfer belts
    Patent number: 9567164
    Abstract: A conveyor for transferring articles off the end of a conveyor belt onto a discharge conveyor. The conveyor comprises a conveyor belt overlain by belt strands along a carryway. The belt strands are received in recesses below the conveying surface of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt travels an inner circuit inside an outer circuit encircled by the belt strands. The outer circuit diverges from the inner circuit at an end of the carryway. The belt strands extend the carryway and strip articles from the conveyor belt to transfer them to a downstream discharge conveyor or receive articles from an upstream infeed conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Paul Edward Kirkpatrick, Jr., Angela Longo Marshall, John F. Landrum, Robert L. Rosen
  • Aquatic life and debris collection device for a water screen
    Patent number: 9567719
    Abstract: A collection device for aquatic life and debris for a traveling water screen. The collection device allows sharing of water provided from a high pressure nozzle while shielding aquatic life from a high pressure spray produced by the high pressure nozzle. The collection device enables separate collection of items exposed to a high pressure spray and items protected from a high pressure spray while reducing water costs. The collection device includes a first compartment for collecting aquatic life collected by a water screen and a second compartment for collecting debris collected by the water screen. A shield dissipates or blocks a high pressure spray directed into the second compartment from entering the first compartment. A filter allows fluid to flow from the second compartment into the first compartment while blocking aquatic life in the first compartment from entering the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ross Doyle, Timothy A. Woodrow, Mitchell G. Pansano, Jr., John C. Hawkins, Jr.
  • Energy-harvesting conveyor belts and methods
    Patent number: 9571012
    Abstract: Energy-harvesting and -storage devices in conveyor belts and methods for molding those devices integrally into modular belt links and for enhancing energy harvesting through resonance tuning. Piezoelectric materials, electro-active polymers, thermoelectric generators, RF receivers, photovoltaic devices, linear induction generators, and inductive transformer coupling are used to harvest energy to power belt on-board devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Joseph M. DePaso
  • SHRIMP PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20170035069
    Abstract: Methods and systems using a vision system to process shrimp. The in-line or off-line vision system captures images of samples of shrimps. The processor produces a digital image of the shrimps in the samples. Shrimps exiting a peeler are imaged to determine the number of tail segments in or the percentage of full weight of each. The shrimps are classified by the number of intact segments, and quality, yield, and throughput computed from the classification results. The processor can control operational settings of the peeler based on the classification results. In a larger system including other shrimp-processing equipment besides the peeler, other points along the processing path can be imaged by camera or sensed by other sensors to determine processing quality and to make automatic operational adjustments to the equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Charles J. Ledet, Robert S. Lapeyre, Bruce F. Taylor
  • Snap-on position limiter for a conveyor belt
    Patent number: 9555971
    Abstract: A conveyor employs a low-tension, direct drive conveyor belt, and a snap-on position limiter for ensuring proper engagement of the belt and a drive sprocket. The position limiter includes a body, a limiting surface and a snap clap opposite the limiting surface for snapping the position limiter to a mounting shaft. The limiting surface may comprise rotatable rollers mounted to the body, or a continuous arcuate surface. The position limiter may include a mounting arm for mounting a conveyor belt scraper at the front of the position limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeff Batchelder, Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Friso Antonius Maria Oonk, Laurentius G. J. Wolters, Edward T. Mol, Ruizhe Ma, Roel Marcel Mellink, Gerko Hulshof
  • Module for a modular conveyor belt
    Patent number: 9550628
    Abstract: A module for a modular conveyor belt includes a flexible retainer for retaining a hinge rod in a bore of the module. A stopper limits the bending movement of the retainer and supports the midportion of the retainer to prevent stresses generated in the retainer from exceeding its design stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Philip J. Wunsch
  • System and method for peeling and deveining shrimp
    Patent number: 9538769
    Abstract: System and method for processing raw shrimp. A head-on shell-on shrimp is first back-slit to expose the vein. Next, the head and some or all of the vein is removed in a hydraulic deheader. The headless, back-slit shrimp is then peeled in a roller-type peeling machine to remove the shell and any residual vein and provide high-quality, peeled and deveined shrimp meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Lars Vedsted, Bruce F. Taylor
  • Conveyor belt and modules with flights at the hinge
    Patent number: 9540177
    Abstract: A modular conveyor belt constructed of a series of articulating rows of belt modules having flights formed atop laterally consecutive interleaved hinge elements of adjacent belt rows. The flights on leading and trailing rows are aligned when the belt is running flat, but open up for cleaning as their rows articulate about a sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Elena Rose Yasinski
  • Cleanable conveyor frame assembly including snap-on components
    Patent number: 9527672
    Abstract: A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. The conveyor includes at least one toolbar and one or more auxiliary components mounted to the toolbar using a snap clamp having a protrusion that mates with a channel on the toolbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeff Batchelder, Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Friso Antonius Maria Oonk, Laurentius G. J. Wolters, James R. Honeycutt, Jr., Edward T. Mol, Angela Longo Marshall, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Joseph M. DePaso, Timothy J. DeRoche
  • Spiral conveyor with controlled take-up
    Patent number: 9527673
    Abstract: A spiral conveyor and a method for taking up slack in a modular conveyor belt traveling a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical drive drum with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the drum on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge extending from the bottom to the top of the drum for engaging the inside edges of the belt. A motor-driven take-up shaft and shaft-mounted sprocket set takes up slack in the belt after its release from the drum. To control tension at the discharge of the belt from the drive drum, the take-up motor is normally operated in a closed-loop control mode, but switches to an open-loop constant-speed control mode when the take-up motor stalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David W. Bogle, Jonathan W. Mays
  • Conveyor belt for product stabilization
    Patent number: 9527671
    Abstract: A platform member for a knuckle-linked conveyor belt includes a stabilizer for pushing a conveyed product towards a side rail to stabilize the product during conveyance. The platform member may include an upper portion forming a conveying surface and a lower portion stepped down from the upper port for receiving the forward end of an adjacent platform member. A connector on the lower portion connects the platform member to a corresponding body member in the conveyor belt. The upper portion overlies and protrudes forward from the front of the lower portion. Shaped side rails on the platform member are configured to allow overlapping between adjacent side rails to minimize gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Angela L. Marshall, Nicholas J. Judice, R. Scott Dailey, John F. Landrum, Jorge E. Nagel, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Glenn R. McCall, Jr., Dennis K. Scates
  • Conveyor belts and modules with twist-lock accessories
    Patent number: 9517889
    Abstract: A conveyor belt and belt modules with plug-in accessories, such as sideguards. The accessories have plugs that plug into sockets in the belt or individual belt modules. Lugs and mounting slots and tabs and detents on the plugs and sockets help guide, register, and lock the accessories in place. The plugs and sockets allow the accessories to be locked and unlocked by twisting the plugs in the sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David W. Bogle, Terral A. Ridgell, Warren E. Cancienne, Jr.
  • Cleanable conveyor frame assembly
    Patent number: 9511942
    Abstract: A cleanable belt conveyor and a method for making a cleanable belt conveyor having a simplified frame design. One version of such a conveyor comprises a frame and an insertable conveyor belt support. Another version comprises a modular frame formed by a plurality of shafts connected using connectors. Another version comprises a unitary frame and carryway structure, whereby the carryway for supporting a conveyor belt constitutes support structure for the frame. Another version comprises a carryway support rail including an integral curved reversing element. Another version comprises components connected through curvaceous connecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Guernsey, John F. Landrum, Mark T. Drapanas, Manoj Thomas
  • Positive-drive spiral conveyor and belt
    Patent number: 9481523
    Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt (20) along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower (10) with parallel drive members (14) extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge (28) that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower. In another version, a conveyor belt has teeth (62) with guide surfaces (78, 79) at the inside edge of the belt. The teeth guide the drive members between belt rows into driving engagement with drive faces at the inside edge of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Casper Fedde Talsma, David W. Bogle