Patents Assigned to Laitram, L.L.C.
  • Conveyor belt with antenna
    Patent number: 9132960
    Abstract: A modular conveyor belt having electronics modules with antennas at the hinge joints between rows of modules or extending laterally across the width of the belt. The antennas may be linear antennas received in hinge-rod passageways or embedded in intermediate transverse ribs in belt modules or may be loop antennas formed in the hinge elements of electronics modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bryant G. Ragan
  • Feed paddle for a processing apparatus
    Patent number: 9132969
    Abstract: An improved feed mechanism for a processor of solid objects includes a plunging paddle connected via connectors and eccentrics to a rotating shaft driven by a motor. The rotating shaft has an axis offset from the centers of the eccentrics. The plunging paddle plunges product on a conveyor belt from a feed tank to create a single layer for conveying the product to a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Christopher G. Greve
  • Conveyor belt having bidirectional stacked rollers
    Patent number: 9108801
    Abstract: A conveyor belt and a belt module having multiple roller sets, each roller set including a bottom roller in contact with an axially elongated top roller. Driving the bottom roller in a first direction causes rotation of the top roller in an opposite angular direction. The bottom rollers in first longitudinal lanes are arranged to rotate obliquely toward one side of the belt, and the bottom rollers in second lanes are arranged to rotate toward the other side of the belt. Either the first lanes of roller sets or the second lanes can be selectively actuated to direct articles conveyed atop the top rollers rearward and toward one side of the belt or the other or to receive articles fed onto the belt from either side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Constanzo, Dennis K. Scates, David H. Myers, Glenn R. McCall, Jr., Matthew L. Fourney
  • Roller-noise reduction in conveyor belts
    Patent number: 9096379
    Abstract: Low-noise rollers in modular plastic conveyor belts. Energy-absorbing elements formed on belt rollers or in roller support structure is used to absorb the energy of impacts between rollers and the support structure. The energy-absorbing elements include resilient roller sections sandwiched between rigid sections, spring-like bent tabs on the end faces of rollers, hinged bumpers or flexible fingers between the end faces of the rollers and the roller support structure, and flexible structure protruding from the module into circumferential grooves in the outer cylindrical surface or circular grooves formed in the end faces of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Henry H. Gilley, Jr., David C. Weiser
  • Split sprocket having slide tracks
    Patent number: 9097332
    Abstract: A split sprocket for belts or chains. The split sprocket comprises two sections that slide together along parallel slide tracks that are perpendicular to two opposite walls of the sprocket's bore. The slide track includes male T-shaped, V-shaped, or jigsaw-puzzle-shaped beams on one of the sections that slide into mating female slots in the other section. The mated slide tracks prevent the sections from separating in all directions except the separation direction along the slide tracks. A fastener through one of the sections into the other prevents the assembled sprocket sections from sliding apart along the slide tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Xiaozhong Li, Adam E. Bannerman
  • Conveyor systems for diverting objects
    Patent number: 9079717
    Abstract: A conveyor system including a conveyor belt having a plurality of conveyor belt rollers configured to divert objects on the conveyor belt. A roller drive mechanism engages the conveyor belt rollers to actuate the conveyor belt rollers into rotation as the conveyor belt advances. The drive mechanism is adjustable to cause the conveyor belt rollers to rotate in a first angular direction and a second, opposite angular direction so that objects can be selectively diverted to either side of the conveyor belt at a desired diverting angle. The roller drive mechanism has drive rollers mounted in cartridges with pinion gears engaged by rack gears to adjust the orientation of the drive rollers relative to the belt rollers and the engagement of the belt rollers with the drive rollers as a function of the orientation by selective raising and lowering or laterally shifting the drive rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Costanzo, Matthew L. Fourney
  • Positive-drive spiral conveyor with overlapping cage-bar caps
    Patent number: 9079719
    Abstract: Overlapping cage-bar caps in a spiral belt conveyor. The cage bars of a spiral-conveyor cage are covered along the majority of their length by a main cage-bar cap fastened to the cage bar at the exit of the belt from the spiral. At the belt's entrance to the spiral, an entrance cage-bar cap overlaps a portion of the main cage-bar cap and the cage bar. The overlap is great enough to prevent a gap from forming along the length of the cage bar between the main cage-bar cap and the entrance cage-bar cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Casper Fedde Talsma, Alejandro J. Talbott, Oscar R. Coto
  • CONVEYOR SYSTEMS FOR DIVERTING OBJECTS
    Publication number: 20150191311
    Abstract: A conveyor system including a conveyor belt having a plurality of conveyor belt rollers configured to divert objects on the conveyor belt. A roller drive mechanism engages the conveyor belt rollers to actuate the conveyor belt rollers into rotation as the conveyor belt advances. The drive mechanism is adjustable to cause the conveyor belt rollers to rotate in a first angular direction and a second, opposite angular direction so that objects can be selectively diverted to either side of the conveyor belt at a desired diverting angle. The roller drive mechanism has drive rollers mounted in cartridges with pinion gears engaged by rack gears to adjust the orientation of the drive rollers relative to the belt rollers and the engagement of the belt rollers with the drive rollers as a function of the orientation by selective raising and lowering or laterally shifting the drive rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Costanzo, Matthew L. Fourney
  • Apparatus and methods for dynamically controlling the spacing of conveyed objects
    Patent number: 9073703
    Abstract: A conveying system employs independently controlled flights. The flights are controlled separately from a conveying surface. The conveying system includes a dynamic gapping conveyor for spacing conveyed objects in a selected manner. The dynamic gapping conveyor uses flexible flights independently driven by drivers to control the spacing between conveyed objects. The independent drivers allow the position of the flights to be controlled based on the length of a conveyed object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Matthew L. Fourney
  • Conveyor employing a vacuum
    Patent number: 9073704
    Abstract: A sorting conveyor employs suction to stabilize products on a conveyor belt. The sorting conveyor comprises a conveyor belt including a plurality of embedded rollers for moving conveyed objects relative to the conveyor belt. A vacuum chamber below the conveyor belt houses activators for the rollers and selectively creates a vacuum zone above the conveyor belt for pulling objects on the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Matthew L. Fourney
  • Belt conveyor and electromagnetic drive
    Patent number: 9065310
    Abstract: A belt conveyor having an electromagnetic drive comprising a rotor and a stator sealed in separate nonmagnetic and nonconductive housings. The rotor is mounted to a drive shaft. A drive drum or drive sprockets supported on the shaft have peripheral drive surfaces that engage a conveyor belt. The rotor is coaxial with the peripheral drive surface—either sealed within the drum or sprockets or housed on the shaft axially spaced from the drive surface. The rotor may include conductive rotor bars or permanent magnets. The stator is spaced apart from the rotor across a narrow gap and produces a traveling magnetic flux wave across the gap that causes the rotor and the peripheral drive surface to rotate and drive the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bryant G. Ragan, Kevin W. Guernsey, Wayne A. Pertuit, Jr.
  • Snap-on conveyor belt rollers
    Patent number: 9045287
    Abstract: Snap-on rollers for a conveyor belt. The snap-on roller may be snapped onto an axle or into a cavity of a conveyor belt module. Multi-piece snap-on rollers can be installed radially onto an axle on a conveyor belt and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Abraham L. Miller, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
  • ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED SORTER
    Publication number: 20150129393
    Abstract: A sorting conveyor having electromagnetically actuated rollers for sorting articles off one or both sides of the conveyor. A linear stator creates a magnetic flux wave that rotates rotors in the article-supporting rollers and selects their direction of rotation. In one version the magnetic flux wave swivels the rollers to change the sorting direction. In another version the magnetic flux wave causes one set of rollers or another set of orthogonally disposed rollers to contact conveyed articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Bryant G. Ragan
  • Cleanable conveyor-belt drive system
    Patent number: 9022209
    Abstract: A hygienic drive system for a belt conveyor. The drive system has a stator rigidly mounted in a housing having an outer bearing surface that is continuous with the outer surface of mounting supports and avoids hard-to-clean nooks. A rotor assembly formed by drive wheels rotatably mounted on the outer surface of the housing or by a magnetic belt wrapped around a portion of the outer surface is rotated by a rotating magnetic wave produced by the stator. The stator and rotor can form an induction motor or a synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bryant G. Ragan, Robert L. Rosen
  • Bulk-product conveyor with sensor
    Patent number: 9016458
    Abstract: A conveyor belt having a sensor probe extending upward from an outer conveying surface into a mat of bulk products conveyed on the belt. The probe senses a condition of the product mat at a predetermined depth. The probe height above the conveying surface may be fixed or may be adjustable to be positioned at a critical depth within the product mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David W. Bogle
  • Low back-pressure accumulation system
    Patent number: 9010523
    Abstract: A belt conveyor having upper article-supporting belt rollers that are rotated rearward by rotating lower belt rollers only when the articles are slowed or stopped from advancing with the belt. As the belt advances in a direction of travel, the lower rollers rotate by contact with a bearing surface underlying the belt. The upper rollers have axles whose ends are retained in slots that slope downward in the belt's direction of travel. The slots provide the upper rollers a range of positions between a forward position out of contact with the rotating lower roller and a rearward position contacting the lower roller, which rotates the upper roller rearward relieving back line pressure on accumulated articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Matthew L. Fourney
  • Weighing system using a conveyor belt with load cells
    Patent number: 9004271
    Abstract: A conveyor belt module, a conveyor belt, a weighing system, and a method for weighing articles conveyed on a conveyor belt. A conveyor belt includes an array of load cells embedded in belt modules to measure forces normal to the belt's conveying surface. The measurements are transmitted from the belt to a remote controller as part of a vision system that identifies individual articles conveyed on the belt and pressing down on underlying load cells. The vision system determines which load cells underlie the individual articles and combines their measurements to compute the weights of the articles on the fly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Matthew L. Fourney
  • Conveyor system, belt, and method for measuring and controlling static electricity
    Patent number: 8997973
    Abstract: Conveying systems and method for detecting the presence of static electric charge on a conveyor. The conveyor system includes a conveyor with an outer conveying surface. Embedded or external static-electricity sensors make measurements of static electricity on the belt's conveying surface. A controller uses the measurements to control the level of electric charges on the belt by transferring charge to or from the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Joseph M. DePaso
  • POSITIVE-DRIVE SPIRAL CONVEYOR WITH OVERLAPPING CAGE-BAR CAPS
    Publication number: 20150090560
    Abstract: Overlapping cage-bar caps in a spiral belt conveyor. The cage bars of a spiral-conveyor cage are covered along the majority of their length by a main cage-bar cap fastened to the cage bar at the exit of the belt from the spiral. At the belt's entrance to the spiral, an entrance cage-bar cap overlaps a portion of the main cage-bar cap and the cage bar. The overlap is great enough to prevent a gap from forming along the length of the cage bar between the main cage-bar cap and the entrance cage-bar cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Casper Fedde Talsma, Alejandro J. Talbott, Oscar R. Coto
  • Feed trough for a processing apparatus
    Patent number: 8991617
    Abstract: A feed trough for a grader or other solid object processing system. The feed trough includes a plurality of feed channels, each having at least one flexible flap extending from a discharge end for transitioning a product from the feed channel to a processing region. Two converging flexible flaps may extend from the discharge end and contact a processing channel for guiding product to the processing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Christopher G. Greve