Patents Assigned to Laitram, L.L.C.
  • Diverter with roller pushers
    Patent number: 9884727
    Abstract: A diverter belt having translatable pushers with article-contacting rollers to push articles across the belt. Cam followers on the pushers follow guides under the belt along an upper carryway run to translate the pushers across the width of the belt along one or more transverse tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Alexandra L. Neville
  • Bulk-product conveyor with fluid injectors
    Patent number: 9861997
    Abstract: A belt conveyor including a conveyor belt that has hollow injectors for injecting a process fluid into a conveyed layer of bulk products and a method for injecting a process fluid into a layer of bulk products conveyed on a conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David W. Bogle
  • Self-biasing scraper for a conveyor belt
    Patent number: 9840374
    Abstract: A self-biasing conveyor belt scraper for a conveyor belt trained around a sprocket includes a base mounted on a shaft below the sprocket and a tapering scraper tip extending from the base. The top of the base contacts the conveyor belt at a first location. The conveyor belt pushes against the top of the base to bias the tapering scraper tip into contact with the conveyor belt at a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Ruizhe Ma
  • Handrail mounting assembly
    Patent number: 9840848
    Abstract: A handrail mounting assembly comprises an adjustable bracket and an orientable bracket arm connected to a handrail seat. The adjustable bracket comprises two mating components that surround a post and lock together using fasteners extending through aligned openings in the two mating components. A bracket arm connected to the handrail seat includes an extending opening that aligns with a threaded opening in the adjustable bracket for receiving a fastener to connect the bracket arm to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: John F. Cleavenger, II
  • Water-resistant motor and end bell
    Patent number: 9837870
    Abstract: A water-resistant electric motor having an end bell with a passage that prevents the formation of a vacuum between the shaft seal and the shaft bearing. The passage extends from the interior region of the motor through the end bell bypassing the bearing to communicate with a gap between the seal and the bearing. The motor housing includes a vent to expose the motor's interior region and the gap to atmospheric pressure or to a source of higher-pressure air or gas to prevent water from being sucked into the motor's interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Christopher G. Greve
  • Shrimp processing apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 9826749
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for deheading and peeling shrimp hydraulically using the Venturi Effect. A shrimp-laden fluid is pumped through a conduit system including one or more venturi tubes. The acceleration of the fluid through the venturis detaches the heads and loosens or detaches the shells from the shrimp. The venturis may be used in conjunction with a roller peeler to increase peeling quality. An inspection station receives shrimp from the roller peeler and directs incompletely peeled shrimp back to the peeler or one or more of the venturis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Lars Vedsted
  • Direct-drive spiral conveyor
    Patent number: 9815630
    Abstract: A direct-drive spiral conveyor and a method for operating a spiral conveyor in which a sideflexing conveyor belt is positively driven in a helical path about the periphery of a rotating cylindrical drive drum. Parallel drive members extend in length along the periphery from the top to the bottom of the drive drum. The drive members engage drive faces on the inside edge of the conveyor belt and positively drive the inside edges along the helical path. The helical path is steeper at the entrance end—the bottom in an upgoing spiral, the top in a downgoing spiral—than at the opposite exit end and along a majority of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Oscar R. Coto
  • Low-energy roller-belt accumulator
    Patent number: 9815632
    Abstract: A conveyor system and method for cascaded accumulation on a series of in-line roller belts. An accumulation system comprises a series of roller belts that can be actuated in contiguous zones to accelerate conveyed articles forward at twice the belt speed. When articles start to accumulate on the accumulation conveyor, the belt rollers are deactuated downstream to upstream zone by zone. Then the belts are stopped as they fill with accumulated articles. The process is repeated in cascade for the upstream roller belts as articles continue to accumulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DePaso, John S. Reid, III, Paul Neuschwander
  • Induction conveyor
    Patent number: 9815090
    Abstract: An article induction system for preparing a stream of articles, such as mail parcels, for processing employs a series of conveyors operating under control of a controller for feeding articles to an operator at a cull belt at an optimal paced rate. The article induction system includes a destacking section, a separation and alignment section, a buffer section and a culling section manned by an operator. A controller controls the speed of each component based on measurements provided by sensors so as to feed articles to the operator at a desired paced rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen G. Wargo
  • Deveining system and device
    Patent number: 9814247
    Abstract: A deveining system efficiently removes veins from shrimp while preserving the meat of the shrimp in both appearance and quantity. The deveining system comprises an endless deveining wall having outwardly-extending snagging tabs. Water flooding a deveining region creates a vacuum effect to pull exposed veins through openings formed by the snagging tabs, followed by separation of the body of the shrimp from the veins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Greve, Charles L. Borrello, Jake R. Guillory
  • Belt splicer
    Patent number: 9796135
    Abstract: A belt splicer for splicing butt ends of thermoplastic belts together. The splicer uses a plurality of cranks in conjunction with heavy springs to close and rapidly open jaws holding butt ends of a belt in place against a heating wand for melting and against each other for welding the melted ends together. The rapid opening of the jaw also lowers the wand, which is locked in place by a wand lock during the melting of the butt ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert G. Guttenberg, Gabriel Nazar
  • Parcel handling methods
    Patent number: 9776215
    Abstract: Methods for preparing parcels for final sorting. The methods include dividing a mass flow of parcels into individual streams, separating and singulating the parcels in each stream, delivering each stream at a steady rate to a human operator that faces and culls the parcels, reading identifying indicia on the parcels, delivering the scanned parcels to a presorter in parallel lanes, and selectively discharging parcels from the lane closest to a side of the presorter off the side at multiple discharge points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen G. Wargo
  • Cleanable conveyor frame assembly
    Patent number: 9764902
    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: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Guernsey, John F. Landrum, Mark T. Drapanas, Manoj Thomas
  • Magnetic conveyor belt module
    Patent number: 9764901
    Abstract: A magnetic conveyor belt module integrates a magnetic element into the body of the module to attract conveyed articles to the body. The magnetic conveyor belt module includes a recess for seating a magnetic element and a retention element for retaining the magnetic element within the recess. A cover encapsulates the magnetic element within the body of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David W. Bogle, Richard A. Keb
  • Split sprocket having a snap clamp
    Patent number: 9751697
    Abstract: A split sprocket for belts or chains comprising a first section and a second section that mates with the first section to form a sprocket with drive teeth distributed about the periphery and a central hub for retaining a shaft. The first section includes a snap clamp having a barbed tip for mounting the first section to a shaft. The second section includes mating elements complementary to mating elements in the first section to allow the second section to mate with the first section to form a complete sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Ruizhe Ma
  • Infeed and outfeed assemblies for a conveyor
    Patent number: 9751695
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway. The outfeed assembly further includes a drive sprocket and a limiter to ensure engagement of drive elements on the conveyor belt with the drive sprockets. A limiter plate ensures proper placement of the limiter relative to the drive sprocket. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily mounted to and removed from the conveyor frame to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Philipp J. Hortig, Matthew A. Steenwyk, Jeff Batchelder
  • Conveyor belt and module with magnets
    Patent number: 9708126
    Abstract: A modular radius conveyor belt having magnetic material in adjacent belt rows, including magnets in selected rows of belt modules. Magnets in one belt row attract magnets or paramagnetic material in adjacent rows to prevent vibration between rows that could shake a conveyed article out of its preferred position or orientation on the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David W. Bogle
  • Conveyor belt module with shaped bottom surface
    Patent number: 9663298
    Abstract: A conveyor belt module has a conveying surface and a shaped bottom surface. The shaped bottom surface includes a concave lateral channel in the shape of a bell curve, designed to accommodate a nosebar, so that a conveyor belt formed of the modules can smoothly navigate the nosebar. The module includes hinge elements having elongated, slotted openings that are offset from the vertical center of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • 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