Patents Assigned to Laitram
  • POSITIVE-DRIVE SPIRAL CONVEYOR AND BELT
    Publication number: 20130213773
    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: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Casper Fedde Talsma, David W. Bogle
  • ABRASION RESISTANT CONVEYOR BELT
    Publication number: 20130213775
    Abstract: A wear-resistant modular plastic conveyor belt can resist wear at the hinge for a long operating life, even in abrasive environments. The conveyor belt comprises a plurality of modules having T-shaped link ends interleaved together. A hinge rod may be inserted in a hinge passageway, formed at least in part by kidney-shaped openings in the T-shaped links. The conveyor belt employs multiple surfaces to transfer load from module to module during operation of the conveyor belt depending on the relative motion of the modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Conveyor belt apparatus including magnetically actuated rollers
    Patent number: 8511460
    Abstract: A modular conveyor belt and method provides a conveyor belt having rollers with metallic or magnetic rotors. A magnet or metallic element next to the conveyor belt is positioned to rotate the rotor. A magnetic field produced by the magnet or by the magnetic rotor rotates the rollers as they pass the magnetic field or as the magnetic field is changed. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is in the form of one or more switched reluctance motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bryant G. Ragan, Brien G. Rau, Jason Lagneaux, Wayne A. Pertuit, Jr.
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING CONTAMINATION OF A CONVEYOR
    Publication number: 20130206545
    Abstract: Conveying systems and method for detecting the presence and amount of biological contaminants or additives on a conveyor belt. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt having embedded biosensors. Transmitters co-located in the belt with the biosensors transmit biosensor signals to a remote controller. The remote controller allows remote monitoring of the contamination level on the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David W. Bogle, Manoj Thomas
  • MULTI-DIRECTIONAL ROLLER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20130192954
    Abstract: A multi-directional roller assembly for directing articles in a conveying system. The multi-directional roller assembly has a rotatable roller frame housing at least one set of mutually-actuating rollers. The multi-directional roller assembly directs an article supported by the assembly along a trajectory determined by the orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly relative to an input force. The orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly may be changed to change the trajectory. A conveyor system may include an array of multi-directional roller assemblies. An actuator controls the orientation of the multi-directional roller assemblies individually and may also control an array of multi-directional roller assemblies as a group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Laitram, L.L.C.
  • Roller-top belt with beam stiffness
    Patent number: 8496105
    Abstract: A modular roller-top conveyor belt and multi-piece rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles unitarily molded with the belt modules. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
  • Multi-piece conveyor belt rollers
    Patent number: 8474602
    Abstract: Multi-piece rollers for a conveyor belt. First and second roller sections fit together to form a complete roller. The two roller sections together define a bore for receiving an axle. The bore and the periphery of the roller are formed in part by each of the first and second roller sections. The roller is assembled by sliding the two sections together in a direction perpendicular to the axle with the bore closing around the axle. The roller sections have fingers that interdigitate with each other to prevent axial separation of the first and second roller sections. The interdigitated fingers surround a majority of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram
    Inventors: Abraham L. Miller, Gibert J. MacLachlan
  • Long-life peeler inserts and holddowns
    Patent number: 8469778
    Abstract: A peeling machine having series of insert rollers held down into notches between larger-diameter power rollers by holddowns. The holddowns include pins made of a bearing material received directly in bores in the ends of the insert rollers without conventional bearing sleeves. The heads of the pins may be coned to provide thrust bearings against concave interior ends of the bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Christopher G. Greve
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING, MAPPING, AND MODIFYING THE TEMPERATURE OF A CONVEYOR
    Publication number: 20130146672
    Abstract: Conveying system and method for sensing and controlling the surface temperature of a conveyor transporting articles through a process that incidentally changes the temperature of the conveyor. The conveyor system includes a conveyor such as a transport belt having temperature sensors embedded in the belt at spaced locations along its length. Transmitters embedded in the belt transmit temperature readings made by the sensors to a remote controller. The remote controller controls a temperature modification unit in the belt's conveyor path that restores the temperature of the belt to an optimum range for the processing of the articles. The controller creates a temperature map of at least a portion of the conveyor path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Joseph M. DePaso
  • Modular plastic spiral belt
    Patent number: 8453827
    Abstract: A modular spiral belt and method for molding belt modules for constructing a heat-resistant belt. The spiral belt is constructed of a series of hingedly interconnected belt modules. The modules have single hinge links at the outside of a turn and dual hinge links elsewhere. All the hinge links extend outward from opposite faces of a central transverse spine. The dual hinge links, which each have a pair of parallel legs joined at a distal end by a yoke, are separated by a transverse pitch greater than the transverse pitch of the single one-legged hinge links at the outside of a turn. When molded from a blend of a thermoplastic polymer and a nanoclay, belt modules are useful in heat-resistant applications without sacrificing beam stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Corley, Daryl J. Marse, Dax Wilson-Boyer, Philip J. Wunsch
  • Conveyor belt with wear-tolerant stacked rollers
    Patent number: 8424675
    Abstract: A conveyor belt having multiple roller sets, each roller set including a first roller and a second roller, the first roller being movable into contact with the second roller so that driving of one of the rollers in a first angular direction causes rotation of the other roller in a second, opposite angular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Brien G Rau
  • FASTENING SYSTEM FOR A CONVEYOR BELT
    Publication number: 20130081928
    Abstract: A fastening system for joining two ends of a conveyor belt segment includes an inhibiting surface for controlling movement of the ends relative to each other. The inhibiting surface is offset from an inner surface of a conveyor belt segment employing the fastening system and engages a surface of a corresponding conveyor belt segment to reduce tenting of the conveyor belt segment ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Terral A. Ridgell, Michael V. Piehler, Kevin W. Guernsey, John H. Kuchler, JR.
  • Belt conveyors and methods for conveyed products undergoing a thermal treatment
    Patent number: 8397904
    Abstract: An environmentally controlled conveyor system including a sensor-instrumented conveyor belt conveying products continuously through a thermal-treatment process and a method for determining the instantaneous position of the sensors. Temperature or other sensors are embedded in the conveyor belt across its width and along its length to advance with the product through the thermal-treatment process, such as through a pasteurizer tunnel. The sensor measurements are transmitted wirelessly from the belt to a remote system controller for monitoring or controlling the system. Data from sensors measuring environmental or belt conditions are used to determine the instantaneous positions of the sensors to coordinate the sensor data with sensor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David W. Bogle
  • Belt conveyors with retractable wall segments
    Patent number: 8365902
    Abstract: A conveyor having a conveyor belt with wall segments that pivot between a retracted position below the conveying surface of the belt and an extended position above the conveying surface. When extended, the wall segments form a wall along the length of a portion of the belt to prevent conveyed articles from moving laterally past. The retractable wall segments are cam- or spring-actuated. Diverting conveyors using the retractable wall segments in an oblique-roller conveyor belt are useful as sorters or switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark Costanzo, Eric M. Pressler
  • Accumulation-and-release conveyor
    Patent number: 8342313
    Abstract: An accumulation-and-release conveyor using a roller belt with rollers arranged to rotate in the direction of belt travel. The rollers extend through the thickness of the belt. A movable stop is positioned along the carryway just downstream of a bearing surface that is movable into and out of contact with the rollers. When the bearing surface is out of contact with the rollers, they are freely rotatable; when the bearing surface contacts the rollers, they roll on the bearing surface to propel articles in the direction of belt travel. The stop is selectively moved between a blocking position preventing articles from passing and accumulating them with low back line pressure on the freely rotatable rollers and a release position allowing articles to pass to the accumulation zone where they are propelled forward and separated from each other by the rotation of the rollers rolling on the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Wargo, Matthew L. Fourney
  • SNAP-ON CONVEYOR BELT ROLLERS
    Publication number: 20120318644
    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: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser, Abraham L. Miller
  • Carousel conveyor and method
    Patent number: 8322518
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for recirculating articles on a belt conveyor. An article-recirculation path is formed in a pair of parallel conveyor belts running continuously in opposite directions. Article-supporting rollers in each belt rotate to transfer articles from one belt to the other in a transfer region at each end of the conveyor to form an endless recirculation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jonathan Ball
  • ROLLER-TOP BELT WITH BEAM STIFFNESS
    Publication number: 20120298486
    Abstract: A modular roller-top conveyor belt and multi-piece rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles unitarily molded with the belt modules. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
  • MULTI-PIECE CONVEYOR BELT ROLLERS
    Publication number: 20120298485
    Abstract: Multi-piece rollers for a conveyor belt. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece 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: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Abraham L. Miller, Gibert J. MacLachlan
  • CONVEYOR BELT MODULE WITH FIXED AXLES
    Publication number: 20120298487
    Abstract: A modular roller-top conveyor belt and rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles that are fixed relative to the module body. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser, Abraham L. Miller, Errol P. Knott, Timothy J. DeRoche, Jude G. Martin