Patents Assigned to Rennco LLC
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Patent number: 11884437Abstract: An apparatus for use in delivering cup-like containers to a container receiving path of a packaging station includes: a first infeed tower and a second infeed tower, each of the first infeed tower and the second infeed tower having: a stationary upper segment and a movable lower segment, wherein the movable lower segment is movable between a load position, in alignment with the stationary upper segment for receiving cup-like containers from the stationary upper segment, and an unload position, in alignment with the container receiving path for delivering cup-like containers to the container receiving path; a transfer gate controllable to block feed of cup-like containers from the stationary upper segment down into the movable lower segment; and an outlet gate controllable to block feed of cup-like containers down out of the movable lower segment.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: RENNCO LLCInventor: Brian C. Bowerman
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Patent number: 8117806Abstract: A vertical bagging machine including a spindle for receiving and supporting a roll of stock material, the spindle defining a spindle axis, wherein the stock material is unwindable as a sheet, a folding plate defining a folding plate plane that is substantially parallel with the spindle axis, the folding plate including a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first and second edges are generally equal in length and connect at a central peak, a spreader chute including a first guide plate and a second guide plate, the second guide plate being generally parallel with and spaced apart from the first guide plate, wherein the first and second guide plates are substantially perpendicular to the folding plate plane, and first and second folding rollers defining a nip therebetween, the first and second folding rollers being generally parallel with the folding plate plane and disposed between the folding plate and the spreader chute, wherein the sheet is moveable over the central peak, through the nip, and over theType: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Rennco LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman, Dale R. Vincent
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Publication number: 20110283664Abstract: A vertical bagging machine including a spindle for receiving and supporting a roll of stock material, the spindle defining a spindle axis, wherein the stock material is unwindable as a sheet, a folding plate defining a folding plate plane that is substantially parallel with the spindle axis, the folding plate including a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first and second edges are generally equal in length and connect at a central peak, a spreader chute including a first guide plate and a second guide plate, the second guide plate being generally parallel with and spaced apart from the first guide plate, wherein the first and second guide plates are substantially perpendicular to the folding plate plane, and first and second folding rollers defining a nip therebetween, the first and second folding rollers being generally parallel with the folding plate plane and disposed between the folding plate and the spreader chute, wherein the sheet is moveable over the central peak, through the nip, and over theType: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: RENNCO LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman, Dale R. Vincent
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Patent number: 7992364Abstract: A vertical bagging machine including a spindle for receiving and supporting a roll of stock material, the spindle defining a spindle axis, wherein the stock material is unwindable as a sheet, a folding plate defining a folding plate plane that is substantially parallel with the spindle axis, the folding plate including a first edge and a second edge, wherein the first and second edges are generally equal in length and connect at a central peak, a spreader chute including a first guide plate and a second guide plate, the second guide plate being generally parallel with and spaced apart from the first guide plate, wherein the first and second guide plates are substantially perpendicular to the folding plate plane, and first and second folding rollers defining a nip therebetween, the first and second folding rollers being generally parallel with the folding plate plane and disposed between the folding plate and the spreader chute, wherein the sheet is moveable over the central peak, through the nip, and over theType: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Rennco LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman, Dale R. Vincent
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Publication number: 20110085882Abstract: A collecting apparatus and method for moving and nesting open-ended containers, where the open-ended containers have a diameter which is greater than the depth of the open-ended container.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2009Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: Rennco LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman
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Patent number: 7762467Abstract: A container packaging machine includes a container handling and counting apparatus including an upstream accumulation portion and a downstream container separation and counting portion. The containers having a relatively tightly nested configuration as the containers move through the accumulation portion and having a relatively loosely nested configuration as the containers move through the container separation and counting portion where separation of the containers form distinct peaks and valleys for use in counting the containers.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Rennco, LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman
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Patent number: 7735628Abstract: The present invention provides a transfer system and method for aligning articles. The transfer system comprises a transfer member adapted to transfer the articles along a designated path, an orientation-adjustment portion having an orienter that is adapted to rotate at least a first portion of the articles, and a receiving portion that is adapted to restrict movement of at least a second portion of the articles along the designated path Each of the articles has a surface configuration that allows the articles to compress along an axial direction when at least two of the surface configurations of a respective adjacent two of the articles are aligned, and the receiving portion and the orienter cooperate to align the first portion and the second portion and compress a length of the first portion and the second portion along an axial direction of the articles.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2005Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Rennco LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Phillip D. Hillard
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Publication number: 20090038273Abstract: A sealing jaw apparatus for a film wrapping machine utilizes a continuous web of thermoplastic film. The sealing jaw apparatus includes a first jaw unit to one side of a film travel path. The first jaw unit includes spaced-apart clamp arms and a heated sealing bar located between the spaced-apart clamp arms. The heated sealing bar includes spaced-apart noses defining a slot therebetween. A second jaw unit is to an opposite side of the film travel path. The second jaw unit includes spaced-apart gripping surfaces that are engaged by the spaced-apart clamp arms for gripping the thermoplastic film. Spaced-apart sealing surfaces are engaged by the noses of the heated sealing bar for sealing the thermoplastic film at spaced-apart locations in a film running direction. A knife assembly severs the thermoplastic film between the spaced-apart locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2007Publication date: February 12, 2009Applicant: Rennco LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman
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Patent number: 7478511Abstract: An apparatus for use in packaging containers and associated lids together includes a moveable gantry with a first support portion and a second support portion alongside the first support portion. The first and second support portions are sized and configured to support the containers and the lids. A container path and a lid path are included along which containers and lids, respectively, are directed to the gantry. The gantry has a first orientation in which the first support portion is aligned with the container path to receive containers and the second support portion is aligned with the lid path to receive lids. The gantry also has a second orientation in which the gantry is repositioned such that the first support portion is aligned with the lid path to receive lids and the second support portion is aligned with the container path to receive containers.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2007Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: Rennco LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman, Phillip D. Hillard
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Patent number: 7318306Abstract: An apparatus for use in packaging containers and associated lids together includes a moveable gantry with a first support portion and a second support portion alongside the first support portion. The first and second support portions are sized and configured to support the containers and the lids. A container path and a lid path are included along which containers and lids, respectively, are directed to the gantry. The gantry has a first orientation in which the first support portion is aligned with the container path to receive containers and the second support portion is aligned with the lid path to receive lids. The gantry also has a second orientation in which the gantry is repositioned such that the first support portion is aligned with the lid path to receive lids and the second support portion is aligned with the container path to receive containers.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2006Date of Patent: January 15, 2008Assignee: Rennco LLCInventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman, Phillip D. Hillard