Patents Assigned to VMI
  • Patent number: 12292272
    Abstract: A system and a method for conveying a tire component includes a conveyor and a measuring unit, wherein the measuring unit has a field of view, wherein the measuring unit is positioned relative to the conveyor such that the field of view overlaps with a measuring slot in the conveyor for measuring height values in said field of view. The system further includes a control unit that is configured for: monitoring the height values measured by the measuring unit in the field of view; and detecting a step in the height values at the measuring slot from a first height level below the plane of conveyance to a second height level above the plane of conveyance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Mattheus Jacobus Kaagman, Quinten Matthijs Bergmans, Herman Sebastiaan Scherpenhuizen
  • Patent number: 12285389
    Abstract: A medicine dispensing device includes a tray comprising a plurality of storage cavities; a drop plate comprising a plurality of drop openings, the drop plate below the tray in a drop direction and slidable with respect to the tray; a retaining member which allows the drop plate to slide with respect to the tray between a drop position and a hold position; and a cover which fits over the drop openings on an upper surface of the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Kees Jochemsen, Ton de Boer, Hendrik Leendert 't Lam
  • Patent number: 12286320
    Abstract: The invention relates to an unwinding system, an assembly and a method for unwinding a tire component from a stock reel and for outputting said tire component in a transport direction, wherein the unwinding system comprises a reel station, an output conveyor and a transfer device for transferring a leading end of the tire component from the reel station to said output conveyor, wherein the transfer device comprises a retaining member which is movable along a guide path between a pick-up position and a release position, wherein the retaining member comprises a retaining surface for releasably retaining the leading end of the tire component, wherein the transfer device further comprises an arm that is rotatable around the inverting axis for moving the retaining member along the guide path, wherein the retaining member is movable with respect to the arm in an extension direction perpendicular to the inverting axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Ruben Visser, Antonie Slots, Herman Sebastiaan Scherpenhuizen
  • Patent number: 12257213
    Abstract: A method, a computer program product and a dispensing device for dispensing discrete medicaments, wherein the dispensing device comprises a dispensing section, a collection section and a packaging section, wherein the dispensing section defines an array of feeder positions for holding a plurality of feeder units, wherein the collection section comprises a first collection unit that is movable in a collection direction, wherein the method comprises the steps of: positioning a first feeder unit at a first feeder position; and prior to removing the first feeder unit from the first feeder position, positioning a second feeder unit at a second feeder position, downstream from the first feeder position in the collection direction, wherein the first feeder unit and the second feeder unit hold medicaments of the same first composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Johannes Donatus Brakkee, Peter van Roon, Patrick van Voorn
  • Patent number: 12257797
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cutting device for cutting a continuous length of a strip, in particular an apex for tire building, wherein the cutting device has a conveyor for conveying the strip in a transport direction in a support plane and a knife for cutting through the strip along a cutting line transverse to the transport direction. The cutting device further includes a positioning device for pushing the strip in a positioning direction up to a longitudinal reference line at or near the cutting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Willem Marinus Van Beek
  • Patent number: 12246504
    Abstract: Disclosed is a strip applicator, a strip-winding station and method for applying a strip to a strip-winding drum, wherein the strip applicator includes an applicator member applying the strip to the strip-winding drum at an application position and a supply section receiving the strip in an input direction at a supply position and supplying the strip to the applicator member in an output direction. The applicator member is movable in an offset direction transverse to the output direction to offset the application position relative to the supply position. The supply section has an input member at the supply position for receiving the strip in the input direction and an output member for outputting the strip to the applicator member in the output direction. The output member is movable relative to the input member from a start position towards an offset position in the offset direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Smits, Gerardus Johannes Catharina Van Laar, Gerrit Mulder
  • Patent number: 12226970
    Abstract: A gripper, a gripper station and a method for gripping an annular tire component, wherein the gripper has a plurality of gripper members distributed in a circumferential direction about a gripper axis and movable with at least a vector component in a radial direction perpendicular to the gripper axis over a main range with a radially inner endpoint and a radially outer endpoint. The gripper further has a limiter for limiting the movement of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction to a subrange within the main range, wherein the subrange has an adjustable subrange position relative to the main range. The gripper has a synchronization member for synchronizing movements of the plurality of gripper members in the radial direction, wherein the synchronization member defines the main range, and wherein the limiter is arranged for limiting the synchronization member to define the subrange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Timen Anton Van Werven, Robin Nusselder, Willem Marinus Van Beek
  • Publication number: 20250033852
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sheet, a pouch containing pills made of a sheet material and a web of multiple of said pouches. The disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing said web which makes use of said sheet. The pouches allow for optimal visibility of information printed on the pouches as well as optimal visibility of the pills for inspection purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Henk Jan Spijkerboer, Hermanus Johannes Albertus Wiskamp
  • Patent number: 12202701
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for correcting misalignment of a strip, wherein the apparatus includes a correction device with an alignment surface for supporting a strip in a support plane, wherein the support plane extends at a support angle with respect to a first vertical plane in a range of five to thirty degrees, wherein the support plane intersects with a second vertical plane that is perpendicular to the first vertical plane at an intersecting line, wherein the correction device further includes one or more correction elements for exerting a displacement force onto said strip in a correction direction parallel to the support plane and transverse to the intersecting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Gerardus Johannes Catharina Van Laar
  • Publication number: 20250002187
    Abstract: A packaging device for packaging discrete medicaments in pouches that is configured to form and fill the pouches in an elongated web to contain the medicaments comprises a web drive for guiding the elongated web in a transport direction along a web trajectory, wherein the packaging device further comprises a sealing station along the web trajectory, wherein the sealing station is configured to apply a seal to the elongated web to form at least a part of a pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Jan Jochemsen, Aalf Wijnia, Robert Ernst Onderdelinden, René Smit
  • Patent number: 12169160
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon dispensation line pressure sensor adapted to work without requirement of a separate closed valve. The system closes the dispensation line upstream via an isolation valve. The pressure can be sensed from the dispensation line through the valve to provide dispensation line pressure. A channel in fluid communication with the dispensation line may be provided to allow pressure measurement apart from the main dispensation line. Further, a method for measuring the pressure drop profile of a dispensation line and various methods to determine the pressure loss due to leaks in dispensation line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: VMI Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory E. Young
  • Patent number: 12162233
    Abstract: A tire unloading unit for unloading a green tire, wherein the green tire has an externally facing circumferential tread surface extending around a tire axis, wherein the tire unloading unit has a base and a support for supporting the green tire relative to the base at the externally facing circumferential tread surface from below and an upper arm projecting from the base for stabilizing the green tire at the externally facing circumferential tread surface from above, wherein the upper arm includes a first lateral boundary member, a second lateral boundary member and intermediate boundary members which are individually movable to closely adapt to the contour of the green tire and remain in contact with said contour even when the green tire collapses slightly over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Antonie Slots
  • Publication number: 20240382382
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for step dispensing discrete medicaments from a dispensing system accommodating one or more feeder units and arranged for selectively dispensing an amount of discrete medicaments from the one or more feeder units, the system comprising: a dispensing device provided with an array of dispensing positions, wherein the dispensing device at each of the array of dispensing positions is provided with a holder for one of the feeder units and with a through opening for passing discharged medicaments there through, wherein the method comprises the steps of: sending a dispensing command with data indicating dispensing parameters to a dispensing position of the array of dispensing positions via a non-real-time connection; buffering the dispensing command at the dispensing position of the array of dispensing positions; and sending a dispensing trigger to the dispensing position of the array of dispensing positions via a real-time connection, therewith triggering a feeder unit to dispense
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Johannes Donatus Brakkee, Peter van Roon, Patrick van Voorn
  • Patent number: 12145785
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sheet, a pouch containing pills made of a sheet material and a web of multiple of said pouches. The disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing said web which makes use of said sheet. The pouches allow for optimal visibility of information printed on the pouches as well as optimal visibility of the pills for inspection purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Henk Jan Spijkerboer, Hermanus Johannes Albertus Wiskamp
  • Patent number: 12138876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt and tread drum (1, 401, 501, 601), an assembly of the belt and tread drum and a pressing device and to a method for manufacturing a belt and tread package (9), wherein the belt and tread drum comprises a first support member (2), wherein the first support member (2) comprises a tread support surface (20) which faces away from the drum axis (x) for supporting the tread layer (92) where said tread layer (92) is wider than the belt layer (91), wherein the first support member (2) is positionable in a raised position outside the circumferential surface (S) in the radial direction, wherein the belt and tread drum (1, 401, 501, 601) further comprises a first retaining element (4, 404) and a second retaining element for retaining the tread layer (92) at the first support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventor: Wiebe Herman Ten Wolde
  • Patent number: 12129116
    Abstract: A filling station for filling a feeder unit with discrete medicaments includes a base and a holder that is positionable in one or more inclined orientations relative to said base for holding the feeder unit in said one or more inclined orientations. A method for filling a feeder unit with discrete medicaments includes the step of filling the feeder unit with the discrete medicaments when the feeder unit is held by the holder in one of the one or more inclined orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Anthonius Maria Hendrina de Boer, Cornelis Jan Jochemsen
  • Patent number: 12122112
    Abstract: A bead-apex stitching device, a bead-apex station and a method for stitching an apex to a bead are disclosed, wherein the bead-apex stitching device includes a first set of first stitching members distributed in a circumferential direction about a central axis for stitching the apex to the bead and a second set of second stitching members for stitching the apex to the bead in a manner different from the first stitching members of the first set, wherein the second stitching members of the second set are distributed in an alternating pattern with the first stitching members of the first set in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Willem Marinus Van Beek, Timen Anton Van Werven
  • Patent number: 12115745
    Abstract: Disclosed is a festooner and a method for buffering a strip, the festooner having a first set of buffer rollers and a second set of buffer rollers, wherein the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers define a meandering first buffer path between them, wherein the festooner further includes a first endless drive element for driving the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers. The festooner further includes a third set of buffer rollers and a fourth set of buffer rollers coaxial to the first set of buffer rollers and the second set of buffer rollers, respectively, defining a meandering second buffer path between them. The festooner further includes a second endless drive element for driving the third set of buffer rollers and the fourth set of buffer rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: VMI HOLLAND B.V.
    Inventors: Teunis Johannes Verbruggen, Jochem Johannes Van Steenis
  • Patent number: D1065755
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Leendert 't Lam, Cornelis Jan Jochemsen, Thomas Baljet, Ernst Hupkes, Martijn Slettenhaar
  • Patent number: RE50364
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for dispensing solid substances, wherein the apparatus comprises a feeder section with a plurality of feeder units, a collection section with a plurality of hoppers and a dispensing section, wherein the plurality of hoppers are rotatable with respect to the feeder units and a first packing position for dispensing the solid substances to the dispensing section, wherein the apparatus comprises a cleaning device for removing pollutants from the hoppers, wherein the cleaning device comprises a hub and a plurality of ducts forming air connections between the plurality of hoppers and the hub, wherein the cleaning device comprises a first blocking member that is arranged for blocking the air connection between one of the hoppers and the hub when said one hopper is positioned in the first packing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Ton de Boer, Gerrit Jan Scholten, Kees Jochemsen, Pieter Cornelis Meijers