Patents Examined by James Barlow
  • Patent number: 4456242
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for taking a stack of flat articles such as folded newspapers, and delivering them successively to a conveyor in an overlapped or shingled arrangement to move to a processing station for labeling or addressing or for opening them to receive inserts. A rectangular hopper or gate is located over a traveling belt means to hold a stack of such flat articles with its converging angle pointing downstream. Each bottom article is gripped by the belt means, which is vacuumized in the area under the stack, and is pulled under the gate and downstream.When a given article is only partially through the gate, the succeeding article is gripped primarily by its side portions and pulled under the gate in overlapping or shingled relation with the preceding one, each article being arranged with its side edges at a substantial angle to the direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Inventor: George A. Morin
  • Patent number: 4426074
    Abstract: A switch system for clearing spoiled items from an overlapped stream of paper products such as signatures has a three-flight conveyor belt transporting system whose middle flight may be rocked bodily so that its downstream belt support roll, functioning as a switch roll, is moved between an upper position in which it is leveled up with the next flight, and a lowered position for sending the stream, when made up of spoiled items, downwards under the next flight to a separate delivery. The side face of the upstream belt roll of this same next flight is covered by a cover for neatly separating the stream and switching it over into the downward parts under this next flight. Over the switch a backer roll is placed so as to have its weight supported on the stream of products (in turn supported by the switch roll). In this way the products are well gripped and controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Albert Frankenthal AG
    Inventor: Emil Fischer
  • Patent number: 4420152
    Abstract: An apparatus for peeling or separating a record paper from a photosensitive drum of an electrophotographic copying machine immediately after a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum has been transferred onto the record paper comprising a pair of pawls each for peeling a respective side edge of the record paper off the drum, a duct for blowing an air stream in a space between the paper and the drum, and first and second guide plates arranged subtantially in parallel with each other to define a paper passage along which the peeled paper is fed, a plurality of elongated holes being formed in the first and second guide plates so as to introduce an air stream into the passage, which air stream serves to press the paper against the second guide plate, a front edge of the first guide plate being recessed in V-shape or convex manner in a direction of a paper feeding and/or being made apart from the second guide plate in a direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction, so that a curved front edge of re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Limited
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Miyashita
  • Patent number: 4416578
    Abstract: A roof-covered multi-story elevator-type garage having at least two vertically moveable platforms with one situated above the other by a distance to at least accommodate an automotive vehicle. Each one of the platforms is vertically shiftable to an access level. A garage roof is attached at least in one region to the uppermost of the platforms and is capable of moving vertically with the platform when said uppermost platform is raised to a certain position in its vertical upward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Inventor: Hahns-Jurgen Behncke
  • Patent number: 4415302
    Abstract: A forklift vehicle has hooks mounted on the forks for preventing removal of a loaded pallet from the forks and a gate for ejecting the contents of the pallet as the forks are withdrawn. The hooks are normally biased out of engagement with the pallet but a cam mechanism moves the hooks into pallet engaging position when the forks are moved to a selected unloading height. The gate is mounted on the rear of the forks and is biased there by two pairs of extensible links. During unloading the forks are moved forwardly and downwardly to bring the gate in front of a pair of stops. The forks are then moved rearwardly, withdrawing the pallet while the gate ejects the pallet contents. The forks are then raised above the stops, allowing the biased links to return the gate to its rear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: Brouwer Turf Equipment Limited
    Inventors: Gerardus J. Brouwer, William T. Arnold
  • Patent number: 4412771
    Abstract: A sample transport system adaptable for use in an MBE instrument includes means for introducing a plurality of substrates into a storage chamber and means for conveying each substrate on a preselected basis to a processing chamber whereby the wafers not being processed are completely protected against contaminants which may occur within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1983
    Assignee: The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Gerlach, David D. Seibel, Mark C. Miller
  • Patent number: 4407622
    Abstract: A soil transporting vehicle for pressurized receiving and transporting of soil excavated by a shield machine. The vehicle includes a cylindrical soil container having a first opening and a second opening aligned along the longitudinal axis and being pressure-resistant. A soil conveying mechanism is arranged in the container adjacent to the opening for moving the soil axially. A chassis rotatably supports the container and a drive mechanism is provided for rotating the container about its axis from a soil introduction position where the openings are directed upwardly and a soil discharge position where the openings are directed downwardly. An inlet for introducing gas under pressure and a pressure regulating valve are provided on the soil container. The pressure is regulated to be substantially equal to that of the pressure compartment of the shield machine. A compressor is connected with the gas inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Okumura Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Ito
  • Patent number: 4406574
    Abstract: A device for lifting and loading objects into and from a storage space of an automobile for transportation thereby. The device is fully contained within the storage space and is adapted to be mounted directly to the chassis of the automobile. The device is particularly suited to assist disabled individuals who may be unable to lift, load and transport such objects otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Inventor: Sidney L. Riley
  • Patent number: 4405278
    Abstract: A box or container for transporting and disposing of trash is constructed to be operated by the action of a forklift truck alone without the addition of special accessories and so constructed as to have a low overall height making it suitable for placement under machines, benches and other devices, because of the absence of operating mechanisms under the container. The box is constructed so that the discharge cover or lid, as well as a specially constructed dumping leg are automatically released by the action of the forklift. The dumping leg then drops into a pivot bracket customarily located on the edge of the receptacle which receives the trash and further action of the forklift causes the box to tilt or pivot around the leg and discharge the contents of the box. Further action of the forklift returns the leg to its position under the box and closes the cover or lid making the box ready for further receipt of trash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Inventor: A. M. Kvalheim
  • Patent number: 4402173
    Abstract: Manually controlled handling machine for filling or emptying cases for transporting stowed articles, including a carriage (7), displaceable between a station for supplying bottles lying head to tail and a station for loading containers, bearing a tackle-block (16), and a centering frame (17) adapted to cooperate with a plate (24) equipped with gripping suction cups (25). Carriage (7) rolls on a runway (1) which is curved in a semi-circle above the containers in order to allow the loading of one half and the other half of the containers, and an orientable guiding member (28) enables the position of the plate (24) during its rising and descending movements to be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Inventor: Michel Thierion
  • Patent number: 4400841
    Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus and method for transferring horizontally oriented sheet articles from one location to another in an automated production line facility. The apparatus includes a vertically reciprocal elevator mounted on a horizontally reciprocal carriage and provided with a sheet pick-up head including grippers engageable with and disengageable from the opposed marginal edges of one or more superimposed sheet articles. The apparatus is especially suited for precisely placing paired sheets of glass on bending molds advanced on a conveyor system beneath the pick-up head. The molds are located and locked in position on the conveyor system in vertical registry with the pick-up head during transfer of the sheets from the head to the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Company
    Inventors: Roger M. Bresnahan, Paul D. Jepson
  • Patent number: 4401302
    Abstract: An information distributor has an entry tray for receiving document originals to be copied and also receives magnetic cards carrying indicia representing information to be reproduced. Copies emerge from a copying mechanism and enter an aligner which physically offsets selected sheets relative to nonselected sheets for stacking in a copy exit pocket. In the aligner, a fixed reference edge deflects incoming sheets along a reference line. A movable reference edge may be selectively lowered between the fixed reference edge and incoming sheets to deflect sheets along another line parallel to, but not coincident with, the reference line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene C. Hardy, Milan J. Miklos
  • Patent number: 4400131
    Abstract: A compressed air discharge system for facilitating the unloading of material from the dump bed of such as a dump truck, and which is designed for interconnection with the compressed air system of the dump truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: The Marmon Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Nolen C. Blake
  • Patent number: 4400132
    Abstract: A skidding grapple having a self-propelled vehicle equipped with a saddle carrying a boom and grapple horizontally and vertically swingable thereon, a fairlead assembly removably mounted atop the saddle and a winch having a line reeled thereon positioned forward of the saddle and the line passing through the fairlead assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Esco Corporation
    Inventors: Richard R. Deline, William R. Miner
  • Patent number: 4400130
    Abstract: Apparatus for handling and transporting a load including at least one container or the like, such as between a ro/ro vessel and a terminal, include load transporting apparatus including a frame assembly having at least two members which are telescopically displaceable with respect to each other, power apparatus and a traction-providing and steering wheel assembly mounted on a first one of the frame members. The load transporting apparatus are provided with load handling apparatus for taking-up the load from and then depositing the load on the ground surface. The handling apparatus include at least one load lifting device mounted on the first one of the frame members and at least one moveable bogie assembly mounted on a second one of the frame members which is longitudinally displaceable with respect to the first frame member. The bogie assembly can be raised and lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Valmet OY
    Inventors: Arjo Anttila, Reijo Tiitto
  • Patent number: 4396340
    Abstract: This can opener opens and empties cans of their contents rapidly, especially paint and similar cans. The opener has a knife edge dimensioned and configured to penetrate an end, especially the bottom, of the can. There is a positioning means for disposing a can having two ends with one end over the knife edge. A means urges the can downward against the knife edge with sufficient force to cause the knife edge to penetrate the one end of the can. A means for receiving contents from the can is disposed beneath the knife edge. Cans may be opened and emptied in rapid sucession with this opener. An emptied can is moved forward by the positioning of a second can for opening and slides down into a can crusher. A piston operated can crusher cylinder is activated electro/pneumatically to come down and crush the emptied can and remove any remaining contents. When the piston retracts the crushed can drops out of the crusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Kelly-Moore Paint Company
    Inventor: Richard H. Clinton
  • Patent number: 4396342
    Abstract: An actuator is extensible in a first position within a truck receptacle to move a pusher to a primary rearward position in the receptacle; and the actuator is extensible in a second position in the receptacle to move the pusher to a secondary rearward position in the receptacle, said secondary position located closer to a discharge opening than said primary position. Swingable means is provided, and to which the actuator is operatively connected, for swinging that connection to the actuator between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Dempster Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Henderson
  • Patent number: 4395188
    Abstract: A load carrying arrangement for a lift truck includes two spaced apart hollow upright elongated members which are mounted on a mounting element that is displaceably mounted on the frame of the truck, and at least one load-engaging attachment which has at least one load-engaging portion and two mounting portions introducible into the interiors of the corresponding upright members through the open ends thereof to mount the load-engaging attachment on the upright members and thus on the mounting element. Fixing elements, such as pins or bolts extending through aligned bores in the upright members and in the mounting portions, positionally fix the mounting portions within the corresponding upright members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Kaup & Co. KG
    Inventor: Otmar Kaup
  • Patent number: 4394173
    Abstract: Intermediate regions are provided between straight and circular-arc slide sections having a curved sliding surface in cross-section, the intermediate regions being clothoid-shaped in top view. In an intermediate region, which starts with a quarter-elliptic cross-section of the sliding surface at the outer side of the curve corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the straight slide section, the ratio between the major and the minor axes of the ellipse continuously changes towards the other end so that individual trajectories depending on the velocity of the vehicle form in top view a sheaf of clothoids having the same initial point. The individual structural elements of the slide are flanged at their ends, one flange, each, of two structural elements being adjustable in various directions and supported by a strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignees: Horst Schwamm, Friedbert Pezzei
    Inventor: Christian Aste
  • Patent number: 4389149
    Abstract: Apparatus for unloading a top unloading mine car that is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis extending along one side of the base of the mine car includes a hoist chain detachably connected to the mine car at the side opposite the pivotal axis. The hoist chain extends upwardly over a pulley mounted on a positioning crank arm. The pulley moves on rotation of the crank arm from a position substantially vertically above the connection means when the mine car is in an upright position to a position above the pivotal axis. The hoist chain continues around a pulley mounted on a drive crank arm and then to an attachment of restricted mobility. The drive crank arm and the positioning crank arm are rotated in a single direction by drive means which are adapted to rotate the drive crank arm at twice the angular velocity of the positioning crank arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Gulf Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Tibor Dancs