Patents Examined by Kavel Singh
  • Patent number: 11485582
    Abstract: A multi-angle sorter having an omnidirectionally endless conveyor belt surrounding a polygonal frame to form a belt-frame assembly supported atop a roller drive including multiple pairs of diagonally opposite roller sets. Each pair of roller sets is arranged to drive the belt in a corresponding angular direction. A grid sorter comprises a grid of intersecting conveyor lines composed of multi-angle sorters at the intersections in line with conventional bidirectional conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bryant G. Ragan, Matthew L. Fourney
  • Patent number: 11459193
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stacker for stockpiling bulk material, the stacker comprising: a chassis provided with either wheels or tracks; a conveyor; and a powered, telescoping cylinder leg for moving the conveyor with respect to the chassis, wherein the conveyor is at least 70 ft (21.3 m) long and wherein the telescoping cylinder leg is mounted at one end to the conveyor and at the other end is removably mountable to the chassis from a first, container transport position to a second, road transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Edge Innovate (NI) Limited
    Inventor: Matthew Gerald Rice
  • Patent number: 11459187
    Abstract: A method for aligning rectangular packaging boxes comprises the steps of conveying packaging boxes along a transport path and of aligning each packaging box by means of at least one stop element. The step of aligning a packaging box comprises the steps of positioning the at least one stop element in a first position, in which it projects into the transport path; conveying the packaging box against the at least one stop element until each section of the packaging box facing the at least one stop element is resting against it; and moving the at least one stop element into a second position, in which it does not project into the transport path and thus releases the aligned packaging box for further transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Stahl, Michael Knoll
  • Patent number: 11459183
    Abstract: A pouch feeding assembly includes a conveyor lane having a load end and a transfer end, wherein the conveyor lane includes a conveyor operable to move pouches in a conveyance direction from the load end to the transfer end, wherein the transfer end of the conveyor lane includes a downwardly facing pouch transfer window over which pouches at the transfer end are positioned. A transfer subassembly including a first transfer mechanism and a second transfer mechanism, the first transfer mechanism configured to engage a lower face of a pouch, pull at least part of the pouch down through the pouch transfer window and transfer the pouch to an infeed point of the second transfer mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: BARTELT PACKAGING LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Geringswald, Adam Freed
  • Patent number: 11459182
    Abstract: A screw conveyor system includes a conveyor body defining a conveyor cavity. The conveyor body includes an inlet for a conveyed material and an outlet. A screw blade is rotatably connected to the conveyor body via a shaft. The screw blade extends within the conveyor cavity between the inlet and the outlet. A hanger bearing support extends from an interior surface of the conveyor body into the conveyor cavity and a hanger bearing is attached to the hanger bearing support with the hanger bearing contacting the shaft to support the screw blade. A sensor support structure is connected to the hanger bearing support and the conveyor body. A capacitive sensor is attached to the sensor support structure and includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate spaced apart from one another to allow the conveyed material to travel between the first and second conductive plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Abdulrahim Y. Alamri
  • Patent number: 11459184
    Abstract: A mass shaped detaching razor device for detaching mass shapes from a laminating roller without damaging the same is provided, said device comprises a main support coupled on its upper section with a lower end of a pressure arm by means of a 5 pivot coupling, the main support is coupled on its lower section with a razor support having on a frontal end a detachment razor, a shock absorber coupled on its lower end to a back end of the main support and coupled by its upper end to an upper end of the pressure arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Anthony Caridis, Miguel Angel Gomez Angulo, Sergio Gonzalez Granados
  • Patent number: 11445733
    Abstract: Described herein are conveyor systems and application units which can be used to transport and simultaneously treat, or to facilitate treatment and inspection of produce, agricultural products, or other items. The conveyor systems and application units can be configured to allow products to be simultaneously rotated as they are moved along a packing line, which can facilitate the uniform application of spray coatings and/or allow the products to be uniformly blow dried while they are moved. Exemplary conveyor systems and application units can include a bed formed of a plurality of rollers and a rotation inducing device that causes the rollers to rotate while they are laterally transported, thereby causing the products lying on top of the bed to rotate during transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Apeel Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chance Holland, Claire Patterson, Louis Van Blarigan, Edwin William Spurling, Matthew Taylor Aronson, Matthew Dominick Gaudioso
  • Patent number: 11447345
    Abstract: A connecting device for connecting a screw machine to a gear mechanism comprises a housing which in regions delimits an interior. The interior serves for the arrangement of at least one shaft connection between at least one gear shaft and at least one screw shaft. The connecting device comprises at least one cleaning element for cleaning contaminants from the interior. The connecting device allows simple, efficient and reliable cleaning of contaminants from the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Coperion GmbH
    Inventor: Daniel Sommer
  • Patent number: 11447339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing process for a reinforced conveyor belt and product thereby obtained comprising a plurality of plastic modules wherein each module comprises at least one opening that houses a roller and is configured to rotate with respect to a shaft, which consists of a metal tube able to be filled with plastic material; and which comprises the stages of (i) inserting the shaft in an injection mold for a plastic module in the region corresponding to the opening; and (ii) a single stage of injecting the plastic module such that said injected plastic fills the inside of the shafts forming a single assembly or structure with the body of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: AFHER EUROBELT, S.A.
    Inventors: Javier San Miguel Nuñez, Carlos Herrero Perez, Miguel De Garnica Escribano
  • Patent number: 11440053
    Abstract: A device for removing particulates from plant matter that includes a shelf through which the product is introduced into the device where the plant matter is moved through toward an output wherein the machine includes a lower conveyor belt, an upper conveyor belt, drive assemblies for both conveyor belts with adjustable speed wherein each conveyor belt is supported by a shelf and wherein the upper portion of each conveyor belt is moving in the direction opposing the other one resulting in the conveyor belt portions in contact with the product traveling in the same direction. An air source is provided that forces air through product as it travels between both conveyor belts through a fixed lower conduit and an upper conduit that is movable in an upward direction through a pivoting mount across the top conveyor belt that allows for displacement of the conduit from the lower conveyor belt as the product moves through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Nick Rocksvold
  • Patent number: 11440735
    Abstract: A flatwire conveyor belt system that can include a flatwire belt with a plurality of flatwire pickets wherein each individual flatwire picket has a plurality of longitudinal members and a first plurality of lateral members extending between and connecting the plurality of longitudinal members. Each of the first plurality of lateral members can have a first lateral member length, and the plurality of longitudinal members and the first plurality of lateral members can define a first flatwire belt portion. A flight with a set of tabs defining a tab distance can be affixed to the flatwire belt, and the tab distance can be substantially similar to the sum of the lateral member lengths of at least a portion of the first plurality of lateral members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cambridge International, Inc.
    Inventor: George H. Messick, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11440746
    Abstract: A product order fulfillment system including a multi-level transport system and a lifting transport system. Each level of the multi-level transport system having a corresponding independent asynchronous level transport system separate and distinct from the asynchronous level transport system corresponding to each other level of the multi-level transport system. Each independent lift axis of the lifting transport system being configured to independently hold at least one case and being communicably coupled to each asynchronous level transport system so as to provide for exchange of the at least one case between each asynchronous level transport system and each independent lift axis. Each independent lift axis is communicably coupled to each other independent lift axis of the more than one lift axis and forms a common output of mixed cases so as to create an ordered sequence of mixed cases in accordance to a predetermined case out ordered sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Symbolic LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Cohen, Brian Svoboda, Kirill K. Pankratov, Jason Chrisos, Rick Youping-Huang, Juergen D. Conrad, Elizabeth Clark-Polner
  • Patent number: 11440743
    Abstract: A motorized drive roller conveyor includes an upstream zone and a downstream zone, with each zone having a drive roller, an idler roller that is driven by the drive roller, and a sensor. The upstream zone and the downstream zone are controlled by a card, which measures a gap between a first item on the conveyor and a second item on the conveyor by beginning a counter when a trailing edge of the first item passes the sensor of the upstream zone and stopping the counter when a leading edge of the second item passes the sensor of the upstream zone to generate a counter value. If the first item is stopped in the downstream zone, the card of the upstream zone causes the drive roller of the upstream zone to advance the second item into the downstream zone for a distance derived from the counter value before stopping the transportation of the second item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Matthews International Corporation
    Inventors: Darin L. Danelski, Melvin W. Henry
  • Patent number: 11434084
    Abstract: A method and a device for opening a transport bag for loading and/or unloading, wherein the transport bag is conveyed along a conveying path by a conveyor system, in a suspended manner, to a device for opening the transport bag. The transport bag has a front and rear wall and a movable push element, which effects a relative movement of the front and rear wall with respect to one another between a closed bag state and an open bag state. An actively moved push device exerts a pushing force on a first end of the push element of the transport bag and the push element is converted from an idle conformation into a conformation subjected to a pushing force. The front and rear wall are thus moved relative to one another in the direction of an open bag state and the transport bag is opened for loading and/or unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventors: Marcel Ramseier, Erwin Stauber, Martin Keller
  • Patent number: 11427408
    Abstract: Present embodiments relate to a tie plate dispenser which aligns tie plates for dispensing based on rail base rather than outer edges of tie plate. Thus tie plates are aligned and located in a differing manner than prior art systems. Further, the tie plate dispenser includes an opening over which a magnet is disposed to retain a tie plate over the opening. The tie plate over the opening may be selectively released by disengaging the tie plate from the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: B & B METALS, INC.
    Inventor: Coty T. Coots
  • Patent number: 11427410
    Abstract: A conveyor system for grouping containers including a conveyor module configured to convey and meter a stream of containers of various dimensions a first star wheel and a second star wheel configured to move a plurality of first containers along a first travel path, wherein the first containers each have a first geometric center, and wherein the first travel path is defined by the geometric center of the first containers, and a third star wheel and a fourth star wheel configured to move a plurality of second containers along a second travel path, wherein the second containers each have a second geometric center, and wherein the second travel path is defined by the geometric center of the second containers, wherein the first travel path and the second travel path are substantially similar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Bonnain, Frederic Limousin, Fabrice Avril, Amelie Strohm
  • Patent number: 11414276
    Abstract: A drive pulley for a continuous conveyor includes an inner drum and a traction drum disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the inner drum. The traction drum has a thickness in a radial direction relative to the axle that is subject to wear during driving contact between the traction drum and a conveyor belt. At least one sensor is embedded in the traction drum. The at least one sensor has an outer wear surface that coincides with an outer surface of the traction drum. The at least one sensor is configured to wear such that the outer wear surface of the at least one sensor is adapted to wear at a same rate as the outer surface of the traction drum. The at least one sensor is configured to generate a wear signal that is indicative of wear of the traction drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Dodge Industrial, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon W LeRoy, Artur Rdzanek, Isaac P. O'Brien-Herr, Kevin E. Walker
  • Patent number: 11407574
    Abstract: System for transporting objects under controlled atmosphere comprising tubular sections connected together in a leak tight manner by their first ends, each tubular section, each section comprising a guide track for a trolley, each guide track comprising a first and a second end, the first ends of the guide tracks being opposite and separated from each other by a given distance. The transport system also comprises a spanning element rotationally hinged on a first end of the guide tracks around an axis orthogonal to a direction of displacement of said guide track. The spanning element is moveable between a raised position and a spanning position in which the guide tracks are connected enabling the passage of the trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Yoann Cure
  • Patent number: 11396149
    Abstract: A method for producing and/or recycling a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt having at least one belt layer, the at least one belt layer or one of the belt layers including a tension member, the tension member including a matrix material and filaments embedded in the matrix material, includes: providing a tension member starting material by: providing a recyclate, which already contains filaments or filament groups, or combining a recyclate, which already contains filaments or filament groups, with the matrix material and/or filaments, or combining the matrix material with filaments; producing an extrudable state of the tension member starting material by mixing the provided tension member starting material in a mechanically-aided manner and influencing a temperature on the provided tension member starting material; and extruding the tension member, forming the at least one belt layer of the conveyor belt, from the tension member starting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: FORBO SIEGLING GMBH
    Inventors: Lennart Schulz, Torsten Buch
  • Patent number: 11383939
    Abstract: A conveyor conveys a tray along a transportation path including a linear path and a curved path connected to the linear path. The conveyor includes an orientation assist member configured to assist a change of the conveyance orientation of the tray when the tray is conveyed from the linear path to the curved path. The orientation assist member is provided on the linear path on the upstream side of conveyance from a starting position S of the curved path on the transportation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Fujio