Patents Examined by Lester Ill Rushin
  • Patent number: 12134526
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein provide for an improved accumulation conveyor and systems and methods for controlling a high rate, high density tunable accumulation conveyor. In one embodiment, an accumulation conveyor system determines whether an item detection variable associated with a second zone of a plurality of zones is satisfied, wherein the second zone is downstream of a first zone. The accumulation conveyor system determines whether at least one of two operational characteristic variables is satisfied. In an instance where both the item detection variable and at least one operational characteristic variable are satisfied, the accumulation conveyor system is configured to set a zone operating state associated with the first zone to inactive and send a command signal comprising the zone operating state associated with the first zone to a control module associated with the first zone. In another embodiment, an improved method for adjusting aggressiveness is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventors: Jason-David Nitzberg, Jason A. Johnson, Raymond Neiser
  • Patent number: 12110185
    Abstract: A roller-type conveying device for fruit and vegetable sorting includes a chain assembly and a conveying unit. Fruits and vegetables are placed on the conveying unit. The chain assembly includes a drive chain and a chain support bar, and the drive chain is arranged on the chain support bar. A conveying unit is arranged along a drive chain. The conveying unit includes outer rollers, a roller frame, pin shafts, rubber bushings, a roller shaft, and a support base. The two outer rollers are fixed coaxially on the two ends of the roller shaft. The roller shaft is equipped with the rubber bushing. The roller shaft is movably fitted into a special-shaped hole slot on the top of the roller frame. The roller shaft is arranged axially perpendicular to the transmission direction of the drive chain. The support base is mounted on the drive chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY, Zhejiang Kepler Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huirong Xu, Shuai Wang, Yibin Ying
  • Patent number: 12091260
    Abstract: A conveying device has an accumulation area for accumulating objects, and an operating method operates the conveying device. Using a measuring device, the object rear edge of a first object and the object front edge of a second object which follows the first object are detected. The position of the objects is determined using rotation signals from the drives of conveyor elements. For the second object, a continuous curve of a speed reduction of a target speed is calculated, wherein the calculated stop position of the object front edge of the second object is located at the position of the object rear edge of the stopped first object, or between the object front edge of the stopped first object and the object rear edge of the stopped first object. Subsequently, the second object is moved and stopped using the conveyor elements on the basis of the calculated speed reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: TGW Mechanics GmbH
    Inventors: Manuel Schoenbauer, Florian Georg Karer, Richard Grimminger, Simon Kaltseis, Martin Rausch
  • Patent number: 11987450
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a communication unit configured to acquire drawing data in which a plurality of reference positions is set on a transportation path constituted of a transportation device and measured data which is obtained as a result of transportation on the transportation path and which includes a shape of the transportation path. The information processing device further includes a processing unit configured to detect reference positions in the measured data, superimpose the reference positions in the drawing data and the reference positions in the measured data corresponding to the reference positions in the drawing data onto each other, and correct a path between the reference positions in the measured data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: LoPAS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tokuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 11970337
    Abstract: A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Casper Fedde Talsma, David W. Bogle
  • Patent number: 11897697
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems comprising integrated motorized conveyor rollers are provided. The example integrated motorized conveyor roller comprises: a housing; a motor assembly and a drive assembly at least partially disposed within the housing that are configured to cause rotation of at least a portion of the integrated motorized conveyor roller; at least one sensing element operatively coupled to the integrated motorized conveyor roller; and a controller component in electronic communication with the at least one sensing element, the motor assembly and the drive assembly, wherein the controller component is configured to obtain operational data via the at least one sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventors: Saravanan Sadasivan, Jeyaprakash Kandasamy, Rajesh Kaliyaperumal, Ravi Kumar Avupati
  • Patent number: 11885075
    Abstract: Present embodiments relate to a tie plate orientation device. More specifically, but without limitation present embodiments relate to a tie plate orientation device that orients tie plates in a desired orientation for subsequent feeding, including an optional handheld magnetic device for manual assisted manipulation of the tie plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: B & B Metals, Inc.
    Inventor: Coty T. Coots
  • Patent number: 11878877
    Abstract: Provided are a material conveying device and a material processing apparatus. The material conveying device includes a frame and a plurality of conveying mechanisms sequentially arranged in a conveying direction of a material. An output end of each of the plurality of conveying mechanisms is connected to an input end of an adjacent conveying mechanism. Each of the plurality of conveying mechanisms includes a plurality of rollers each rotatably connected to the frame, and a driver in a transmission connection with one of the plurality of rollers to drive the one of the plurality of first rollers to rotate. Each conveying mechanism is driven by a separate driver. A speed of the material on different conveying mechanisms can be controlled by adjusting a direction and a magnitude of torque outputted by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: XIAMEN HITHIUM ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11814248
    Abstract: Method, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamically detecting an item within a conveyor zone are disclosed herein. An example method may comprise: accessing a load condition data object, wherein the load condition data object is indicative of a force exerted on at least one conveyor zone, processing the load condition data object using a weight condition detection model to generate a weight condition indication associated with the at least one conveyor zone, and causing one or more prediction-based actions to be performed based at least in part on the weight condition indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Senthil Ramesh, Kalirajan Chelliah, Murugavel Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 11767174
    Abstract: A contactless monitoring system detects operating performance of movers in an independent cart system. A contactless sensor is provided on an actuator to automatically track a mover as it travels along the track. The sensor includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal and a receiver configured to receive the signal after it is reflected off the mover. The actuator may be configured to mover the sensor in a single axis or in multiple axes of motion. As a mover travels along the track, the sensor transmits a signal towards the mover and detects the signal after it has been reflected off the mover. A controller may synchronize motion of the actuator with motion of the mover, such that the sensor may continually transmit the signal off the mover for at least a portion of the travel by the mover along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jadav Das, Robert H. Schmidt, Yuhong Huang
  • Patent number: 11760568
    Abstract: A modular automatic warehouse comprising at least one module having a parallelepiped shape delimited by respective vertical uprights is provided. The module comprises a first and a second element, each element comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal seats or guides defined by structural flanks for the introduction and/or extraction of a respective plurality of shelves or drawers adapted to contain articles to be stored. The first and second elements being opposite to each other and separated by a compartment inside which at least one lift operates. The lift is able to translate from a lowered position to a raised position in order to move to a location of the drawers. The warehouse may further comprise a means for translating at least one at a time of the drawers towards further similar adjacent modules in turn provided with a means for translating the drawers to be displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: AMBROSI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Thomas Ambrosi
  • Patent number: 11721158
    Abstract: A system for dispensing an item from a dispensing apparatus is disclosed. The system is attached to a dispensing apparatus lower portion of the dispensing apparatus. The system includes a plate and a flap movably attached to the plate. The flap has a flap open position and a flap closed position. As stop extends outward from a flap first surface of a flap lower portion. A movable arm is in attachment with the flap and moves the flap between the flap open position and the flap closed position. A heating element at least proximate to the flap. An opening on the flap extends between the flap first surface and a flap second surface. A rod is substantially vertically arranged and in attachment with the plate and configured such that the rod passes through the opening when the flap moves between the flap open position and the flap closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Braido, Audley Wilson, Christopher Carbonaro, Justin Dawber, Theodore Halbach
  • Patent number: 11639276
    Abstract: Transfer star-wheel (1) for containers (100) of thermoplastic material, comprising: a rotary carousel (2) bearing a plurality of supporting stations (S) for supporting containers (100) by their neck (100b), in each supporting station (S) being provided a pliers (3) hinged to the rotary carousel (2) at a hinge axis (AA) in such a way that it assumes at least a first configuration in which the pliers (3) is fixed, that means it cannot rotate about its hinge axis (AA), and a second configuration in which the pliers (3) can oscillate about its hinge axis (AA); a cam kinematic motion that is operatively active on each pliers (3) for maintaining it in the first configuration, characterized in that it comprises a reactivating device (8) for each pliers (3), that comprises elastic means (9, 10) operatively active on the pliers (3) to bring it from the second to the first configuration following an accidental event that deactivated the pliers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: GEA PROCOMAC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Vittorio Bellini, Davide Coloretti
  • Patent number: 11572660
    Abstract: Present embodiments relate to a tie plate orientation device. More specifically, but without limitation present embodiments relate to a tie plate orientation device that orients tie plates in a desired orientation for subsequent feeding, including an optional handheld magnetic device for manual assisted manipulation of the tie plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: B&B Metals, Inc.
    Inventor: Coty T. Coots
  • Patent number: 11554918
    Abstract: A carrier belt for loading materials includes a carrier body, a protective film on a mounting surface of the carrier body, and at least one dividing strip sandwiched between the protective film and the carrier body, thereby spacing protective film from the carrier body to form a gap. The mounting surface comprises a plurality of loading areas to carry the materials and at least one non-loading area. The at least one dividing strip is arranged on the on the non-loading area, a height of the gap is greater than a thickness of each of the materials. A carrier roll is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Yi-Bo Lv
  • Patent number: 11511946
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transferring products to or from a collecting surface within a line for the continuous processing of said products, wherein a first transit zone is fed longitudinally with products by an entry conveyor; a second transit zone supplies products longitudinally to an exit conveyor; at least one column of products is transferred, by being pushed transversely, via a transfer tool provided with members disposed on either side of each column; wherein, at the moment of transfer, each column is gripped by said members being moved toward one another, a first member being fixed, while a second member is mounted in a movable manner. The invention also relates to a transfer device for implementing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SIDEL ENGINEERING & CONVERING SOLUTIONS
    Inventors: Anthony Gehin, Julien Berger, Raphaƫl Henninger
  • Patent number: 11472638
    Abstract: A conveyance apparatus includes a mover, a stator, and a control unit. The mover moves along a first direction. The stator includes a plurality of first sensors arranged along the first direction. Each of the plurality of first sensors can detect position information about the mover. The control unit corrects the position information about the mover and controls a position and/or orientation of the mover based on at least one of a relative position between at least one of the plurality of first sensors and the mover. The relative position is obtained by (a) detection values of the plurality of first sensors and/or (b) detection times in which the plurality of first sensors each detect the position information about the mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuma Hashizume, Kosuke Katsuura
  • Patent number: 11420828
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for systems and methods for item singulation in a conveyor belt system. The singulation system may include one or more conveyor belts, one or more piston arrays disposed below the one or more conveyor belts, one or more cameras for generating image data of the conveyor belt, and a computing device for processing the image data and controlling the piston array. The singulation system may selectively actuate pistons of the piston array to achieve singulation of the items (e.g., packages) on the conveyor belt to ensure such items are separated by a certain distance. Multiple conveyor belts in series and with increasing velocities may be employed to increase separation between items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Andrea Cerra, Jaume Nart Baron, Stefano La Rovere, Cesare Stefanini, Francesco Inglese, Michael Tannous, Gaspare Santaera, Godfried Jansen van Vuuren, Marco Miraglia
  • Patent number: 11407594
    Abstract: In a method for tracking packages on a conveyor section, the tracking rate of packages is intended to be maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Ingo Tzschichholtz
  • Patent number: 11292670
    Abstract: A loading device for an automated guided vehicle, and a control method and system for the same are provided. The loading device can include a loading transport station and a control assembly. The loading transport platform can include a cargo support platform and a driver configured to drive the cargo support platform to run. The cargo support platform can be provided with a cargo entrance and a cargo exit, the cargo support platform can be configured to convey a cargo from the cargo entrance to the cargo exit, and the cargo exit can be disposed over a running passage of the vehicle. The control assembly can be connected to the driver, and the control assembly can be configured to control the driver to drive the cargo support platform to run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HANGZHOU HIKROBOT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chou Zhou, Yonghai Wu, Huixin Xu, Xiaochen Quan