Patents Examined by Lester Ill Rushin
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Patent number: 11084662Abstract: A transfer apparatus contains a conveying unit, a sorting unit, which is configured for receiving and sorting articles from the conveying unit, and a transfer unit with a feeding unit. The transfer unit forms a transporting connection between the conveying unit and the sorting unit. A discharging unit is positioned on a portion of the conveying unit and is configured to discharge an article onto the transfer unit only when the article is at a predefined minimum distance from a previously discharged article.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Tim Schiess, Sebastian Hahn, Nikolaus Haselberger, Carsten Aschpurwis
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Patent number: 11066244Abstract: A container sorting system can receive a container on a conveyance surface and convey the container in a conveyance direction. A linear induction motor positioned relative to the conveyance surface (e.g., below) can generate a magnetic field that causes movement of a shoe coupled to the conveyance surface. The shoe can move relative to the conveyance surface and engage the container to change the movement direction of the container. The movement direction of the container can be changed to move the container off of the conveyance surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William Scott Kalm, Kevin W Keck, Thomas Felis, Kevin Senh Ly
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Patent number: 11034521Abstract: An apparatus for transporting objects, preferably containers, which has a transporting device. The transporting device is designed to transport objects. The apparatus also has a railing which is designed to guide the objects transported on the transporting device. The railing has a guide element which is designed to guide the objects. In addition, the railing has a plurality of reinforcing segments which are arranged adjacent to the guide element and are designed to reinforce the guide element.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Heuft Systemtechnik GmbHInventors: Harald Ax, Bernhard Heuft
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Patent number: 11001456Abstract: A conveying system is disclosed. The conveying system may have a first conveying apparatus that conveys a first article to a first location. The conveying system may also have a second conveying apparatus that conveys a second article to a second location. The conveying system may have a frame, a chute connected to the frame, and a third conveying apparatus. The chute may convey the first article received from the first conveying apparatus to a discharge location. The third conveying apparatus, disposed below the chute, may convey the second article received from the second conveying apparatus to the discharge location. The chute may be movable relative to the to the third conveying apparatus, such that the first or second article may be selectively conveyed to the discharge location via the chute or third conveying apparatus, depending on the position of the chute relative to the third conveying apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: FEDEX GROUND PACKAGE SYSTEM, INC.Inventors: John Hughes, Timothy Roney
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Patent number: 10995808Abstract: A PDU for use in an aircraft includes a wheel configured to convey cargo through a portion of the aircraft. The PDU further includes an armature rotatably coupled to the wheel. The PDU further includes a brake pad. The PDU further includes a hold solenoid configured to compress the armature against the brake pad by a brake amount in order to apply a hold braking force to the wheel by resisting rotation of the armature. The PDU further includes a release solenoid configured to apply a force to separate the armature from the brake pad in order to allow the armature to rotate. The PDU further includes a magnet configured to compress the armature against the brake pad by a drag amount that is less than the brake amount in order to apply a drag braking force to the wheel by resisting rotation of the armature.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventors: Wallace Harold Larson, Scott Harms
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Patent number: 10913381Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a vehicle-mounted conveyor system, and more specifically a conveyor system that can be mounted on a short-length, non-CDL truck. The conveyor can convey a wide range of materials, including shingles, shakes (e.g., loose dirt, gravel, and rocks), tiles, underlayment, solar panels, siding, bricks, fasteners, etc. In some embodiments, the conveyor system includes a frame with a four-sided FRP tube, a belt positioned on top of the tube, cleats interconnected to the belt, belt pulleys, a motor, a material backstop, and conveyor positioning features. Conveyor positioning features include a tilting hinge and carriage guide, a conveyor carriage, a telescopic vertical post, and a slewing drive. In some embodiments, the conveyor frame is a fiber-reinforced plastic material.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: Multilift, Inc.Inventors: Job Bacon-Maldonado, III, Robert D. Drost, Chris K. Miller, Kenneth B. Drost, Job Maldonado, Jr., Kenton C. Ensor
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Patent number: 10906742Abstract: Various embodiments described herein generally relate to techniques for conveying articles on a conveyor system of a robotic material handling system in a material handling environment. In accordance with an embodiment, the robotic material handling system includes a front portion and a rearward conveyor. The front portion may be expandable to a first configuration and retractable to a second configuration. On detecting a jam on the front portion, the robotic material handling system may actuate expansion of the front portion to the first configuration, and attempt to dislodge the jammed articles by causing one or more of (i) separating the jammed articles by activating one or more of a plurality of zones of the front portion under the jammed articles, and/or (ii) activating one or more of the plurality of zones under the jammed articles in a reverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLCInventors: Dominic George Clucas, Matthew R. Wicks
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Patent number: 10899087Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic-processing joining system and to a method for operating a plastics-processing joining system. It is known to feed plastics components by means of transport systems for processing purposes to a main material transport means, for example moving film path, in order to produce bags for medical purposes. Individually controlled movable workpiece carriers for the components are provided, or in addition to a work conveyor path for the workpiece carriers, a path for temporary parking is provided for a separate multitude of workpiece carriers.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Inventors: Johann Haas, Thomas Halletz
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Patent number: 10843881Abstract: A bulk loader system is disclosed that may include a conveyor unit in connection with a fuel-powered engine powering a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor may be used to operate the conveyor unit. The system may be configured to function while being mounted on a bed of a truck or be operated as a stand-alone unit. The unit may be sized such that an operator can stand on the deck of the truck along with the unit. The fuel-hydraulic powered motor can enable the conveyor unit to operate at variable speeds. The conveyor unit can be adjustable to facilitate controlling the direction of the material being transported via the conveyor. Some embodiments can include operating the hydraulics of the motor from the Power Take-Off (“PTO”) of the truck. Some embodiments can facilitate operation of the system in a hot or other harsh environment.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Ennis-Flint, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Davies, Kevin Goforth, Douglas D. Dolinar, Bruce W. Gouldey
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Patent number: 10801542Abstract: A drum cover (20a-c) for a drive drum (12) of a corrugated cardboard machine has a textile carrier layer (21), which has a first coating (22) on a first side and a second coating (23) on a second side. The second coating (23) has a glass transition temperature in the range of ?20° C. to 60° C.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: MUHLEN SOHN GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Lars Oliver Zieten
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Patent number: 10800639Abstract: An escalator is described that is designed in an installation space-saving manner and can be operated with low wear. The escalator has a plurality of treads and a guide-rail assembly to guide the treads during a return run. Each tread front intermeshing structure and a rear intermeshing structure that are complementarily configured in such a manner that they can meshably engage into one another in the forward run. The escalator is configured such that at least in a central region of the return run moving at an incline, the intermeshing structures of adjacent treads are meshably arranged with each other. As a result, the dimensions of the escalator can be reduced and adjacent treads can mutually guide each other through the meshing engagement.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Inventio AGInventors: Thomas Novacek, Kurt Streibig
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Patent number: 10800610Abstract: A position-adjustable material conveyer cleat includes apparatus for adjusting cleat position. The cleat includes a mountable base portion rotably joined to a top portion via a pin axle. The pin axle including a torsion spring installed there over with a first tang connected to the base portion, and a second tang connected to the top portion, the connection made under spring tension against the top portion urging it downward into a prone position wherein adjustment is from the prone position to a vertical position. The top portion including a retention pin housing hosting a retention pin, the position adjustment apparatus in the form of mounted pin ramps for adjusting a pair of the cleats mounted to the conveyor belt via forced contact with the retention pins.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Inventors: Darren L De Graw, Robin D Porter, Chad Tyler Porter
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Patent number: 10793352Abstract: A locking device for locking a wheel track (30) of a carton flow bed rack to an end beam (10; 20) of the carton flow bed rack in a mounting position includes a locking plate (50) for connecting the wheel track (30) to the end beam (10; 20) and a cover rail (40) for fixing the locking plate (50) to the wheel track (30). The locking plate (50) has a mounting end (51) configured to engage the end beam (10; 20) in the mounting position. The locking plate (50) further has an elongated protrusion (52) configured to protrude out of the end beam (10; 20) in the mounting position. The cover rail (40) is configured to encase at least partially both the protrusion (52) of the locking plate (50) and an end section of the wheel track (30) in the mounting position.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AGInventor: Jean Michel Laplace
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Patent number: 10773900Abstract: A computer-implemented method for assigning one or more conveyor belts to convey a plurality of items. The computer-implemented method determines an availability of one or more conveyor belts, determines a quantity of a plurality of items to be loaded onto the one or more conveyor belts, and assigns the one or more conveyor belts to convey the plurality of items, based on the determined quantity of the plurality of items to be loaded onto the one or more conveyor belts. The computer-implemented method further tracks a location of each of the plurality of items on the assigned one or more conveyor belts, associates each of the plurality of items with a user, and directs the user to the one or more conveyor belts based on the tracked location of each of the plurality of items associated with the user.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Florian Pinel, Shikhar Kwatra, Russell Patrick Bobbitt
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Patent number: 10773892Abstract: A roller conveyor having a bed of rollers supported by air bearings and driven by a linear-motor stator. The rollers are made of electrically conductive or magnetic material to operate as rotors forming linear motors with the linear stator. Air bearings support the ends of the rollers. Intermediate air bearings support the middle of long rollers in wide conveyors.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventor: Bryant G. Ragan
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Patent number: 10773897Abstract: A typing off-loading and item separation system to automatically separate different parcel types includes an feed conveyor, receiving conveyor, sorting conveyor, cameras and photoelectric eye. Overhead cameras and/or photoelectric sensors detect the item size and whether it is cubic in nature and type and size of its footprint. An in-line slide sorter having alternating conveyor rollers and pop-up belts pass through to, or divert items from a downstream conveyor. A vison based system may also be used to detect space between articles and insert articles in the unoccupied space to maximize conveyor area, volume, or density by controlling conveyor speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Fives Intralogistics CorpInventor: Steven Vann Schroader
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Patent number: 10759608Abstract: A separating apparatus (10) for separating crossed hooks (21a-d) of overhead conveyor units (2a-d) includes a conveying cylinder (1) having a recess (11) which forms a helical thread (12) with helix base (121) and helix flanks (122, 123) for the conveyance of the hooks (21a-d). The conveying cylinder (1) includes at least, one wing-shaped separating element (13), which extends over a partial circumference of the conveying cylinder (1) and protrudes in the radial direction from the peripheral surface of the conveying cylinder (1), wherein the separating element (13), by rotation of the conveying cylinder (1), is insertable between two hooks (21a-d) resting on the conveying cylinder (1).Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: FERAG AGInventor: Roland Tanner
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Patent number: 10752448Abstract: A device for transporting articles through a recirculation system for forming or processing the articles. The device includes a top portion configured to contact an article and a drive nut positioned within a first aperture of the top portion. The device includes a hub portion having a second aperture and a plurality of ejection pins extending through a respective one of a plurality of apertures of the top portion. The device includes a paddle wheel rotatably coupled to the hub portion. The paddle wheel has a first and second plurality of prongs extending radially outward and offset in generally opposing directions. The paddle wheel includes a post projecting radially inward and positioned within a third aperture. The device includes a drive screw extending through the first, second, and third apertures and having a head configured to engage the post and a threaded end is configured to engage the drive nut.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: BELVAC PRODUCTION MACHINERY, INC.Inventors: Randy E. Yoder, Patrick Yerby
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Patent number: 10745203Abstract: An embodiment includes a plurality of transport modules forming a transport path on which a carriage travels and a plurality of control units each provided to corresponding one of the plurality of transport modules and configured to perform position control of the carriage in accordance with a pre-stored drive condition and a control start timing, and one of the plurality of control units which corresponds to a first transport module that is one of the plurality of transport modules corrects the drive condition by using a difference between an entry timing at which the carriage enters the first transport module and the control start timing.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Koji Tomoda, Takeshi Yamamoto, Hidetada Narahara
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Patent number: 10730701Abstract: Spiral conveyors have a drive drum, wherein the drive drum comprises a plurality of drive drum bars connected around an outer perimeter of the drive drum, wherein a drive rod on a drive drum bar is distally located on the outer perimeter of the drive drum, wherein the drive drum bar comprises the drive rod; a face plate; and a support rib, wherein the support rib is connected to the drive rod through standoffs, and the face plate is located between the drive rod and the support rib, and the face plate is separated from the drive rod.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: John Bean Technologies CorporationInventors: Brian P. Westcott, Adam J. Ramsdell, Scott M. Kane, Ryan C. Harrell, John J. Bauer, Robert C. Brod