Patents Examined by Lester Ill Rushin
  • Patent number: 10689195
    Abstract: A system of buffer storage and sequencing of loads is configured to receive non-sequenced loads coming from at least one external unit and to provide sequenced loads to at least one preparing station. The system includes: a reciprocating lift having a single nacelle with K levels each enabling transportation of at least one load with K?2; at least one buffer storage unit; and a managing unit configured to organize first movements of loads from at least one inbound forward conveyor to the at least one buffer storage unit through the reciprocating lift, and second movements of loads from the at least one buffer storage unit to at least one outbound forward conveyor through the reciprocating lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SAVOYE
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Collin, Stephane Pietrowicz
  • Patent number: 10689232
    Abstract: The application relates to a floor covering of an escalator or moving walkway. The floor covering has a floor covering support, a first covering element and at least one adjoining covering element. At least one device which predetermines a single-possible, correct installation position of the covering elements on the floor covering support is arranged between at least the first covering element and the adjoining covering element, wherein, in the correct installation position, the first covering element and the adjoining covering element are arranged to be flush with the floor covering support and, in an incorrect installation position, at least part of the adjoining covering element is arranged in a visibly protruding manner on the floor covering support due to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Alexander Pfeiler, Gerhard Kleewein, Manfred Gartner, Georg Wagenleitner
  • Patent number: 10689208
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for conveying glass panels contains a conveying device including a feed conveyor and a removal conveyor, and also a region with a processing station. A lifting device for glass panels is provided upstream of the processing station and a lowering device for glass panels is provided downstream of the processing station, wherein a linear-conveying device is provided between the lifting device and the lowering device. It is thus possible for glass panels to be moved, by raising action, linear movement and lowering action, around a first component located in the region in the processing station, the second component therefore passing the first component. During the passing operation, the second component always remains in the conveying plane, which is the same as the plane of the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: LISEC AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Leopold Mader, Werner Holzknecht
  • Patent number: 10669050
    Abstract: A transport and feed unit for preforms, in particular for PET bottles, in which the transport and feed unit can be charged with preforms at its upstream end and supplies the preforms to a conveyor unit arranged at the downstream end of the transport and feed unit. The transport and feed unit has a first conveyor and a second conveyor, in which at the downstream end of the first conveyor a funnel-like device is provided through which the preforms reach the second conveyor which supplies the preforms to the conveyor unit arranged at its downstream end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: M. TANNER AG
    Inventor: Marcel Tanner
  • Patent number: 10661994
    Abstract: A transfer conveyor for food process lines is equipped with hardware to enable pivoting in place and other hardware to enable and reversible expansion and contraction of the transfer conveyor, or at least the upper, food-product carrying run of the endless conveyor belt therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventors: Robert G. Nothum, Jr., Ryan Doyle Nothum
  • Patent number: 10647523
    Abstract: A transport pocket for the suspended transport of a transport item along a conveying direction via a suspended conveying device includes a pocket rear wall and a pouch wall that, together with the pocket rear wall, form a receiving compartment for the transport item. The receiving compartment forms a receiving opening for the transport item and is designed to assume an open position and a space-saving compact position. A fastener connects the transport pocket to a conveying member of the suspended conveying device. A cam element, which can interact with an activation device of the suspended conveying device, which is designed as a cam guide, and via which cam guide the receiving compartment can be moved into the open position or be held in this. The at least one cam element is arranged on the pouch wall of the transport pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Sergio Sigrist
  • Patent number: 10633196
    Abstract: A divider system for diverting objects from an infeed lane into one or more discharge lanes includes a dividing screw set, a discharge screw set, and a diverting mechanism. The dividing screw set conveys a sequence of objects to an output end of the screw set where the objects are divided by rotation of the dividing screw set and outputted alternately to first and second discharge screws of the discharge screw set to form a first series of objects conveyed by the first discharge screw and a second series of objects conveyed by the second discharge screw. The divider system includes a diverting mechanism which can be selectively actuated to divert objects from one discharge screw to the other discharge screw to form a diverted group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Morrison Timing Screw Co.
    Inventors: Nick Lynn Wilson, Mark Burk
  • Patent number: 10625943
    Abstract: A composite belt may include a profile, and a belt. The profile may have a strip, and nodules. The profile may be attached to the belt such that each nodule extends out from the belt. The composite belt may be included in a cooking apparatus that may also include a housing, a heat source, and a drive roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy P. Pollock
  • Patent number: 10604355
    Abstract: Flight and indexing assemblies for automated packaging systems provide better product spacing for faster and more reliable automation. In an example, a plurality of flights may include a plate- or sheet-like body with a perpendicular flange extending from an upper portion of the flight. Two adjacent flanges contain a pouch or other product to be packaged in a case. A flange constrains an upper portion of each pouch to a confined and predetermined area, thereby aiding grippers of an end-of-arm tool to grasp the pouches. A flight and product indexing assembly is configured to control spacing between adjacent flights, and to position pouches constrained between adjacent flights, so that flights position product at predetermined locations for gripping by the end-of-arm tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Pearson Packaging Systems
    Inventors: Michael James Johnson, Steven Joseph Allard, David John Nelson
  • Patent number: 10569964
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for shutting down a conveyor when an article moves past a discharge point are provided. A shutdown device includes a contact member disposed in a spaced relationship with a discharge end of a conveyor comprising a conveyor belt, wherein the contact member extends substantially across a width of the conveyor belt, wherein the contact member is positionable between a first position and a second position, a force regulator coupled to the contact member configured to set a minimum threshold force for moving the contact member from the first position to the second position, and a switch operably connected to the contact member, wherein the contact member causes the switch to toggle the conveyor between an operating mode when the contact member is in the first position and a shutdown mode when the contact member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Peters, Sr., Randy A. Davis, Richard Neal Jones, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10562709
    Abstract: A conveyor belt for conveying articles along a conveyor path comprises a plurality of slat members disposed parallel to each other and disposed transversely with respect to the conveyor path, wherein leading and trailing edge portions of the slat members are angled downwardly with respect to the conveying surface upon which articles being conveyed are supported so as to prevent edge portions of the articles being conveyed from being interposed between the leading and trailing edge portions of the slat members so as not to be pinched by adjacent ones of the leading and trailing edge portions of adjacent slat members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: A. J. Antunes & Co.
    Inventors: Jignesh Patel, Chad Elliott, Joe Carone
  • Patent number: 10549918
    Abstract: The invention relates to a trough conveyor, which is designed and configured for transporting fish transversely to the longitudinal extent thereof in the transport direction TM, comprising a transport chain which can be rotationally driven and is formed from chain links and has a transport run, which defines the transport plane E1, and a return run, wherein the continuous transport chain is guided about at least two deflection elements, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation Du, for driving and guiding the transport chain, and the transport chain has arranged thereon troughs each intended to receive one fish, which trough conveyor is distinguished in that each trough is arranged on the transport chain so as to be pivotable about an axis of rotation DM extending transversely to the transport direction TM and comprises at least one guide body, and in that at least one guide rail for receiving the guide body and for guiding the same is arranged at least in the transition region Ü from the transport run t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Nordischer Maschinenbau Rud. Baader GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfhard Kowalski
  • Patent number: 10501265
    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: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Casper Fedde Talsma, David W. Bogle
  • Patent number: 10494184
    Abstract: An appliance for charging transport pockets with a transport item includes a feed device that feeds the transport item into a transfer zone and a suspended conveying device with a plurality of transport pockets that are arranged one after the other for taking over the transport item in the transfer zone and conveying away the charged transport pockets. The transport pockets each form a receiving compartment for the transport item, and are connected to a conveying member of the suspended conveying device. The transport pockets are moved through the transfer zone in a lying formation in a transfer conveying direction, and the transport item, by way of the feed device, is conveyed into the transfer zone essentially in the transfer conveying direction of the transport pockets, and in a delivery region is delivered from above onto the transport pockets which are moved through the transfer zone below the feed device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Sergio Sigrist
  • Patent number: 10494196
    Abstract: In a method for opening a transport pocket (15), which is moved in a conveying direction (BR) along a running rail (11) extending in the conveying direction (BR) for the conveying of goods suspended on a carriage (12), simple and precise loading and/or unloading of the transport pocket (15) is enabled by the fact that the carriage (12) with the transport pocket (15) suspended thereon is stopped in its forward movement at a predetermined point of the running rail (11) in order to open the transport pocket (15), and that the transport pocket (15) of the carriage (12) is opened for loading and/or unloading of conveyed goods to be transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Roberto Fenile
  • Patent number: 10494191
    Abstract: A draper belt includes a carcass (7), a plurality of cleats (1) extending from the carcass (7), a plurality of v-guides (4) disposed perpendicular to the plurality of cleats, and at least one sensor for measuring and relaying information regarding key measurable properties about the draper belt. The key measurable properties may be relayed to an operator, a control system, or combination thereof. In some cases, the sensors measure and relay potentially damaging condition(s) of the draper belt. In some aspects, the sensors measure and relay in real time so one or more properties of the draper belt is ascertainable in situ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ContiTech Transportbandsysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Jeff Happe
  • Patent number: 10479615
    Abstract: An infeed apparatus includes an item manipulator that orients items such as cases in a desired orientation as determined by a build menu, and a row build apparatus that is synchronized with the manipulator to space items pursuant to the build menu. The manipulator uses a pusher to push items across a friction belt to thereby orient the items, and includes sensors for determining when an item is in an incorrect orientation. The row build receives items from the pusher and is selectively advanced to locate items in a desired relative orientation so that rows of items are built correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Top Tier, LLC
    Inventors: Cary Michael Pierson, Stephen L. Heston
  • Patent number: 10479616
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting at least one product (12a; 12b), with at least one guide unit (14a; 14b), with at least one conveyor unit (16a; 16b), which has at least one continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) mounted movably relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), which comprises at least one movably mounted conveyor element (20a; 20b), and at least one further movably mounted conveyor element (22a; 22b), which are connected to each other to form the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) and are at least jointly movable relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), and with at least one conveyor drive unit (24a; 24b) for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) relative to the guide unit (14a; 14b), in particular for driving the continuous conveyor unit (18a; 18b) in rotation about the guide unit (14a; 14b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Wipf, Philipp Kathan
  • Patent number: 10476244
    Abstract: A cable processing device includes a cable conveying device running along a machine longitudinal axis transporting a cable, and a cable changer selectively supplying cables for processing. The cable changer has two guide units for guiding and holding one cable each and being movable between inoperative and active positions. In the inoperative position, the guide unit is positioned outside the cable conveying device spaced from the machine axis. In the active position, the guide unit is positioned coaxially with the machine axis producing an operative connection to the cable conveying device. The guide units are movable independently of each other. When one of the guide units is moved from the inoperative position into the active position, the other guide unit remains positionally fixed in the inoperative position. When the guide units are both in their inoperative positions, they are positioned lying next to each other on a common horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: KOMAX HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Flavio Blum, Beat Wicki
  • Patent number: 10464755
    Abstract: A noseroller assembly for transitioning a conveyor belt at an end of a carryway comprises offset bearings for guiding a conveyor belt. A first set of bearings protrudes slightly from the end of the noseroller substrate to guide the conveyor belt around the noseroller and a second set of bearings in recessed from the end of the noseroller substrate to prevent wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser