Patents Examined by Lester Rushin, III
  • Patent number: 11254521
    Abstract: Mover for a transport apparatus in the beverage processing industry, the packaging industry, or the warehouse industry, where the mover can form a linear drive together with a guide rail and a long stator of the transport apparatus, and the mover comprises rolling mechanisms for moving along the guide rail, where the mover comprises a base body and one secondary part or two secondary parts, which, in the case of two secondary parts, are arranged on oppositely disposed sides of the base body and are suitable to interact with an electromagnetic field generated by the transport apparatus to drive the mover along the guide rail characterized in that the mover comprises a device for the continuously variable adjustment of the relative position of a secondary part relative to the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Manfred Kieslinger, Stefan Elsperger
  • Patent number: 11247846
    Abstract: A conveyor controller for being implemented into a conveyor system includes control circuitry and one or more network interfaces for coupling with other conveyor controllers. In one embodiment, the control circuitry configured for detecting whether another conveyor controller is connected and to determine which network interface is used in order to set the direction of the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the control circuitry is configured, to receive configuration data from a conveyor controller connected to a network interface, and to detect if another conveyor controller is and to transmit configuration message to another conveyor controller that includes additional configuration data associated with the conveyor controller. In still another embodiment, the control circuitry transmits configuration data to a replacement conveyor controller upon getting a request from the replacement conveyor controller that has been connected to a network interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Insight Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Combs, James P. Knapke, Dimitar Ivanov Petrov, Timothy A. Barnes, David W. Sellers
  • Patent number: 11247847
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a linear feeding-unit having a first linear section and a transfer device that transfers containers, as a group, from the linear feeding-unit to a clocked processing-machine and an entry device having a main feeding-unit distribution-stars. The first distribution-star receives containers from the main feeding-unit at a first transfer-region and transfers and the second distribution-star receives containers from the main feeding-unit at a second transfer-region. A periphery of the first distribution-star comprises a receiving section that receives containers from the main feeding-unit and an empty section interrupts receiving of the containers. The empty section is devoid of supporting-and-retaining elements. However, the receiving section comprises as many supporting-and-retaining elements as there are containers in the container group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Igor Singur, Thomas Niehr
  • Patent number: 11247851
    Abstract: A star conveyor for containers which includes at least one supporting body which can move rotatably about a rotation axis, and supports peripherally a plurality of gripping devices, which are distributed around its rotation axis and are each adapted to retain a respective container to be conveyed; each one of the gripping devices includes at least one respective pair of gripping arms; at least one gripping arm of such pair of gripping arms includes a main body and at least one adapter element which is detachably attached to the main body and is interchangeable with at least one other adapter element of a different type, in order to vary the configuration of the at least one gripping arm according to the type of container to be conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: P.E. LABELLERS S.P.A.
    Inventors: Nicola Schinelli, Bruno Negri
  • Patent number: 11247850
    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: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Morrison Timing Screw Co.
    Inventors: Nick Lynn Wilson, Mark Burk
  • Patent number: 11225346
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a pneumatic mandrel for a packaging system. In one embodiment, the mandrel includes a pneumatic nozzle proximate to a loading volume in which items are disposed before being packaged. The pneumatic nozzle can contain multiple ports for directing airflow in different directions. The directions at which the ports generate the airflow may be selected to move items that may be stuck or snagged into the loading volume. Stated differently, the mandrel may generate airflows in multiple directions for pushing items towards the loading volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kent Belden Meiswinkel
  • Patent number: 11214448
    Abstract: A conveyor system may include a conveyor belt and a conveyor support structure supporting the belt which includes a support truss structure extending between ends of the conveyor support structure. The system may also include a pair of wheels and an axle assembly configured to rotatably support the wheels on the support truss structure. The axle assembly may include an elongated axle housing with opposite ends each having a said wheel of the pair of wheels rotatably mounted thereon, the axle housing having an interior, and a hub rotatably mounted on each of the ends of the axle housing with each hub having one of the wheels mounted thereon. The system may include a rotation detection assembly for detecting rotation of at least one wheel and being integrated with the axle assembly and at least partially positioned within the interior of the axle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Masaba, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Sudbeck
  • Patent number: 11208274
    Abstract: A conveyor system for conveying electrically conductive articles such as aluminum bottles or cans. The conveyor system comprises a plurality of coils below the top surface of an electromagnetic conveyor at a junction between an infeed conveyor and a discharge conveyor. The coils propagate electromagnetic flux waves that induce currents in the electrically conductive articles that force the articles to follow a conveying path from the infeed to the discharge conveyor. Dead spots on the electromagnetic conveyor can be eliminated by adjusting the coil drive waveforms. And a long electromagnetic conveyor driven by a train of narrow pulses is used to singulate electrically conductive articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Aditya Mehendale, Ewout Peter van der Laan, Funda Sahin-Nomaler, Pieter Aarnout Klop
  • Patent number: 11203493
    Abstract: A system for managing parcel flow includes: an upstream conveyor for receiving and conveying a bulk flow of parcels; and a damming conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the upstream conveyor. The system may also include: a destacking conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the damming conveyor and configured to separate vertically stacked parcels; and a downstream conveyor positioned to receive parcels offloaded from the destacking conveyor. The damming conveyor can be selectively activated and deactivated to offload parcels in discrete batches, instead of a continuous flow. Selective activation and deactivation of the damming conveyor and/or destacking conveyor can be based on instructions communicated from a control subsystem in accordance in a prearranged sequence or based on data from one or more sensors configured to acquire data corresponding to the positioning of parcels within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Material Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Berg, Jon Todd Fuchs, Jeremiah Jason Futter, Paul Receveur
  • Patent number: 11198562
    Abstract: A supply device for feeding of goods to be transported to a conveyor device has at least one conveyor belt (9) that extends around two deflection pulleys (4) of the supply device. The at least one conveyor belt (9) has, on its inner side (21), a guide strip (23) arranged approximately along a feed direction (13), and has a bed (11) for guiding the at least one conveyor belt (9) between the two deflection pulleys (4) by a guide groove (19) for the guide strip (23). The bed (11) has a base table (22) and at least one guiding device (20) attached to the base table (22). The guide groove (19) is formed at least partially by the at least one guiding device (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Siegmund Dudek
  • Patent number: 11186437
    Abstract: A suspension conveyor system for sorting products, having a plurality of conveyor bags for at least one product. The conveyor bags may be moved along a continuous closed conveyor path, wherein the suspension conveyor system comprises conveyor means, configured to move the conveyor bags, at least one loading source, configured to load the conveyor bags with the at least one product, a control unit, configured to control the conveyor means, and at least one first unloading line having a plurality of unloading positions along a first closed conveyor path. At least one further unloading line is arranged having a plurality of unloading positions along at least one further closed conveyor path, wherein the at least two closed conveyor paths are connected to one another via at least two gates, wherein the conveyor bags may be controlled, independently from one another, in regard to the conveyor path using the conveyor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: KNAPP AG
    Inventors: Franz Mathi, Heiko Süss, Doris Elebracht, Thomas Schnadwinkel, Michael Wend
  • Patent number: 11167934
    Abstract: A carousel for transporting articles includes: a body rotated by a motor around a main axis, a stationary cam around the main axis and a plurality of transfer units mounted on the body to rotate around the main axis. Each unit includes a transfer element having a radially external portion to retain or release an article. The element is pivoted on the body around an auxiliary axis radial to the main axis and is coupled to the body to move along the auxiliary axis. The element is coupled to the stationary cam to rotate around the auxiliary axis. A pair of auxiliary cams is coupled to the element and integral with the body and auxiliary cam-followers are interposed between the element and the auxiliary cam to move on the auxiliary cams during rotation of the element around the auxiliary axis and move the element along the auxiliary axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: M.D. VIOLA MACHINE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Davide Viola, Marco Viola, Andrea Viola
  • Patent number: 11155423
    Abstract: The application discloses a beverage bottle holding and transport device for holding and transporting beverage bottles and similar containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Fahldieck, Nils Schug
  • Patent number: 11148887
    Abstract: A conveying and sorting apparatus has a plurality of tilting conveyor units in a row in a conveying direction, and reflective photoelectric sensors. The tilting conveyor units are supported above a frame so as to be able to swing to the left and right about a support shaft which is parallel with the conveying direction, between a horizontal conveying orientation and a tilted orientation for ejecting the object being conveyed, by means of gravity, in the lateral direction with respect to the conveying direction. The reflecting photoelectric sensors detect objects being conveyed which pass between the tilting conveyor units by means of light beams which pass, in the vertical direction, between tilting conveyor units which adjoin one another in the conveying direction. The reflecting photoelectric sensors are attached to a support member which surrounds the periphery of the support shaft and which is supported by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Fujio
  • Patent number: 11148889
    Abstract: A singularizing unloader for unloading and singularizing packages provided in a container, having a pivoting installation for pivoting the container from a vertical receiving alignment for receiving the container to a horizontal emptying alignment for emptying the container, and having a holding installation for holding the container on the pivoting installation during the pivoting of the pivoting installation. A belt conveyor device for conveying the packages is connected to the pivoting installation in such a manner that the belt conveyor device by the pivoting of the pivoting installation from the receiving alignment to the emptying alignment is adjustable from a predominantly vertical initial position to a predominantly horizontal unloading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
    Inventor: Bernd Hartmann
  • Patent number: 11136200
    Abstract: Techniques regarding a conveyance system with variable speed rollers are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise an apparatus, which can comprise a roller attached to a support member that is operatively coupled to a first gear. The first gear can drive a conveyance of the support member and the roller in a first direction. The apparatus can also comprise a shaft that can operatively couple the roller to a second gear. The second gear can drive a rotation of the roller in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: THERMAL PRODUCT SOLUTIONS
    Inventor: Barry J. Opdahl
  • Patent number: 11136726
    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: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: B & B METALS, INC.
    Inventor: Coty T. Coots
  • Patent number: 11136198
    Abstract: A device for examining a conveyor system having one or more motorized rollers comprises a measuring unit for determining a current profile of the motorized roller, wherein the measuring unit has a first interface and a second interface which are adapted to switch the measuring unit in the conveyor system between the motorized roller and a control unit controlling the motorized roller. A third interface is provided for receiving data on an operating situation present during the determination of the current profile. An evaluation unit is adapted to compare the determined current profile of the motorized roller with a reference profile which is characteristic for the operating situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hampe, Herbert Henze, Michael Margowski
  • Patent number: 11117750
    Abstract: A transport device for transporting containers having a first transport section configured to convey containers in and a second transport section configured to convey containers out. The transport device includes a transfer device having a rotary cylinder, a clamping belt and a compensation device. The clamping belt can be adjusted in the area of the transfer device. The rotary cylinder and/or the clamping belt are configured to be drivable. The rotary cylinder and the clamping belt are configured to hold the containers between the rotary cylinder and the clamping belt and to transfer them from the first transport section to the second transport section. The rotary cylinder has one or more container support rings and at least one belt support element, wherein the belt support element is arranged such that the clamping belt abuts against it when there are no containers on the transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Heuft Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Heuft, Olga Kasdorf
  • Patent number: 11117747
    Abstract: The invention relates to a feed unit for a processing plant, in particular for a crushing or screening station, having a feed chute which has a chute beam (90), wherein the chute beam (90) has a bottom (92), wherein the bottom (92) extends in the conveying direction (V) of the feed chute, wherein at least one beam (130) extending in the conveying direction (V) is arranged in the area of the underside of the bottom (92) and supports the bottom (92), wherein furthermore a bracket (140) is provided, which supports at least one vibration exciter (150), and wherein the bracket (140) is connected to the beam (130).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Reiner Köpf, Christian Knoblich, Wolfgang Schmid