Patents Examined by Mark A. Deuble
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Patent number: 11235940Abstract: A mail processing system utilizes a conveyor to shingle or de-shingle mailpieces as they move through the processing system and utilizes belts to move the mailpieces. A first shingling conveyor moves a first mailpiece to overlap with a second mailpiece to create shingled mailpieces. A second shingling conveyor moves a first mailpiece away from a second mailpiece to de-shingle them to create singulated mailpieces. A camera takes images of the mailpieces in the conveyor and image analysis software is used to determine dimensional aspects of the mailpieces that are used to control the belt speeds to move mailpieces with respect to each other. A mail processing system may include a mail processing station that scans addresses, applies postage and/or weighs the mailpieces. Mail may be de-shingled prior to being weighed and then re-shingled for subsequent processing, or mail may be shingled prior to passing through a scale if weighing is not necessary.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: TRITEK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: James Malatesta
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Patent number: 11229985Abstract: A device is adapted to be coupled to a conveyor system and recondition at least one chain of the conveyor system. The device includes a base and at least one attachment element coupled to the base. The attachment element is adapted to detachably couple the device to the conveyor system. At least one reconditioning element is coupled to the base, and the reconditioning element is adapted to engage and recondition the chain as the chain moves relative to the reconditioning element. At least one biasing element is coupled to the reconditioning element, and the biasing element urges the reconditioning element away from the base and into engagement with the chain.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: DFA Dairy Brands IP, LLCInventor: Larry Sewell
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Patent number: 11225347Abstract: A method for formatting food products on a conveyor device includes a) receiving the food products in a plurality of parallel conveyor tracks, some of which include product gaps; b) outputting the food products into the parallel conveyor tracks in a specific product format; c) detecting the product supply in the conveyor tracks incoming on the input side individually for each of the conveyor tracks; and d) filling the product gaps in the conveyor tracks with food products, so that on the output side all of the parallel conveyor tracks are supplied with the food products. The product gaps are also filled with food products from a product buffer in that at least one of the food products is transferred from the product buffer to the conveyor track only when an odd number of product gaps exist in one of the conveyor tracks.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Provisur Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Jürgen Bialy
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Patent number: 11214447Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor belt arrangement of a material processing device having a conveyor belt (20) and a receiving and adjustment mechanism for adjusting the conveyor belt between a transport position and a working position. To this end, the conveyor belt is mounted on bearing elements (40, 60), which are rotatably connected to receiving elements (30, 50) of the receiving and adjusting mechanism. According to the invention, the receiving elements are each coupled to a pivot bearing each having a pivot axis (30.1, 50.1) for the pivotable attachment to the material processing device, and at least one bearing element is connected to the conveyor belt in a linearly adjustable manner, and/or between the conveyor belt and the pivot bearing of at least one receiving element, a compensating mechanism is provided, by means of which a spacing change between the bearing elements can be compensated for.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2017Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Inventors: Frank Lebender, Tobias Geywitz, Reiner Köpf
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Patent number: 11213858Abstract: A system for processing fruit or vegetable products of the type of blueberries and the like, includes a first unit, in its turn having in series at least one loading station, at least one pre-sizing station, at least one pre-selection station and at least one first alignment station. The system further includes a second unit, in its turn having in series at least one second alignment station, at least one optical sizing station and at least one distribution station. Each of the first unit and the second unit has dimensions and space occupation compatible with its accommodation and transport in a single container.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.Inventor: Luca Benedetti
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Patent number: 11213876Abstract: An upstream-side guidance part 400 is provided with plural upstream-side guidance members 410 guiding disc-shaped members 300. A downstream-side guidance part 500 is provided with plural downstream-side guidance members 510 guiding the disc-shaped members 300. The positions of the upstream-side guidance members 410 in the circumferential direction of the disc-shaped member 300 are different from the positions of the downstream-side guidance members 510 in the circumferential direction of the disc-shaped member 300, and at least one of the upstream-side guidance part 400 and the downstream-side guidance part 500 is able to move forward and backward with respect to the other.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: SHOWA ALUMINUM CAN CORPORATIONInventor: Katsunori Abe
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Patent number: 11192725Abstract: For washed laundry items, such as flat laundry items, that have been separated into singles, spread out and fed to a mangle or the like, for automating these processes a method and device for pulling the singles onto a belt conveyor with a front transverse edge region transversely to the feed direction. Using a guide means in front of the belt conveyor, a front transverse edge of the laundry item is aligned at right angles to the feed direction when being pulled. Once pulled on, the laundry item is centered with respect to the track center of the following transfer conveyor by the belt conveyor. From the belt conveyor the laundry item is placed on a following transfer conveyor where the front transverse edge of the laundry item is aligned at right angles to the feed direction and a sagging of the transverse edge of the laundry item is eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbHInventors: Wilhelm Bringewatt, Jürgen Sielermann, Engelbert Heinz
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Patent number: 11186448Abstract: In one aspect, a transfer guard member having a body for being positioned in a gap intermediate conveying surfaces, an upper portion of the body for spanning the gap and outer portions of the upper body for slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces, and a pair of spaced, resilient legs having distal end portions for resiliently and slidingly engaging the conveying surfaces. In another aspect, a transfer guard member having a body and at least one attachment member of the body configured for being detachably fixed to a mounting bar. The body has at least one recess adjacent the attachment member for receiving at least one attachment member of another transfer guard member fixed to the mounting bar so that upper transfer surfaces of the attachment members are adjacent one another.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Flexible Steel Lacing CompanyInventor: Mark Steven Pettinga
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Patent number: 11186442Abstract: The invention relates to a head-type device for continuous cleaning and sanitization in conveyor belts, mainly flat sanitary conveyor belts. The head-type device comprises a profile extruded as a single piece that defines the length of the cleaning area and comprises a W-shaped cross section, containing, longitudinally, a plurality of polymer scrapers, a pair of polymer seals being disposed on the left and right ends of said W-shaped extended profile, wherein said pair of seals is also protected and sealed by a pair of polymer caps that limit the length of the extended profile.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: CLEVOT, S.A. DE C.V.Inventors: Juan de Dios Vidrio Borrego, Jorge Luis Gudiño Casillas, Aldo Sainz Hernandez
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Patent number: 11187001Abstract: A portable multi-sectioned boom concrete conveyor assembly includes a main conveyor boom section and a distal conveyor boom section. The distal conveyor boom section is hinged, relative to the main conveyor boom section, so that the distal conveyor boom section can be adjusted in order to provide concrete to a desired location.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2021Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Inventor: Walter Bynum
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Patent number: 11186446Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, an accumulation module for a product delivery system includes an input shaft configured to receive an external drive force. A transfer shaft reverses an operation of the external drive force to define a reversing drive force. An output shaft receives the reversing drive force. An accumulation belt is operated by the reversing drive force. The accumulation belt operates in opposition to the external drive force.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Integrated Packaging Machinery, LLCInventors: Gavin Patrick McDonald, Johnathan David Burkhard, Kyle Jason Bohmier, Anthony Kammeraad
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Patent number: 11186439Abstract: The invention relates to a transport conveyor curve including a multitude of parallel curved tracks, wherein the separate parallel tracks are driven by a conical drive, wherein the contact angle of each of the individual tracks with the conical drive is substantially equal in comparison to the contact angle of the other individual tracks.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: JONGE POERINK CONVEYORS B.V.Inventor: Egbert Gerrit Hoff
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Patent number: 11180320Abstract: This invention refers to an enclosed conveyor (10) of bulk material (100) comprising an enclosure (20) and provided within said enclosure (20) with a conveyor belt (30) arranged over a set of rollers (40). More particularly, the invention relates to an enclosure (20) capable of improving the manufacturing process of the enclosed conveyor (10). The enclosed conveyor (10) comprises an enclosure (20) formed by a first side wall (21) and a second side wall (22) arranged over a bottom plate (23) and provided with a cover (24) disposed over said side walls (21, 22). The enclosed conveyor (10) comprises at least one set of rollers (40) comprising a first inclined roller (41) mounted on the first side wall (21) and a second inclined roller (42) mounted on the second side wall (22), and a conveyor belt (30) arranged over the set of rollers (40).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: TMSA—Tecnologia em Movimentaçâo S.A.Inventor: Irani Antonio Sandi
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Patent number: 11174108Abstract: A transfer module for a universal sorting conveyor has a ball belt looped around two pulley assemblies mounted to a frame and driven in a machine direction. Two bi-directional cross-belt assemblies are mounted to the frame to provide two smooth surfaced belts each supported on a roller bed. The belts extend beneath and engage the ball belt to advance a conveyed parcel in the cross direction. Each cross belt assembly has internal motorized drive rollers at the ends and a multiplicity of closely spaced idler rollers of smaller diameter than the drive rollers which define the roller bed, with a spacing between the idlers rollers of less than one inch. The ball belt has a plurality of plastic link bodies pivotally connected to one another, each with a downwardly opening socket having downwardly facing entry notches which allow distortion of the socket for entry of a ball therein.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Skarlupka Mfg., Inc.Inventors: Donald Bruce Skarlupka, Brian A. Zdroik
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Patent number: 11167932Abstract: The assembly of the disclosure includes two inclined side rollers and two central rollers, each one of the rollers being mounted around a respective shaft. The shaft of each side roller has an upper end hinged to a respective support portion arranged on one side of the conveyor belt, the shaft of each central roller having ends mounted on opposite sides of a rocker frame. Each one of the opposite sides of the frame has a median portion hinged, in an suspended way, at the lower end of the shaft of a respective side roller.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Metso Outotec Finland OyInventors: Rodrigo Alfredo Gomes, Andrzej Niklewski
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Patent number: 11167937Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for conveyor operation and maintenance that employ a “smart shoe” technology where one or more conveyor shoes incorporate features, such as an RFID tag, allowing selective wireless tracking and identification capability. A conveyor system comprises a shoe management system allowing interactions directly with a reader where interface between this application and the reader can be implemented via a socket interface. An open platform communications (OPC) wrapper can be created around the interface so that a Human Machine Interface (HMI) could interact directly with shoe management system.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Aegis Sortation LLCInventor: Kenneth Jay Ice
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Patent number: 11167928Abstract: A bolt supply device includes a slide plate inclined to a vertical direction; and a groove portion formed in the slide plate and having a width that allows passing of a screw portion of a bolt and prevents passing of a flange portion of the bolt. The groove portion includes a first groove configured such that an angle formed between a line extending in an up-down direction along the slide plate and the first groove is a first angle; and a second groove connected to a lower end of the first groove and configured such that an angle formed between the line extending in the up-down direction along the slide plate and the second groove is a second angle smaller than the first angle. The bolt take-out portion is set in the groove portion at a lower end or below the lower end of the second groove.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kazuhiko Kira
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Patent number: 11155420Abstract: Transfer system for removing sleeve-shaped workpieces from a first conveyor and for pushing the sleeve-shaped workpieces onto a second conveyor, with a linearly movable coupling rod, with which a gear unit is associated, which includes a swivel body mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis of movement, on which a first workpiece gripper mounted so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a second workpiece gripper are arranged, wherein the gear unit has an adjuster for initiating an actuating movement for setting a distance between a first gripping region of the first workpiece gripper, which is arranged at a radial distance from the axis of movement, and a second gripping region of the second workpiece gripper, which is arranged at a radial distance from the axis of movement, as well as with a swivel drive for actuating the adjuster for initiating a forced swivel movement connected to the swivel movement of the swivel body onto the first workpiece gripper.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: HINTERKOPF GMBHInventor: Josef Schulz
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Patent number: 11155422Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transferring products (1) between a main conveyor (2) which is configured to convey products in a longitudinal direction and an accumulation surface (3) using an intermediate conveyor (4) and a pushing means (5). The method comprises acceleration of the intermediate conveyor (4) and transfer of products (1) between the intermediate conveyor (4) and the main conveyor (2) via the action of the pushing means (5), and deceleration of the intermediate conveyor (4) and transfer of products (1) between the intermediate conveyor (4) and the accumulation surface (3). The present invention also relates to a device for transferring products (1) between a main conveyor (2) which is configured to convey products in a longitudinal direction and an accumulation surface (3), enabling in particular the method according to the invention to be carried out.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: SIDEL ENGINEERING & CONVEYING SOLUTIONSInventor: Julien Berger
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Patent number: 11136196Abstract: The disclosure relates to a driver for scraper chain conveyors, which has a central portion having a chain link receptacle for attaching the driver to chain links of a conveyor chain, wherein scraper wings adjoin both sides of the central portion and each scraper wing has a web portion and an end portion that is widened with respect to the web portion, wherein, on the underside of the web portion, a wear plate is provided, which covers the web portion in the direction of the end portion starting from a step on the underside of the central portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: THIELE GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Burkhard Scherf