Patents Examined by Mark A. Deuble
  • Patent number: 11134651
    Abstract: An auger assembly (1) for receiving and conveying cheese curd downstream along a cheese processing line (32) includes an auger housing (2), a first auger (3) having a first shaft (5) extending through the auger housing (2), a second auger (4) having a second shaft (6) extending through the auger housing (2) and arranged colinearly with the first shaft (5), a first bearing (9) mounted to the auger housing (2) and arranged at the end (7) of the first shaft (5), and a second bearing (10) mounted to the auger housing (2) and arranged at the end (8) of the second shaft (6). The first bearing (9) and second bearing (10) are colinear and facing each other. At least one slotted groove (11, 12) is formed the bearings (9, 10) to enable a cleaning fluid to contact a surface (13, 14) of the respective bearing (9, 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Kyle Johnson, Michael Olson
  • Patent number: 11130637
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a conveyor belt comprising a drive roller with a constant section cylinder and conical tip teeth, a mesh type drive belt, wherein said holes coincide with the teeth of the drive roller and a sliding plate, the drive belt being supported on the sliding plate. Wherein coupling between the drive belt and the teeth allows reducing longitudinal and transversal strain of the mesh type drive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAÑÍA DE GALLETAS NOEL S.A.S.
    Inventor: Elkin de Jesús Álvarez Granda
  • Patent number: 11117748
    Abstract: A cleat for ferrying materials on a conveyor belt line includes a top portion having a height, a width, and an overall material thickness, a material interfacing side, and a lateral opening extending there through for accepting a pin axle. A bottom portion having a length, a width, and material thickness, and a vertically extending wall, the bottom portion supporting the pin axle in a fixed manner, and a counter weight encapsulated in, embedded in, or attached to a lower portion of the top portion on the gravity side of the pin axle opening. The cleat top portion rotating to an upright position on the top of the conveyor line and to a prone position on the bottom of the conveyor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: CLEASBY LLC
    Inventors: Darren L De Graw, Chad Tyler Porter
  • Patent number: 11103390
    Abstract: A sanitary napkin disposal device. The sanitary napkin disposal device includes a housing. The housing is defined by a base, where a plurality of sidewalls extends upward from the base towards a top wall. This housing defines an interior volume. An opening extends through a sidewall of the housing and provides access to the interior volume of the housing. The opening feeds into a chute, such that items placed through the opening will fall into the chute. A door is placed over the opening, the door is movable between an open position and a closed position. The door is spring-biased in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Mario Lupia
  • Patent number: 11097914
    Abstract: There is provided a medium conveying device which includes a conveyance belt passed around a first roller and a second roller and configured to support and convey a medium on a supporting surface, and in which a controlling unit is able to execute first control to determine whether a first skewing direction and a second skewing direction are the same, the first skewing direction indicating whether, when the first roller and the second roller are caused to rotate in the first rotational direction, the conveyance belt moves toward one side or the other side in a width direction intersecting a moving direction of the conveyance belt, and the second skewing direction indicating whether, when the first roller and the second roller are caused to rotate in the second rotational direction, the conveyance belt moves toward the one side or the other side in the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sasaki, Takahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11091324
    Abstract: A device (1) for twisting containers (2) while moving said containers along a moving path (3) comprising an at least partly curved path portion (3A) comprising a series of guiding elements provided each with lubricating means adapted for ensuring a dry lubrication of at least a portion of the guiding elements by supplying a fluid lubricant selected from the group consisting of liquid lubricant, gazeous lubricant and mixtures thereof in at least two distinct locations of the said guiding elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CHP N.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Turck
  • Patent number: 11084663
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the flexible distribution of packages, comprising at least one conveyor belt for transporting the packages along a transport direction, and at least one distributing device for moving the packages relative to the conveyor belt, wherein the distributing device has a plurality of sliding elements which are mounted movably on the distributing device, and wherein the sliding elements can be driven independently of each other. In order to achieve a reliable movement of individual packages of different sizes at individual speeds, it is proposed that the sliding elements respectively have two contact surfaces which are arranged at an angle to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SIG Technology AG
    Inventor: Udo Dörenberg
  • Patent number: 11085883
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a frame for fastening inspection modules for containers. The frame includes a conveyor for the containers and a plurality of rails. The plurality of rails includes a first rail and a second rail arranged on a first side of the conveyor and a third rail and a fourth rail arranged on a second side of the conveyor. Each of the plurality of rails are for the fastening of the inspection modules. The present disclosure further relates to an inspection unit including the frame and at least one of the inspection modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Thorsten Gut
  • Patent number: 11084659
    Abstract: A transport device includes an entry finger that guides a conveyor as it carries items thereon in a transport direction from the rear deflector to the front deflector. The conveyor slides along a sliding strip that is supported by a profile element that is supported by a support. The entry finger guides the conveyor around the front deflector, where the conveyor reverses direction. The entry finger couples to the transport device by a detachable connection. The detachable connection is either a locking connection that connects the entry finger to the sliding strip, an insertion connection that connects the entry finger to the profiled element, or a detachable connection formed by a quick fastener between the support and the profiled element and the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Grävingholt, Thomas Greiving, Berthold Paroth, Zlatko Sarajlija, Thomas Stienen
  • Patent number: 11078022
    Abstract: A connector block for connection between first chain units and second chain units which alternately form portions of a conveyor chain. The connector block is provided using a first block body and a second block body each formed into a U-shaped metal plate. Each block body includes a base plate and side plates, and tabs formed at distal ends of side plates. Tabs are configured for interfitting placement in depressions formed in the base plate of the opposing block body. Side plates of the first block body and side plates of the second block body, are sized, shaped, and joined in secure interlocking engagement, and wherein the first tab receiving depressions each securely position therein a second tab bent for interfitting engagement therewith, and wherein the second tab receiving depressions each securely position therein a first tab bent for interfitting engagement therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: KOREA WHEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hun Choe
  • Patent number: 11078030
    Abstract: A conveyor hanger assembly includes an upper fastening end configured to mechanically couple to a conveyor, a lower fastening end configured to couple to an assembly component carrier, and a locking assembly including a locking body extending in longitudinal alignment with and between the upper fastening end and the lower fastening end, and a locking collar positionable between a locked position and an unlocked positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Blanche Lin Lu-Sullivan, Steven William Albert Goymour, Hussein Ajram, Jefferson Pickers
  • Patent number: 11066245
    Abstract: Conveyor elevation apparatus, systems and methods are provided. Some embodiments include a stmt having three frame sections. In some embodiments at least two of the frame sections comprise longitudinal supports joined by bracing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Superior Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Thooft, Zachary Ourada
  • Patent number: 11059679
    Abstract: A device for supplying containers to a container handling device, for example to a container filling device for filling containers with a liquid filling product, includes a guide which is arranged at a predetermined guide height level for guiding a container on the container base thereof. The guide has a transfer portion for transferring the container to a receiving device of the container handling device, and the transfer portion is height-adjustable. A filling system including such a device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Bruno Landler, Manfred Schmid
  • Patent number: 11059674
    Abstract: A method for sequencing loads in an automated load-distribution system having k sources with k?2; at least one destination; k FIFO-type source buffer devices, each receiving loads from one of the k sources; a collector collecting the loads coming from the k source buffer devices and transporting them to the at least one destination. The collector has k successive nodes each collecting the loads coming from one of the source buffer devices. The control system processes customer orders listing loads for a given destination and being associated with a sequential order number of destination. The control system: builds a collection list containing n loads to be collected and reducing a disorder of the n loads relative to a rising order of the sequential order numbers of destination; and controlling the collector and the source buffer devices to collect loads on the collector in compliance with the collection list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: SAVOYE, UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE COMPIEGNE
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Collin, Blandine Vacher, Antoine Jouglet, Dritan Nace
  • Patent number: 11053087
    Abstract: The present invention related to a method and a device for removing food products from a belt conveyor, comprising a belt conveyor comprising two ends, an endless belt and a drive, for transporting food products on the endless belt from a feed location towards a discharge location, wherein the endless belt comprises a transporting side and a returning side; a removing device for removing food products from the endless belt, comprising: a roller, facing the returning side of the endless belt, wherein the roller is arranged at a predetermined distance from the endless belt; and a frame part, for holding the roller at the predetermined distance; wherein the endless belt is configured to rotate in a first direction and wherein the roller is configured to rotate in the same direction as the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: MAREL STORK POULTRY PROCESSING B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus Franciscus Jacobus Maria Van Der Eerden, Johannes Petrus Leonardus Knippenbergh
  • Patent number: 11046529
    Abstract: Using a transporter to either transport a first package or to simultaneously transport several packages, one of which is the first package includes using a double conveyor of the transporter to execute a first rotational movement of at least the first package, using a monitor, detecting an actual orientation of the first package, comparing an actual orientation of the first package with a predetermined setpoint orientation, detecting a deviation between the actual orientation and the setpoint orientation, and causing the transporter to carry out a second rotation of the first package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Stuhlmann, Norman Pau, Lothar Wess, Manfred Berg, Johannes Look
  • Patent number: 11046521
    Abstract: A curved conveyor in a horizontal curved path section of a conveying path has an inner idler wheel array arranged to the inside of the horizontal curved path section with respect to an arc-shaped center line that passes through the center of the path width of the horizontal curved path section, and an outer driving wheel array arranged to the outside of the horizontal curved path section with respect to the arc-shaped center line, wherein the distance from the arc-shaped center line to the outer driving wheel array is smaller than the distance from the arc-shaped center line to the inner idler wheel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Fujio
  • Patent number: 11046526
    Abstract: A conveyor chain and horizontally oriented guide wheel having a hub, an outer wheel rotatable about the hub and a bearing race between said hub and said outer wheel. An oiling gap, the top opening of which is located radially inwardly of the bearing race, extends outwardly and downwardly and opens into said bearing race, such that a direct downward path to the bearings is eliminated. The hub and the inside of the outer wheel have opposed frustroconical surfaces which define a frustroconical path from the top wheel surface oiling gap opening to the wheel bearings. The guide wheel also includes a blow out gap on the bottom side which is formed by a blow out path which becomes wider than the bearing race as it proceeds downwardly to its opening at the bottom of the wheel, making it easier for debris to be blown out of the bearings either from air blown down through the oiling gap at the top or blown up from the blow out gap at the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Frost Tech LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Hyvarinen, Charles J. Deschaine
  • Patent number: 11046524
    Abstract: A transport system includes a guide rail having a loop-wound pathway with straight portions and curved portions linking the straight portions. A carriage is movable along the guide rail, a first and a second shaft being mounted on the carriage transversely to the carriage movement direction. A first pair of rollers are mounted rotatably on the first shaft so that a first roller contacts the internal wall of the guide rail and a second roller contacts the external wall of the guide rail. A second pair of rollers mounted rotatably on the second shaft include a first roller in contact with the internal wall of the guide rail and a second roller in contact with the external wall. The first and the second shaft are mounted on the carriage for pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MARCHESINI GROUP S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Patent number: 11040835
    Abstract: A sealed sprocket for a conveyor belt comprises a sprocket mounted on a drive shaft and a seal system sealing an interface between the sprocket and the drive shaft. The seal system comprises a seal cap housing ring seals for sealing interfaces between the sprocket and seal cap and between the seal cap and drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, David A. Kokx