Patents Examined by Mark A. Deuble
  • Systems and methods for providing singulation of objects for processing
    Patent number: 11492210
    Abstract: A processing system including a singulation system is disclosed. The singulation system includes a conveying system for moving objects to be sorted from a source area along a first direction, a detection system for detecting objects at the conveying system, and for selecting certain selected objects for removal from the conveying system, and a removal system for removing the certain selected objects from the conveying system for providing a singulated stream of objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey Operating Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, Christopher Geyer, Thomas Koletschka, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
  • Transport trolley
    Patent number: 11492206
    Abstract: A transport trolley for transporting objects for a rail system having at least one rail that has at least three running surfaces, said transport trolley comprising: a base body having an object carrier for receiving at least one object; a roller support which is rotatably supported at the base body and at which at least a first, a second, and a third roller are rotatably supported; and an alignment system having a roller support alignment device for aligning the roller support relative to the base body and having a roller alignment device for a relative alignment of the rollers with respect to one another and/or to the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: WEISS GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Götzinger, Christian Insel, Lutz Neuweiler
  • Conveying device
    Patent number: 11483966
    Abstract: A conveying device is provided for an upwardly oriented, in particular vertical, conveyance of turnips or other root crops in harvesting machines. A conveyor belt with at least two lateral conveyor belt portions is moved in a conveying direction during operation. Between the conveyor belt portions is defined a particularly planar conveyor belt surface, and at least one carrier unit which projects from the conveyor belt surface and is supported by the conveyor belt. The carrier unit delimits a receiving space extending on both sides of the conveyor belt surface. The part of the receiving space which is arranged on the side of the conveyor belt surface which is opposite the carrier unit is formed by at least one detachably fastened pocket module and harvesting machines for turnips or other root crops having a conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventors: Jörg Landsberg, Stefan Redel, Hendrik Komossa, Heinrich Schleiner
  • Sheet loader for loading live turkeys and methods therefor
    Patent number: 11470823
    Abstract: An apparatus for loading live turkeys from a barn floor to cages on a transport trailer. A continuous motorized drive chain moves attached, solid sheets that are loaded with turkeys from the barn floor into the cage, and then back to the loading position. The drive chain is looped around first and second sprockets. Each rectangular sheet is rotationally connected at two of its corners to the drive chain forming a fixed end and a loose end. When the drive chain rounds the barn end, the loose end of the sheet slides upwards on a guide flap to keep the top of the sheet facing up. The sheets are driven forward to the cages, round the end at the cage end, pulled backwards from the cages toward the barn end, and then driven forward again, all without stopping the motion of the drive chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Birds Up, LLC
    Inventors: Clint Schwitters, Torry Johnson
  • Screening belt unit for a harvesting machine, and associated flap unit
    Patent number: 11470769
    Abstract: Screening belt unit is provided for a harvesting machine or harvested material transport device, and in particular for a root crop harvester or root crop transport belt, and for screening extraneous material out of a mixture of harvested material and extraneous material. A screening belt has at least two endless carriers, preferably in the form of carrier belts or chains, between which screening bars are arranged in a direction transversely to the conveying direction. The screening bars forming a plurality of screening bar units that comprise in particular in each case at least two screening bars. At least a part of the screening bars is fixed so as to be movable relative to the endless carriers. The screening belt unit has a positioning means which is arranged at least partially along the screening belt and acts on the movable screening bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventors: Julian Ross, Josef Gerdes, Heinrich Hönemann, Christoph Halbrügge
  • Camfeeder and a method of using the camfeeder to simultaneously move a heavy elongated object in a transverse direction and accelerate the object in a lineal direction
    Patent number: 11465857
    Abstract: A camfeeder system that uses an eccentric disk kicker having a friction surface that contacts surface of a heavy elongated object to smoothly and simultaneously move the elongated object in a transverse direction towards a conveyor and accelerate the elongated object in a lineal direction the conveyor travels. A method of changing a direction a heavy elongated object travels from transverse to lineal using the camfeeder system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: WE KNOW HOW HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Josh Krauss, Andy Raybon
  • Tray sealer with two-lane conveyor arrangement and conveying method
    Patent number: 11459189
    Abstract: A tray sealer comprises a conveyor arrangement for conveying packaging trays along a conveying direction. The conveyor arrangement comprises a first conveyor device for conveying a first line of packaging trays along the conveying direction, a second conveyor device running laterally alongside the first conveyor device for conveying a second line of packaging trays along the conveying direction, and a center guide which is arranged between the first conveyor device and the second conveyor device and extends along the conveying direction. The conveyor arrangement further comprises a third conveyor device for conveying packaging trays along the conveying direction. The third conveyor device extends adjoining the second conveyor device in terms of the conveying direction laterally alongside the first conveyor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMUELLER SE & CO. KG
    Inventor: Markus Behr
  • Apparatus and method to supply bars
    Patent number: 11458524
    Abstract: Apparatus to supply bars which includes a work plane on which to position a bundle of said bars and a removal device configured to remove at least one bar from said work plane in order to transfer it to a destination station. The supply apparatus includes a plurality of containing units each configured to house a respective bundle of a determinate type of bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: M.E.P.—MACCHINE ELETTRONICHE PIEGATRICI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Del Fabro
  • Conveyor bracket
    Patent number: 11459177
    Abstract: A conveyor conversion kit includes a plurality of conveyor brackets for converting a conveyor frame to accommodate a new conveyor belt. Each bracket includes a base, a plurality of wearstrip seats for mounting wearstrips forming a carryway for the conveyor belt without tools and side guard seats for mounting side guards to contain the conveyor belt on the carryway without tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Adam E. Bannerman, Omari K. Davis
  • Stepped accumulation chute
    Patent number: 11453556
    Abstract: An apparatus and system include an upper stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; a lower stepped chute having a substantially downward sloped configuration; and an intermediate conveyor section separating the upper stepped chute from the lower stepped chute. The intermediate conveyor section has a slope that is different from the slope of the upper stepped chute and the lower stepped chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Impact Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen G. Wargo
  • Transport system of cylindrical products to be labelled
    Patent number: 11447284
    Abstract: A transport system for cylindrical products to be labelled includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor. The first conveyor has pairs of support members for supporting the cylindrical products, which are predisposed parallel to one another and mutually distanced so as to identify a free space between them. The second conveyor is a looped conveyor having an upper branch and arranged with the free space present between the pairs of support members and comprises pairs of idle rollers which, when moving along the upper branch, are interposed with each support member pair. The upper branch has an ascending portion so that the rollers can abut the products transported by the support member pairs and raise the products from the housings so that the products are supported only by idle rollers when they transit at an abutting means of a label applicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: MARCHESINI GROUP S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Conveying and metering device
    Patent number: 11440742
    Abstract: A conveying and metering device with an endless apron belt that is movable by rollers on guide rails, wherein sections of the guide rail that are opposite one another are separated from the adjacent sections and, for determining the mass of the conveyed material, are supported on weighing devices that are connected to an electronic analysis device. Provision is made that the sections of the guide rail to be weighed, together with longitudinal members and transverse struts that are perpendicular to the longitudinal members, form a weighing frame, and this weighing frame is supported at each of its four corners on a separate weighing device, wherein an adjustable centering device is provided between the weighing frame and each of the weighing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Schenck Process Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schuetz, Stefan Goetz
  • Sprocket for agricultural vehicle
    Patent number: 11441666
    Abstract: A conveyor for a combine harvester includes a chain and a sprocket. The sprocket includes an annular body defining an axis of rotation, two opposing sides, an outer perimeter extending between the two opposing sides, and gear teeth disposed on the outer perimeter. A bottom land extends between valleys of adjacent gear teeth. A single continuous edge is defined between two gear teeth at one of the adjacent sides. The bottom land includes (i) a central plateau portion, (ii) a first sloping surface extending from one edge of the central plateau portion to the single continuous edge at one of the two opposing sides, and (iii) a second sloping surface extending from the opposite edge of the central plateau portion to the single continuous edge at the other of the two opposing sides. The sloping surfaces either limit or prevent the accumulation of material thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Cale N. Boriack, Michael Minnich
  • Air-supported belt conveyors and systems and methods of using same
    Patent number: 11420824
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are air-supported belt conveyors and independent conveyor subsystems that are selectively and independently designed to meet requirements that can change along the length of a conveyor, as well as from conveyor to conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: BRUKS ROCKWOOD, LLC
    Inventors: Francis J. Warmoth, Bengt Axel Nilsson, Steven B. Bennett
  • Quick release draper belt tensioning system
    Patent number: 11401112
    Abstract: A draper belt tensioning system having a frame, roller, control link, and tension link. The roller is movable relative to the frame. The control link has a proximal end pivotally attached to the frame, and a distal end that is remote from the proximal end. The tension link has a proximal end connected to the roller and a distal end connected to the control link at a connection location offset from a control link pivot axis. The control link is movable between a locked position in which the connection location is on a first side of the roller rotation axis and the control link pivot axis, a centered position, and an unlocked position in which the connection location is on another side of the roller rotation axis and the control link pivot axis. The control link has a greater angle in the locked position than in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Joel T. Cook
  • Power and free conveyor and method
    Patent number: 11389910
    Abstract: An assembly for use with a power and free conveyor comprises a track member adapted to be slidingly received by a receiver portion of a power and free conveyor power track. The track member is slidingly moveable from a first position to a second position such that, when in the first position, the proximal end is retained within the receiver portion and the distal end is proximate to a connection portion. When in the second position, the proximal end is retained within the receiver portion and there is a gap between the distal end and the connection portion. A power and free conveyor comprising the assembly is also provided. A method of servicing a power and free conveyor comprising a sliding track member is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Innovative Capital Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Zamzow
  • Apparatus and method for feeding hanging conveyable articles into a hanging conveying installation, and hanging conveying installation having such an apparatus
    Patent number: 11383938
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding hanging conveyable articles into a hanging conveying installation includes a feeding unit for the individualized feeding of the hanging conveyable articles into a conveying system of the hanging conveying installation with a variably settable transport spacing. The feeding unit has an individualizing element for stopping the hanging conveyable articles (4), and a detection unit for detecting the thickness of the individual hanging conveyable articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DüRKOPP FÖRDERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Merten
  • Loading apparatus
    Patent number: 11383398
    Abstract: A loading apparatus for loading food products onto and/or into a slicing apparatus, in particular a high-speed slicer, comprises at least one magazine unit that includes a conveying means that endlessly circulates along a running direction. The conveying means is configured to lift the products to a transferring height at which the products can be transferred to the slicing apparatus and includes several product support surfaces, the product support surfaces being oriented essentially perpendicular to the running direction and positioned subsequently along the running direction with a space between each other. At least one product is loadable onto a respective product support surface for lifting the product to the transferring height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Sigfrid Bauer, Axel Zimansky
  • Device for grouping containers
    Patent number: 11377306
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for grouping containers, comprising: a first conveyor belt for transporting the containers in a first transport direction; a second conveyor belt; a container receiving device; a transfer device, which is designed to transfer at least some of the containers from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt transversely to the first transport direction and to transfer at least some of the containers transferred to the second conveyor belt to the container receiving device transversely to the first transport direction; and a motor device, in particular a long stator motor device, which is designed to move the transfer device for transferring a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Konrad Senn, Andreas Roithmeier, Helmut Schuesslburner
  • Material processing apparatus with access state conveyor
    Patent number: 11370619
    Abstract: A material processing apparatus has a discharge conveyor that is coupled to the body of the apparatus so that it can pivot with respect to the body and be raised vertically with respect to the body. The coupling mechanism allows the pivoting and lifting of the conveyor to be performed by the same actuators. The discharge conveyor can be raised into an access state in which a transfer conveyor can be removed from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Mawhinney, Stephen Greaves