Patents Examined by William R Harp
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Patent number: 11325787Abstract: Disclosed is a conveyor system and method for advancing an item relative to a transport axis. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt and a modular drive assembly having at least one drive module and at least one take-up module. Each drive module and each take-up module has a housing and a pulley assembly positioned within the housing. The respective positions of the housings of the at least one drive module and the at least one take-up module relative to the transport axis are selectively adjustable to modify the conveyor movement pathway. Moreover, the drive module can also include a drive pulley removal apparatus that is detachably secured within the housing for selective removal and replacement of a drive pulley.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: FEDEX CORPORATIONInventors: Randy Dixon, C. Todd McDaniel
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Patent number: 11325783Abstract: A system for assembling and installing a modular spiral chute includes a base support assembly having a plurality of rear rollers and a slot, where the slot is orientated in the base support assembly to receive a vertically positioned stanchion of the modular spiral chute. The system also includes a removable roller clamp having a front roller and configured to be inserted into the slot to form an aperture in the base support assembly to encircle the stanchion so that when the roller clamp is inserted into the slot the stanchion is rotatably secured vertically within the base support assembly between the plurality of rear rollers and the front roller. In addition, the system includes a caster mounted plate positioned on top of the base support assembly and configured to increase stability of the stanchion when secured within the base support assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: TALOS ENGINEERING PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: Jathan Richard, Matt Harvey, Ivanhoe Chaput, Matthew Green
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Patent number: 11312578Abstract: An article transport facility includes article transport vehicles that travel along a specified travelable path, and a control device that controls the article transport vehicles. The travelable path includes nodes and links each connecting a pair of the nodes. The control device sets a setting path based on a link cost that is set for each of the links. The link cost includes a reference cost and a variable cost. The reference cost is a value that is set based on a reference passage time that is required for a target vehicle to pass through a target link in a state in which another vehicle is not present in the target link. The variable cost is a value that is set based on a vehicle count-related increased time by which an actual passage time is increased relative to the reference passage time according to the number of the other vehicles present in the target link, the actual passage time being a time required for the target vehicle to pass through the target link.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Kono, Keisuke Takeno, Kazuhiro Iwamitsu
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Patent number: 11305945Abstract: The invention relates to a container conveyor device (10) in a packaging machine having a container carrier (13) with a plurality of container receptacles (15). At least two rotary-driven linear conveyors (11, 28) are provided, and the container carrier (13) has at least one engagement part (14) which can be brought into engagement with the linear conveyors (11, 28). Two curved conveyors (20, 34) each have a curved guide track (21, 35) with which at least one projection of the container carrier (13) can be brought into engagement. A plurality of container carriers (13) can be transported along the upper linear conveyor (11) in a row with a mutual first spacing of less than 30 mm and at an average speed V0. The container carriers can be transported along the lower linear conveyor (28) with a mutual second spacing which is greater than the first spacing and at an average speed Vu, where Vu?1.5 V0.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Inventors: Achim Stiegler, Marcel Pilat, Moritz Glück, Timo Graf, Daniel Kurr, Daniel Vaas
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Patent number: 11299349Abstract: A bolt supply device includes a conveyor, a bolt absorbing portion, a bolt storage portion, and an allocation portion. The conveyor is an endless belt and is provided to circulate between a first height and a second height above the first height. The bolt absorbing portion protrudes on an outer surface of a ring formed by the conveyor and is configured to absorb a bolt. The bolt storage portion is provided in a region where the bolt absorbing portion ascends, the region located at the first height. The allocation portion is configured to swing to drop the bolt in either one of both width directions of the conveyor at the second height, the bolt absorbed by the bolt absorbing portion in the bolt storage portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kazuhiko Kira
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Patent number: 11292674Abstract: A bucket elevator adjustable guide system for efficiently transferring and dispensing particulate material from a bucket elevator includes a head housing connected to the bucket elevator, an adjustable guide member disposed therein, an extendable and retractable adjustment member connected to the guide member, a remotely controllable drive unit coupled to the adjustment member, and a remote control. The head housing receives buckets of particulate material to be dispensed from the bucket elevator. The guide member extends in a curved arc over the buckets to engage and guide discharged particulate material into a discharge chute. Remote controls enable the drive unit to be manually or automatically controlled to cause the adjustment member to extend or retract to adjust the position and configuration of the guide member and affect the transfer and dispensing of the particulate material without physically accessing the adjustment member.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: S-M Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Dale W. Niemi
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Patent number: 11279570Abstract: The invention relates to a package collecting apparatus for a package handling installation for unloading a plurality of packages from a transport supply means of the package handling installation and moving unloaded packages to a transport discharge means of the package handling installation, wherein the package collecting apparatus comprises a collecting element, which has a bearing surface for at least one package during the movement from the transport supply means to the transport discharge means, and at least one lateral element arranged thereon which can be moved between an inoperative position and a working position and which has a further bearing surface for at least one package, wherein, with the lateral element in the working position, the bearing surface of the lateral element adjoins the bearing surface of the collecting element flush, and the package collecting apparatus additionally comprises a coupling device for mechanical releasable coupling to the transport discharge means.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Deutsche Post AGInventor: Bernd Hartmann
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Patent number: 11279563Abstract: A plate element is disclosed that is capable of use in a wire conveyor belt assembly having multiple spaced rods. The plate element may include a plate body having a planar base surface, one or more engagement elements to engage one or more of the spaced rods, and an interface element that extends away from the planar base surface to form a raised interface surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignees: Cambridge International, Inc., Prince Castle LLCInventors: Sajid A. Safvi, Robert E. Maine, Jr., Thomas O. Perdue
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Patent number: 11273467Abstract: An article conveying equipment includes: a carrying apparatus (1), configured to carry one or more articles to be transported; a communication apparatus (3), configured to learn a height of a receiving end of a transferring apparatus matched with the article conveying equipment; and a height adjusting apparatus (2), when the article conveying equipment approaches the transferring apparatus, the height adjusting apparatus is configured to adjust the height of the carrying apparatus to the height matched with receiving end of the transferring apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: BEIJING GEEKPLUS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Qingguang Ma, Hongbo Li
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Patent number: 11266066Abstract: A belt lock for a belt for an agricultural implement is provided. The belt lock comprises two connecting pieces which may be connected via a lock pin. The two connecting pieces each have an upper part and a lower part which are configured integrally with a hinge region, forming a receiver for the lock pin and for at least partially arranging one respective belt end between one another. The upper and lower part in each case have at least one recess for arranging a fastener. Each of the upper and lower parts have a belt adapter which is arranged on the respective connecting piece, the respective belt end being able to be releasably connected thereby to the respective connecting piece.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Inventor: Ansgar Hugenberg
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Patent number: 11261028Abstract: The present invention relates broadly to a wear liner module (10) for equipment in a high wear environment, said module (10) comprising a back plate (12) and a wear liner (11) including one or more tiles (14a) to (14f) formed of wear resistant material, and one or more sensors such as (16a) mounted to the wear resistant tile such as (14a). The wear sensor (16a) is mounted to a perimeter face of the corresponding wear resistant tile (14a). The wear sensor (16a) is electrically coupled to a microprocessor mounted to a rear face of the tile (14a). The microprocessor is configured to process data received from the wear sensor (16a) to provide a wear signal represented of wear in the wear sensor (16a). The microprocessor (24a) transmits the wear signal to a wireless receiver (34a) mounted to the backing plate (12).Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: International Materials & Technology Pty LimitedInventor: Scott Cheevers
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Patent number: 11254514Abstract: A feeding assembly and a method of feeding components comprising a track along which components can be moved, said track comprising a sloped surface and a ledge, wherein said sloped surface slopes in a direction perpendicular to the direction which the components move along the track so that the components maintain a tilted orientation as they move along the track, a pickup platform comprising a pocket which can receive components from said track, and a pivot on which the pickup platform can be selectively rotated between a first position and second position. In the first position, the pocket is aligned with the track and the pocket is parallel with the sloped surface of the track, so that a component can move from the track into the pocket of the pickup platform. In the second position the pocket is in a horizontal orientation.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: ISMECA SEMICONDUCTOR HOLDING SAInventors: Sylvain Vienot, Valerio Osler, Philippe Roy
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Patent number: 11254516Abstract: An inventory container diverter system is described. The system includes a conveyor to move totes through a shipment processing area and a redirection device to push totes perpendicularly off the conveyor at predetermined locations. Adjacent the redirection device is a chute which the tote slides down to present the tote to a user at an easily accessible height and tilted at such an angle to enable simple and efficient access to the interior of the tote. The chute includes a door to help prevent totes from falling out of the chute. A tote sensor detects when the chute is occupied by a tote or when it is clear and a door sensor detects when the door of the chute is closed. When the door is closed and the chute is clear the system directs a new tote to the redirection device and pushes it into the chute.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Sayeedur Rahman, Sivan Almosnino, Dan Lorne Robin, Lisa Garamella
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Patent number: 11254511Abstract: A motor-driven conveyor roller includes a cylindrical roller body extending along a longitudinal axis of rotation, an axle unit coaxially aligned with the roller body with respect to the longitudinal axis of rotation, a drive unit arranged in the roller body, which is coupled to the roller body and the axle unit to produce a rotational movement between the axle unit and the roller body about the longitudinal axis of rotation, and an end lid which closes the roller body at a first axial end and through which an axle section of the axle unit extends. The end lid has an outer wall formed of stainless steel and an inner wall cast on the outer wall and formed of a light metal.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: INTERROLL HOLDING AGInventor: Jürgen Schumacher
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Patent number: 11247853Abstract: A system for moving and placing granulate is provided together with a rotary airlock device. The system has a housing mountable to a trailer with cabinet located on a side of the housing with a compressor, at least one back compartment located on a back side of the housing. The compartment has a rotary airlock device in communication with the compressor. The compressor feeds air to the rotary airlock device under pressure, and an actuatable feeder located on the back side of the housing receives granulate and feeds the granulate to the rotary airlock device.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Inventor: Michael Nolen
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Patent number: 11247849Abstract: A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.Inventors: John William Kuhn, Robert D. Lundahl, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
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Patent number: 11242206Abstract: A conveyor includes a trough with a floor having an upper surface configured to receive items to be conveyed in at least a first direction from a first end to a second end. The conveyor also includes a platform with at least one exciter attached thereto. The at least one exciter has at least one shaft with an eccentric mass attached thereto, the shaft having an axis of rotation about which the mass is rotated. The conveyor also includes a base. At least one first toroidal resilient member is disposed between the trough and the platform, and at least one second toroidal resilient member disposed between the platform and the base.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: General Kinematics Corp.Inventors: Steve Massman, Kerry Quinn
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Patent number: 11230444Abstract: A material handling system has an input conduit section 12 having an input cross-sectional shape, an output conduit section 14 having an output cross-sectional shape that is different than the input cross-sectional shape, and a transition adaptor 18 connecting the input conduit section 12 and the output conduit section providing a transition between the input and output cross-sectional shapes. The transition adaptor includes a crown piece 20 that has an outer end having an elliptical sectional shape and an inner end. The transition adaptor includes a box piece 30 that has an inner end and an outer end 32 having a rectangular sectional shape, wherein the inner end of the crown piece mates with the inner end of the box piece. The box piece is formed by a first box half and a second box half 42, wherein each box half 40 is formed from a flat piece of metal and is formed by bending the box half 40 about bend lines.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: GSI BrasilInventors: Gabriel Borlina, Rodrigo Barcelos Stanisci, Fabio Junior Triches
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Patent number: 11225380Abstract: A conveyor system that utilizes a curved, closed-loop pathway defined by a profiled track and a plurality of wheel cars movably contained within and guided by the profiled track. The wheel cars have an attachment side facing towards an open side of the profiled track, and the track is arranged such that its open side faces into a substantially horizontal direction and such that the attachment side of the cars is oriented substantially vertically in any position along the pathway. One or more carriers, each having a carrier rack adapted to support a food product to be transported, are mounted to the attachment side of a respective one of the wheel cars. The carriers can pivot about an axis perpendicular to the attachment side of the corresponding car so as to maintain the carrier rack in a horizontal position as the carrier travels along the pathway.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2019Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Franke Technology and Trademark LtdInventors: Ireneusz Czapp, Mario Kiel, Tomasz Robaszkiewicz
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Patent number: 11225382Abstract: A conveying unit for transporting goods on transport rollers in a transport plane. The transport rollers can be rotated about their respective axes of rotation with an adjustable rotational speed and adjustable direction of rotation. The axes of rotation of the transport rollers are adjustable by rotation about their respective pivot axes by a particular pivot axis angle, and at least two of the transport rollers can be adjusted differently from one another. There is also described a method for adjusting the conveyor unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2017Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Carsten Aschpurwis, Thomas Froehlich