Patents by Inventor Aaron Cotton

Aaron Cotton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11840403
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding products along a conveyor in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a first guiderail for at least partially forming a conveying path for articles on the conveyor. A guiderail adjuster includes a flexible or collapsible support, which make take the form of a linkage, and which provides support for the first guiderail along the conveyor. The flexible or collapsible support is adapted for being extended and retracted along a support rail extending in the conveying direction to selectively position the first guiderail relative to the conveyor, and thereby alter (increase or decrease) the width of the conveying path. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SPAN TECH LLC
    Inventors: James L Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
  • Patent number: 11639271
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a guiderail for guiding one or more articles conveyed along a conveyor having a conveying path in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a mount for mounting to the conveyor. The mount includes a support rail for supporting the guide rail, which support rail may have a length in the conveying direction less than a length of the conveyor. The support rail may include one or more stops for engaging one of a pair of movable supports. The supports may be slidably mounted to the support rail for adjusting a position of the guiderail relative to the conveyor in a direction transverse to the conveying direction. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SPAN TECH LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Aaron Cotton, Nathan Lasley
  • Publication number: 20230111702
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding products along a conveyor in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a first guiderail for at least partially forming a conveying path for articles on the conveyor. A guiderail adjuster includes a flexible or collapsible support, which make take the form of a linkage, and which provides support for the first guiderail along the conveyor. The flexible or collapsible support is adapted for being extended and retracted along a support rail extending in the conveying direction to selectively position the first guiderail relative to the conveyor, and thereby alter (increase or decrease) the width of the conveying path. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
  • Patent number: 11530096
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding products along a conveyor in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a first guiderail for at least partially forming a conveying path for articles on the conveyor. A guiderail adjuster includes a flexible or collapsible support, which make take the form of a linkage, and which provides support for the first guiderail along the conveyor. The flexible or collapsible support is adapted for being extended and retracted along a support rail extending in the conveying direction to selectively position the first guiderail relative to the conveyor, and thereby alter (increase or decrease) the width of the conveying path. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SPAN TECH LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
  • Publication number: 20220063922
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a guiderail for guiding one or more articles conveyed along a conveyor having a conveying path in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a mount for mounting to the conveyor. The mount includes a support rail for supporting the guide rail, which support rail may have a length in the conveying direction less than a length of the conveyor. The support rail may include one or more stops for engaging one of a pair of movable supports. The supports may be slidably mounted to the support rail for adjusting a position of the guiderail relative to the conveyor in a direction transverse to the conveying direction. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Aaron Cotton, Nathan Lasley
  • Publication number: 20210362956
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding products along a conveyor in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a first guiderail for at least partially forming a conveying path for articles on the conveyor. A guiderail adjuster includes a flexible or collapsible support, which make take the form of a linkage, and which provides support for the first guiderail along the conveyor. The flexible or collapsible support is adapted for being extended and retracted along a support rail extending in the conveying direction to selectively position the first guiderail relative to the conveyor, and thereby alter (increase or decrease) the width of the conveying path. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
  • Patent number: 11097901
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding products along a conveyor in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a first guiderail for at least partially forming a conveying path for articles on the conveyor. A guiderail adjuster includes a flexible or collapsible support, which make take the form of a linkage, and which provides support for the first guiderail along the conveyor. The flexible or collapsible support is adapted for being extended and retracted along a support rail extending in the conveying direction to selectively position the first guiderail relative to the conveyor, and thereby alter (increase or decrease) the width of the conveying path. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SPAN TECH LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
  • Publication number: 20210047128
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding products along a conveyor in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a first guiderail for at least partially forming a conveying path for articles on the conveyor. A guiderail adjuster includes a flexible or collapsible support, which make take the form of a linkage, and which provides support for the first guiderail along the conveyor. The flexible or collapsible support is adapted for being extended and retracted along a support rail extending in the conveying direction to selectively position the first guiderail relative to the conveyor, and thereby alter (increase or decrease) the width of the conveying path. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
  • Patent number: 10836583
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding products along a conveyor in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a first guiderail for at least partially forming a conveying path for articles on the conveyor. A guiderail adjuster includes a flexible or collapsible support, which make take the form of a linkage, and which provides support for the first guiderail along the conveyor. The flexible or collapsible support is adapted for being extended and retracted along a support rail extending in the conveying direction to selectively position the first guiderail relative to the conveyor, and thereby alter (increase or decrease) the width of the conveying path. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SPAN TECH LLC
    Inventors: James L. Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
  • Publication number: 20200079593
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding products along a conveyor in a conveying direction. The apparatus includes a first guiderail for at least partially forming a conveying path for articles on the conveyor. A guiderail adjuster includes a flexible or collapsible support, which make take the form of a linkage, and which provides support for the first guiderail along the conveyor. The flexible or collapsible support is adapted for being extended and retracted along a support rail extending in the conveying direction to selectively position the first guiderail relative to the conveyor, and thereby alter (increase or decrease) the width of the conveying path. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell