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).
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Publication number: 20250033891Abstract: A system includes a conveyor and a cable adapted to travel along an endless path to extend or retract a first adjustable guiderail for guiding one or more articles when being conveyed along the conveyor. A cable actuator adapted to move the cable along an endless path. The cable actuator may include a capstan adapted to receive at least a portion of the cable and rotate to cause the cable to move along the endless path, a tensioner adapted to tension the cable, or both the capstan and the tensioner. First and second adjustable guiderails may also be provided, along with a controller for controlling associated cable actuators. The controller may include a plurality of preset conditions, each corresponding to a width of an article to be conveyed or to a width of the conveying path between the first adjustable guiderail and the second adjustable guiderail.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2022Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Stephen C. Fye, Aaron Cotton, James L. Layne
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Patent number: 11840403Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: SPAN TECH LLCInventors: James L Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
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Patent number: 11639271Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: SPAN TECH LLCInventors: James L. Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Aaron Cotton, Nathan Lasley
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Publication number: 20230111702Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2022Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
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Patent number: 11530096Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: SPAN TECH LLCInventors: James L. Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
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Publication number: 20220063922Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Aaron Cotton, Nathan Lasley
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Publication number: 20210362956Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
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Patent number: 11097901Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: SPAN TECH LLCInventors: James L. Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
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Publication number: 20210047128Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2018Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
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Patent number: 10836583Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: SPAN TECH LLCInventors: James L. Layne, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell
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Publication number: 20200079593Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: James L. LAYNE, Stephen C. Fye, Scott Dayton Barbour, Aaron Cotton, Savannah Bell