Patents by Inventor Anthony D. Ford

Anthony D. Ford 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: 5535999
    Abstract: A device for simultaneously rotating and translating a flat article comprises a flat, low-friction table surface and a plurality of conveyor-driven platens. Each platen frictionally engages an article and transports it linearly along the table surface. Simultaneously, a cam slowly rotates the platen, and with it, the article, through a predefined angular displacement, such as 90 degrees. The conveyer drive is implemented as a spaced pair of continuous chain loops supported by sprockets. The platens include a rotatable platen component supported by a structural carriage. Each carriage is connected to the chains at two positions. The front connection is rotatable about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the carriage, but is otherwise fixed. The rear connection is both rotatable and slidable. The slidable rear connection accommodates necessary variations in linear distance between the front and rear connections as they follow the chain around a sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Axia Incorporated
    Inventor: Anthony D. Ford