Patents by Inventor Benjamin Decker
Benjamin Decker 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: 20240140716Abstract: An apparatus for vertical transfer of whole nuts from a first elevation to a second, lower elevation includes a run extending between an entrance and an exit, and having a plurality of alternatingly arranged conveying panels between the entrance and the exit. Each conveying panel is inclined to horizontal and has a variable effective conveying width. The apparatus further includes arcuate turn-arounds disposed between respective conveying panels to facilitate transferring the nuts from one conveying panel to the next lower conveying panel. The variable effective conveying width is selected based on a predetermined mass flow rate of nuts such that whole nuts move along the run in a continuous stream without tumbling, and wherein each nut is in contact with adjacent nuts in its respective layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: TriDelta Systems, LLCInventors: Benjamin Decker Smith, Michael Pierce Woodall
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Patent number: 11939168Abstract: Vibratory conveyors, vibratory conveyor systems, and related methods are disclosed. An exemplary vibratory conveyor includes a support frame; a pan configured to receive a conveyed material, the pan mounted for cyclic movement relative to the support frame, the pan having a pan axis generally aligned with a conveying direction; and at least two linear servomotors operatively coupled to move the pan relative to the support frame, the at least two linear servomotors comprising a first linear servomotor and a second linear servomotor. The first linear servomotor defines a first linear servomotor actuating axis, the second linear servomotor defines a second linear servomotor actuating axis, and the first linear servomotor actuating axis is oriented obliquely relative to the second linear servomotor actuating axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Inventors: Benjamin Decker Smith, Michael Pierce Woodall, James Cody Bach
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Publication number: 20230174323Abstract: An apparatus for vertical transfer of whole nuts from a first elevation to a second, lower elevation includes a run extending between an entrance and an exit, and having a plurality of alternatingly arranged conveying panels between the entrance and the exit. Each conveying panel is inclined at approximately 30 degrees to horizontal and has a variable effective conveying width. The apparatus further includes arcuate turn-arounds disposed between respective conveying panels to facilitate transferring the nuts from one conveying panel to the next lower conveying panel. The variable effective conveying width is selected based on a predetermined mass flow rate of nuts such that whole nuts move along the run in a continuous stream without tumbling, and wherein each nut is in contact with adjacent nuts in its respective layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Benjamin Decker Smith, Lawrence Allen Povlacs, Robert Samuel Phillips
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Patent number: 11655105Abstract: An apparatus for vertical transfer of whole nuts from a first elevation to a second, lower elevation includes a run extending between an entrance and an exit, and having a plurality of alternatingly arranged conveying panels between the entrance and the exit. Each conveying panel is inclined at approximately 30 degrees to horizontal and has a predefined width. The apparatus further includes arcuate turn-arounds disposed between respective conveying panels to facilitate transferring the nuts from one conveying panel to the next lower conveying panel. The predefined width of the conveying panels is selected based on a predetermined mass flow rate of nuts such that whole nuts move along the run in a continuous stream without tumbling, and wherein each nut is in contact with adjacent nuts in its respective layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: TriDelta Systems, LLCInventors: Benjamin Decker Smith, Lawrence Allen Povlacs, Robert Samuel Phillips, Jr.
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Publication number: 20230115607Abstract: Vibratory conveyors, vibratory conveyor systems, and related methods are disclosed. An exemplary vibratory conveyor includes a support frame; a pan configured to receive a conveyed material, the pan mounted for cyclic movement relative to the support frame, the pan having a pan axis generally aligned with a conveying direction; and at least two linear servomotors operatively coupled to move the pan relative to the support frame, the at least two linear servomotors comprising a first linear servomotor and a second linear servomotor. The first linear servomotor defines a first linear servomotor actuating axis, the second linear servomotor defines a second linear servomotor actuating axis, and the first linear servomotor actuating axis is oriented obliquely relative to the second linear servomotor actuating axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2021Publication date: April 13, 2023Inventors: Benjamin Decker Smith, Michael Pierce Woodall, James Cody Bach
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Publication number: 20220135340Abstract: An apparatus for vertical transfer of whole nuts from a first elevation to a second, lower elevation includes a run extending between an entrance and an exit, and having a plurality of alternatingly arranged conveying panels between the entrance and the exit. Each conveying panel is inclined at approximately 30 degrees to horizontal and has a predefined width. The apparatus further includes arcuate turn-arounds disposed between respective conveying panels to facilitate transferring the nuts from one conveying panel to the next lower conveying panel. The predefined width of the conveying panels is selected based on a predetermined mass flow rate of nuts such that whole nuts move along the run in a continuous stream without tumbling, and wherein each nut is in contact with adjacent nuts in its respective layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Benjamin Decker Smith, Lawrence Allen Povlacs, Robert Samuel Phillips, JR.
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Patent number: 10547143Abstract: A wiring-harness includes an electrical-connector and a staging-device. The staging-device has a cavity defining a flexible-member in compressive contact with the electrical-connector. The flexible-member is configured to removably retain the electrical-connector within the cavity. The cavity locates the electrical-connector in a predetermined-position within the staging-device, such that the electrical-connector is presented to an assembler in the predetermined-position. The staging-device is particularly useful in automated, i.e. robotic, installation of the wiring-harness.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: David R. Peterson, Joseph Sudik, Jr., Frank Walter Szuba, Jr., Mark Intihar, Benjamin Decker, Andrew Kneppers
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Publication number: 20190288451Abstract: A wiring-harness includes an electrical-connector and a staging-device. The staging-device has a cavity defining a flexible-member in compressive contact with the electrical-connector. The flexible-member is configured to removably retain the electrical-connector within the cavity. The cavity locates the electrical-connector in a predetermined-position within the staging-device, such that the electrical-connector is presented to an assembler in the predetermined-position. The staging-device is particularly useful in automated, i.e. robotic, installation of the wiring-harness.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: David R. Peterson, Joseph Sudik, JR., Frank Walter Szuba, JR., Mark Intihar, Benjamin Decker, Andrew Kneppers
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Patent number: 10355409Abstract: A wiring-harness includes an electrical-connector and a staging-device. The staging-device has a cavity defining a flexible-member in compressive contact with the electrical-connector. The flexible-member is configured to removably retain the electrical-connector within the cavity. The cavity locates the electrical-connector in a predetermined-position within the staging-device, such that the electrical-connector is presented to an assembler in the predetermined-position. The staging-device is particularly useful in automated, i.e. robotic, installation of the wiring-harness.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDInventors: David R. Peterson, Joseph Sudik, Jr., Frank Walter Szuba, Jr., Mark Intihar, Benjamin Decker, Andrew Kneppers
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Publication number: 20180375256Abstract: A wiring-harness includes an electrical-connector and a staging-device. The staging-device has a cavity defining a flexible-member in compressive contact with the electrical-connector. The flexible-member is configured to removably retain the electrical-connector within the cavity. The cavity locates the electrical-connector in a predetermined-position within the staging-device, such that the electrical-connector is presented to an assembler in the predetermined-position. The staging-device is particularly useful in automated, i.e. robotic, installation of the wiring-harness.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: David R. Peterson, Joseph Sudik, JR., Frank Walter Szuba, JR., Mark Intihar, Benjamin Decker, Andrew Kneppers