Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Simpson

Christopher R. Simpson 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: 11633838
    Abstract: A gear puller assembly includes a yoke that defines a plurality of puller arm receiving interfaces, a threaded jack shaft threadably received through the yoke and having a pressing surface on an end thereof, and a plurality of puller arms, wherein each respective puller arm is configured for being selectively engageable with a respective puller arm interface of the yoke. A detent assembly extends from the yoke through each of the puller arm receiving interfaces, each of the detent assemblies configured for engagement with respective puller arms to cause the puller arm to maintain a locked position defined at an angle between the respective puller arms and the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: HORIZON TOOL, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Mundy, Ian M. Wirick, Christopher R. Simpson
  • Patent number: 10894686
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Patent number: 10858190
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for an automative machine and methods for the same are disclosed. The pulley assembly may include a monolithic body, an actuation assembly, and a pulley. The body may define a recess extending from a first end surface toward a second end surface thereof. The recess may separate an upper portion from a lower portion of the body. The body may define a bore extending through the upper and lower portions of the body. The bore may be threaded along a length thereof. The actuation assembly may include a mechanical biasing element having a threaded portion. The mechanical biasing element may be disposed in the bore such that the threaded portion thereof is threadably coupled with the threaded portion of the bore. The pulley may be rotatably coupled with the upper portion of the body such that the pully moves when the upper portion is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: Hans Arlt, Christopher R. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20200262651
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for an automative machine and methods for the same are disclosed. The pulley assembly may include a monolithic body, an actuation assembly, and a pulley. The body may define a recess extending from a first end surface toward a second end surface thereof. The recess may separate an upper portion from a lower portion of the body. The body may define a bore extending through the upper and lower portions of the body. The bore may be threaded along a length thereof. The actuation assembly may include a mechanical biasing element having a threaded portion. The mechanical biasing element may be disposed in the bore such that the threaded portion thereof is threadably coupled with the threaded portion of the bore. The pulley may be rotatably coupled with the upper portion of the body such that the pully moves when the upper portion is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Hans ARLT, Christopher R. SIMPSON
  • Patent number: 10556746
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for an automative machine and methods for adjusting the pulley assembly are disclosed. The pulley assembly may include a monolithic body, an actuation assembly, and a pulley. The monolithic body may define a recess extending from a first end surface toward a second end surface thereof. The recess may at least partially separate an upper portion of the monolithic body from a lower portion of the monolithic body. The actuation assembly may be operably coupled with the monolithic body and configured to apply a biasing force to the upper portion of the monolithic body to actuate the upper portion of the monolithic body towards or away from the lower portion of the monolithic body. The pulley may be rotatably coupled with the upper portion of the monolithic body such that the pulley moves when the upper portion of the monolithic body is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
    Inventors: Hans Arlt, Christopher R. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20190375523
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Patent number: 10421564
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Publication number: 20180057286
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Patent number: 9840379
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: The United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
  • Publication number: 20160332823
    Abstract: Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar