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).
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Patent number: 11633838Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: HORIZON TOOL, INC.Inventors: Joseph R. Mundy, Ian M. Wirick, Christopher R. Simpson
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Patent number: 10894686Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: United States Postal ServiceInventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
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Patent number: 10858190Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 22, 2020Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICEInventors: Hans Arlt, Christopher R. Simpson
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Publication number: 20200262651Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Hans ARLT, Christopher R. SIMPSON
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Patent number: 10556746Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICEInventors: Hans Arlt, Christopher R. Simpson
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Publication number: 20190375523Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
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Patent number: 10421564Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: United States Postal ServiceInventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
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Publication number: 20180057286Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, III, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
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Patent number: 9840379Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: The United States Postal ServiceInventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar
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Publication number: 20160332823Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Dongliang Yang, Shao C. Yang, Christopher R. Simpson, James E. Goodbar, Marina E. Khazanov, George Coupar