Patents by Inventor Clinton Spangler

Clinton Spangler 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: 11299359
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a lapper assembly for use to overlap successive sheets of wood veneer or other materials along a conveyor. The lapper assembly may include a stop member configured to be rotatably mounted to a roller such that the stop member is pivotable around the rotational axis of the roller independently of the rotational angle of the roller. The lapper assembly may further include a lever arm coupled to one end of the stop member. An actuator may be pivotably coupled to the lever arm and the conveyor frame, and operated to pivot the stop member between a workpiece engaging position, in which the stop member extends into the path of workpiece flow, and a workpiece disengaging position below the path. Optionally, the lapper assembly roller and other rollers upstream/downstream may be operatively connected to a drive. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventor: Clinton Spangler
  • Publication number: 20210070570
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a lapper assembly for use to overlap successive sheets of wood veneer or other materials along a conveyor. The lapper assembly may include a stop member configured to be rotatably mounted to a roller such that the stop member is pivotable around the rotational axis of the roller independently of the rotational angle of the roller. The lapper assembly may further include a lever arm coupled to one end of the stop member. An actuator may be pivotably coupled to the lever arm and the conveyor frame, and operated to pivot the stop member between a workpiece engaging position, in which the stop member extends into the path of workpiece flow, and a workpiece disengaging position below the path. Optionally, the lapper assembly roller and other rollers upstream/downstream may be operatively connected to a drive. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventor: Clinton SPANGLER
  • Patent number: 10843883
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a lapper assembly for use to overlap successive sheets of wood veneer or other materials along a conveyor. The lapper assembly may include a stop member configured to be rotatably mounted to a roller such that the stop member is pivotable around the rotational axis of the roller independently of the rotational angle of the roller. The lapper assembly may further include a lever arm coupled to one end of the stop member. An actuator may be pivotably coupled to the lever arm and the conveyor frame, and operated to pivot the stop member between a workpiece engaging position, in which the stop member extends into the path of workpiece flow, and a workpiece disengaging position below the path. Optionally, the lapper assembly roller and other rollers upstream/downstream may be operatively connected to a drive. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventor: Clinton Spangler
  • Patent number: 10788265
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a veneer dryer system and methods of constructing, relocating, and replacing veneer dryers and other constructs such as lumber kilns, machinery, and processing lines or parts thereof. Embodiments of a veneer dryer system may include a track and a veneer dryer movably coupled with the track. The track may extend between the desired location of the veneer dryer and a construction location. Movers may be coupled with the track at the construction location. The veneer dryer may be partially or fully constructed on the movers and moved to the desired location for use. A pre-existing veneer dryer at the desired location may remain operational during the construction and removed before the new veneer dryer is moved into place, substantially reducing downtime and costs as compared to prior methods of replacing veneer dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Clinton Spangler, Conrad Bullion
  • Publication number: 20190120553
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a veneer dryer system and methods of constructing, relocating, and replacing veneer dryers and other constructs such as lumber kilns, machinery, and processing lines or parts thereof. Embodiments of a veneer dryer system may include a track and a veneer dryer movably coupled with the track. The track may extend between the desired location of the veneer dryer and a construction location. Movers may be coupled with the track at the construction location. The veneer dryer may be partially or fully constructed on the movers and moved to the desired location for use. A pre-existing veneer dryer at the desired location may remain operational during the construction and removed before the new veneer dryer is moved into place, substantially reducing downtime and costs as compared to prior methods of replacing veneer dryers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Clinton SPANGLER, Conrad BULLION
  • Patent number: 10161679
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a veneer dryer system and methods of constructing, relocating, and replacing veneer dryers and other constructs such as lumber kilns, machinery, and processing lines or parts thereof. Embodiments of a veneer dryer system may include a track and a veneer dryer movably coupled with the track. The track may extend between the desired location of the veneer dryer and a construction location. Movers may be coupled with the track at the construction location. The veneer dryer may be partially or fully constructed on the movers and moved to the desired location for use. A pre-existing veneer dryer at the desired location may remain operational during the construction and removed before the new veneer dryer is moved into place, substantially reducing downtime and costs as compared to prior methods of replacing veneer dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Clinton Spangler, Conrad Bullion
  • Publication number: 20180346269
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a lapper assembly for use to overlap successive sheets of wood veneer or other materials along a conveyor. The lapper assembly may include a stop member configured to be rotatably mounted to a roller such that the stop member is pivotable around the rotational axis of the roller independently of the rotational angle of the roller. The lapper assembly may further include a lever arm coupled to one end of the stop member. An actuator may be pivotably coupled to the lever arm and the conveyor frame, and operated to pivot the stop member between a workpiece engaging position, in which the stop member extends into the path of workpiece flow, and a workpiece disengaging position below the path. Optionally, the lapper assembly roller and other rollers upstream/downstream may be operatively connected to a drive. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Clinton Spangler
  • Patent number: 9995532
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Publication number: 20170219285
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a veneer dryer system and methods of constructing, relocating, and replacing veneer dryers and other constructs such as lumber kilns, machinery, and processing lines or parts thereof. Embodiments of a veneer dryer system may include a track and a veneer dryer movably coupled with the track. The track may extend between the desired location of the veneer dryer and a construction location. Movers may be coupled with the track at the construction location. The veneer dryer may be partially or fully constructed on the movers and moved to the desired location for use. A pre-existing veneer dryer at the desired location may remain operational during the construction and removed before the new veneer dryer is moved into place, substantially reducing downtime and costs as compared to prior methods of replacing veneer dryers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Clinton Spangler, Conrad Bullion
  • Publication number: 20170059243
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Patent number: 9500408
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a veneer dryer system and methods of constructing, relocating, and replacing veneer dryers and other constructs such as lumber kilns, machinery, and processing lines or parts thereof. Embodiments of a veneer dryer system may include a track and a veneer dryer movably coupled with the track. The track may extend between the desired location of the veneer dryer and a construction location. Movers may be coupled with the track at the construction location. The veneer dryer may be partially or fully constructed on the movers and moved to the desired location for use. A pre-existing veneer dryer at the desired location may remain operational during the construction and removed before the new veneer dryer is moved into place, substantially reducing downtime and costs as compared to prior methods of replacing veneer dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Clinton Spangler, Conrad Bullion
  • Patent number: 9494365
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Publication number: 20160102913
    Abstract: Embodiments of a self-cleaning jet tube may include an elongate hollow body that is generally rectangular in cross-section and tapered from an open first end to a second end generally opposite the first end. The elongate hollow body may have an upper wall, a lower wall, side walls, a plurality of apertures arranged along the upper wall, an end plate coupled with the walls at the second end, and at least one through-slot. A through-slot may be disposed through the end plate or a wall, between the end plate and a wall, or between two walls. The jet tube may be configured for use with the through-slot(s) open and unblocked, thereby allowing debris to be expelled from the jet tube during operation of the jet veneer dryer. Corresponding systems and method are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Irven J. McMahon, Clinton Spangler
  • Publication number: 20150121714
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a veneer dryer system and methods of constructing, relocating, and replacing veneer dryers and other constructs such as lumber kilns, machinery, and processing lines or parts thereof. Embodiments of a veneer dryer system may include a track and a veneer dryer movably coupled with the track. The track may extend between the desired location of the veneer dryer and a construction location. Movers may be coupled with the track at the construction location. The veneer dryer may be partially or fully constructed on the movers and moved to the desired location for use. A pre-existing veneer dryer at the desired location may remain operational during the construction and removed before the new veneer dryer is moved into place, substantially reducing downtime and costs as compared to prior methods of replacing veneer dryers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Clinton Spangler, Conrad Bullion
  • Publication number: 20050034805
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for making cable reinforced belts or bands and includes cable supply unit for supplying a plurality of reinforcing cables (12), clamping unit for clamping cables under predetermined tension in each of hte reinforcing cables (12). Each tensioning stand (16) includes tensioning units (32) with a tension sensor for monitoring tension in an assocaited cable (12), an actuator (66) for applying a force to the cable (12) to produce therein a predetermined tension and an enclosed feedback controller for the force controlling actuator (66) which controls as a function of the signal generated by a load cell (100) connected to the actuator (66). A cable hold back unit is upstream the tensioning stand (16). Each tensioning unit (32) includes a pair of spaced apart cable sheaves (56) having rotational axes fixed with respect to the respect to the tensioning unit (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Clinton Spangler, Joseph Kuzmiak, Kenneth Gladyszewski, Monty Hadi, Charles Kosa