Patents by Inventor David A. Kokx

David A. Kokx 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: 11952219
    Abstract: A drive assembly for conveyor belt comprises a pair of opposing end plates for mounting a conveyor drive and mounting assemblies for mounting at least one of a position limiter assembly, a scraper assembly, a combined limiter-scraper assembly and side guards. The scraper assembly and combined limiter-scraper assembly include a leaf spring that is selectively tensioned by a tensioning element on an end plate to bias the scraper blade of the scraper assembly into an operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Jake A. Mohan, Gerko Hulshof, David A. Kokx, Jeff Batchelder, Drew Downer, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20240076132
    Abstract: A cleanable conveyor frame and a method for making a cleanable frame having a simplified frame design. Infeed and outfeed assemblies are movable between operating and cleaning positions. An outfeed assembly includes a drive for a conveyor belt and a scraper assembly. The scraper assembly comprises a scraper blade mounted to a mounting bar extending between two connecting plates and a leaf spring extending rearward from the mounting bar for biasing the scraper blade into contact with the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Jeff Batchelder, Gerko Hulshof, David A. Kokx, James R. Honeycutt, JR.
  • Patent number: 11884492
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an adjustable product containment guard adjacent to a carryway for containing product on the carryway. The product containment guard is mounted to an end plate that includes multiple seats for moving the product containment guard between different positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David A. Kokx
  • Patent number: 11827454
    Abstract: A cleanable conveyor frame and a method for making a cleanable frame having a simplified frame design. Infeed and outfeed assemblies are movable between operating and cleaning positions. An outfeed assembly includes a drive for a conveyor belt and a position limiter-scraper assembly. The position limiter-scraper assembly comprises a roller extending between two connecting plates mounted to outfeed mounting plates, a scraper assembly having a scraper blade mounted to a mounting bar extending between the two connecting plates and a leaf spring extending rearward from the mounting bar for biasing the scraper blade into contact with the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Jeff Batchelder, Gerko Hulshof, David A. Kokx, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220250854
    Abstract: A drive assembly for conveyor belt comprises a pair of opposing endplates for mounting a conveyor drive and mounting assemblies for mounting at least one of a position limiter assembly, a scraper assembly, a combined limiter-scraper assembly and side guards. The scraper assembly and combined limiter-scraper assembly include a leaf spring that is selectively tensioned by a tensioning element on an end plate to bias the scraper blade of the scraper assembly into an operational position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Jake A. Mohan, Gerko Hulshof, David A. Kokx, Jeff Batchelder, Drew Downer, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220212876
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an adjustable product containment guard adjacent to a carryway for containing product on the carryway. The product containment guard is mounted to an end plate that includes multiple seats for moving the product containment guard between different positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventor: David A. Kokx
  • Patent number: 11345551
    Abstract: A sealed sprocket for a conveyor belt comprises a sprocket mounted on a drive shaft and a seal system sealing an interface between the sprocket and the drive shaft. The seal system comprises a seal cap housing ring seals for sealing interfaces between the sprocket and seal cap and between the seal cap and drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, David A. Kokx
  • Publication number: 20220048713
    Abstract: A cleanable frame and a method for making a cleanable frame having a simplified frame design. A hygienic conveyor frame assembly comprises a plurality of hollow tubular sections joined together to form an evacuated, sealed conveyor frame support structure that functions as a sterilization zone. An integral carryway is placed on the support structure. Lifters coupled to the conveyor frame can lift the carryway and conveyor belt for cleaning. Infeed and outfeed assemblies are also movable between operating and cleaning positions. A sensor can monitor the conditions of the frame interior to ensure that the vacuum is maintained and initiate a corrective action if the vacuum seal is breached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Jeff Batchelder, Gerko Hulshof, David A. Kokx, James R. Honeycutt, JR.
  • Patent number: 11192723
    Abstract: A cleanable frame and a method for making a cleanable frame having a simplified frame design. A hygienic conveyor frame assembly comprises a plurality of hollow tubular sections joined together to form an evacuated, sealed conveyor frame support structure that functions as a sterilization zone. An integral carryway is placed on the support structure. Lifters coupled to the conveyor frame can lift the carryway and conveyor belt for cleaning. Infeed and outfeed assemblies are also movable between operating and cleaning positions. A sensor can monitor the conditions of the frame interior to ensure that the vacuum is maintained and initiate a corrective action if the vacuum seal is breached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Jeff Batchelder, Gerko Hulshof, David A. Kokx, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210261346
    Abstract: A sealed sprocket for a conveyor belt comprises a sprocket mounted on a drive shaft and a seal system sealing an interface between the sprocket and the drive shaft. The seal system comprises a seal cap housing ring seals for sealing interfaces between the sprocket and seal cap and between the seal cap and drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, David A. Kokx
  • Publication number: 20210188561
    Abstract: A cleanable frame and a method for making a cleanable frame having a simplified frame design. A hygienic conveyor frame assembly comprises a plurality of hollow tubular sections joined together to form an evacuated, sealed conveyor frame support structure that functions as a sterilization zone. An integral carryway is placed on the support structure. Lifters coupled to the conveyor frame can lift the canyway and conveyor belt for cleaning. Infeed and outfeed assemblies are also movable between operating and cleaning positions. A sensor can monitor the conditions of the frame interior to ensure that the vacuum is maintained and initiate a corrective action if the vacuum seal is breached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Jeff Batchelder, Gerko Hulshof, David A. Kokx, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11040835
    Abstract: A sealed sprocket for a conveyor belt comprises a sprocket mounted on a drive shaft and a seal system sealing an interface between the sprocket and the drive shaft. The seal system comprises a seal cap housing ring seals for sealing interfaces between the sprocket and seal cap and between the seal cap and drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, David A. Kokx
  • Patent number: 11021330
    Abstract: A roller for a conveyor system comprises a nonlinear bore hole to facilitate retention of the roller on a roller-receiving portion of a corresponding shaft. A nonlinear bore hole comprises a central cylindrical portion for receiving a roller-receiving portion of the shaft and unaligned slots in communication with the central cylindrical portion to prevent migration of the roller from the roller-receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David A. Kokx
  • Publication number: 20200207548
    Abstract: A roller for a conveyor system comprises a nonlinear bore hole to facilitate retention of the roller on a roller-receiving portion of a corresponding shaft. A nonlinear bore hole comprises a central cylindrical portion for receiving a roller-receiving portion of the shaft and unaligned slots in communication with the central cylindrical portion to prevent migration of the roller from the roller-receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: David A. Kokx
  • Publication number: 20200140201
    Abstract: A sealed sprocket for a conveyor belt comprises a sprocket mounted on a drive shaft and a seal system sealing an interface between the sprocket and the drive shaft. The seal system comprises a seal cap housing ring seals for sealing interfaces between the sprocket and seal cap and between the seal cap and drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, David A. Kokx