Patents by Inventor Drew Downer

Drew Downer 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.
  • Patent number: 11787639
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an assembly at a drive end having a position limiter assembly configured to accommodate flights in a conveyor belt while ensuring proper engagement between the conveyor belt and a drive. The end assembly includes opposing end plates, a drive extending between the end plates and a position limiter assembly extending between the end plates below the drive for ensuring proper engagement of a conveyor belt with the drive. The position limiter comprises a series of spaced apart rollers mounted to and spaced from a mounting bar extending between the end plates. Roller mounting arms connect the rollers to the mounting bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Laitram L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik Degroot, Drew Downer, Gerko Hulshof, Jake A. Mohan
  • 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.
  • Patent number: 11332318
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway, a belt guiding roller, such as a sprocket or brake, a position limiter for ensuring proper engagement between the belt guiding roller and the conveyor belt and a connecting plate that ensures proper placement of the position limiter relative to the guide roller. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily moved into engagement and out of engagement to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Drew Downer, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220119200
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an assembly at a drive end having a position limiter assembly configured to accommodate flights in a conveyor belt while ensuring proper engagement between the conveyor belt and a drive. The end assembly includes opposing end plates, a drive extending between the end plates and a position limiter assembly extending between the end plates below the drive for ensuring proper engagement of a conveyor belt with the drive. The position limiter comprises a series of spaced apart rollers mounted to and spaced from a mounting bar extending between the end plates. Roller mounting arms connect the rollers to the mounting bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik Degroot, Drew Downer, Gerko Hulshof, Jake A. Mohan
  • Patent number: 11214446
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an assembly at a drive end having a position limiter assembly configured to accommodate flights in a conveyor belt while ensuring proper engagement between the conveyor belt and a drive. The end assembly includes opposing end plates, a drive extending between the end plates and a position limiter assembly extending between the end plates below the drive for ensuring proper engagement of a conveyor belt with the drive. The position limiter comprises a series of spaced apart rollers mounted to and spaced from a mounting bar extending between the end plates. Roller mounting arms connect the rollers to the mounting bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik Degroot, Drew Downer, Gerko Hulshof, Jake A. Mohan
  • Publication number: 20210016971
    Abstract: An end assembly for a conveyor comprises opposing mounting plates machined from steel billet and including upper openings for mounting a drive between the mounting plates and a grease egress channel below the upper openings for directing grease from a grease-filled bearing in the upper opening to the exterior of the end assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Drew Downer, Michael Hendrik DeGroot
  • Publication number: 20210009354
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway, a belt guiding roller, such as a sprocket or brake, a position limiter for ensuring proper engagement between the belt guiding roller and the conveyor belt and a connecting plate that ensures proper placement of the position limiter relative to the guide roller. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily moved into engagement and out of engagement to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Drew Downer, James R. Honeycutt, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200407170
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an assembly at a drive end having a position limiter assembly configured to accommodate flights in a conveyor belt while ensuring proper engagement between the conveyor belt and a drive. The end assembly includes opposing end plates, a drive extending between the end plates and a position limiter assembly extending between the end plates below the drive for ensuring proper engagement of a conveyor belt with the drive. The position limiter comprises a series of spaced apart rollers mounted to and spaced from a mounting bar extending between the end plates. Roller mounting arms connect the rollers to the mounting bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik Degroot, Drew Downer, Gerko Hulshof, Jake A. Mohan
  • Patent number: 10836581
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway, a belt guiding roller, such as a sprocket or brake, a position limiter for ensuring proper engagement between the belt guiding roller and the conveyor belt and a connecting plate that ensures proper placement of the position limiter relative to the guide roller. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily moved into engagement and out of engagement to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Drew Downer, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190263596
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway, a belt guiding roller, such as a sprocket or brake, a position limiter for ensuring proper engagement between the belt guiding roller and the conveyor belt and a connecting plate that ensures proper placement of the position limiter relative to the guide roller. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily moved into engagement and out of engagement to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Drew Downer, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.