Patents by Inventor Eric Gifford

Eric Gifford 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: 5300161
    Abstract: A methods is disclosed for labeling bottles in a stream. An input conveyor is provided for supplying bottles to a presenting station. Bottles are restrained at the presenting station until the appropriate time by an entrance gate. Bottles are conveyed from the presenting station to a work station by an advancing conveyor. Bottles entering the work station drive the predecessor bottle out of the work station. An exit gate is provided to halt bottles leaving the work station so that they act as a registration stop for bottles entering the work station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Automated Label Systems Company
    Inventor: Eric Gifford
  • Patent number: 5232541
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for labeling bottles in a stream. An input conveyor is provided for supplying bottles to a presenting station. Bottles are restrained at the presenting station until the appropriate time by an entrance gate. Bottles are conveyed from the presenting station to a work station by an advancing conveyor. Bottles entering the work station drive the predecessor bottle out of the work station. An exit gate is provided to halt bottles leaving the work station so that they act as a registration stop for bottles entering the work station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Gifford
  • Patent number: 4620888
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying tubular labels to a product container at a labeling station including a reciprocally movable labeling assembly. The assembly is adjustably secured to carriage that is mounted for reciprocating movement at the labeling station. A drive system including a drive cam defining an asymetrical profile is operatively coupled to the carriage by a lever arrangement including a cam follower driven by the drive cam. The profile of the drive cam is configured to have a steep rise and a gradual drop so that the average speed at which the labeling assembly is driven through a label applying strobe is substantially less than the speed at which the assembly is driven through a return stroke thus reducing the stress applied to the label as it is installed. A fluid pressure operated actuator pressurized to a first predetermined pressure exerts a biasing force on the lever to urge the cam follower into contact with the drive cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Easter, Eric Gifford, Rick S. Wehrmann, Dana Liebhart