Patents by Inventor Gilbert J. MacLachlan

Gilbert J. MacLachlan 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: 9045287
    Abstract: Snap-on rollers for a conveyor belt. The snap-on roller may be snapped onto an axle or into a cavity of a conveyor belt module. Multi-piece snap-on rollers can be installed radially onto an axle on a conveyor belt and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Abraham L. Miller, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
  • Patent number: 8881890
    Abstract: A modular roller-top conveyor belt and rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles that are fixed relative to the module body. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser, Abraham L. Miller, Errol P. Knott, Timothy J. DeRoche, Jude G. Martin
  • Patent number: 8863944
    Abstract: A wear-resistant modular plastic conveyor belt can resist wear at the hinge for a long operating life, even in abrasive environments. The conveyor belt comprises a plurality of modules having T-shaped link ends interleaved together. A hinge rod may be inserted in a hinge passageway, formed at least in part by kidney-shaped openings in the T-shaped links. The conveyor belt employs multiple surfaces to transfer load from module to module during operation of the conveyor belt depending on the relative motion of the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Patent number: 8776998
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt constructed of belt modules having hooked structure to hold belt rows together during splicing for easier hinge-rod insertion and to accommodate an elongated belt edge portion permitting hinge-rod growth and a method for splicing such a belt together. The modules include a pivot end that hooks into a mating receptacle on the module of a consecutive belt row. An aperture through the receptacle and the pivot end is aligned with the apertures of other hinge elements to form a lateral passageway for a hinge rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David C. Weiser, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Terral A. Ridgell
  • Patent number: 8757366
    Abstract: A hinge rod retainer for a modular conveyor belt. The retainer retains a hinge rod within a passageway, while allowing room for rod expansion or contraction relative to the belt width. The retainer comprises a flexible portion and a support forming an outside edge of the modular conveyor belt. The flexible portion comprises a flexible hook including an opening for allowing passage of the hinge rod into the passageway. The flexible hook defines a trapping region between the passageway and outside edge of the modular conveyor belt for trapping a hinge rod end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20140144754
    Abstract: Snap-on rollers for a conveyor belt. The snap-on roller may be snapped onto an axle or into a cavity of a conveyor belt module. Multi-piece snap-on rollers can be installed radially onto an axle on a conveyor belt and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Abraham L. Miller, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
  • Patent number: 8579104
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt that is useful in accommodating hinge rods that tend to lengthen during use and an edge module for constructing such a belt. An edge portion of the edge module has an elongated link end that provides an unimpeded growth path for a hinge rod within the confines of the belt. The edge portion of one edge module is hooked to the edge portion of an adjacent edge module by a pivot that is pivotally received in a mating receptacle on the adjacent module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David C. Weiser, Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20130240335
    Abstract: A hinge rod retainer for a modular conveyor belt. The retainer retains a hinge rod within a passageway, while allowing room for rod expansion or contraction relative to the belt width. The retainer comprises a flexible portion and a support forming an outside edge of the modular conveyor belt. The flexible portion comprises a flexible hook including an opening for allowing passage of the hinge rod into the passageway. The flexible hook defines a trapping region between the passageway and outside edge of the modular conveyor belt for trapping a hinge rod end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20130213775
    Abstract: A wear-resistant modular plastic conveyor belt can resist wear at the hinge for a long operating life, even in abrasive environments. The conveyor belt comprises a plurality of modules having T-shaped link ends interleaved together. A hinge rod may be inserted in a hinge passageway, formed at least in part by kidney-shaped openings in the T-shaped links. The conveyor belt employs multiple surfaces to transfer load from module to module during operation of the conveyor belt depending on the relative motion of the modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Patent number: 8496105
    Abstract: A modular roller-top conveyor belt and multi-piece rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles unitarily molded with the belt modules. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
  • Publication number: 20120318644
    Abstract: Snap-on rollers for a conveyor belt. The snap-on roller may be snapped onto an axle or into a cavity of a conveyor belt module. Multi-piece snap-on rollers can be installed radially onto an axle on a conveyor belt and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser, Abraham L. Miller
  • Publication number: 20120298487
    Abstract: A modular roller-top conveyor belt and rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles that are fixed relative to the module body. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser, Abraham L. Miller, Errol P. Knott, Timothy J. DeRoche, Jude G. Martin
  • Publication number: 20120298486
    Abstract: A modular roller-top conveyor belt and multi-piece rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles unitarily molded with the belt modules. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
  • Publication number: 20110284347
    Abstract: Metal-coated thermo-plastic conveyor belt components and methods for their manufacture. Hinge rods, sprockets, and belt modules are coated with metal to increase their stiffness or wear resistance or to improve other performance characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
  • Publication number: 20110278138
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt that is useful in accommodating hinge rods that tend to lengthen during use and an edge module for constructing such a belt. An edge portion of the edge module has an elongated link end that provides an unimpeded growth path for a hinge rod within the confines of the belt. The edge portion of one edge module is hooked to the edge portion of an adjacent edge module by a pivot that is pivotally received in a mating receptacle on the adjacent module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David C. Weiser, Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20110278136
    Abstract: A modular plastic conveyor belt constructed of belt modules having hooked structure to hold belt rows together during splicing for easier hinge-rod insertion and to accommodate an elongated belt edge portion permitting hinge-rod growth and a method for splicing such a belt together. The modules include a pivot end that hooks into a mating receptacle on the module of a consecutive belt row. An aperture through the receptacle and the pivot end is aligned with the apertures of other hinge elements to form a lateral passageway for a hinge rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventors: David C. Weiser, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Terral A. Ridgell
  • Patent number: 8028823
    Abstract: A detachable stacked attachment for a modular conveyor belt. An attachment, for example, a bucket, comprises a group of components arranged side by side in an aligned stack of parallel layers. Interior components are sandwiched between outermost and end components. The number and widths of the components in the stack define the width of the resulting stack attachment. In this way, an attachment of selected width may be attached to a conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20110108476
    Abstract: A water screen or conveyor belt module includes one or more projections in its top surface for increasing the surface area of the top surface. Each projection includes fluid flow openings that provide a pathway for liquid to drain or fluid to flow between the top and bottom of the module. The fluid flow openings may comprise slots extending in the lengthwise direction of the module and extending into the module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Patent number: 7776212
    Abstract: A boot seal for a vertically traveling water screen and a method forming a boot seal. The boot seal comprises a bent plate that extends from an attachment end to a free end. The attachment end is attached to a frame mounted at the bottom of a channel of water flowing through the water screen. The boot seal is positioned just upstream of the upward-moving upstream face of the water screen. The free end of the bent plate in a rest position is positioned close to or lightly touching the upstream face of the water screen. The bent plate has a concave surface facing the water screen. The bent plate acts as a cam follower to a passing lift element's cam. As the lift element slides along the concave cam surface, the lift element pivots the boot plate in an upstream direction against a spring bias. When the lift element clears the boot plate, the boot plate springs back to its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Philip J. Wunsch, Gilbert J. MacLachlan
  • Patent number: 7575113
    Abstract: A modular belt constructed of belt modules having a large open area, making the belt suitable for use as a traveling water screen. The modules include an intermediate portion composed of intersecting sets of link elements and transverse elements that form a gridlike pattern. Openings bounded by the walls of consecutive link elements and transverse elements form channels through the belt for the flow of water. The modules are connected together by hinge rods to form a belt that can be used as a water screen. Detachable flights or scoops for lifting debris or fish out of a stream are attachable to base modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kyle J. Sedlacek, Mitchell G. Pansano, Jr., Gilbert J. MacLachlan