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).
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Patent number: 9045287Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Abraham L. Miller, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
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Patent number: 8881890Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser, Abraham L. Miller, Errol P. Knott, Timothy J. DeRoche, Jude G. Martin
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Patent number: 8863944Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Patent number: 8776998Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: David C. Weiser, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Terral A. Ridgell
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Patent number: 8757366Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Publication number: 20140144754Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Abraham L. Miller, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
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Patent number: 8579104Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 18, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: David C. Weiser, Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Publication number: 20130240335Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Publication number: 20130213775Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Patent number: 8496105Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
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Publication number: 20120318644Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser, Abraham L. Miller
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Publication number: 20120298487Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser, Abraham L. Miller, Errol P. Knott, Timothy J. DeRoche, Jude G. Martin
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Publication number: 20120298486Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
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Publication number: 20110284347Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventors: Gilbert J. MacLachlan, David C. Weiser
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Publication number: 20110278138Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventors: David C. Weiser, Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Publication number: 20110278136Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventors: David C. Weiser, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Terral A. Ridgell
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Patent number: 8028823Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Publication number: 20110108476Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: LAITRAM, L.L.C.Inventor: Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Patent number: 7776212Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Philip J. Wunsch, Gilbert J. MacLachlan
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Patent number: 7575113Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 24, 2006Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Kyle J. Sedlacek, Mitchell G. Pansano, Jr., Gilbert J. MacLachlan