Patents by Inventor Gregory M. Fulkerson

Gregory M. Fulkerson 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: 7163502
    Abstract: Rotary transfer mechanism is mounted on a frame for removing a flat folded carton from a storage hopper to move the carton to a flight conveyor assembly and in cooperation therewith erect the carton to be in an open rectangular condition. The transfer mechanism includes end plates rotated in one angular direction and vacuum cup assemblies rotated therewith and relative thereto in the opposite angular direction. The cup assemblies include transversely opposite cups having adjacent sides less flexible than their remote sides and intermediate cups having buttons therein to form dimples in a carton panel when grippingly engaged. The flight assembly includes guideways to have lugs of flight devices extend into their channels as devices move along the upper run of an endless conveyor. The flight devices include flight bars extending vertically above the lugs as the lugs move in said channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Thiele Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory M. Fulkerson, Richard A. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5809738
    Abstract: A high speed multiple conveyor packaging system having product separating bars that separate a product into specific sized groups on moving opposing conveyors. Two product streams diverge to meet the separating bars, and subsequently reconverge after separation for loading into a carton or package. Separated conveyed product is channeled from opposing conveyors into another conveyed product carton from opposing carton ends. A tight package is formed by sets of formed guide bars which cause the package flaps to be stretched or formed to the position of maximum tightness about the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Thiele Engineering Company
    Inventors: Brad Stephens, Duane Raymond, Gregory M. Fulkerson
  • Patent number: 5581981
    Abstract: A device and method for packaging of toothbrushes in cartons where conveyored toothbrushes gravitationally descend in a containment slide to be released individually from a metering mechanism into dual slotted starwheels. Brushes from the starwheels are deposited into configured infeed buckets to be subsequently loaded into a carton by a brush inserter mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Thiele Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gregory M. Fulkerson, Michael R. Jennings, Stephen A. Kaye, Dwaine D. Raddatz
  • Patent number: 5348135
    Abstract: Can selector bar assembly including one or more can selector flight bars, each having an angled tip comprised of a rubber or plastic-like material for non-scoring or scratching separation of product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Thiele Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gregory M. Fulkerson, Melvin Allrich
  • Patent number: 5237795
    Abstract: A high speed multiple conveyor packaging system having product separating bars that separate a product into specific sized groups on moving opposing conveyors. Two product streams diverge to meet the separating bars, and subsequently reconverge after separation for loading into a carton or package. Separated conveyed product is channeled from opposing conveyors into another conveyed product carton from opposing carton ends. A tight package is formed by sets of formed guide bars which cause the package flaps to be stretched or formed to the position of maximum tightness about the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Thiele Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ervin J. Cheney, Peter N. Y. Pan, Gregory M. Fulkerson
  • Patent number: 4421229
    Abstract: A case is provided for carrying two tiers of product which may be opened to form two tray portions each containing a single tier of product. The case has horizontally split ends, one horizontally separable sidewall and a central horizontal partition with flaps that extend through the split ends, some of which are secured to the upper portion of the ends and some of which are secured to the lower portions of the ends. The case is opened by splitting the separable sidewall, detaching the flaps from the lower portions of the ends and swinging the upper tray portion away from the lower tray portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Paxall, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Y. Pan, Gregory M. Fulkerson