Patents by Inventor John E. Wenzel
John E. Wenzel 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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Publication number: 20260347115Abstract: A belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt having upper and lower inline rollers arranged in a stack and selectively actuated to rotate. When actuated, the upper article-supporting rollers are rotated by contact with the lower rollers riding on raised bearing faces in a carryway. When deactuated, the upper rollers are braked by braking pads, and the lower rollers are out of contact with lowered bearing faces. The belt rollers are actuated and deactuated by a matrix of individually controllable roller actuation assemblies, each defining a roller actuation zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2026Publication date: November 5, 2026Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Joseph F. Kovacs, Angela Longo Marshall, John E. Wenzel, Christopher B. Spicer, James L. Brun, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Richard M. Klein, David W. Bogle
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Publication number: 20260307915Abstract: A conveying system employs a plurality of braking devices to selectively and temporarily stop product flow. A series of spaced-apart narrow belts extends longitudinally for conveying product from a first end to a second end. Selectively raisable brake pads are interspersed between the narrow belts. Actuators selectively raise a designated brake pad to push a selected product out of contact with one or more narrow belts to temporarily halt the forward movement of a selected product.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2024Publication date: October 8, 2026Inventors: Joseph F. Kovacs, John E. Wenzel
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Patent number: 12692083Abstract: A belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt having upper and lower inline rollers arranged in a stack and selectively actuated to rotate. When actuated, the upper article-supporting rollers are rotated by contact with the lower rollers riding on raised bearing faces in a carryway. When deactuated, the upper rollers are braked by braking pads and the lower rollers are out of contact with lowered bearing faces. The belt rollers are actuated and deactuated by a matrix of individually controllable roller actuation assemblies, each defining a roller actuation zone.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2023Date of Patent: July 28, 2026Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Joseph F. Kovacs, Angela Longo Marshall, John E. Wenzel, Christopher B. Spicer, James L. Brun, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Richard M. Klein, David W. Bogle
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Publication number: 20250115436Abstract: A belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt having upper and lower inline rollers arranged in a stack and selectively actuated to rotate. When actuated, the upper article-supporting rollers are rotated by contact with the lower rollers riding on raised bearing faces in a carryway. When deactuated, the upper rollers are braked by braking pads and the lower rollers are out of contact with lowered bearing faces. The belt rollers are actuated and deactuated by a matrix of individually controllable roller actuation assemblies, each defining a roller actuation zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2023Publication date: April 10, 2025Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Joseph F. Kovacs, Angela Longo Marshall, John E. Wenzel, Christopher B. Spicer, James L. Brun, Gilbert J. MacLachlan, Richard M. Klein, David W. Bogle
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Publication number: 20240409318Abstract: A conveyor system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of article-diverting conveyor belt rollers. An underlying drive roller assembly includes a plurality of pivotable rollers carriers, each having a freely rotatable drive roller that contacts the conveyor belt rollers from below. An actuator engages an orientation device to pivot the carriers and change the orientation of the drive rollers. The drive rollers may also move into and out of engagement with the conveyor belt rollers as their orientation changes. The orientation device is sandwiched between three-dimensional support plates to adjust the orientation of the drive rollers relative to the belt rollers. A top support plate includes corrugated vertical walls forming wearstrip holders. The orientation device may raise or lower the drive rollers during pivoting of the roller carriers. The drive roller assembly may be a modular assembly that can be customized for varying sizes, shapes and configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2024Publication date: December 12, 2024Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Joseph F. Kovacs, Angela Longo Marshall, Christopher B. Spicer, John E. Wenzel, Yorrick Mulder
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Patent number: 12091255Abstract: A conveyor system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of article-diverting conveyor belt rollers. An underlying drive roller assembly includes a plurality of pivotable rollers carriers, each having a freely rotatable drive roller that contacts the conveyor belt rollers from below. An actuator engages an orientation device to pivot the carriers and change the orientation of the drive rollers. The drive rollers may also move into and out of engagement with the conveyor belt rollers as their orientation changes. The orientation device is sandwiched between three-dimensional support plates to adjust the orientation of the drive rollers relative to the belt rollers. A top support plate includes corrugated vertical walls forming wearstrip holders. The orientation device may raise or lower the drive rollers during pivoting of the roller carriers. The drive roller assembly may be a modular assembly that can be customized for varying sizes, shapes and configurations.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Joseph F. Kovacs, Angela Longo Marshall, Christopher B. Spicer, John E. Wenzel, Yorrick Mulder
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Patent number: 11807461Abstract: Belt edge modules for constructing modular conveyor belts with sturdy outer edges. The edge modules have thickened outer edge regions in module edge portions that are difficult to snip or break off to access hinge rods.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Kevin W. Guernsey, John E. Wenzel, David Aaron van Schalkwijk, Matthew Vulpetti
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Patent number: 11772896Abstract: A modular noseroller assembly for transitioning a conveyor belt at an end of a carryway comprises a plurality of roller-mounting modules connected to a spacer element to form a noseroller assembly that can be installed in a conveyor frame. The roller-mounting modules mount freely-rotating rollers on an axle extending through the plurality of roller-mounting modules. The configuration and size of the noseroller assembly can be easily modified depending on a particular application.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: David Aaron van Schalkwijk, John E. Wenzel, Sijia Chen, R. Scott Dailey, Richard M. Klein
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Publication number: 20230278806Abstract: A conveyor system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of article-diverting conveyor belt rollers. An underlying drive roller assembly includes a plurality of pivotable rollers carriers, each having a freely rotatable drive roller that contacts the conveyor belt rollers from below. An actuator engages an orientation device to pivot the carriers and change the orientation of the drive rollers. The drive rollers may also move into and out of engagement with the conveyor belt rollers as their orientation changes. The orientation device is sandwiched between three-dimensional support plates to adjust the orientation of the drive rollers relative to the belt rollers. A top support plate includes corrugated vertical walls forming wearstrip holders. The orientation device may raise or lower the drive rollers during pivoting of the roller carriers. The drive roller assembly may be a modular assembly that can be customized for varying sizes, shapes and configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2021Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Joseph F. Kovacs, Angela Longo Marshall, Christopher B. Spicer, John E. Wenzel, Yorrick Mulder
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Publication number: 20220212874Abstract: Belt edge modules for constructing modular conveyor belts with sturdy outer edges. The edge modules have thickened outer edge regions in module edge portions that are difficult to snip or break off to access hinge rods.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2020Publication date: July 7, 2022Inventors: Kevin W. Guernsey, John E. Wenzel, David Aaron van Schalkwijk, Matthew Vulpetti
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Publication number: 20220162006Abstract: A modular noseroller assembly for transitioning a conveyor belt at an end of a carryway comprises a plurality of roller-mounting modules connected to a spacer element to form a noseroller assembly that can be installed in a conveyor frame. The roller-mounting modules mount freely-rotating rollers on an axle extending through the plurality of roller-mounting modules. The configuration and size of the noseroller assembly can be easily modified depending on a particular application.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: David Aaron van Schalkwijk, John E. Wenzel, Sijia Chen, R. Scott Dailey, Richard M. Klein
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Patent number: 9409718Abstract: A conveyor belt comprising a plurality of modules hingedly connected together includes a first type of module including raised ribs arranged in columns and a second type of module including chock segments aligned with the columns. A transfer device includes fingers aligned with gaps between the chock segments and valleys between the columns. Each chock segment is substantially triangular in shape.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.Inventors: Soren A. Pedersen, Miranda R. Kovach, R. Scott Dailey, John E. Wenzel
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Publication number: 20150175359Abstract: A conveyor belt comprising a plurality of modules hingedly connected together includes a first type of module including raised ribs arranged in columns and a second type of module including chock segments aligned with the columns. A transfer device includes fingers aligned with gaps between the chock segments and valleys between the columns. Each chock segment is substantially triangular in shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Soren A. Pedersen, Miranda R. Kovach, R. Scott Dailey, John E. Wenzel