Patents by Inventor Kenneth M. Welborn
Kenneth M. Welborn 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: 20090087297Abstract: A transfer device is disclosed for transferring a plurality of stacks of disk-like objects such as frozen hamburger patties, from a plurality of first trays having bottom walls angled with respect to horizontal to a horizontal support platform spaced from the trays. The transfer device includes a support frame having wheels that is movable between first and second ends of a guide track and a pivotal frame pivotally attached to the support frame which pivotal frame supports upper and lower grippers for engaging the upper and lower sides of a plurality of stacks of objects and securely holding the stacks of objects as they are moved between first and second positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Colin R. HART, Kenneth M. Welborn, Jimmy L. Meyer
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Patent number: 7462012Abstract: A transfer device is disclosed for transferring a plurality of stacks of disk-like objects such as frozen hamburger patties, from a plurality of first trays having bottom walls angled with respect to horizontal to a horizontal support platform spaced from the trays. The transfer device includes a support frame having wheels that is movable between first and second ends of a guide track and a pivotal frame pivotally attached to the support frame which pivotal frame supports upper and lower grippers for engaging the upper and lower sides of a plurality of stacks of objects and securely holding the stacks of objects as they are moved between first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn, Jimmy L. Meyer
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Patent number: 7104026Abstract: A packing method and system are disclosed which system includes a first platform having a product support surface for supporting a product and a second platform for supporting a box into which the product is to be packed. After a box is received on and secured to the second platform, the second platform is rotated so that the open top of the box faces the first platform and moved toward the first platform until the box substantially surrounds the product on the product support surface. The first and second platforms are then rotated simultaneously so that the product is transferred from the product support to the box, and the full box is discharged to a discharge conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Kenneth M. Welborn, Gregg A. Martin, Steven N. Tomlin, Jimmy L. Meyer, Colin R. Hart
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Patent number: 7080969Abstract: A system for forming a plurality of discrete objects into a stack is disclosed which system includes a frame having a top, a bottom and sides; a conveyor associated with the frame and having an end edge for dispensing discrete objects, a first support mounted on the frame near the end edge for receiving objects from the end edge and having an opening with a width smaller than the width of the objects, a first actuator operably connected to the first support for moving the first support between first and second positions relative to the end edge; a second actuator operably connected to the first support for moving the first support between upper and lower positions relative to the frame; a second support mounted on the frame beneath the first support having a width less than the width of the opening in the first support; a third actuator operatively connected to the second support for moving the second support between high and low positions, the second support high position being higher than the first supportType: GrantFiled: July 19, 2005Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn, Steve N. Tomlin, Matthew Peterson
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Patent number: 7028450Abstract: A system for automatically forming several parallel rows of disk-like objects on a conveyor into stacks and packing those stacks into boxes is disclosed along with a method of operating the system. The system includes a stacker receiving the disk-like objects as they fall of the conveyor, a buffer receiving stacks from the stacker in groups of a first number, a transfer device for removing the stacks from the buffer in groups of a second number, and a packer for packing the stacks into boxes. The second number can be less than, greater than, or equal to the first number.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn
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Patent number: 6957941Abstract: A buffer device for buffering a flow of stacks of discrete objects between a stacking machine and a packaging machine is disclosed which buffer includes a plurality of individual trays mounted on carriers which carriers are mounted on a frame and driven about the periphery of the frame by a drive. A first number of stacks of objects is placed on a first number of carriers on a first side of the frame and a second number of stacks are removed from a second number of carriers on a second side of the frame where the first number can be greater than, less than or equal to the first number. The carriers clamp onto a continuously moving drive belt in a manner that allow the drive belt to slip through the carrier clamps when motion of the carriers is obstructed. A method of using the buffer device is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn
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Patent number: 6918736Abstract: A system for forming a plurality of discrete objects into a stack is disclosed which system includes a frame having a top, a bottom and sides; a conveyor associated with the frame and having an end edge for dispensing discrete objects, a first support mounted on the frame near the end edge for receiving objects from the end edge and having an opening with a width smaller than the width of the objects, a first actuator operably connected to the first support for moving the first support between first and second positions relative to the end edge; a second actuator operably connected to the first support for moving the first support between upper and lower positions relative to the frame; a second support mounted on the frame beneath the first support having a width less than the width of the opening in the first support; a third actuator operatively connected to the second support for moving the second support between high and low positions, the second support high position being higher than the first supportType: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: July 19, 2005Assignee: F.R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn, Steve N. Tomlin, Matthew Peterson
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Publication number: 20040206054Abstract: A packing method and system are disclosed which system includes a first platform having a product support surface for supporting a product and a second platform for supporting a box into which the product is to be packed. After a box is received on and secured to the second platform, the second platform is rotated so that the open top of the box faces the first platform and moved toward the first platform until the box substantially surrounds the product on the product support surface. The first and second platforms are then rotated simultaneously so that the product is transferred from the product support to the box, and the full box is discharged to a discharge conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Kenneth M. Welborn, Gregg A. Martin, Steven N. Tomlin, Jimmy L. Meyer, Colin R. Hart
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Patent number: 6679033Abstract: A packing method and system are disclosed which system includes a first platform having a product support surface for supporting a product and a second platform for supporting a box into which the product is to be packed. After a box is received on and secured to the second platform, the second platform is rotated so that the open top of the box faces the first platform and moved toward the first platform until the box substantially surrounds the product on the product support surface. The first and second platforms are then rotated simultaneously so that the product is transferred from the product support to the box, and the full box is discharged to a discharge conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: F. R. Drake CompanyInventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn, Jimmy L. Meyer
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Publication number: 20030007859Abstract: A system for forming a plurality of discrete objects into a stack is disclosed which system includes a frame having a top, a bottom and sides; a conveyor associated with the frame and having an end edge for dispensing discrete objects, a first support mounted on the frame near the end edge for receiving objects from the end edge and having an opening with a width smaller than the width of the objects, a first actuator operably connected to the first support for moving the first support between first and second positions relative to the end edge; a second actuator operably connected to the first support for moving the first support between upper and lower positions relative to the frame; a second support mounted on the frame beneath the first support having a width less than the width of the opening in the first support; a third actuator operatively connected to the second support for moving the second support between high and low positions, the second support high position being higher than the first supportType: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: January 9, 2003Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn, Steve N. Tomlin, Matthew Peterson
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Publication number: 20020189205Abstract: A system for automatically forming several parallel rows of disk-like objects on a conveyor into stacks and packing those stacks into boxes is disclosed along with a method of operating the system. The system includes a stacker receiving the disk-like objects as they fall of the conveyor, a buffer receiving stacks from the stacker in groups of a first number, a transfer device for removing the stacks from the buffer in groups of a second number, and a packer for packing the stacks into boxes. The second number can be less than, greater than, or equal to the first number.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn
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Publication number: 20020189209Abstract: A packing method and system are disclosed which system includes a first platform having a product support surface for supporting a product and a second platform for supporting a box into which the product is to be packed. After a box is received on and secured to the second platform, the second platform is rotated so that the open top of the box faces the first platform and moved toward the first platform until the box substantially surrounds the product on the product support surface. The first and second platforms are then rotated simultaneously so that the product is transferred from the product support to the box, and the full box is discharged to a discharge conveyor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn, Jimmy L. Meyer
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Publication number: 20020189201Abstract: A buffer device for buffering a flow of stacks of discrete objects between a stacking machine and a packaging machine is disclosed which buffer includes a plurality of individual trays mounted on carriers which carriers are mounted on a frame and driven about the periphery of the frame by a drive. A first number of stacks of objects is placed on a first number of carriers on a first side of the frame and a second number of stacks are removed from a second number of carriers on a second side of the frame where the first number can be greater than, less than or equal to the first number. The carriers clamp onto a continuously moving drive belt in a manner that allow the drive belt to slip through the carrier clamps when motion of the carriers is obstructed. A method of using the buffer device is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn
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Publication number: 20020182050Abstract: A transfer device is disclosed for transferring a plurality of stacks of disk-like objects such as frozen hamburger patties, from a plurality of first trays having bottom walls angled with respect to horizontal to a horizontal support platform spaced from the trays. The transfer device includes a support frame having wheels that is movable between first and second ends of a guide track and a pivotal frame pivotally attached to the support frame which pivotal frame supports upper and lower grippers for engaging the upper and lower sides of a plurality of stacks of objects and securely holding the stacks of objects as they are moved between first and second positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Kenneth M. Welborn, Jimmy L. Meyer