Patents by Inventor Lee Ward Ferguson

Lee Ward Ferguson 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: 9758313
    Abstract: Aspects of a turn conveyor system are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor, where the first conveyor includes a lateral displacement mechanism configured to displace an article laterally between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. The system also includes a lateral conveyor extending between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, a sensor configured to sense a position of an article on the first conveyor, an arm positioner configured to position a turn arm to one of a plurality of locations, and control logic. The control arm can be configured to control an operation of the arm positioner to position the turn arm for rotation of the article, and control an operation of the lateral displacement mechanism based in part on the position of the article to displace the article onto the lateral conveyor and into the turn arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Roger Hogan, John Dewayne Prather, Lee Ward Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20160052724
    Abstract: Aspects of a turn conveyor system are described. In one embodiment, the system includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor, where the first conveyor includes a lateral displacement mechanism configured to displace an article laterally between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. The system also includes a lateral conveyor extending between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, a sensor configured to sense a position of an article on the first conveyor, an arm positioner configured to position a turn arm to one of a plurality of locations, and control logic. The control arm can be configured to control an operation of the arm positioner to position the turn arm for rotation of the article, and control an operation of the lateral displacement mechanism based in part on the position of the article to displace the article onto the lateral conveyor and into the turn arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Roger Hogan, John Dewayne Prather, Lee Ward Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9205997
    Abstract: Aspects of a turn conveyor system are described. In one embodiment, the turn conveyor system includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor adjacent to the first conveyor, a lateral conveyor extending between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and a turn arm. The turn arm may extend across the second conveyor and be coupled to the second conveyor at a position corresponding to an end of the lateral conveyor. In one embodiment, the turn arm includes an extension bar, a rolling bumper having an angular degree of freedom, and an extension down shaft. According to various aspects, the turn conveyor system may displace an article in a first direction with the first conveyor, laterally displace the article in a second direction onto the lateral conveyor, laterally convey the article toward the turn arm, and rotate the article from a first orientation to a second orientation using the turn arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Roger Hogan, John Dewayne Prather, Lee Ward Ferguson