Patents by Inventor Matthew A. Steenwyk

Matthew A. Steenwyk 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: 10035656
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway. The outfeed assembly further includes a drive sprocket and a limiter to ensure engagement of drive elements on the conveyor belt with the drive sprockets. A limiter plate ensures proper placement of the limiter relative to the drive sprocket. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily mounted to and removed from the conveyor frame to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Philipp J. Hortig, Matthew A. Steenwyk, Jeff Batchelder, James R. Honeycutt, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170362034
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway. The outfeed assembly further includes a drive sprocket and a limiter to ensure engagement of drive elements on the conveyor belt with the drive sprockets. A limiter plate ensures proper placement of the limiter relative to the drive sprocket. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily mounted to and removed from the conveyor frame to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Philipp J. Hortig, Matthew A. Steenwyk, Jeff Batchelder
  • Patent number: 9751695
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway. The outfeed assembly further includes a drive sprocket and a limiter to ensure engagement of drive elements on the conveyor belt with the drive sprockets. A limiter plate ensures proper placement of the limiter relative to the drive sprocket. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily mounted to and removed from the conveyor frame to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Philipp J. Hortig, Matthew A. Steenwyk, Jeff Batchelder
  • Publication number: 20160311622
    Abstract: A conveyor employs an infeed assembly and outfeed assembly, each comprising a nosebar assembly that may be mounted to a conveyor frame to transition a conveyor belt between a returnway and a carryway. The outfeed assembly further includes a drive sprocket and a limiter to ensure engagement of drive elements on the conveyor belt with the drive sprockets. A limiter plate ensures proper placement of the limiter relative to the drive sprocket. The infeed assembly and outfeed assembly components may be easily mounted to and removed from the conveyor frame to facilitate replacement, cleaning or maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Hendrik DeGroot, Gerko Hulshof, Philipp J. Hortig, Matthew A. Steenwyk, Jeff Batchelder
  • Patent number: 8713899
    Abstract: A goods-to-person picking station and method of picking goods from a product container and placing the goods in at least one order container includes a product container-handling mechanism and at least one order container-handling mechanism juxtaposed with the product container-handling mechanism. The product container-handling mechanism supplies a product container to a pick area. The at least one order container-handling mechanism supplies at least one order container to the pick area. In this manner, an operator can pick goods from a product container at the pick area and place the goods selectively to the at least one order container at the pick area. The product container-handling mechanism includes a product container elevator assembly and a product container extractor assembly. The elevator assembly elevates a product container from the feed area to the pick area. The extractor assembly transfers a product container from the pick area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Philipp J. Hortig, Matthew A. Steenwyk, Aaron J. Hayden, Raffaele Destro, Beat Losenegger
  • Patent number: 8469177
    Abstract: A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes providing a plurality of interconnected parallel slats defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction, an upper surface of which defines an article-conveying surface and a plurality of pusher shoes. Each of the shoes travels along at least one of the slats in order to laterally divert articles on the conveying surface. Each of the shoes has a diverting member extending below the conveying surface. A plurality of diverting rails below the conveying surface are each capable of engaging the diverting member to cause the associated shoe to travel laterally to divert an article. A plurality of diverters are provided for selectively diverting at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of said diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters has a gate having a diverting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Steenwyk, Mohan A. Ramankutty, Martin J. Stanish, Thomas H. Triesenberg
  • Patent number: 8260574
    Abstract: A technique is provided for diagnosing deficiencies in a material handling system having a track and a material support member adapted to travel on the track. A diagnostic device travels with the material support member and includes one or more sensors that measure one or more parameters of the material support member. Such parameters may include an amount of force exerted laterally against one or more restraining members or the accelerations of the material support member. The material handling system may include a plurality of slats connected in an endless web that defines a conveying surface upon which articles are transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Dennis J. Schuitema, Kenneth J. Kooistra, Stephen C. Wolf, Matthew A. Steenwyk
  • Publication number: 20110203231
    Abstract: A goods-to-person picking station and method of picking goods from a product container and placing the goods in at least one order container includes a product container-handling mechanism and at least one order container-handling mechanism juxtaposed with the product container-handling mechanism. The product container-handling mechanism supplies a product container to a pick area. The at least one order container-handling mechanism supplies at least one order container to the pick area. In this manner, an operator can pick goods from a product container at the pick area and place the goods selectively to the at least one order container at the pick area. The product container-handling mechanism includes a product container elevator assembly and a product container extractor assembly. The elevator assembly elevates a product container from the feed area to the pick area. The extractor assembly transfers a product container from the pick area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Philipp J. Hortig, Matthew A. Steenwyk, Aaron J. Hayden, Raffaele Destro, Beat Losenegger
  • Publication number: 20110042181
    Abstract: A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes providing a plurality of interconnected parallel slats defining an endless web that travels in a longitudinal direction, an upper surface of which defines an article-conveying surface and a plurality of pusher shoes. Each of the shoes travels along at least one of the slats in order to laterally divert articles on the conveying surface. Each of the shoes has a diverting member extending below the conveying surface. A plurality of diverting rails below the conveying surface are each capable of engaging the diverting member to cause the associated shoe to travel laterally to divert an article. A plurality of diverters are provided for selectively diverting at least one of the diverting members from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along the sorter to one of said diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters has a gate having a diverting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Steenwyk, Mohan A. Ramankutty, Martin J. Stanish, Thomas H. Triesenberg