Patents by Inventor Micah C. SUNDSTROM

Micah C. SUNDSTROM 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: 10843889
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor for carrying sheets from a conveyor intake end to a conveyor discharge end and a hopper at the discharge end for receiving the sheets and guiding them as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform. The hopper has a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor and a first accumulator that includes a carrier and a support extending from the carrier through the backstop. The support is configured to rotate from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the backstop, and the carrier is movable linearly and vertically relative to the backstop with the support in the extended position from a raised location with the support outside the cascade path to a lowered location with the support in the cascade path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric H. Crowe, Micah C. Sundstrom, Eric Stempihar, Kevin G. Gorby, Dalton Hege
  • Patent number: 10589953
    Abstract: A conveyor includes a plurality of belt support assemblies each having a drive wheel assembly at one end and an idler wheel assembly at the other end. Each of the drive and idler wheel assemblies includes a motion converter for converting the rotational movement of a shaft into linear motion along the shaft and an actuator for selectively engaging the motion converter and the shaft. A controller controls the operation of the shafts and the actuators to selectively and individually control the location of each end of each belt assembly relative to one another and to a centerline of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Micah C. Sundstrom, Eric H. Crowe, Samantha L. J. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 10351380
    Abstract: A diverter conveyor includes a frame supporting an upper conveyor that has an upstream end and a downstream end and that is configured to carry sheets in a first, downstream, direction. A plurality of nip rollers are mounted on the frame upstream of the upstream end of the upper conveyor and are spaced from the upstream end of the upper conveyor by a gap. The nip rollers feed the sheets along a main path to the upstream end of the upper conveyor. A rejection conveyor is supported by the frame and has a portion beneath the gap and extends away from the upper conveyor at an acute angle. A plurality of paddles are mounted at the first gap, and an actuator is operably connected to the paddles and configured to shift the paddles from a first position out of the main path to a second position in the main path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric Stempihar, Dalton Hege, Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 10343856
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a main conveyor configured to carry sheets in a downstream direction, an accumulator section downstream of the main conveyor configured to receive the sheets from the main conveyor, at least one tamping plate in the accumulator section, and at least one linear motor connected to the at least one tamping plate. The at least one linear motor is configured to move the at least one tamping plate back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction to tamp a stack of the sheets in the accumulator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric Stempihar, Eric H. Crowe, Samantha L. J. Armstrong, Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 10329114
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor having a discharge end, a hopper at the discharge end configured to receive the sheets ejected from the discharge end and guide the sheets as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform associated with the hopper, the falling sheets forming a main stack on the platform, the hopper including a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor such that the sheets ejected from the discharge end impact against the backstop before forming the main stack, and a first accumulator having at least one first support extending through the backstop and shiftable from a retracted position to an extended position, the at least one first support being movable vertically relative to the backstop in the extended position from a raised location outside the cascade path to a lowered location in the cascade path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: A. G. Stacker Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric H. Crowe, Micah C. Sundstrom, Eric Stempihar, Kevin G. Gorby
  • Publication number: 20180319614
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor for carrying sheets from a conveyor intake end to a conveyor discharge end and a hopper at the discharge end for receiving the sheets and guiding them as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform. The hopper has a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor and a first accumulator that includes a carrier and a support extending from the carrier through the backstop. The support is configured to rotate from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the backstop, and the carrier is movable linearly and vertically relative to the backstop with the support in the extended position from a raised location with the support outside the cascade path to a lowered location with the support in the cascade path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric H. CROWE, Micah C. SUNDSTROM, Eric STEMPIHAR, Kevin G. GORBY
  • Patent number: 10071873
    Abstract: A conveyor includes a first conveyor deck having a first plurality of contact elements, each having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, the first contact regions lying in a plane or being bounded by the plane and a second conveyor deck having a second plurality of contact elements, each having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, these contact regions lying in a second plane or being bounded by the second plane. The transport path of the conveyor is defined by the contact surfaces of the first and second contact elements in the contact regions, and the first plurality of contact elements are belts and the second plurality of contact elements are wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 10029877
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor, the top of the lower conveyor facing the bottom of the upper conveyor and defining with the bottom of the upper conveyor a sheet transport path. An air duct having an opening facing the top of the upper conveyor is mounted over the upper conveyor, and a fan is provided that is in fluid communication with the air duct. The fan draws air through the opening, into the air duct and out an exhaust vent. A housing substantially encloses the upper conveyor and the lower conveyor and is connected to the air duct, and the housing has a bottom opening located below the sheet transport path such that a majority of the air drawn through the opening by the fan passes through the upper conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: A.G. Stacker Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Kevin G. Gorby, Micah C. Sundstrom
  • Publication number: 20180105381
    Abstract: A conveyor includes a first conveyor deck having a first plurality of contact elements, each having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, the first contact regions lying in a plane or being bounded by the plane and a second conveyor deck having a second plurality of contact elements, each having a contact surface movable around a closed path from a contact region to a non-contact region, these contact regions lying in a second plane or being bounded by the second plane. The transport path of the conveyor is defined by the contact surfaces of the first and second contact elements in the contact regions, and the first plurality of contact elements are belts and the second plurality of contact elements are wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Kevin G. GORBY, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
  • Publication number: 20180105371
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a main conveyor configured to carry sheets in a downstream direction, an accumulator section downstream of the main conveyor configured to receive the sheets from the main conveyor, at least one tamping plate in the accumulator section, and at least one linear motor connected to the at least one tamping plate. The at least one linear motor is configured to move the at least one tamping plate back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the downstream direction to tamp a stack of the sheets in the accumulator section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric STEMPIHAR, Eric H. CROWE, Samantha L.J. ARMSTRONG, Kevin G. GORBY, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
  • Publication number: 20180105383
    Abstract: A diverter conveyor includes a frame supporting an upper conveyor that has an upstream end and a downstream end and that is configured to carry sheets in a first, downstream, direction. A plurality of nip rollers are mounted on the frame upstream of the upstream end of the upper conveyor and are spaced from the upstream end of the upper conveyor by a gap. The nip rollers feed the sheets along a main path to the upstream end of the upper conveyor. A rejection conveyor is supported by the frame and has a portion beneath the gap and extends away from the upper conveyor at an acute angle. A plurality of paddles are mounted at the first gap, and an actuator is operably connected to the paddles and configured to shift the paddles from a first position out of the main path to a second position in the main path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric STEMPIHAR, Dalton HEGE, Kevin G. GORBY, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
  • Publication number: 20180105382
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor, the top of the lower conveyor facing the bottom of the upper conveyor and defining with the bottom of the upper conveyor a sheet transport path. An air duct having an opening facing the top of the upper conveyor is mounted over the upper conveyor, and a fan is provided that is in fluid communication with the air duct. The fan draws air through the opening, into the air duct and out an exhaust vent. A housing substantially encloses the upper conveyor and the lower conveyor and is connected to the air duct, and the housing has a bottom opening located below the sheet transport path such that a majority of the air drawn through the opening by the fan passes through the upper conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Kevin G. GORBY, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
  • Patent number: 9896295
    Abstract: A buffer apparatus configured to hold a stack of sheets includes an input, first and second side guides each having a face facing transverse to the travel direction, and a backstop facing the input and spaced from the input in the travel direction. The first side guide, second side guide and backstop define a hopper for holding a plurality of the sheets. First and second retractable supports are shiftable from first positions in which a first portion of the respective retractable support projects a first distance into the hopper and a second position in which the first portion of the respective retractable support projects a second distance into the hopper or does not project into the hopper, the second distance being less than the first distance. The at least one second retractable support is located between the input and the at least one first retractable support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric H. Crowe, Micah C. Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 9731924
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system for transporting sheets and depositing them in a stack includes a layboy, a transport conveyor downstream of the layboy, and a main conveyor downstream of the transport conveyor, the main conveyor having a frame and being supported by a conveyor support, a discharge end of the main conveyor being movable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the conveyor support. The main conveyor intake end is configured to move from a first position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the lowered position to a second position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the raised position, and also a variable length conveyor between the transport conveyor and the main conveyor, the variable length conveyor having a discharge end connected to and movable with the main conveyor intake end and movable relative to the transport conveyor discharge end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: A.G. STACKER INC.
    Inventors: Clarence C. Allen, Jr., Eric H. Crowe, Micah C. Sundstrom
  • Publication number: 20170137252
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system includes a conveyor having a discharge end, a hopper at the discharge end configured to receive the sheets ejected from the discharge end and guide the sheets as they fall in a cascade path onto a platform associated with the hopper, the falling sheets forming a main stack on the platform, the hopper including a backstop facing the discharge end of the conveyor such that the sheets ejected from the discharge end impact against the backstop before forming the main stack, and a first accumulator having at least one first support extending through the backstop and shiftable from a retracted position to an extended position, the at least one first support being movable vertically relative to the backstop in the extended position from a raised location outside the cascade path to a lowered location in the cascade path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric H. CROWE, Micah C. SUNDSTROM, Eric STEMPIHAR, Kevin G. GORBY
  • Publication number: 20170043971
    Abstract: A conveyor includes a plurality of belt support assemblies each having a drive wheel assembly at one end and an idler wheel assembly at the other end. Each of the drive and idler wheel assemblies includes a motion converter for converting the rotational movement of a shaft into linear motion along the shaft and an actuator for selectively engaging the motion converter and the shaft. A controller controls the operation of the shafts and the actuators to selectively and individually control the location of each end of each belt assembly relative to one another and to a centerline of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Micah C. SUNDSTROM, Eric H. CROWE, Samantha L.J. ARMSTRONG
  • Publication number: 20170043956
    Abstract: A sheet stacking system for transporting sheets and depositing them in a stack includes a layboy, a transport conveyor downstream of the layboy, and a main conveyor downstream of the transport conveyor, the main conveyor having a frame and being supported by a conveyor support, a discharge end of the main conveyor being movable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the conveyor support. The main conveyor intake end is configured to move from a first position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the lowered position to a second position when the main conveyor discharge end is in the raised position, and also a variable length conveyor between the transport conveyor and the main conveyor, the variable length conveyor having a discharge end connected to and movable with the main conveyor intake end and movable relative to the transport conveyor discharge end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric H. CROWE, Micah C. SUNDSTROM
  • Publication number: 20160145072
    Abstract: A buffer apparatus configured to hold a stack of sheets includes an input, first and second side guides each having a face facing transverse to the travel direction, and a backstop facing the input and spaced from the input in the travel direction. The first side guide, second side guide and backstop define a hopper for holding a plurality of the sheets. First and second retractable supports are shiftable from first positions in which a first portion of the respective retractable support projects a first distance into the hopper and a second position in which the first portion of the respective retractable support projects a second distance into the hopper or does not project into the hopper, the second distance being less than the first distance. The at least one second retractable support is located between the input and the at least one first retractable support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Clarence C. ALLEN, JR., Eric H. CROWE, Micah C. SUNDSTROM