Patents by Inventor Randolph T. Skanse

Randolph T. Skanse 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).

  • Publication number: 20240076139
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling an accumulation conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone and the second zone that is upstream of a third zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a third feedback signal, indicating that a third sensor is blocked, from a third control module associated with the third zone. The second control module sets a second drive assembly associated with the second zone to a disengaged state, and receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone. The first signal indicates that one of a first article having an irregular boundary or a second article having a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin Klueber, Randolph T. Skanse
  • Patent number: 11667478
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling a conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone. The first signal indicates that one of a first article that has an irregular boundary or a second article that has a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Klueber, Randolph T. Skanse
  • Patent number: 11040829
    Abstract: A conveyor bed including a conveyor frame, a first set of rollers, a second set of rollers, and a pivotable frame is provided. The first set of rollers are coupled to the conveyor frame to transport an article from an upstream location to a downstream location. The pivotable frame pivotably coupled to a side of the of the conveyor frame. The second set of rollers mounted to the pivotable frame, positioned below the first set of rollers. A belt wrapped is around the second set of rollers, and selectively engages and disengages the first set of rollers in response to pivoting the pivotable frame based on predefined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventor: Randolph T. Skanse
  • Publication number: 20210086998
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling a conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone. The first signal indicates that one of a first article that has an irregular boundary or a second article that has a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Kevin Klueber, Randolph T. Skanse
  • Publication number: 20210032037
    Abstract: A conveyor bed including a conveyor frame, a first set of rollers, a second set of rollers, and a pivotable frame is provided. The first set of rollers are coupled to the conveyor frame to transport an article from an upstream location to a downstream location. The pivotable frame pivotably coupled to a side of the of the conveyor frame. The second set of rollers mounted to the pivotable frame, positioned below the first set of rollers. A belt wrapped is around the second set of rollers, and selectively engages and disengages the first set of rollers in response to pivoting the pivotable frame based on predefined criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventor: Randolph T. Skanse
  • Patent number: 10889451
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling an accumulation conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone and the second zone that is upstream of a third zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a third feedback signal, indicating that a third sensor is blocked, from a third control module associated with the third zone. The second control module sets a second drive assembly associated with the second zone to a disengaged state, and receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone. The first signal indicates that one of a first article having an irregular boundary or a second article having a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Klueber, Randolph T. Skanse
  • Publication number: 20200122934
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein relate to controlling an accumulation conveyor that comprises at least a first zone that is upstream of a second zone and the second zone that is upstream of a third zone. A second control module associated with the second zone receives a third feedback signal, indicating that a third sensor is blocked, from a third control module associated with the third zone. The second control module sets a second drive assembly associated with the second zone to a disengaged state, and receives a first signal from a first control module associated with the first zone. The first signal indicates that one of a first article having an irregular boundary or a second article having a regular boundary exits from the first zone. The second control module controls the second drive assembly and a second brake assembly based on the indication by the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Klueber, Randolph T. Skanse
  • Patent number: 9290333
    Abstract: A material handling system incorporates one or more transfer conveyor sections configured to selectively discharge articles being conveyed in at least one direction which is disposed at a transverse angle relative to the incoming direction of the article. The transfer conveyor includes rotary cams with circumferential cam tracks which engage cam followers carried respective vertically movable conveying assemblies. Rotation of the cams disposes the carrying surfaces at desired conveying heights for selecting the discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventors: Randolph T. Skanse, John J. Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20140262684
    Abstract: A material handling system incorporates one or more transfer conveyor sections configured to selectively discharge articles being conveyed in at least one direction which is disposed at a transverse angle relative to the incoming direction of the article. The transfer conveyor includes rotary cams with circumferential cam tracks which engage cam followers carried respective vertically movable conveying assemblies. Rotation of the cams disposes the carrying surfaces at desired conveying heights for selecting the discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Randolph T. Skanse, John J. Wilkins