Patents by Inventor Randy K. Baird
Randy K. Baird 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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Patent number: 7104394Abstract: A conveying apparatus comprises an elongated conveying bed which includes a proximal end and a distal end. A support structure for the conveying bed accommodates vibratory motion of a portion of the conveying bed extending from the proximal end a substantial distance toward the distal end but dampens vibratory motion at the distal end. In addition, a piezoelectric driver is operatively connected to the conveying bed adjacent the proximal end. Consequently, operation of the piezoelectric driver will induce a wave motion in the conveying bed which will effectively convey a material from the proximal end to the distal end.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2005Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Randy K. Baird, Jeffery L. Cable, Garry Kostel, Henry J. Nicolo, Dale Cameron
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Patent number: 7004306Abstract: A conveying apparatus comprises an elongated conveying bed which includes a proximal end and a distal end. A support structure for the conveying bed accommodates vibratory motion of a portion of the conveying bed extending from the proximal end a substantial distance toward the distal end but dampens vibratory motion at the distal end. In addition, a piezoelectric driver is operatively connected to the conveying bed adjacent the proximal end. Consequently, operation of the piezoelectric driver will induce a wave motion in the conveying bed which will effectively convey a material from the proximal end to the distal end.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Randy K. Baird, Jeffery L. Cable, Garry Kostel, Henry J. Nicolo, Dale Cameron
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Publication number: 20040211646Abstract: A conveying apparatus comprises an elongated conveying bed which includes a proximal end and a distal end. A support structure for the conveying bed accommodates vibratory motion of a portion of the conveying bed extending from the proximal end a substantial distance toward the distal end but dampens vibratory motion at the distal end. In addition, a piezoelectric driver is operatively connected to the conveying bed adjacent the proximal end. Consequently, operation of the piezoelectric driver will induce a wave motion in the conveying bed which will effectively convey a material from the proximal end to the distal end.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Randy K. Baird, Jeffery L. Cable, Garry Kostel, Henry J. Nicolo, Dale Cameron
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Patent number: 6651807Abstract: In a parts feeder driven by an electromagnet driver, the magnet core and the armature are rotationally misaligned either to adjust the lines of direct magnetic force between the electromagnet and the armature or, where the armature is magnetically charged, such that the magnetic force will exert both an attractive force between the magnet core and the armature and a relative torque between the magnet core and the armature which tends to align the poles of the armature and the magnetic core. A round baseplate design allows the unit to be simply enclosed for aesthetic or for potential air purging applications. Counterweights for tuning the parts feeder natural frequency can be bolted to the round baseplate, the counterweights having a ring segment shape to compactly fit on the round baseplate.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Randy K. Baird, Leonard Evansic
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Publication number: 20030111323Abstract: In a parts feeder driven by an electromagnet driver, the magnet core and the armature are rotationally misaligned either to adjust the lines of direct magnetic force between the electromagnet and the armature or, where the armature is magnetically charged, such that the magnetic force will exert both an attractive force between the magnet core and the armature and a relative torque between the magnet core and the armature which tends to align the poles of the armature and the magnetic core. A round baseplate design allows the unit to be simply enclosed for aesthetic or for potential air purging applications. Counterweights for tuning the parts feeder natural frequency can be bolted to the round baseplate, the counterweights having a ring segment shape to compactly fit on the round baseplate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventors: Randy K. Baird, Leonard Evansic
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Patent number: 6578699Abstract: A rotary orienting feeder is configured for singulating/orienting bulk volumes of articles. The feeder includes a rotatably driven feed disc, and a rotatably driven orienting bowl assembly which is positioned generally about the feed disc. The feed disc is driven about an axis which angularly intersects an axis about which the bowl is driven, whereby during operation articles are transferred from the feed disc to an upper flange portion of the bowl assembly. An outer guide fence, which may be provided with suitable tooling, cooperates with the bowl and the articles carried thereby to effect singulation/orientation. Economical and versatile manufacture and operation are achieved by forming an outer bowl of the orienting bowl assembly of non-metallic material, such as polymeric resin. Reduced weight, reduced power consumption, quieter operation, and gentler part handling are desirably achieved.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Randy K. Baird, Kenneth D. Doak, Gary L. Schucker
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Publication number: 20030010605Abstract: A rotary orienting feeder is configured for singulating/orienting bulk volumes of articles. The feeder includes a rotatably driven feed disc, and a rotatably driven orienting bowl assembly which is positioned generally about the feed disc. The feed disc is driven about an axis which angularly intersects an axis about which the bowl is driven, whereby during operation articles are transferred from the feed disc to an upper flange portion of the bowl assembly. An outer guide fence, which may be provided with suitable tooling, cooperates with the bowl and the articles carried thereby to effect singulation/orientation. Economical and versatile manufacture and operation are achieved by forming an outer bowl of the orienting bowl assembly of non-metallic material, such as polymeric resin. Reduced weight, reduced power consumption, quieter operation, and gentler part handling are desirably achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Inventors: Randy K. Baird, Kenneth D. Doak, Gary L. Schucker
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Patent number: 6471040Abstract: A vibratory conveying feeder, which includes a power control circuit for locally providing an adjusted drive signal to the vibratory drive. Inclusion of a power control circuit into one or more vibratory conveying feeders within a system including multiple vibratory conveying feeders, enable the feeders to share a common power supply bus. By enabling multiple feeders to share a common power supply bus, the wiring associated with providing power connections to the multiple vibratory conveying feeders is correspondingly reduced. Consequently, initial system installation or system reconfiguration is greatly simplified.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Randy K. Baird
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Patent number: 5981892Abstract: A food handling conveyor apparatus includes a sound detection system for detecting the presence of a foreign object, such as a stone, among food product being conveyed. The apparatus includes a generally elongated vibratory conveyor bed along which food products are conveyed, with at least one discharge gate positioned at one end of the conveyor bed. An actuator is operatively connected to the discharge gate for effecting movement thereof between closed and open positions. A sound detection system of the apparatus, preferably including one or more directional microphones, is positioned in operative association with the conveyor bed and functions to differentiate between the sound of food product being conveyed, and the sound of a foreign object. The sound detection system is operatively connected with the actuator for the discharge gate, and effects opening of the discharge gate in timed relationship to detection of a foreign object so that the object is moved out of the food product stream.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1996Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Randy K. Baird, Arthur L. Dean, Kenneth M. Marshall, Robert A. Krynock, Stephen M. Pellegrino, Steven R. Smith, Justin L. Emanuel, David G. Pounds
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Patent number: 5561580Abstract: There is provided a microcontroller for controlling the activation of a hopper, bowl feeder, and linear feeder. There is further provided a blown fuse circuit which indicates that a fuse has blown for the various components of the part feeder system as well as preventing machines at the load from being powered should the fuse blow.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1995Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: David G. Pounds, Randy K. Baird
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Patent number: 5353358Abstract: In an article handling system that functions to make article discrimination-identification determinations, the possible article orientations A, B, C . . . are stored and compared to establish maximum pixel difference numbers and identification of longitudinal window position along the article where such maximum difference occurs. Each of the possible orientations is compared with all other possible orientations so that a small number of windows is identified as part of a setting procedure. When operating, the work articles are scanned and only the data at window locations are used to make article orientation identifications to reduce time and memory requirements for data processing.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1993Date of Patent: October 4, 1994Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Randy K. Baird, Stanley P. Turcheck, Jr.
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Patent number: 5339943Abstract: A bulk material handling conveyor system having a set of buckets carried in a continuous manner from an infeed zone where the buckets are filled with product by way of a metering vibratory feeder to an unloading zone and back to the infeed zone. The buckets may be selectively at least partially emptied in the unloading zone.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1993Date of Patent: August 23, 1994Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Randy K. Baird, Sydney Hilton
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Patent number: 5311977Abstract: A high resolution article handling system serves as an article discriminator or identifier by creating an object silhouette. The objects are singulated on a conveyor and scanned by a linear array of CCD units (2048 pixels per inch) at a scan rate of 10 MHz. Pixel transitions corresponding to object edge points are converted to a single count value from a counter which is synchronized with the scanner. A microprocessor with a first in, first out buffer memory needs only a capacity to handle the count value rather than all data from the pixels. Article orientation is corrected in response to signal generated by determining the count value difference between a reference value and a work article value at only the scan slice windows at equally spaced positions along the article length where differences have been predetermined to be a maximum.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1993Date of Patent: May 17, 1994Inventors: Arthur L. Dean, Randy K. Baird, Stanley P. Turcheck, Jr., James P. Martin
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Patent number: 5233328Abstract: A method for processing compacted data without converting the data into uncompacted form. A first set of digital data is converted into compact form by recording a set of points at which the signal level changes. A second set of digital data is likewise converted into compact form by recording the points of signal level change. A logic function is then used to compare the first set of compact data with the second set of compact data.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1990Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Stanley P. Turcheck, Jr., Randy K. Baird, James P. Martin
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Patent number: 5157486Abstract: A high resolution object handling system serves as an object discrimination--identification by creating an object silhouette. The objects are singulated on a conveyor and scanned by a linear array of CCD units (2048 pixels per inch) at a scan rate of 10 MHz. Pixel transitions corresponding to object edge points are converted to a single count value from a counter which is synchronized with the scanner. A microprocessor with a first in, first out buffer memory needs only a capacity to handle the count value rather than all data from the pixels.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1990Date of Patent: October 20, 1992Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Randy K. Baird, Stanley P. Turcheck, Jr., James P. Martin
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Patent number: 5142591Abstract: A high resolution object handling system serves as an object discrimination - identification by creating an object silhouette. The objects are singulated on a conveyor and scanned by a linear array of CCD units (2048 pixels per inch) at a scan rate of 10 MHz. Pixel transitions corresponding to object edge points are converted to a single count value from a counter which is synchronized with the scanner. A microprocessor with a first in, first out buffer memory needs only a capacity to handle the count value rather than all data from the pixels.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1990Date of Patent: August 25, 1992Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Randy K. Baird, Stanley P. Turcheck, Jr., James P. Martin
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Patent number: 5103304Abstract: A high-resolution vision system for a detailed inspection of parts. A charge coupled device provides high-resolution in both an X and a Y axis. Data from the charge coupled device resulting from a standard part is stored in compact form. Compact data from a part being inspected is compared with the compact data from the standard part to determine if the tested part is good or not.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1990Date of Patent: April 7, 1992Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Stanley P. Turcheck, Jr., Randy K. Baird, James P. Martin