Patents by Inventor Ricki D. Anderson

Ricki D. Anderson 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: 11643243
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The method includes forming a corner wall by folding a first pair of a plurality of reinforcing panels inwardly towards a respective side panel and into face-to-face contact with a second pair of the plurality of reinforcing panels, rotating the side panels and end panels to be substantially perpendicular to a bottom panel such that an interior surface of at least one reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels is in contact with an interior surface of the first side panel, and coupling at least one other reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels to one of the end panels to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Ricki D. Anderson, Guillermo Rojas, Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 11618234
    Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Amer Aganovic, Ricki D. Anderson, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20220040950
    Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Amer Aganovic, Ricki D. Anderson, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Patent number: 11161317
    Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: WESTROCK SHARED SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Amer Aganovic, Ricki D. Anderson, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20210214118
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The method includes forming a corner wall by folding a first pair of a plurality of reinforcing panels inwardly towards a respective side panel and into face-to-face contact with a second pair of the plurality of reinforcing panels, rotating the side panels and end panels to be substantially perpendicular to a bottom panel such that an interior surface of at least one reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels is in contact with an interior surface of the first side panel, and coupling at least one other reinforcing panel of the plurality of reinforcing panels to one of the end panels to form the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Ricki D. Anderson, Guillermo Rojas, Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Patent number: 10913569
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Ricki D. Anderson, Rojas Guillermo, Kenneth Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20180264767
    Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Amer Aganovic, Ricki D. Anderson, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20180029744
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Dean GRAHAM, Ricki D. ANDERSON, Rojas GUILLERMO, Kenneth Charles SMITH
  • Patent number: 9815586
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Ricki D. Anderson, Guillermo Rojas, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150224732
    Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Amer Aganovic, Ricki D. Anderson, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9022913
    Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Amer Aganovic, Ricki D. Anderson, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20120100977
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Ricki D. Anderson, Guillermo Rojas, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Patent number: 8105223
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Ricki D. Anderson, Guillermo Rojas, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20110105290
    Abstract: A machine a mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of a container, a first lift mechanism operatively coupled to a first servomechanism to wrap a first portion of a blank about the mandrel, a second lift mechanism operatively coupled to a second servomechanism to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel, and a folding arm coupled to the first lift mechanism and operatively coupled to a third servomechanism. A control system is in communication with the first servomechanism, the second servomechanism, and the third servomechanism and is configured to transmit a signal to each of the servomechanisms to independently control movement of the first lift mechanism, the second lift mechanism, and the folding arm to wrap at least the first and second portions of the blank about the mandrel to form the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Amer Aganovic, Ricki D. Anderson, Jeffrey H. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20090280973
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: THOMAS D. GRAHAM, RICKI D. ANDERSON, GUILLERMO ROJAS