Patents by Inventor Robert Markowski

Robert Markowski 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: 7540694
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a curved deck defining a conveying surface for supporting the object, the deck having an inner edge and an outer edge. A housing has an inner wall coupled to the deck inner edge and an outer wall coupled to the deck outer edge, wherein an interior of the housing defines a conveyor chamber and the inner wall defines a central chamber. An inlet air plenum may be provided in fluid communication with a plurality of air distribution chambers positioned inside the conveyor chamber. A plurality of apertures may be formed in the plurality of air distribution chambers, the apertures arranged in an air distribution pattern. The conveyor also includes an outlet opening communicating between conveyor and central chambers. The conveyor further includes a catch floor extending across the central chamber, the floor having a discharge opening formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Markowski, Kurt Christopherson, Richard B. Kraus
  • Patent number: 7487868
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object has a first housing wall with a first wall support and a second housing wall with a second wall support. A deck has a first lateral edge engaging the first wall support and a second lateral edge engaging the second wall support, so that the deck extends along a deck path and defines a conveyor surface adapted to receive the object. A force assembly is mechanically coupled to the deck and applies a force that bends the deck into an arcuate cross-sectional profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard B. Kraus, Kurt Christopherson, Robert Markowski
  • Publication number: 20080226400
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a curved deck defining a conveying surface for supporting the object, the deck having an inner edge and an outer edge. A housing has an inner wall coupled to the deck inner edge and an outer wall coupled to the deck outer edge, wherein an interior of the housing defines a conveyor chamber and the inner wall defines a central chamber. An inlet air plenum may be provided in fluid communication with a plurality of air distribution chambers positioned inside the conveyor chamber. A plurality of apertures may be formed in the plurality of air distribution chambers, the apertures arranged in an air distribution pattern. The conveyor also includes an outlet opening communicating between conveyor and central chambers. The conveyor further includes a catch floor extending across the central chamber, the floor having a discharge opening formed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Markowski, Kurt Christopherson, Richard B. Kraus
  • Patent number: 7377728
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a curved deck defining a conveying surface for supporting the object, the deck having an inner edge and an outer edge. A housing has an inner wall coupled to the deck inner edge and an outer wall coupled to the deck outer edge, wherein an interior of the housing defines a conveyor chamber and the inner wall defines a central chamber. An inlet air plenum may be provided in fluid communication with a plurality of air distribution chambers positioned inside the conveyor chamber. A plurality of apertures may be formed in the plurality of air distribution chambers, the apertures arranged in an air distribution pattern. The conveyor also includes an outlet opening communicating between conveyor and central chambers. The conveyor further includes a catch floor extending across the central chamber, the floor having a discharge opening formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Markowski, Kurt Christopherson, Richard B. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20070297863
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a spiral deck enclosed in a housing having passageways for allowing air flow between adjacent deck tier segments. In addition, the conveyor may include two concentric spiral decks operably coupled to one another, wherein a vibratory force is capable of simultaneously advancing objects both up the first spiral deck and down the second spiral deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: RICHARD KRAUS, Kurt Christopherson, Robert Markowski
  • Patent number: 7296951
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a spiral deck enclosed in a housing having passageways for allowing air flow between adjacent deck tier segments. In addition, the conveyor may include two concentric spiral decks operably coupled to one another, wherein a vibratory force is capable of simultaneously advancing objects both up the first spiral deck and down the second spiral deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard B. Kraus, Kurt Christopherson, Robert Markowski
  • Publication number: 20060147277
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a curved deck defining a conveying surface for supporting the object, the deck having an inner edge and an outer edge. A housing has an inner wall coupled to the deck inner edge and an outer wall coupled to the deck outer edge, wherein an interior of the housing defines a conveyor chamber and the inner wall defines a central chamber. An inlet air plenum may be provided in fluid communication with a plurality of air distribution chambers positioned inside the conveyor chamber. A plurality of apertures may be formed in the plurality of air distribution chambers, the apertures arranged in an air distribution pattern. The conveyor also includes an outlet opening communicating between conveyor and central chambers. The conveyor further includes a catch floor extending across the central chamber, the floor having a discharge opening formed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Markowski, Kurt Christopherson, Richard Kraus
  • Patent number: 7037048
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a deck defining a conveying surface for supporting the object, the deck having an inner edge and an outer edge. A housing has an inner wall coupled to the inner edge of the deck and an outer wall coupled to the outer edge of the deck, wherein an interior of the housing defines a conveyor chamber. An inlet air plenum is provided in fluid communication with a plurality of air distribution chambers positioned inside the conveyor chamber. A plurality of apertures is formed in the plurality of air distribution chambers, wherein the apertures are arranged in an air distribution pattern. An exhaust outlet fluidly communicates between the conveyor chamber and an air vacuum source. The conveyor may a catch floor disposed in a central chamber for receiving debris from an air stream. The vibratory force advances the debris to a discharge opening formed in the catch floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Markowski, Kurt Christopherson, Richard B. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20060054465
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a spiral deck enclosed in a housing having passageways for allowing air flow between adjacent deck tier segments. In addition, the conveyor may include two concentric spiral decks operably coupled to one another, wherein a vibratory force is capable of simultaneously advancing objects both up the first spiral deck and down the second spiral deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Kraus, Kurt Christopherson, Robert Markowski
  • Publication number: 20050133343
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object has a first housing wall with a first wall support and a second housing wall with a second wall support. A deck has a first lateral edge engaging the first wall support and a second lateral edge engaging the second wall support, so that the deck extends along a deck path and defines a conveyor surface adapted to receive the object. A force assembly is mechanically coupled to the deck and applies a force that bends the deck into an arcuate cross-sectional profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL KINEMATICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Kraus, Kurt Christopherson, Robert Markowski
  • Publication number: 20040251114
    Abstract: A bidirectional vibratory feeder for transporting objects in a curved path has a trough assembly including an elongated, generally horizontal bed defining the curved path, and a center of gravity. Resilient isolators are connected to the trough assembly and adapted to isolate the trough assembly from underlying terrain. An exciter mass assembly includes an exciter frame and a vibration generator coupled to the exciter frame for generating vibratory forces, the exciter mass assembly having a center of gravity. At least one horizontally disposed resilient coupling is connected between the exciter mass assembly and the trough assembly, and at least one vertically disposed link is connected between the exciter mass assembly and the trough assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Markowski, Kurt Christopherson, Eric Dickinson, Richard B. Kraus
  • Patent number: 6827201
    Abstract: A bidirectional vibratory feeder for transporting objects in a curved path has a trough assembly including an elongated, generally horizontal bed defining the curved path, and a center of gravity. Resilient isolators are connected to the trough assembly and adapted to isolate the trough assembly from underlying terrain. An exciter mass assembly includes an exciter frame and a vibration generator coupled to the exciter frame for generating vibratory forces, the exciter mass assembly having a center of gravity. At least one horizontally disposed resilient coupling is connected between the exciter mass assembly and the trough assembly, and at least one vertically disposed link is connected between the exciter mass assembly and the trough assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Markowski, Kurt Christopherson, Eric Dickinson, Richard B. Kraus
  • Publication number: 20040168889
    Abstract: A vibratory conveyor for transporting an object includes a deck defining a conveying surface for supporting the object, the deck having an inner edge and an outer edge. A housing has an inner wall coupled to the inner edge of the deck and an outer wall coupled to the outer edge of the deck, wherein an interior of the housing defines a conveyor chamber. An inlet air plenum is provided in fluid communication with a plurality of air distribution chambers positioned inside the conveyor chamber. A plurality of apertures is formed in the plurality of air distribution chambers, wherein the apertures are arranged in an air distribution pattern. An exhaust outlet fluidly communicates between the conveyor chamber and an air vacuum source. The conveyor may a catch floor disposed in a central chamber for receiving debris from an air stream. The vibratory force advances the debris to a discharge opening formed in the catch floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Markowski, Kurt Christopherson, Richard B. Kraus