Patents by Inventor Robert N. Lando

Robert N. Lando 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: 20220024706
    Abstract: A horticultural container dispensing system has a gravity-fed pot supply source having a plurality of linearly spaced pot paths and supports a plurality of pot stacks along the pot paths in a nested configuration. A pot provisioning apparatus has retention members to selectively release an end-most one of the plurality of pots from each pot stack at a release location. A pot engagement apparatus has a plurality of pot gripper devices associated with the pot paths to selectively engage an internal surface of the end-most one of the pots in the respective pot stack at the release location. A carriage apparatus selectively translates the pot gripper devices between the release location and a dispense location. The pot gripper devices selectively disengage the internal surface of the end-most one of the pots, respectively, at the dispense location. Pot grippers and provisioning apparatuses are interchangeable to accommodate differing pot sizes and shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Robert N. Lando, Joseph G. Smith, Neil M. Mabrouk, George L. Andulics, Charles M. Kirschner, Kane D. Hogan, Damon van Zanen, Laurens de Boer, Robert Karl Doepper
  • Patent number: 9730396
    Abstract: A horticultural container filling apparatus has a hopper to selectively dispense soil through an exit. A two-tier strip conveyor assembly has a plurality of narrow conveyor belts coupled to a motor for translating the narrow conveyor belts in a first direction along a first plane below the exit of the hopper. The narrow conveyor belts spaced apart, defining one or more gaps. A plurality of support rails support and guide the narrow conveyor belts along the first plane and are configured to support and convey a container on the narrow conveyor belts in the first direction. The container receives a portion of the soil dispensed from the exit of the hopper, and the gaps pass a remaining portion of soil not received by the container to a second plane below the first plane. A catch conveyor belt along the second plane receives and translates the remaining portion of soil in a second direction along the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Agrinomix, LLC
    Inventors: Robert N. Lando, George L. Andulics, Joseph G. Smith, Charles M. Kirschner, David W. Joy
  • Publication number: 20150373925
    Abstract: A horticultural container filling apparatus has a hopper to selectively dispense soil through an exit. A two-tier strip conveyor assembly has a plurality of narrow conveyor belts coupled to a motor for translating the narrow conveyor belts in a first direction along a first plane below the exit of the hopper. The narrow conveyor belts spaced apart, defining one or more gaps. A plurality of support rails support and guide the narrow conveyor belts along the first plane and are configured to support and convey a container on the narrow conveyor belts in the first direction. The container receives a portion of the soil dispensed from the exit of the hopper, and the gaps pass a remaining portion of soil not received by the container to a second plane below the first plane. A catch conveyor belt along the second plane receives and translates the remaining portion of soil in a second direction along the second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Robert N. Lando, George L. Andulics, Joseph G. Smith, Charles M. Kirschner, David W. Joy