Patents by Inventor Robert T. Clopton
Robert T. Clopton 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: 6237755Abstract: A system is provided, in which the drive chain has features that permit control of the threshold driving force that will be reached before the chain's carrier rollers begin to rotate to permit accumulation or slip. The threshold driving force is controlled by friction members which are located between split portions of the carrier rollers and by the angle of the outer surface of the carrier rollers as well as by the amount of force provided by a biasing member. The threshold force depends upon the angle and the amount of biasing force.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 6062378Abstract: A conveyor system is provided, in which the drive chain which drives products along the conveyor has features that permit control of the threshold driving force that will be reached before the chain's carrier rollers begin to rotate to permit accumulation of product on the conveyor. The threshold driving force is controlled by friction members which are located between split portions of the carrier rollers and by the angle of the outer surface of the carrier rollers. The steeper the angle, the greater the threshold force.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1998Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 6059097Abstract: A conveyor chain is made up of carrier links and connector links connected together by non-cylindrical pins. The non-cylindrical pins abut corresponding non-arcuate surfaces of the connector links, which prevents rotation of the pins relative to the connector links. Also, the non-cylindrical pins fit into non-cylindrical holes defined by the carrier links, which limit rotation of the pins relative to the carrier links.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1997Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5960938Abstract: A conveyor is provided for conveying cantilevered loads on wheeled carriages. The frame of the conveyor includes carriage roller support surfaces, which support the weight of the carriage and the load and guide the carriage along the conveyor. There is a belt along the frame which drives the carriages. Since the belt does not support the weight of the carriage, the force between the carriage and the belt need only be sufficient to drive the load. This reduces the energy used by the conveyor, reduces the wear on the conveyor, and reduces jostling of the products being conveyed.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5957265Abstract: A conveyor includes an assembly for bridging the gap at the end of a conveyor section. It includes an idler roller at the end of the conveyor section. The idler roller is seated in upwardly open slots and can lift completely out of the conveyor frame if an article becomes entrapped between the idler roller and the conveyor belt, in order to release the article.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1997Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5791455Abstract: A high tension roller chain has sidebars which are contoured so that the sprocket can drive on both the roller and the sidebar or only on the sidebar, thereby permitting long stretches of chain to be driven by a single drive without damaging the rollers.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5788056Abstract: A conveyor frame supports a chain which rides on small rollers, with a large roller projecting upwardly from the frame. The frame includes rails on which the small rollers roll. The rails are retained in the frame by spring pins, which fit into slots in the frame. The rails can be inserted into the frame from the top and can readily be installed and replaced.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1996Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5503259Abstract: A conveyor includes electrification rails and modules mounted on those rails to provide electricity to a pallet, so that appliances being carried on the pallet can be plugged in as they travel along the conveyor. The modules include an improved T-shaped shoe for contacting the bottom surface of the pallet, toe bars which prevent the shoe from pivoting sideways as the pallet pushes on the shoe, and a switch for turning power to the shoe on and off, depending upon whether there is a pallet on top of the shoe.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1995Date of Patent: April 2, 1996Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventors: Robert T. Clopton, Mike H. Goad
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Patent number: 5489020Abstract: A conveyor chain is made up of carrier links and connector links, and the carrier links provide forward and rear drive surfaces, so as to provide a smooth drive.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1994Date of Patent: February 6, 1996Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5467860Abstract: A conveyor chain carries products at a speed which is higher than the speed at which the chain moves and provides a low backline pressure when it accumulates products. The product-carrying roller is driven by two side rollers which run on rails on the conveyor frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1994Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5409096Abstract: A stop for a conveyor includes an inflatable bladder to lift products up, off of the conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1994Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5398802Abstract: A pallet conveyor is provided comprising a pallet having a tab movable between a retracted position and an extended position, a conveying surface for receiving the pallet to transport it along a conveyor path to a workstation, and an actuator along portions of the conveyor path for moving the tab to the extended position to connect the pallet to the conveying surface for transport along the portions while permitting accumulation of the pallet at workstations with the tab in the retracted position. In another aspect the invention comprises a method of conveying pallets.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1993Date of Patent: March 21, 1995Assignee: Simplimatic Engineering CompanyInventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5328020Abstract: A conveyor frame includes removable rails for supporting a roller chain.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1993Date of Patent: July 12, 1994Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5314059Abstract: A conveyor which uses roller chain to carry products has a modular frame with guide slots for receiving bar stock guides and has a drive which is in line with the modular frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1992Date of Patent: May 24, 1994Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5311983Abstract: A conveyor using roller chain to carry products has a drive housing which is in line with its modular frame and which can be removed by moving the drive housing vertically relative to the drive frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1993Date of Patent: May 17, 1994Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5311982Abstract: A conveyor using roller chain to carry products has a clip for closing the gaps between rollers.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1993Date of Patent: May 17, 1994Assignee: Tekno, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5211276Abstract: A stop for stopping articles moving along a conveyor includes a stop arm mounted for rotation about a cam shaft, which, when rotated, moves said stop arm from an extended position to a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1992Date of Patent: May 18, 1993Assignee: Tekno Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5186314Abstract: A conveyor system is provided comprising conveyor beams, conveyor frame members, conveyor accessory mounting brackets, connectors, wearstrip converters, and various combinations of each. The conveyor beam comprises first and second side walls connected in one piece by an integral web, a first flange disposed along at least the tops of the side walls to support a conveyor, and at least two mounting slots on outer surfaces of each side wall. The conveyor frame members comprise at least three mounting slots formed in sides thereof, at least one of the mounting slots open to each of three different directions, and at least one flange disposed along an edge of the frame member to support a conveying surface. The brackets are for mounting conveyor accessories to the conveyor beams and frame members. The connectors are for connecting conveyor beams or frame members together. And the converters are for altering the location or orientation of wearstrips.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1991Date of Patent: February 16, 1993Assignee: Simplimatic Engineering CompanyInventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5137145Abstract: A conveyor system is provided including conveyor beams, conveyor frame members, conveyor accessory mounting brackets, connectors, wearstrip converters, and various combinations of each. The conveyor beam includes first and second side walls connected in one piece by an integral web, a first flange disposed along at least the tops of the side walls to support a conveyor, and at least two mounting slots on outer surfaces of each side wall. The conveyor frame members comprise at least three mounting slots formed in sides thereof, at least one of the mounting slots open to each of three different directions, and at least one flange disposed along an edge of the frame member to support a conveying surface. The brackets are for mounting conveyor accessories to the conveyor beams and frame members. The connectors are for connecting conveyor beams or frame members together. And the converters are for altering the location or orientation of wearstrips.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1990Date of Patent: August 11, 1992Assignee: Simplimatic Engineering CompanyInventor: Robert T. Clopton
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Patent number: 5076422Abstract: A chain link has load-carrying wheels and at least one guide wheel, and the axis of rotation of the load-carrying wheels intersects the axis of rotation of the guide wheel at a single point.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1990Date of Patent: December 31, 1991Assignee: Tekno IncorporatedInventor: Robert T. Clopton