Patents by Inventor Sean M. Bryan

Sean M. Bryan 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: 6811017
    Abstract: An egg transfer apparatus is configured to distribute eggs substantially evenly with reduced breakage on a moving conveyor. The egg transfer apparatus includes a conveyor having opposite first and second ends, a pair of elongated members that extend along the direction of travel of the conveyor between the conveyor first and second ends, and a plurality of spaced-apart, diverging guides positioned downstream from the elongated members. Each elongated member includes opposite first and second end portions. The first end portions of the elongated members are in generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship, and the second end portions have an arcuate configuration and converge to define an opening therebetween through which eggs on the conveyor are conveyed. The diverging guides are positioned downstream from the opening and cause the eggs passing through the opening to be generally evenly distributed at the conveyor second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Embrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward W. Gross, Sean M. Bryan, Phillip N. Strayer
  • Publication number: 20040200696
    Abstract: An egg transfer apparatus is configured to distribute eggs substantially evenly with reduced breakage on a moving conveyor. The egg transfer apparatus includes a conveyor having opposite first and second ends, a pair of elongated members that extend along the direction of travel of the conveyor between the conveyor first and second ends, and a plurality of spaced-apart, diverging guides positioned downstream from the elongated members. Each elongated member includes opposite first and second end portions. The first end portions of the elongated members are in generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship, and the second end portions have an arcuate configuration and converge to define an opening therebetween through which eggs on the conveyor are conveyed. The diverging guides are positioned downstream from the opening and cause the eggs passing through the opening to be generally evenly distributed at the conveyor second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Edward W. Gross, Sean M. Bryan, Phillip N. Strayer
  • Patent number: 6776278
    Abstract: An egg transfer apparatus is configured to distribute eggs substantially evenly with reduced breakage on a moving conveyor. The egg transfer apparatus includes a conveyor having opposite first and second ends and a plurality of elongated, flexible guides extending between the conveyor first and second ends in adjacent, spaced apart relationship with each other. The guides define a plurality of channels that are configured to evenly distribute eggs placed on the conveyor. The guides are elevated above the conveyor by an amount that decreases in a direction towards the conveyor second end. In addition, the guides converge toward the conveyor second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Embrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward W. Gross, Sean M. Bryan, Phillip N. Strayer