Patents by Inventor Sergio Fandella

Sergio Fandella 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: 7757841
    Abstract: A hingeless belt comprises modules having opposed leading and trailing sides, first and second bases and opposed outer sides. The modules are connected to joining members with layers that can be, for example, an adhesive. The joining members comprise an elastic material which allows the modular belt to bend and flex, and the modules are made of a hard thermoplastic material. The modules and joining members resists cuts and impacts, the modules and joining members are easy to clean and keep sanitary. The joining members are embodied with different shapes for enhancing the connection with the modules, and for enhancing the flexibility of the modular belt as it carries load and as it is driven around a sprocket. There is a molding machine having mold members for making the hingeless belt. There is also a method of making the hingeless belt in the molding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Patent number: 7757838
    Abstract: A link of a conveyor chain, connectable to similar links comprising a main base body with two shoulders, which protrude upward from the ends of the transverse sides of the main base body and are parallel to the direction of advancement of the chain. Ends of a pair of first and second shafts are associated with the pair of shoulders, first rollers being rotatably associated with the shafts. Second rollers are associated on the pair of first and second shafts, have a smaller diameter than the first rollers, and are supported in a loading condition by first supporting elements, activatable under load and protruding from the main base body. The link further comprises a slider, supported by at least one pair of second supporting elements, protruding from the main base body and has free ends supported on the base body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20100025200
    Abstract: A hingeless belt comprises modules having opposed leading and trailing sides, first and second bases and opposed outer sides. The modules are connected to joining members by direct molding or with layers that can be, for example, an adhesive. The joining members comprise an elastic material which allows the modular belt to bend and flex, and the modules are made of a hard thermoplastic material. The modules and joining members resists cuts and impacts, the modules and joining members are easy to clean and keep sanitary. The joining members are embodied with different shapes for enhancing the connection with the modules, and for enhancing the flexibility of the modular belt as it carries load and as it is driven around a sprocket. There is a molding machine having mold members for making the hingeless belt. There is also a method of making the hingeless belt in the molding machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Patent number: 7578384
    Abstract: A link of a conveyor chain is connectable to a similar and adjacent link and has a main base body with two shoulders, protruding upward from ends of transverse sides of the main base body. Ends of a pair of first and second shafts are associated with the pair of shoulders and first rollers are rotatably associated with the shafts. Second rollers are associated on the pair of first and second shafts and are supported in a loaded condition by at least one pair of first supporting elements, activatable when a load passes. A third shaft, with which third rollers are associated rotatably, is further provided that is supported by at least one pair of second supporting elements, the ends of the third shaft being free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20080110727
    Abstract: A hingeless belt comprises modules having opposed leading and trailing sides, first and second bases and opposed outer sides. The modules are connected to joining members with layers that can be, for example, an adhesive. The joining members comprise an elastic material which allows the modular belt to bend and flex, and the modules are made of a hard thermoplastic material. The modules and joining members resists cuts and impacts, the modules and joining members are easy to clean and keep sanitary. The joining members are embodied with different shapes for enhancing the connection with the modules, and for enhancing the flexibility of the modular belt as it carries load and as it is driven around a sprocket. There is a molding machine having mold members for making the hingeless belt. There is also a method of making the hingeless belt in the molding machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Patent number: 7367448
    Abstract: A chain module with an undulating edge has an upper conveying surface having an opening for receiving a projecting portion of an adjacent chain module. The upper conveying surface has a top edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge has first and second portions separated by the opening. The trailing edge has first and second portions separated by the projecting portion. A curved portion extends from the top edge of the conveying surface to the leading edge. The leading edge and trailing edge have alternating peaks and valleys such that the peaks on the trailing edge align with the valleys on the leading edge of an adjacent chain module. A pair of opposed first hinge eyes extends from the upper conveying surface on opposite sides of the opening, each hinge eye having a transverse pivot rod opening. A second hinge eye is disposed in the projecting portion and also has a transverse pivot rod opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Patent number: 7360643
    Abstract: A modular belt having plug-inserts produced from electroconductive material. The plugs may be snapped into respective holes that are preformed or machined in a standard plastic belt module. The modules may be produced from low cost materials such as polypropylene or polyacetal. The electroconductive plugs may be attached to the belt in numerous ways including, but not limited to, snap fit, gluing, screwing or direct integration by molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20080017482
    Abstract: A chain module with an undulating edge has an upper conveying surface having an opening for receiving a projecting portion of an adjacent chain module. The upper conveying surface has a top edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge has first and second portions separated by the opening. The trailing edge has first and second portions separated by the projecting portion. A curved portion extends from the top edge of the conveying surface to the leading edge. The leading edge and trailing edge have alternating peaks and valleys such that the peaks on the trailing edge align with the valleys on the leading edge of an adjacent chain module. A pair of opposed first hinge eyes extends from the upper conveying surface on opposite sides of the opening, each hinge eye having a transverse pivot rod opening. A second hinge eye is disposed in the projecting portion and also has a transverse pivot rod opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Patent number: 7234587
    Abstract: A link of a conveyor chain comprising a main base body, a supporting element for supporting and retaining at least one supporting shaft with which a plurality of first rollers are rotatably associated, the link being adapted to be articulated to a similar adjacent link so as to form a conveyor chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Plastomeccanica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20070039805
    Abstract: A low back pressure belt module for forming an endless belt for use with a conveyor. The modular conveyor belt is formed of rows of belt modules pivotally interlinked by transverse pivot rods. The belt modules have a plurality of first link ends disposed in the direction of belt travel and a plurality of second link ends disposed in the opposite direction. Transverse holes in the link ends are aligned to accommodate a pivot rod. When the link ends of the consecutive rows of side-by-side modules are intercalated, the pivot rod serves as a hinge pin in a hinged joint between consecutive interlinked rows. The low back pressure belt modules include shafts supported above the top surface of the module. The shafts carry a plurality of rollers to form a low back pressure conveying surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20070034484
    Abstract: A link of a conveyor chain is connectable to a similar and adjacent link and has a main base body with two shoulders, protruding upward from ends of transverse sides of the main base body. Ends of a pair of first and second shafts are associated with the pair of shoulders and first rollers are rotatably associated with the shafts. Second rollers are associated on the pair of first and second shafts and are supported in a loaded condition by at least one pair of first supporting elements, activatable when a load passes. A third shaft, with which third rollers are associated rotatably, is further provided that is supported by at least one pair of second supporting elements, the ends of the third shaft being free.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20070034485
    Abstract: A link of a conveyor chain, connectable to similar links comprising a main base body with two shoulders, which protrude upward from the ends of the transverse sides of the main base body and are parallel to the direction of advancement of the chain. Ends of a pair of first and second shafts are associated with the pair of shoulders, first rollers being rotatably associated with the shafts. Second rollers are associated on the pair of first and second shafts, have a smaller diameter than the first rollers, and are supported in a loading condition by first supporting elements, activatable under load and protruding from the main base body. The link further comprises a slider, supported by at least one pair of second supporting elements, protruding from the main base body and has free ends supported on the base body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20060252588
    Abstract: A modular sprocket, particularly for conveyor belts or chains, which comprises a spur gear, which is constituted by two spur halves, between which there is an opening which can accommodate internally a hub divided into two hub halves, the opening having a polygonal cross-section, which is shaped complementary with respect to the hub, interconnection elements for interconnecting the spur halves and for locking the hub being provided which can be accessed laterally with respect to the sprocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Patent number: 7121400
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the planarity of a conveyance element with respect to a guide while the conveyance element is in motion. This control is achieved by coupling a guide to a conveyance element where the conveyance element is held in a level position by a magnetic force. The attractive force specifically holds the edges of the conveyance element in place, so that they do not lift up or separate from the guide as the guide, by way of a chain coupling the guide to the conveyance element, carries the conveyance element through a defined path over a linear distance or around a corner in, for example, a manufacturing line environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Plastomeccanica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20060144678
    Abstract: A link of a conveyor chain comprising a main base body, a supporting element for supporting and retaining at least one supporting shaft with which a plurality of first rollers are rotatably associated, the link being adapted to be articulated to a similar adjacent link so as to form a conveyor chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20060081448
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the planarity of a conveyance element with respect to a guide while the conveyance element is in motion. This control is achieved by coupling a guide to a conveyance element where the conveyance element is held in a level position by a magnetic force. The attractive force specifically holds the edges of the conveyance element in place, so that they do not lift up or separate from the guide as the guide, by way of a chain coupling the guide to the conveyance element, carries the conveyance element through a defined path over a linear distance or around a corner in, for example, a manufacturing line environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20060081447
    Abstract: A guide, particularly for conveyor belts, inside which it is possible to accommodate first elements for generating a magnetic field, each one being constituted by a single permanent magnet, which has a U-shaped cross-section and has at least one pair of wings that protrude upward; the magnet can be inserted within a complementarily shaped receptacle formed inside the guide structure that can support slidingly a chain composed of a plurality of conveyance elements, which have second elements for their mutual engagement and are made at least partially of ferromagnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Patent number: 6942913
    Abstract: A module for a modular conveyor belt, is described. The module is of a micocellular polymeric foam produced by an injection molding process. The foam polymeric material exhibits excellent mechanical properties required for modular conveyor belts capable of withstanding long service lives. Also, the reduced weight in comparison to conventionally molded modules helps decrease wear on the conveyor belt support structures including the drive sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventors: Luis Cediel, Sergio Fandella
  • Patent number: 6871736
    Abstract: A conveyance chain comprising a plurality of links that are identical and longitudinally associable in succession with a similar one, each link having a head that protrudes at the front of a body supporting a contact plate, to the rear of which two wings protrude, a transverse pivot, made monolithically with the pair of wings and accommodated detachably, in a complementarily shaped slot formed in the head of an adjacent link arranged at the rear, and a bush, arranged by interlocking coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella
  • Publication number: 20040140181
    Abstract: A conveyance chain comprising a plurality of links that are identical and longitudinally associable in succession with a similar one, each link having a head that protrudes at the front of a body supporting a contact plate, to the rear of which two wings protrude, a transverse pivot, made monolithically with the pair of wings and accommodated detachably, in a complementarily shaped slot formed in the head of an adjacent link arranged at the rear, and a bush, arranged by interlocking coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: Habasit AG
    Inventor: Sergio Fandella