Patents by Inventor Son T. Hoang

Son T. Hoang 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).

  • Vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator and method for singulating products
    Patent number: 5407317
    Abstract: A vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator to dispense and singulate "soft" products in an automated order dispensing system (AOS) includes a product cartridge and an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt picks the products from the bottom of the cartridge using a vacuum control element and carries it up the conveyor until it reaches a pinch roller that holds the product ready to be dispensed to a central conveyor of the AOS. Products are picked from the product cartridge by the inclined conveyor in a position such that a product will fall off the conveyor unless held by a vacuum generated by the vacuum control element. Thus, random multiples removed from the cartridge with the picked product fall off the conveyor. The product stream from the hopper is thereby singulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: ElectroCom Automation, L.P.
    Inventors: James M. Pippin, Son T. Hoang, Richard C. Hickey
  • Vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator
    Patent number: 5326219
    Abstract: A vacuum beam product dispenser and singulator to dispense and singulate "soft" products in an automated order dispensing system (AOS) includes a product cartridge and an inclined conveyor belt. The conveyor belt picks the products from the bottom of the cartridge using a vacuum control element and carries it up the conveyor until it reaches a pinch roller that holds the product ready to be dispensed to a central conveyor of the AOS. Products are picked from the product cartridge by the inclined conveyor in a position such that a product will fall off the conveyor unless held by a vacuum generated by the vacuum control element. Thus, random multiples removed from the cartridge with the picked product fall off the conveyor. The product stream from the hopper is thereby singulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: ElectroCom Automation L.P.
    Inventors: James M. Pippin, Son T. Hoang, Richard C. Hickey