Patents by Inventor Stevan Tisma

Stevan Tisma 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: 7338423
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming a latching flip-top box from a blank. A plurality of mandrels are coupled to a conveyor system. Each of the mandrels includes a mounting block for coupling the mandrel to the automatic packaging machine, a package-holding assembly operatively connected to the mounting block and being rotatable about a first axis from a first position to a second position, and a flap holder assembly operatively connected to the mounting block. The flap holder assembly is rotatable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A plurality of plows and tucker assemblies sequentially manipulate portions of the blank in order to form portions of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Thiele Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Petar Tisma, Yugoslav Kokotovic, Radjoe Bajic, Stevan Tisma
  • Publication number: 20050255979
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming a latching flip-top box from a blank. A plurality of mandrels are coupled to a conveyor system. Each of the mandrels include a mounting block for coupling the mandrel to the automatic packaging machine, a package-holding assembly operatively connected to the mounting block and being rotatable about a first axis from a first position to a second position, and a flap holder assembly operatively connected to the mounting block. The flap holder assembly is rotatable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A plurality of plows and tucker assemblies sequentially manipulate portions of the blank in order to form portions of the box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Petar Tisma, Yugoslav Kokotovic, Radoje Bajic, Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 6962556
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming a latching flip-top box from a blank. A plurality of mandrels are coupled to a conveyor system. Each of the mandrels include a mounting block for coupling the mandrel to the automatic packaging machine, a package-holding assembly operatively connected to the mounting block and being rotatable about a first axis from a first position to a second position, and a flap holder assembly operatively connected to the mounting block. The flap holder assembly is rotatable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A plurality of plows and tucker assemblies sequentially manipulate portions of the blank in order to form portions of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Petar Tisma, Yugoslav Kokotovic, Radoje Bajic, Stevan Tisma
  • Publication number: 20050026762
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine for forming a latching flip-top box from a blank. A plurality of mandrels are coupled to a conveyor system. Each of the mandrels include a mounting block for coupling the mandrel to the automatic packaging machine, a package-holding assembly operatively connected to the mounting block and being rotatable about a first axis from a first position to a second position, and a flap holder assembly operatively connected to the mounting block. The flap holder assembly is rotatable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A plurality of plows and tucker assemblies sequentially manipulate portions of the blank in order to form portions of the box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Petar Tisma, Yugoslav Kokotovic, Radoje Bajic, Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5918445
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine includes a first conveyor which carries a batch of small items along a path extending in a first direction. A second conveyor carries boxes in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. A depositing structure in the form of a twisted funnel rotates the products from the first direction to the second direction before inserting them into a box. An oscillating plate carrying the funnel moves back and forth to fill the box while traveling in a first half of back and forth motion. Then, in the second half of that motion, returns to fill the next box. The oscillating plate may carry a plurality of funnels on each of its opposite sides. A memory of the type of small item carried by each funnel enables a single box to be loaded with different products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Stevan Tisma
    Inventors: Stevan Tisma, Walter H. Vogel
  • Patent number: 5787680
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine is adapted to insert a plurality of layers of product into a carton. In a preferred embodiment, the product is carried in an X-Y tray which is able to expand or to contract in width and to raise or lower, thereby giving two dimensional geometrical adjustments. A first layer of product is loaded into the X-Y tray. Then the tray is lowered and a second layer is placed over the first layer. The process is repeated for any number of layers. Thereafter, the stack of layers is pushed into a carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Stevan Tisma, Steven Zabran
  • Patent number: 5642599
    Abstract: An automatic packaging system closes and seals a hybrid box having end flaps with a narrow paper strip sealed to and around an inside perimeter of the box. A projecting edge of the narrow strip extends out of the box approximately as far as the outer edges of the end flaps. First, the end flaps are folded away from the narrow paper strip. A pair of spreading fingers move in synchronism with boxes while they are being carried by a conveyor. The spreading fingers are moved toward the boxes and inserted into a "bag" opening formed by narrow strip. The spreading fingers move apart for closing the projecting edges of the narrow strip and bringing the sides of the strip into face-to-face confrontation. There the sides are gripped and stretched to prevent puckers or pleats. While the projecting edges are so gripped in a face-to-face confrontation, they are sealed in order to close the "bag" opening formed by the paper strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5560184
    Abstract: A loader for an automatic packaging machine has a plurality of input conveyor belts that run at successively slower speeds in order to bring products into a predetermined product density. A metering wheel picks up the products one at a time and delivers them to a metering conveyor belt having upstanding fences defining batch areas. The profile of the metering wheel may be changed, by substitution, in order to pick up another product. A product counter moves the metering conveyor belt a distance equal to one batch area responsive to a batch count indicating that the metering wheel has delivered a selected number of products to one of the batch areas. In one embodiment, the product is a tube of soda crackers. Down stream, the soda crackers are slid into position without abrading one tube of crackers against another tube of crackers. For horizontal layers, abrasion is avoided by using a variable width mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5477959
    Abstract: A link chain conveyor has rollers on opposite sides of the chain, a track has a groove in which the rollers travel, in both the vertical or the horizontal orientation. The link chain has a U-shaped bracket which is pivotally connected at each of its ends to a conventional link chain adapted to receive a tooth of a sprocket wheel. The U-shaped bracket has conventional link chain connector means so that almost any existing link claim carried equipment may be connected thereto. This way, the inventive claim is compatible with existing link chain conveyor equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5460258
    Abstract: A loader for an automatic packaging machine received an inflow of product subject to a randomly variable product delivery. The loader delivers an outflow of product at a defined rate and in a predetermined pattern despite the variations of the inflow. A buffer storage device stores an adjustable amount of product between the inflow and the defined outflow in order to compensate for the random variables. The buffer storage device is a link chain trained over three principal sprocket wheels arranged in a triangular pattern with the wheel at an apex of the triangle being in a fixed position. The portion of the link chain which forms the base of the triangle provides the buffer storage. The product output is taken from approximately a midpoint on the base of the triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5452568
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine comprises a spaced parallel pair of conveyor chains for transporting a plurality of pallets around an endless path. A pair of guide rails are connected between the conveyor chains for slidingly carrying each pallet. A plurality of control bars are slidably mounted on the guide rails. Two or more cam slots are provided at selected locations along the path followed by the conveyor chains in order to independently control the position of each of the control bars as a function of their instantaneous locations in the packaging machine. A stabilization support system built into the control bars provides enough play to dissipate centrifugal force and thereby enable the machine to operate at a higher speed. An X-Y mounting system may be provided in order to enable the pallets to undertake two dimensional motion. The control bars enable specific points in the surface area of the pallet to undertake specific motions which are independent of the motion of the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5388389
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine comprises a spaced parallel pair of conveyor chains for transporting a plurality of mandrels. A pair of guide rails connected between the conveyor chains for slidably carrying each mandrel, so that a mandrel may be moved in a product transport position to a loading station. At the loading station, the mandrel is thrust forward to confront a box so that the product may be pushed into a box. The mandrel may be made wider to accept product without a precise alignment between mandrel and product or more narrow to fit the product into a box at the loading station. Two cam slots are provided to independently control the thrust position and the width of the mandrel. A stabilization support provides enough play to dissipate centrifugal force and thereby enable the machine to operate at a higher speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5351811
    Abstract: A link chain conveyor has rollers on opposite sides of the chain, a track has a groove in which the rollers travel, in both the vertical or the horizontal orientation. The link chain has a U-shaped bracket which is pivotally connected at each of its ends to a conventional link chain adapted to receive a tooth of a sprocket wheel. The U-shaped bracket has conventional link chain connector means so that almost any existing link claim carried equipment may be connected thereto. This way, the inventive claim is compatible with existing link chain conveyor equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corp.
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5343671
    Abstract: A portable loader may be brought up to and selectively positioned to deliver product into mandrels carried by an automatic packaging machine. The loader may receive product on an asynchronous and on-demand basis and delivers product on a time basis coordinated with operation of the automatic packaging machine. The loader has two bins which are opened and closed in sequence to receive and deliver product with a buffer time storage in a second of the two bins in order to accommodate the timing of the packaging machine. The loader handles pouches and similarly irregularly shaped product, having a geometry which may vary at random. The pouches are gently shaped to fit into a box as they are transferred from a source of product into a loading position of the packaging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5247778
    Abstract: The invention provides a mount for attachment to a link chain conveyor, especially--but not exclusively--for use in an automatic packaging machine. The mount has two pivot points of attachment to prevent unwanted motion caused by centrifugal forces as the mount circles a sprocket wheel. One of the two pivot points is a pair of tracks having wear resistant nylon blocks mounted on them to provide lost motion. Responsive to each lost motion extension, the block rubs the tracks to clean them of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5185984
    Abstract: An automatic packaging machine comprises a spaced parallel pair of conveyor chains for transporting a plurality of mandrels. A pair of guide rails connected between the conveyor chains for slidably carrying each mandrel, so that a mandrel may be moved in a product transport position to a loading station. At the loading station, the mandrel is thrust forward to confront a box so that the product may be pushed into a box. The mandrel may be made wider to accept product without a precise alignment between mandrel and product or more narrow to fit the product into a box at the loading station. Two cam slots are provided to independently control the thrust position and the width of the mandrel. A stabilization support provides enough play to dissipate centrifugal force and thereby enable the machine to operate at a higher speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5170610
    Abstract: A portable loader may be brought up to and selectively positioned to deliver product into mandrels carried by an automatic packaging machine. The loader may receive product on an asynchronous and on-demand basis and delivers product on a time basis coordinated with operation of the automatic packaging machine. The loader has two bins which are opened and closed in sequence to receive and deliver product with a buffer time storage in a second of the two bins in order to accommodate the timing of the packaging machine. The loader handles pouches and similarly irregularly shaped product, having a geometry which may vary at random. The pouches are gently shaped to fit into a box as they are transferred from a source of product into a loading position of the packaging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Tisma Machine Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5157896
    Abstract: An improved packaging machine having a positive retention mandrel device and positive discharge pusher means for transporting semi-rigid containers from one conveyor to a second conveyor. A broad size latitude conveyor providing accurate positioning of such containers for transfer from said conveyor to a second conveyor. A system for utilizing a draped unfettered leaflet for telescopic introduction into a box by employing an inverted semi-rigid bottle as the insertion mechanism with the leaflet ending up in embracing relation to the bottle cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Tisma Machine Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5144790
    Abstract: A high speed automatic packaging machine is constructed from standardized modules in order to reduce cost and standardize operational and maintenance procedures. The standardized modules include conveyor chains trained over sprocket wheels to form modules which may be ganged to maintain synchronization of operations. Various types of mandrels may be attached to the conveyor chain in order to adapt the machine to load different types of products. The mandrels experience significant centrifugal forces as they go around the path defined by the sprocket wheels. To prevent the mandrels from slapping the conveyor chain when it is traveling at high speed, a leading end of the mandrel is pivotly connected to the chain while a trailing end of the mandrel is captured within a slot which allows the mandrel to go around the sprocket wheel without departing therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Tisma Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma
  • Patent number: 5072573
    Abstract: A tray-like mandrel for an automatic packaging machine has a telescoping bottom so that it may be made wide in order to receive a product or narrow in order to fit into a box. The telescoping is controlled by a slot track cam extending along a path followed by the mandrel. A cam follower riding in the slot track adjusts the tray width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Tisma Machine Corporation
    Inventor: Stevan Tisma