Patents by Inventor Steven L. Hart

Steven L. Hart 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).

  • Low electrostatic discharge conveyor
    Patent number: 7328785
    Abstract: A conveyor for transporting objects sensitive to electrostatic discharge. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a roller conveyor with conductive rollers in electrical communication with an electrical ground. The rollers preferably have about 105 ohms resistance from the outer diameter to the inner diameter to ensure that electrostatic charges built up on the conveyed object can flow to ground, yet not flow too quickly. In another embodiment, the roller shafts are supported on highly conductive bushings that provide a path to electrical ground that is preferably less that 104 ohms. In yet another embodiment, the roller shafts are driven by a conductive pulley that minimizes the build-up of electrostatic charge as a result of a triboelectric effect with the drive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Shuttleworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Hart, Klaus P. Daenzer, Brent R. Howard
  • Low electrostatic discharge conveyor
    Publication number: 20030168319
    Abstract: A conveyor for transporting objects sensitive to electrostatic discharge. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a roller conveyor with conductive rollers in electrical communication with an electrical ground. The rollers preferably have about 105 ohms resistance from the outer diameter to the inner diameter to ensure that electrostatic charges built up on the conveyed object can flow to ground, yet not flow too quickly. In another embodiment, the roller shafts are supported on highly conductive bushings that provide a path to electrical ground that is preferably less that 104 ohms. In yet another embodiment, the roller shafts are driven by a conductive pulley that minimizes the build-up of electrostatic charge as a result of a triboelectric effect with the drive belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Steven L. Hart, Klaus P. Daenzer, Brent R. Howard
  • Low electrostatic discharge conveyor
    Patent number: 6516940
    Abstract: A conveyor (20, 120, 220, 320) for transporting objects sensitive to electrostatic discharge. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a slippable roller conveyor (20, 120, 220, 320) with conductive slippable rollers (30, 30′) in electrical communication with an electrical ground (60). The slippable rollers (30, 30′) preferably have about 105 ohms resistance from the outer surface (40) to the inner diameter (34) to ensure that electrostatic charges built up on the conveyed object can flow to ground, yet not flow too quickly. In another embodiment, the roller shafts (35) are supported on highly conductive bushings that provide a path to electrical ground that is preferably less than 104 ohms. In yet another embodiment, the roller shafts (35) are driven by a conductive pulley (65) that minimizes the build-up of electrostatic charge as a result of a triboelectric effect with the drive belt (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Shuttleworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Hart, Klaus P. Daenzer, Brent R. Howard