Patents by Inventor Steven M. DeMan

Steven M. DeMan 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: 11066242
    Abstract: A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction and at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from the conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface. A plurality of pushers are configured to move together in a lateral direction in order to displace an item on the conveying surface to the diagonal take-away lane. A rotational system is configured to rotate a leading portion of a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane. A belt drive system is provided for driving live roller conveyors about a curved section of a roller conveyor of the sorter. The drive belt is guided along a single conical drive plane that maintains the orientation of the drive belt relative to the single conical drive plane and limits twisting and stress in the drive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Nolan R. Pilarz, Veronique Cole, Shreedhar Murthy Hebbur, Jeffery D. Duncan, Nicholas M. Thomas, Steven M. DeMan, John M. Karas, Jeffrey S. DeVries, Jeffery T. Boorsma, Thomas H. Triesenberg
  • Publication number: 20200130938
    Abstract: A positive displacement sorter and method of diverting articles includes a conveying surface configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction and at least one diagonal take-away lane, extending diagonally from the conveying surface to receive articles being diverted from said conveying surface. A plurality of pushers are configured to move together in a lateral direction in order to displace an item on the conveying surface to the diagonal take-away lane. A rotational system is configured to rotate a leading portion of a diverted article in the direction of the take-away lane. A belt drive system is provided for driving live roller conveyors about a curved section of a roller conveyor of the sorter. The drive belt is guided along a single conical drive plane that maintains the orientation of the drive belt relative to the single conical drive plane and limits twisting and stress in the drive belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Nolan R. Pilarz, Veronique Cole, Shreedhar Murthy Hebbur, Jeffery D. Duncan, Nicholas M. Thomas, Steven M. DeMan, John M. Karas, Jeffrey S. DeVries, Jeffery T. Boorsma, Thomas H. Triesenberg
  • Patent number: 9522781
    Abstract: A warehouse shuttle includes a chassis made up of first and second chassis portions and an article-carrying area between the chassis portions. Pairs of first and second running wheels are provided on the chassis to travel along the runway. One of a pair of arms is mounted to the first chassis portion and the other of the arms is mounted to the second chassis portion and are extendable and retractable to transfer an article between one of the shelves and the article-carrying area. A connector assembly connects the first and second chassis portions and can vary the spacing between the first and second chassis portions thereby varying the spacing between the arms to engage articles of different widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Dematic Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp J. Hortig, Steven M. DeMan, Shin Yamashita, Lars Hallberg, Clemens Hummel, Pascal Rehm
  • Publication number: 20120099953
    Abstract: A warehouse shuttle includes a chassis made up of first and second chassis portions and an article-carrying area between the chassis portions. Pairs of first and second running wheels are provided on the chassis to travel along the runway. One of a pair of arms is mounted to the first chassis portion and the other of the arms is mounted to the second chassis portion and are extendable and retractable to transfer an article between one of the shelves and the article-carrying area. A connector assembly connects the first and second chassis portions and can vary the spacing between the first and second chassis portions thereby varying the spacing between the arms to engage articles of different widths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Dematic Accounting Services GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp J. Hortig, Steven M. DeMan, Shin Yamashita, Lars Hallberg, Clemens Hummel
  • Patent number: 7798306
    Abstract: A diverter assembly for a positive displacement sorter apparatus having a plurality of interconnected slats that define a conveying surface adapted to convey articles in a longitudinal direction and having a plurality of pusher shoes adapted to move along at least one of the plurality of slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. The diverter assembly includes a diverting track extending diagonally under the conveying surface and an actuator is provided for selectively diverting at least one of the pusher shoes toward the diverting track. A diverter nose is adapted to guide the pusher shoe to the diverting track when diverted by the actuator or to guide the pusher shoe away from said diverting track when not diverted by said actuator. At least a portion of said diverter nose is adapted to move laterally and longitudinally when struck generally head-on by a portion of a pusher shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Brayman, Steven M. DeMan
  • Publication number: 20090139834
    Abstract: A diverter assembly for a positive displacement sorter apparatus having a plurality of interconnected slats that define a conveying surface adapted to convey articles in a longitudinal direction and having a plurality of pusher shoes adapted to move along at least one of the plurality of slats to laterally displace articles on the conveying surface. The diverter assembly includes a diverting track extending diagonally under the conveying surface and an actuator is provided for selectively diverting at least one of the pusher shoes toward the diverting track. A diverter nose is adapted to guide the pusher shoe to the diverting track when diverted by the actuator or to guide the pusher shoe away from said diverting track when not diverted by said actuator. At least a portion of said diverter nose is adapted to move laterally and longitudinally when struck generally head-on by a portion of a pusher shoe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Brayman, Steven M. DeMan