Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Graham

Thomas D. Graham 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: 12134492
    Abstract: A packaging system includes a plurality of feed conveyors configured to carry a plurality of carton units thereon and a stacking station. The stacking station includes a stacking conveyor and a plurality of lifting assemblies. Each lifting assembly of the plurality of lifting assemblies is selectively moveable over the stacking conveyor and a corresponding feed conveyor of the plurality of feed conveyors. The packaging system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the stacking conveyor and the plurality of lifting assemblies. The controller is configured to control a first lifting assembly of the plurality of lifting assemblies to retrieve a first carton unit from a first feed conveyor of the plurality of feed conveyors and control the first lifting assembly to deposit the first carton unit on the stacking conveyor in a stacked relationship with a second carton unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Graham, Amer Aganovic, Kirk S. Kempnich, Claudio D'Alesio, Lonnie Teston
  • Publication number: 20240293990
    Abstract: Provided herein is a machine for forming a container from a blank including a tray and a lid. The machine has an upstream end where the blank is loaded and a downstream end where the container is discharged and includes a frame, a pre-forming assembly, and a mandrel assembly. The pre-forming assembly is configured to partially form the lid and the tray by folding each of a plurality of side panels of the blank and further form the tray by partially folding a front panel assembly of the blank, the front panel assembly including a front panel and a roll-over panel. The mandrel assembly is mounted to the frame and configured to engage a bottom panel of the tray to form each of a plurality of corners of the tray and fold the roll-over panel to form a front wall of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Dean GRAHAM, Amer AGANOVIC, Claudio D'ALESIO
  • Publication number: 20240239788
    Abstract: Compounds or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts can inhibit the G12D mutant of Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) protein and are expected to have utility as therapeutic agents, for example, for treating cancer. The disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions which comprise compounds disclosed herein or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The disclosure also relates to methods for use of the compounds or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts in the therapy and prophylaxis of cancer and for preparing pharmaceuticals for this purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: David L. Sloman, Gianni Chessari, Patrick Schöpf, Steven Howard, Yuichi Kawai, Kazuaki Shibata, Hiroki Asakura, Takao Uno, Takeshi Sagara, Masayuki Nakamura, Yu Kobayakawa, David Jonathan Bennett, Indu Bharathan, Thomas H. Graham, Yongxin Han, Zahid Hussain, Xiaoshen Ma, Mihir Mandal, Ryan D. Otte, Anandan Palani, Uma Swaminathan, Mycah Uehling, Yingchun Ye, Ryan Chau, Alec H. Christian, Symon Gathiaka, Timothy J. Henderson, Elisabeth T. Hennessy, Andrew J. Hoover, Shuhei Kawamura, Igri Kolaj, Thomas W. Lyons, Matthew J. Mitcheltree, Aaron Sather
  • Patent number: 11628643
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank includes a mandrel mounted to a frame. The mandrel includes a first side, an opposite second side, and an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The machine also includes a first presser arm, a folding arm, and a second presser arm each coupled to the frame. The first presser arm is positionable generally proximate the first side of the mandrel and is configured to wrap a first portion of the blank about the mandrel. The folding arm is positionable at least generally proximate the second side of the mandrel and is configured to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel. The second presser arm is disposed generally proximate the first presser arm and is configured to wrap a third portion of the blank about the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Couture, Craig W. Buscema, Thomas D. Graham, Robert Bradley Teany, Amer Aganovic
  • Patent number: 11565492
    Abstract: A method for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes folding a first portion of the blank assembly about at least a first face of a first mandrel to form a partially formed container, and transferring the partially formed container towards a second mandrel using a transfer assembly that extends through the first face of the first mandrel. The method also includes transferring the partially formed container from the first mandrel to the second mandrel along a pair of guide rails extending between the first mandrel and the second mandrel, wrapping a second portion of the blank assembly about at least a first face of the second mandrel to form the container, wherein the first face of the second mandrel opposes the first face of the first mandrel with respect to a vertical direction, and ejecting the container from the second mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Publication number: 20210046723
    Abstract: A method for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes folding a first portion of the blank assembly about at least a first face of a first mandrel to form a partially formed container, and transferring the partially formed container towards a second mandrel using a transfer assembly that extends through the first face of the first mandrel. The method also includes transferring the partially formed container from the first mandrel to the second mandrel along a pair of guide rails extending between the first mandrel and the second mandrel, wrapping a second portion of the blank assembly about at least a first face of the second mandrel to form the container, wherein the first face of the second mandrel opposes the first face of the first mandrel with respect to a vertical direction, and ejecting the container from the second mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Patent number: 10821698
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes a frame, a mandrel assembly mounted to the frame, a pre-folding assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel assembly includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel positioned downstream from the first mandrel. The first mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a first portion of the container, and the second mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a second portion of the container. The pre-folding assembly is configured to fold a first portion of the blank assembly around the first mandrel to form a partially formed container. The glue panel presser assembly includes a first presser plate configured to form a first manufacturer joint, and a second presser plate configured to form a second manufacturer joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Patent number: 10786964
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes a frame, a mandrel assembly mounted to the frame, a pre-folding assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel assembly includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel positioned downstream from the first mandrel. The first mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a first portion of the container, and the second mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a second portion of the container. The pre-folding assembly is configured to fold a first portion of the blank assembly around the first mandrel to form a partially formed container. The glue panel presser assembly includes a first presser plate configured to form a first manufacturer joint, and a second presser plate configured to form a second manufacturer joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Publication number: 20200122425
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank includes a mandrel mounted to a frame. The mandrel includes a first side, an opposite second side, and an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The machine also includes a first presser arm, a folding arm, and a second presser arm each coupled to the frame. The first presser arm is positionable generally proximate the first side of the mandrel and is configured to wrap a first portion of the blank about the mandrel. The folding arm is positionable at least generally proximate the second side of the mandrel and is configured to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel. The second presser arm is disposed generally proximate the first presser arm and is configured to wrap a third portion of the blank about the mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: David G. Couture, Craig W. Buscema, Thomas D. Graham, Robert Bradley Teany, Amer Aganovic
  • Patent number: 10556396
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank includes a mandrel mounted to a frame. The mandrel includes a first side, an opposite second side, and an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The machine also includes a first presser arm, a folding arm, and a second presser arm each coupled to the frame. The first presser arm is positionable generally proximate the first side of the mandrel and is configured to wrap a first portion of the blank about the mandrel. The folding arm is positionable at least generally proximate the second side of the mandrel and is configured to wrap a second portion of the blank about the mandrel. The second presser arm is disposed generally proximate the first presser arm and is configured to wrap a third portion of the blank about the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: David G. Couture, Craig W. Buscema, Thomas D. Graham, Robert Bradley Teany, Amer Aganovic
  • Patent number: 10265919
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material including a glue panel and an overlap panel includes a frame, a mandrel mounted to the frame, a glue panel folder assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The glue panel folder assembly includes an actuator and a glue panel folding member operatively coupled to the actuator. The actuator is configured to cause the glue panel folding member to move in a curvilinear path of motion, contact the glue panel, and move the glue panel into at least partial contact with the mandrel. The glue panel presser assembly is configured to press the overlap panel into face-to-face contact with the glue panel to form a manufacturer joint of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Publication number: 20180326685
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material including a glue panel and an overlap panel includes a frame, a mandrel mounted to the frame, a glue panel folder assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The glue panel folder assembly includes an actuator and a glue panel folding member operatively coupled to the actuator. The actuator is configured to cause the glue panel folding member to move in a curvilinear path of motion, contact the glue panel, and move the glue panel into at least partial contact with the mandrel. The glue panel presser assembly is configured to press the overlap panel into face-to-face contact with the glue panel to form a manufacturer joint of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Patent number: 10052837
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material including a glue panel and an overlap panel includes a frame, a mandrel mounted to the frame, a glue panel folder assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a portion of the container. The glue panel folder assembly includes an actuator and a glue panel folding member operatively coupled to the actuator. The actuator is configured to cause the glue panel folding member to move in a curvilinear path of motion, contact the glue panel, and move the glue panel into at least partial contact with the mandrel. The glue panel presser assembly is configured to press the overlap panel into face-to-face contact with the glue panel to form a manufacturer joint of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Publication number: 20180141300
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes a frame, a mandrel assembly mounted to the frame, a pre-folding assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel assembly includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel positioned downstream from the first mandrel. The first mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a first portion of the container, and the second mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a second portion of the container. The pre-folding assembly is configured to fold a first portion of the blank assembly around the first mandrel to form a partially formed container. The glue panel presser assembly includes a first presser plate configured to form a first manufacturer joint, and a second presser plate configured to form a second manufacturer joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Publication number: 20180126684
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes a frame, a mandrel assembly mounted to the frame, a pre-folding assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel assembly includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel positioned downstream from the first mandrel. The first mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a first portion of the container, and the second mandrel has an external shape complimentary to an internal shape of at least a second portion of the container. The pre-folding assembly is configured to fold a first portion of the blank assembly around the first mandrel to form a partially formed container. The glue panel presser assembly includes a first presser plate configured to form a first manufacturer joint, and a second presser plate configured to form a second manufacturer joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Patent number: 9878512
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank assembly including a tray blank and lid blank includes a frame, a mandrel assembly mounted to the frame, a pre-folding assembly, and a glue panel presser assembly. The mandrel assembly includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel positioned downstream from the first mandrel. The first mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a first portion of the container, and the second mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a second portion of the container. The pre-folding assembly is configured to fold a first portion of the blank assembly around the first mandrel to form a partially formed container. The glue panel presser assembly includes a first presser plate configured to form a first manufacturer joint, and a second presser plate configured to form a second manufacturer joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Patent number: 9815586
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a blank of sheet material using a machine is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side panel. The machine includes a hopper station, a corner post forming station, and a plunger station. The method includes rotating the reinforcing panel assembly upwardly toward the first side panel as the blank is transported from the hopper station to the corner post forming station, forming a corner wall and a reinforcing end tab by folding reinforcing panels about fold lines as the blank is transported through the corner post forming station, rotating the side panels and the end panels to be substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel by directing the blank through the plunger station, and coupling the reinforcing end tab to an end panel to form the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Ricki D. Anderson, Guillermo Rojas, Kenneth C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170253366
    Abstract: A blank for forming a container is provided. The blank includes a plurality of side panels coupled together, the plurality of side panels including at least a first minor panel, and a first intermediate panel extending from a side edge of the first minor panel. The blank also includes a first bottom corner flap extending from a bottom edge of the first intermediate panel, wherein the first bottom corner flap includes a free edge including a first portion, and a first bottom minor flap extending from a bottom edge of the first minor panel, wherein the first bottom minor flap includes a free edge including a first portion. When the container is formed from the blank, the first portion of the free edge of the first bottom corner flap engages the first portion of the free edge of the first bottom minor flap in an edge-to-edge relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. JAMES, Thomas D. GRAHAM, Kenneth C. SMITH, Timothy MCCARTHY
  • Patent number: 9701087
    Abstract: A machine for forming a container from a blank of sheet material includes a frame, a mandrel assembly mounted to the frame, a pre-folding assembly, and a transfer assembly. The mandrel assembly includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel. The first mandrel has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a first portion of the container. The second mandrel is positioned downstream from the first mandrel, and has an external shape complementary to an internal shape of at least a second portion of the container. The pre-folding assembly is configured to fold a first portion of the blank around the first mandrel to form a partially formed container. The first portion of the blank corresponds to the first portion of the container. The transfer assembly is for transferring the partially formed container from the first mandrel to the second mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Graham, Amer Aganovic, Claudio D'Alesio
  • Patent number: 9428299
    Abstract: A container configured to be selectively moved between a substantially flat position and a deployed position is provided. The container includes a first blank of sheet material for forming side walls of the container, and a second blank of sheet material for forming a bottom wall of the container. The first blank having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first blank includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, a fourth side panel, a fifth side panel, and a sixth side panel wherein each of the side panels are coupled across a fold line. The first blank also includes end flaps extending from the bottom edge of each of the side panels wherein at least two of the end flaps includes a tab joint. The second blank having a plurality of side edges equal to a number of side panels of the first blank, each side edge having a width substantially equal to a width of the side panels of the first blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Tesfahun Y. Mengistu, Thomas D. Graham, John Thomas Yoder, IV