Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Pelak

Thomas J. Pelak 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: 7150352
    Abstract: A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Dematic Corp.
    Inventors: David H Cotter, Kenneth J Kooistra, Thomas J Pelak, Richard E Hoisington, II
  • Patent number: 6971510
    Abstract: A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Cotter, Kenneth J. Kooistra, Thomas J. Pelak, Richard E. Hoisington, II
  • Publication number: 20030192769
    Abstract: A curved belt conveyor includes at least two zones, each of which may be defined by a motorized roller and at least one idler roller which are positioned along and between opposite sidewalls of the conveyor, and a continuous belt reeved around the rollers. The conveyor includes a tracking means for tracking the belt on the rollers. The tracking means is substantially contained between the sidewalls of the conveyor and laterally inward of the outer and inner ends of the rollers. The tracking means may comprise a tracking roller positioned along a lower surface of one of the rollers and may engage the lower run of the belt with an upper surface of the tracking roller to maintain the belt in a proper position around the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: David H. Cotter, Kenneth J. Kooistra, Thomas J. Pelak, Richard E. Hoisington
  • Publication number: 20030062249
    Abstract: A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor includes a support member having a cavity dimensioned to receive a force producing device. A contact member is positioned between the force producing device and the conveying rollers and reciprocates with respect to the conveying rollers. The contact member includes a wheel assembly which, when vertically reciprocated by the force-producing device, places the drive belt into driving contact with the conveying rollers. The wheel assembly is configured to move in a substantially transverse direction to the direction of movement of the drive belt to maintain alignment between the drive belt and the contact assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Cotter, Ronald C. Ehlert, Thomas J. Pelak, Kenneth J. Kooistra, Curtis E. LeMay
  • Patent number: 6478142
    Abstract: A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor includes a support member having a cavity dimensioned to receive a force producing device. A contact member is positioned between the force producing device and the conveying rollers and reciprocates with respect to the conveying rollers. The contact member includes a wheel assembly which, when vertically reciprocated by the force-producing device, places the drive belt into driving contact with the conveying rollers. The wheel assembly is configured to move in a substantially transverse direction to the direction of movement of the drive belt to maintain alignment between the drive belt and the contact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Cotter, Ronald C. Ehlert, Thomas J. Pelak, Kenneth J. Kooistra, Curtis E. LeMay
  • Publication number: 20010004959
    Abstract: A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor includes a support member having a cavity dimensioned to receive a force producing device. A contact member is positioned between the force producing device and the conveying rollers and reciprocates with respect to the conveying rollers. The contact member includes a wheel assembly which, when vertically reciprocated by the force-producing device, places the drive belt into driving contact with the conveying rollers. The wheel assembly is configured to move in a substantially transverse direction to the direction of movement of the drive belt to maintain alignment between the drive belt and the contact assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: David H. Cotter, Ronald C. Ehlert, Thomas J. Pelak, Kenneth J. Kooistra, Curtis E. LeMay
  • Patent number: 6065588
    Abstract: A contact assembly for an accumulation conveyor includes a support member having a cavity dimensioned to receive a force producing device. A contact member is positioned between the force producing device and the conveying rollers and reciprocates with respect to the conveying rollers. The contact member includes a platform which supports a pair of cantilevered contact rollers journaled at opposing ends of the platform. When the platform is vertically reciprocated by the force-producing device, the contact rollers in driving engagement with a drive belt are forced upward, placing the drive belt into driving contact with the conveying rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann Dematic Rapistan Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Cotter, Ronald C. Ehlert, Thomas J. Pelak, Kenneth J. Kooistra