Patents by Inventor Thomas M. McLenithan

Thomas M. McLenithan 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: 11878829
    Abstract: A packaging machine is provided for producing single and multiple compartment film wrapped pouches. Multiple linear motors allow aspects of the forming, filling, cutting and discharging to run at different speeds. The pouches are formed, filled and discharged from platens that are secured to movers that proceed through the packaging process by following magnetic fields created by independently controlled linear motors. Overall, cycle time is decreased as a result of speeding up parts of the process, including the platen return process, possible because there is no mechanical connection and not a single conveyor moving the platens while the other parts of the process may be simultaneously slowed down or even temporarily stopped. Changeover of platens, to accommodate different products, such as single compartment pouch to multiple compartment pouches, is also simplified because platens are simply connected to the movers and are thus easily removed and replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NEW SPS POD, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas M. McLenithan, Andrzej Kepinski, John Paselsky, Jeff Williams, Richard McKenzie, Richard Bishop
  • Publication number: 20230106482
    Abstract: A packaging machine is provided for producing single and multiple compartment film wrapped pouches. Multiple linear motors allow aspects of the forming, filling, cutting and discharging to run at different speeds. The pouches are formed, filled and discharged from platens that are secured to movers that proceed through the packaging process by following magnetic fields created by independently controlled linear motors. Overall, cycle time is decreased as a result of speeding up parts of the process, including the platen return process, possible because there is no mechanical connection and not a single conveyor moving the platens while the other parts of the process may be simultaneously slowed down or even temporarily stopped. Changeover of platens, to accommodate different products, such as single compartment pouch to multiple compartment pouches, is also simplified because platens are simply connected to the movers and are thus easily removed and replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas M. McLenithan, Andrzej Kepinski, John Paselsky, Jeff Williams, Richard McKenzie, Richard Bishop
  • Publication number: 20210229842
    Abstract: A packaging machine is provided for producing single and multiple compartment film wrapped pouches. Multiple linear motors allow aspects of the forming, filling, cutting and discharging to run at different speeds. The pouches are formed, filled and discharged from platens that are secured to movers that proceed through the packaging process by following magnetic fields created by independently controlled linear motors. Overall, cycle time is decreased as a result of speeding up parts of the process, including the platen return process, possible because there is no mechanical connection and not a single conveyor moving the platens while the other parts of the process may be simultaneously slowed down or even temporarily stopped. Changeover of platens, to accommodate different products, such as single compartment pouch to multiple compartment pouches, is also simplified because platens are simply connected to the movers and are thus easily removed and replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas M. McLenithan, Andrzej Kepiniski, John Paselsky, Jeff Williams, Richard McKenzie, Richard Bishop
  • Publication number: 20170088298
    Abstract: A packaging machine is provided for producing single and multiple compartment film wrapped pouches. Multiple linear motors allow aspects of the forming, filling, cutting and discharging to run at different speeds. The pouches are formed, filled and discharged from platens that are secured to movers that proceed through the packaging process by following magnetic fields created by independently controlled linear motors. Overall, cycle time is decreased as a result of speeding up parts of the process, including the platen return process, possible because there is no mechanical connection and not a single conveyor moving the platens while the other parts of the process may be simultaneously slowed down or even temporarily stopped. Changeover of platens, to accommodate different products, such as single compartment pouch to multiple compartment pouches, is also simplified because platens are simply connected to the movers and are thus easily removed and replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas M. McLenithan, Andreas Kepinski, John Paselsky, Jeff Williams, Richard McKenzie, Richard Bishop