Patents by Inventor Tim W. Hardage

Tim W. Hardage 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: 6098782
    Abstract: A rotary manipulator for conveyor goods comprises a generally cylindrical manipulator disposed between an input or feed conveyor and one or more output conveyors, with its axis parallel to the planes of the conveyors and normal to their direction of travel. The manipulator includes at least one flattened side, with a retaining lip extending along one edge thereof. Articles such as baked goods advance along the feed conveyor, where they are captured on the flat of the manipulator and momentarily retained by the retaining lip. The manipulator is rotated to drop the articles inverted on a lower output conveyor. The next row of articles from the feed conveyor passes upright over the rounded opposite side of the manipulator, which is substantially tangent to the feed conveyor and to an upper output conveyor. The upright and inverted articles are placed in registry with one another at a point downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Campbell-Hardage, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim W. Hardage, Mike Rupert, Mickey Poole, John T. Prior