Patents by Inventor William A. Fultz

William A. Fultz 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).

  • Conveyor transfer
    Patent number: 5518104
    Abstract: A modular conveyor system includes modular conveyor units and modular transfer units, which are driven by the driveshafts from adjacent modules. The transfer units include a first driveshaft segment extending below the conveyor frame and first and second multi-direction wheels mounted on the shaft segment such that when the first driveshaft segment rotates, it drives the first wheel in a forward direction and the second wheel in a backward direction, the wheels being independently shiftable relative to the top surface of the conveyor frame so as to either convey a product or not convey a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: The Interlake Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Mattingly, Ellsworth H. Collins, William A. Fultz
  • High speed lineshaft-driven accumulating conveyor
    Patent number: 5375696
    Abstract: The rollers of a live roller conveyor are driven by drive wheels, which are driven from a driveshaft extending along the conveyor. When the drive wheels and their respective conveyor rollers are in contact with each other, the drive wheels cause the conveyor rollers to rotate. When the drive wheels and conveyor rollers are out of contact, the rollers are not driven and can accumulate product. Relative motion between the drive wheels and the conveyor rollers causes the drive to be engaged and disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: The Interlake Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ellsworth H. Collins, William A. Fultz, James F. Mattingly
  • Three-way transfer conveyor
    Patent number: 5165516
    Abstract: A conveyor transfer unit includes conveyor rollers driven by a drive shaft and transfer belts which are selectively driven to the left and to the right at right angles to the conveyor rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Interlake Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Reed, William A. Fultz
  • Line shaft accumulation conveyor
    Patent number: 5005693
    Abstract: A lineshaft-driven accumulation conveyor includes a plurality of intermediate shafts which run parallel to the drive shaft and are independently driven from the drive shaft, each of the intermediate shafts driving a zone of conveyor rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: The Interlake Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Fultz, David M. McLochlin
  • High speed lineshaft-driven accumulating conveyor
    Patent number: RE35851
    Abstract: The rollers of a live roller conveyor are driven by drive wheels, which are driven from a driveshaft extending along the conveyor. When the drive wheels and their respective conveyor rollers are in contact with each other, the drive wheels cause the conveyor rollers to rotate. When the drive wheels and conveyor rollers are out of contact, the rollers are not driven and can accumulate product. Relative motion between the drive wheels and the conveyor rollers causes the drive to be engaged and disengaged.This is a Reissue of a Patent which was the subject of a Reexamination Certificate No. B1 5,375,696, dated Nov. 12, 1996, Request No. 90/003,811.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Interlake Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Ellsworth H. Collins, William A. Fultz, James F. Mattingly
  • High speed conveyor with movable drive wheel
    Patent number: RE36891
    Abstract: A conveyor has a drive wheel which is driven from a driveshaft and .[.which moves.]. .Iadd.relative motion between the drive wheel and conveyor roller causes movement .Iaddend.into and out of driving engagement. In the preferred embodiment, there is a drive gear mounted on the drive shaft, and the drive gear drives a drive wheel, which is mounted on a drive wheel mounting frame that pivots about the axis of the drive shaft, so that the drive wheel is constantly driven from the driveshaft and pivots into and out of driving engagement with the conveyor roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventors: Ellsworth H. Collins, William A. Fultz, James F. Mattingly