Patents by Inventor William D. Finch

William D. Finch 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: 11858752
    Abstract: A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: John William Kuhn, Robert D. Lundahl, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
  • Patent number: 11806761
    Abstract: A transfer module assembly includes a frame, a conveyor belt with internal rotating elements, where the conveyer belt is supported by the frame, conveyor drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the conveyor belt, a flat transfer belt mounted beneath the conveyor belt and configured to contact undersides of the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt in operation, and flat transfer belt drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the flat transfer belt. The conveyor drive rollers are friction-based and operate without use of a sprocket, and comprise depressions for receiving the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Lundahl, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
  • Patent number: 11724891
    Abstract: A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: John William Kuhn, Robert D. Lundahl, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
  • Publication number: 20230089817
    Abstract: A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: John William Kuhn, Robert D. Lundahl, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
  • Publication number: 20230090623
    Abstract: A transfer module assembly includes a frame, a conveyor belt with internal rotating elements, where the conveyer belt is supported by the frame, conveyor drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the conveyor belt, a flat transfer belt mounted beneath the conveyor belt and configured to contact undersides of the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt in operation, and flat transfer belt drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the flat transfer belt. The conveyor drive rollers are friction-based and operate without use of a sprocket, and comprise depressions for receiving the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Robert D. Lundahl, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
  • Publication number: 20220396434
    Abstract: A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: John William Kuhn, Robert D. Lundahi, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
  • Publication number: 20220395864
    Abstract: A transfer module assembly includes a frame, a conveyor belt with internal rotating elements, where the conveyer belt is supported by the frame, conveyor drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the conveyor belt, a flat transfer belt mounted beneath the conveyor belt and configured to contact undersides of the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt in operation, and flat transfer belt drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the flat transfer belt. The conveyor drive rollers are friction-based and operate without use of a sprocket, and comprise depressions for receiving the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Robert D. Lundahl, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
  • Patent number: 11247849
    Abstract: A modular transfer system with a primary flow system and a diverter system. The primary flow system includes a primary flow belt for conveying an article along a primary flow path from an infeed side of the modular transfer system to a pass-through side of the modular transfer system. The diverter system includes one or more diverter belts for diverting an article from the primary flow path towards a divert side of the modular transfer system. The primary flow belt includes multiple movable components contacting the diverter belt. The movable components can have one or more rotational degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: John William Kuhn, Robert D. Lundahl, Robert W. Cutlip, Mark G. Bankard, William D. Finch
  • Patent number: 11235356
    Abstract: A transfer module assembly includes a frame, a conveyor belt with internal rotating elements, where the conveyor belt is supported by the frame, conveyor drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the conveyor belt, a flat transfer belt mounted beneath the conveyor belt and configured to contact undersides of the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt in operation, and flat transfer belt drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the flat transfer belt. The conveyor drive rollers are friction-based and operate without use of a sprocket, and comprise depressions for receiving the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D Lundahl, Robert W Cutlip, Mark G Bankard, William D Finch
  • Publication number: 20180257110
    Abstract: A transfer module assembly includes a frame, a conveyor belt with internal rotating elements, where the conveyor belt is supported by the frame, conveyor drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the conveyor belt, a flat transfer belt mounted beneath the conveyor belt and configured to contact undersides of the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt in operation, and flat transfer belt drive rollers supported by the frame and configured to drive the flat transfer belt. The conveyor drive rollers are friction-based and operate without use of a sprocket, and comprise depressions for receiving the internal rotating elements of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Robert D. LUNDAHL, Robert W. CUTLIP, Mark G. BANKARD, William D. FINCH
  • Patent number: 8561381
    Abstract: A system for unstrapping and unsleeving a tray is provided. The system comprises a tray-transport configured to transport a tray in the system, a strap cutter configured to cut a strap on the tray, a strap-removal portion configured to remove the strap cut by the strap cutter, and an unsleeving station configured to remove a sleeve from the tray. The unsleeving station is configured to remove the sleeve from the tray after the strap-removal portion removes the cut strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Robert D. Lundahl, William D. Finch, Robert Cutlip, Dwight Koogle, Mark Bankard
  • Publication number: 20110135440
    Abstract: A system for unstrapping and unsleeving a tray is provided. The system comprises a tray-transport configured to transport a tray in the system, a strap cutter configured to cut a strap on the tray, a strap-removal portion configured to remove the strap cut by the strap cutter, and an unsleeving station configured to remove a sleeve from the tray. The unsleeving station is configured to remove the sleeve from the tray after the strap-removal portion removes the cut strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Robert D. Lundahl, William D. Finch, Robert Cutlip, Dwight Koogle, Mark Bankard
  • Patent number: 7758292
    Abstract: A system for unstrapping and unsleeving a tray is provided. The system comprises a tray-transport configured to transport a tray in the system, a strap cutter configured to cut a strap on the tray, a strap-removal portion configured to remove the strap cut by the strap cutter, and an unsleeving station configured to remove a sleeve from the tray. The unsleeving station is configured to remove the sleeve from the tray after the strap-removal portion removes the cut strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Robert D. Lundahl, William D. Finch, Robert Cutlip, Dwight Koogle, Mark Bankard
  • Patent number: 7021033
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can automatically remove lids from trays and place lids on trays. Further the device can sense the presence of a lid on a tray and can sense the dimensions of the tray. Based on the sensed dimensions of the tray, the device can select an appropriate sized lid to place on the tray. In one embodiment of the invention, a device holds a lid with a lid manipulator having lid holders. At least one end mechanism is attached to at least one end of the lid manipulator, and the end mechanism folds the lid flaps of an appropriate lid. Guided by the lid manipulator, lids are then positioned on the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Mark Bankard, William D. Finch, Robert Cutlip, Robert D. Lundahl, Dwight Koogle
  • Publication number: 20040194428
    Abstract: A system for unstrapping and unsleeving a tray is provided. The system comprises a tray-transport configured to transport a tray in the system, a strap cutter configured to cut a strap on the tray, a strap-removal portion configured to remove the strap cut by the strap cutter, and an unsleeving station configured to remove a sleeve from the tray. The unsleeving station is configured to remove the sleeve from the tray after the strap-removal portion removes the cut strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Robert D. Lundahl, William D. Finch, Robert Cutlip, Dwight Koogle, Mark Bankard
  • Publication number: 20030196417
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can automatically remove lids from trays and place lids on trays. Further the device can sense the presence of a lid on a tray and can sense the dimensions of the tray. Based on the sensed dimensions of the tray, the device can select an appropriate sized lid to place on the tray. In one embodiment of the invention, a device holds a lid with a lid manipulator having lid holders. At least one end mechanism is attached to at least one end of the lid manipulator, and the end mechanism folds the lid flaps of an appropriate lid. Guided by the lid manipulator, lids are then positioned on the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Mark Bankard, William D. Finch, Robert Wesley Cutlip, Robert D. Lundahl, Dwight Koogle
  • Patent number: 6604337
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can automatically remove lids from trays and place lids on trays. Further the device can sense the presence of a lid on a tray and can sense the dimensions of the tray. Based on the sensed dimensions of the tray, the device can select an appropriate sized lid to place on the tray. In one embodiment of the invention, a device holds a lid with a lid manipulator having lid holders. At least one end mechanism is attached to at least one end of the lid manipulator, and the end mechanism folds the lid flaps of an appropriate lid. Guided by the lid manipulator, lids are then positioned on the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Mark Bankard, William D. Finch, Robert Cutlip, Robert D. Lundahl, Dwight Koogle
  • Publication number: 20030009985
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can automatically remove lids from trays and place lids on trays. Further the device can sense the presence of a lid on a tray and can sense the dimensions of the tray. Based on the sensed dimensions of the tray, the device can select an appropriate sized lid to place on the tray. In one embodiment of the invention, a device holds a lid with a lid manipulator having lid holders. At least one end mechanism is attached to at least one end of the lid manipulator, and the end mechanism folds the lid flaps of an appropriate lid. Guided by the lid manipulator, lids are then positioned on the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Donald R. Close, Mark Bankard, William D. Finch, Robert Wesley Cutlip, Robert D. Lundahl, Dwight Koogle