Patents by Inventor William M. Poteat

William M. Poteat 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).

  • Publication number: 20140256239
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, sheared casing and/or netting. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo-motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Kim L. Poling, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140047800
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically or semi-automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by pulling a covering material upstream of a product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute, then applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the covering material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20140033646
    Abstract: Pivotable clipper assemblies for attaching closure clips to a product held in casing and/or netting include a retractable clipper mechanism having a clipper body configured to deliver clips to a clip window and attach the clips to the casing and/or netting; and a pair of clipper gathering plates attached to the clipper body so that the clipper gathering plates retract with the clipper mechanism, wherein, in operation, the clipper gathering plates gather casing and/or netting upstream of a product held therein prior to attachment of clips to the gathered casing and/or netting by the clipper mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Publication number: 20140013705
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: clip spool cradles, improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey, William M. Poteat
  • Patent number: 8606393
    Abstract: Computer program products that operate packaging systems with an automated product pusher and clipper for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in a covering such as netting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 8584436
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically or semi-automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by pulling a covering material upstream of a product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute, then applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the covering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8578682
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey, William M. Poteat
  • Patent number: 8561663
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey, William M. Poteat
  • Publication number: 20130247521
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Kim L. Poling, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8423179
    Abstract: Computer program products that operate packaging systems with an automated product pusher and clipper for attaching at least one closure clip to a product held in a covering such as netting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Patent number: 8397472
    Abstract: Automated pusher mechanisms with pusher heads that reciprocally travel in a product chute. The pusher head has a laterally extending planar forward portion and semi-circular side portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown, David R. Gupton
  • Publication number: 20130026007
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material, such as, for example, netting. The devices include a pusher assembly, an electric motor, preferably a servo motor with a gear box, that drives a linear drive assembly. The devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the pusher assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: William M. Poteat, Samuel D. Griggs, Sean Michael Kieffer
  • Publication number: 20130000249
    Abstract: Factory layouts of packaging apparatus modules include a frame with a base adapted to reside on a support floor, the frame having opposing right and left hand frame sides and at least one lateral beam that extends therebetween, the right and left hand frame sides comprising respective upwardly extending frame portions which are configured to reside on opposing sides of a longitudinal product travel path having an axially extending centerline; and a clipper mechanism configured to selectively attach to either one of the right and left hand frame sides in a manner that positions the clipper mechanism at a substantially common operative full-clip location in the product travel path when mounted to either the right or left hand frame sides to thereby allow build options with selectable mounting orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120311964
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey, William M. Poteat
  • Patent number: 8281556
    Abstract: Packaging apparatus modules include a frame with a base adapted to reside on a support floor, the frame having opposing right and left hand frame sides and at least one lateral beam that extends therebetween, the right and left hand frame sides comprising respective upwardly extending frame portions which are configured to reside on opposing sides of a longitudinal product travel path having an axially extending centerline; and a clipper mechanism configured to selectively attach to either one of the right and left hand frame sides in a manner that positions the clipper mechanism at a substantially common operative full-clip location in the product travel path when mounted to either the right or left hand frame sides to thereby allow build options with selectable mounting orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8272191
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew D. Lowder, Thomas E. Whittlesey, William M. Poteat
  • Patent number: 8256191
    Abstract: Methods of automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting include: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute; (b) pulling a covering material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute; and (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20120114816
    Abstract: Methods of automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting include: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute; (b) pulling a covering material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute; and (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8105136
    Abstract: Computer program products for an apparatus with an automated derucker operatively associated with a netting chute whereby the derucker is configured to automatically travel through a derucker stroke cycle comprising upstream and downstream locations to pull segments of netting material toward a downstream end portion of the netting chute while product is pumped out of the horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Wince, Thomas E. Whittlesey, Kim L. Poling, William M. Poteat
  • Patent number: 8099927
    Abstract: Systems, devices and computer program products automatically package an object in a covering material such as casing and/or netting by: (a) automatically pushing at least one object through a product chute; (b) pulling a covering material upstream of the product chute off an exterior surface of the product chute to automatically enclose the object in the covering material as the object exits the product chute; and (c) applying a clip to the covering material to secure the object in the packing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May, David T. Wince, William M. Poteat, Derek L. Brown