Wherein The Conveyor Portion Supports The Load Below The Drive Patents (Class 198/465.4)
  • Patent number: 12252347
    Abstract: A connection adapter for a connection of profile segments of a rail profile in a conveying device for conveying hanging objects. The connection adapter has, on its inside, a running surface for the mounting of holding adapters mounted such as on rollers, where the running surface is disposed in an inclined manner with respect to a profile extension direction of the connection adapter in such a way that a cross-section of an inner space of the connection adapter, which is defined by the running surface, is larger at a first end face of the connection adapter than at a second end face of the connection adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Dematic GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Peiser, Andreas Tinnacher
  • Patent number: 12168247
    Abstract: The invention relates to a garment sorting system and method for sorting garments arranged on garment carriers. The system comprises a first transporting conveyor arrangement arranged to receive a garment carrier from a pairing station which transports the garment carriers to an identification and sorting arrangement on a second conveyor arrangement comprising an identification device arranged to identify a garment carrier from an identification code for further sorting. For each garment carrier, a sorting rail address is requested by the identification and sorting arrangement from a garment identification database. The identified garment carrier is transported to a plurality of sorting rails, where the second transporting conveyor arrangement comprises a sorting interface for each sorting rail such that the identified garment carrier is moved from the second transporting conveyor arrangement to the correct sorting rail by operation of the corresponding sorting interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: JENSEN SWEDEN AB
    Inventors: Magnus Johansson, Anders Hansen
  • Patent number: 12134529
    Abstract: Provided is a laundry delivery device that can automatically and easily deliver laundry requested for delivery to a customer without the need for a worker to separate and deliver the laundry, and thus greatly improve the work efficiency of the worker, the laundry delivery device including a conveyor transporting a hanger with laundry requested for delivery to a shipping location; and an actuator allowing the hanger with the laundry requested for delivery transferred to the shipping location by the conveyor to be separated from the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cheongse Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gi Tae Lee
  • Patent number: 12129962
    Abstract: An elevator guide rail block assembly configured for use with an elevator car or counterweight guide rail is provided. The elevator guide rail block assembly includes a framework and a plurality of cams supported for rotation by the framework and positioned between spaced apart support elements. The spaced apart support elements are connected together by a retention element. An actuator element is configured to actuate rotation of the plurality of rotatable cams. A clamp structure is attached to the framework and is spaced apart from the plurality of rotatable cams. In a rotated orientation, each of the plurality of rotatable cams engage a face of an elevator or counterweight guide rail and the clamp structure engages an opposing face of the elevator or counterweight guide rail to form a clamping action configured to secure the elevator guide rail block assembly to the elevator car or counterweight guide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Wurtec, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Wurth, Christopher D. Blessing, Jeffrey A. Wagenhauser, Colton J. Hughson
  • Patent number: 12110186
    Abstract: An overhead conveyor system for conveying overhead adapters along a conveying direction includes a first overhead conveyor line, a functional overhead conveyor line connected in terms of conveying technology to the first overhead conveyor line, which functional overhead conveyor line has a discharge element for discharging overhead adapters from the overhead conveyor system, a separating unit arranged upstream of the functional overhead conveyor line for feeding the overhead adapters separately into the functional overhead conveyor line, a first identification unit arranged upstream of the separating unit for identifying overhead adapters to be discharged, a second identification unit arranged downstream of the separating unit for identifying overhead adapters to be discharged, and a control unit for automatically conveying and discharging the overhead adapters, wherein the control unit is in signal connection with the discharge element, the first identification unit, the second identification unit and the se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: DÜRKOPP FÖRDERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Dirk Sieksmeier
  • Patent number: 12103570
    Abstract: A traveling vehicle system includes a track and a ceiling traveling vehicle. The track includes a first track, a second track, and a connection track. The ceiling traveling vehicle includes a direction changer that turns a coupler, which couples a traveling wheel and a main body to each other and passes through a gap between the first track or the second track and the connection track. A guider is provided in the coupler, moves along a first guide surface in a first state in which the traveling wheel rolls on the first track, and moves along a second guide surface in a second state in which the traveling wheel rolls on the second track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventors: Haruki Ogo, Kazuhiro Ishikawa, Yasuhisa Ito, Masayoshi Torazawa
  • Patent number: 11993472
    Abstract: A cloth transfer apparatus allows a cloth to be attached to a traveling clamp efficiently without waste even when a corner of the cloth to be attached to the traveling clamp is specified. The cloth transfer apparatus includes: a plurality of independent traveling clamps; and a transfer rail circulating through a supply unit where a corner of the cloth is attached to the traveling clamp and a discharge unit where the cloth is delivered from the traveling clamp and allowing the traveling clamps to independently travel. In the supply unit: a branch point that allows the transfer rail to branch into a first supply rail and a second supply rail and a merge point that allows to the branched first supply rail and second supply rail to be merged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: PUREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Yano, Hiroyuki Ideue
  • Patent number: 11753249
    Abstract: A conveying unit (10) for the suspended transport of transport elements (40) in a conveyor system, in particular a rail-guided (86) conveyor system or a conveyor-chain system, includes a support hook (21) attached to a conveying element (20), in particular a carriage or a conveyor-chain link, a transport element (40), and a suspension hook (41) attached to the transport element, wherein the suspension hook is mounted in a suspended manner in the support hook. The support hook is configured such that the suspension hook can take up two stable positions (61, 62) in the support hook. The suspension hook (41) in a first stable position (61) has been turned through an angle with respect to the suspension hook in a second stable position (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventor: Erwin Stauber
  • Patent number: 11690382
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shackle for processing hanging poultry comprising a poultry catching element; a suspension rod; and a fastening hook; wherein one side of the suspension rod is pivotably connected with a pivotable connection with the fastening hook and the opposite side of the suspension rod is moveably coupled with the poultry catching element by a moveable coupling. The invention also provides a method for attaching a shackle for processing hanging poultry on an overhead conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Marel Poultry B.V.
    Inventors: Engelbertus Johannes Jacobus Teurlinx, Franciscus Arnoldus Albertus Van Berkel, Rene Johannes Theodorus Janssen, Richard Jozef De Schutter, Tim Petrus Wilhelmus Jaspers
  • Patent number: 11618520
    Abstract: A continuously moving cableway system for the transport of cars with passengers on board has two pairs of track cables, which extend between, two towers. Specially fitted open transport cabins, are moved along the track cables by at least one traction cable. Speed reducers located at ground level outside of the two towers. Access control, toll type, with rising arm barrier outside of the two towers. Security gates actioned by hydraulic jacks located at ground level outside of the two towers. Conveyor belts located at ground level between the two towers. Roller ramps, conveyor belt, security gates actioned by hydraulic jacks inside of the specially fitted open transport, cabins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Victor Hugo Rueda
  • Patent number: 11492199
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for systems and methods related to kiosks for personalizing a packaged article. The kiosks may also be used for storage, inventory management, retrieval, packaging, and/or personalization of packaged articles. The kiosks discussed herein differ from non-kiosk personalization systems, such as personalization systems installed on a factory or warehouse floor, in that the kiosks are self-contained personalization systems. In some embodiments, the kiosks are portable and can be moved between different sites or events. This portability allows the kiosks to personalize packaged articles for concerts, festivals, conventions, trade shows, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: CreateMe Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Hoshino, David Glen Barrett, Scott Timothy Alberstein, Gad Amit, Stanislav Moiseyenko, Yuri Viacheslav Litvinov
  • Patent number: 11477988
    Abstract: A system and a method for automatic transfer of carcass parts suspended from a first carrier to being suspended from a second carrier. The carcass parts may be a half carcass that may have been eviscerated and cleaned. The first carrier may be an industry standard gambrel or a single carrier or a Marel DeboFlex carrier, for example a Euro Carrier. The second carrier may be a single carrier, for example a Euro Carrier, or a Marel DeboFlex carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: MAREL MEAT B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Johannes Meerdink, Franciscus Theodorus Henricus Johannes Van Der Steen, Adriaan Ebergen, Ronald Kranenbarg
  • Patent number: 11359317
    Abstract: An edge clamping device includes: a two-position holding device having a pair of holding chucks that hold two separate portions of a rectangular piece of cloth Y that are on or near the ridge of a fold, in a state where a right-angled triangular part S is revealed; an edge locating conveyor that is disposed under the two-position holding device and delivers the cloth Y having been released from the two-position holding device; clamping chucks disposed downstream of the edge locating conveyor in a delivery direction; and a position changing means that moves at least one of the two-position holding device, the edge locating conveyor, and the clamping chucks in a crosswise direction such that the right-angled triangular part S of the cloth Y held by the two-position holding device is located at a correct clamping position corresponding to the positions of the clamping chucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: PUREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Yano, Yuichiro Yabe
  • Patent number: 11308445
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for dynamically managing data associated with transactions of wearable items. For example, a method may include receiving wearable item data from one or more electronic tenant interfaces, hosting an electronic warehouse operations portal and/or an electronic administrative portal, receiving one or more electronic user transactions initiated at one or more user platforms, updating one or more transaction databases and one or more analytics databases, based on the one or more electronic user transactions, receiving one or more wearable item operations requests, initiating one or more microservices to fulfill the one or more wearable item operations requests, and updating at least one of the one or more transaction databases and one or more analytics databases based on completion of the one or more wearable item operations requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: CaaStle, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaswinder Pal Singh, Amy Kang, Christine M. Hunsicker, Georgiy Goldenberg, Dongming Jiang, Chirag Jain, Prashant Rao, Prashant T R Rao
  • Patent number: 11279567
    Abstract: A method for wear detection during the operation of a conveying system having a closed circulating path, a pick-up which is attached to at least one running gear and which makes contact with a surface of a rail in the case of wear of the wheel and/or the rail, includes using a sensor coupled to the pick-up to register vibrations produced by the contact. The vibrations are transmitted wirelessly to a background system and are evaluated. The method and a conveying system allow wear detection, in particular in the case of closed conveying systems, and considerably reduce maintenance complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Frank Koenig
  • Patent number: 11084657
    Abstract: An article container for an overhead conveying device for transporting an article includes front and rear walls, a bottom adjoining the front and rear walls, and a storage space between the front and rear walls and the bottom, in which the article is transportable. The bottom forms a first longitudinal edge, which adjoins the front wall, a second longitudinal edge, which adjoins the rear wall, spaced from the first longitudinal edge, a first end edge extending between the first and second longitudinal edges, and a second end edge extending between the first and second longitudinal edges. The article container includes a loading and/or unloading opening delimited by the front wall and rear wall and adjoining the first end edge and a side wall stop adjoining the second end edge, against which the article can be applied in a transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: TGW Mechanics GmbH
    Inventors: Viktor Herzog-Lang, Josef Reischl
  • Patent number: 10986846
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer arrangement for transferring sausage-shaped products, like sausages, to a rod-like element, like a smoking rod, provided in a loading position in a hanging line, each of the sausage-shaped products contain a flowable filling material in a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing provided with a suspension element, like a suspension loop, through which the sausage-shaped products can be suspended on the rod-like element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Poly-clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Manfred Waldstädt
  • Patent number: 10336548
    Abstract: A method for filling the pockets of a transport device in the form of a suspension conveyor, the transport device including one or more trolleys which are movably mounted on a trolley track and on each of which a pocket hanging downwards for receiving transported goods is arranged, the pocket formed by at least one flexible material web that is planar when open and that is fastened at both ends to the trolley, forming a carrying loop or transport loop hanging downwards. The material web is releasably fastened by at least one end to the trolley. The method includes: a) advancing a closed pocket, b) opening the pocket by releasing the fastening of the material web to the trolley, c) filling the opened pocket with goods to be transported, d) closing the pocket by fastening the material web to the trolley, and e) transporting away the filled and closed pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: FERAG AG
    Inventors: Roberto Fenile, Erich Kälin
  • Patent number: 10315212
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary spraying coating system, configured to evenly form a paint on a surface of a chip connecting plate. The system includes: a plurality of fixtures, where each has a pedestal, an abutting piece, and a rotating axis, and the abutting piece is configured to abut and fix the chip connecting plate to the pedestal, to avoid warping of the chip connecting plate; a conveyor belt, configured to convey the fixtures, wherein the fixtures are connected to the conveyor belt by using the rotating axis and rotate with the rotating axis as an axis center; at least one spraying coating apparatus, configured to spray and coat the paint on the surface of the chip connecting plate; and a control module, configured to control a rotational speed of the fixtures, a movement speed of the conveyor belt, and a spraying coating amount of the at least one spraying coating apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Hao Hsu
  • Patent number: 9555974
    Abstract: A surface treatment plant for vehicle bodies having a first treatment area which comprises a first conveyor system enabling a vehicle body to be conveyed through the first treatment area, and a second treatment area which includes a second conveyor system enabling the vehicle body to be conveyed through the second treatment area. A transfer device enables the vehicle body to be transferred from the first conveyor system to the second conveyor system. The transfer device includes supports which engage on regions of the vehicle body and at least one is arranged in particular on the highest point of the horizontal and the vehicle body is oriented roof upwards. Also a method for conveying vehicle bodies through a surface treatment plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: EISENMANN AG
    Inventors: Joerg Robbin, Thomas Hennig, Juergen Hanf
  • Patent number: 9187253
    Abstract: Items of laundry (10) are fed, in laundries, to a laundry-treatment device with adjacent corners (25) of an upper edge (39) hanging beneath two clip carriages (22). It is customary for the items of laundry (10) to be stored in a sorted state on an interim basis upstream of the laundry-treatment device. The invention provides for adjacent clip carriages (22) of successive items of laundry (10) to be assigned in pairs to drivers (28) of a catch conveyor (26). The invention also provides for the sagging of the upper edge (39), and the lowermost location (40) of the lower edge (42), of the item of laundry (10) to be determined by a line-measuring device (26), in order for the item of laundry (10) to be identified in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Olivieri, Frank Schormann, Norbert Kortner, Engelbert Heinz
  • Patent number: 9056722
    Abstract: A thrust chain link of a conveyor chain of a conveyor system for conveying articles suspended from retaining adapters, in particular of a sorter, includes a base body with a thrust unit arranged on its bottom side and spaced-apart coupling sections formed on its ends for pivotal connection to an adjacent link. The thrust unit includes two tappets protruding from the bottom side of the base body, wherein a front first tappet in the conveying direction is shorter than a rear second tappet. The two tappets are spaced apart such that a head portion of the retaining adapter can be received between the two tappets without play or largely without play. A conveyor chain, a conveyor system and a method for positioning a retaining adapter on a conveyor chain of a conveyor system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: SDI GROUP GERMANY MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Otto
  • Patent number: 9027735
    Abstract: A transport device includes a traveling holding member which can travel while holding a storage container, and a move out prevention mechanism which prevents substrates from moving out of an opening of the storage container. The move out prevention mechanism is configured to include a contacting member which can be moved between a contact position at which the contacting member is in contact with side faces of the substrates, and a spaced apart position at which the contacting member is spaced apart from the side faces of the substrates. The contact position is set such that the contacting member is located between an opening side end portion and a central portion of the substrates in a direction along which the substrates are inserted and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8967367
    Abstract: An article transport facility includes an article transport vehicle and a rotatable member transporting device. The article transport vehicle is configured to travel along a predetermined travel path by obtaining propelling force by drivingly rotating a propelling rotatable member with the propelling rotatable member in contact with a contact portion. The propelling rotatable member can be in contact with the rotatable member transporting device. And the rotatable member transporting device transports, in an advancing direction, the propelling rotatable member in contact with the rotatable member transporting device, and is provided in place of the contact portion in a specific section included in the predetermined travel path. The propelling rotatable member is configured to be able to be drivingly rotated while in contact with the rotatable member transporting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kasuya, Masaru Satou
  • Patent number: 8960411
    Abstract: A vending machine is equipped with a dispensing device that includes a plate, a track, carriers, a work station, a driving unit and a sensor. The plate is horizontally placed in a vending machine. The track is connected to the plate. The carriers are movably connected to the track for carrying products. The work station causes a selected one of the carriers to release the corresponding one of the products. The driving unit drives the carriers along the track. The sensor senses the selected one of the carriers and accordingly stops the driving unit so that the selected one of the carriers is placed at the work station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Feiloli Electronic Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chi-Ming Tsai, I-Chiang Yang
  • Patent number: 8955688
    Abstract: A sorting installation and a sorting method use a gripping tool for gripping sorted articles, particularly sorted flat mail items. During sorting, the articles are transported in holding apparatuses having two lateral faces each. Each lateral face is preferably formed with one cutout. A supply station puts each article into one holding apparatus, with the result that the article is situated between the lateral faces and is held by the holding apparatuses. A transport apparatus transports the articles to a removal station and produces a sequence of holding apparatuses with articles being held thereby. The removal station has a gripping tool with at least two gripper arms in a gripper arm sequence. These gripper arms grip between filled holding apparatuses and draw a plurality of held articles from these holding apparatuses simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Berdelle-Hilge
  • Patent number: 8915695
    Abstract: In a transport system, carriers are attached to an endless belt configured to rotate in a circulating manner. At a station, a hand, a driver configured to move the hand in a rotation direction and a vertical direction, a moving distance sensor configured to measure a moving distance of the endless belt, a carrier sensor configured to detect one of the carriers at a position upstream of the hand along the rotation direction, and a signal processor configured to operate the hand are provided. To load an article, when the moving distance from a time point of detection of the carrier by the carrier sensor reaches a first moving distance, the hand is activated at a first acceleration, and to unload an article, when the moving distance from the time point of detection of the carrier by the carrier sensor reaches a second moving distance which is larger than the first moving distance, the hand is activated at a second acceleration which is larger than the first acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd
    Inventor: Tomoya Kimata
  • Patent number: 8800745
    Abstract: A modular manufacturing line includes first and second modular manufacturing stations. Each station includes a framework defining a manufacturing space, and an overhead friction drive system supported on the framework for moving a suspended article through the manufacturing space. A control system is in communication with each drive system and is configured to simultaneously control a first article at the first station according to one operation pattern and control a second article at the second station according to a different operation pattern. A work tool including a work tool spray nozzle is positioned at the first station and is movable along a floor mounted work tool support track. The first article moves through an article pathway volume that intersects with a work tool pathway volume defined by the work tool movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Spangler
  • Patent number: 8789684
    Abstract: An article support is disclosed for movement by a conveyor along a conveying path that has treatment units and turning stations there along. The article support includes a carriage for engagement by a conveyor, and a holder for supporting an article that is rotatably mounted to the carriage. A turning gear is associated with the holder to enable rotation of a supported article about a vertical axis with respect to the carriage. Rotation is effected in response to the article support being moved past a turning station along a conveying path. Indexing arrangements are further operatively arranged between the turning gear and the carriage for indexing at least a first and a second position of incremental rotation. The indexing arrangements include first and second pairs of confronting magnetic elements. The magnetic elements are each positioned in accordance with the relevant first and second incremental rotational positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Foodmate BV
    Inventor: Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
  • Patent number: 8789682
    Abstract: An engagement article is provided that is capable of selectively restricting movement or securing a suspended load in response to a rapid change in tension in one or more lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Fisher
  • Patent number: 8776987
    Abstract: A ceiling-mounted apparatus for running a cable harness, in more precise terms a ceiling-mounted apparatus for running a cable harness with a chain of guide carriages coupled to one another by means of spring elements, said guide carriages running in at least one guide rail in each instance, with a first guide carriage being connected to a cable harness source by means of at least one spring element and with the guide carriages comprising additional spring elements for attaching the cable harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wolfgang Neuber
  • Patent number: 8776981
    Abstract: A static temporary storage device for motor vehicle body parts, the device has a stationary frame; at least two stationary parallel rails that are mounted horizontally or in a slightly angled manner on the frame, each rail being capable of supporting a bearing fitted onto the rail so as to be longitudinally movable on the rail; at least one carriage having bearing fitted onto the rail, the carriage being dimensioned so as to rest on both rails by means of the support; A device or means for suspending a body part from the carriage; each carriage extending longitudinally relative to the rails over a length that is shorter than the longitudinal extent of a body part when in its suspended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventors: Yves Gardelle, Pierre Marcellier, Xavier Ottemer
  • Patent number: 8757354
    Abstract: Conveyor for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path, the conveyor including: a conveyor rail extending through a predefined conveying path; at least one carriage having a rotatable article support; and a turning block associated with the rotatable article support, to allow rotatable movement of the article support relative to the at least one carriage, wherein the conveyor further includes an aligning station for rotating the article support into a predetermined position, wherein the turning block has first disk with a first perimeter contour and a second disk with a second perimeter contour, and wherein the alignment station has means for engaging the second disk for rotatingly aligning the article support into the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Foodmate BV
    Inventor: Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
  • Patent number: 8701864
    Abstract: A travel guide member which forms travel paths for an article transport vehicle is provided on a ceiling side. The travel guide member defines a plurality of travel paths along which the article transport vehicle travels in the same direction such that the travel paths are spaced apart from each other in a path lateral direction and defines a first diverging path and a second diverging path for connecting with each other a first travel path that is one of a pair of adjacent travel paths among the plurality of the travel paths and a second travel path that is the other of the pair of the adjacent travel paths. The first diverging path and the second diverging path are formed such that both extend in directions that are slanted with respect to the travel path in plan view and such that they intersect each other in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Ogawa, Suguru Shibata, Atsushi Otani, Tomotaka Kinugawa
  • Patent number: 8684431
    Abstract: A duplex-type product bag unloading apparatus including two downwardly opening and closing chucks and a chuck-moving mechanism for reciprocating the chucks between positions for receiving and discharging product bags. The relative positions of the two chucks are changed as they are moved from the receiving position to the discharging position by the chuck-moving mechanism, so that in the receiving position, the chucks are arranged in a single row in the bag width direction of the grasped product bags, and in the discharging position, the chucks are in a single row in the thickness direction of the grasped product bags. The chuck-moving mechanism is comprised of a pivot arm and a chuck-supporting frame rotatably mounted to the pivot arm, and the two chucks are rotatably mounted on both sides of the chuck-supporting frame. The chuck-supporting frame and the chucks rotate in synchronism with the pivotal motion of the pivot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Setozaki, Yasuyuki Honda
  • Publication number: 20140061002
    Abstract: A spindle conveyor for conveying workpieces, in particular vehicle wheels, having a rail system that includes at least one support rail. Multiple conveyor carriages have a chassis that can be moved on the support rail in a conveying direction and a supporting device for workpieces which is entrained by the chassis. Each workpiece can be mounted on a workpiece spindle which is part of the supporting device which has a pair of workpiece spindles mounted so as to be rotatable as a unit relative to the chassis about a vertical axis of rotation and can be moved at least into a first rotational position and a second rotational position. Also a station for treating workpieces, in particular vehicle wheels, with such a spindle conveyor which allows the workpieces to be conveyed through the station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: EISENMANN AG
    Inventors: Reiner Starz, Ulrich Hofbauer
  • Patent number: 8657102
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for conveying objects (6) along a path, the path including an upstream portion (17) and a curved portion (13), the upstream portion (17) defining a direction of entry into the curved portion (13), the curved portion (13) defining a radially outward direction transverse to the direction of entry into the curved portion; the conveyor apparatus comprising suspension means (4) adapted to travel along the path and to carry an object (6) to be conveyed suspended at the suspension means (4); and deflection means (10) arranged to deflect an object (6) suspended at the suspension means (4) in the radially outward direction when the suspension means (4) travels along the upstream portion (17) towards the curved portion (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Force Technology
    Inventor: Niels Krebs
  • Patent number: 8640854
    Abstract: A stop unit comprising: a guiding device which can be mounted to an overhead conveyor; a carriage having an abutting section, wherein the carriage is movably supported by the guiding device along a transverse direction which is orientated transversely relative to a longitudinal direction; and a drive which is coupled to the carriage and which is configured to extract, during activation, the carriage from a release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: SSI Schaefer Peem GmbH
    Inventor: Max Winkler
  • Patent number: 8590483
    Abstract: A coating device includes a main body, a transport device, at least one loader, a driving device. The main body has a top plate, a bottom plate, and a pair of sidewalls connecting the top plate and bottom plate. The sidewalls respectively define an input gate and an output gate. The transport device includes a transport track passing through the input gate and the output gate, and at least one lifting arm mounted on the transport track. Each loader is configured for loading workpieces and includes a rotary shaft, at least one loading frame rotatably connected with the rotary shaft. The driving device is mounted on the top plate. Each lifting arm is configured for clamping a corresponding loader and transporting the corresponding loader to engage with the driving device. The driving device rotates the corresponding loader rotary shaft through the rotary shaft of the corresponding loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Pei Wang
  • Patent number: 8567588
    Abstract: A device for filling containers, in particular bottles and beakers with food products, in particular with low viscosity to pasty dairy and fat products, juices, waters and similar, comprising: an upper main element, a lower main element and lateral elements connecting the upper main element and the lower main element; and a plurality of support elements which are endlessly supported on rollers through the device past operating stations along the upper main element, the lateral element and the lower main element, wherein the support elements include receivers for containers which receivers are arranged in series transversal to a feed direction, wherein at least two support elements are arranged on a common frame and are run by the frame on rollers through the device in an endless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hamba Filltec GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Junk
  • Patent number: 8567589
    Abstract: A blow molding machine for containers, having a conveyor path carrying a mandrel holder and pre-forming mandrels attached to the mandrel holders in an exchangeable manner by means of removable couplings, wherein each coupling has a mandrel clamping mechanism and a releasing element accessible form outside that can be adjusted at least relative to the mandrel holder for releasing the clamping mechanism. In the mandrel holder, particularly for use in a blow molding machine, the mandrel clamping mechanism is designed with a ball joint lock, and the ball joint lock can be released by means of a releasing element in order to exchange a performing mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schonberger
  • Patent number: 8522957
    Abstract: An overhead conveyor system for transporting articles, especially for transporting vehicle bodies, in a surface treatment line comprises at least one transport carriage which has a fastening device to which at least one article can be fastened. The transport carriage can be displaced along a track carrying it by at least one drive means. The fastening device is received so that it can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation. The invention further relates to a dip coating line comprising at least one dip-coating tank which can be filled with a treatment liquid, into which tank articles to be treated can be dipped. The dip coating line comprises a conveying system which displaces the articles to be treated towards the dip-coating tank, into the interior of the dip-coating tank, out of the dip-coating tank and away therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Eisenmann AG
    Inventor: Joerg Robbin
  • Patent number: 8485343
    Abstract: In a transport system, a plurality of carriers are attached to an endless belt configured to rotate in a circulating manner. At a station, a hand, a driver configured to move the hand in a rotation direction and a vertical direction, a first carrier sensor configured to detect the carriers at a predetermined position upstream of the hand along the rotation direction of the endless driving medium, and a second carrier sensor configured to detect the carriers at a position downstream of the first carrier sensor are provided. When the carriers pass through the second carrier sensor, it is checked whether the moving distance of the belt matches the distance between the two carrier sensors. In this manner, before starting loading or unloading, for example, whether the encoder is operated normally or not can be confirmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoya Kimata
  • Patent number: 8459439
    Abstract: A device for driving, dipping and turning bodyworks of motor vehicles, vans, truck cabs and metal article vessels, into processing basin, and for withdrawing the above elements from the processing basins, comprises a slidable framework, which can slide on sliding rails, supporting a pair of arms bearing, at free end portions thereof, a swinging shaft adapted to bear a supporting skid for supporting a bodywork, the sliding framework comprising at least a winch driving a drum, for winding a rope coupled to a respective arm at the swinging shaft, the slidable framework further comprises at least a rack, therealong an end portion of the respective arms coupled to framework slides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Geico S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Guerra
  • Patent number: 8360232
    Abstract: An article support assembly includes a carriage for riding along a conveyor and a holder and turning block depending from and rotatable together relative to the carriage for supporting an article. Rotation of an article is effected in response to the article support and turning block moving past a turning station along a conveying path. Position stops are operatively arranged between the turning block and the carriage for holding the turning block and holder yieldably in at least one predetermined indexed orientation relative to the carriage. The position stops include at least one pair of confronting magnetic elements associated with the carriage and the turning block and located to align with each other when the turning block and holder are in the predetermined indexed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Foodmate BV
    Inventor: Jacobus Eliza Hazenbroek
  • Patent number: 8356705
    Abstract: An improved handling device for driving, immersing/removing and rotating motor vehicle, truck cabin, van and metal article vessel bodyworks into/from processing basins is characterized in that said device comprises a sliding frame designed for sliding on sliding rails, driven by one or two driving chains, and supporting a pair of arms bearing, at their free end portion, a swinging platform, in turn adapted to bear a skid for supporting a bodywork, the sliding frame comprising one or two winch assemblies driving respective pulleys thereon are entrained ropes, belts, chains or the like, and being associated with a respective arm at a swinging shaft, said sliding frame comprising moreover two rack assemblies, therealong slide respective end portions of the arms coupled to the frame, said swinging platform being driven by a chain driving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Geico S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Guerra
  • Patent number: 8348045
    Abstract: The device for transporting flat objects from an output unit to an input unit has a conveyor belt with several pairs of flaps to transport flat objects in suspended fashion. A feed unit serves to convey the flat objects into the flaps from below. Each flap has a first side piece and a second side piece, which define an intermediate space for holding an edge section of the flat object. The first side pieces and the second side pieces of the flaps of each pair of flaps face each other. Each flap can be pivoted between an open position for picking up and releasing the flat object and a closed position for transporting the flat objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Rodi
  • Patent number: 8322517
    Abstract: A lightweight pallet for supporting and carrying workpieces along an overhead transfer conveyor. A metallic conveyor carrier is adapted to be carried by the overhead transfer conveyor, and a lightweight, non-metallic base is connected to the conveyor carrier. A first lightweight, non-metallic support member is connected to and extends downward from the base. The first support member is substantially planar and is adapted to support the workpiece. A first lightweight, non-metallic brace member is connected to the base and the first support member for stabilizing and supporting the first support member. The first brace member is substantially planar, wherein the first brace member extends substantially perpendicular to the first support member, and the first support member and the second support member cooperate to define a substantially T-shaped structure that extends downward from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Norgren Automation Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Hurst, Alexander F. Spillane
  • Patent number: 8312984
    Abstract: Apparatus for filling packages of the collapsible type, having a first station and a second station, a transport unit for intermittent transport of the packages from the first station to the second station along a transport direction (P) which extends between the first station and the second station, the transport unit being designed to transport the packages in a hanging position, and a swing-inhibiting unit which is designed to engage with the packages in order to counteract a swinging movement of the hanging packages during said transport, the swing-inhibiting unit being movable along the transport direction (P) while the transport unit transports the packages. The swing-inhibiting unit is arranged separately from the tranport unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolean Research & Development A/S
    Inventor: Mikael Scott
  • Patent number: 8191483
    Abstract: A rotating shaft drive system is configured to propel a load along a conveying path of an overhead conveyor system. A stationary frame extends along the conveying path and supports the rotating shaft drive system. A movable carriage is suspended from the stationary frame and engages with a rotating shaft of the shaft drive system to propel the carriage and the load. The rotating shaft comprises a plurality of shaft segments supported pillow blocks at each end of the rotating shaft segments, and the pillow blocks create a gap between adjacent shaft segments. The movable carriage has at least one canted driven roller configured to engage with adjacent rotating shaft segments and to create a helical loci of tractional engagement that provides sufficient drive force to propel the carriage and the load along the conveying path. The drive system is further configured to provide continuous propulsion as the canted driven roller moves across the gap between adjacent shaft segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: OCS Intellitrak, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Paul Tabler