Load Simultaneously Engaged Between And Moved By Coacting Conveyors Patents (Class 198/604)
  • Patent number: 11999566
    Abstract: A system for automatic delivery of an order in bags to a pick-up location outside a building. Such a system includes: a device for signalling and/or detecting presence of a customer in the vicinity of the pick-up location; and a height-mounted transport module, which includes: a plurality of elements for suspending the bags from a track; an automatic displacement device for automatically moving the suspension elements on said track; and an actuator for actuating said automatic displacement device to displace the bags in which the various parts of said order have been deposited, to said pick-up location when said signalling and/or detection device emits a signal confirming the presence of said user in the vicinity of said pick-up location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: EXOTEC
    Inventors: Romain Moulin, Renaud Heitz, Gilles Baulard
  • Patent number: 10815741
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved gripper system for accommodating tubing of different diameters of a coiled tubing injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Inventor: Greg H Louie
  • Patent number: 10549317
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating horticultural products, such as blueberries and the like, includes in series at least one station for loading the horticultural products, at least one preliminary checking station, at least one alignment station, for their subsequent advancement aligned on at least one row, at least one viewing station, for acquiring information related to at least one parameter of interest of each horticultural product, such as the color, size, shape, sugar content, defectiveness, and the like, at least one distribution station for sorting the products into uniform subgroups as a function of the information acquired by the viewing station, and at least one recirculation apparatus for returning, at least to the viewing station, any horticultural products that have not been sorted by the distribution station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10529610
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for transferring a substrate are disclosed. The substrate transfer apparatus includes: a substrate conveyance assembly disposed between a mechanical arm and a wafer stage, the substrate conveyance assembly including a substrate loading conveyor and a substrate unloading conveyor parallelly arranged in a first direction, each of the substrate loading conveyor and the substrate unloading conveyor configured for transferring a substrate between the wafer stage and the mechanical arm along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; an integral frame; and a transition air suspension assembly fixed to the integral frame at the end thereof proximal to the wafer stage, the transition air suspension assembly being able to engage with either of the substrate loading conveyor and the substrate unloading conveyor for producing an air film to levitate the substrate during the conveyance of the substrate by the substrate loading conveyor or the substrate unloading conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI MICRO ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT (GROUP) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiao Liang, Yang Li
  • Patent number: 10259670
    Abstract: A sheet conveyance device includes a driving rotation device, a driven rotation device, and a supporting device including first and second restriction surfaces and supporting the driven rotation device. The driving rotation device rotates by receiving rotational driving force and drives the driven rotation device to rotate at a position facing the driving rotation device. The driven rotation device includes a driven rotation member contacting the driving rotation device, a cylindrical shaft having a cylindrical shape that rotatably supports the driven rotation member, and a restriction member that is at least partially inserted in an inner circumference side of the cylindrical shaft. A position of the cylindrical shaft is restricted in a width direction crossing the sheet conveyance direction by the restriction member contacting the first restriction surface, and movement of the cylindrical shaft in a rotational direction is restricted by the restriction member contacting the second restriction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kotsuka, Yohei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10182528
    Abstract: A draper belt assembly may include a roller and a web. The roller may include a first groove having a first interior side surface facing in a first direction and a second groove having a second interior side surface facing in the first direction. The draper belt may include a web, and first and second elastomeric belt guides received within the first groove and the second groove, respectively. The first belt guide may have a first exterior side surface facing in a second direction opposite the first direction and axially spaced from the first interior side surface by first distance. The second belt guide may have a second exterior side surface facing in the second direction, axially spaced from the second interior side surface by second distance greater than the first distance in absence of axial loads to the draper belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Anthony M. Hasenour, Alexander B. Lassers, William P. Conrad, Joshua R. Pierson, Volnei Cristiano Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 10076077
    Abstract: A billet transportation system for a sugarcane harvester having an onboard storage for receiving billets. The billet transportation system includes a first belt configured to receive billets from the onboard storage and transport billets away from a first portion of the sugarcane harvester to a target location. A second belt is configured to receive billets from the onboard storage and transport billets away from a second portion of the sugarcane harvester to the target location. At least one metering device is configured to control the flow of billets from the onboard storage to the first and second belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Paul I. Craig
  • Patent number: 10076081
    Abstract: An agricultural baler equipped with a pre-compression chamber supplied with crop material by a suitable supply or arrangement or component, and configured to guide crop material from the supply towards and into the baling chamber where the rectangular bales are formed. The baler of the invention is provided with a buffer chamber located before the pre-compression chamber, the floor of said buffer chamber being formed by a conveyor belt configured to move at a constant speed. The buffer chamber diminishes the irregularity with which crops are supplied to the pre-compression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Amenca LLC
    Inventors: Didier O. M. Verhaeghe, Ward Bonte, Frederick Timmerman
  • Patent number: 10006075
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and automated loading mechanism for loading an apparatus. The apparatus of the present invention may include a means for automated loading, a means for automated transfer and/or a means for automated unloading of a container (e.g., a specimen container). In one embodiment, the apparatus can be an automated detection apparatus for rapid non-invasive detection of a microbial agent in a test sample. The detection system also including a heated enclosure, a holding means or rack, and/or a detection unit for monitoring and/or interrogating the specimen container to detect whether the container is positive for the presence of a microbial agent. In other embodiment, the automated instrument may include one or more, bar code readers, scanners, cameras, and/or weighing stations to aid in scanning, reading, imaging and weighing of specimen containers within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: bioMerieux, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Scott Remes, Stanley Michael Philipak, Mark Joseph Fanning, Ronnie J. Robinson, James Clement Bishop, Lawrence E. Guerra, Andrew Scherer, Anthony Valentino
  • Patent number: 9981809
    Abstract: An accumulator device includes an infeed conveyor with an endless conveying belt arranged for moving products in a first conveying direction, a substantially parallel outfeed conveyor with an endless conveying belt arranged for moving products in a second, opposing conveying direction, a transfer device provided in-between the infeed and outfeed conveyors, configured for transferring products from the infeed conveyor to the outfeed conveyor. The transfer device is moveable along the infeed and outfeed conveyors, and includes first and second transfer elements with first and second gripping devices for engaging the products and transporting along the transfer trajectory to a release location on the outfeed conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Polyketting Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Marcel Hanselman
  • Patent number: 9970243
    Abstract: The snubbing unit inserts a tubular member into a well without a riser. The snubbing unit includes a set of stationary slips in a first base plate, a first set of traveling slips in a second base plate, a second set of traveling slips in a third base plate, and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders connecting the base plates. Each set of slips has an engaged position and a released position relative to the hydraulic cylinders. The base plates are cooperative with a pipe guide so that movement of the tubular member between the base plates corresponds to consistent support of the tubular member to preventing buckling. The snubbing unit increases safety and support for inserting into the well without a riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OCEANEERING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ian R. Still, Neil Crawford, Brandon Harman, John R. Cook, Robert L. Ewen
  • Patent number: 9902514
    Abstract: A bag feeding device includes a bag feed conveyor, a bag capture unit, a bag placement section and a bag supply unit. The bag feed conveyor is configured to sequentially convey packaging bags. The bag capture unit is configured to capture the sequentially conveyed packaging bags one by one. The packaging bags captured by the bag capture unit are placed on the bag placement section one by one. The bag placement section is provided with a bag position correction unit. The bag supply unit is configured to hold the packaging bag placed on the bag placement section to supply the packaging bag to a bag holding unit of a packaging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Packer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9439359
    Abstract: An agricultural square baler equipped with a pre-compression chamber and configured to guide crop material towards and into the baling chamber where rectangular bales are formed. At least one of the upper and lower walls of the pre-compression chamber is formed by a conveyor belt, arranged to move from the supply towards the baling chamber. The conveyor belt has at least two portions configured to exert different friction forces on a batch of crop material, so that the high friction portion is capable of moving the batch into the baling chamber, whereas the low friction portion exerts a low force on the batch, thereby preventing material to be prematurely moved towards the baling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Didier O. M. Verhaeghe
  • Patent number: 9272849
    Abstract: A column of cups guided by their rims in elongated slots is spaced into desired cup pitch by one or more linear stars from which the cups can be transferred for packaging. The linear stars have lugs engaging and spacing the cups. In another aspect of the invention, cups are manipulated into patterns for final grouping and packaging and by a plurality of cup orienting pickers engaging, inverting and re-orienting the cups. In one final packaged cup group of two or more layers, alternating cups in each layer are inverted and a top lid of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a top lid of a cup in a bottom layer, while a bottom of a cup in an upper layer is disposed on a bottom of a cup in a lower layer, and in an alternating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: R. A Jones & Co.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Lukes, Jerome Brugger
  • Patent number: 9038813
    Abstract: A device for transporting vehicle bodies, on which standardized holding components are provided. A guide device is provided for at least one continuous drive train which having a driving side and a slack side, and having a first return element and at least one second return element around which the at least one continuous drive train circulates. The at least one continuous drive train supports a plurality of coupling elements which are arranged and aligned in such a manner that they can work together with the standardized holding components provided on the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: EISENMANN AG
    Inventors: Joerg Robbin, Thomas Hennig
  • Patent number: 9022203
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for loading workpieces in a flow direction into the spaced apart lugs on a lugged conveyor with the workpieces oriented transverse to the flow direction. The lug loader includes an array of pairs of endless conveyors configured to convey workpieces toward a lugged conveyor. The first and second endless conveyors of each pair are spaced laterally apart across the flow direction and aligned substantially in the flow direction. The array can form a continuous or discontinuous transport surface. Some pairs of endless conveyors in the array may overlap one or more other pairs of endless conveyors in the array. At least one pair of endless conveyors in the array may include two or more endless conveyors that are independently driven at different speeds and/or in different directions to de-skew a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Andre LaPierre, Damon Clinch
  • Patent number: 8985306
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for loading workpieces in a flow direction into the spaced apart lugs on a lugged conveyor with the workpieces oriented transverse to the flow direction. The lug loader includes an array of pairs of endless conveyors configured to convey workpieces toward a lugged conveyor. The first and second endless conveyors of each pair are spaced laterally apart across the flow direction and aligned substantially in the flow direction. The array can form a continuous or discontinuous transport surface. Some pairs of endless conveyors in the array may overlap one or more other pairs of endless conveyors in the array. At least one pair of endless conveyors in the array may include two or more endless conveyors that are independently driven at different speeds and/or in different directions to de-skew a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: USNR, LLC
    Inventors: Andre LaPierre, Damon Clinch
  • Patent number: 8919536
    Abstract: A conveying device for conveying containers in a conveying direction, the containers having bottoms, each of which has a cross-section characterized by a standing-bottom diameter or a smaller and larger standing-bottom diameter. The device has conveyor belts extending along a conveying direction forming a closed loop. The conveyor belts form, with upper-loop lengths thereof, a sub-region of a conveying surface, the upper-loop lengths being disposed adjacent to each other in a rows offset in an axial direction. The containers stand on the upper-loop lengths on their bottoms. The conveyor belts have a width that, for containers having a circular cross-section, is smaller than half the standing-bottom diameter of the smallest container diameter to be conveyed, and, for containers having a non-circular cross-section, is smaller than half a smaller standing-bottom diameter of a smallest container diameter to be conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Berthold Paroth, Martin Backhaus, Christian Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8893873
    Abstract: A material handling feed table having a driven conveyor mechanism to move a work piece. A reciprocating shuttle mechanism clamps and moves the work piece. A mechanism is provided to coordinate and operate movement of the driven conveyor mechanism in conjunction with the movement of the reciprocating shuttle mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: HE&M Inc.
    Inventor: Doug Harris
  • Patent number: 8828323
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a polymer gel is removed from a polymerization reactor, stored intermediately as a particulate polymer gel in a delay vessel, removed by means of a first conveying device at the lower end of the delay vessel and dried, the intermediately stored particulate polymer gel being conveyed within the delay vessel by means of at least one second conveying device above the first conveying device in the direction of the first conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Ann Becker, Leo Van Miert
  • Publication number: 20140231222
    Abstract: A system for treating a material includes first and second screw conveyors each having a rotary shaft and a helical flight extending radially outward therefrom, the flighting of the screw conveyors overlapping with each other, and first and second actuators operably coupled to the first and second screw conveyors in a one-to-one dedicated relationship to rotationally drive the screw conveyors independently of each other. In typical embodiments, also included is a system for varying the clocking position of the screw conveyors relative to each other, wherein the screw conveyor flights are axially adjusted with respect to each other between a normal position and an advanced and/or retarded position. Also disclosed are methods of varying the axial position of the screw conveyor flights with respect to each other between the normal and advanced and/or retarded positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: THERMA-FLITE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Nickerson, John Whitney
  • Publication number: 20140209436
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides workpiece feed systems, methods and assemblies comprising one or more tapered feed rolls positioned at an angle to incoming workpieces. The tapered feed rolls may pull individual workpieces toward a guide while gradually accelerating the workpieces and altering their direction of travel. The angle and speed of rotation of the tapered feed rolls may be automatically adjusted to control workpiece speed/acceleration, providing improved gap control and minimizing collisions between successive workpieces. Tapered feed rolls may therefore reduce or eliminate the need for a conventional bridge to decelerate the workpieces after the directional change, reducing the operational space required by a workpiece feed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: U.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Petri Saastamo
  • Publication number: 20140209435
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for presenting at least one item of media to a user from a media recycler module. The media recycler module may be included in a Self-Service Terminal (SST). The media recycler module comprises a pocket interface for presenting media items to a user, and a moveable member operable to move media items located within the pocket interface towards an opening of the pocket interface, thereby enabling a user to retrieve the media items within the pocket interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Margaret Katherine Carlisle
  • Patent number: 8776985
    Abstract: A method for transporting containers or groups of containers, wherein the containers are conveyed along a predefined transport path and with a predefined distance (D) between the containers or groups of containers and a conveyor unit and a conveyor unit, which conveyor unit transports the containers by means of at least two first conveying elements for conveying the containers, which first conveying elements respectively move along a first predefined movement path on a circulating carrier, and which first conveying elements contact the containers with respectively one contacting body and in this way vary a distance between the containers or groups of containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Johann Huettner, Martin Seger
  • Patent number: 8776986
    Abstract: A singulator for use with fruit handling equipment including spaced fruit supports driven at a particular speed, the singulator causing the fruit to assume single file for transfer to the fruit supports, the singulator including a first pair of belts arranged in a V formation travelling at different speeds, wherein the first pair of belts merges into a second pair of belts arranged in a V formation and both travelling at about the speed of the fruit supports, and wherein the second pair of belts is adapted to be operated so as to transfer the fruits substantially at the same speed as the fruit supports, whereby fruit are transferred to the fruit supports in single file whilst moving at the same speed as the fruit supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: MAF Agrobotic
    Inventor: Bruce Thomas Morley
  • Publication number: 20140166441
    Abstract: A transferring device is used for transferring discs. The transferring device includes a frame, a first transferring member, a second transferring member, and a driving device. The disc is clamped by the first transferring member and the second transferring member, and the first transferring member and the second transferring member grip the edge of the disc rather than a data region of the disc. The driving device drives the first transferring member and the second transferring member to force the disc to transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: TA-TUNG LIN
  • Patent number: 8739963
    Abstract: A system for treating a material includes first and second screw conveyors each having a rotary shaft and a helical flight extending radially outward therefrom, the flighting of the screw conveyors overlapping with each other, and first and second actuators operably coupled to the first and second screw conveyors in a one-to-one dedicated relationship to rotationally drive the screw conveyors independently of each other. In typical embodiments, also included is a system for varying the clocking position of the screw conveyors relative to each other, wherein the screw conveyor flights are axially adjusted with respect to each other between a normal position and an advanced and/or retarded position. Also disclosed are methods of varying the axial position of the screw conveyor flights with respect to each other between the normal and advanced and/or retarded positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Therma-Flite, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Nickerson, John Whitney
  • Patent number: 8739962
    Abstract: A solids supply systems having a solids deaeration zone and a solids pump zone, and to methods for supplying the solids e.g., pulverized dry coal, to an application, e.g., gasification process. The solids deaeration zone includes a roller system containing a plurality of porous roller assemblies, or a belt system containing a plurality of porous belt assemblies. The solids deaeration zone is operable to deaerate and convey the solids to the solids pump zone. In the solids deaeration zone, the solids become sufficiently compacted prior to and upon entry into the solids pump zone to be effectively conveyed through the solids pump zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: James R. Bielenberg, Michael Raterman, Rathna P. Davuluri, John W. Fulton, Steven W. Meier
  • Publication number: 20140124334
    Abstract: A medium conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance roller, a pinch roller and a pinch roller spring. The pinch roller includes a pinch roller shaft and a bearing. The pinch roller shaft has a flat surface formed thereon to be made in contact with a spring flat surface of the pinch roller spring, thereby preventing the pinch roller shaft from rotating together with the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: OKI ELECTRIC INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Sado
  • Patent number: 8640878
    Abstract: A tilt roller grader for grading solid objects, such as shrimp. The grader has grading rollers obliquely arranged across a tilted grading bed. Jacks in cross members supporting the bed are used to jack up the grading bed across its width to adjust the flatness of the bed for uniform grading gaps between the grading rollers and the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Greve, Robert S. Lapeyre
  • Publication number: 20130313075
    Abstract: A device for transporting vehicle bodies, on which standardised holding components are provided. A guide device is provided for at least one continuous drive train which having a driving side and a slack side, and having a first return element and at least one second return element around which the at least one continuous drive train circulates. The at least one continuous drive train supports a plurality of coupling elements which are arranged and aligned in such a manner that they can work together with the standardised holding components provided on the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: EISENMANN AG
    Inventors: Joerg Robbin, Thomas Hennig
  • Publication number: 20130306436
    Abstract: Provided are a medium transferring apparatus and a financial device. The medium transferring apparatus comprises one or more driving rollers disposed on a side of a medium transferring path, a belt wound around the one or more driving rollers and operated by rotation of the one or more driving rollers, and one or more support rollers contacting one surface of the belt. A medium passes between the one surface of the belt and the one or more support rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: LG CNS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Jong LEE
  • Publication number: 20130299314
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device (1) for the transport and compaction of material, preferably of combustible material destined to the feed of plants for energy production. The device includes a pressing belt (2) overlapped to a conveyor belt (3) according to a certain angle of incidence in such a way as to define such a convergent advancement path (4) as to compact the material during its advancing motion. A first (9) and a second (10) bulkhead are arranged in such a way as to contain into the advancement path (4) the material comprised between the belts. In accordance with the invention, the first bulkhead (9) and the second bulkhead (10) result to be mobile integrally at least with respect to the conveyor belt (3) and arranged at such a reciprocal distance d that the superior belt (2) results to be insertable into the space (11) comprised between the bulkheads (9, 10) in such a way as to compact the material contained into the space (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: NSE INDUSTRY S.P.A.
    Inventor: Enzo Morandi
  • Patent number: 8567592
    Abstract: An example adjustable part loader system includes a first loader adjacent a base and adjustable along the base having a first motor and a second loader adjacent the base and adjustable along the base having a second motor. The second loader is aligned with the first loader along the base in a position relative to a dimension of a first part to be loaded. The first loader and the second loader each carry a distinct portion of the same part. The first loader is adjustable relative to the second loader. A controller system in communication with the first loader and the second loader and controls both simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brass -Craft Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Paul R. Homrich
  • Publication number: 20130264174
    Abstract: An apparatus for the conveying of plastics material containers and, in particular, plastics material pre-forms with a first roller arranged so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, with a second roller arranged so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis, wherein the first roller and the second roller are arranged with respect to each other such that the plastics material containers can be conveyed between these rollers, wherein the plastics material container is supported by the two rollers during conveying. At least one roller has a main body produced from a first material and a layer which surrounds this main body in its peripheral direction and which is produced from a plastics material differing from the first material, wherein this layer acts as a contact layer for contacting the plastics material containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Andreas Seidl, Martin Seger
  • Publication number: 20130240328
    Abstract: A guiding apparatus includes a hanger line that continuously conveys hangers that are suspended from the hanger line at predetermined intervals and a guide unit installed in the line and driven in synchronization with the line while holding at least one of the objects, thereby maintaining the attitude of the object and guiding the attitude maintained object along the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kotaro NUKUI, Satoshi AKIYAMA, Tsutomu FUKUNAGA, Masahiro CHIGASAKI
  • Publication number: 20130175140
    Abstract: A medium overlapped-feed preventing may include a feed roller which is structured to abut with the information recording medium and carry the information recording medium; a separation roller oppositely disposed to the feed roller and is urged toward the feed roller and is rotated in the same direction as the feed roller for separating overlapped information recording media which are carried in an overlapped-feed state; and agate mechanism provided with a gate part through which one piece of the information recording medium is capable of being passed but two pieces of the information recording medium in an overlapped state are unable to be passed. The gate part may disposed on a downstream side in a sending-out direction of the information recording medium with respect to an imaginary line which is formed by connecting a rotation center of the feed roller with a rotation center of the separation roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chisato Hiyama
  • Patent number: 8443964
    Abstract: An adjustable reservoir for articles such as smoking articles and smoking article filters comprises a plurality of conveyors mounted one above another in a vertical stack, each conveyor comprising an endless belt defining a curved conveying path of constant radius extending between two ends proximally spaced to define a gap through which articles carried by the belt may drop, and a drive mechanism operable to rotate at least one conveyor about the vertical axis of the stack so as to change the angular position of the gap of that conveyor relative to the gaps of adjacent conveyors. Changing the relative angular positions of the gaps allows the capacity of the reservoir to be adjusted, and further adjustment can be achieved by changing the direction of travel of the conveyor belts. The drive mechanism can be configured to move one or more groups of conveyors in unison, or to move each conveyor individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland SP. Z O.O.
    Inventor: Gary Fallon
  • Publication number: 20130058837
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a polymer gel is removed from a polymerization reactor, stored intermediately as a particulate polymer gel in a delay vessel, removed by means of a first conveying device at the lower end of the delay vessel and dried, the intermediately stored particulate polymer gel being conveyed within the delay vessel by means of at least one second conveying device above the first conveying device in the direction of the first conveying device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventor: BASF SE
  • Publication number: 20130032451
    Abstract: A device 10 for generating an output flow of articles, starting from a flow of incoming articles having a given advancing velocity, includes a screw conveyor to receive longitudinally the flow of incoming articles. The conveyor in question comprises at least one screw the helix of which is susceptible to interact with the advancing of articles to determine their conveying by the screw itself. The rotational velocity of the screw is adjustable for varying the conveying velocity of the articles with respect to the initial advancing velocity. In particular, it is possible to act so that the conveying velocity of the articles by the screw is a sub-multiple of the initial advancing velocity so that the output flow of articles includes groups of stacked articles. Each group includes a number of articles equal to the ratio between the initial advancing velocity and the conveying velocity of the screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: FAMECCANICA.DATA S.P.A.
    Inventor: FAMECCANICA.DATA S.P.A.
  • Publication number: 20120322643
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting folded signatures is provided which includes a first roller and a second roller forming a first nip with the first roller. The first and second rollers each have a compressible outer layer, and are rotatable about respective axes. Preferably, the compressible outer later comprises a microcellular foam. The apparatus also includes a plurality of first transport tapes passing through the first nip and a plurality of second transport tapes passing through the first nip. The plurality of second transport tapes are wrapped at least partially around the second roller so that a signature transported between the first and second transport tapes between the first nip undergoes a change in transport direction as it is transported at least partially around the second roller. Preferably, the signatures enter the first nip perpendicular to a plane passing through the axes of the first and second rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Roger Douillard, David Elliot Whitten, David Clarke Pollock
  • Publication number: 20120312661
    Abstract: The installation includes a conveyor system having at least one conveyor provided with two conveyor bodies having active strands that are parallel to each other for receiving and transporting articles that are arranged successively between the active strands. One of the conveyor bodies has a natural leather material, at least on the active part thereof in direct contact with the items. The conveyor bodies have belts that are at least partially or fully formed using leather.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventor: Cedric Bianchini
  • Publication number: 20120312660
    Abstract: A production system with an apparatus serving as feeding conveyor is disclosed. The apparatus is designed to convey sheet-like goods, i.e. sheet-like intermediate layers, to be positioned underneath or between primarily flat food products, the apparatus comprising a counter-bearing arranged to directionally guide the goods to be conveyed. Moreover, at least one movable driving belt is arranged in the direction of transportation (T) parallel to the counter-bearing to carry on the goods to be conveyed. The driving belt presses the goods placed therebetween against the counter-bearing so that the conveyed goods are chucked between the counter-bearing and the driving belt. The counter-bearing is either magnetic or magnetizable, and the movable driving belt includes magnetizable elements so as to increase the frictional engagement between the driving belt and the goods to be conveyed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Andreas Harder, Markus Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 8322518
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for recirculating articles on a belt conveyor. An article-recirculation path is formed in a pair of parallel conveyor belts running continuously in opposite directions. Article-supporting rollers in each belt rotate to transfer articles from one belt to the other in a transfer region at each end of the conveyor to form an endless recirculation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jonathan Ball
  • Publication number: 20120292158
    Abstract: A disk transportation device includes a pair of rotation arms that are rotatable respectively about a fulcrum shaft extending in the same direction as the axial direction of a center shaft of a disk-shaped recording medium in both sides thereof that pinch the transportation passage of the disk-shaped recording medium transported between a disk changer and a disk drive device; and four transportation rollers of which two at a time are rotatably supported on the pair of rotation arms respectively, wherein the four transportation rollers contact the outer peripheral surface of the disk-shaped recording medium respectively and the pair of rotation arms are rotated in opposite directions to each other in a state where one of the transportation rollers at a time is supported at the pair of the rotation arms respectively contact the outer peripheral surface of the disk-shaped recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeharu Takasawa, Takeshi Kubo, Naofumi Goto, Akira Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120273459
    Abstract: A passing apparatus includes: upper and lower sealing rolls dealing with variations in a thickness of a proceeding strip, the upper and lower sealing rolls allowing the strip to pass; and a strip sealing unit dealing with variations in a width of the proceeding strip, the strip sealing unit cooperating with the upper and lower sealing rolls to seal the proceeding strip passing through a chamber in a state in which the strip sealing unit surrounds the proceeding strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: POSCO
    Inventors: Dong-Yoeul Lee, Mun-Jong Eom, Kyoung-Bo Kim, Yong-Hwa Jung, Woo-Sung Jung, Young-Jin Kwak, Tae-Yeob Kim, Kyung-Hoon Nam, Sang-Cheol Lee, Sang-Hoon Park, Yang-Woo Nam
  • Publication number: 20120247923
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed at a system for conveying apparatus over a conveyor belt assembly. The system includes a set of pallets which support the apparatus and travel within parallel driving conveyors of the conveyor belt assembly. While the pallets in both driving conveyors are capable of rotation, only the pallets in one of the driving conveyors may move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel so that the apparatus may be centred over the conveyor belt assembly when the pallets are in motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Robert Donald ECOB, Bounna WANG
  • Publication number: 20120228089
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a pinch roller lifting mechanism. The pinch roller lifting mechanism includes drive rollers for holding and transferring a medium, the drive rollers arranged adjacent to each other along a first axis, pinch rollers for holding the medium with the drive rollers, a plate-like member extending along the first axis, wherein the plate-like member includes an opening, a support member having a first end section on which the pinch rollers are provided, a cam slidably provided on the plate-like member, the cam comprising a guide section that abuts against a second end section of the support member and engages the opening of the plate-like member, a pulley operationally connected to a drive motor for pulling the plate-like member in a first direction, and a spring that biases the plate-like member in a direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Ippei TANAKA, Yuichi Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20120205219
    Abstract: A system for treating a material includes first and second screw conveyors each having a rotary shaft and a helical flight extending radially outward therefrom, the flighting of the screw conveyors overlapping with each other, and first and second actuators operably coupled to the first and second screw conveyors in a one-to-one dedicated relationship to rotationally drive the screw conveyors independently of each other. In typical embodiments, also included is a system for varying the clocking position of the screw conveyors relative to each other, wherein the screw conveyor flights are axially adjusted with respect to each other between a normal position and an advanced and/or retarded position. Also disclosed are methods of varying the axial position of the screw conveyor flights with respect to each other between the normal and advanced and/or retarded positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Robert NICKERSON, John WHITNEY
  • Publication number: 20120043182
    Abstract: A conveyor for conveying products comprises at least a drivable helically-shaped inner track conveyor member and a drivable helically-shaped outer track conveyor member. The outer track conveyor member surrounds the inner track conveyor member. The pitches of the inner track conveyor member and the outer track conveyor member are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Specialty Conveyor B.V.
    Inventors: Wouter Balk, Johannes Wilhelmus Broers