By Biasing Means Patents (Class 198/626.4)
  • Patent number: 11008171
    Abstract: A high angle conveyor includes a frame, a first conveyor belt, a second conveyor belt, and a pressing assembly configured to press the first conveyor belt toward the second conveyor belt. The pressing assembly includes a bracket pivotally coupled to the frame, a roller support pivotally coupled to the bracket at a pivot joint, a plurality of rollers coupled to the roller support, the plurality of rollers configured to engage the first conveyor belt, and a deflector configured to inhibit contact between the first conveyor belt and the pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: JOY GLOBAL CONVEYORS INC
    Inventors: Gavin Wilson, Stevie Kim Nix
  • Patent number: 10799919
    Abstract: A washing device includes a main body, a water system, and a drying system. The main body includes a first washing zone, a second washing zone, and a drying zone. A transporting device transports an object to make it pass through the first washing zone, the second washing zone, and the drying zone. The first washing zone has a first water outlet, and the second washing zone has a second water outlet. The water system includes a heater for heating water and a tank. A first pipe connects the heater and the first water outlet, and a second pipe connects the heater and the tank. An outlet pipe connects the tank and the second water outlet. A collecting structure collects waste water and injects into the tank. The drying system is adapted to supply air flow to the drying zone for drying the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: G-WINNER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ping-Yuan Liao
  • Patent number: 9957109
    Abstract: A cleated belt tube conveyor for conveying granular material, such as seed and grain commodities. The conveyor comprising a cleat row profile incorporating one or more of the following aspects: taller central cleat member and a slanted or clipped peripheral cleat. A cleated belt conveyor guide element, comprised of a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart lugs that extend from an inner surface of the belt is also disclosed. A cogged roller, having a plurality of channel segments divided by drive bars, complements the guide element. Also a baffle assembly can be disposed within the conveyor tube to limit material back flow. The baffle assembly can be configured with a belt passage aperture that corresponds to the cleat row profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KSi Conveyor, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A Kaeb, Steven R Walder, Terry N Kaeb
  • Patent number: 9840816
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine, in particular cold milling machine, recycler or surface miner, for working ground surfaces, comprising a milling drum supported at a machine frame and a conveying device arranged at the machine frame which accepts the milled-off material from the milling drum during the working operation and, on a continuously revolving first transport belt, unloads it, in conveying direction, onto a point of discharge at a discharge end along a parabolic trajectory, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: as a minimum, the last section of the conveying device as seen in conveying direction comprises no less than one continuously revolving cover belt arranged above the transport belt, said cover belt extending essentially parallel to the transport belt and resting against the milled-off material on the transport belt at least in a partial section of the length of the transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Martin Hömig
  • Patent number: 9663300
    Abstract: A system having a link chain, at least one workpiece support being conveyed by the link chain, a secondary winding situated on, in particular fastened on, the workpiece support supplying an electrical load, the secondary winding being inductively coupled to a primary conductor system, the secondary winding being supplied in particular in contactless fashion, in particular inductively, from the primary conductor system, the link chain resting on and/or being movable on a slide plate, the slide plate resting on first and second support plates, the first support plates being made from a less magnetizable and/or less magnetically and/or electrically conductive material than the second support plates, the first support plates accommodating the primary conductor system, the primary conductor system being in particular situated between a respective first support plate and the link chain and/or slide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Schedler
  • Patent number: 8899583
    Abstract: Provided herein is a document processing system with improved paper path alignment and superior media hold-down capability, which minimizes undesirable electrostatic fields in the print zone. The document processing system includes a first belt module including a first roller and a second roller with a tack belt in surrounding engagement with the first roller and the second roller. The processing system further includes a second belt module, which includes a third roller and a fourth roller with a media transport belt in surrounding engagement with the third roller and the fourth roller. A mounting support for the first belt module is also included herein, the mounting support is designed to allow the first module to self-align relative to the second transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joannes N. M. de Jong, Barry P. Mandel
  • Patent number: 8770387
    Abstract: A vertical lift conveyor for lifting bulk, or particulate, material includes a lower, generally horizontal intake stage for receiving the bulk material on a first endless carrier belt and a second endless support belt positioned in closely-spaced relation to the first belt. The two belts are displaced at essentially the same speed, with their respective adjacent edge portions maintained in intimate contact with one another by means of low friction guides and belt tension to confine the bulk material between the two belts during transport. Plural spaced belt engaging arrangements are disposed along the vertical run of the conveyor to provide support for the bulk material and maintain the edge seal between the two moving belts. The vertical lift conveyor further includes an intake stage adapted to receive the bulk material and movable between an extended, use position and a retracted storage, or transport, position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: KSi Conveyor, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Kaeb, Tom Fehr, Geoffrey Jason Furrer
  • Patent number: 8710380
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method weigh an object, in particular a flat item of mail, during transport. A conveying device having an endless conveying belt and a counterpart conveying element is able to temporarily grip an object in a clamping region and to transport it in a transporting direction. Weighing scales are able to weigh the object while the object is gripped in a clamping region. The damping element is configured to damp vibrations of an object gripped in the clamping region. The damping element has a surface which is curved in the transporting direction. The endless conveying belt is guided in such a way around the curved surface that the endless conveying belt rests areally against the curved surface in a damping region and the endless conveying belt and the counterpart conveying element are configured to guide the object gripped in the clamping region past the curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Francke
  • Patent number: 8683903
    Abstract: The powered endless belt (14) of a lower conveyor (12) transports workpieces (16) past a scanning station (18) and then past a slicing station (20), whereat the workpieces are sliced into desired thickness by a powered blade (23). An upper hold-down conveyor (24) includes a powered belt (26) that assists in holding the workpieces stationary and stable as workpieces travel past the slicing station (20). In this regard, the belt is of a compliant construction and is operated at a low enough tension to enable it to substantially conform to the contour of the upper surface of the workpiece, thereby to apply a substantially uniform load about the entire upper surface area of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Strong, Norman A. Rudy, Nicholas C. Tipper
  • Patent number: 8528725
    Abstract: A conveying device has a substrate conveying device for conveying a flexible substrate while holding the flexible substrate upright, with one end part in a width direction of the flexible substrate being on an upper side; and a substrate retaining device. The substrate retaining device has a pair of grip rollers; a support mechanism rotatably supporting the pair of grip rollers; a transmission mechanism transmitting a force to pressure contact one of the grip rollers with the other grip roller; a first driving device configured to adjust a pressure contact force of the pair of grip rollers; an angle adjusting mechanism configured to incline the pair of grip rollers with respect to a conveying direction of the flexible substrate; and a second driving device configured to adjust an inclination angle of the pair of grip rollers with respect to the conveying direction of the flexible substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nishizawa, Shoji Yokoyama, Takanori Yamada
  • Publication number: 20130008764
    Abstract: A vertical lift conveyor for lifting bulk, or particulate, material includes a lower, generally horizontal intake stage for receiving the bulk material on a first endless carrier belt and a second endless support belt positioned in closely-spaced relation to the first belt. The two belts are displaced at essentially the same speed, with their respective adjacent edge portions maintained in intimate contact with one another by means of low friction guides and belt tension to confine the bulk material between the two belts during transport. Plural spaced belt engaging arrangements are disposed along the vertical run of the conveyor to provide support for the bulk material and maintain the edge seal between the two moving belts. The vertical lift conveyor further includes an intake stage adapted to receive the bulk material and movable between an extended, use position and a retracted storage, or transport, position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: KSI CONVEYORS, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Kaeb, Tom Fehr, Geoffrey Jason Furrer
  • Patent number: 8167115
    Abstract: The invention relates to method of supporting a unloading conveyor bridge extending substantially horizontally at the bottom level of a bulk material pile storage, implemented as supports in the area of the bridge ends as well as in at least one point therebetween. At least one of the supports is positionally adjusted in the vertical direction. The support force is thereby kept substantially constant at the actual support point. For the adjustment can be used spring loading, fluid pressure loading or gravity loading, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilkka Saari, Arvo Jonkka
  • Publication number: 20110226591
    Abstract: A pipe conveyor may include a conveyor belt formed into a pipe-like shape to define a space that contains material to be transported by the conveyor. Along at least a portion of the pipe conveyor, friction drive conveyors or friction tires may be positioned. The friction drive conveyors may include friction drive belts that engage the pipe conveyor belt. Via this engagement, the friction drive conveyors apply a force to the conveyor belt that moves the conveyor belt in a desired direction. Further, when the friction drive conveyors or friction tires are positioned within an inclined vertical section of the conveyor belt, the friction drive conveyors or friction tires vertically lift the pipe conveyor belt via pushing the conveyor belt in a vertical direction, thus assisting a drive pulley that vertically pulls the conveyor belt and material transported on the conveyor belt from a lower elevation to a higher elevation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Robins, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingolf W. Neubecker, Christof Brewka
  • Patent number: 7731017
    Abstract: A device for driving load conveyors or transporters in the form of a driving and guiding means (4), integrated in a line of conveyors or transporters (1 and 2) and extending along the longitudinal axis of said conveyors or transporters (1 and 2), perpendicularly to their plane and essentially formed by the combination of a driving belt (5), arranged along at least one longitudinal edge or in the extension of longitudinal edges of at least one conveyor or transporter (1 and 2) or two successive conveyors or transporters (1 and 2), and of a guide applying (6) the loads against the driving belt (5), arranged along the longitudinally opposite edges. Particular applicability is in the field of conveying by means of pallet conveyors or transporters, in particular with change of rate of transport and/or of level between conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
    Inventor: Zmaj Petrovic
  • Patent number: 7611141
    Abstract: An item transport system includes a first transport element rotating around a plurality of first transport rollers in a first direction, a second transport element in opposing relation to the first transport element, the second transport element rotating around a plurality of second transport rollers in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a guide plate proximate to the first transport element for engaging the items during processing by an item processing element, and an item registration device configured to maintain the items in registration with the guide plate. The item registration device includes a plurality of independently articulating pivot assemblies biased to engage the second transport element with the first transport element and a plate associated with each pivot assembly. Each plate is fixedly constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at one end and slidably constrained with respect to the pivot assembly at another end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Williams, Luciano P. Dos Santos, Russell W. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 7559831
    Abstract: A coin separating unit of a compact configuration for separating coins of different thicknesses from a bulk supply includes a coin transporting unit such as a rotating belt having a support surface of a predetermined flexibility and friction characteristic. A separating roller unit is positioned above a support surface and rotates in a direction opposite to the movement of the belt. A supporter unit is operatively located upstream of the separating roller unit and can displace coins that are overlaid with each other. The belt has sufficient flexibility so that a gap between the surface of the belt and a separating roller unit can be increased to accommodate a particular thickness of coin as it passes beneath the separating roller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Asahi Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Umeda
  • Patent number: 7266935
    Abstract: A new and improved case sealer assembly comprises a pair of oppositely disposed case drive mechanisms for conveying a multiplicity of cases through a sealing station. The drive mechanisms are laterally separated from each other such that an interior space is formed therebetween which effectively defines a sealing station for serially accommodating the multiplicity of cases to be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bryce J. Fox, Robert Cheich
  • Patent number: 6955256
    Abstract: A conveyor assembly 18 that detects bags that leak. The assembly 18 includes a first conveyor 24 that operates in unison with a second conveyor 29. The conveyors 24 and 29 confine the bags in chambers, with the bags being engaged by pressure assemblies 50 so that the bags that leak are reduced in volume. The bags are engaged at a downstream position and at an upstream position by detection devices 44 that provide a signal indicative of the volume of each bag. These signals are compared to thereby identify bags that leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: TNA Australia PTY Limited
    Inventors: George Tsoukalas, Alfred A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6745671
    Abstract: A conveyor belt system for transporting products through a bath of liquid, such as heated cooking oil in an oven, comprises a feed belt accommodated in a base frame and a top belt, located above the feed belt and accommodated in an auxiliary frame, for transporting the products through the bath of liquid between the top belt and the feed belt, as well an adjustable support mechanism for adjusting the distance between feed belt and top belt, which support mechanism comprises further adjustable supports by means of which the auxiliary frame is supported on the base frame. All supports are mechanically coupled to one another by coupling means for common adjustment thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Koppens B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrikus Antonius Jacobus Kuenen
  • Patent number: 6719123
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for advancing and/or slowing signatures in a printing press. The apparatus and method includes a series of two or more belt drives, where each belt drive includes at least a pair of opposed belts. The belts are preferably timing or toothed belts driven by sprockets. The sprockets are formed with a semi-elliptical outer surface. As a result, the belts have two directions of motion. The first direction—horizontal—advances the signatures and may be used to slow the signatures. The second direction—vertical—withdraws the belts away from contact with the signatures to prevent buckling or wrinkling during a speed transition or during a transfer between belts. In one embodiment of the present invention, both opposed belts are retracting belts; in another embodiment, one belt is a fixed conveyor belt, while the other opposed belt is a retracting belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Barry Mark Jackson, David Elliott Whitten
  • Patent number: 6557696
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus transports materials along an incline. The apparatus includes an endless base conveyor belt that is tensioned between lower and upper end rollers and is aligned with the incline. A drive means drives the base belt at a selected speed and in a selected direction along the incline. An endless and freely hanging tension-less overhead conveyor belt is provided above the base belt, and has a substantially flat conveyance surface for conforming to and covering materials placed on the base belt. A drive roller of the tension-less overhead belt is coupled to the upper end roller of the base belt so as to drive the tension-less overhead belt at a speed and direction similar to that of the base belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Mark R. Frich
  • Publication number: 20020020608
    Abstract: A device for controlling the conveyance of particulate material on a conveyor belt comprises a frame with an endless belt attached thereto. The apparatus is positioned above the conveyor belt and in frictional contact therewith whereby the motion of the conveyor results in motion of the endless belt on the apparatus. The particulate material thereby is passes between the endless belt and the conveyor belt and any bouncing movement of such material is prevented. Use of the present invention on conventional conveyor belts controls the dispersion of the particulate material carried thereon and allows for the speed of the conveyor to be increased. The present invention is suitable for use with a conveyor apparatus used with a truck and commonly known as a “stone slinger”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Dennis Maguire
  • Patent number: 6264022
    Abstract: A cover belt conveyor with a basic belt guided by three support rollers (9) arranged in a trough-shaped pattern. To guarantee the ability of such a cover belt conveyor to function at different amounts of material to be conveyed, four pressure rollers (11) are arranged over the entire width of the cover belt (3) in the case of a basic belt (2) with a troughed support roller station comprising three support rollers (9) such that the two middle pressure rollers (11a) always act on the area opposite the middle roller (9) and the two outer pressure rollers (11b) of the cover belt (3) act on the area opposite the two oblique support rollers (9). The pressure rollers (11) are arranged individually pivotably on the frame of the conveyor and they can thus automatically adapt themselves to the particular volume of material to be conveyed between zero and a maximum and apply the necessary pressure on the cover belt (3) in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: MAN TAKRAF Fördertechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Burkhard Petack, Horst Jurisch, Dirk Slowik