Entire Conveyor Pivots About Vertical Axis Patents (Class 198/861.6)
  • Patent number: 10059536
    Abstract: A particulate material supplying apparatus includes a hopper that stores a particulate material, a discharge gutter that dispenses the particulate material, a feeder that transports the particulate material to a weighing scale, the weighing scale that weighs the particulate material, a supply shutter that feeds the particulate material to a machine in the next process step at a predetermined timing, and a controller that controls the operations of these devices. The discharge gutter includes an inclined gutter portion having an opening in an upper surface thereof and a substantially U-shaped cross section. The controller controls the discharge gutter so that the particulate material in the hopper is dispensed to the feeder by causing the discharge gutter to perform a swinging motion in which a forward rotation and a backward rotation each to a predetermined angle are repeated while the opening in the inclined gutter portion faces upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SANKO MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahito Tomioka, Tatuya Sakamoto, Hisao Ueda
  • Patent number: 9604787
    Abstract: Example adjustable conveyor systems are disclosed herein. An example adjustable conveyor system includes a first conveyor having a first conveying surface facing upward and running lengthwise along a first longitudinal axis and a second conveyor having a second conveying surface facing upward and running lengthwise along a second longitudinal axis. The second conveyor is spaced apart from the first conveyor to define a span between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. The second conveyor is pivotal relative to the first conveyor. A first side guide protrudes upward and extends lengthwise between the first conveyor and the second conveyor proximate the span, where the first side guide has a first adjustable length. A second side guide protrudes upward and extends lengthwise between the first conveyor and the second conveyor proximate the span, where the second side guide has a second adjustable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CALJAN RITE-HITE APS
    Inventor: Anders Stougaard Baek
  • Patent number: 8967358
    Abstract: A chute turning restriction mechanism includes: a rotary shaft on which a chute is disposed and which is provided to be capable of rotating relative to a vehicle body of a mixer truck; a bracket that is provided on the vehicle body and includes an insertion hole into which the rotary shaft is inserted and a cutaway portion formed by cutting away a part of the insertion hole; an inner diameter adjustment shaft provided across the cutaway portion to be capable of adjusting an inner diameter of the insertion hole, and configured to restrict rotation of the rotary shaft by reducing the inner diameter of the insertion hole; a rotary body that is provided to rotate together with the rotary shaft and includes an engagement groove; and a lock lever that is provided to be capable of rotating about the inner diameter adjustment shaft, and that restricts the rotation of the rotary shaft by engaging with the engagement groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8733534
    Abstract: A belt conveyor system with a distributing belt conveyor unit having upper and lower movable frame assemblies that are pivotally connected to a gear unit that simultaneously moves the lower movable frame assembly in opposition to the movement of the upper movable frame assembly, therein allowing the belt to track smoothly when transferring the articles between one branch belt conveyor unit and two or more branch belt conveyors units. The construction of the distributing belt conveyor unit allows for easy removal of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Pteris Global Limited
    Inventors: Kok Leng Lim, Hee Kwee Sng
  • Publication number: 20130134013
    Abstract: A product cart has a frame and one or more tanks forming compartments each having an opening at the upper end for receiving product. The cart includes a conveyor support having a swing arm with a first end pivotally mounted to the frame for motion generally horizontally between storage and use positions, a shift assembly mounted to a second end of the swing arm, and a mounting bracket assembly coupled to the shift assembly. Finally a conveyor is coupled to the mounting bracket assembly. The swing arm is constructed as a parallel linkage having first and second links which form a four-bar parallel linkage with the frame and with the shift assembly to maintain the shift assembly in a fixed orientation relative to the frame as the swing arm is moved. The shift assembly is operable to move the mounting bracket assembly between lowered and raised positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Stanley R. BORKGREN
  • Publication number: 20130134012
    Abstract: A product cart has a frame and one or more tanks forming compartments each having an opening at the upper end for receiving product. The cart includes a conveyor support having a swing arm with a first end pivotally mounted to the frame for motion generally horizontally between storage and use positions, a shift assembly mounted to a second end of the swing arm, and a mounting bracket assembly coupled to the shift assembly. Finally a conveyor is coupled to the mounting bracket assembly. The swing arm is constructed as a parallel linkage having first and second links which form a four-bar parallel linkage with the frame and with the shift assembly to maintain the shift assembly in a fixed orientation relative to the frame as the swing arm is moved. The shift assembly is operable to move the mounting bracket assembly between lowered and raised positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: STANLEY R. BORKGREN
  • Patent number: 8439180
    Abstract: A conveyor cargo handling system for the synchronized, computerized loading and unloading of cargo containers from a vessel is comprised of at least two conveyor lines. Individually powered conveyor units, idler conveyor units, translate powered conveyor modules (“TPCM”), and rotate powered conveyor modules (“RPCM”), are remotely computer coordinated to operate in concert to safely and efficiently control traffic flow on the container terminal. The system eliminates much of the ground transportation conventionally utilized to move cargo containers to their storage destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventors: Dianren Zhang, Brian Hamill
  • Patent number: 8210339
    Abstract: A device and a method for sorting and stacking glass plates of different thicknesses and/or different formats over a divided transport line is described. The device and method are characterized by the following: 1) an aligning device which aligns the glass plates against a left and/or a right abutment strip by means of controllable rolls; 2) a stacking device which lowers the plates supplied by the aligning device and stacks them one above the other; 3) a connectable paper insertion device which lays paper from a store onto a plate; 4) an upright positioner which rotates the stacked plates by a right angle and aligns them on a vertical aligning device; 5) and a robot gripping arm which grips the glass plates aligned on the upright positioner and transports them away for further use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Grenzebach Mashinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Strass
  • Patent number: 8061500
    Abstract: An alignment device to align a plate for electronic circuits comprises transport members able to transport the plate along a transport axis, at least from an entrance position to an alignment position defining an alignment plane. The device also comprises mobile members provided with: first movement members able to move the mobile members in a first direction directed along a first axis substantially perpendicular to the alignment plane so as to associate the mobile members with the plate; second movement members able to rotate the plate, associated with the mobile members, around the first axis; and at least third movement members able to move the plate, associated with the mobile members, in a second direction, directed along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis and substantially co-planar with the transport axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials Italia S.R.L.
    Inventor: Andrea Baccini
  • Publication number: 20100213033
    Abstract: An aggregate processing apparatus (90) comprising a conveyor (10) having its base (11) coupled to the apparatus, the coupling (40) allowing the conveyor t pivot about a first axis that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, and to pivot substantially at the base towards and away from said apparatus. The conveyor is actuatable between a deployed state (FIG. 4) in which it projects from said apparatus, and a folded state (FIG. 5) in which it is disposed substantially against said apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: David Trimble
  • Patent number: 7708132
    Abstract: An automated adjustment system is provided for positioning a speed reduction belt assembly to receive an elongated wood article exiting a processing machine. The speed reduction belt assembly has opposite first and second ends. The automated adjustment system includes a horizontal adjustment mechanism operable to adjust an angle of the speed reduction belt assembly in a horizontal plane. The automated adjustment system also includes a vertical adjustment mechanism operable to adjust the height of one of the first and second ends of the belt assembly relative to the other of the first and second ends of the belt assembly, thereby adjusting an inclination of the belt assembly. The automated adjustment system further includes a control unit in communication with the horizontal and vertical adjustment mechanisms for sending control signals thereto. The control signals determine the angle and inclination of the belt assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Les Produits Gilbert Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvain Gilbert, Daniel Paré
  • Patent number: 7703597
    Abstract: A device for the turning of flat articles, particularly blanks of folded boxes, includes conveying elements which define at least two conveying sections that are permeable to air and on which the articles are conveyed lying substantially flat, the conveying elements being mounted in a frame, a suction device arranged below the conveying element and to extend through the conveying section to increase the friction between the conveying elements and the articles, and a separate drive for each of the conveying elements of the respective conveying sections. The frame is mounted such that it can swivel about a pivot in the exit region of the frame relative to a machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Frank Jansen
  • Publication number: 20100089723
    Abstract: A material stacking device including: an elevated truss supported at opposite ends by first and second pillars, the first pillar includes a pivot allowing the truss to pivot about the location of the first pillar and the second pillar moving in an arc as the truss turns about the first pillar, and a material conveyor extending at least part way along the truss and discharging material to be deposited to an upper section of a material pile below the truss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventors: Bernard O'Connor, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Janne Lahteenmaki
  • Patent number: 7267518
    Abstract: An guide apparatus and method for collecting and moving material into or away from a selected bin (30a, 30b, 30c) that resides within an array of storage bins. The guide apparatus comprises three or more trolleys (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95a, 95b, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) that move along at least one track (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d, 86e, 86f, 87a, 87b, 88a, 88b, 89) to create a guide assembly for a conveyor (60) or conveyor groups (67, 68, 69, 70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventor: Dwight Eric Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7267517
    Abstract: An arcuate guide apparatus and method for collecting and moving material into or away from a selected bin (30a, 30b, 30c) that resides within an array of storage bins. The arcuate guide apparatus comprises three or more trolleys (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95a, 95b, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) that move along at least one track (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d, 86e, 86f, 87a, 87b, 88a, 88b, 89) to create a guide assembly for a conveyor (60) or conveyor groups (67, 68, 69, 70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Inventor: Dwight Eric Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7185754
    Abstract: A conveyor (10) that delivers product to a plurality of transverse conveyors of chutes (11). The conveyor (10) includes conveyor segments (12) along which the product is conveyed. Product is removed from the conveyor (10) by the lateral displacement of an upstream end 15 or a downstream end 16 of adjacent conveyor segments (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: TNA Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Alfred Alexander Taylor, Garry Ronald MacKay
  • Patent number: 7125215
    Abstract: A track-and-trolley conveyor guidance system for collecting and moving material into or away from a selected bin (30a, 30b, 30c) that resides within an array of storage bins. The conveying system comprises three or more trolleys (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95a, 95b, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108) that move along at least one track (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d, 86e, 86f, 87a, 87b, 88a, 88b, 89) to create a guide assembly for a conveyor (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Dwight Eric Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7074001
    Abstract: A conveying system for distributing material into any bin in a horizontal array of storage bins comprises a circular guide positioned over the array of bins (24), a linear guide (22) that rotates along the circular guide, and a conveyor (30) that is supported by the linear guide. By rotating the linear guide and attached conveyor along the circular guide and by shuttling the conveyor linearly, the conveyor has an infinite number of discharge points to fill any one of the underlying array of bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Dwight Eric Kinzer
  • Patent number: 6220427
    Abstract: A displaceable conveyor is used to convey selected printed products to different destination points. A reversing device is positioned intermediate the different destination points and a rigid guide track. A partial guide path connects the reversing device with the rigid guide track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Ratz, Rudolf Stäb