Includes Endless Belt Article Separator Patents (Class 414/797.2)
  • Patent number: 11932505
    Abstract: A machine (100) for unstacking objects (10) includes a belt mechanism (110, 120, 121, 130) having a conveyor belt (110), a first drive mechanism (115) for driving the conveyor belt (110), a second drive mechanism (120, 121) for shifting the conveyor belt (110) between a forwarded position and a retracted position, and a third drive mechanism (130) for adjusting a height position of the conveyor belt (110). Further, the machine (100) includes a gripper mechanism (150, 160) having a gripper (150) and a fourth drive mechanism (160) for moving the gripper (150) between different height positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: L&P Swiss Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Terrance L. Myers, Kruno Kantoci
  • Patent number: 11001441
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cargo handling apparatus includes a first mechanism, a second mechanism, a holding unit, a third mechanism, a fourth mechanism and a conveyor. The first mechanism is movable in a first direction. The second mechanism is connected to the first mechanism and is movable on a first horizontal plane intersecting the first direction. The holding unit is connected to the second mechanism and holds an object to be picked up. The third mechanism is arranged below the first mechanism, the second mechanism and the holding unit, and is movable in the first direction. The fourth mechanism is connected to the third mechanism and is movable on a second horizontal plane opposed to the first horizontal plane. The conveyor is connected to the fourth mechanism, and loads and conveys the object held by the holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nakamura, Kiminori Toya, Hideichi Nakamoto, Haruna Eto
  • Patent number: 9758300
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cargo handling apparatus includes a first mechanism, a second mechanism, a holding unit, a third mechanism, a fourth mechanism and a conveyor. The first mechanism is movable in a first direction. The second mechanism is connected to the first mechanism and is movable on a first horizontal plane intersecting the first direction. The holding unit is connected to the second mechanism and holds an object to be picked up. The third mechanism is arranged below the first mechanism, the second mechanism and the holding unit, and is movable in the first direction. The fourth mechanism is connected to the third mechanism and is movable on a second horizontal plane opposed to the first horizontal plane. The conveyor is connected to the fourth mechanism, and loads and conveys the object held by the holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nakamura, Kiminori Toya, Hideichi Nakamoto, Haruna Eto
  • Patent number: 9568753
    Abstract: A turnover device, a substrate cell-assembling apparatus and a substrate cell-assembling method are provided. The turnover device comprises: a fixed support and a turnover platform connected with the fixed support by a first rotary shaft, the turnover platform having a first suction surface and a second suction surface which are oppositely arranged and are configured to suction a substrate; a second rotary shaft and a third rotary shaft, configured to respectively drive the first suction surface and the second suction surface to rotate in an in-plane direction, axial directions of the second rotary shaft and the third rotary shaft being basically perpendicular to that of the first rotary shaft. The turnover platform is configured to turn over the first suction surface and the second suction surface by the first rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yangkun Jing, Shengguang Sang, Guofang Sun, Zhiqiang Liu, Zhousheng Zhang, Xiaopan Che, Tandong Zheng
  • Publication number: 20140271090
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for shingulating, singulating, and synchronizing articles in an article feeder system are disclosed. The article feeder system may include a shingulating device configured to receive a stack of articles and to produce a positively lapped stack of articles, a plurality of picking devices configured to pick one or more articles from the positively lapped stack of articles and to produce one or more singulated articles, and one or more synchronization devices configured to deliver the one or more singulated articles to one or more sorter windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: United States Postal Service
  • Publication number: 20140144104
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating a first pack (1) and a second pack (2) arranged in a stack which is movable on a transport path (3) comprises a deflection unit (4). The deflection unit comprises at least one deflection device (40; 41) having at least one pair (400, 401; 410, 411) of rotatable rollers which are positioned laterally adjacent to the transport path (3). A first roller of the pair of rollers is positioned at one side of the transport path (3), and a second roller of the pair of rollers is positioned at the other side of the transport path (3). The at least one pair of rollers is arranged to define a deflection path (402; 412) which includes an acute angle (?) with the transport path (3) of the stack. The apparatus allows for separation of the first pack (1) from the second pack (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Pawel Babraj, Edward Kowalik
  • Patent number: 8641358
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for placing battery plates in a line. This includes a pick up and release unit generally indicated at 16. The unit includes a central metal hollow body 17, which is divided into a number of side-by-side vacuum chambers, some of which have a perforate floor 19. A vacuum course 21 can be selectively connected to those, which have a perforate floor, while it is perpendicularly connected to a second set of chambers. Plates can be picked up from elevators 11 and 12 by use of the intermittent vacuum and then held against an endless belt 25 by the constant vacuum until they arrive at a release chamber, having a perforate floor, where upon interruption of the vacuum allows for release of the battery plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: TBS Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Christopher S. Barge
  • Patent number: 8337134
    Abstract: A device for stacking a plurality of silicon wafers has an upright machine carrier for holding a plurality of silicon wafers, the silicon wafers being provided in a horizontal position in the machine carrier. The device has three identical loading cassettes for introducing several silicon wafers therein. The machine carrier has holding devices for the loading cassettes. The loading cassettes have a lower support surface for putting silicon wafers on in stack-like fashion, and a rear side wall running substantially perpendicular thereto. The loading cassette is designed in such a way that the side opposite the rear side wall, and the top side are freely accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schmid Technology Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Greber, Marijan Strugar, Thomas Schultze
  • Patent number: 8083462
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for placing battery plates in a line. This includes a pick up and release unit generally indicated at 16. The unit includes a central metal hollow body 17, which is divided into a number of side-by-side vacuum chambers, some of which have a perforate floor 19. A vacuum course 21 can be selectively connected to those, which have a perforate floor, whilst it is perpendicularly connected to a second set of chambers. Plates can be picked up from elevators 11 and 12 by use of the intermittent vacuum and then held against an endless belt 25 by the constant vacuum until they arrive at a release chamber, having a perforate floor, where upon interruption of the vacuum allows for release of the battery plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: TBS Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Christopher S. Barge
  • Patent number: 7845484
    Abstract: A storage module for flat postal items includes a storage area, an infeed function to transfer postal items from a stream of postal items into the storage area, and an extraction function to extract postal items from the storage area. The infeed and extraction function have a common roller conveyor unit and a feed stop. The infeed function guides the postal items in a direction of travel of the roller conveyor unit from the roller conveyor against the feed stop for a transfer into the storage area. The extraction function extracts the last stacked postal item from the storage area in the direction of travel of the roller conveyor unit through an extraction opening. The storage area includes a separating knife to exert a first pressure and a second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Armin Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7762467
    Abstract: A container packaging machine includes a container handling and counting apparatus including an upstream accumulation portion and a downstream container separation and counting portion. The containers having a relatively tightly nested configuration as the containers move through the accumulation portion and having a relatively loosely nested configuration as the containers move through the container separation and counting portion where separation of the containers form distinct peaks and valleys for use in counting the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Rennco, LLC
    Inventors: Robin G. Thurgood, Brian C. Bowerman
  • Patent number: 7682125
    Abstract: Device for receiving and for transporting an article, which device has receiving means which can be slid under the article by a sliding unit, characterized in that the receiving means are formed by rollers (10) which are arranged transversely to the direction in which they are slid under the article (1) by the sliding unit (20) and are driven in such a way that their circumferential velocity is equal in amount, but opposite in direction, to the speed at which they are slid under the article (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Binder, Steffen Mayer
  • Patent number: 7648328
    Abstract: Device for receiving and for transporting an article, which device has receiving means which are slid under the article by a sliding means, the receiving means being formed by a belt which revolves around deflections means, the deflection means being formed by tensioning struts (26) which are tensioned relative to one another and are arranged on the sliding means (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: MULTIVAC Sepp Haggenmueller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Binder, Steffen Mayer
  • Patent number: 7287952
    Abstract: A feeder load automation system and method of use including a lifting device capable of lifting a pallet of bundled product from a lowered positioned to a raised position and a platform positioned on the lifting device which holds the pallet of bundled product. A head mechanism having a holding device lifts a top layer of bundled product from the pallet to provide a separation space between the top layer of bundled product and a next, lower layer of bundled product or the pallet. A conveyor mechanism, extendible into the separation space, conveys the top layer of product away from the pallet. An input and takeaway station are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Ricci, J. Edward Roth
  • Publication number: 20070147980
    Abstract: A device for destacking books, brochures, or similar cubic printed products (2), wherein said device comprises a separating belt (6) that is powered by a controllable drive and serves for the cyclic separation of the respective bottom printed product (2a) from the stack (3a), lateral boundaries (8a, b) that can be adjusted to the respective format and position the stack (3a) on the separating belt (6), a height-adjustable retaining element (9) that forms a passage for the respective printed product (2a) to be separated, a support (10) in the infeed region of the separating belt (6) in order to support the rear edge of the printed product (2) lying on top of the bottom printed product during the separation of the bottom printed product (2a), and a feeding belt (5) that is arranged upstream of the separating belt (6) and serves for delivering the next stack (3b) into the separating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventor: Klaus Gerke
  • Patent number: 6880462
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting and feeding printing plates in an imaging system. The apparatus includes a vacuum system for picking up an edge of a top printing plate from a stack of printing plates, and a peeling system including a pair of rotatable belts, a plurality of plate feed beams attached to, and extending between, the pair of rotatable belts, and a drive system for rotating the pair of rotatable belts to displace the plurality of plate feed beams between the top printing plate and an underlying printing plate in the stack of printing plates, thereby peeling the top printing plate from the stack of printing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Marincic, Aron Mirmelshteyn, Joseph Lyons
  • Publication number: 20020041804
    Abstract: A newspaper product conveyance device is provided for feeding a newspaper inserter including a chassis having a transfer belt extending at an incline between a first end of the chassis and a discharge area located adjacent a second end of the chassis. The conveyance device further comprises a roller assembly including a plurality of rollers, the roller assembly extends at an angle from the chassis adjacent the first end and defines with the first end of the chassis a newspaper product feed area for holding a stack of newspaper products. A motor is provided for advancing the transfer belt to move the newspaper products from the product feed area to the discharge area, whereby the roller assembly and transfer belt cooperate to cause a uniform stream of newspaper product to be transported to the discharge area for discharge to the inserter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventor: Gary D. Cooper