Laitram, LLC

Input/output, Inc.

Brien G Rau

Robert E Rouquette

Jason Lagneaux

Bryant G Ragan

Angela Longo Marshall

Wayne A Pertuit, Jr

Richard J Sofranec

Andre W Oliver

Christopher G Greve

David W Bogle

Robert S Lapeyre

Scott J Sirgo

Charles L Borrello

Andre W Olivier

Glenn R McCall, Jr

Dennis K Scates

Andre' W Olivier

Ross Doyle

Ed J Pointer

Brady P Horn

Kevin J Turner

Jason M Lagneaux

A deveining device efficiently removes veins from shrimp while preserving the meat of the shrimp in both appearance and quantity. The deveining device comprises a channel having a blade extending along a section of the channel for cutting the back of the shrimp as it rolls through the channel to expose a vein. A downstream vein remover severs the exposed vein from the shrimp body. Nozzles spray fluid into the channel to propel the shrimp through the channel.

Deveining system and device

A conveyor comprising a conveyor belt having rollers with metallic or magnetic rotors. A magnet or metallic element next to the conveyor belt is positioned to rotate the rotor. A magnetic field produced by the magnet or by the magnetic rotor rotates the rollers as they pass the magnetic field or as the magnetic field is changed.

Conveyor belt apparatus including magnetically actuated rollers

A conveyor having selectively actuated rollers whose only external contact is with conveyed articles and a method for rotating such rollers. In one version, the rollers are driven by motors that are selectively energized by a wireless signal or a sensed conveyor position. In another version, the rollers are geared to a drive wheel that engages a bearing surface underlying the conveyor along the conveying path. The rollers are selectively actuated to push conveyed articles along the conveyor as it advances.

Apparatus and method for selectively actuating moving conveyor rollers

A modular conveyor belt and method provides a conveyor belt having rollers with metallic or magnetic rotors. A magnet or metallic element next to the conveyor belt is positioned to rotate the rotor. A magnetic field produced by the magnet or by the magnetic rotor rotates the rollers as they pass the magnetic field or as the magnetic field is changed. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is in the form of one or more switched reluctance motors.

A conveyor belt having multiple roller sets, each roller set including a first roller and a second roller, the first roller being movable into contact with the second roller so that driving of one of the rollers in a first angular direction causes rotation of the other roller in a second, opposite angular direction.

Conveyor belt with wear-tolerant stacked rollers

A conveyor transfer system and a transfer platform for transferring articles from an upstream conveyor to a downstream conveyor across a gap. The transfer platform fits in the gap between two conveyors arranged end to end. At least one of the conveyors includes a conveyor belt that reverses direction around a reversing element at the gap. The transfer platform floats in the gap supported by the conveyor belt or its reversing element without a direct connection to the conveyor frame.

Conveyor transfer system with floating transfer platform

A belt module with embedded rollers retained in cavities in the module by retention structure insertable into the module. The rollers and cavities are elongated in the direction of belt travel and closely separated by narrow dividers that form outward-facing surfaces that can serve as bearing surfaces for a belt made of the modules when the rollers are inactivated. When activated, the rollers, which rotate on axles parallel to the direction of belt travel, are supported directly on conveyor rolling surfaces. The dividers also carry the belt tension and stiffen the module.

Conveyor belt module with retained rollers

A plastic conveyor belt module with embedded spherical rollers retained in the module and a belt constructed of such modules. The module includes a module body forming a cavity, a spherical roller in the cavity, and a retainer retained in the cavity to hold the spherical roller rotatably in place. A salient portion of the roller extends outward from the cavity through the retainer past an outer surface of the module. The retainer is attached to the module body by ultrasonic welding, epoxy- or solvent-bonding, spin welding, electromagnetic welding, staking, screwing, or locking.

Conveyor belt modules with embedded spherical rollers retained in the modules

The present invention provides an underwater cable arrangement includes an underwater cable having one or more external devices mounted on the cable. In one form of the invention, the external devices are powered primarily or entirely by inductive coupling between a coil disposed in the cable and a coil disposed in the external device. The invention also provides a variety of external devices capable of use with an underwater cable. The invention further provides a coil support arrangement for supporting a coil within an underwater cable in a manner protecting a core of the coil from damage.

Underwater cable arrangements and devices

A plastic conveyor belt module with embedded rollers retained in the module and a method for making such a module. The module includes a module body forming a cavity, a roller in the cavity, and a retainer received in the cavity to hold the roller rotatably in place. A salient portion of the roller extends outward from the cavity through the retainer past an outer surface of the module. The retainer is attached to the module body by ultrasonic welding, epoxy- or solvent-bonding, spin welding, electromagnetic welding, staking, screwing, or locking.

Conveyor belt modules with embedded rollers retained in the modules and associated method

A device for controlling the position of an underwater cable comprises a body, first and second actuators, and a pair of wings. The body is stationarily mountable to the underwater cable and the first and second actuators are disposed in the body. Each wing has an axis of rotation and the wings are coupled to the first and second actuators to control the depth and the horizontal position of the underwater cable in the water.

Devices for controlling the position of an underwater cable

An internal device for use in an underwater cable may comprise a body having an outer periphery, body being mountable inside the cable with the cable surrounding the outer periphery of the body. The body may include a cutaway portion, a slot, or a dovetail joint. An underwater cable arrangement may comprise an underwater cable and an internal device disposed in the cable with the cable surrounding the device. The underwater cable may include a stress member connected to the internal device by an interference fit or the internal device may include a slot for receiving the stress member. A method of connecting a stress member of an under water cable to an internal device includes forming an interference fit between a region of increased diameter of the stress member and the internal device.

Underwater cable arrangements, internal devices for use in an underwater cable, and methods of connecting and internal device to a stress member of an underwater cable

Underwater cable arrangement and coil support arrangement for an

A device connected to an underwater cable by means of a sacrificial latch mechanism that breaks to protect the housing of the device from irreparable damage due to collisions with jetsam or other objects. The underwater device is connected to a cable having mounting elements disposed along its length. The device includes a housing and a latch body attached to the housing by a retainer, such as a set screw. A locking member extends from the latch body to engage the mounting element. A sacrificial element, such as a thin portion of the latch body or a frangible portion of the retainer, gives way in response to a predetermined force acting to separate the device from the cable before the force can damage the housing.

Underwater device with a sacrificial latch mechanism

A battery operated system 20 responds to coded acoustic signals 15 for releasing a buoyed housing from an underwater anchor 21 to carry a retrieval line attached to a retrievable underwater object to the water surface. A novel tethering mechanism 26 is provided for attaching the housing to a line 25 tethered to the anchor and for releasing it in response to the coded acoustic signals. The tethering mechanism operates in two diverse modes. Thus the housing is released from its tether line thermally by battery power which melts an expandable wax body in a thermal actuator 36 to move an actuating member 37 through a line release stroke. However, the tether line is attached by a manually actuated latching mechanism 45, 47 provided for retethering the housing at a different location without draining battery power for resetting the latching mechanism. In one embodiment, the angle of the line leaving a latching compartment outwardly is restricted to prevent substantial changes in line orientation thereby to reduce fouling of the tether line in response to underwater currents. The tether line attaching mechanism comprises in separate embodiments either a set of line clamping cams or a latched set of levers, either of which releases the line in response to thermal movement of an actuating member.

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Jefferson, LA, United States of America

Brien G Rau