Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Hartness International, Inc.

Robert C Beesley

Thomas P Hartness

Mark W Davidson

William R Hartness, Iii

Frank Brennan

Dorian F Steeber

Olivier P Duterte

J Mark Nunn

Christopher J Samaras

Brian K Johansen

Brian Merritt

Jason Bedenbaugh

Marc Monaghan

Gregory Bruns

Jon Paul Laskis

Mark Nunn

Charles Bryan Shiflet

Chad Jones

Brett Stripe

Benjamin G Abrams, Ii

Joshua Riddle

Doug A Imes

An apparatus for self-cleaning of a component in a machine, which includes at least one air nozzle disposed in air discharge communication with a surface of the component to be cleaned, such as a sensor surface or a gripper surface. The air nozzle is in air flow communication with air exhaust from an air cylinder of the component or a second component of the machine. Related, corresponding, or associated methods for self-cleaning the component in a machine are also disclosed.

Self cleaning apparatus and method

An applicating machine for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided from an infeed includes an orienter for placing containers into a correct rotational position and a transfer device for transferring the oriented containers in a fixed rotational position to a jaw drum for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers provided.

Variable pitch starwheel for container carrier applicating machine

Heat shrink wrap product packaging oven or tunnel apparatus and processing methods are provided which incorporate or utilize a central divider mechanism. The central divider moves over a conveyor between a vertical, dual track position, and a retracted, single track position. The divider can additionally include a curved deflector that focuses and/or smooths air flow from the divider laterally across the dual track conveyance path.

Center divider for shrink oven

Heat shrink wrap product packaging oven or tunnel apparatus and processing methods are provided which incorporate or utilize airfoils in conjunction with hot air-providing side walls to desirably control impact of hot air onto a product wrapped with a tube of heat shrink wrap film and being conveyed on a conveyor thereby. In such heat shrink wrap product packaging apparatus and methods, such airfoils can be movable, e.g., rotatably moveable, relative to the side walls to vertically alter an air impact point onto the product.

Laminar flow shrink oven

A case packing apparatus for loading articles into a case that includes two or more airbags adapted to be positioned above the case; a vacuum reservoir positioned in fluid communication with the airbags; and a supply of compressed gas positioned in fluid communication with the airbags.

Air transfer bag deflator

A drop packing apparatus for accepting one or more articles into a case, the drop packaging apparatus including a case pad for accommodating the case and a progressive rate linkage connected with respect to the case pad. A shock absorber is connected with respect to the progressive rate linkage. A conveyoror similar device is connected with respect to the drop packing apparatus to provide a stream of articles to the case.

Progressive rate case cushion

An apparatus for self cleaning of a photo eye sensor in a machine includes at least one air nozzle disposed in air discharge communication with a surface to be cleaned of the photo eye sensor. The air nozzle is in air flow communication with air exhaust from an air cylinder of a component of the machine. Related, corresponding, or associated methods for self cleaning a photo eye sensor in a machine are also disclosed.

Self cleaning photo eye apparatus and method

An apparatus for transporting a case along a conveyor moving in a transport direction includes an engagement plate for positive engagement with the case. The engagement plate has a planar face and a vacuum source for vacuum attachment to a case outer surface face. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the plate in the transport direction and for rotating the plate a selected angle from the transport direction. Related, corresponding, or associated methods for transporting a case along a conveyor moving in a transport direction are also disclosed.

Case turner

Devices and methods for buffering articles may include use of an infeed conveyor, an outfeed conveyor, and at least two accumulation conveyors defining a path extending between the infeed conveyor and the outfeed conveyor. Each accumulation conveyor includes an entrance portion adjacent the infeed conveyor for receiving articles from the infeed conveyor and an exit portion adjacent the outfeed conveyor for delivering articles to the outfeed conveyor.

Apparatus for buffering the flow of articles

A device and a method for transferring articles between an infeed conveyor at a first speed and an outfeed conveyor at a second speed different than the first speed include use of at least a first variable speed conveyor downstream of the infeed conveyor, and a second variable speed conveyor downstream of the first variable speed conveyor and upstream of the outfeed conveyor. The speeds of the variable speed conveyors are cycled between the first speed and the second speed without any article being conveyed by conveyors at different speeds. At least one additional variable speed conveyor may be included.

Multi-conveyor speed adjuster

A surface platform for a conveyor belt includes a platform member having an upper surface and a rail member at one side of the upper surface. The upper surface has a first portion adjacent the rail member, a second portion adjacent the first portion, and a third portion adjacent the second portion. The second portion extends upward at a distance and in a direction such that when an article is placed on the platform member in contact with the rail the article extends to, and no further than, the second portion. The first portion may extend at least to a center of the platform member and may be horizontal. The second portion may extend upwardly less than a height of the rail member.

Conveyor belt and platform for conveyor belt

An apparatus for diverting a stream of articles that includes an input conveyor belt conveying a stream of articles in a direction of travel and at an input speed and an output conveyor belt operating at an output speed and disposed parallel with the input conveyor belt in the same direction of travel. A diverter element extending along the input conveyor belt and is moveable between the direction of travel and an opposite direction wherein the diverter element operates in one of two modes of operation depending upon the input speed and the output speed.

Apparatus for diverting a stream of articles

A surface platform for a conveyor belt includes a platform member having an upper surface and a rail member at one side of the upper surface. The upper surface has a first portion adjacent the rail member, a second portion adjacent the first portion, and a third portion adjacent the second portion. The second portion extends upward at a distance and in a direction such that when an article is placed on the platform member in contact with the rail the article extends to, and no further than, the second portion. The first portion may be horizontal or curved.

A device and method of adjusting a spacing of holders located on first and second endless loop includes releasing a clutch to allow the endless loops to be adjusted and operating an adjustment assembly to simultaneously move the first endless loop a distance in a first direction and the second endless loop an equal distance in a second direction opposite the first direction. After the adjustment the timing and pitch of the center of articles gripped by the holders is unchanged relative to the system in which the device is located.

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, SC, United States of America

Robert C Beesley