The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 27, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2009
Mark Plyler, Notasulga, AL (US);
Andy Loftis, Pike Road, AL (US);
John Cook, Birmingham, AL (US);
Dennis Grantham, Elmore, AL (US);
Michael Adams, Alexander City, AL (US);
Mark Plyler, Notasulga, AL (US);
Andy Loftis, Pike Road, AL (US);
John Cook, Birmingham, AL (US);
Dennis Grantham, Elmore, AL (US);
Michael Adams, Alexander City, AL (US);
Progress Rail Services Corp, Albertville, AL (US);
Abstract
A machine for automatically orienting railroad tie plates includes a sensing region having at least one optical sensor adapted to sense a physical feature of a tie plate. An electronic controller is connected to the optical sensor and is disposed to receive a sensor signal indicative of the physical feature of the tie plate when the tie plate is in the sensing region. The electronic controller further determines an orientation of the tie plate based on the sensor signal, compares it to one or more predetermined or possible orientations, and provides a command to at least one actuator adapted to perform at least one tie plate orientation operation to change the orientation of the tie plate based on the comparison of the orientation of the plate with the predetermined orientation.