William R Hartness

US Patent:

20050103599, May 19, 2005

Filed:

Nov 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/712405

Inventors:

Thomas Hartness - Greenville SC, US
William Hartness - Greenville SC, US
Mark Davidson - Greer SC, US
Frank Brennan - Greenville SC, US
Robert Beesley - Greenville SC, US

International Classification:

B65G017/06

US Classification:

198697000, 198370020, 198699100, 198476100, 198479100, 198480100, 198803700, 198803900, 198844100, 198850000

Abstract:

Various conveyor designs are disclosed, along with related link designs, suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor may include a plurality of connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link may have a body, a slider, at least one gripping member, and a gear drive mechanism interconnecting the slider and gripping member. The slider is slidable along the length of the body to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position via the gear drive mechanism. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. The gear drive mechanism may be a rack and pinion mechanism, the gripping member may have one or more gripping arms, and the gripping arms may or may not be offset from the gear drive mechanism.

US Patent:

20050103602, May 19, 2005

Filed:

Mar 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/809806

Inventors:

Thomas Hartness - Greenville SC, US
William Hartness - Greenville SC, US
Mark Davidson - Greer SC, US
Frank Brennan - Greenville SC, US
Robert Beesley - Greenville SC, US

International Classification:

B65G017/06

US Classification:

198803300, 198850000

Abstract:

A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, and related links, are disclosed. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link also has a body, a cam follower member, and at least one gripping member. A gear drive mechanism may be used to interconnect the cam follower member and the gripping member. The cam follower member is movable to selectively move the gripping member between a first position and a second position. The gripping member when in first position is disposed in an open position, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed in a gripping position for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Gear-drive mechanisms of various designs may be used to interconnect the cam follower member and gripping member. A releasable holding member, such as a spring-loaded ratchet member, may be used to secure the gripping member in the second position. Multiple opposed gripping members may be used. Various modifications and options are possible.

US Patent:

20050103603, May 19, 2005

Filed:

May 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/847214

Inventors:

Thomas Hartness - Greenville SC, US
William Hartness - Greenville SC, US
Mark Davidson - Greer SC, US
Frank Brennan - Greenville SC, US
Robert Beesley - Greenville SC, US

International Classification:

B65G017/06

US Classification:

198803300, 198850000

Abstract:

A link is disclosed for a conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The link includes a body having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. The body has a conveying surface and two opposed gripping members extending from the conveying surface. Each gripping member is movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position. The gripping members each include a gripping arm configured to be pivotable relative to the conveying surface when the gripping members move from the first position to the second position. The gripping arms are located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping members are in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport. The link includes at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position. Various other related options are disclosed, along with related conveyors.

US Patent:

20050103604, May 19, 2005

Filed:

Nov 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/712406

Inventors:

Thomas Hartness - Greenville SC, US
William Hartness - Greenville SC, US
Mark Davidson - Greer SC, US
Frank Brennan - Greenville SC, US
Robert Beesley - Greenville SC, US

International Classification:

B65G017/06

US Classification:

198803700, 198844100, 198850000

Abstract:

Various conveyor designs suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction and various related link designs are disclosed. The conveyor may include a plurality of the connected links. Each link may have a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, a conveying surface, and at least one gripping member moveable along at least a portion of length of the link from a first position to a second position. The gripping member when in the first position is disposed below the conveying surface of the link, and the gripping member when in the second position is disposed above the conveying surface of the link for contacting one of the objects to hold the object during transport. Various designs of gripping members and related elements are disclosed, including spring loaded, cam driven, rack and pinion, and overhead designs. Various elements of the disclosed designs may be combined in various ways to form numerous link and conveyor options.

US Patent:

20050103605, May 19, 2005

Filed:

Nov 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/712407

Inventors:

Thomas Hartness - Greenville SC, US
William Hartness - Greenville SC, US
Mark Davidson - Greer SC, US
Frank Brennan - Greenville SC, US
Robert Beesley - Greenville SC, US

International Classification:

B65G017/06

US Classification:

198803700, 198468200, 198750110

Abstract:

A conveyor suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, and a related link are disclosed. The link may include a link body having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport, each link body having a conveying surface. At least one gripping member is movably secured to the link body and has a gripping arm extendable from the conveying surface of the link body. Each gripping member is moveable between a first opened position and a second gripping position. The gripping arm is located so as to be able to contact one of the objects when the gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the link body during transport. Various options for link designs are disclosed, including slidable and/or pivotable designs.

US Patent:

20050103606, May 19, 2005

Filed:

Sep 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/948844

Inventors:

Thomas Hartness - Greenville SC, US
William Hartness - Greenville SC, US
Mark Davidson - Greer SC, US
Frank Brennan - Greenville SC, US
Robert Beesley - Greenville SC, US

International Classification:

B65G017/06

US Classification:

198850000, 198803300

Abstract:

A conveyor is disclosed suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction. The conveyor includes a plurality of connected links, each link having a length extending across the direction of transport and a width extending along the direction of transport. Each link has a conveying surface and at least one movable gripping member extending from the conveying surface of the link. Each gripping member is movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position. The gripping members each include a gripping arm having a pivot point, a gripping end spaced from the pivot point, and a cam follower extending outward from the gripping arm between the pivot point and the gripping end. The gripping arm is located so as to be able to contact one of the objects via the gripping end when the gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the link during transport. Each link includes at least one spring member urging the gripping members toward the second position. The links may be connected by universal joints, and may have two opposed movable gripping members. Related conveyor and link designs are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20050269188, Dec 8, 2005

Filed:

May 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/131625

Inventors:

Thomas Hartness - Greenville SC, US
Robert Beesley - Greenville SC, US
Mark Davidson - Greer SC, US
William Hartness - Greenville SC, US

International Classification:

B65G017/06

US Classification:

198697000, 198699100, 198476100, 198480100, 198803700, 198803900, 198844100

Abstract:

A link is disclosed for a conveyor, as is a conveyor itself, suitable for conveying objects along a transport direction, a plurality of the links being attachable to form the conveyor, the link includes a body having a length extending along the direction of transport and a width extending across the direction of transport, and two opposed gripping members extending from the body. At least one of the gripping members is a movable gripping member movable from a first opened position to a second gripping position, the movable gripping member includes a gripping end, the gripping members being located so as to contact one of the objects via the gripping end when the movable gripping member is in the second position to hold the object relative to the body during transport. At least one spring member urging the movable gripping member toward the second position, and universal joint components are provided including an extension and a cavity, the extension being disposable in a cavity of a first adjacent link, and the cavity for receiving an extension of a second adjacent link. The extension extends along an axis substantially unaligned with the direction of transport. Various options and modifications are possible.

US Patent:

20050284103, Dec 29, 2005

Filed:

Jun 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/879686

Inventors:

Thomas Hartness - Greenville SC, US
William Hartness - Greenville SC, US
Mark Davidson - Greer SC, US

International Classification:

B65B005/00

US Classification:

053136100, 053167000, 053282000

Abstract:

A system is disclosed for conveying articles for processing, the system including a conveyor configured to convey articles to the processing station. The conveyor includes a plurality of links, each link including at least one movable gripper for gripping an article, articles being gripped by adjacent links so as to achieve a predetermined spacing between the articles. A processing station is disposed along the conveyor, the conveyor being driven so as to move the articles through the processing station maintaining the predetermined spacing via the movable grippers, the processing station including mating elements spaced according to the predetermined spacing for processing the articles. The articles may be containers, and the processing station may be a filler or other container processing elements.