Darrell L Johnson

US Patent:

7364031, Apr 29, 2008

Filed:

Jun 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/820248

Inventors:

Darrell B. Johnson - Fort Collins CO, US
Dale G. Friesen - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

CBW Automation, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B65G 47/28

US Classification:

1984598, 1984593, 198624, 1984192

Abstract:

An apparatus for handling horizontally oriented flat circular articles, such as plastic lids, employs a pair of parallel rotating spin bars, one of which is divided or split into a shorter lid entry section and a longer lid discharge section. The shorter lid entry section rotates at the same speed as the other one of the parallel spin bars to stabilize the lids as they sequentially drop off a waterfall conveyor and become vertically on-edge oriented, while the longer discharge section of the split spin bar rotates at a different speed to promote lateral movement of the vertically oriented lids along the spin bars into a stack at the discharge end of the rotating spin bars.

US Patent:

62273523, May 8, 2001

Filed:

Jan 19, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/487107

Inventors:

Darrell B. Johnson - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

CBW Automation, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B65G 2500

US Classification:

19875012

Abstract:

A retrieval system for rapidly removing articles from a plastic molding machine or other manufacturing process includes two pairs of lightweight non-metallic telescoping retrieval tubes arranged for telescoping motion into and out of an open mold. Each pair of telescoping retrieval tubes is coupled to a pair of slidable bearing tubes. A movable one of each pair of retrieval and bearing tubes is driven in concert by a low inertia cable or other drive system. A fixed one of each of each pair of retrieval and bearing tubes includes longitudinal strips of plastic bearing material.

US Patent:

55422381, Aug 6, 1996

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/473002

Inventors:

Darrell B. Johnson - Fort Collins CO
George E. Frey - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

CBW Automation, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B65B 506
B65B 3550
B65B 3902

US Classification:

53475

Abstract:

An apparatus for filling cartons with horizontal stacks of containers includes a chute assembly and a carton indexing table positioned thereunder. The chute assembly holds a single horizontal stack of containers to be placed in a plastic-lined carton previously placed on the carton indexing table. The chute assembly includes front and rear downwardly and inwardly projecting fixed guides and a pair of pivoting side guides. The pivoting side guides are arranged for motion between an inward retracted position and an outward extended position.

US Patent:

60659254, May 23, 2000

Filed:

Jan 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/237076

Inventors:

David E. Carson - Fort Collins CO
Darrell B. Johnson - Fort Collins CO
Donald L. Powell - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

CBW Automation, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B25J 1506
B65G 6502

US Classification:

414627

Abstract:

A lid handling system employs a lid alignment assembly for aligning lids randomly placed on a rotating input disc, a lid separation assembly for separating lids spinning on a pair of horizontal spin bars into a counted stack, a vacuum pickup assembly for picking up a counted stack of lids, a pick and place assembly for transporting and placing stacks of lids into trays having upwardly bent side members, and a conveyor for conveying filled trays toward a carton.

US Patent:

58631771, Jan 26, 1999

Filed:

Oct 2, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/725066

Inventors:

David E. Carson - Fort Collins CO
Darrell B. Johnson - Fort Collins CO
Donald L. Powell - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

CBW Automation, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B65G 4724

US Classification:

4147989

Abstract:

A lid handling system employs a lid alignment assembly for aligning lids randomly placed on a rotating input disc, a lid separation assembly for separating lids spinning on a pair of horizontal spin bars into a counted stack, a vacuum pickup assembly for picking up a counted stack of lids, a pick and place assembly for transporting and placing stacks of lids into trays having upwardly bent side members, and a conveyor for conveying filled trays toward a carton.

US Patent:

60364297, Mar 14, 2000

Filed:

Aug 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/916739

Inventors:

Darrell B. Johnson - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

CBW Automation, Inc. - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B65G 2500

US Classification:

414752

Abstract:

A retrieval system for rapidly removing articles from a plastic molding machine or other manufacturing process includes two pairs of lightweight non-metallic telescoping retrieval tubes arranged for telescoping motion into and out of an open mold. Each pair of telescoping retrieval tubes is coupled to a pair of slidable bearing tubes. A movable one of each pair of retrieval and bearing tubes is driven in concert by a low inertia cable or other drive system. A fixed one of each of each pair of retrieval and bearing tubes includes longitudinal strips of plastic bearing material.