Laurie A Reid

US Patent:

50658565, Nov 19, 1991

Filed:

Jun 12, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/365207

Inventors:

Laurie M. Reid - Casselberry FL
Archie Koster - Casselberry FL
Gary D. Hunt - Longwood FL

Assignee:

Simplimatic Engineering Company - Lynchburg VA

International Classification:

B65G 4726

US Classification:

1984193

Abstract:

An improved tray packer-shrink wrapper is provided in a preferred embodiment with a computer control to permit relatively efficient changeover from processing a batch of one product size to a batch of another product size. A servocontrolled pin grouper is provided wherein at least two sets of pins such as pins A and B are mounted on corresponding endless chains such as chains A and B, which endless chains are independently cyclable by corresponding independently controlled servomotors A and B. The pin sets are inserted into a row of articles positioned on a stationary deadplate, with one pin set leading a trailing pin set, and the leading pin set is accelerated with respect to the trailing pin set to separate articles downstream of the leading pin set into an article group, which separation operation is continuously carried out in a cyclical fashion to group articles from the row. The computer control can be readily reprogrammed to control servomotors A and B differently for different sized articles and articles groups. Also, a servocontrolled film feed device and a servocontrolled wrapping device responsive to the same computer control are provided.

US Patent:

49782754, Dec 18, 1990

Filed:

Jul 31, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/387692

Inventors:

Laurie M. Reid - Casselberry FL
Gary D. Hunt - Longwood FL

Assignee:

Simplimatic Engineering Company - Lynchburg VA

International Classification:

B65G 5714

US Classification:

4147895

Abstract:

An improved palletizer is provided for receiving successive groups of articles in a pattern forming area and transferring the groups in succession to a stacking area on a pallet. A servocontrolled sweep system transfers article groups from the pattern formings to the stacking area for stacking one group on top of the other as the pallet is indexed downward by a hoist system after each successive group, and a carriage system interleaves separator sheets between successive groups. A programmable logic controller controls the servocontrolled sweep system in accordance with a velocity characteristic designed to increase machine speed and efficiency.

US Patent:

47020601, Oct 27, 1987

Filed:

Jun 26, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/878998

Inventors:

Laurie M. Reid - Longwood FL

Assignee:

Uni-Pak Film Systems, Inc. - Roswell GA

International Classification:

B65B 5118

US Classification:

53 69

Abstract:

A packaging machine for bonding a sheet to opposite walls and over the articles therein. One embodiment has a conveyor which moves the trays down a predetermined path, during which a film sheet is disposed over the tops of the articles in each of the trays, and flight bars traveling about an orbital path interpose the sheet between the trailing and leading walls of each of the successive trays and press the sheet against the adjacent trailing and leading walls. Heating elements associated with each of the flight bars heat the sheet, while compressed, to form a bond between the film sheet and the tray walls. The heating elements are controlled by an improved electrical circuit. Three independently movable sets of flight bars are provided for placing each of the trays in compression whereby the apparatus is adjustable as required to accommodate trays of different sizes over a range within the limits of the machine. Improved cutting means separate the sheet between adjacent trays after the bonding process, and the trays then proceed to a heating tunnel if heat shrinking of the film is desired.