Richard V Rigling

US Patent:

6439367, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Dec 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/728657

Inventors:

Matthew G. Taylor - Longwood FL
Richard B. Rigling - Orlando FL

Assignee:

Lockhead Martin Corporation - Owego NY

International Classification:

B65G 4710

US Classification:

19837004, 198360, 198568, 209655, 209924

Abstract:

A sorting and conveying system has a longitudinally extending conveyor having at least one tilt tray, but preferably a plurality, on the conveyor for diverting selected articles from the conveyor. There is at least one hanger for holding a plurality of bags. A chute extends between the tilt tray and the hanger. A movable bowl diverter has an entrance opening near the top adjacent the chute and an exit opening near the bottom, so that articles diverted from the conveyor will be delivered to the exit opening. Means are provided for moving the bowl diverter so that the exit opening is positioned to deliver a selected article into a selected bag on said hanger. There are a plurality of tilt trays along the conveyor and a plurality of hangers so that a selected article on the conveyor may be delivered from a selected tilt tray to a selected bag. Means are provided for mounting the bowl diverter for rotational movement, and there is a drive for rotating the bowl diverter.

US Patent:

6564922, May 20, 2003

Filed:

Mar 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/814272

Inventors:

Matthew G. Taylor - Longwood FL
Richard V. Rigling - Orlando FL

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Owego NY

International Classification:

B65G 4710

US Classification:

19837001, 19837003, 198367, 198360, 207655

Abstract:

A sorting and conveying system has a longitudinally extending conveyor having at least one tilt tray, but preferably a plurality, on the conveyor for diverting selected articles from the conveyor. There is at least one hanger for holding a plurality of bags. A chute extends between the tilt tray and the hanger. A flexible sheet diverter has an entrance near the top adjacent the chute and an exit near the bottom adjacent the bags, so that articles diverted from the conveyor will be delivered to the exit. Cylinders are provided for moving the sheet diverter so that the exit is positioned to deliver a selected article into a selected bag on the hanger. There are a plurality of tilt trays along the conveyor and a plurality of hangers so that a selected article on the conveyor may be delivered from a selected tilt tray to a selected bag. Mounts are provided for mounting the flexible sheet diverter for shaped movement, and there are air cylinders for moving the flexible sheet diverter.

US Patent:

6699148, Mar 2, 2004

Filed:

Oct 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/694179

Inventors:

Matthew G. Taylor - Longwood FL
Richard V. Rigling - Orlando FL

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

F16H 708

US Classification:

474111, 474109, 474140

Abstract:

A self-adjusting contact mechanism is provided for a belt drive system which mechanism includes a contact shoe having a low friction surface in contact with the belt and a mechanism for biasing the low friction surface of the contact shoe against the belt with a controlled force profile which may be constant or may vary within a selected range over the permitted movement for the shoe. The shoe is preferably mounted to a lever arm through a pivot joint to permit the shoe to remain substantially parallel to the belt and in contact with the belt over the entire low friction surface of the shoe regardless of lever arm position. Force on the lever arm is provided by a compression mechanism which may include a pair of counterbalancing springs, with the spring biasing the lever arm toward the belt being stronger than the counterbalancing spring and preferably with the force for at least one of the springs being adjustable. The controlled force profile may be a substantially constant force regardless of contact shoe position.

US Patent:

53621972, Nov 8, 1994

Filed:

Jun 30, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/086229

Inventors:

Richard Rigling - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

Stanley-Vidmar, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

B65G 104

US Classification:

414786

Abstract:

A system for storing and retrieving items to and from a storage receptacle which includes a track riding dolly carrying a robotic item handler for inserting and extracting items to and from storage. The dolly also carries a multishelved caddy for receiving a plurality of items thereon. The item handler has the capacity to access each of the shelves of the caddy and may execute, under computer control, a selected sequence of item transfers between the caddy and storage during a single passage of the dolly from an on/off load point past the storage receptacle. A multishelved caddy loader queues a plurality of items received from an on-load device independently of the caddy, via vertical repositioning, and performs a bulk transfer of the queued items to the caddy when the caddy is available. A mass offloader device permits the bulk transfer of a plurality of items from the caddy to an offload receiver. A unit offloader sequentially offloads the offload receiver, via vertical repositioning of the offload receiver, onto an offload surface independently of the caddy.

US Patent:

52267822, Jul 13, 1993

Filed:

May 7, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/519932

Inventors:

Richard Rigling - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

Stanley-Vidmar, Inc. - Allentown PA

International Classification:

B65G 104

US Classification:

414283

Abstract:

A system for storing and retrieving items to and from a storage receptacle which includes a track riding dolly carrying a robotic item handler for inserting and extracting items to and from storage The dolly also carries a multishelved caddy for receiving a plurality of items thereon. The item handler has the capacity to access each of the shelves of the caddy and may execute, under computer control, a selected sequence of item transfers between the caddy and storage during a single passage of the dolly from an on/off load point past the storage receptacle. A multishelved caddy loader queues a plurality of items received from an on-load device independently of the caddy, via vertical repositioning, and performs a bulk transfer of the queued items to the caddy when the caddy is available. A mass offloader device permits the bulk transfer of a plurality of items from the caddy to an offload receiver. A unit offloader sequentially offloads the offload receiver, via vertical repositioning of the offload receiver, onto an offload surface independently of the caddy.

US Patent:

54216850, Jun 6, 1995

Filed:

Apr 7, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/043624

Inventors:

Wallace S. Elmer - Hamilton OH
Richard V. Rigling - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

Stanley-Vidmar, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

B65G 104

US Classification:

414280

Abstract:

A vacuum-type gripping apparatus includes a frame which is movable between a retracted position, in which the frame is remote from an item stored in a storage bin, and an extended position, in which the frame is proximate to an item stored in the storage bin. The apparatus includes a vacuum-type gripping mechanism which grips the item to be extracted from the storage bin prior to and during the extraction operation. The vacuum-type gripping mechanism employs a redundant vacuum source which improves the operating reliability of the apparatus. A lifting mechanism, which is adapted to engage a bottom surface of the item to be extracted, cooperates with the vacuum-type gripping mechanism during the extraction operation.