Thomas M Ingraham

US Patent:

6589008, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

Oct 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/969484

Inventors:

Thomas M. Ingraham - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

Advanced Manufacturing Technology - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B65G 5722

US Classification:

4147917, 4147916, 4147926, 4147929, 1984683

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for packaging containers, of the type having an engagement lip, wherein the apparatus includes tacks to engage the engagement lip to move the containers from starting point to a delivery point. The containers are moved by the apparatus while being engaged by the track such that the containers are never free from the track until loaded on a pallet. A set of the containers is constricted into a bundle and the bundle is then resquared and set on a pallet. One a pallet includes a sufficient number of bundles the pallet is bound for shipment or storage.

US Patent:

7210572, May 1, 2007

Filed:

Feb 3, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/050278

Inventors:

Thomas M Ingraham - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Advanced Manufacturing Technology - Loveland CO

International Classification:

B65G 15/00

US Classification:

1988363, 19837002, 1984661, 198817, 1988361

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to an adjustable guide for a container conveyor system. The guide includes multiple pairs of pivoting mechanisms located along the conveyor. Each pivoting mechanism includes a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm which can be independently manipulated to locate a guide within a container envelope. The multiple pairs of pivoting mechanisms are operable coupled by a set of drive cables to permit simultaneous adjustment of the pivoting mechanisms.

US Patent:

7530453, May 12, 2009

Filed:

Oct 30, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/554216

Inventors:

Thomas M. Ingraham - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Advanced Manufacturing Technology - Loveland CO

International Classification:

B65G 15/00
B65G 17/00
B65G 15/10

US Classification:

1988363, 198817, 1988364

Abstract:

A container transport system can have adjustable neck guides coupled along a container transport line and a neck guide positioning system operably coupled thereto. The neck guide positioning system can move the neck guides relative to the container transport line in correspondence with shapes of containers. The neck guides can extend continuously along the container transport line.

US Patent:

7632089, Dec 15, 2009

Filed:

May 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/841771

Inventors:

Peter A. Bates - Perrysburg OH, US
Thomas M. Ingraham - Fort Collins CO, US
Frank W. Mahr - Toledo OH, US
Nikhil Mani - Billerica MA, US
Thomas E. Nahil - Amherst NH, US
Terry C. Potter - Lambertville MI, US

Assignee:

Graham Packaging PET Technologies, Inc. - York PA

International Classification:

B29C 49/18
B29C 49/64
B29C 71/00

US Classification:

425534, 425526, 425532, 425533, 425535, 425813

Abstract:

A take-out and cooling method and apparatus conveys molded plastic articles from a molding machine to and through a cooling station and preferably includes a take-out apparatus that has a main support, a conveyor carried by the main support for movement in an endless path, a cam adjacent to the support, a plurality of arms carried by the conveyor for movement with the conveyor along the endless path and including a follower responsive to the contour of the cam to vary the position of the arms relative to the support, and at least one holder carried by each arm. Each holder is adapted to receive and carry at least one molded article to facilitate in conveying the molded articles and is flexible and resilient to permit relative movement of at least a portion of the holder relative to its associated arm.

US Patent:

20070095247, May 3, 2007

Filed:

Oct 30, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/554339

Inventors:

Thomas Ingraham - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY - Loveland CO

International Classification:

B61B 12/00

US Classification:

104307000

Abstract:

A guide positioning system for a container transport line includes a guide assembly supporting a pair of guide segments extending opposite each other along the container transport line and an actuation system. The guide segments are located in a home position, and the actuation system is set to correspond with the home position to calibrate the guide positioning system. Furthermore, the actuation system selectively couples and operates the guide assembly so that the guide segments move to a predetermined position away from the home position.

US Patent:

20110120120, May 26, 2011

Filed:

Nov 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/950736

Inventors:

Joseph W. Pawelski - Loveland CO, US
Thomas M. Ingraham - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Advanced Manufacturing Technology for Bottles, Inc . - Loveland CO

International Classification:

F01B 29/10

US Classification:

60527

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are embodiments of inventive multipositioner technology relating to multipositioner apparatus having discrete positioning capability and, relative to each discrete position, incremental positioning capability. As compared with prior art apparatus, embodiments of the inventive technology may afford: operational resolution for larger positional ranges, reduced cylinder length to achieve positioning as desired, enhanced positioning capability and/or robustness of design.

US Patent:

61967882, Mar 6, 2001

Filed:

Nov 9, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/435957

Inventors:

Rodney S. Talbot - Fort Collins CO
Thomas M. Ingraham - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

Advanced Manufacturing Technology - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B65G 5724

US Classification:

414802

Abstract:

A method and system for packaging a plurality of containers, wherein each container has a body and an engagement lip surrounding a neck portion, which comprises a plurality of steps. First, a set of containers is provided. Next, containers are loaded on a plurality of neck guides and locomoted along the neck guides to a gathering area to form a bundle of containers. The container is lowered onto a conveyor element and transported with the conveyor along a path to a loading area. A transfer device stacks the bundle on a pallet.

US Patent:

55709770, Nov 5, 1996

Filed:

Mar 13, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/403187

Inventors:

Donald J. Simkowski - Loveland CO
Thomas M. Ingraham - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

Goldco Industries, Inc. - Loveland CO

International Classification:

B65G 5103

US Classification:

406 88

Abstract:

A fluid conveyor effects movement of articles, such as cans, along a predetermined path adjacent to a thin deck plate. The thin deck plate has fluid distribution areas formed therein with each fluid distribution area having an aperture formed therein, after which a flat tab section is formed that is inclined with respect to the remainder of the plate. Each tab section therefore has an aperture therein through which fluid from a fluid supply unit is injected under pressure into the article path adjacent to the plate in a direction and angle determined by the orientation of the tab sections to effect movement of articles along the article path. Each tab section has a portion integral with the remainder of the plate and side and end edge portions unattached to the remainder of the plate but sufficiently contiguous thereto to prevent passage of air between the edge portions and the remainder of the plate. The fluid conveyor can also include one or more turns between upstream and downstream sections, with first and second groups of tab sections being positioned to inject fluid in the upstream section to effect article movement and with the second group of tab sections being positioned in the downstream section to effect article movement.