Jerry M Cramer

US Patent:

47689196, Sep 6, 1988

Filed:

Jun 26, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/067394

Inventors:

Bradley N. Borgman - Riverside CA
Jerry W. Cramer - Upland CA
Don E. Dossey - Montclair CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B66F 1100

US Classification:

414752

Abstract:

Apparatus for picking up and transferring layers of round food articles and the like is disclosed including movable pickup heads mounted on a carriage, each pickup head comprising a vacuum manifold or plenum forming multiple openings on a lower surface and adapted for developing low vacuum, high flow rate conditions variant, a vacuum cup mounted in each of the openings and having a bellows-like construction for permitting expansion and contraction along its axis, a flexible base portion of the vacuum cup forming a seal surface for engagement with one of the round food articles, the vacuum cup also forming a relatively large orifice for permitting relatively unrestricted communication between the vacuum cup and the plenum upon engagement of the vacuum cup with a food article in order to very rapidly produce a vacuum within the cup for causing adherence of the food article. The vacuum cup is also particularly adapted for assuring that the food article is retained upon the vacuum cup until released. A quick connect-disconnect latch assembly is also provided for facilitating replacement of the pickup head on the carriage.

US Patent:

40334503, Jul 5, 1977

Filed:

Nov 24, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/634497

Inventors:

Paul F. Paddock - Riverside CA
Jerry W. Cramer - Upland CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B65G 1500

US Classification:

198648

Abstract:

A conveyor having a single row of receptacles to seat individual fruit of a corresponding row of citrus fruit moves the fruit in succession past a station where it is required that the major axis of each fruit, i. e. , the axis through the stem and blossom ends of the fruit be parallel to the direction of travel of the fruit. In each receptacle the individual fruit rests on a pair of parallel power-actuated spool-shaped rollers the axes of which are parallel to the direction of travel of the receptacles, which rollers spin the fruit to cause the major axes of the fruit to be oriented parallel to the direction of travel. Each receptacle is detachably mounted to transverse rods.

US Patent:

42300657, Oct 28, 1980

Filed:

Jul 31, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/929264

Inventors:

Ned C. Carter - Chino CA
Jerry W. Cramer - Upland CA
Dennis E. Bilton - Alta Loma CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B41F 1734
B41F 3500
B41F 3120
B05B 132

US Classification:

118 17

Abstract:

Apparatus for printing an indicium on objects, fruits and the like with an ink which may or may not be water soluble, but which is preferably of a type which may be readily consumed by humans without damaging effect, the fruit being successively pre-oriented and delivered by a conveyor to a printing station where inked printing dies carried by a printing roller are utilized to apply the indicia, after which the fruit is then discharged from the conveyor in a free-fall trajectory path onto a receiver, an air-brush type nozzle being utilized to jet-spray the indicium with a quick drying sealant coating as the fruit is moved through the trajectory path. The spray nozzle is directed towards a collecting opening having a connection with a suction source. Also, a selector valve is provided to permit disconnection of the coating material supply to the nozzle, and connection of the nozzle to a supply of cleaning solvent.

US Patent:

45839107, Apr 22, 1986

Filed:

Jan 12, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/570265

Inventors:

Bradley N. Borgman - Riverside CA
Jerry W. Cramer - Upland CA
Don E. Dossey - Montclair CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B66F 1100

US Classification:

414752

Abstract:

Apparatus for picking up and transferring layers of round food articles and the like is disclosed including movable pickup heads mounted on a carriage, each pickup head comprising a vacuum manifold or plenum forming multiple openings on a lower surface and adapted for developing low vacuum, high flow rate conditions variant, a vacuum cup mounted in each of the openings and having a bellows-like construction for permitting expansion and contraction along its axis, a flexible base portion of the vacuum cup forming a seal surface for engagement with one of the round food articles, the vacuum cup also forming a relatively large orifice for permitting relatively unrestricted communication between the vacuum cup and the plenum upon engagement of the vacuum cup with a food article in order to very rapidly produce a vacuum within the cup for causing adherence of the food article. The vacuum cup is also particularly adapted for assuring that the food article is retained upon the vacuum cup until released. A quick connect-disconnect latch assembly is also provided for facilitating replacement of the pickup heads on the carriage.

US Patent:

51744295, Dec 29, 1992

Filed:

Jun 7, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/713472

Inventors:

Everett La Vars - Pomona CA
Jerry Cramer - Upland CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Ontario CA

International Classification:

B65G 2900

US Classification:

198372

Abstract:

A conveyor discharge apparatus, and a related method of operation, that can lift and thereby eject any article carried by a conveyor of the apparatus through substantially relying on the motor that advances the conveyor of the apparatus. The apparatus includes an ejection mechanism having a plurality of ejection fingers that are each associated with a separate one of the pockets of the conveyor and are selectively movable between rest and ejection positions so as to lift and eject articles carried by the pocket in which the particular finger is located. The ejection mechanism is further configured such that the power required to lift and eject any article from the pockets is provided substantially by the motor that advances the conveyor. In operation, the conveyor is advanced via the motor and the fingers are selectively moved substantially via the power of the motor from their respective rest positions to their respective ejection positions.

US Patent:

43864910, Jun 7, 1983

Filed:

Nov 17, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/207141

Inventors:

Jerry W. Cramer - Upland CA
Everett G. LaVars - Pomona CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B65B 3902
B65B 3912
B65B 3538

US Classification:

53247

Abstract:

Apparatus for packing layers of objects into a box, wherein a pickup head equipped with multiple vacuum cups picks up a layer of the objects and descends into the box. The box is initially positioned in a packing station in an approximately correct position relative to the path of descent of the pickup head and as the pickup head approaches the top of the box, a chute structure is provided in which four guide panels snap into engagement with the four inner walls, respectively, of the box for four purposes: (1) to position the box precisely correctly relative to the path of descent of the pickup head; (2) to crowd the layer of objects on the pickup head together to conform to the dimensions of the box; (3) to guide the pickup head into the box; and (4) to serve as guards to prevent damage to the descending objects by the rim of the box. According to the present invention, the chute structure is arranged so that its elevated position may be suitably varied to maintain the necessary operative relationship between the chute structure and the box at the packing station to accommodate packing runs for boxes of different depths, whereby to provide relatively greater and lesser sized packs of the objects.

US Patent:

39309959, Jan 6, 1976

Filed:

Aug 19, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/498531

Inventors:

Paul F. Paddock - Riverside CA
Jerry W. Cramer - Upland CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B07B 1308

US Classification:

209 74

Abstract:

In a system for classifying objects, particularly fruits, which pass successively through an inspection station for evaluation according to respective grades and for generating evaluation signals corresponding to such grades. The inspected fruits are then delivered to a distribution apparatus by means of a sorting conveyor having a single row of traveling holders for the individual fruits. The sorting conveyor has a plurality of discharge stations corresponding to the different evaluation grades and, when a holder carrying a fruit reaches a discharge station that corresponds to the evaluation grade for that particular fruit, the generated evaluation signal for that particular fruit causes the holder to discharge the fruit.

US Patent:

47128186, Dec 15, 1987

Filed:

Jan 30, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/824245

Inventors:

Bradley N. Borgman - Riverside CA
Jerry W. Cramer - Upland CA
Don E. Dossey - Montclair CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B65B 3538

US Classification:

294 641

Abstract:

Apparatus for picking up and transferring layers of round food articles and the like including movable pickup heads mounted on a carriage, each pickup head comprising a vacuum manifold or plenum forming multiple openings on a lower surface and adapted for developing low vacuum, high flow rate conditions variant, a vacuum cup mounted in each of the openings and having a bellows-like construction for permitting expansion and contraction along its axis, a flexible base portion of the vacuum cup forming a seal surface for engagement with one of the round food articles, the vacuum cup also forming a relatively large orifice for permitting relatively unrestricted communication between the vacuum cup and the plenum upon engagement of the vacuum cup with a food article in order to very rapidly produce a vacuum within the cup for causing adherence of the food article. The vacuum cup is also particularly adapted for assuring that the food article is retained upon the vacuum cup until released. A quick connect-disconnect latch assembly is also provided for facilitating replacement of the pickup heads on the carriage.