Juan J Roman

US Patent:

20200010294, Jan 9, 2020

Filed:

Sep 17, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/573887

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Riley H. Mayhall - Germantown MD, US
Jacob L. Timm - Pasadena CA, US
Reza Badri - Towson MD, US
Thomas A. Hillerich - Louisville KY, US

International Classification:

B65H 3/12
B65H 1/02
B65H 9/16
B65H 3/66
B65H 7/16

Abstract:

A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20190367293, Dec 5, 2019

Filed:

Aug 15, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/542172

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Riley H. Mayhall - Germantown MD, US
Jacob L. Timm - Pasadena MD, US
Matthew G. Good - Eldersburg MD, US
William P. McConnell - Woodstock MD, US
Robert L. Schlender - Columbia MD, US
Christopher D. Austin - Parkville MD, US

International Classification:

B65G 47/74
B65H 5/24
B65H 3/46
B65H 5/22
B65H 7/12
B65H 3/12
B65G 47/06
B65G 47/28
B65G 47/46
B65G 59/04

Abstract:

Embodiments of a system and method for shingulating, singulating, and synchronizing articles in an article feeder system are disclosed. The article feeder system may include a shingulating device configured to receive a stack of articles and to produce a positively lapped stack of articles, a plurality of picking devices configured to pick one or more articles from the positively lapped stack of articles and to produce one or more singulated articles, and one or more synchronization devices configured to deliver the one or more singulated articles to one or more sorter windows.

US Patent:

20180312356, Nov 1, 2018

Filed:

Jul 3, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/026652

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
William P. McConnell - Woodstock MD, US
Matthew G. Good - Marriottsville MD, US
Robert E. Hume - Granite MD, US
Long K. Ha - Frederick MD, US

International Classification:

B65H 7/06
B65H 1/02
B65H 3/12

Abstract:

Embodiments of a system and method for singulating articles in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a pressure sensor on a perforated drive belt assembly configured to sense the pressure exerted by a stack of articles. The sensed pressure may be used to control various portions of the automatic stack feeder, such as a belt or a paddle.

US Patent:

20180265308, Sep 20, 2018

Filed:

May 24, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/989039

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Riley H. Mayhall - Germantown MD, US
Jacob L. Timm - Pasadena MD, US
Matthew G. Good - Eldersburg MD, US
William P. McConnell - Woodstock MD, US
Robert L. Schlender - Columbia MD, US
Christopher D. Austin - Parkville MD, US

International Classification:

B65G 47/74
B65H 5/24
B65H 5/22
B65G 59/04
B65G 47/46
B65G 47/28
B65G 47/06
B65H 3/12
B65H 3/46

Abstract:

Embodiments of a system and method for shingulating, singulating, and synchronizing articles in an article feeder system are disclosed. The article feeder system may include a shingulating device configured to receive a stack of articles and to produce a positively lapped stack of articles, a plurality of picking devices configured to pick one or more articles from the positively lapped stack of articles and to produce one or more singulated articles, and one or more synchronization devices configured to deliver the one or more singulated articles to one or more sorter windows.

US Patent:

20170348733, Dec 7, 2017

Filed:

Aug 25, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/687269

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Riley H. Mayhall - Germantown MD, US
William P. McConnell - Woodstock MD, US
Matthew G. Good - Eldersburg MD, US
Robert E. Hume - Woodstock MD, US
Darin Dickey - Owings Mills MD, US

International Classification:

B07C 1/04
B07C 1/02
B65H 1/30
B65H 1/26
B07C 1/00
B65H 3/00
B65H 1/02

Abstract:

Embodiments of a system and method for unloading articles from a container of items for use in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a belt, a moveable lower paddle, and a moveable upper paddle, wherein the lower paddle is configured to partially extend through a belt of the automatic stack feeder. The movement of the belt, the lower paddle, and the upper paddle are coordinated such that there is no need to interrupt the operation of the automatic stack feeder to unload the container.

US Patent:

20170327332, Nov 16, 2017

Filed:

Aug 3, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/668238

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Bristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
Riley H. Mayhall - Germantown MD, US
Jacob L. Timm - Pasadena MD, US
Reza Badri - Towson MD, US
Thomas A. Hillerich - Louisville KY, US

International Classification:

B65H 7/16
B65H 1/02
B65H 9/16
B65H 3/66
B65H 3/12

Abstract:

A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20160297632, Oct 13, 2016

Filed:

Jun 22, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/189918

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
William P. McConnell - Woodstock MD, US
Robert E. Hume - Woodstock MD, US
Thomas A. Hillerich - Louisville KY, US
Darin Dickey - Owings Mills MD, US

International Classification:

B65H 1/30
B65H 1/02
B65H 1/26
B07C 1/02

Abstract:

An automatic stack feeder having a moveable stack or product guide is disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may be configured to receive a stack of articles and a container enclosing a stack of articles. To ensure the stack of articles is properly supported following unloading from the container, the stack guide is moveable between a first and a second position, wherein the stack guide is in contact with the stack of articles while in the first position, and not in contact with the stack when in the second position.

US Patent:

20160251184, Sep 1, 2016

Filed:

May 13, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/154603

Inventors:

- Washington DC, US
Edward F. Houston - Baristow VA, US
Juan A. Roman - Fairfax VA, US
Leung M. Shiu - Gaithersburg MD, US
William P. McConnell - Woodstock MD, US
Matthew G. Good - Marriottsville MD, US
Robert E. Hume - Granite MD, US
Long K. Ha - Frederick MD, US

International Classification:

B65H 7/06
B65H 3/12
B65H 1/02

Abstract:

Embodiments of a system and method for singulating articles in an automatic stack feeder are disclosed. The automatic stack feeder may comprise a pressure sensor on a perforated drive belt assembly configured to sense the pressure exerted by a stack of articles. The sensed pressure may be used to control various portions of the automatic stack feeder, such as a belt or a paddle.