Randall B Carlson

US Patent:

7613542, Nov 3, 2009

Filed:

Mar 17, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/308351

Inventors:

Clyde Miin-Arng Ko - Ada MI, US
Randall J. Carlson - Grand Rapids MI, US
Roger L. Sinen - Grand Rapids MI, US

Assignee:

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 19/00
B65G 43/08

US Classification:

700230, 198572, 700112

Abstract:

A material handling system and method of automatic address assignment of components of the material handling system, includes a conveying surface divided into a plurality of zones, a plurality of motors propelling each zone, a plurality of lower level controllers and a plurality of sensors adapted to communicate the presence of an article on the conveying surface to the associated lower level controller. An upper-level controller in communication with the lower level controllers assigns a unique communications address to a specific lower level controller identified by a reference article being detected by the sensor with that lower level controller.

US Patent:

8364307, Jan 29, 2013

Filed:

Jan 6, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/683128

Inventors:

Randall J. Carlson - Grand Rapids MI, US
Kevin M. Schestag - Grand Rapids MI, US
Daniel O. Amarandei - Kentwood MI, US
Wynn M. Pelak - Rockford MI, US
Randall D. Houtman - Caledonia MI, US
Matthew T. Brayman - Grand Rapids MI, US

Assignee:

Dematic Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

B65G 47/46

US Classification:

700230, 198788, 19837009, 1983701, 1984601, 19878105

Abstract:

A conveying system may include a frame that supports a plurality of rollers which carry articles thereon. At least one of the rollers may be a motorized roller with first and second motors adapted to rotate an outer cylindrical shell of the motorized roller. A controller external to the motorized roller may send speed control commands to the motorized roller to control both the first and second motors in a manner that increases torque of the motorized roller. The motors may be controlled in four quadrant mode, or two quadrant mode, or a combination thereof. The motorized roller may be used in a right angle transfer mechanism, or in other components of a conveying system.

US Patent:

7360638, Apr 22, 2008

Filed:

Aug 4, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/196884

Inventors:

Clyde Miin-Arng Ko - Ada MI, US
Randall J Carlson - Grand Rapids MI, US
Roger L Sinen - Grand Rapids MI, US
Thomas H Triesenberg - Rockford MI, US
Donald E Lemke - Sparta MI, US

Assignee:

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. - Alpharetta GA

International Classification:

B65G 43/10
B65G 13/06
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

198575, 19878103, 700230

Abstract:

A material handling system, and method of controlling the material handling system, includes a conveying surface with a plurality of individually controlled zones and a plurality of motors. At least one of the motors propelling the conveying surface at each zone. A plurality of motor controller circuits adapted to control the plurality of motors. An upper-level control circuit in communication with the plurality of motor controller circuits and adapted to send communications to the motor controller circuits for controlling at least one motor. An integrated control card defining the upper-level control circuit and the plurality of motor controller circuits, wherein the upper-level control circuit and the plurality of motor controller circuits are integrated onto the integrated control card.

US Patent:

20090027043, Jan 29, 2009

Filed:

Jul 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/172663

Inventors:

Wynn M. Pelak - Rockford MI, US
Randall J. Carlson - Grand Rapids MI, US
Daniel O. Amarandei - Kentwood MI, US

Assignee:

Dematic Corp. - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

G01B 7/30

US Classification:

3242072

Abstract:

An encoder is provided for a conveyor having a belt, a plurality of rollers supporting the belt and a motor for driving one of the rollers. The encoder includes a hall effect cartridge having at least one hall effect sensor. The hall effect cartridge is adapted to be mounted inside of one of the rollers supporting the conveyor. The encoder also includes a magnetic ring adapted to be mounted inside the roller and rotate with the roller, wherein the ball effect sensor monitors the rotation of the magnetic ring and generates a signal in the form of pulse data based on the rotation of the roller.

US Patent:

20230056919, Feb 23, 2023

Filed:

Aug 17, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/889942

Inventors:

- Grand Rapids MI, US
Randall J. Carlson - Grand Rapids MI, US
Tyler Forbush - Byron Center MI, US
Collin R. Halamka - Jenison MI, US
Andrew J. Kane - Grand Rapids MI, US

International Classification:

G06Q 10/08

Abstract:

A time tracking and indicator system and method are provided for tracking and indicating initialization-to-completion times for order fulfilment operations, such as order packaging and shipping operations. The system includes a put-wall with multiple order storage locations and indicators at each of the storage locations. The indicators are independently addressable by a computer and may include color changeable lights and/or alphanumeric displays. The method and system provide visual prompts to an operator of the put-wall to indicate multiple statuses for an order at a particular storage location. Prompts include indications that (i) an order is ready to be attended to, (ii) an operation time limit has been exceeded, and (iii) that an operation for that location is exceedingly overdue. Time limits and prompts may be preset by a user or may be automatically set and adjusted by the computer based on historic operation completion times.

US Patent:

20200384507, Dec 10, 2020

Filed:

Aug 26, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/003168

Inventors:

- Grand Rapids MI, US
Randall J. Carlson - Grand Rapids MI, US
James R. VanOeffelen - Holland MI, US
Martin J. Stanish - Grand Rapids MI, US

International Classification:

B07C 5/36
B65G 47/84
B65G 43/00

Abstract:

A method of sorting articles with a sorter apparatus and a sorter apparatus having a conveying surface that is adapted to transport articles in a direction of conveyance and a mechanism adapted to displace articles on the conveying surface, the sorter apparatus having an endless web of bodies travelling in an endless loop defining the conveying surface includes a distributed drive system having at least one drive that is adapted to produce to provide force with at least one of the bodies to propel the endless web. A diagnostic device traveling with the web and positioned at one of the bodies of the endless web. The diagnostic device is adapted to monitor operation of the sorter apparatus and includes at least one sensor that is adapted to detect at least one parameter of a proximate drive that is proximate to the at least one sensor, and a controller adapted to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor. A stationary thermal sensor may also monitor the endless loop via another controller including receiving thermal data from the stationary thermal sensor and the another controller correlates the thermal images with a portion of the endless loop.

US Patent:

20190178441, Jun 13, 2019

Filed:

Sep 27, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/144022

Inventors:

- Grand Rapids MI, US
Chad Brott - Howard City MI, US
Samuel A. Sheffer - Rockford MI, US
Randall J. Carlson - Grand Rapids MI, US

International Classification:

F16M 13/02
B65G 43/00
B65G 41/00

Abstract:

A conveyor system, control assembly used with the conveyor system, and method of assembling a control assembly to a member made of ferromagnetic material. The control assembly has a control housing that houses at least one control component that is adapted to perform a control function. A support mechanism supports the control housing with the member. The support mechanism includes at least one permanent magnet mounted at a surface of the control housing that is adapted to attract the housing to the ferromagnetic material and a positioning feature. The positioning feature resists movement of the housing with respect to the member. The positioning feature may be adapted to resist movement of said housing with respect to the member in at least one degrees of freedom and perhaps in at least two degrees of freedom.

US Patent:

20180037420, Feb 8, 2018

Filed:

Jul 28, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/663028

Inventors:

- Grand Rapids MI, US
Martin J. Stanish - Grand Rapids MI, US
Thomas H. Triesenberg - Rockford MI, US
Randall J. Carlson - Grand Rapids MI, US

International Classification:

B65G 47/84
B65G 19/02

Abstract:

A plurality of diverters each selectively divert at least one article moving member having a diverting member from a non-diverting path extending longitudinally along said sorter to a diverting rails in a diverting state. At least one of the diverters has a gate having a diverting surface. The gate is selectively rotatable between the diverting state and a non-diverting state about a generally horizontal axis. An actuator moves the gate between the non-diverting state and the diverting state. The actuator is an electrically operated rotary actuator that is rotatable about another generally horizontal axis of rotation.