Stephen S Chang

US Patent:

6478134, Nov 12, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/815319

Inventors:

Chad E. Law - Huron OH
Patrick J. Weber - Strongsville OH
Stanley W. Stedman - North Ridgeville OH
Stephen T. Chang - Richmond Heights OH

Assignee:

Eveready Battery Company, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B65G 1526

US Classification:

1983391, 198440, 198575, 198576, 198577, 198578, 198579, 198594, 198794

Abstract:

A high speed manufacturing system for processing articles of manufacture requiring processes to be performed on the articles at a pre-selected processing rate includes a trunk for simultaneously conveying a plurality of the articles of manufacture at the pre-selected processing rate in a first mode of motion from the beginning of the manufacturing system to the end of the system. At least one branch processing station is positioned intermediate the beginning and the end of the trunk wherein the branch processing station during its operation performs at least one process on articles of manufacture conveyed on the branch processing station and where the articles are conveyed in a second mode of motion. At least one transfer device is positioned intermediate the trunk and the branch processing station to continuously extract articles of manufacture from the trunk and transition the movement of the extracted articles of manufacture from the first mode of motion to the second mode of motion for transfer to the branch processing station. The transfer device also extracts each of the processed articles of manufacture from the branch processing station and transitions the movement of the articles from the second mode of motion to the first mode of motion for transfer to the trunk.

US Patent:

6681915, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Sep 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/253052

Inventors:

Chad E. Law - Huron OH
Patrick J. Weber - Strongsville OH
Stanley W. Stedman - North Ridgeville OH
Stephen T. Chang - Richmond Heights OH

Assignee:

Eveready Battery Company, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B65G 1526

US Classification:

1983391, 198440, 198575, 198576, 198577, 198578, 198579, 198594, 198794

Abstract:

A high speed manufacturing system for processing articles of manufacture requiring processes to be performed on the articles at a pre-selected processing rate includes a trunk for simultaneously conveying a plurality of the articles of manufacture at the pre-selected processing rate in a first mode of motion from the beginning of the manufacturing system to the end of the system. At least one branch processing station is positioned intermediate the beginning and the end of the trunk wherein the branch processing station during its operation performs at least one process on articles of manufacture conveyed on the branch processing station and where the articles are conveyed in a second mode of motion. At least one transfer device is positioned intermediate the trunk and the branch processing station to continuously extract articles of manufacture from the trunk and transition the movement of the extracted articles of manufacture from the first mode of motion to the second mode of motion for transfer to the branch processing station. The transfer device also extracts each of the processed articles of manufacture from the branch processing station and transitions the movement of the articles from the second mode of motion to the first mode of motion for transfer to the trunk.

US Patent:

63251981, Dec 4, 2001

Filed:

May 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/317577

Inventors:

Chad E. Law - Huron OH
Patrick J. Weber - Strongsville OH
Stanley W. Stedman - North Ridgeville OH
Stephen T. Chang - Richmond Heights OH

Assignee:

Eveready Battery Company, Inc. - St. Louis MO

International Classification:

B65G 1526
B65G 1712

US Classification:

1983391

Abstract:

A high speed manufacturing system for processing articles of manufacture requiring processes to be performed on the articles at a pre-selected processing rate includes a trunk for simultaneously conveying a plurality of the articles of manufacture at the pre-selected processing rate in a first mode of motion from the beginning of the manufacturing system to the end of the system. At least one branch processing station is positioned intermediate the beginning and the end of the trunk wherein the branch processing station during its operation performs at least one process on articles of manufacture conveyed on the branch processing station and where the articles are conveyed in a second mode of motion. At least one transfer device is positioned intermediate the trunk and the branch processing station to continuously extract articles of manufacture from the trunk and transition the movement of the extracted articles of manufacture from the first mode of motion to the second mode of motion for transfer to the branch processing station. The transfer device also extracts each of the processed articles of manufacture from the branch processing station and transitions the movement of the articles from the second mode of motion to the first mode of motion for transfer to the trunk.