DAVID A JOHNSON
Physical Therapy at Tyler, Corvallis, OR

5454687, Oct 3, 1995

Jun 17, 1992

7/900529

Peter E. Johnson - Corvallis OR
David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR

B65G 5706

4147907

An apparatus for sorting and stacking thin rigid plates, such as used in storage batteries, receives the plates horizontally in spaced-apart groups, transports the groups horizontally and deposits them into stacks on a stacking apparatus that orients them vertically and delivers them for further processing. The groups of plates are carried on a conveyor system having chains that are spaced further apart than the width of the plates. Opposed pads extending inwardly from the chains engage the edges of the plates. Each pad has a length approximately equal to the height of the plates and is separated from each adjacent pad by a distance that is greater than the height of the plates. Stops located between the chains contact the groups of plates and prevent their continued movement with the chains thus causing them to drop between adjacent pads and off of the conveyor. In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a collection system that causes every group of plates in a stack to drop the same distance. Also, in a preferred embodiment, at least some groups of plates in each stack are displaced onto a transfer conveyor, that operates at a lower speed than the main conveyor, before they reach the stacking apparatus.

6062807, May 16, 2000

Apr 8, 1998

9/055851

Peter E. Johnson - Corvallis OR
David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR

Tekmax, Inc. - Tangent OR

B65G 5904

4147958

A plate feed apparatus has a cylindrical pick-up head having a predetermined number of pick-up units. The pick-up head rotates with a first shaft at a first rotational speed. A feed mechanism places the uppermost plate in a stack of plates a nominal distance from the periphery of the pick-up head when a plate is removed from the stack. A vacuum is selectively drawn through each pick-up unit to pull the outermost plate into contact with the pick-up unit. A second shaft has a cylindrical bore which rotatably journals the first shaft and is offset from the centerline of the second shaft. The second shaft is rotated counter to the first shaft at a speed which is a multiple of the speed of the first shaft equal to the number of pick-up units. This causes the speed of the pick-up unit to be slower and its distance from the uppermost plate in the stack less each time a pick-up unit picks up a plate. The number of pick-up units and the diameter of the pick-up head are established relative to the size of the plates such that plates overlap one another on the pick-up head.

5129643, Jul 14, 1992

Dec 17, 1990

7/628469

Peter E. Johnson - Corvallis OR
David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR

Neids, Inc. - Tangent OR

B65H 2966, B65H 3306, B65G 4729

271216

Battery plates from the high speed output conveyor of a pasted plate making machine are deposited onto a lower speed first conveyor in an overlapped fashion to create a shingled stream of plates. As plates drop off of the discharge end of the first conveyor they are accumulated in vertical stacks on a second conveyor that is located below the first conveyor. Whenever a stack is completed the second conveyor is moved approximately one plate width to remove the stack and the process continues. In order to provide time to move the stack, the flow of plates on the first conveyor is disrupted when the stack is being moved. In the preferred embodiment the disruption is caused by squeezing the plates between the jaws of a clamping mechanism that the plates pass through. A counter is used to count the number of plates in a stack and a controller causes the clamping mechanism to be engaged at the proper time, causes the second conveyor to remove the just-formed stack and then causes the second conveyor to stop and the clamping mechanism to be reopened so that a second stack can be formed. A gate extends across the second conveyor when the stack is being formed to ensure that the stack is straight.

6030171, Feb 29, 2000

Jan 8, 1999

9/227454

Peter E. Johnson - Corvallis OR
David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR

Tekmax, Inc. - Tangent OR

B65G 59000

414797

A plate feed apparatus has a cylindrical pick-up head having a predetermined number of pick-up units spaced about its periphery. The pick-up head is attached to and rotates with a first shaft at a first rotational speed. A feed mechanism places the uppermost plate in a stack of plates a nominal distance from the periphery of the pick-up head each time a plate is removed from the stack. A vacuum device is selectively coupled to each pick-up unit as it passes over the stack to pull the outermost plate away from the stack and into contact with the pick-up unit. A second shaft has a cylindrical bore which rotatably journals the first shaft and is offset from the centerline of the second shaft. The second shaft is rotated counter to the first shaft at a speed which is a multiple of the speed of the first shaft equal to the number of pick-up units. This causes the speed of the pick-up unit to be slower and its distance from the uppermost plate in the stack less each time a pick-up unit picks up a plate.

4822234, Apr 18, 1989

Nov 16, 1987

7/121422

Peter E. Johnson - Corvallis OR
David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR
George W. Kahl - Albany OR

Tekmax Inc. - Tangent OR

B65H 308

4147989

The present invention comprises a rotary carrier which carries a plurality of semi-spherical gripping heads having concave gripping surfaces. The gripping heads are positioned such that the gripping surfaces become flush with the forwardmost plate in a vertically arrayed stack of plates as the carrier rotates. Each gripping head is mounted to the carrier through a hollow bellows and vacuum air drawn into a hole in the gripping face passes through the bellows. When the vacuum increases, due to the forwardmost plate in the stack being pulled up against the gripping head, the bellows collapses and pulls the forwardmost plate away from the stack. Rollers, which extend beyond the periphery of the carrier, urge the stack away from the gripping head immediately before they become aligned. The vacuum then pulls the forwardmost plate away from the stack and into contact with the gripping head before the bellows collapses thereby increasing the gap between them. Vacuum is provided to the gripping head through a passageway which opens out of an opening in the carrier.

7077876, Jul 18, 2006

Nov 24, 2003

10/723597

David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR, US
Peter E. Johnson - Corvallis OR, US

MiTek Holdings, Inc. - Chesterfield MO

H01M 6/00

296233, 29509, 29730, 29763, 29450, 136251

A method for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes bending a thin strip of bendable plastic material into an open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then cut into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to the edge of the battery plate which is to be covered. The edge piece is supported with this open top oriented towards a battery plate that is transported toward it in a manner such that the battery plate edge will be inserted into it. Once the edge of the battery plate has been inserted into the edge piece the edge piece is released so that the battery plate can be carried out of the apparatus. An apparatus for accomplishing this includes a feed mechanism which transports the strip of bendable plastic material. A bending mechanism forms this strip into the open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then fully inserted into an assembly station where a first sensor stops the feed mechanism and a cutter cuts the channel into the proper-sized edge piece.

5102287, Apr 7, 1992

Sep 6, 1990

7/579859

David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR
Thomas J. Hammer - Corvallis OR

Tekmax Inc. - Tangent OR

C25D 1700

414618

A plate handling apparatus grips a group of vertically oriented stacks of plates that are being transported serially, lifts them out of the pockets they are being transported in, reduces the separation between them, moves them to a remote location and deposits them for further processing. In addition, the apparatus picks up the stacks in two groups that are 180. degree. opposed from one another with the stacks in one group being interposed with the stacks in the other group. The stacks of plates are engaged by gripping heads that employ paired cam elements carrying gripping fingers. The cam elements have two separate cam faces that permits them to be positively opened and closed by linear movement of a cam follower that fits between the cam elements and engages the cam faces. The set of cam faces used to open the fingers has a steeper ramp angle than the set used to close the fingers. Accordingly, the fingers are opened quicker than they are closed and a greater pressure is exerted upon closing.

6971838, Dec 6, 2005

Oct 28, 2002

10/282993

David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR, US
Tobin Knighton - Albany OR, US

Mitek Holdings, Inc. - Chesterfield MO

B65G003/00

4147967, 414736, 414737, 414797

A feeder for porous battery plates has a vacuum-operated pickup head that is positioned above the plates. The pickup head pulls the top plate off of the stack of plates and moves it to an outfeed device. The opening in the pickup head has an area that is at least 50% of the surface area of the plate. The air flow through the opening in the pickup head is at least 200 CFM and the vacuum at the pickup head is less than 7 inches of water.

4824307, Apr 25, 1989

Feb 11, 1988

7/154757

Peter E. Johnson - Corvallis OR
David A. Johnson - Corvallis OR

Tekmax Inc. - Tangent OR

B65H 3138

447982

A method and apparatus for automated handling of battery plate stacks is disclosed. The apparatus includes an endless drive unit having a plurality of upstanding pockets which open to receive the plates and to assemble a predetermined number of them side by side in a vertically arranged stack. The drive unit includes a single revolution clutch which permits the drive unit to move a predetermined amount and then stop each time it is signaled by a controller that the proper number of plates has been inserted into a particular pocket. Thus, movement of the drive unit is interrupted while the plates are being inserted into the pockets and commences again when the pockets are loaded. The stacks of plates then are blocked and centered as they move through the apparatus in their pockets.

2006003, Feb 16, 2006

Oct 21, 2005

11/255327

David Johnson - Corvallis OR, US
Tobin Knighton - Albany OR, US

MITEK HOLDINGS, INC. - Wilmington DE

B66C 3/00

414796700, 414736000, 414737000, 414797000

A pickup mechanism for removing porous battery plates from a stack of battery plates includes a pickup head for removing a top plate from the stack of battery plates. An opening in the pickup head has an area that is at least 50% of the surface area of the plate. The air flow through the opening in the pickup head is at least 200 CFM and the vacuum at the pickup head is less than 7 inches of water.