Ronald H. Burch
Engineering at Doescher Dr, New Orleans, LA

5372540, Dec 13, 1994

Jul 13, 1993

8/090815

Ronald H. Burch - Harahan LA
Mark E. Sutton - Kenner LA
Soumitra Sengupta - New Orleans LA
Warren E. Cancienne - River Ridge LA
Bernard Bretagnolle - Grenoble, FR
James D. Arthur - Costa Mesa, CA

The Laitram Corporation - Harahan LA

A22C 1702

452156

A computer-controlled robot cutting system for making angled or beveled cuts along a preselected path in a workpiece having a generally planar cutting surface. A cutting knife, such as a high-intensity fluid jet, is pivotably mounted in a support frame having two pairs of arcuate guides disposed at right angles to each other for motor-driven rotation of the cutting knife about orthogonal axes. The centers of curvature of both guides lie on a critical plane containing a pivot point about which the cutting knife pivots. An opposing workpiece gantry with horizontal and vertical slides for motor-driven translation of the workpiece along two axes also includes means for holding the workpiece such that its surface to be cut faces the cutting knife and lies in the critical plane. The workpiece is thus translated to define the cutting path on the obverse surface, while the cutting knife is pivoted to define the entry angle of the cut along the cutting path. Four motion controllers under computer control coordinate the motors driving each axis of rotation or translation.

7007792, Mar 7, 2006

Mar 8, 2005

10/906832

Ronald H. Burch - Harahan LA, US

Laitram, L.L.C. - Harahan LA

B65G 47/26

19845702, 198779, 19837003

A conveyor system including a pair of roller-top belts arranged side by side, each individually controllable to cause articles conveyed atop both to rotate into preferred orientations. The roller-top belts include rollers that rotate about axes oblique to the direction of belt travel. The rollers on each belt direct conveyed articles toward the other belt as the belts advance in the direction of belt travel and the rollers contact an underlying bearing surface in rolling contact. The rotation of the rollers exerts a force on articles conveyed atop the rollers. The force has a component directed toward the other belt and another component directed downstream. A sensor array senses the footprint of an article at an upstream location and sends signals to a controller that determines the size and orientation of the article to selectively stop one or the other roller-top belt if necessary to rotate the article to change its orientation.

4748724, Jun 7, 1988

May 12, 1987

7/049730

James M. Lapeyre - New Orleans LA
John P. Farrell - Metairie LA
Ronald H. Burch - Harahan LA
Mark E. Sutton - Kenner LA
Joseph F. Scamardo - Metairie LA

The Laitram Corporation - Harahan LA

A22C 2506, A22C 2514

17 54

A processing apparatus for use in the processing of transverse fish body sections includes a support frame and a video camera for providing a video image of a transverse fish body section to be processed when aimed at the fish body section along a preselected line of sight. A fish section support is provided for supporting the transverse fish section substantially over its area. The support can be invisible on the video photo image and preferably includes a plurality of spaced apart beams which are of a small dimensional width so that they do not appear on the video photo image that contains the fish body sections. A fluid jetting knife is movable with respect to the transverse fish body section for cutting the section with a pressurized fluid stream and positioned to traverse both the fish section and the support means during the cutting operation.

5749777, May 12, 1998

Jun 1, 1995

8/457820

Ronald H. Burch - Harahan LA
Warren E. Cancienne - River Ridge LA
Somsak S. Rodboon - Kenner LA
Eric W. Morales - New Orleans LA

The Laitram Corporation - Harahan LA

A22C 2518

452149

Apparatus and method for automatically subdividing carcasses, especially fish bodies, into individual slab sections. A preferred embodiment of the cutting apparatus includes a feed mechanism and a cutting mechanism coordinated by computer. The feed mechanism comprises a motor-driven carriage that rides upon rails. Between the rails is a feed track formed by parallel guides having angled facing surfaces defining a channel to accommodate a fish body aligned along the channel. A retainer on the carriage secures the head end of the fish body so that it can be advanced along the channel by the carriage without a change in orientation. The cutting mechanism includes a reciprocating blade that is advanced in a direction to define a cutting plane intersecting the path the fish body takes as it is transported by the carriage beyond the end of the feed track. Holding blocks at the end of the feed track clamp the fish body securely in position for cutting. The blade slices through the stationary fish body to sever a slab section from one end with minimal kerf loss and shredding.

4847954, Jul 18, 1989

Jun 3, 1988

7/202696

James M. Lapeyre - New Orleans LA
John P. Farrell - Metairie LA
Ronald H. Burch - Harahan LA
Mark E. Sutton - Kenner LA
Joseph F. Scamardo - Metairie LA

The Laitram Corporation - Harahan LA

A22C 2506, A22C 2514

17 54

A processing apparatus for use in the processing of transverse fish body sections includes a support frame and a video camera for providing a video image of a transverse fish body section to be processed when aimed at the fish body section along a preselected line of sight. A fish section support is provided for supporting the transverse fish section substantially over its area. The support can be invisible on the video photo image and preferably includes a plurality of spaced apart beams which are of a small dimensional width so that they do not appear on the video photo image that contains the fish body sections. A fluid jetting knife is movable with respect to the transverse fish body section for cutting the section with a pressurized fluid stream and positioned to traverse both the fish section and the support means during the cutting operation.

RE33917, May 5, 1992

Jun 12, 1991

7/714209

James M. Lapeyre - late of New Orleans LA
John P. Farrell - South Jordan UT
Ronald H. Burch - Harahan LA
Mark E. Sutton - Kenner LA
Joseph F. Scamardo - Metairie LA

The Laitram Corporation - Harahan LA

A22C 2506, A22C 2514

452158

A processing apparatus for use in the processing of transverse fish body sections includes a support frame and a video camera for providing a video image of a transverse fish body section to be processed when aimed at the fish body section along a preselected line of sight. A fish section support is provided for supporting the transverse fish section substantially over its area. The support can be invisible on the video photo image and preferably includes a plurality of spaced apart beams which are of a small dimensional width so that they do not appear on the video photo image that contains the fish body sections. A fluid jetting knife is movable with respect to the transverse fish body section for cutting the section with a pressurized fluid stream and positioned to traverse both the fish section and the support means during the cutting operation.

7111722, Sep 26, 2006

Aug 13, 2004

10/710949

Ronald H. Burch - Harahan LA, US

Laitram, L.L.C. - Harahan LA

B65G 47/24

198411, 198416, 198779

A conveyor and a method for rotating and registering an article against a rail. The conveyor includes an angled-roller conveyor belt whose article-supporting rollers are arranged to rotate about axes directing conveyed articles toward a side rail. An obstruction is selectively activated to move into a position just above a top article-conveying surface of the belt. In that position, the obstruction intercepts conveyed articles. The obstruction forms a pivot about which the articles rotate as the belt advances and the angled rollers rotate. An electric eye or other sensor sensitive to oversized or misoriented articles controls the positioning of the obstruction to rotate misoriented articles 90° or to let correctly oriented articles pass without contact and reorientation.

5367929, Nov 29, 1994

Jul 13, 1993

8/090790

Ronald H. Burch - Harahan LA
Mark E. Sutton - Kenner LA
Frank B. Henry - River Ridge LA
Warren E. Cancienne - River Ridge LA

The Laitram Corporation - Harahan LA

B26F 300

83177

A fluid cutting system of improved configuration provides a high-velocity fluid that is rotated about a first axis (preferably a horizontal axis) on a moving trolley. The trolley is rotationally supported about a second axis (preferably vertical). The trolley travels upon a pair of arc-shaped tracks and is driven by a motor drive. The trolley has a pair of arc-shaped tracks that support the fluid jet nozzle. The fluid nozzle is thus rotatable about two axes, thereby emitting a high-pressure stream of fluid for adjustable cutting. A workpiece positioning frame has a fish section holder that can be elevated or moved laterally with respect to the cutting system.

5352153, Oct 4, 1994

Jul 13, 1993

8/090819

Ronald H. Burch - River Ridge LA
Mark E. Sutton - Kenner LA
Bernard Bretagnolle - Grenoble, FR
Somsak S. Rodboon - Kenner LA
Warren E. Cancienne - River Ridge LA
Soumitra Sengupta - New Orleans LA

The Laitram Corporation - Harahan LA

A22C 2518

452157

An imaging system includes a method and apparatus for use in processing fish body sections that have been transversely cut. The system uses a frame with a pair of shrouds, each having an interior space that contains an illumination system for illuminating the fish section. A pair of video cameras housed respectively within the shrouds scan opposed flat sides of the fish section to produce images of the respective sides. Screens move behind the fish section in sequential fashion as each camera scans the fish section.