Todd E Kepple

US Patent:

20070151828, Jul 5, 2007

Filed:

Jan 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/325909

Inventors:

Todd Kepple - Litchfield NH, US

International Classification:

B65G 17/24

US Classification:

198779000

Abstract:

Disclosed in this specification is a media transportation apparatus that is comprised a conveying and supporting sections. The conveying section is comprised of a motor and a first timing belt, wherein operation of the motor causes the first timing belt to travel in a first direction. The supporting section is comprised of rollers configured to roll in the same first direction. The first timing belt has a belt surface and the rollers have a rolling surface, such that the belt surface and the rolling surface are substantially coplanar with respect to one another. The apparatus receives media of any size from an imager that is operating at a first speed, transport the media with a transporter operating at a second speed, and deliver the media to a processor operating at a third speed. The first speed, second speed, and third speed, need not be the same speed.

US Patent:

20080150223, Jun 26, 2008

Filed:

Jan 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/009107

Inventors:

Todd Kepple - Litchfield NH, US
James A. Dougherty - Lowell MA, US

International Classification:

B65H 5/04
B65H 7/02

US Classification:

271259, 271 1016

Abstract:

A system for removing an interleaf sheet contacting a plate sheet used in an imaging system, comprised of a substantially horizontal member; an assembly comprising at least two elements configured to directly contact and pick up the interleaf sheet, a portion of said assembly connected to said member; a motor configured to move said member in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the interleaf sheet as positioned prior to contact; and a first sensor system that generates a signal indicating when said member is a first predetermined distance from the interleaf sheet; and a second sensor system comprised of a second sensor that generates a signal indicating that the sheet beneath the second sensor is an interleaf sheet; said motor utilizing the first predetermined distance to move said member a second predetermined distance from the interleaf sheet, the at least two elements not contacting each other at the second predetermined distance, said motor moving said member in a direction toward the first predetermined distance to a position where at least a portion of the interleaf sheet is interposed between the at least two elements.

US Patent:

20220402736, Dec 22, 2022

Filed:

May 25, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/664948

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Todd KEPPLE - Wilmington MA, US
Edward MACDONALD - Wilmington MA, US

International Classification:

B66F 9/075
B66F 9/06
B25J 19/00
B25J 5/00
B62D 21/11
B62D 21/18

Abstract:

An autonomous transport robot for transporting a payload is provided and includes a frame with an integral payload support, a transfer arm connected to the frame for autonomous transfer of payload to and from the frame, and a drive section with at least a pair of traction drive wheels astride the drive section, the drive section being connected to the frame. The at least the pair of traction drive wheels have a fully independent suspension coupling each traction drive wheel of the at least the pair of traction drive wheels to the frame, with at least one intervening pivot link between at least one traction drive wheel and the frame configured to maintain a substantially steady state traction contact patch between the at least one traction drive wheel and a rolling surface over rolling surface transients throughout traverse of the at least one traction drive wheel over the rolling surface.

US Patent:

20230073500, Mar 9, 2023

Filed:

Nov 15, 2022

Appl. No.:

18/055593

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Gregory THRONSON - Wilmington MA, US
Christopher KILEY - Wilmington MA, US
Todd E. KEPPLE - Litchfield NH, US
Jared PLOSS - Wilmington MA, US

International Classification:

B65G 57/24
B65G 59/02
B65G 57/03

Abstract:

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.

US Patent:

20230075455, Mar 9, 2023

Filed:

May 24, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/664843

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Todd KEPPLE - Wilmington MA, US

International Classification:

B65G 1/04
B65G 1/137
G05D 1/00

Abstract:

An autonomous transport robot vehicle for transporting a payload, includes a chassis that is a space frame formed of longitudinal hollow section beams, arrayed to form longitudinally extended sides of the space frame, and respective front and rear lateral beams closing opposite ends of the space frame. A payload support is connected to the chassis. Ride wheels depend from the chassis. The ride wheels and chassis in combination form a low profile height from the traverse surface to atop the chassis, where chassis height and ride wheel height are overlapped at least in part and the payload support is nested within the ride wheels. The space frame has predetermined modular coupling interfaces, each disposed for removably coupling, as a module unit, a corresponding predetermined electronic or mechanical component module of the autonomous transport robot vehicle to the chassis.

US Patent:

20230069056, Mar 2, 2023

Filed:

May 25, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/664944

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Todd KEPPLE - Wilmington MA, US

International Classification:

B66F 9/06
B66F 9/18

Abstract:

An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a transport payload area of the vehicle. The payload area includes a payload contact support surface that defines a payload support plane that supports the payload. The payload area further includes an articulated underpick end effector that engages and underpicks the payload with respect to the support plane, and extends and retracts with respect to the payload area effecting payload transfer. Payload registration facets are mounted to the frame to engage the payload. The registration facets are disposed to provide, upon engagement with the payload, at least two degrees of registration capturing and securing the payload in a predetermined position in the payload area, and are configured to effect payload engagement with the at least two degrees of registration registering the payload substantially coincident with seating of the payload on the payload support plane of the payload area.

US Patent:

20210261360, Aug 26, 2021

Filed:

May 13, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/319779

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Gregory THRONSON - Wilmington MA, US
Christopher KILEY - Wilmington MA, US
Todd E. KEPPLE - Litchfield NH, US
Jared PLOSS - Wilmington MA, US

International Classification:

B65G 57/24
B65G 59/02
B65G 57/03

Abstract:

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a storage array of storage locations for case units. An in-out case conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting case units to and from the storage array, and an in-out loaded pallet conveyor is capable of bi-directionally transporting loaded pallets towards and away from the storage array. A palletizer-depalletizer cell includes a bi-directional pallet transport system with more than one independently driven pallet transports, each with a different pallet holder independently movable relative to a cell frame. Placement of case units commissioning a pallet layer loading a pallet, and removal of case units decommissioning a pallet layer unloading another pallet are both effected at the common pallet layer interface at a predetermined level of the cell frame. The pallet transports independently index a first and a second of the different pallet holders, each independently holding the pallet loading at the common pallet layer interface.

US Patent:

20210039897, Feb 11, 2021

Filed:

Sep 22, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/028639

Inventors:

- Wilmington MA, US
Todd E. Kepple - Litchfield NH, US
Scott Collins - Westford MA, US
Jason S. Sirois Sirois - Atkinson NH, US

International Classification:

B65G 67/02
B65G 1/04
B65G 1/137

Abstract:

An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence.