US 12,421,670 B2
Tie plate centering and inserting machine
Christopher Brenny, Burlington, WI (US); and Mark Osmak, St. Francis, WI (US)
Assigned to Racine Railroad Products, Inc., Mt. Pleasant, WI (US)
Filed by Racine Railroad Products, Inc., Mount Pleasant, WI (US)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/646,251.
Application 18/646,251 is a continuation of application No. 17/061,685, filed on Oct. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,987,936.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/909,492, filed on Oct. 2, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0295082 A1, Sep. 5, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E01B 29/32 (2006.01); E01B 9/46 (2006.01); E01B 29/24 (2006.01)
CPC E01B 29/32 (2013.01) [E01B 9/46 (2013.01); E01B 29/24 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tie plate inserter assembly comprising:
a) a frame comprising first and second sides and a centerline extending from the first side to the second side;
b) a tie clamp assembly that is movably connected to the frame at the first side and that includes a tie self-centering mechanism that is selectively operable to engage and center a tie about the centerline of the frame; and
c) a tie plate clamp assembly that is movably connected to the frame at the second side and that includes a tie plate self-centering mechanism that is selectively operable to engage and center a tie plate relative to a longitudinal centerline of the tie;
wherein the tie self-centering mechanism comprises a rack and pinion mechanism.