Patents Examined by David Parsley
  • Patent number: 9532581
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing the entrails from the abdominal cavity of poultry suspended by its legs in a first conveyor. The apparatus includes an evisceration tool which is movable into and out of the abdominal cavity of the poultry for removing the entrails from the abdominal cavity. The apparatus provides for gripping the entrails after their removal from the abdominal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Meyn Food Processing Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Casper Heemskerk, Dirk Hermen Van der Waal
  • Patent number: 9516869
    Abstract: A process where materials are applied to a plastic fishing lure surface, producing a lure that possesses chromatic vicissitude as a result of water temperature fluctuations. A non-thermochromatic base layer of one or more colors is applied to the plastic fishing lure. This layer acts as the visual appearance of the fishing lure in the absence of temperature fluctuations. Clear extender is then used as an additive to the thermochromatic ink. This addition to the ink then allows the ink to be sprayed onto the surface of the lure. This ink-extender amalgam can be applied in multiple layers however the bottom layer must have the least amount of hue saturation. Each layer thereafter would increase in hue saturation. Multiple hue combinations can be utilized. Once the desired number of thermochromatic layers has been applied, an ultra-clear super high gloss lacquer finish is sprayed on to the exterior of all layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: 2028631 ONTARIO INC.
    Inventors: Gerald Gravelle, Daniel Nossey
  • Patent number: 9516854
    Abstract: A method for determining a spray position for a spray tool includes accessing an image signal generated by a camera, the image signal corresponding to at least an udder of a dairy livestock. The method further includes processing the accessed image signal to determine a tangent to the rear and a tangent to the bottom of the udder of the dairy livestock. The method concludes by determining a spray position from which a spray tool may apply disinfectant to the teats of the dairy livestock, wherein the spray position is a position relative to the intersection of the two tangents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Patent number: 9510524
    Abstract: An irrigation system that includes a carriage may move along a predetermined path in a reciprocal manner. The carriage supports one or more exit ports that are fed plant growth material by a pressurized delivery arrangement. One or more plant stands are configured and arranged to straddle the carriage as it moves along the predetermined path. The one or more plant stands form a chamber into which plant roots may extend, and into which the one or more exit ports are able to discharge their plant growth material. The one or more plant stands may include side panels and a cap to reduce infiltration of light and contaminants, and to enhance the plant root-plant growth material interface and absorption rates. The carriage and/or the plant stand(s) may include friction reducing elements that facilitate transverse movement. The carriage and/or the plant stand(s) may be supported by a modular framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Living Greens Farm IP LLC
    Inventors: Dana Anderson, Allen James, Michael Gramse
  • Patent number: 9480244
    Abstract: A handle system operable in conjunction with a fishing rod and reel has an attachment section and a handle section. An arm of the attachment section is attached to a reel housing. The handle section has an upper handle that is connected to the arm and extends above the reel at an angle less than ninety degrees from the fishing rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: John Cooper
  • Patent number: 9480238
    Abstract: A method comprises determining a tangent to the rear of an udder of a dairy livestock, and determining a tangent to the bottom of the udder of the dairy livestock. The method continues by determining a position relative to the intersection of the two tangents, and extending a robot arm to the determined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Patent number: 9474248
    Abstract: A system for applying disinfectant to the teats of a dairy livestock includes a carriage mounted on a track, the carriage operable to translate laterally along the track. The system further includes a robotic arm including a first member pivotally attached to the carriage, a second member pivotally attached to the first member and a spray tool member pivotally attached to the second member. The robotic arm further includes a spray tool attached to the spray tool member. The system further includes a controller operable to cause at least a portion of the robotic arm to extend between the hind legs of a dairy livestock such that the spray tool may discharge a disinfectant to the teats of the dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Patent number: 9462781
    Abstract: A system for operating a robotic arm comprises a carriage and a robotic arm. The carriage is mounted on a track adjacent to a rotary milking platform having a substantially circular perimeter and a stall for a dairy livestock. The carriage moves along a substantially straight portion of the track tangent to and outside the perimeter of the rotary milking platform at a rate based at least in part upon a speed of rotation of the rotary milking platform. The carriage moves in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the rotary milking platform and such movement of the carriage is independent of any physical coupling between the carriage and the rotary milking platform. The robotic arm extends between the legs of the dairy livestock, and remains extended between the legs of the dairy livestock as the stall rotates adjacent to the robotic arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Patent number: 9462800
    Abstract: An animal deterrent device includes an elongated carrier having an internal cavity. A conductive trace can be coupled to the carrier by a first fastener that extends from the conductive trace to the cavity, which prevents water from contacting the fastener and shorting the conductive trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Bird-B-Gone, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Donoho
  • Patent number: 9456591
    Abstract: A fishing lure having an internal cavity for containing a hook and a weight attached to the hook such that the weight is coupled to the hook closer to a throat of the hook than to a line receiving portion of the hook. The combined hook and weight resist being pulled through a shank containing region of lure. The weight may be positioned in a midsection of the lure enabling the lure to maintain a relatively level attitude in the water while being pulled through the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: D.O.A., INC.
    Inventor: Mark S. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9439392
    Abstract: A system for operating a robotic arm, comprises a controller and a robotic arm. The controller receives an indication that a stall of a rotary milking platform in which a dairy livestock is located has moved into an area adjacent a robotic arm that is detached from the rotary milking platform. The controller also determines whether a milking cluster is attached to the dairy livestock. The robotic arm is communicatively coupled to the controller and extends between the legs of the dairy livestock if the controller determines that the milking cluster is not attached to the dairy livestock. The robotic arm does not extend between the legs of the dairy livestock if the controller determines that the milking cluster is attached to the dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Patent number: 9440782
    Abstract: A plant organizing and growing assembly includes a housing that has a bottom wall and a perimeter wall which is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. The perimeter wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. The perimeter wall bounds an enclosed space and the bottom wall has a generally rectangular shape. A plurality of legs is coupled to and extends downwardly from a bottom surface of the bottom wall. The legs are spaced apart and include four corner legs each positioned adjacent to one of the corners of the bottom wall. Each of the corner legs has a bottom surface having an aperture extending therein. Each of the apertures terminates before extending through the bottom wall such that the apertures are spaced from an upper surface of the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Randy Schall
  • Patent number: 9433225
    Abstract: A brush element (1) for processing carcasses of slaughtered animals. The disclosure also relates to an assembly of a rotatable body and such a brush element. The disclosure further relates to a brushing device comprising such an assembly. Also disclosed is a method for coupling a rotatable body and such a brush element mid also a method for uncoupling such a brush element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: HUMBOLDT B.V.
    Inventor: Hans Servaas
  • Patent number: 9433224
    Abstract: A poultry processing equipment includes a control panel and a receiving space. The control panel may include a switch to control the equipment and a few control buttons to control the movement of other components of the equipment. The receiving space is used to receive the poultry that would be processed, and the receiving space is covered by transparent covers. The poultry processing equipment may also include a first cutting unit, a first motor, a plurality of vertical threaded shafts and a second cutting unit. The first cutting unit is reverse Y-shaped and the receiving space is between the control panel and the first cutting unit. The first motor is used to horizontally drive the receiving space through a horizontal threaded shaft, while the vertical shafts are used to drive the second cutting unit to move vertically to further process the poultry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Hua Long
  • Patent number: 9433158
    Abstract: An irrigation device includes: a nozzle discharging liquid; a cover preventing the liquid discharged from the nozzle from splattering around the container; and a moving mechanism moving the cover between a first position and a second position. When moved to the first position, the cover covers space above the container. When moved to the second position, the cover is removed from the space above the container and the space is uncovered. The moving mechanism moves the cover (i) to the first position when the liquid is supplied to a plant, and (ii) to the second position when the supplying of the liquid to the plant ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuji Nagadome, Hiroshi Haji
  • Patent number: 9434489
    Abstract: Computer programs for systems with reruckers configured to automatically reruck casing material such as netting in an upstream direction on a chute or horn proximate in time to a clipping operation to pull a clipped end portion of the casing snugly against a discharge end of the chute or horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Lowder, Samuel D. Griggs, Dennis J. May
  • Patent number: 9433160
    Abstract: Systems and methods configured to deliver fluids to an array of plant deliver different fluids to different plants or groups of plants. The fluids include one or more of nutrients, dyes, insecticides, and/or herbicides. Delivery may be controlled such that a graphic and/or image is depicted by an array of plants or groups of plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Elaine Soohoo
  • Patent number: 9434455
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for repelling elasmobranchs with high-pull-force magnets, including devices and methods for reducing by-catch in commercial fisheries and protecting humans from attacks by elasmobranchs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Eric Matthew Stroud
  • Patent number: 9433184
    Abstract: A method for applying disinfectant to the teats of a dairy livestock, comprises receiving a trigger signal indicating that a stall of a rotary milking platform housing a dairy livestock is located adjacent to a track, the track having a carriage carrying a robotic arm mounted thereto. The method continues by communicating a first signal to a first actuator coupled to the track and the carriage, the first signal causing operation of the first actuator such that the carriage moves along the track in relation to the rotary milking platform. The method concludes by communicating one or more additional signals to one or more actuators of the robotic arm, the one or more additional signals causing operation of the one or more actuators of the robotic arm such that at least a portion of the robotic arm extends between the hind legs of a dairy livestock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Technologies Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Henk Hofman, Peter Willem van der Sluis, Ype Groensma
  • Patent number: 9420796
    Abstract: A method for controlling bivalve growth in a service water system of a plant is disclosed. Upon detecting an increase in the number of veligers or settlement stage bivalves, chlorine anion is introduced into the service water to obtain a chlorine anion concentration of between 0.10 and 2.0 mg/l for a period of 10 to 40 days. Also disclosed is a two-stage method for controlling bivalve growth in a service water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ASI Group Ltd.
    Inventor: Carmelo Sferrazza