Patents Examined by Gregory Adams
  • Patent number: 9080299
    Abstract: A conveyance system and method for delivering at least one component of a windmill to a location is provided. The system is provided with a transporter and a transfer system. The transporter is positionable adjacent a base at the location. The transfer system is provided with a plurality of rails, a support and at least one slider. The rails are positionable on the base and the transporter. The support has a first portion of the rails of the transporter thereon. The support is positionable along a second portion of the rails on a surface of the transporter, and slidably movable between a retracted and an extended position whereby the support is selectively positionable adjacent the base. The slider carries the component(s) of the windmill. The slider is slidably movable along the rails of the transporter and the base whereby the component(s) is/are slidably transferable between the transporter and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Frank Benjamin Springett, Dean Allen Bennett
  • Patent number: 9079725
    Abstract: Device (10) for forming packs of bags (P) for moving from a first area (S1), where an already produced bag (P) is arranged, to a second area (S2) for collecting the bags in packs, comprising at least one rotor (14) carrying a pair of supports (17) for the bag (P) and suction means to fix the bag (P) to the support while the rotor (14) rotates. The device advantageously comprises means (18) designed to maintain said support (17) in a position parallel to itself during the movement between the first area (S1) and the second area (S2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: I.P.S. S.R.L. INTERNATIONAL PROJECT SERVICES
    Inventor: Gianfranco Galimberti
  • Patent number: 9066615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a feeding assistant robot, which assists in feeding patients or the elderly and infirm who have difficulty in moving their arms and thus have difficulty in feeding themselves. The feeding assistant robot includes: a picking arm including a gripper for picking up food placed on a tray; a feeding arm, including a spoon on which the food picked up by the picking arm is placed, for moving the spoon to the mouth of a user; an input device enabling the user to direct the movements of the picking arm and of the feeding arm; and a control unit electrically connected to the picking arm, the feeding arm, and the manipulation part to control the movements of the picking arm and the feeding arm according to the commands from the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: NATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER
    Inventors: Won Kyung Song, Jong Bae Kim, Kwang Ok An, In Ho Lee, Won Jin Song
  • Patent number: 9066471
    Abstract: A cart for collecting and unloading agricultural bales, the cart including a cart body; a hitch, wherein the hitch includes a first end that is configured to operatively connect to a baler and a second end that is configured to operatively connect to the cart body, wherein the hitch provides a pitch degree of freedom to the cart relative to the baler, and wherein the hitch provides a roll degree of freedom to the cart relative to the baler; an automated conveyor device operatively connected to the cart body and configured to move the agricultural bales to a back end of the cart body; and at least one swivel wheel operatively connected to the cart body. In some embodiments, the automated conveyor device includes an apron-chain conveyor powered by a hydraulic motor controlled by hydraulic valves in a cab of a tractor being used to pull the baler and cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Daniel Kent Monahan
  • Patent number: 9061841
    Abstract: A stacking device for assembling a slack of uniformly sized articles 1, has a receiving station for successively receiving said articles 1, and a lifting means to raise said articles from the receiving station to a stacking station The stacking station includes catching means 3 to catch and retain the articles in the stacking station, the catching means comprising at least two catchers 3 located on opposite sides of the station to engage opposite side edges of the article. The article 1 when being raised contacts the catchers 3 to displace the catchers to a closed position to enable the article to override the catchers 3 to move to a position above the catchers 3, the catchers 3 having biassing means to bias the catchers 3 back to an open position to engage and support the article 1 in the stacking station when the lifting means is withdrawn. The catchers 3 have a uniform cross-section and are pivotally mounted in a frame member 5 having a uniform cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TMB PATTERNS LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin Baker, Guillaume Gourves
  • Patent number: 9056738
    Abstract: A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: John W. Brown, Edward F. Houston, Juan A. Roman, Leung M. Shiu, Riley H. Mayhall, Thomas A. Hillerich, Jacob L. Timm, Reza Badri
  • Patent number: 9051130
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transport unit comprising a base member, a transport mechanism and a positioning mechanism. The base member includes a bottom wall extending in a transport direction and a pair of side walls standing upright from two side portions, respectively, of the bottom wall. The transport mechanism is supported by the base member and transports an object to be transported. The positioning mechanism is supported by the base member, and positions the object relative to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: HIRATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 9045243
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking sheet material that may include a trim section and a stacking section, the stacking section being downstream the trim section for receiving the blanks of sheet material, forming bundles each having a plurality of blanks, and transferring the bundles downstream. The apparatus may further include a plurality of longitudinal positioning systems for independently longitudinally positioning a plurality of components in at least one of upstream or downstream directions so as to create an operator access space. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include an incline conveyor section downstream the trim section and upstream the stacking section, and the trim section may have a takeaway conveyor for conveying the plurality of blanks of sheet material to the incline conveyor. In certain embodiments, the plurality of longitudinal positioning systems can individually longitudinally position at least two of the takeaway conveyor, the incline conveyor, or the stacking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: J&L Group International, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin P. Brown, Craig H. Gendreau, Curtis A. Roth, Lynn E. Vershum
  • Patent number: 9043958
    Abstract: A round bale mover for attachment to either a tractor mounted front-end loader or a tractor three-point hitch for moving a pair of round bales. First and second bale teeth extend from a first end of the bale mover for supporting a first bale thereon. Third and fourth bale teeth extend from a second end of the bale mover for supporting a second bale thereon. The first and second bale teeth are selectively movable towards and away from the third and fourth bale teeth. The third and fourth bale teeth are selectively movable towards and away from the first and second bale teeth. The bale mover enables the first and second bales to be moved towards one another and moved away from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Emmett D. Hennig
  • Patent number: 9033333
    Abstract: An absorbing mechanism includes a positioning member, an absorbing member, and at least one separating member. The positioning member defines a receiving chamber, for receiving a plurality of workpieces. The attaching member is constructed for absorbing the workpieces. The at least one separating member comprises a main body and a detaching portion. The main body is mounted on the positioning member. The detaching portion protrudes from the main body toward an axis of the positioning member, and forming an inclined surface away from the main body. The inclined surface defines at least one blow hole. The inclined surface towards the receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (Shenzhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bing Li, Bo Yang, Yong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9033646
    Abstract: The present invention is a cardboard sheet batch division device for dividing batches, disposed on the downstream side of a batch-forming device for separating loaded cardboard sheets and forming batches of a predetermined sheet count. The cardboard sheet batch division device for dividing batches comprises: a transfer conveyor for transferring batches formed by the batch-forming device in a predetermined transfer direction; and batch division means furnished with two separating members respectively contacting the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of a batch on the transfer conveyor, for dividing the batch into two sub-batches, upper and lower, by moving the two separating members relative to one another in a direction parallel to the predetermined transfer direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Isowa
    Inventors: Hidenori Kokubo, Yusuke Tozuka, Jiro Minami
  • Patent number: 9022720
    Abstract: The present invention extends to a stacking mechanism having electrical actuators for stacking slabs of sod on a sod harvesting machine. The electrical actuators allow the stacking head to be driven in three axes. The stacking mechanism also includes position feedback sensors for reporting the position of the stacking head to enable precision when operating the stacking head at a fast rate. The stacking mechanism of the present invention also provides temporary pallet support wings to enable the continued stacking of slabs of sod on one pallet even while another pallet is being dropped from the sod harvesting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Firefly Equipment, LLC
    Inventors: Steven R. Aposhian, Eric E. Aston, William M. Decker, Samuel Drake
  • Patent number: 9022719
    Abstract: A conveyer magazine-type empty bag supplying apparatus including an empty bag separator for separating the topmost empty bag from a set of empty bags and feeding it forward, a positioning stopper for the front end of the fed-out empty bag coming into touch therewith, ratchet wheels coming into contact with the empty bag fed by the empty bag separator and feeding the bag forward, causing the bag to come into touch with the positioning stopper, and an empty bag suction members for adhering to and picking up the bag positioned by the positioning stopper. The ratchet wheels are provided on pivoting arms so as to be oscillatingly moved between its delivery position and its retracted position. The delivery position is between the positioning stopper and the empty bag suction members and the retracted position is on the front side which is beyond the stop surface of the positioning stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Yoshikane, Masahiko Murashige
  • Patent number: 9022713
    Abstract: An improved rearward-hinged and forward-hinged, rotatable and tiltable receiving table for a agricultural bale transport vehicle that selectively tilts and rotates a layer of bales resting thereupon 90 degrees relative to a preceding bale layer on the transport vehicle to criss-cross tie a load of bales (a plurality of layers of bales) together in a load stack offloaded from the transport vehicle to the field for later pickup and movement or deposit in a bale storage area. Preferably, the bale transport vehicle is a mid-size or big bale stack wagon having a Mil-StakĀ® bale loader previously installed or concurrently being installed. The invention enables the lifting, tilting, rotating, and depositing of one mid-size or big bale or a plurality of mid-size or big bales from a rearward-hinged and forward-hinged bale receiving table of the bale transport vehicle onto a rear-hinged stack load table for consolation into a load with other layers of bales for transport from the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Mil-Stak Inc.
    Inventors: Leland K. Millsap, Randall R. Clagg
  • Patent number: 9016496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a subsurface refuse collection system comprising an underground bunker (4), a refuse container (3), a deposit bin (1) and a cover (2) with automatic opening and closing which can be powered electrically using a solar system. The container (3) is collected by means of an automated crane (18) with automatic hitching to facilitate collection. The system is equipped with multiple devices to measure volume and weight of the refuse deposited in the deposit bin (1), for the purpose of system monitoring or improvements to the management of truck routes. It also includes a safety device to prevent accidental fails into the underground bunker during collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: MBE Sotkon SL,-Contenedores Subterraneos Para R.S.U.
    Inventors: Nuno Filipe Cardoso Cabral Martins Da Silva, Fernando Manuel Martins Fernandes, Gerard Georges Raphael Amanrich
  • Patent number: 9017002
    Abstract: A hauler apparatus includes a lower bracket having a first support arm with a first support arm opening extending therethrough. The hauler apparatus includes an upper bracket having a second support arm with a second support arm opening extending therethrough. The hauler apparatus includes a frame arm which extends through the first support arm opening, and has a distal end which terminates within the second support arm opening. The outer shape of the frame arm is different from the inner shape of the first and second support arm openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Inventor: Joseph Joynt
  • Patent number: 9011072
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for transferring an object from a lower accessible position to a higher storage position, which is particularly useful on vehicles. The present invention also relates to a method of transferring an object from a lower accessible position to a higher storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Marc Anthony DiVerdi
  • Patent number: 9004847
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated aerating and handling a sub stack of a stack of rectangular paper sheets where the sub stack is gripped near or at opposed corners of a common edge of the sub stack by means of two robotic grippers (A, B) having two opposed gripping fingers (A1, A2, B1, B2), lifting and rotating the corners in mutually opposite first directions such that the work stack achieves an upwards concave form, gripping the corners by the robotic grippers (A, B), and rotating the grippers in second directions opposite to the first directions such that the upper sheet of the sub stack has a curvature smaller than the bottom sheet of the sub stack, preferably a substantially plane form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Robot Automation
    Inventors: Lars Fleckenstein, Henrik Christiansen
  • Patent number: 9004848
    Abstract: A feeding device includes a housing, a first conveying mechanism mounted on the housing, and a distribution mechanism. The housing forming a receptacle space includes a top surface defining a receiving opening communicated with the receptacle space. The distribution mechanism includes a slide platform slidably mounted on the top surface, a distribution member, and elastic members. The slide platform defines an unloading opening communicated with the receiving opening and a mounting groove adjacent to the unloading opening. The distribution member is movably mounted in the mounting groove. The elastic member elastically resists the distribution member to protrude out from the unloading opening. The stacked feeding trays resist the distribution member to move away from the unloading opening. When the top feeding tray is moved above the distribution member, the distribution member retracts by an elastic force to separate the top feeding tray from the stacked feeding trays located below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bing Li, Bo Yang, Yong Zhang
  • Patent number: 8985928
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a completion system and method adapted for use in wells having long lateral boreholes. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a pipe handling system which includes a pipe handling skid with a pipe arm being able to raise along a vertical plane to pass off a joint of pipe to a mast and top drive. Further, the present disclosure includes a pipe handling system having pipe tubs for transporting and delivering joint of pipe to the pipe arm for insertion into a well. Further, the present disclosure includes a pipe handling system having pipe tubs for transporting and delivering joints of pipe to the pipe arm for insertion into a well. Further, the present pipe handling system and method of use contemplates the use in conjunction with a portable rig carrier for completing hydrocarbon producing wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Superior Energy Servicesā€”North America Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Flusche Mark