Patents Examined by James F Sims, III
  • Patent number: 11974679
    Abstract: Food orders are divided into components or tasks. Systems and methods of food order preparation communicate instructions for automated actions to devices to carry out the automated actions. A toaster operates to toast a bun according to toaster settings. A bun magazine operates to deliver a bun into the toaster. A condiment dispenser receives the bun from the toaster and operates to dispense at least one portion of at least one condiment onto the bun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Marmon Foodservice Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Loren Veltrop, Arshad Baxamusa, Robert Duncan, Jacob Kane, Collin Psenka, Jonathan Sammon, Sathvik Sanagala, Nicole Szewczyk, Andrew Thompson
  • Patent number: 11969106
    Abstract: An intelligent cooking operation method includes: providing a seat; forming, by a back of the seat, a swing connection by using a connecting rod; forming a lifting and rotating connection between a cushion of the seat and a base of the seat through a support rod; and sending, by a cook, one or more voice control commands of a kitchen appliance to a voice signal receiving module according to a cooking requirement, where a voice command recognition module recognizes the voice control commands and generates corresponding appliance voice command data, and a command transmission module sends a command signal to a command receiving module of the kitchen appliance that the voice control commands point to, to control the kitchen appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: LIVEON INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zili Chen
  • Patent number: 11969815
    Abstract: An automatic material changing and welding system for stamping materials includes a welding transfer sliding table and a welding platform. The automatic material changing device further includes a feeding system. The feeding system includes a double-head uncoiling machine, an automatic feeding machine and a flattening machine. The automatic material changing device is used for automatic feeding for a stamping machine. The system triggers a material changing signal through a sensor to control and integrate the welding transfer sliding table and the welding platform to act to execute a welding procedure, so that the stamping materials are in welding connection with new and old coiled materials through a welding connection plate to realize continuous production operation of an automated stamping production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: NATIONAL KAOHSIUNG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chun-Chih Kuo, Hao-Lun Huang, Bor-Tsuen Lin, Cheng-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 11969814
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for exchanging electrode tips, e.g., electrode tips used in resistance spot welding, and disposing of used/unusable electrode tips. Used/unusable electrode tips may be collected, e.g., while within an assembly line. Such used/unusable electrode tips may be routed to a receptacle(s) reside outside the assembly line. Accordingly, disposing or removing of the used/unusable electrode tips can be accomplished without stopping the assembly line, and decreasing any chance for safety events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John D. Arthur, Terry A. Lee, James D. Womack
  • Patent number: 11963638
    Abstract: A domestic appliance for processing foods including: a bowl, with an opening for introducing foods into the bowl and into which a tool for processing foods is inserted, a splash guard, which can be inserted into the opening of the bowl, such that boundary regions of the splash guard are opposite an inner wall of the opening to prevent foods from spraying out of the bowl, and a cover, which can be inserted into the opening of the bowl once the splash guard has been inserted into the opening of the bowl, wherein the splash guard includes a plate which extends substantially flat and ends with boundary regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DE'LONGHI BRAUN HOUSEHOLD GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Eissengarthen, Christof Kleemann, Christian Dexheimer, Daniel Lebsack, Thea Kleinmagd
  • Patent number: 11950619
    Abstract: A system for roasting particulate material, such as coffee or cacao beans, grains, malt. The system includes a concentrated solar collector configured for heating a fluid; a heat storage device configured for storing heat of the heated fluid; a particulate material roasting device comprising a treatment compartment configured for receiving the particulate material, and at least one generation unit configured for generating at least one gas and/or steam flow with a controlled temperature, through said treatment compartment. The at least one generation unit is configured for exchanging heat between said at least one gas and/or steam flow and a second flow. A circulation system is configured for generating the second flow by using heat stored in the storage device, and is configured for using directly the heated fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: LA BOMBA SPRL
    Inventor: Koen Bosmans
  • Patent number: 11945058
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing welding currents of at least two welding current sources prior to performing a simultaneous welding process on at least one workpiece, in particular a welding process with non-consumable electrodes, wherein the method includes the following steps: a first welding current source outputting a reference signal, wherein the reference signal contains synchronization information; a second welding current source measuring or receiving the reference signal and evaluating the synchronization information contained in the reference signal; synchronizing a second welding current of the second welding current source with a first welding current of the first welding current source on the basis of the synchronization information. The invention furthermore relates to a welding current source and to a system having at least two welding current sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: FRONIUS INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Josef Artelsmair, Peter Lattner
  • Patent number: 11943845
    Abstract: A heater includes an aluminum nitride (AlN) substrate and a heating layer. The heating layer is made from a molybdenum material and is bonded to the AlN substrate via transient liquid phase bonding. The heater can also include a routing layer and a plurality of first conductive vias connecting the heating layer to the routing layer. The routing layer and the plurality of first conductive vias can be made from the molybdenum material and at least one of the routing layer and the plurality of first conductive vias are bonded to the AlN substrate via a transient liquid phase bond. A plurality of second conductive vias connecting the routing layer to a surface of the AlN substrate can be included and the plurality of second conductive vias are made of the molybdenum material and can be bonded to the AlN substrate via a transient liquid phase bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Margavio, Todd Brooke, Kurt English
  • Patent number: 11938571
    Abstract: Provided is a disclosure for a ventilation conduit for a welding torch, where the ventilation conduit comprises a conduit body comprising at least a first part and a second part, and a conduit nozzle. The first part and the second part are configured to be removably coupled to each other around an outside of a welding torch. The conduit nozzle, with a first end that is beveled and a second end, is configured to be removably coupled by the second end to the conduit body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Hotz
  • Patent number: 11937616
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing tablets for hot beverage brewing includes a reservoir feeding infusible loose food products, a grinding system for the loose food products to obtain grounds of a given size, a moistening system moistening the grounds to a given moisture content, a mixing and homogenizing system for mixing and homogenizing the grounds to a homogeneous mixture, a weighing system of the homogeneous mixture to obtain a dose of predetermined weight, a forming system forming the dose into a tablet of predetermined volume, an irradiation system for electromagnetic irradiation of the tablet to overheat the particles to a partial baking and/or sintering for compactness and self-supporting ability without an enclosure, and a control system acting on the grinding, moistening, homogenizing, system, forming, and irradiating systems to control particle size, moisture content, homogeneity, weight, volume and compactness parameters of the tablet and change water permeability of the tablet accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Luigi Lavazza—Società per Azioni
    Inventors: Andrea Bacchi, Massimo Chenda
  • Patent number: 11925298
    Abstract: A bowl assembly for a micro puree machine including an inner beaker and an outer bowl. The inner beaker is configured to receive ingredients and has an exterior bottom surface that includes a beaker alignment feature. The outer bowl is configured to receive the inner beaker therein. The outer bowl includes an interior bottom surface that includes a bowl alignment feature and an exterior bottom surface that includes a bowl securing element. The beaker alignment feature of the inner beaker exterior bottom surface is complementary to the bowl alignment feature of the outer bowl interior bottom surface such that, at times the inner beaker is positioned in the outer bowl, the complementary bowl alignment feature and inner beaker alignment feature prevent rotation of the inner beaker relative to the outer bowl. The bowl securing element is configured to receive and attach to a platform of a micro puree machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC
    Inventors: Jared James Proulx, Christopher William Hedges, Pierce James Barnard, Ming Li Shi, Xu Sheng Deng
  • Patent number: 11925286
    Abstract: A system for producing beverages from single-serve capsules; the system includes a capsule including a cup-shaped container with a flange, and a brewing assembly including a pressurized water injection assembly and a beverage extraction assembly relatively movable from and towards a closed configuration, in which the injection and extraction assemblies define therebetween a brewing chamber for the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: SAGA COFFEE S.P.A., KONINKLIJKE DOUWE EGBERTS
    Inventor: Andrea Castellani
  • Patent number: 11919109
    Abstract: There is described a modular welding device having a welding torch assembly defining a welding axis and having a welding torch rotatable about the welding axis. The welding device further includes a drive assembly releasably attachable to the welding torch assembly and operable to linearly translate the welding torch assembly along an axis of translation. When the drive assembly is attached to the welding torch assembly in a first orientation relative to the welding torch assembly, the drive assembly is detachable from the welding torch assembly and re-attachable to the welding torch assembly so as to be disposed in a second orientation relative to the welding torch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PANATOOL TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Ruhstaller, Marcel Rene Ruhstaller
  • Patent number: 11903870
    Abstract: An electric heating pad for warming a patient includes a heated underbody support or heated mattress. The heated underbody support or mattress includes a heater assembly having a flexible sheet-like heating element, conductive bus bars attached at or near side edges of the heating element, and fabric side edge extensions attached to heating element side edges. The heated underbody support or mattress also includes a layer of polymeric foam positioned under the heater assembly and a shell, including at least two sheets of flexible material, covering at least a portion of the heater assembly and the layer of polymeric foam. When the heater assembly is wrapped around the top surface of the layer of polymeric foam, side edges of the heating element extend partially down the two side walls of the layer of polymeric foam and the conductive bus bars lie adjacent those two side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Augustine Temperature Management LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Augustine, Ryan S. Augustine, Garrett J. Augustine, Brent M. Augustine, Randall C. Arnold, John R. Beckman
  • Patent number: 11897064
    Abstract: A battery powered welding system is provided. In one welding system a battery powered welder includes control circuitry configured to control a welding power output converted from power from an external battery power source. The battery powered welder also includes a wire drive assembly coupled to the control circuitry and configured to feed a welding wire using power from the external battery power source. The battery powered welder includes a case integrally supporting and enclosing the control circuitry and the wire drive assembly. The case is not configured to enclose the external battery power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Ryan Rozmarynowski, Caleb Robert Krisher, Darrell Lee Sickels
  • Patent number: 11883900
    Abstract: An apparatus of a setting welding device for an auxiliary joining part with a head and a shaft, includes a linear drive fastenable at the setting device and including an element nest at a movable end, in which an auxiliary joining part is releasably receivable from a transfer unit. The element nest is movable by the linear drive in a first direction. The element nest is supported in a floating manner, and is positionable via a mechanical stop alignment in abutment with an electrode punch in the joining direction below the electrode punch. And/or the element nest is connected with the linear drive via a mechanical direction-changing coupling component so that the element nest is movable by the linear drive in a second direction so that the auxiliary joining part is positionable at the joining location, wherein the second direction is not parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Schröder, Bernd Haesler, Kilian Doedtmann, Stefan Rehling, Sergej Hartwig-Biglau, Wilhelm Westermann, Oliver Schienstock
  • Patent number: 11878376
    Abstract: Welding wire preheating systems and methods are disclosed. An example welding method includes: receiving a signal indicative of initiation of welding process; prior to initiating a welding arc based on the received signal, controlling voltage or current applied to a welding electrode to preheat the electrode to a temperature above an ambient temperature but below a melting point of the welding electrode; monitoring feedback voltage to determine a termination of preheating; and terminating preheating prior to initiating the welding arc in accordance with a welding protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 11872658
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to synergically control a welding-type output during a welding-type operation are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes a power conversion circuit configured to convert input power to welding-type power and to output the welding-type power to a welding-type torch; a communication circuit configured to receive a control signal from a remote control device during a welding-type operation; and a control circuit configured to synergically control a voltage of the welding-type power and a wire feed speed based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Bunker
  • Patent number: 11873098
    Abstract: An ice protection system for an aircraft component includes a plurality of heaters. The aircraft component has at least two section and a junction area. At least one of the heaters is an H-shape carbon allotrope heater designed to apply heat to the junction area and prevent ice accumulation in the junction area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Casey Slane, Jin Hu, Nathaniel Ching, Galdemir Cezar Botura, James A. Mullen, Mark James Didyk
  • Patent number: 11858058
    Abstract: A cap dispenser for a welding gun includes a sleeve that slidably receives a drawer that is configured to house a column of weld caps. The cap dispenser also includes a spring that cooperates with a slide block that is arranged in the drawer. The spring urges the slide block toward an aperture in the drawer that is configured to receive a welding gun electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: DOBEN LIMITED
    Inventors: David M. Simone, Daniel P. Vanderzwet, Philip W. Brown