Patents Examined by Jimmy T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11964819
    Abstract: A waste management system having improved maneuverability and versatility. The system includes a container bay configured to house a compactor unit having a receptacle body configured to receive waste in a cavity surrounded by container walls and a tow member affixed to a forward container wall, the tow member. The tow member is disposed in close proximity to the front wall in order to provide better maneuverability when maneuvered by a deployment vehicle. Typically, first and second of the tow member converge at a tow engagement mechanism disposed at a distance from the forward container wall that is equal to or less than one tenth of a length of the container. The system may further include a local control station situated at the container bay and configured to engage with waste container such that the control station may control functionality of the compactor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: Michael J. O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 11951705
    Abstract: A compactor arrangement (202) includes a compactor; an empty-container transport device for transporting empty containers in the compactor arrangement in a transport region above the empty-container transport device; a first anti-encroachment guard structure which laterally delimits the transport region and which is provided between the transport region and the compactor, wherein the first anti-encroachment guard structure defines a feed region through which empty containers can be fed laterally out of the transport region to the compactor; and a guard device having a second anti-encroachment guard structure which is configured such that, selectively, an encroachment from the direction of the transport region into the feed region can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Wincor Nixdorf International GmbH
    Inventor: Domenic Hartung
  • Patent number: 11951704
    Abstract: The press device is a press device configured to press a workpiece, and includes a slide, a bolster, a servomotor, and a control section. The slide is movable. The bolster is placed to face the slide. The servomotor drives the slide. The control section is configured to be able to execute selectively either the productivity priority mode of setting a limit value slower than the maximum press speed of the press device to the press speed when performing a pendulum motion or a reverse motion, or the moldability priority mode of setting a stop time to the servomotor without setting the limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOMATSU INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koyo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11951524
    Abstract: An adjustable joining machine is provided. In another aspect, a workpiece-joining apparatus includes a punch and/or die with an automatically adjustable joining position. A further aspect employs a workpiece-clinching or piercing apparatus including an automatically adjustable punch and/or die. A method of clinching or piercing workpiece sheets includes changing a position of a punch and/or die based on a sensed workpiece characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: BTM COMPANY LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Andrew Janiszewski
  • Patent number: 11944872
    Abstract: A system for a climbing apparatus including a housing assembly, a wheel assembly, a lock assembly, a rope assembly and a chainsaw assembly is disclosed. The housing assembly includes a housing having a rope wheel therein. The housing is mounted to a chainsaw to power the components within the housing to allow a user to ascend and descend a structure. The rope is secured to the top of a structure and then mounted to the rope wheel at an opposite end. The chainsaw is actuated to also actuate rope assembly. The rope wheel rotates to allow for rope to be fed, allowing a user attached to the housing to ascend or descend, as needed. With the lever the user may lock the rope in place to allow the user to work at a desired height on a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Charles Maciel
  • Patent number: 11945699
    Abstract: A collection method using a collection system including a lifting device that is configured to wind up an overhead line supported by a support post, a suspension device that is connected to the overhead line and is movable in the air as the lifting device winds the overhead line, and a grip device suspended from the suspension device includes a step of gripping a tree by the grip device at two points, a step of cutting the gripped tree, a step of tilting the cut tree such that a longitudinal direction of the tree is along a horizontal direction, and a step of conveying the tree gripped by the grip device as the lifting device winds the overhead line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuo Suyama, Katsuji Harajiri
  • Patent number: 11931983
    Abstract: A method of performing pressing on a workpiece using a press machine. The pressing method includes: performing pressing on the workpiece between a lower die and an upper die by causing the upper die to approach the lower die by using the hydraulic cylinder in a state in which the workpiece is disposed between the lower die and the upper die, and performing the pressing on the workpiece between the lower die and the upper die, in a state in which a shape of each of the frame, the lower die and the upper die has a rotationally symmetric shape about the reference axis and in which the workpiece center axis coincides with the reference axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 11930954
    Abstract: An opening and closing handheld kitchen press tool includes a cup body formed from a right half cup body hingedly coupled to a left half cup body, a fixed handle having first and second ends, a pin seat coupled above an upper shaft seat of the right half cup body, a moveable handle connected into the pin seat to allow the moveable handle to be raised and lowered relative to the fixed handle, and a hanging hammer extending below the moveable handle on a hammer frame that is pivotally coupled to the moveable handle at a hammer connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Lung Cheung Lionel Sun
  • Patent number: 11932430
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mobile strapping device for strapping packaged products using a loop of wrapping strap. The strapping device includes a tensioning device for applying tension to the strap and a connecting device for connecting two overlapping portions of the strap. The tensioning device includes a rotatable tensioning wheel and a tensioning plate. The tensioning wheel is supported by a rocker that is pivotable to change a distance separating the tensioning wheel and the tensioning plate. The mobile strapping device includes a motor that is operably connectable to the rocker or the tensioning wheel such that the motor causes pivoting of the rocker or rotation of the tensioning wheel when operating in a first direction of rotation. In various embodiments, gearing, including a plurality of planetary gear sets, is used to operatively connect the motor to the rocker and the tensioning wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Flavio Finzo, Mirco Neeser, Dimitrios Takidis
  • Patent number: 11931916
    Abstract: A repair device for repairing a defect in a wooden workpiece includes: a setting punch for inserting a repair patch into a recess formed in a wooden workpiece; a feed device for feeding the repair patches to the setting punch; and a detector for detecting the orientation of the repair patch with the aid of a marking arranged on the repair patch. A rotary device may be used for rotating the repair patch about a rotational axis. The detector may include a first sensor and a second sensor, which are arranged at the repair device in such a way that they are used for detecting the marking of detection regions disposed at a distance from one another, the marking being arranged on the repair patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Fill Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventor: Karl Metz
  • Patent number: 11926040
    Abstract: A lockbolt swage end effector incorporates a swage tool engaged by a connector assembly to a frame. The frame is attached to a robotic manipulator. A jaw assembly is supported on a mounting assembly, the jaw assembly having opposing articulating jaws forming a recess to engage a collar in a closed position in alignment with a swage puller and die in the swage tool. The articulating jaws release the collar in an open position for operation of the swage tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dennis R. Mathis, Andrew J. Maass, Kyshalee Vazquez, Daniel B. Freemand, Tyler E. Berkey
  • Patent number: 11926447
    Abstract: A device for separating infusion capsules includes a base unit and a plunger, the base unit having a face with an aperture for receiving a body part of the capsule, wherein a portion of the face surrounding the aperture has a surface that undulates in a longitudinal direction relative to a central axis through the aperture; the plunger including a projection sized to fit within the aperture. A capsule can be placed, rim side down, on the base unit over the aperture, and the plunger used to urge the capsule down into the aperture. The result is that the capsule inverts, rupturing the foil layer and emptying the coffee or other infusion into the base unit below the aperture. The coffee (etc) and the capsule can then be removed for separate recycling. The undulating surface ensures that the rim section of the capsule is distorted during this process, which assists in separating any layers that have been provided for example by way of sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventors: Leslie Alexander Gort-Barten, Alexander Charles Gort-Barten
  • Patent number: 11917950
    Abstract: A baler for hay, straw, grass, and similar feed materials is provided. The baler communicates compressed material from a vertically inclined compression passage formed in between opposing conveyer belts to a central area of a baling chamber for baling. A plunger within the baling chamber can reciprocate in two directions to form bales which are tied and discharged from both ends of the baling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventors: Jack D. Alley, James Whitaker, Gary G. Gomes
  • Patent number: 11919269
    Abstract: A screw feeder includes a pipe, feed screw, rotatory shaft, dewatering holes, anti-rotation bars extending inside the pipe and protruding towards the feed screw, an inlet to receive solid-liquid mixture, and an outlet to discharge partially dewatered solid. The pipe includes at least one pipe section having a first peripheral zone in a vertically lower area with dewatering holes but no anti-rotation bars and a second peripheral zone in a vertically upper area with anti-rotation bars. A pipe profile includes two differently shaped profiles, a first and second pipe profile are selected from a square-shaped, partly circular, and a partly elliptically-shaped profile. The first pipe profile is selected to enable outer edges of the feed screw to remove material overlying the dewatering holes, and the second pipe profile is selected to prohibit contact between the outer edges of the feed screw and the anti-rotation bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: VALMET AB
    Inventor: Francois Lambert
  • Patent number: 11911990
    Abstract: A housing of a radial press has a casing section and an annular end-face support disc. An annular structure is movably guided in the housing along a press axis, and multiple press jaws arranged about the press axis are supported on the support disc so as to be movably guided in the radial direction. The annular structure acts on the press jaws by means of control surfaces which are inclined relative to the press axis and which lie against press jaw counter surfaces designed in the form of sliding surfaces. The end face of the ring structure facing the support disc is designed with axial protrusions. Each control surface protrudes into the radial inner surface of one such protrusion, and the support disc has recesses which are paired with the protrusions and into which the protrusions enter when the radial press is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Uniflex-Hydraulik GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Baumgartner, Reiner Viehl
  • Patent number: 11910819
    Abstract: Apparatus, system and method for cold pressing juice from a food including a food delivery chute, a food grinder, and a pressing chamber which may removably fit together as a single, stand-alone unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Goodnature Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Wettlaufer, Eric Wettlaufer, Thomas Heyden
  • Patent number: 11904566
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for baling plant materials such as grasses, leaves and pine straw a hydraulic power unit, a conveyor operatively coupled to the hydraulic power unit, a hopper for depositing the material on a proximal end of the conveyor and a baler operatively coupled to the hydraulic power unit and arranged for receiving a material from the conveyor. The power unit, conveyor and baler are supported on a trailer. An electronic control system is operatively coupled to the hydraulic power unit, the conveyor and the baler for automatically suspending operation of the conveyor when the baler contains a sufficient amount of material for initiating bundling of the material and automatically resuming operation of the conveyor following dispensing of a bundle of the material from the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Swift Straw Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Matt Lowe
  • Patent number: 11903402
    Abstract: A fruit press has shafts which are mounted in a frame for two pressing rollers, which can be driven in opposite directions, and for two ram heads, which are provided below the pressing rollers and form pressing rams that interact with pressing recesses of the pressing rollers. The fruit press has a blade, which is displaceable in a blade guide between the pressing rollers. The pressing rollers and the ram heads, which can be removed from their respective shafts, are held between a rear wall and a front mount of a handling unit detachably fastened to the frame. To achieve advantageous design conditions, the pressing rollers and the ram heads, which are supported axially on the front mount, are detachably held between bearing projections of the rear wall and receptacles in the region of the front mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Citrocasa GmbH
    Inventor: Engelbert Kaindl
  • Patent number: 11891199
    Abstract: An externally-powered strapping tool includes a strapping tool assembly configured to perform one or more strapping operations; and an external power source operatively coupled thereto, the external power source being attached to the strapping tool assembly in a substantially immovable manner. According to another aspect, a strapping tool assembly includes one or more strapping tool subassemblies configured to perform one or more strapping operations; a power transfer subassembly operatively coupled to the one or more strapping tool subassemblies, the power transfer subassembly configured to transfer motive power from the external power source to the one or more strapping tool subassemblies; and a coupling member configured to couple the strapping tool assembly to the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Golden Bear LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Robert Sikora, Stephen William Sikora, Charles Russell Patzer
  • Patent number: 11890827
    Abstract: A tofu press includes: an open container, a foldable plate, a pressing plate, a spring assembly, and an end cover, where the foldable plate is configured to be placed at a bottom of the open container, the foldable plate includes a bottom plate and lateral plates disposed at two sides of the bottom plate, the lateral plates are perpendicular to and connected to the bottom plate, the pressing plate is configured to cover and press a top of the bottom plate, a bottom end of the spring assembly is configured to press the pressing plate, and the spring assembly is fixedly connected to the end cover; and the pressing plate, the lateral plates, the bottom plate, and two faces of the open container form a compression operating area. The tofu press ensures uniform pressing at the time of pressing a food material to dehydrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Meijuan Liu