Patents Examined by Jonathan Snelting
  • Patent number: 11738679
    Abstract: A trailer having a main deck portion having a main deck surface, an upper deck portion having an upper deck surface, a connecting frame assembly, a plurality of rollers elements, and a tailgate. The connecting frame assembly can couple together the main deck portion and the upper deck portion. The roller elements can be arranged in one or more rows and can be mounted in the main deck surface or the upper deck surface so as to cover a substantial portion of the main deck surface or the upper deck surface. The tailgate can be coupled to the main deck portion and can be movable between a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Trail King Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Nielsen, Scot J. Vander Pol, Trevor L. Gunderson, Kevin L. Pullin
  • Patent number: 11738678
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a vehicle having a cargo area and a cab area is provided, wherein the cargo area may include a conveyor assembly. The conveyor assembly may include a conveyor assembly section and a pivotable conveyor assembly section. The conveyor assembly section includes at least one conveyor shelf panel which includes a support surface. The pivotable conveyor assembly section may include a bracket that supports a pivotable conveyor panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: The Shyft Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Eichstedt, Spencer O. South, Glen R. Helmuth
  • Patent number: 11738946
    Abstract: A system for picking items from a containerised storage system is described. The items are stored in storage bins in stacks within a framework comprising a grid system disposed above the stacks of bins. Robotic devices are disposed on the grid, the devices acting so as to pick containers from the stacks of bins. The storage system is provided with at least one picking device for picking items from bins and depositing them directly in delivery containers DT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: OCADO INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Lars Sverker Ture Lindbo, Andrew John Ingram-Tedd
  • Patent number: 11735445
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to substrate processing apparatus, with a first and second reactor, each reactor configured for processing a plurality of substrates; and, a substrate handling robot constructed and arranged to transfer substrates between a substrate cassette at a substrate transfer position and the first and second reactor. The apparatus is constructed and arranged with a maintenance area between the first and second reactors to allow maintenance of the reactors from the maintenance area to both the first and second reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Theodorus Oosterlaken, Chris de Ridder
  • Patent number: 11718333
    Abstract: A device for receiving, transporting and storing pieces of furniture includes a movable support rack and a lifting apparatus fastened to the movable support rack, wherein it is possible to lift a first piece of furniture using the lifting apparatus such that a second piece of furniture can be arranged below the first piece of furniture that has been lifted by the lifting apparatus. The movable support rack includes a locking apparatus for locking the second piece of furniture on or in the movable support rack. The support rack includes a base frame that is open at a front side such that the device can receive the pieces of furniture at the front side of the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SENKA SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventors: Ă–mer Kaydi, Mehmet Sen
  • Patent number: 11713089
    Abstract: A deployable hay pod elevator system for a transport trailer, such as a livestock trailer, provides a readily deployable hay pod, storage pod, or supply platform with the trailer, and is readily stowable above the trailer in a raised configuration for travel. The elevator system includes a deployable supply platform and a lift system configured to raise and lower the supply platform relative to the trailer. The lift system may include a screw drive system or a winch and cable system to vertically raise and lower the deployable supply platform. The lift system may pivot or rotate the hay pod over the top of the trailer for transportation purposes. The deployable hay pod elevator system can be fitted to a truck, a van, or other types of vehicles and can be configured to store and transport various materials, such as hay, tools, or livestock tack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: The Kingstar Company
    Inventors: Marcus Niemela, Cal G. Niemela, Michael R. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11708229
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that reduce release of dust generated during rotary dumping of rail cars in a dumping facility. The method includes removing dust laden air from a space bounded by a backside airflow diverter, a rotational frame, a first baffle and a second baffle while the rotational frame is rotating with a rail car by drawing the dust laden air through a secondary air intake that passes through the backside airflow diverter into a backside hood. A dust control apparatus includes a diverter, overlying a backside hood having a concave curved upper surface; and at least one secondary air intake positioned to pass through the diverter being located approximately where pressure in the backside hood remains neutral or negative relative to a pressure even there is a transient increase in air pressure in a lower portion of the backside hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Air-Cure Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael R. Harris, Jason Santers
  • Patent number: 11702283
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, an energy storage device, a body, and an electric power take-off system. The energy storage device (e.g., a battery) is supported by the chassis and is configured to provide electrical power to a prime mover. Activation of the prime mover selectively drives the refuse vehicle. The body is configured for storing refuse, and is supported by the chassis. The electric power take-off system is positioned on the body and includes an inverter, an electric motor, and a hydraulic pump that is drive by the electric motor. The inverter receives electrical power from the energy storage device and supplies electrical power to the electric motor. The electric motor drives the hydraulic pump to convert the electrical power into hydraulic power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Koga, Emily Davis, Jerrod Kappers, Vince Schad, Robert S. Messina, Christopher K. Yakes, Vincent Hoover, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Zachary L. Klein, John Beck, Brendan Chan, Skylar A. Wachter, Nader Nasr, Chad K. Smith, Logan Gary, Derek A. Wente, Shawn Naglik, Mike J. Bolton, Jacob Wallin, Quincy Wittman, Christopher J. Rukas, Dylan Hess, Jason Rice, Zhenyi Wei, Bashar Amin, Catherine Linsmeier, Joshua D. Rocholl, Dale Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11697422
    Abstract: A remotely operated delivery vehicle for transport of a storage container between an automated storage and retrieval grid configured to store a plurality of stacks of storage containers, and a second location for handling of the storage container by at least one of a robotic operator and a human operator, the remotely operated delivery vehicle comprising: rolling devices configured to move the remotely operated delivery vehicle in a horizontal plane along tracks of a delivery rail system comprising a first set of parallel rails arranged in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, rolling device motors for driving the rolling devices, and a power source configured to provide propulsion power to the rolling device motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 11697552
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, an energy storage device, a vehicle body, an electric power take-off system, and a hydraulic component. The energy storage device is supported by the chassis and is configured to provide electrical power to a prime mover. Activation of the prime mover selectively drives the refuse vehicle. The vehicle body is supported by the chassis, and includes an on-board receptacle for storing refuse therein. The electric power take-off system is positioned on the vehicle body, and includes an electric motor configured to drive a hydraulic pump to convert electrical power received from the energy storage device into hydraulic power. An amount of electrical power at least one of received by and provided to the electric motor is limited by a controller to control an output characteristic of the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic component is in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and configured to operate using hydraulic power from the electric power take-off system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Koga, Emily Davis, Jerrod Kappers, Vince Schad, Robert S. Messina, Christopher K. Yakes, Vincent Hoover, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Zachary L. Klein, John Beck, Brendan Chan, Skylar A. Wachter, Nader Nasr, Chad K. Smith, Logan Gary, Derek A. Wente, Shawn Naglik, Mike J. Bolton, Jacob Wallin, Quincy Wittman, Christopher J. Rukas, Dylan Hess, Jason Rice, Zhenyi Wei, Bashar Amin, Catherine Linsmeier, Joshua D. Rocholl
  • Patent number: 11685599
    Abstract: A lift assembly for a refuse vehicle includes a lift arm pivotally coupled to a body of the refuse vehicle and a pair of forks pivotally coupled to the lift arm, the pair of forks is configured to engage with a refuse container. The lift assembly further includes an electric lift arm actuator comprising an output shaft. The electric lift arm actuator may be communicably coupled to an electric energy system. The lift assembly further includes a pin coupled to the lift arm assembly and the electric lift arm actuator. The pin is configured to rotate about a pin axis. Rotation of the output shaft causes the lift arm assembly to rotate relative to the body via the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua D. Rocholl, Derek A. Wente, John T. Kellander, Cody D. Clifton, Vincent Hoover, Zachary L. Klein, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Skylar A. Wachter, Andrew Kotloski, Wallace Buege, Caleb Binder, Martin J. Schimke
  • Patent number: 11685391
    Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system comprising an automated storage and retrieval grid and a delivery system. The automated storage and retrieval grid includes a container handling vehicle rail system for guiding a plurality of container handling vehicles and a delivery column adapted for transport of a storage container arranged in a stack of storage containers beneath the container handling vehicle rail system between a container handling vehicle and a delivery port situated at a lower end of the delivery column. The container handling vehicle rail system includes a first set of parallel rails arranged in a horizontal plane and extending in a first direction, and a second set of parallel rails arranged in the horizontal plane and extending in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, which first and second sets of rails form a grid pattern in the horizontal plane including a plurality of adjacent container handling vehicle grid cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 11649112
    Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of storage areas for receiving stored goods, the storage areas being situated in at least one storage level and being accessible by an associated handling device to store stored goods at the storage areas or retrieve them from these storage areas. A conveyor is provided which is designed as a continuous conveyor and is led on a storage level through the arrangement of the storage areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: WRH WALTER REIST HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Markus Bretz
  • Patent number: 11648800
    Abstract: A wheel dolly for lifting and transporting a flat tire attached to an aircraft is comprised of a frame assembly having first and second laterally spaced frame members and a telescopic frame structure interposed between the laterally spaced frame members. A pair of tire lifting assemblies are fixedly coupled the frame assembly. A pair of actuators is coupled between the tire lifting assemblies to force the tire lifting assemblies toward one another in order to raise a flat tire on an aircraft. A plurality of wheels is coupled to the frame assembly to allow the frame assembly to roll in any direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventor: Mason Jess Winters
  • Patent number: 11643310
    Abstract: The forklift attachment allows one or more stacked large waste carts to be easily lifted and transported. The attachment includes an upright back, a standoff boot extending forward from the bottom of the back, a neck extending forward from the top of the back, and a lift saddle welded to the distal end of the neck. The standoff boot includes a tilt plate extending outward from a forward contact surface. The lift saddle is a generally flat, U-shaped plate welded perpendicularly to the distal end of the neck and is configured to seat under the peripheral rim of a large waste cart. The tilt plate extends into a vertical channel formed in the cart body and flange generally abuts the bottom wall of the channel to help prevent waste carts from tipping side to side as the forklift lifts and transports the waste cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Kelly Liles Smith
  • Patent number: 11643272
    Abstract: In an article transport vehicle that is able to transport a plurality of types of articles, the efficiency of operations is improved in accordance with the type of article, while suppressing an increase in the size of the article transport vehicle. If a control device determines that an article held by a holding portion is a first-type article, the control device controls the transfer mechanism so as to cause the turning mechanism to perform a turning mechanism and cause a sliding mechanism to perform a sliding operation such that operation periods of these operations do not overlap. If the control device determines that the article held by the holding portion is a second-type article, the control device controls the transfer mechanism so as to perform the turning operation and the sliding operation such that the operation periods of these operations overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Abe, Ryoji Kishi
  • Patent number: 11634307
    Abstract: A tire lifting assembly used to remove and replace a wheel and a tire on a vehicle is disclosed. The tire lifting assembly is configured to take the weight of the wheel and the tire when the service technician removes or replaces it thereby eliminating the need for manual efforts from a service technician. The assembly is rolled under the mounted wheel and tire and quickly adjusted to secure the wheel and tire by using a roller platform. A scissor jack mechanism is used to adjust the height of the roller platform which allows the rotation of the tire during the mounting procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Kenneth Lee Edwards, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11631605
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing system includes a first component and a second component. The first component forms a first chamber with a first sealed environment at a first state within the first chamber. The second component is coupled to the first component. The second component forms a second chamber with a second sealed environment at a second state within the second chamber. A third component is to change the first state of the first sealed environment within the first chamber to cause the first state to be substantially similar to the second state of the second sealed environment within the second chamber. The second sealed environment is at the second state prior to changing of the first state of the first sealed environment to be substantially similar to the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Rice, Jeffrey C. Hudgens
  • Patent number: 11628849
    Abstract: A lift system for an automated storage system of the type where storage containers are stacked in storage columns arranged in a grid, and where automated container handling vehicles retrieve and replace containers from a top level of the grid. The lift system has a platform vertically movable adjacent to a face of the grid, arranged for receiving and transporting one or more containers. A dedicated mechanical device is arranged for grabbing, lifting and moving the storage containers from a staging area at the top of the grid and placing containers on the platform and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventor: Trond Austrheim
  • Patent number: 11629008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the technical field of vertical automatic storage cabinets and provides a vertical automatic storage cabinet that comprises: a cabinet body; storage racks; a grasping structure and a conveying structure. In the present vertical automatic storage cabinet, at least two storage racks are provided to be spaced apart in the height direction of the cabinet body, and the grasping structure is located in the area between the two storage racks. When in use, the storage boxes on both the upper and lower sides can be taken off the mounting rack, then can be transferred to the conveying structure, and the storage boxes can be conveyed to the outside of the cabinet body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING ZHONGKE WENCHANG INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO
    Inventors: Xuehai Cui, Gang Liu