Patents Examined by Jonathan Snelting
  • Patent number: 11472647
    Abstract: A truck dumper including a material receiving hopper, a tilt table configured to dump a load from the truck or truck trailer into the material receiving hopper. The invention includes a stilling shed positioned above the material receiving hopper and at least one curtain baffle suspended below the roof of the stilling shed. The curtain baffles are positioned such that there is a gap located near the roof and an upper margin of the at least one curtain baffle through which air can flow. The invention further includes an air exhaust structure configured to exhaust dust laden air from the interior of the stilling shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Air-Cure Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael R. Harris
  • Patent number: 11472642
    Abstract: An article-unloading apparatus comprising a bin assembly including a bag inside a bin. The bin assembly is raised and lowered by a lift and tilted, when raised, to dump articles onto a decline conveyor, such as a ramp. A winch attached to the bag moves the bottom of the bag through the bin to help push articles from the tilted bin assembly. A camera takes a video image of the articles entering the ramp to detect clumps. Stops on the ramp are selectively actuated to block the bottom-most articles in a clump to help separate articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Bryant G. Ragan
  • Patent number: 11465838
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a vehicle body supported by the chassis, a lift assembly, and a projector. The vehicle body defines a receptacle for storing refuse. The lift assembly is configured to selectively engage a waste container. The lift assembly is movable between a first position and a second position. The projector is positioned to emit light outwardly away from the refuse vehicle and proximate the lift assembly to define a target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Koga, Emily Davis, Jerrod Kappers, Vince Schad, Robert S. Messina, Christopher K. Yakes, Joshua D. Rocholl, Vincent Hoover, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Zachary L. Klein, John Beck, Brendan Chan, Skylar A. Wachter, Dale Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11453550
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle includes a grabber that is operable to engage a refuse container, a lift arm that is operable to lift a refuse container, at least one sensor that is arranged to collect data indicating an angular position of the grabber, at least one sensor that is arranged to collect data indicating a relative positioning of the lift arm, a first controller for adjusting the angular position of the grabber, and a second controller adjusting the relative positioning of the lift arm. The adjustment of the angular position of the grabber is coordinated with the adjustment of the relative positioning of the lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Stanley L. Maroney, David G. Lewis, Robert B. Williams
  • Patent number: 11454326
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis, a body coupled to the chassis rearward of the cab, a bracket, and a valve assembly. The body defines a compartment. The body includes a bottom wall defining a horizontal plane and a front wall defining a vertical plane. The bracket has an arm that is coupled to and extends rearward from the front wall into the compartment at an angle such that the arm is neither parallel with the horizontal plane nor parallel with the vertical plane. The valve assembly is coupled to the bracket such that at least a portion of the valve assembly is disposed within the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin G. Jax, Clinton Weckwerth
  • Patent number: 11456197
    Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for causing a factory interface of an electronic device manufacturing system to be moveable between a first position and a second position. An electronic device manufacturing system can include a transfer chamber, processing chambers connected to the transfer chamber, a load lock connected to the transfer chamber, and a factory interface connected to the load lock. The factory interface can be moveable between a first position and a second position. The factory interface, while oriented in the first position, is positioned for transfer of one or more substrates between the factory interface and the load lock, where at least one of the transfer chamber or the load lock are inaccessible for maintenance while the factory interface is oriented at the first position. The factory interface, while oriented in the second position, is positioned to provide maintenance access to at least one of the transfer chamber or the load lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Jeffrey C. Hudgens
  • Patent number: 11440455
    Abstract: The disclosed devices, systems and methods relate to a split-tilt deck trailer. A tilting deck and stationary deck are disposed in parallel on the trailer to provide a tilting deck for the loading of various equipment and providing an elongate stationary platform simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Behnke Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Behnke
  • Patent number: 11440347
    Abstract: An apparatus having means for providing axial rotation and support of a wheel, wherein said wheel is intended for at least one of, removal, repair, inspection, installation, and replacement; means for allowing for different size wheels to be supported; means for rendering support for said means for providing axial rotation; means for allowing a lateral movement of said support rendering means along a central axis and operable for aligning the wheel with wheel studs; means for increasing a bottom surface area of said apparatus to create additional support for said apparatus; means for aiding a transportation and placement of said apparatus; and means for adjusting a vertical positioning of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Ronald Horton
  • Patent number: 11437130
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical order filling system receives pharmaceutical orders and uses an accumulation device to accumulate bottles of pharmaceuticals corresponding to the pharmaceutical orders. The accumulation device is configured with a table assembly that includes a plurality of holding tubes configured to accumulate multiple bottles corresponding to pharmaceutical orders. The accumulation device also includes a bottle pick and place assembly configured to place bottles into holding tubes and an unload assembly configured to empty accumulated bottles from holding tubes into an unload assembly tube. The accumulation device may be further configured to receive and temporarily store a single bottle of a prescription order. The accumulation device may be configured to release accumulated bottles onto a conveyor in an upright position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Hoffman, Jonathan Joplin
  • Patent number: 11434681
    Abstract: Another implementation of the present disclosure is a refuse vehicle. The refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body coupled with the chassis, a tailgate, an electric lock, and a fully electric tailgate actuator assembly. The body assembly defines a refuse compartment. The tailgate is coupled with a rear of the body and is transitionable between a first position to limit access to the refuse compartment and a second position to allow access to the refuse compartment. The electric lock is operable between an engaged state and a disengaged state to limit movement of the tailgate out of the first position when the electric lock is in the engaged state. The fully electric tailgate actuator assembly is configured to transition the tailgate between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    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: 11433826
    Abstract: A standalone adjustable transportation system that is designed to be positioned on a platform of a vehicle that has two fixed sidewalls that includes a cargo carrier basket with a height ranging from 50 cm to 90 cm with four upper corners to each of which is connected a hollow tube, four adjustable legs that each one of them has a trailer jack that is designed to control the length of the adjustable leg and four connecting rods that each of which can be inserted into said hollow tubes. The cargo carrier basket while positioned on the platform that has two fixed sidewalls can be connected in its four top corners to the four adjustable legs by the four connecting rods over said two fixed sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventors: Alex Harel, Shalom Green, Ohad Zecharia
  • Patent number: 11420547
    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 vertical raising and lowering mechanism or lift system configured to move the supply platform relative to the trailer. The lift includes a pivot arm system coupled to a sidewall of the trailer and a lift assist mechanism, such as a linear actuator, to vertically raise and lower the deployable supply platform. The elevator system includes a supply platform pivot actuation mechanism to adjust the angle of the platform relative to the pivot arm during stowage and deployment of the system. The elevator system may be fitted to various types of vehicles to store and transport various materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: The Kingstar Company
    Inventors: Marcus Niemela, Cal G. Niemela, Michael R. Jackson, Cole S. Stout
  • Patent number: 11414312
    Abstract: A load handling device that is installed between a supply position and a loading position, and configured to load at the loading position the load that has been fed from the supply position. The load handling device includes a base platform, a lifting unit that is movable up and down relative to the base platform, a pair of forks that is configured to support a bottom surface of the load that has been fed from the supply position, a fork distance adjusting mechanism that is configured to adjust a distance between the pair of forks in accordance with a size of the load, and a fork advancing/retracting mechanism that is configured to cause the pair of forks to advance to or retract from the loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shigehiro Nobata, Takahiro Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 11407351
    Abstract: A loading arm assembly for a load-handling vehicle has a main arm and an auxiliary arm. The loading arm assembly is configured for unloading and loading ISO containers and for unloading and loading transportation containers having a hook. The loading arm assembly is improved in that a crossbeam having two corner grippers and furthermore, separately therefrom, a telescopic gripping hook is disposed on the auxiliary arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: THE DYNAMIC ENGINEERING SOLUTION PTY LTD
    Inventors: Michael Newstead, James Browne, Oscar Fiorinotto
  • Patent number: 11407588
    Abstract: A system for moving payloads is described. It uses one or more mobile robots. Each mobile robot comprises a payload bearing platform with a transfer mechanism with multiple degrees of freedom of movement. The system includes one or more stack exchangers having a set of alignment mechanisms, and at least one payload transfer ramp. The mobile robots pass through the stack exchanger and pick up a payload or drop off a payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HDS Mercury, Inc.
    Inventor: Aravind Durai
  • Patent number: 11396445
    Abstract: Fork head for gripping thin objects having a main frame attached to a mobile element on a lifting vehicle; a mobile frame, with two fixed, parallel arms and a gripping arm that moves from and towards the fork arms to trap a thin object hanging between the two fork arms, said mobile frame being able to move horizontally along a transversal guide attached to the main frame; wherein the gripping arm has end portions superimposed on the two arms of the frame and has a length (L) in a transversal direction equal to or greater than a fork width (w) defined by the distance between the opposite outer edges of the two fork arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SOLTEC ENERGIAS RENOVABLES, SL
    Inventors: Juan José Maldonado Nicolás, Albert García Gil, Francisco Juan Almela Béjar
  • Patent number: 11395998
    Abstract: A site may require that multiple containers, such as bulk material containers, may be utilized to provide a required composition or mixture of materials at a required discharge rate. An arrangement of four or more containers on a frame disposed on a support platform where two faces of each container proximate or adjacent to a face of two other containers to form a rectangle provides a configuration that allows for safe and efficient removal and replacement of containers A rotary table coupled to a motor disposed on the support platform rotates the frame such that each container transitions to different positions. The containers discharge material through an opening of support platform. Containers may be retrieved from one position and replaced at another position or retrieved and replaced from a single position. Such a configuration allows for multiple transport devices to operate without interfering with the operations of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Tim H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 11390308
    Abstract: A dish cart includes a top with a slot for receiving a lift arm that may be lifted up through the slot to raise or lower dishes. Lobe openings emanating from the slot receive lobes of a lift paddle secured to the lift arm. The cart may define a gap below the top for permitting insertion of the lift paddle and the lift arm. The cart may be adjusted to receive differently sized dishes by means of rails of different sizes or adjustable vanes. A dish drop station includes the lift arm and lift paddle and a lift mechanism for raising and lower the lift arm. The dish drop station may include a cart present sensor and include a lock for retaining the cart. The controller may be programmed to the lower the lift arm to an unlock position that disengages the cart lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Young Lee, Jacob Conor Dooris, Kent Michael Anderson, Abigail Elizabeth Soong, Edward Joseph Menard, Thomas Ettore De Candia, Michael William Tschudy, Paul Michael Birkmeyer, Katrina Bell Sheehy, Taylor Joseph Cone
  • Patent number: 11390499
    Abstract: A crane arrangement includes a base, a pillar boom, a lifting boom, a folding boom, a lifting cylinder, and a folding cylinder. The lifting boom includes a first pivot point for connecting the pillar boom to the lifting boom, a second pivot point for connecting the lifting cylinder to the lifting boom, and a third pivot point for connecting the folding cylinder to the lifting boom. The lifting boom further includes a hollow cast connecting piece arranged at the first end of the lifting boom, in which connecting piece at least the first pivot point and second pivot point are arranged. The invention also relates to a corresponding work machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: PONSSE OYJ
    Inventors: Toni Auvinen, Marko Halonen
  • Patent number: 11383942
    Abstract: A container packer system includes a transfer base, which receives a container packer adapted for movement longitudinally between retracted and extended positions with respect to the transfer base. The transfer base includes a power subsystem with a motor or engine driving a hydraulic pump for powering hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units of the system, including a container packer piston-and-cylinder unit for hydraulically extending and retracting the container packer. The container packer generally encloses an interior adapted for receiving bulk material for transfer to a transport container, which can comprise a standard shipping container, a trailer or some other bulk material receptacle. The container packer includes a push blade assembly longitudinally movably mounted in its interior and actuated by a push blade piston-and-cylinder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Advanced Steel Recovery, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory D. Haub, Chris D. Bartel