Patents Examined by Joseph C Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11027313
    Abstract: A fruit sorting table includes: a conveyor for conveying a fruit crop along a conveying plane, between an intake area and a discharge area, a screen extending in the conveying plane between the intake area and the discharge area, the screen having openings for sorted fruit to pass through from the conveying plane to an area for receiving sorted fruit situated under the conveying plane. The sorting table has at least one device for measuring one of a quantity of fruit and a flow rate of fruit passing through the screen over at least one reference section of the screen, the reference section being situated between the fruit intake area and the discharge area, and set apart from the fruit intake area, a device for adjusting the sorting table in response to the measurement device. Application, in particular, to sorting a grape crop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Gialis, Remi Niero
  • Patent number: 11008216
    Abstract: A method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid has excellent dispersibility and dispersion stability. In this method for modifying a fine particle dispersion liquid having improved fine particle dispersibility, impurities included in an agglomeration of fine particles contained in the fine particle dispersion liquid are released into the dispersion liquid by applying physical energy to the agglomeration and performing dispersion processing for dispersion into particles that are smaller than the agglomeration of fine particles. The impurities are removed from the dispersion liquid by means of a removal unit provided with a filtration membrane before reagglomeration is caused by the impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: M. TECHNIQUE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Enomura, Daisuke Honda
  • Patent number: 10994305
    Abstract: A sifting device having an upper chamber and a lower chamber. An upper chamber offset opening is disposed on the end wall of the upper chamber and offset from a central axis. A shaft rotates about the central axis of the upper chamber. A blade in the upper chamber and attached with the shaft. The blade is configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. A cone element is disposed on the blade and concentric with the upper chamber. A lower sifting element is disposed within the lower chamber. The shaft attached with the lower sifting element such that the lower sifting element rotates in the lower chamber when the shaft rotates. The upper chamber offset opening is configured to allow powdered substance to move from the upper chamber to the lower chamber so that the blade and lower sifting element can sift powdered substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: David Lee Rahamin
  • Patent number: 10993375
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a centrifugal scattering device having a central axle, a sieve positioned below the central axle, a plurality of rotors, each one having a proximal end and distal end where the proximal end of each rotor is attached to the central axle. The device also preferably includes a guide, angled relative to the central axle and attached to the distal end of each rotor so that the guide travels around the central axle and along the sieve when the central axle rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ECOMILL, LLC
    Inventor: Roman Stroitelev
  • Patent number: 10981733
    Abstract: A product sorting apparatus includes a pallet station supporting a pallet on which a product is placed and moves up and down between a base position and a raised position, a transfer device transferring the product to a first area that is on a first side of the pallet station, a first cart movable between the first area and a second area that is on a second side of the pallet station, and a second cart movable between the first area and the second area and able to pass through the inside of the first cart. Through the inside of the pallet station set at the base position, the first cart is unable to pass and the second cart is able to pass, and through the inside of the pallet station set at the raised position, both the first and second carts are able to pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: AMADA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10974283
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for sorting and sequencing articles in a processing facility are disclosed. Delivery endpoints are divided and grouped into stop groups. A first sorter sorts items according to stop group and outputs the items to trays. The output trays from the first sorter are loaded to a second sorter in stop group order. The second sorter can then sort the items into output bins in delivery sequence order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventor: Scott R. Bombaugh
  • Patent number: 10976232
    Abstract: Described herein are microfluidic devices and methods that can separate and concentrate particles in a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: GPB Scientific, Inc., The Trustees of Princeton University, University of Maryland, Baltimore
    Inventors: Anthony Ward, Khushroo Gandhi, Alison Skelley, Curt Civin, James C. Sturm, Lee Aurich, Michael Grisham, Joseph D'Silva, Robert H. Austin
  • Patent number: 10977622
    Abstract: An electronic waste tracking device, process, and system to track waste from one location to another location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: David V. Borowski, William C. Huddleston, Benjamin A. Thorp, William L. Klima
  • Patent number: 10967405
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint. The device can also include a base configured to support the at least one shared chute and the first and second sorters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Patent number: 10967386
    Abstract: A method of producing titanium cobbles includes: a preparation step of preparing a scrap material containing 50% by mass or more of metal titanium; a first crushing step of roughly crushing the scrap material using a first crusher; a second crushing step of crushing the scrap material, which has been roughly crushed in the first crushing step, using a second crusher; a dust collection step of collecting fine dust of the scrap material generated in the second crushing step; and a first classification step of classifying products obtained by crushing the scrap material, which have been generated in the second crushing step, into medium particles with particle sizes within a predetermined particle size range, large particles with particle sizes larger than the particle size range, and small particles with particle sizes smaller than the particle size range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: METALDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Nomura, Keigo Kobayashi, Kazumi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 10961792
    Abstract: The application provides an apparatus for removing ferrous particles from an oil or gas process liquid or slurry and a method of use. The apparatus has a first inner cylindrical sheath and a second outer cylindrical sheath arranged concentrically on a longitudinal axis to create an annular volume. A helical screw flight on the first or second cylindrical sheaths extends across the annular volume, and a magnet assembly extends along the longitudinal axis, such that ferrous particles are attracted to a surface of the annular volume. The apparatus has an inlet a discharge outlet, and a ferrous particle collection location. The screw flight and the cylindrical sheath operable to rotate with respect to the magnet assembly to convey particles to the collection location. The apparatus includes a retaining surface to retain collected particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Romar International Limited
    Inventor: Martin McKenzie
  • Patent number: 10960408
    Abstract: A flotation arrangement for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a primary flotation line with a rougher part including at least two rougher primary flotation cells and a scavenger part including at least two scavenger primary flotation cells, and a secondary flotation line including at least two secondary flotation cells. A first secondary flotation cell is arranged to receive primary overflow from the at least one rougher primary flotation cell, and a further secondary flotation cell to receive primary overflow from the at least one further rougher primary flotation cell. The further secondary flotation cell is arranged in fluid communication with a previous secondary flotation cell, and underflow from the first secondary flotation cell is arranged to flow into the further secondary flotation cell, or arranged to be combined with secondary underflow of the further secondary flotation cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Antti Rinne, Peter Bourke
  • Patent number: 10953437
    Abstract: The invention concerns a sieve device for use in a device for generative manufacture of components by means of successive solidification of individual layers of powdered solidifiable construction material by exposure to radiation through sector by sector melting or fusing and binding of the construction material the sieve device is configured at least in sections to be inclined in a way that the construction material after appearance on the sieve slows or is reduced to a lower velocity over the surface of the sieve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Concept Laser GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Herzog, Florian Bechmann, Frank Schödel
  • Patent number: 10946417
    Abstract: A high throughput sorting device is disclosed. The device includes a first sorter and a second sorter, each of the first and second sorters having a plurality of cells each configured to support, carry, and deposit an item. The device can also include at least one shared chute extending below a portion of the first sorter and a portion of the second sorter. The at least one chute can be configured to receive an item deposited by each of the plurality of cells and transport the item to an endpoint. The device can also include a base configured to support the at least one shared chute and the first and second sorters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Scott R. Bombaugh, Tuan A. Le, Charles P. McLellan, Christopher M. Stratton
  • Patent number: 10933447
    Abstract: Particles are sorted into paths based on a measurable parameter by forming them into a stream in at least one duct carried on a body rotating around an axis where the duct is shaped so that the particles are accelerated to cause the particles separated into the duct to be aligned one after another in a row in the duct. The parameter of the particles are measured in the aligned stream one after the other and the particles are directed into one of a plurality of paths as determined by the measurement. In one arrangement the body comprises a disk member having a front face facing a supply conduit and the duct lies in a radial plane of the disk member. In one arrangement the measurement of the parameter is carried out by one or more measurement devices either carried on the disk or outside the edge of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: 9754741 Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: David Prystupa, John Pacak, Robert Kozakewich
  • Patent number: 10933429
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of separating particles using a combination of acoustophoresis and acoustic fluid relocation. The disclosure also describes a microfluidic device that can be used to separate particles using a combination of acoustophoresis and acoustic fluid relocation. The disclosure describes methods of separating nanoparticles, microparticles, nanoparticles from microparticles, and micron-sized particles from sub-micron-sized particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NEW MEXICO TECH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PARK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Menake Piyasena, Gayatri P. Gautam
  • Patent number: 10928328
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus for inspecting a flow of particulate material, comprising: a background reflector (105) adjacent which in use falls a flow of particulate material (F); and a lighting unit (107) for illuminating an elongate viewing field (VF) across the background reflector (105), the viewing field (VF) having a first width (w1); wherein the lighting unit (107) comprises a fixed, non-scanning light source (115), and the light source (115) is formed of one or more light elements (120) which define a second width (w2) which is shorter than the first width (w1) of the viewing field (VF).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Buhler Sortex Ltd.
    Inventors: Benedict Deefholts, Timothy Kelf
  • Patent number: 10913075
    Abstract: A flotation arrangement for treating mineral ore particles suspended in slurry includes a primary flotation line with a rougher part and a scavenger part. Overflow of at least one rougher primary flotation cell is arranged to flow directly into a rougher cleaner cell. Underflow from a first rougher cleaner flotation cell is combined into overflow from a rougher primary flotation cell downstream from the rougher primary flotation cell from which the first rougher cleaner flotation cell receives primary overflow; or into combined overflows from rougher primary flotation cells downstream from the rougher primary flotation cell from which the first rougher cleaner flotation cell receives primary overflow; or into overflow from an additional rougher cleaner cell which receives primary overflow from at least one rougher primary flotation cell downstream from the rougher primary flotation cell from which the first rougher cleaner flotation cell receives primary overflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Antti Rinne, Peter Bourke
  • Patent number: 10898926
    Abstract: A controller of a material handling system performs a method of dynamic spacing on a sortation conveyor by predicting fullness of divert destinations. Required tray spacing between inducted articles destined for the same divert destination can be reduced when the divert destination is calculated to have sufficient capacity. Fewer discharge commands need to be ignored due to insufficient tray spacing. The material handling systems can achieve higher throughput by having fewer articles that cannot be discharged to an assigned destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Intelligrated Headquarters, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Kenneth Vegh, Richmond Emory Best, Thomas Severinsen
  • Patent number: 10898947
    Abstract: A process of recovering clean sand and active clay from sand or dust from a foundry is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerald W. Darlington, Jr., Elliot Francis Halphen, Liam Matthew Miller