Patents Examined by Joseph Dillon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11089819
    Abstract: A system for conveying electronic cigarette components, including: a guide including a stopping station; a carriage to slide along the guide; a retaining device for holding a component of an electronic cigarette; and a locking unit for locking the carriage relative to the guide at the stopping station. The locking unit includes: two abutment elements, mounted on the carriage and disposed at a predetermined mutual distance; and an inserting element which is: disposed at the stopping station; shaped such that first and second edges contact the abutment elements, respectively, when the carriage is at the stopping station; movable between a retracted position free from the abutment elements to allow the carriage to slide, and an advanced position contacting the abutment elements to prevent the carriage from sliding. Each abutment element is rotatable about its axis to facilitate movement of the inserting element between the two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: G.D S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luca Testoni, Carlo Moretti, Paolo Degliesposti, Luca Lanzarini, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11091327
    Abstract: A material conveying system, comprising: a plurality of material sources for providing material to be transferred; a plurality of destination locations for receiving material from one or more of the plurality of material sources, wherein each destination location has a destination material inlet valve and a destination vacuum valve; a plurality of material conveying tubes; a plurality of vacuum pumps wherein each vacuum pump is operatively connected to one or more of the destination vacuum valves via one or more vacuum source tubes, and wherein each of the vacuum pumps is operatively connected to one or more of the material sources through the one or more vacuum source tubes and respective destination vacuum valves, the one or more destination locations and one or more of the plurality of material conveying tubes; a first sensor disposed on or near each destination vacuum valve; a second sensor disposed on or near each material inlet valve; a third sensor disposed on or near a vacuum outlet of each of the vac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: IPEG, Inc
    Inventor: Raymond Kelly
  • Patent number: 11084665
    Abstract: An additive feeder assembly includes a supply reservoir having an outlet and an outlet tube having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet and a second end located vertically higher than the supply reservoir. An air stream transports a first granular material discharged from the supply reservoir and into the first end of the outlet tube to the second end of the outlet tube. A granular material distributor is in fluid communication with the second end of the outlet tube. The granular material distributor has a top end configured for attachment to a feed supply for a second granular material, a central portion located vertically below the top end and configured to mix the first granular material and the second granular material, and a bottom end configured for vertically discharging the mixed first granular material and second granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Plastrac Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Bullivant
  • Patent number: 11078024
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rock processing machine (10) having a feed hopper (40) and a process unit (20) downstream thereof, wherein a conveying device, in particular a hopper discharge belt (12), is assigned to the feed hopper (40), wherein the feed hopper (40) has a hopper side wall (42), and wherein a side-wall heightening (44) is assigned to the hopper side wall (42), which side wall heightening can be swiveled between a folded-down working position and a folded transport position. In such a rock processing machine, the requirements of occupational safety are effectively taken into account in a simple manner if provision is made that an operating unit (50) having a lever (51) for swiveling the side-wall heightening (44) is assigned to the side-wall heightening (44), wherein a transmission element (52) is used to couple the lever (51) to the side-wall heightening (44), and that the side-wall heightening (44) is secured in the folded-down working position using a movable locking element (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Tobias Geywitz, Lars Rudolph, Emil Scheurer
  • Patent number: 11064705
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for aligning dough pieces, comprising a first conveyor, for conveying dough pieces in a direction of conveyance; a second conveyor, for conveying dough pieces in the same direction of conveyance; wherein the second conveyor is arranged as an extension of the first conveyor, and there is a gap in between the first and the second conveyor; wherein a number of transfer units is arranged in parallel in the gap, each transfer unit for transferring dough pieces from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, wherein the transfer units are adapted for independently moving the dough pieces with a directional component perpendicular to the direction of conveyance during transfer from a front side adjacent to the first conveyor to a back side adjacent to the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Johannes Josephus Antonius Van Blokland
  • Patent number: 11066254
    Abstract: A distribution ramp system for a dry product applicator with a pneumatic conveyance system is provided which lifts product that drags along a bottom surface(s) of a delivery line's wall(s) back into a main central or primary airflow portion that carries the product downstream through the pneumatic conveyance system. The system may include a ramp that nests against a bottom wall of the delivery line with a narrow front and wide back so the ramp presents a gradual wedge facing toward the incoming upstream airflow entrained with particulate material of the product, urging particulate material dragging on the bottom wall to lift away from the bottom wall and toward reentry into the primary airflow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Pederson, Charles O'Connell, Joel Denis
  • Patent number: 11066275
    Abstract: A conveyance belt (12) for a conveyor (1) comprises a plurality of cavities (26a-26c). Each of the cavities (26a-26c) is configured for form-fittingly accommodating a corresponding insert (24a-24f) for connecting the conveyance belt (12) with a conveyance element (20) of the conveyor (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Illedits, Alexander Turek
  • Patent number: 11066255
    Abstract: A vacuum conveying system has at least two storage locations and at least two consumers connected by supply conduits and discharge conduits to each other. A vacuum source is provided that produces a vacuum flow/air flow. A central material conduit is provided with valves, wherein the supply conduits and the discharge conduits each have one of the valves associated therewith. The valves actuate conveying paths of bulk material from the at least two storage locations to the at least two consumers. The valves have a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the valves open the material conduit to provide a through passage. In the second position, the valves supply the vacuum flow/air flow to the central material conduit or conduct the vacuum flow/air flow away from the central material conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Walter Kramer
  • Patent number: 11066278
    Abstract: A conveyance element (20) for a conveyor (1), in particular for a people conveyor such as a moving walkway (2), is configured for being moved in a conveying direction and comprises an outer side (20a) configured for accommodating and supporting passengers; and an opposing inner side (20b) facing away from the outer side (20a). At least a portion of the inner side (20b) is a concave portion (32) having a concave shape along the conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Martin Michalke, Bernhard Klutz
  • Patent number: 11059681
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking carriers and other critical path items are provided. The systems and methods comprise structure and functionality to allow for the real-time tracking of pneumatic tube smart carriers and other devices including the use of an IoT capable device, a computer, and an IoT access point. The present disclosure also provides monitoring and analytics capabilities to allow for complex information to be tracked. Such information includes, but is not limited to carrier velocity, air flow, and latch status of the carrier's door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Carl P. Lathan
  • Patent number: 11059212
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular resin material and controlling such conveyance includes a sensor associated with granular plastic resin material receiver with the sensing vacuum level thereat and a microprocessor adjusting vacuum pump speed based on vacuum level sensed at the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Novatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Maguire, James Zinski
  • Patent number: 11046528
    Abstract: Horizontal motion conveyors for moving material are disclosed. The horizontal motion conveyor includes multiple drives. The second drive may float relative to the first drive. The conveyor may be made successively longer by including additional floating drives. Each drive may include a motor such as a servomotor that is connected to the driveshaft that drives the horizontal motion of the conveyor. A control system may control the rotation and positioning of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: Rocky Olmstead
  • Patent number: 11027931
    Abstract: A marker band locator system locates a marker band, from a plurality of marker bands in a hopper, into a band receiver for further processing. A hopper is configured to loosely hold a plurality of marker bands and a band receiver, configured in an indexer, is configured under the hopper such that marker bands gravity feed down to the band receiver. A vacuum source produces a vacuum on the band receiver and if a marker band is properly located therein, the marker band forms a seal with the band receiver and the vacuum pressure exceeds a threshold vacuum pressure level. The indexer then actuates to a secondary position for further processing and removal of the marker band. If the vacuum pressure does not exceed the threshold, a burst of air jostles the marker bands in the hopper until a marker band is seated properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Blockwise Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Jeremiah J Warriner, Ed Goff, Matthew Michael Bradley
  • Patent number: 11014767
    Abstract: A rejection mechanism for a conveyor system, which pushes parcels across a surface, includes a linear actuator and a paddle mounted to the linear actuator for movement between a first position and a second position. The paddle includes a bracket portion, an upright portion, and a lateral wall portion. The lateral wall portion is configured to push parcels across a surface positioned below the lateral wall portion as the paddle is moved from the first position to the second position. In some embodiments, the rejection mechanism can further include a way cover which expands and contracts with movement of the paddle. In some embodiments, the lateral wall portion can be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation defined by a hinge to transition between an engaged and a disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Material Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Josiah Douglas, Bradford James Hood, Paul Receveur, Kurt Michael Wittmer
  • Patent number: 11014787
    Abstract: In a passenger conveyor balustrade apparatus, a lighting box includes: a ceiling portion; and a pair of side surface portions that protrude downward from the ceiling portion so as to face each other, an opening being disposed on a lower portion of the lighting box. A lighting holder that holds a lighting appliance is mounted inside the lighting box. The lighting holder has an elastically deforming portion. The lighting holder is held inside the lighting box by being pressed against the pair of side surface portions by elastically deforming the elastically deforming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keita Tamaki
  • Patent number: 11008171
    Abstract: A high angle conveyor includes a frame, a first conveyor belt, a second conveyor belt, and a pressing assembly configured to press the first conveyor belt toward the second conveyor belt. The pressing assembly includes a bracket pivotally coupled to the frame, a roller support pivotally coupled to the bracket at a pivot joint, a plurality of rollers coupled to the roller support, the plurality of rollers configured to engage the first conveyor belt, and a deflector configured to inhibit contact between the first conveyor belt and the pivot joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: JOY GLOBAL CONVEYORS INC
    Inventors: Gavin Wilson, Stevie Kim Nix
  • Patent number: 11001453
    Abstract: An article transport device includes: an input section configured to input a package; an input belt conveyor configured to transport, toward a seal attaching mechanism, the package input by the input section; a passage detection sensor configured to detect that the package transported by the input belt conveyor passes by a predetermined position; a suspending pusher configured to temporarily suspend a subsequent package while a package is processed by the seal attaching mechanism; and an article stopper configured to block the subsequent package in a traveling direction and suspend the subsequent package while the package is processed by the seal attaching mechanism. An article detection sensor is disposed upstream of the passage detection sensor. When the passage detection sensor detects passage of one package, the suspending pusher is caused to operate so that a subsequent package is temporarily suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: OSAKA SEALING PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Hironaka, Tetsuya Kishimoto, Kenichi Shibao
  • Patent number: 10994941
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for removable conveyor cartridge assemblies for mobile carrier units. In one embodiment, an example removable assembly for a mobile carrier unit of a sortation system may include a frame, a conveyor belt disposed about the frame, a first sheet metal component coupled to a first side of the frame, the first sheet metal component including a first set of tabs extending from the first sheet metal component, and a tensioning device configured to tension the conveyor belt, the tensioning device having a first screw that engages a first tab of the first set of tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajeev Dwivedi, Vivek S. Narayanan, Ganesh Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 10994939
    Abstract: A rubberized pad with high flexibility, in particular for chains for handling/lifting product line products, has a vertical symmetry axis with a full base for coupling with the chain and a hollow upper part, including a wall opposed with respect to said base and suitable for engaging with a conveyed product. The pad has a total height and the upper part includes lateral walls having two semi-walls, with a thickness and connected with the wall, and two semi-walls having a thickness connected with the base. The pairs of semi-walls making between each other an angle (a1) directed toward the hollow part of the upper part, the semi-walls realizing an angle (a2) with respect to the vertical symmetry axis of the pad. The pad has a ratio between the height and thickness of ?10, in that the angle (a1) is ?90°, and in that the angle (a2) is ?40°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: REGINA CATENE CALIBRATE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Garbagnati, Norberto Cattaneo
  • Patent number: 10994952
    Abstract: A plenum of distributing a flow of air from an air source includes ports extending from a face element of a body. The ports are configured to direct the flow of air out of the plenum, and the ports are arranged on the face element in a first row having first length, a second row having a second length, and a third row having a third length. The first row is positioned proximate to the top element, the third row is positioned proximate to the bottom element, and the second row is positioned between the first row and the third row. In addition, the second length is greater than the first length and the third length, and a shape of the face element is configured to accommodate the first length of the first row, the second length of the second row, and the third length of the third row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ka Po Catherine Hui, Martin J. Roberge, Joel Jean-Claude Denis, Owen Robert Carlton, Dennis George Thompson