Patents Examined by Mark C. Hageman
  • Patent number: 11970335
    Abstract: A hanging register storage unit for a bending machine for spacer frames of insulating glass panes includes: a plurality of hanging registers which each have a storage site for a stack of unbent spacer profiles; a storage station having a plurality of receiving sites for in each case one of the hanging registers; a removal station having at least one receiving site for one of the hanging registers; and a conveyor device for transporting hanging registers between the receiving sites of the storage station and the receiving site of the removal station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Glaston Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Schuler
  • Patent number: 11964860
    Abstract: Apparatus for installing a solar panel array in parallel rows on panel support structure, as for solar farms, including a lift-and-place vehicle with characterizing features for moving between and along rows of support structure. Such vehicle includes a driven ground-engaging base, a lifting mast extending upwardly and in a fore/aft direction to define a panel-loading space therebeneath, a liftable trolley beam secured to the mast over the panel-loading space and extending laterally between adjacent rows, a traversing trolley movable along the beam, and a panel-placing carrier suspended from the trolley for up/down and lateral movement of carried panels. A panel-pallet vehicle is hitched to the lift-and-place vehicle, extends under the panel-loading space, and has a pallet carrier adjacent to the panel-loading space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Bailey Specialty Cranes and Aerials, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey H. Bailey
  • Patent number: 11958378
    Abstract: A movable battery replacing platform includes a travel-driving portion used for driving the movable battery replacing platform to move on the ground; a lifting portion mounted on the travel-driving portion, for lifting a battery during the replacement of the battery; and a battery mounting portion mounted on the top of the lifting portion, for placing a battery to be replaced or a replaced battery. The battery mounting porting is provided with a battery replacing device. The device can use an unlocking device to unlock a battery locked on the bottom of an electric vehicle, automatically aligning an unlocking point of a battery locking mechanism and realizing automatic unlocking in the movement. The angle of an upper board relative to the battery unlocking position can be adjusted by a movement actuating device, so that the unlocking point of the battery can automatically fit where the movable battery replacing platform remains still.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: SHANGHAI DIANBA NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., AULTON NEW ENERGY AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY GROUP
    Inventors: Jianping Zhang, Chunhua Huang, Junqiao Zhou, Minghou Zhu, Xiaodong Li, Rui Zou, Shiyong Di
  • Patent number: 11952249
    Abstract: A material transport cart includes a cart body, a material support body coupled to the cart body, a wheel coupled to the cart body, a motor operable to drive the wheel, and a powered lift assembly. The powered lift assembly is coupled to the cart body and to the material support body. The powered lift assembly is operable to lift the material support body relative to the cart body. A removable battery is electrically coupled to and operable to supply power to both the motor and the powered lift assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Schwalbach, Christina Prestidge-Kadrlik, Paul Rossetto, Logan M. Hietpas, Matt Thurin, Kathleen M. Keegan, James Wekwert
  • Patent number: 11945649
    Abstract: Bin retrieval robots configured to pick or put-away bins within a logistics facility and to transport one or more picked bins. Methods and systems for autonomous picking or put-away of bins within a logistics facility that include the bin retrieval robot(s) are also disclosed. The systems include a remote server and at least one bin retrieval robot, wherein the remote server is configured to communicate with the bin retrieval robot(s) to send and receive picking data, and the bin retrieval robot(s) are configured to autonomously navigate and position within the logistics facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: IAM Robotics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Galluzzo, Vladimir Altman
  • Patent number: 11939199
    Abstract: A mounting bracket a generally C-shaped arrangement for receiving a fork carrier beam of a drywall crane fork assembly. A removable sidewall carried by the mounting bracket for enclosing the mounting bracket around the fork carrier beam. A tensioning member carried by the removable sidewall for biasing against the fork carrier beam. An extension arm carried in an extension arm port, wherein the extension arm has a generally L-shaped arrangement with a first arm portion adjustably carried in the extension arm port, and a second arm portion disposed at a distal end of the first arm portion and extending perpendicular to the first arm portion. Accordingly, the mounting bracket is removably mountable around the fork carrier beam and provides the extension arm extending in an adjustable arrangement perpendicular to lifting forks of the drywall crane fork assembly to assist with sliding drywall off the fork assembly over an extended distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Kevin Crocker
  • Patent number: 11939152
    Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently managing bulk material are provided. The disclosure is directed to a portable support structure used to receive one or more portable containers of bulk material and output bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. The portable support structure may include a frame for receiving and holding the one or more portable bulk material containers in an elevated position proximate the blender hopper, as well as one or more gravity feed outlets for routing the bulk material from the containers directly into the blender hopper. In some embodiments, the portable support structure may be transported to the well site on a trailer, unloaded from the trailer, and positioned proximate the blender unit. In other embodiments, the portable support structure may be a mobile support structure that is integrated into a trailer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Hawkins, Bryan John Lewis, Tori H. Miller, Wesley John Warren, Austin Carl Schaffner, Glenn Ray Fowler, Bryan Chapman Lucas, Calvin L. Stegemoeller
  • Patent number: 11939100
    Abstract: A product unpacking system includes a work surface at a first height and a product unloading position at a second height. An adjustable cutter is positioned adjacent to the work surface and configured to cut a plurality of sides of each case. A case movement device, such as a robot or manual mover, is configured to retrieve a case from a group of cases and move the case to the cutter to cut a plurality of sides of the case. The case movement device may then move the cut case to an unload position over a product container to allow products within the case to drop into the product container. A system of conveyors may be used to convey empty product containers toward the work surface and to convey filled product containers away from the work surface. The system may be automated to receive recipe information for each case to be unloaded and modify parameters of the system based on the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DLN Integrated Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Schaafsma, Robert Clarkson, Garrett Smith, Travis Kempton, Christopher Anten, Zachary Nickels
  • Patent number: 11939198
    Abstract: In a transporting system for transporting a container, and a method for operating a production installation having a transporting system, the transporting system has a vehicle and a transport vehicle, on whose frame two wheel drives are disposed, which are set apart from each other and have a wheel in each case, in particular, the two wheels are disposed so as to touch a floor in order to generate traction force for the transport vehicle, in particular, the wheel axles of the two wheels are aligned parallel to each other. A first and a second shoulder part are situated and/or provided on the frame, and the first shoulder part is situated at a distance from the second shoulder part, and a space region is situated between the wheel drives and between the shoulder parts, into which the vehicle together with the container it accommodates is able to be driven and out of which the vehicle together with the container may be driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Johann Soder
  • Patent number: 11932488
    Abstract: A lift structure of a rack storage system including a pair of vertical post, a pair of guide rail portions stacked one on top of the other, a mounting brace, and a mounting platform attached to the pair of vertical post. The mounting brace includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust an alignment between the pair of guide rail portions fastened together by a clamping plate. A load handling station is secured to the mounting platform to support loads transported to and from the rack storage system, wherein the load handling station is located by locating a position of the mounting platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS, LLC
    Inventors: Justen Pahls, Benjamin Hart, Anthony Turco
  • Patent number: 11933005
    Abstract: The animal waste collection robot is a robot. The animal waste collection robot automatically collects befoulment generated by an animal. The animal waste collection robot is an automated device. The animal waste collection robot is an independently powered electric circuit. By independently powered is meant that the animal waste collection robot can operate without an electrical connection to an external power source. The animal waste collection robot comprises a vehicle, a crane, a control circuit, and a pan. The control circuit mounts in the vehicle. The crane and the pan mount on the vehicle. The vehicle transports the animal waste collection robot over a patrol route. The control circuit: a) scans the patrol route for befoulment; b) operates the crane to collect the befoulment; and, c) further operates the crane to transport the befoulment to the pan for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Marie Nichols
  • Patent number: 11932491
    Abstract: A transfer station configured to handle cargo receptacles, wherein the transfer station includes: a transfer device that includes at least one holder component configured to hold and release cargo receptacles, at least one platform configured to support the cargo receptacles, at least one transfer device frame extending in a vertical direction, in which the at least one platform is mounted in a vertically displaceable manner, the transfer device frame includes at least one lifting drive component configured to vertically displace the platform, a base member on which the transfer device frame is mounted, an electronic circuit configured to control the operation of at least one component of the transfer station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Pick8Ship Technology AG
    Inventor: Josef A. Haid
  • Patent number: 11926495
    Abstract: A trailer with an incorporated conveyor assembly, having at least one conveyor belt assembly with a conveyor belt and a frame. A trailer base assembly has a trailer floor, whereby the frame is mounted onto the trailer base assembly. Further having a trailer frame assembly. The at least one conveyor belt assembly further has a motorized pulley connected to a motor that is mounted onto the frame. The at least one conveyor belt assembly further has rollers and a switch. The trailer base assembly has first and second trailer floor ends. The trailer base assembly further has at least first and second trailer floor edges, and at least one exterior conveyor belt cover. The conveyor belt is positioned between the first and second trailer floor edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Fidel Montejo
  • Patent number: 11919731
    Abstract: A blocking device (11) for a truck (2) is provided. The blocking device (11) includes at least one height-adjustable blocking arm (24), wherein the at least one blocking arm (24) includes a telescopable plunger (29). The plunger (29) is movable from below the truck (2) against a truck underride guard (5), whereby a rolling-away or driving-away of the truck is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Niclas Grunewald
  • Patent number: 11897694
    Abstract: A storage system includes a rack with a plurality of layers, each layer including an aisle and a plurality of rows extending from the aisle defining storage locations for items. A shuttle usable with the rack includes a first cart movable along the aisle and a second cart configured to be carriable by the first cart and to be movable along a row. The second cart is configured to carry an item between the first cart and the storage locations. A conveyor is located on one of the first or second carts to move the item onto or off the first cart. Related methods of storing and/or retrieving items from a rack are also disclosed. A rack system is disclosed and is readily assembled without welding, transferring loading so that the weight of the rack and any item stored therein is supported by the upright elements via support brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: Rafael Salichs, Juan Carlos Tamayo
  • Patent number: 11891254
    Abstract: An automated guided vehicle with a multistage loading structure includes a vehicle body, and a loader in the vehicle body and operative to load articles in a multistage manner. The loader has a loading unit that is positioned between the articles loaded in the multistage manner and separately loads the articles. The loading unit moves up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Bosung Kim, Gwanho Kim, Seonghoon Park, Jaenam Lee
  • Patent number: 11884489
    Abstract: A picking device for storing bottles and a corresponding method are provided. The picking device includes a plurality of storage locations for bottles, an operating device having a gripper, at least one storing device, at least one identification device and an unloading device. The storage locations have storage location receptacles and the storing device has at least one storing receptacle for bottles, wherein the storage location receptacles and the storing receptacle are configured such that the bottles are held therein in such a way that they are protected against rolling. The gripper includes a gripping member configured such that the bottles are movable from the storing receptacles and storage location receptacles by being lifted by the gripping member or by being pulled to a holding area of the gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hellenbrand
  • Patent number: 11878900
    Abstract: A shoe plate for use in a clamp assembly for a lift truck load handler. The shoe plate has a spine, an outside wear rib, and a load-side wear rib. The shoe plate is configured to couple detachably and interchangeably to either one of two clamp plates of a clamp assembly on a load-side of a lower portion of the clamp plate. The shoe plates are made of harder and more wear resistant materials than the clamp plates. The shoe plate has a first bracket at one end of the spine and a second bracket at the other end. Each of the brackets has a notch configured to mate with a front edge of the lower portion of either one of the two clamp plates. The brackets are also each configured to insert into a bracket recess in the load-side of one of the two clamp plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: RIGHTLINE EQUIPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Jim D. Hamlik, Joel D. Hamlik, Kevin Sandison
  • Patent number: 11873176
    Abstract: An Urban Intermodal Freight System is capable of transporting large volumes and tonnage of freight by containerized or other means on a mass transit rail system. It captures excess capacity in the existing mass transit rail infrastructure to move packages, parcels, and freight by using miniaturized intermodal cargo containers that are designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing transit infrastructure, while displacing delivery trucks from increasingly crowded city streets. By enabling inbound trucks to transfer their cargo to the Urban Intermodal Freight System at a city's outskirts, freight is delivered without trucks entering congested downtown areas, greatly alleviating traffic congestion, delays, greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental impacts. The Linear Loading Dock and Conveyor System may have other useful applications, for example to access a facility, building or vehicle, or in other circumstances where off street truck parking or loading docks are not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lawrence Kinzler
  • Patent number: 11866259
    Abstract: A container-handling vehicle picks up storage containers from a three-dimensional grid of an underlying storage system. The container-handling vehicle has a vehicle body and wheels for moving the vehicle in two perpendicular directions on the grid. The vehicle body surrounds a cavity within which at least a first lifting device and a second lifting device are positioned adjacent to each other. Each lifting device is independently controlled and arranged to lift a storage container from the grid and into the cavity. The vehicle includes at least one vertical frame guiding element arranged inside the cavity. The frame guiding element extends between the lifting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Autostore Technology AS
    Inventors: Trond Austrheim, Jørgen Djuve Heggebø