Patents Examined by Nicolas A Arnett
  • Patent number: 11404297
    Abstract: A load port system includes an isolation compartment coupled to an equipment front end module (EFEM). Reactive gas is to be removed from the isolation compartment. The load port system further includes an elevator disposed in the isolation compartment. The elevator is coupled to an elevator arm that extends from the isolation compartment into the EFEM through an opening to raise and lower a carrier opener within the EFEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke W. Bonecutter, David T. Blahnik, Paul B. Reuter
  • Patent number: 11401055
    Abstract: A system for filling a chambered package includes a carrying mechanism travelling in a machine direction and having chambered recesses defined about a surface thereof, a first dispensing nozzle configured to dispense a quantity of a medium onto the surface of the carrying mechanism for direction into the chambered recesses in a first group of the chambered recesses defined about the surface of the carrying mechanism, and a first wiper blade disposed along the carrying mechanism in the machine direction after the first dispensing nozzle, the first wiper blade defining a curvilinear surface having crests configured to direct the quantity of the medium into the chambered recesses in the first group of the chambered recesses and troughs configured to direct the quantity of the medium away from entering the chambered recesses in the second group of the chambered recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Johnson, Jonathan Wharton, Christopher King, Carl Henry, Eddie A. Roman
  • Patent number: 11389377
    Abstract: A filling aid. The filling aid includes a needle housing portion including at least one tab having a starting position and a filling position, and a filling needle cradle including a filling needle, the filling needle cradle slidable connected to the needle housing portion and having a starting position and a filling position, wherein when the at least one tab on the needle housing moves from a starting position to a filling position, the filling needle cradle slides from a starting position to a filling position, and wherein when the at least one tab on the needle housing moves from a filling position to a starting position, the filling needle cradle slides from a filling position to a starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Richard J. Lanigan, Dean Kamen, Bright C. K. Foo, Kevin L. Grant, Lisa A. Gustin
  • Patent number: 11390400
    Abstract: The invention provides a powder dispenser comprising a tube of circular cross-section; an auger extending axially through the tube; and a disc-shaped distributor extending laterally to the axis of the tube and partially closing the tube, wherein the disc-shaped distributor comprises a central ring and arms extending radially therefrom, characterised in that, the central ring has a radius of between 55%-90% of the internal radius of the tube; at least one of the arms extends to no more than 1 mm from the internal wall of the tube; and wherein there is a distance defined by a circular arc concentric with the tube between each arm at a distance of 1 mm from the tube wall of between 30%-65% of the internal radius of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Luanga Nchari, Neil Rogers
  • Patent number: 11388899
    Abstract: An intelligent, automated system for loading agricultural product application equipment is provided in which a control system can determine a necessary amount of product for completing a field operation and can automatically couple with a tendering system to receive such product at an optimal time and location. The control system can determine a current amount of product, a projected amount of product necessary to complete a field operation and a refill amount of product from the current amount and the projected amount, then transmit the refill amount to the tender. The control system can further determine whether a position of the equipment relative to the tender is within a threshold, and whether an intake coupler of the equipment is connected to a supply coupler of the tender, and can control valve(s) to open and close channel(s) for loading fluid into the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Scott Long, Nathan Brooks, Monte Weller, Lyle Mangen, Michael Armstrong
  • Patent number: 11384903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tank for storing a two-phase cryogenic mixture of liquid and gas, comprising a first casing, at least one drawing pipe, a tank filling circuit, the tank comprising a sensor assembly measuring the pressure in the first casing, the tank comprising a pipe for pressurizing the internal casing, comprising an upstream end connected to the lower end of the first casing and a downstream end connected to the upper part of the first casing, the pressurization line comprising at least one regulating valve and a heater, in particular a vaporization heat exchanger. The invention is characterized in that the regulating valve is configured to automatically maintain the pressure in the first casing at a minimum value by ensuring, when the pressure in the first casing is lower than said first value, a circulation of liquid taken from the first casing in the heater and a re-injection of said heated fluid into the first casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Olivier Beuneken, Didier Geneste, Regis Pointeau
  • Patent number: 11376949
    Abstract: A closure device for a fluid container, in particular a hydraulic tank, has a base (4), which can be attached to the container opening and has a cover part (2), which encloses a ventilation and/or a filter device (36). The cover part (2) is held on the base (4) so as to be freely rotatable in a functional unlocking position. In a functional locking position, the closure device permits the container opening to be unlocked by a safety device (48, 50, 58) while connecting the cover part (2) to the base (4). The safety device (48, 50, 58) can be actuated by a magnetic device generating a magnetic field (62). The magnetic device establishes the functional locking position of the cover (2) and the base (4) by magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Kerber
  • Patent number: 11377238
    Abstract: A packaging machine and method for filling bulk materials into packages with a rotatable machine frame and a plurality of circumferentially arranged filling spouts. During frame rotation, bulk materials are filled into packages. A machine silo is configured at the machine frame which has a storage volume for storing a quantity of bulk materials for filling a plurality of packages. Bulk materials are filled into the attributed packages from the silo through the filling spout. The machine silo is connected with a material supply with a controllable closing member for feeding bulk materials to the machine silo. A controller controls the closing member of the material supply dependent on the fill level to reduce the height of fall of the bulk materials being fed into the silo, or to avoid a free fall of the bulk materials during the feeding of bulk materials into the machine silo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HAVER & BOECKER OHG
    Inventors: Klaus Siewecke, Willi Vollenkemper
  • Patent number: 11376196
    Abstract: A filling machine for filling capsules a product comprises a plurality of operative stations for carrying out operations on the capsules, a movement device provided with seats for housing and moving the capsules through the operative stations; and a weighing station to weigh of the capsules and comprising a weighing unit and a transfer system to transfer the capsules from the movement device to the weighing unit and vice versa. The weighing unit comprises a gripping element coupled with a weighing cell and provided with a housing for receiving and holding the capsule to be weighed. The transfer system include a first transfer element to remove the capsule from the seat of the movement device and insert it in the housing to measure its weight, and a second transfer element to remove the body from the housing and insert it in the seat of the movement device, after the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Ribani, Maurizio Bedetti, Alessandro Masotti, Lorenzo Maldina
  • Patent number: 11376950
    Abstract: A method grants an enablement of refueling of a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps: i) detecting a tank temperature value which is indicative of the present temperature of at least one pressure vessel of the motor vehicle and/or of the fuel stored in the at least one pressure vessel; ii) determining a temperature difference value which is indicative of the present difference between the tank temperature value and an ambient temperature value which is indicative of the ambient temperature; and iii) releasing a tank flap, wherein the tank flap is released by the motor vehicle for the purposes of refueling only if the temperature difference value is lower than a temperature difference threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Szoucsek
  • Patent number: 11377246
    Abstract: An adjustable table assembly for use in a filler assembly includes a table having a top surface configured to receive a flexible container thereon and a clamp disposed on the table and configured to releasably secure the flexible container to the table. The table has an infeed end and an outfeed end opposite the infeed end. The table is movable along a plurality of rails affixed to the filler assembly. The table is movable between a loading position, in which the table is configured to receive the flexible container, and an operating position, in which the table is inside the filler assembly. The movement of the table along the plurality of rails is along a first axis. Filler assemblies and methods of using adjustable table assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: LIQUI-BOX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tad Menear, John Woodhouse, John. J. Hildebrand
  • Patent number: 11370648
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a beverage includes a housing, a first receptacle, a second receptacle, a cutting assembly, a water source, and at least one water outlet. The first receptacle is positioned in the housing for accepting a first beverage container containing a liquid. The second receptacle is positioned in the housing for accepting a second beverage container containing a liquid. The cutting assembly has a cutting blade that is movable relative to the first and second receptacles for opening the first and second containers substantially simultaneously so that liquid stored therein can be at least in part evacuated. The water source is coupled to the housing The at least one water outlet is associated with one or more of the first and second receptacles for adding water to the liquid from the first and second beverage containers from the water source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Bibo Barmaid LLC
    Inventors: Douglas F. Melville, Jr., Gary M. Barch, Craig Bures, Debra L. Walker
  • Patent number: 11370646
    Abstract: A device for filling a fill product into a container to be filled in a beverage bottling plant. The device includes a fill product reservoir for storing the fill product, a fill product channel, and a filling member in fluid communication with the fill product reservoir via the fill product channel. The filling member is configured to introduce the fill product into the container to be filled and the filling member communicates via media channels to provide media flows for two or more functions: flushing the container with a flushing gas, pre-pressurizing the container before it is filled, returning gas displaced during the filling of the container, relieving a gas overpressure in the container, and circulating a hot fill product through the filling member for controlling a temperature. A single media channel of the media channels is configured to provide the media flows for at least two of the functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Josef Doblinger, Holger Mueller, Franz Braun, Christian Gebauer, Angela Gruenwald, Bruno Landler, Sebastian Passberger
  • Patent number: 11370567
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for vacuum and vent tube stoppering a medical container. The device includes a main body defining an internal volume that has a first variable pressure chamber configured to be connected to a vacuum pump, the main body being configured to receive the proximal end of a medical container so that said medical container is in communication with the first variable pressure chamber. A vent device including a vent tube is moveable inside the internal volume of the main body along a longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position and a distal operative position. A piston rod is moveable inside the internal volume of the vent tube along the longitudinal axis between a proximal rest position and a distal operative position. A container holder system is provided in the main body, in communication with the first variable pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson France
    Inventors: Gwenn Le Dimet, Julien Gagliano
  • Patent number: 11367642
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a carrier storage rack configured to place and store a carrier that accommodates a substrate; a gas supply configured to supply an inert gas into the carrier placed on the carrier storage rack; and a controller configured to control whether to supply the inert gas into the carrier based on at least one of carrier information and substrate information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Moriyoshi Kinoshita, Yuji Sasaki, Junichi Sato, Takashi Asakawa
  • Patent number: 11364836
    Abstract: A portable cooking oil distribution device for filling remote fryers with fresh cooking oil. In other embodiments the device can also collect used cooking oil from the fryer. In one embodiment, a portable device includes a fresh oil tank, a three-way valve connected by piping to the fresh oil tank, a pump connected by piping to the three-way valve, and a nozzle connected by piping to the pump, the nozzle having an outlet tube connected to the piping between the pump and the nozzle. The device may also include a used oil tank, a second three-way valve connected by piping to the used oil tank, a second pump connected by piping to the three-way valve, and piping connecting the second pump to the nozzle, where the nozzle includes a inlet tube connected to the piping between the pump and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Oilmatic Systems LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allora, Ronald B. Dana, Michael Allora, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11359769
    Abstract: A cartridge loader includes a lever arm, a hinge axle and a cam centered on the hinge axle, and a housing for receiving a cartridge, the housing having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to connect to an appliance, and the second end adapted to allow the lever arm to open and close, the housing having an aperture exposing an interior of the housing, the aperture shaped to receive the cartridge and the lever arm, wherein the cam is adapted to assist in seating the cartridge in the housing when the lever arm is closed, and ejecting the cartridge when the lever arm is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: BREAKEATS LLC
    Inventors: Ezra Robert Gold, Robert James Fanfelle
  • Patent number: 11358743
    Abstract: A tube holder for a tube-filling machine has a cup-shaped housing which comprises an upwardly opening tube receiving means into which a tube is insertable by way of one axial end region thereof. A clamping device, by which a clamping force can be applied to the tube, is arranged in the region of the tube wall of the tube receiving means. It can be provided in this case that that the clamping device comprises at least one magnet which is movable by at least one electric coil and/or at least one permanent magnet between a clamping position, in which a clamping force is applied to the tube, and a releasing position in which a clamping force is not applied to the tube. Alternatively, the clamping device can comprise a magnetorheological fluid, the viscosity of which is modifiable by at least one electric coil and/or at least one permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Speck, Andreas Siegele, Rudolf Hörter
  • Patent number: 11352244
    Abstract: A filler head apparatus 20 for hygienically filling and emptying containers 22 through a fitment 24 incorporated with the container 22 includes a cylindrical outer housing 30 for receiving a hollow bore inner cylinder 32 which is actuated to simultaneously reciprocate and rotate about a central axis 33 within the outer housing. A transfer tube assembly 34 is mounted to the inner cylinder 32 to travel with the inner cylinder between an extended position engaged with the fitment 24 and a retracted position disengage from the fitment. When the transfer tube assembly is engaged with the fitment, flowable content or product may be transferred to or from the container 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Daniel Milla, Philip Gregory Hebbler, Brandon Coles
  • Patent number: 11345491
    Abstract: A device (10) for dosing a powder, in particular a pulverulent pharmaceutical, having a storage container (24) which has a storage chamber for storing a stored quantity of the powder to be dosed, wherein the storage container has a dosing opening (32), wherein the device has a dosing control element which can be movably driven and which, in a closing position, closes the dosing opening and, in at least one freeing position, frees the dosing opening for the dispensing of powder from the storage container into a target container to be filled, wherein the device has a vibration means which sets the powder in vibration in order to assist with the dispensing of powder, wherein the storage container has two container parts which are movable relative to one another and which delimit mutually connected sub-chambers of the storage chamber and each store a portion of the stored quantity of powder, wherein a first container part (28) has the dosing opening and wherein the vibration means cooperates with the first contai
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Syntegon Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Wagner, Thomas Brinz