Patents Examined by Rakesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 11945672
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing one item of media at a time from an item of media container. The apparatus includes a movable element locatable in an abutting relationship with an elected item of media in a media container and disposed to vibrating against the elected item of media to permit the elected item of media to be subsequently be removed alone from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Leeper
  • Patent number: 11944241
    Abstract: The hands-free toilet paper dispenser comprises a toilet paper holder, a sheet feeder mechanism, a motion sensor, and a fragrance dispenser. The hands-free toilet paper dispenser may mount on a wall of a bathroom adjacent to a toilet. The hands-free toilet paper dispenser may hold a roll of toilet paper on the toilet paper holder. The sheet feeder mechanism may be adapted to dispense one or more sheets of toilet paper when a user's hand passes in front of the motion sensor without having to touch the hands-free toilet paper dispenser. The fragrance dispenser may be operable to dispense a fragrance into the bathroom to mask odors resulting from use of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Kristen Thelander
  • Patent number: 11944592
    Abstract: A rotor having a plurality of tablet guide paths is rotatably contained in a cassette main body. The rotor facing an inverse conical-shaped inclined inner surface of the cassette main body includes an inclined outer surface in each of the plurality of tablet guide paths. A distance between the inverse conical-shaped inclined inner surface of the cassette main body and the inclined outer surface of the table guide path can be adjusted by raising and lowering the rotor with respect to the cassette main body. A distance between a partitioning member and a tablet support table can be adjusted by raising and lowering the tablet support table provided on a lower side of the partitioning member. A distance between a first vertical protruding piece and a second vertical protruding piece constituting the tablet guide path can be adjusted by relatively rotating a first movable member and a second movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: YUYAMA MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Koike, Ryosuke Fukamori
  • Patent number: 11938012
    Abstract: A method and device for dispensing bandages is disclosed. The method and device may include an exterior enclosing an interior of the bandage dispensing device, a dispensing port, and a bandage carriage located within the interior of the device. In some embodiments, the device may further include a first bandage of a plurality of bandages, each having a first end and a second end, the bandage carriage having a plurality of bandage slots, and the second end of the first bandage extends through a first bandage slot of the plurality of bandage slots. A method for dispensing bandages is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Glenn Karnofsky
  • Patent number: 11930946
    Abstract: A portable toothpick dispenser particularly suited for storing and dispensing nicotine-infused toothpicks incorporates a child-resistant housing closure for preventing access to toothpicks stored within an interior toothpick storage space. Front and rear housing portions are contiguous with one another via a living hinge located along aligned housing sides to form a clamshell-like housing structure. Disengagement of a housing closure locking structure requires a user to simultaneously press central portions of corresponding front and rear housing portion bodies inwardly toward one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Evan T. Grossman
  • Patent number: 11932471
    Abstract: A dispensing container is provided, the container including an outer shell comprising a top, a bottom, sidewalls extending between the top and bottom, and two ends, at least one end being open; an inner tray, slidably received within the outer shell, comprising at least one storage compartment adapted for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed, and comprising at least one depressible detent, the detent comprising a raised surface that abuts the outer shell; wherein, in a closed configuration, the detent holds the inner tray within the outer shell, and wherein the at least one detent may be depressed by pressure to allow the inner tray to slide relative to the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Ryan Bailey, John Anthony Gelardi
  • Patent number: 11928912
    Abstract: An automatic heating vending machine including a storage space, a storage mechanism, a fetching mechanism, a gripping arm mechanism, a rotating disc mechanism and a heating mechanism are disclosed. The storage mechanism is installed in the storage space to store food. The fetching mechanism is installed in the storage space and disposed under the storage mechanism to catch the food. The gripping arm mechanism grips the food on the fetching mechanism. The rotating disc mechanism is disposed on one side of the gripping arm mechanism. The gripping arm mechanism grips the food and then places the food on the rotating disc mechanism. The heating mechanism is disposed above the rotating disc mechanism. After the food has been placed on the rotating disc mechanism, the rotating disc mechanism undergoes horizontal movement and vertical movement, allowing the food to be admitted to the heating mechanism and heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hillever Innovation Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Han-Hui Lee, Meng-Hsuan Lee, Ming-Tse Lee
  • Patent number: 11896555
    Abstract: A system for dispensing and compounding errors prevention is disclosed. The system for dispensing and compounding errors prevention comprises at least one camera for receiving a real-time image of personnel preparing a prescription; a data storage for storing a medication recipe of a corresponding patient; an identification module for determining an identification tag of a drug from a container of the drug or a physical appearance of the drug; a measurement module for determining an amount of the drug being dispensed by the personnel; a comparison module in communication with the identification module and the measurement module for determining whether the amount of the drug being dispensed by the personnel or the identification tag of the drug match the medication recipe; and an output device for outputting a notification to the personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Chun Ching Lin
  • Patent number: 11897715
    Abstract: A sensing arrangement for indicating the depletion of a coreless roll of absorbent paper web material in a dispenser, the sensing arrangement includes a roll support for supporting an inner circumference of the coreless roll, the roll support extending along a longitudinal center axis, the roll support comprising at least one roll expanding portion extending over a part of the roll support length and having a maximum radial extension defining a first radius from the center axis, and at least one sensing portion, extending longitudinally over another part of the roll support length and having a maximum radial extension defining a second radius from the center axis, wherein the first radius is greater than the second radius by a sensing offset length, and a sensing element arranged to sense at the sensing portion the amount of web material remaining on the roll when arranged over the roll support length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Adam T. Elliott, Christian Kasilag, Don Ward
  • Patent number: 11871877
    Abstract: A separation unit for separating a web material along preformed lines of weakness. The separation unit has a width direction and includes a first roller having a rotational axis extending in the width direction and a web width extending in the width direction, and a second roller having a rotational axis extending parallel with the rotational axis of the first roller and a web width extending in the width direction. The second roller is positioned at a distance from the first roller. Each of the first and the second rollers is provided with a plurality of protrusion elements being spaced along the rotational axes and protruding perpendicular from the axes. Each of the protrusion elements has a maximum width in the width direction, a maximum radial extension from the rotational axes, an inner portion adjacent to the rotational axes, and an outer portion remote from the rotational axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Björn Larsson, Per Moller, Lars Thoren, Jari Haukirauma, Stig Pommer, Joonas Jokitalo
  • Patent number: 11849887
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing consumable product having a consumable product holding area configured to store the consumable product within the dispenser; a dispensing mechanism having a spindle configured to hold and rotate the consumable product to facilitate a dispensing cycle to dispense a portion of the consumable product; and a motor having piezoelectric elements configured to (i) frictionally couple to the spindle to rotate the spindle in a first direction during a first motor state and (ii) uncouple from the spindle during a second motor state to allow the spindle to freely spin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Cleary E. Mahaffey
  • Patent number: 11839534
    Abstract: A dispenser of hygiene products, including feminine pads and tampons activated by a motion sensor. A motion of a person's hand or other object within a given distance from the motion sensor will close an electronic circuit causing a motor to rotate. The motor is attached to a shaft which rotates. The shaft retains a product dispenser. The product dispenser transports one of the hygiene products to a retrieval tray. A time delay reduces the likelihood of or prevents someone from continuously activating the motion sensor to dispense all of the products in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: TRANZONIC COMPANIES
    Inventors: Fred I. Morad, Robert A. Acosta
  • Patent number: 11812899
    Abstract: A dispenser and a stack combination. A dispenser that contains a stack of sheet products and which defines a dispensing path from a product reservoir containing and holding the stack to a dispensing opening through which the sheet products are dispensed. A stack of interfolded webs wherein the lines of weakness of one web are offset from the lines of weakness of another web in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Björn Larsson
  • Patent number: 11801107
    Abstract: A sterilized glove dispenser assembly includes a package which includes a panel and a pair of hand holes each extending into an interior of the package. A pair of gloves is contained within the package to insertably receive a respective one of the user's hands when the user pushes their hands through the hand holes for donning the gloves in a touch-less manner. A box is included which has a pair of hand holes each extending through the box and a pair of guides is each integrated into the box. Each of the guides slidably engages the panel of the package when the package is positioned in the box such that each of the hand holes in the panel of the package is aligned with a respective one of the hand holes in the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Inventor: Sharla Svoboda
  • Patent number: 11804095
    Abstract: A vending machine has an interactive customer experience. Some embodiments of the vending machine include a transparent front wall with a plurality of display units located behind the front wall. Each of the display units may contain an example of a product available for vending. Based on input received from a customer and other information, the vending machine may provide a recommendation for a product or products to select for purchase. The vending machine may highlight the recommendation by selectively illuminating the product display units that contain the recommended products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Emad Jafa, Xuejun Li, Yong Serock, Cheuk Chi Lau, Martyn Thomas Mitchell, Euan Morrison, Wai Ting Chan, Samuel Luke Johnstone, Erik David Williams
  • Patent number: 11798668
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a numeric waiting bin for prescription fulfillment. A computing system may be used to receive bin configuration values corresponding to a plurality of physical bins for prescription storage. The bin configuration values may be used to assign serial identifiers to the plurality of bins. Prescriptions may be selectively assigned a bin serial identifier using a plurality of rules and the bin serial number may be used to locate the prescription when the prescription is requested, such as during pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel D. Gilman, Christopher J. Goody, Kyle J. McGrath, Jeffrey Swindling, Jared P. Tancrelle, Li Mei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11787578
    Abstract: The cleaner assembly is configured for cleaning an automated dispensing device is described herein. The cleaner assembly includes a pallet; a plurality of side walls enclosing an inner chamber; a blower configured to propel contaminants into said inner chamber; and at least one roller operably supported by and projecting above at least one of said side walls, said at least one roller being configured to scrape contaminants off of a base plate of the automated dispensing device and towards said blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig F. Mortimer
  • Patent number: 11779131
    Abstract: A linkage-type misalignment material discharge structure is provided. It has a support block and a drive element. The support block comprises a rotation shaft, a first support sheet and a second support sheet stacked on the rotation shaft successively. The first support sheet comprises a first support portion and a first material discharge portion, the second support sheet comprises a second support portion and a second material discharge portion. The first and second material discharge portions are misaligned in a perpendicular direction. One end of the rotation shaft is connected with a swing rod provided with a clamping groove, the drive element is provided with a position limitation column matched with the clamping groove. The support block is rotated for discharging the material under a drive of the drive element, such that the in-situ material falling is accurate and reliable without requiring any forward, backward, leftward or rightward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Kolor Magnetic (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching Mou Lee, Chi Wai Lee
  • Patent number: 11772843
    Abstract: An eye shield dispenser having an outer box and a holder within the outer box for holding eye shields. The holder is configured to hold the eye shields horizontally along an upper surface of the holder and to position the eye shields proximate an opening in the outer box through which the eye shields may be retrieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Embrace Healthcare, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene W. DuBois, Michael Borski, Joel Depina, Phillip D. Peery
  • Patent number: 11771625
    Abstract: A storage container for a storage and dispensing station for small piece goods, in particular drugs or dietary supplement products, is provided. The storage container includes a housing with an on the inside circular cylindrical section, a separating device arranged in the on the inside circular cylindrical section including a base body and multiple channels, the channels being open to the outer periphery of the separating device and each channel having a peripheral wall and two radial walls, and a retainer. At least one radial wall and/or the peripheral wall includes a depression and/or an elevation to reduce a contact area between a small piece good and the channel wall, the shape and size of the depression/elevation being selected in such a way that an electrostatic attraction between the small piece good and the channel wall is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: BECTON DICKINSON ROWA GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Risch