Patents by Inventor Michael K McKinnis
Michael K McKinnis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7603807Abstract: A vacuum pick-up device 20 includes a device body 22 having a pick-up tip opening 78 to which vacuum pressure is supplied. The vacuum pick-up device 20 further includes a mechanical release assisting device 36 that assists in the release of a grasped object contemporaneously with or slightly subsequent to the cessation of vacuum pressure. A manifold 38 may be included to efficiently and effectively supply vacuum pressure to the device body 22 from a vacuum pressure source.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR CompanyInventors: Michael K McKinnis, William C Carlson, Jeffrey E Hartle
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Patent number: 7207139Abstract: A vacuum pick-up device 20 includes a device body 22 having a pick-up tip opening 78 to which vacuum pressure is supplied. The vacuum pick-up device 20 further includes a mechanical release assisting device 36 that assists in the release of a grasped object contemporaneously with or slightly subsequent to the cessation of vacuum pressure. A manifold 38 may be included to efficiently and effectively supply vacuum pressure to the device body 22 from a vacuum pressure source.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Weyerhaeuser CompanyInventors: Michael K. McKinnis, William C. Carlson, Jeffrey E. Hartle
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Patent number: 7131234Abstract: A combination end seal and cotyledon restraint (20) for an artificial seed (22) is provided. The combination end seal and cotyledon restraint includes a cap portion (30) sized to substantially seal one end of an artificial seed and a cotyledon restraint (32) unitarily formed with the cap portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2004Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Co.Inventors: William C. Carlson, Jeffrey E. Hartle, Michael K. McKinnis, Curtis A. Bryan, Patrick Gaillard, Edwin Hirahara, Paul G. Gaddis, Katherine M. Salatas
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Publication number: 20030194281Abstract: An apparatus for directing objects carried serially by a fluid to a desired designation is provided. The apparatus includes an upstream fluid conduit and first and second downstream conduits. The apparatus also includes a sensor associated with the upstream fluid conduit operable to provide information regarding an object at a location in the upstream conduit. A switch is coupled to the upstream fluid conduit and selectively operable to deliver the object from the upstream fluid conduit to either the first or second downstream fluid conduit according to the information by applying a force to at least one of the upstream or downstream fluid conduits.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Applicant: Weyerhaeuser CompanyInventor: Michael K. McKinnis
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Patent number: 6582159Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods useful, for example, for introducing a desired spacing between or classifying and sorting objects, e.g. plant embryos. Objects carried serially in a fluid stream enter the apparatus via an upstream conduit. A sensor associated with the conduit provides information regarding an object at a particular location in the upstream conduit and produces a signal. A switch coupled to the upstream conduit directs the fluid stream to an appropriate downstream conduit by applying a force to a conduit, e.g., by aligning the upstream conduit with a downstream conduit to create a fluid-tight path. Apparatus according to the present invention are particularly useful for manipulating fragile multicellular biological objects such as plant embryos.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Weyerhaeuser CompanyInventor: Michael K. McKinnis
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Publication number: 20020192040Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods useful, for example, for introducing a desired spacing between or classifying and sorting objects, e.g. plant embryos. Objects carried serially in a fluid stream enter the apparatus via an upstream conduit. A sensor associated with the conduit provides information regarding an object at a particular location in the upstream conduit and produces a signal. A switch coupled to the upstream conduit directs the fluid stream to an appropriate downstream conduit by applying a force to a conduit, e.g., by aligning the upstream conduit with a downstream conduit to create a fluid-tight path. Apparatus according to the present invention are particularly useful for manipulating fragile multicellular biological objects such as plant embryos.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: Weyerhaeuser CompanyInventor: Michael K. McKinnis
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Patent number: 6354770Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods useful, for example, for introducing a desired spacing between or classifying and sorting objects, e.g. plant embryos. Objects carried serially in a fluid stream enter the apparatus via an upstream conduit. A sensor associated with the conduit provides information regarding an object at a particular location in the upstream conduit and produces a signal. A switch coupled to the upstream conduit directs the fluid stream to an appropriate downstream conduit by applying a force to a conduit, e.g., by aligning the upstream conduit with a downstream conduit to create a fluid-tight path. Apparatus according to the present invention are particularly useful for manipulating fragile multicellular biological objects such as plant embryos.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Weyerhaeuser CompanyInventor: Michael K McKinnis
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Patent number: 6145247Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods useful, for example, for introducing a desired spacing between or classifying and sorting objects, e.g. plant embryos. Objects carried serially in a fluid stream enter the apparatus via an upstream conduit. A sensor associated with the conduit provides information regarding an object at a particular location in the upstream conduit and produces a signal. A switch coupled to the upstream conduit directs the fluid stream to an appropriate downstream conduit by applying a force to a conduit, e.g., by aligning the upstream conduit with a downstream conduit to create a fluid-tight path. Apparatus according to the present invention are particularly useful for manipulating fragile multicellular biological objects such as plant embryos.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: Weyerhaeuser CompanyInventor: Michael K. McKinnis
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Patent number: 5666762Abstract: The present invention provides manufactured seeds comprising totipotent plant tissue and a hydrated gel, preferably surrounded by a protective seed coat. The cotyledons of the germinating totipotent plant tissue can be enclosed in a shoot restraint that is resistant to penetration by the growing cotyledons. The manufactured seeds can be prepared for long-term storage, e.g., by sparging the hydrated gel with a respiration-limiting gas before, during, or after assembly of the manufactured seed. The seed is then preferably stored in an atmosphere containing levels of a respiration-limiting gas sufficient to keep respiration of the totipotent plant tissue at reduced levels.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: September 16, 1997Assignee: Weyerhaeuser CompanyInventors: William C. Carlson, Michael K. McKinnis, Jeffrey E. Hartle
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Patent number: 5284765Abstract: The invention is a method of ordering plant embryos so that a specified end of the embryo is always oriented in a predetermined direction. The embryos are preferably first fairly rapidly desiccated to about 15% moisture content. They are then suspended in a benign liquid flotation medium having a density in the range of about 1.059-1.104 g/cm.sup.3. The density must be adjusted empirically so that a predominant number of viable embryos will float and nonviable embryos will sink. In at least the case of conifer somatic embryos, they will float with the end bearing the latent cotyledons upward. After sufficient separation time in the flotation medium the oriented embryos are swept by a flowing liquid stream into a conduit. They enter cotyledon end first and are then carried to a delivery point without losing that orientation. Here they are separated from the transporting medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1992Date of Patent: February 8, 1994Assignee: Weyerhaeuser CompanyInventors: Curtis A. Bryan, William C. Carlson, Michael K. McKinnis