Patents by Inventor Steve Dunivan

Steve Dunivan 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).

  • Publication number: 20230248008
    Abstract: An automated saw wherein: the automated saw comprises one or more visual sensors, a meat positioning assembly. The automated saw is configured to analyze an uncut meat and calculate one or more cutting depths for one or more cut portions from the uncut meat. The uncut meat comprises a first end and a second end. The first end of the uncut meat can be analyzed by the automated saw by: capturing a first slice image of the first end, locating a first bone configuration and a configuration of one or more meat portions in relation to the first bone configuration, and measuring portions of the one or more meat portions to categorize which among one or more cuts of meat is presented at the first end of the uncut meat. The automated saw calculates a first cutting depth for a first meat portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventor: Steve Dunivan
  • Patent number: 11691782
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
  • Patent number: 11498138
    Abstract: An automated saw for assessing an uncut meat and calculating one or more of a cut depth and cutting one or more cut portions. The automated saw comprises a bandsaw blade, a controller, a visual sensor and a meat positioning assembly. The controller comprises a computer comprising an address space, and a processor, a memory. The controller stores a device application in the memory and runs the device application on the processor. The meat positioning assembly comprises a pusher and a tray configured to move the uncut meat relative to the bandsaw blade. The tray is configured to hold the uncut meat. The pusher is configured to slide the uncut meat through the tray. The meat positioning assembly is configured to move the tray in a forward direction and a rearward direction relative to the bandsaw blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: Steve Dunivan
  • Publication number: 20210316897
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
  • Patent number: 10926914
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
  • Publication number: 20200230721
    Abstract: An automated saw wherein: the automated saw comprises one or more visual sensors, a positioning system. The automated saw is configured to analyze an uncut meat and calculate a one or more cutting depths for a one or more cut portions from the uncut meat. The uncut meat comprises a first end and a second end. The first end of the uncut meat can be analyzed by the automated saw by: capturing a first slice image of the first end, locating a first bone configuration and a configuration of a one or more meat portions in relation to the first bone configuration, and measuring portions of the one or more meat portions to categorize which among a one or more cuts of meat is presented at the first end of the uncut meat. The automated saw calculates a first cutting depth for a first meat portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Steve Dunivan
  • Publication number: 20200230722
    Abstract: An automated saw for assessing an uncut meat and calculating a one or more cutting depths and cutting a one or more cut portions. The automated saw comprises a bandsaw blade, a controller, a visual sensor and a positioning system. The positioning system comprises a pusher and a tray configured to move the uncut meat relative to the bandsaw blade. The tray is configured to hold the uncut meat. The pusher is configured to slide the uncut meat through the tray. The positioning system is configured to move the tray in a first horizontal direction and a second horizontal direction relative to the bandsaw blade. The uncut meat comprises a first end and a second end. The first end of the uncut meat comprises a surface area and a diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Steve Dunivan
  • Patent number: 9538768
    Abstract: An automated scanning and butchering system is disclosed. Said system having a PLC system, a scanning system and a butchering system in data communication. The butchering system comprising a one or more saw assemblies, a conveyor system, a one or more cradles, and a first end and a second end. The one or more saw assemblies are arranged between the first end and the second end of the butchering system. The conveyor system comprises a conveyor comprising the one or more cradles configured to move items from the first end to the second end of the butchering system. The one or more cradles are configured to releaseably receive and hold a target object as the conveyor moves the target object from the first end to the second end of the butchering system. The scanning system comprising a one or more scanners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventor: Steve Dunivan
  • Publication number: 20160106112
    Abstract: An automated scanning and butchering system is disclosed. Said system having a PLC system, a scanning system and a butchering system in data communication. The butchering system comprising a one or more saw assemblies, a conveyor system, a one or more cradles, and a first end and a second end. The one or more saw assemblies are arranged between the first end and the second end of the butchering system. The conveyor system comprises a conveyor comprising the one or more cradles configured to move items from the first end to the second end of the butchering system. The one or more cradles are configured to releaseably receive and hold a target object as the conveyor moves the target object from the first end to the second end of the butchering system. The scanning system comprising a one or more scanners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Steve Dunivan
  • Publication number: 20150306835
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
  • Patent number: 9162779
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Plains Dairy, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
  • Patent number: 8789348
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls defining an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears, the initially open top flaps being integrally formed with a first pair of opposing sidewalls of the carton. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with a second set of opposing sidewalls of the carton intermediate the first set of opposing sidewalls. A set of rotatable punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and rotated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an associated second layer of an underlying sidewall of the carton. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Plains Dairy, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
  • Publication number: 20120317931
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls defining an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears, the initially open top flaps being integrally formed with a first pair of opposing sidewalls of the carton. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with a second set of opposing sidewalls of the carton intermediate the first set of opposing sidewalls. A set of rotatable punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and rotated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an associated second layer of an underlying sidewall of the carton. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Plains Dairy, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
  • Publication number: 20120317932
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for securing a top for a cardboard carton where the carton has a bottom wall and integral sidewalls, an initially open interior and initially open top flaps with outwardly extending ears. The top flaps are folded to a carton closing position which closes off the initially open interior of the cardboard carton. The ears are also folded to a position in contact with the sidewalls of the carton. A set of punches are aligned with the folded ears of the carton and are actuated to force a first layer of cardboard from a respective top flap through an underlying region of the carton sidewall. A set of platens are located so as to underlie and reinforce the sidewalls of the carton as the punching operation takes place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Plains Dairy, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher