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).
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Publication number: 20230248008Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventor: Steve Dunivan
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Patent number: 11691782Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
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Patent number: 11498138Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Inventor: Steve Dunivan
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Publication number: 20210316897Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
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Patent number: 10926914Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 8, 2015Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
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Publication number: 20200230721Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventor: Steve Dunivan
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Publication number: 20200230722Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventor: Steve Dunivan
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Patent number: 9538768Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Inventor: Steve Dunivan
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Publication number: 20160106112Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventor: Steve Dunivan
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Publication number: 20150306835Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
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Patent number: 9162779Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Plains Dairy, LLCInventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
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Patent number: 8789348Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 15, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Plains Dairy, LLCInventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
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Publication number: 20120317931Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2011Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: Plains Dairy, LLCInventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher
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Publication number: 20120317932Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: Plains Dairy, LLCInventors: Steve Dunivan, Ricky Jay Hudson, Colby Shane Butcher