With Testing Or Weighing Receiver Content Patents (Class 141/83)
  • Patent number: 11900555
    Abstract: Users create, change, duplicate, move and define interactions and relationships for digital objects in extended reality environments by voice commands in conjunction with hand or control input pointing and/or gesturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: VR-Edu, Inc.
    Inventor: Ethan Fieldman
  • Patent number: 11834321
    Abstract: Beverage dispensing system (10) comprising: —one or more pressure chambers comprising a connectable base (14) part and lid (12) defining a sealed inner space (16) for accommodating and encapsulating a collapsible beverage container (18) having a beverage outlet connectable to the base part (14), —a tapping device (34) comprising one or more tapping heads (36) for extracting the beverage from the collapsible beverage container(s), —a tapping line (28) extending from said base part (14) to said tapping device, said tapping line comprising one or more beverage lines, and—at least one measuring device (56) configured for monitoring at least one physical quantity of the tapping line, sealed inner space, base part, lid and/or collapsible beverage container, said measuring device configured to have a sampling rate of at least 10 Hz, wherein the beverage dispensing system is configured for—processing data from the measuring device, and—detecting an event in the system by continuously analysing data from the measuring
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CARLSBERG BREWERIES A/S
    Inventors: Peter Bach, Roland Jonathan Koch, Luka Karoli
  • Patent number: 11828420
    Abstract: A device for controlling a charging of a hydrogen tank for a vehicle, may efficiently perform a charging of a hydrogen tank regardless of a hydrogen charging protocol for each charging station configured to supply hydrogen to the hydrogen tank by directly controlling a hydrogen charging speed of the hydrogen tank in a vehicle upon charging the hydrogen tank mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai MotorCompany, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Wook Hyun Han
  • Patent number: 11780613
    Abstract: A tablet inspection and rejection verification module designed to integrate into a manufacturing line for tablets. The module being magnetically separable into a rejection portion, verification portion, and rejection collection portion of the module for easy replacement or cleaning. The module having a design to work in multi-channel tablet filling equipment. The module operates based on a predetermined good-bad inspection that communicates to the module that a tablet(s) needs to be removed from the filling process, and wherein the module upon rejection also has a method of verification of defective tablets moving in the good-tablet channel resulting in bottle rejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Jekson Vision Ltd
    Inventor: Rishal Shah
  • Patent number: 11738982
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid supply device including: a plug having a plug side liquid channel; and a socket having a socket side liquid channel. The plug has a groove having a fixing groove, the socket has a body having the socket side liquid channel, a gripping unit gripped by a robot, and a sleeve member configured to adjust a position of the body relative to the gripping unit, the tip of the body runs annularly about the socket axis and has lock balls, and the sleeve member switches a state between a connected state where the lock balls are secured in the fixing groove and a released state where the lock balls are not secured in the fixing groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Patent number: 11725871
    Abstract: An appliance including a control device in operative communication with a user input panel and a sensor provided. The control device is configured to emit, via the sensor, a first plurality of signals defining a first operating mode. The first operating mode includes one or more of a first scan rate or a first scan interval. The control device is configured to switch between the first operating mode and a second operating mode based on one or more of detection of a container, detection of a user, or a user input. The control device is configured to emit, via the sensor, a second plurality of signals defining the second operating mode. The second operating mode includes one or more of a second scan rate or a second scan interval different from the first operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Keith Root
  • Patent number: 11713231
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid supply device including: a plug having a plug side liquid channel; a socket having a socket side liquid channel; a hand configured to grip the socket and arrange the socket in a predetermined attitude at a three-dimensional position within the motion range; and an image capturing unit configured to recognize the orientation of the plug axis of the plug. The hand grips the socket so that the socket and the plug are in an attitude where the orientation of a socket axis matches the orientation of the plug axis recognized by the image capturing unit, and the socket gripped by the hand is inserted in the plug to couple the socket side liquid channel to the plug side liquid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Patent number: 11644290
    Abstract: A powder dispensing device is provided including a housing; a hopper sized and shaped to engage the housing to form a reservoir; a first barrel in fluid communication with the reservoir via one or more first apertures and having a first internal diameter; a second barrel in fluid communication with the reservoir via one or more second apertures and having a second internal diameter, wherein the first internal diameter is greater than the second internal diameter; at least one motor coupled to the first barrel and the second barrel, the at least one motor configured to rotate the first barrel and the second barrel; a scale electrically coupled to a scale plate, the scale plate disposed on the housing and below the first barrel and the second barrel; and a user interface in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the scale, the user interface configured to receive a user-input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Bushnell Inc.
    Inventors: William Clark Hemeyer, Joe Dunning
  • Patent number: 11634315
    Abstract: Machine (1) for distributing a product stored in a container (30) comprising a storage zone (2) delimiting locations (4) for housing a container (30), a metering station (5) delimiting a chamber (6) housing a support (7) for accepting a collecting vessel (33), this support (7) being positioned vertically in line with an opening (8) providing access to the chamber (6), which opening is arranged in an upper part (61) of the chamber (6), the machine (1) further comprising a system (10) for emptying each location (4) for housing a container (30) through the opening (8) providing access to the chamber (6), and a unit (14) for controlling the machine (1). The metering station (5) comprises a sensor (13) for detecting the presence of a collecting vessel (33) inside said chamber (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: FILLON TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Aurélien Brule, Nicolas Hiblot, Cyril Papin
  • Patent number: 11635169
    Abstract: A filling apparatus that does not significantly reduce a required pressure immediately after a start of hydrogen filling, and can reliably fill fuel cell vehicles and the like. The filling apparatus (100) includes a control unit (10), and the control unit (10) has a function of boosting pressure required from a hydrogen filling apparatus (100) to a rear facility (200) until initial pressure measurement is completed. The control unit (10) may have a function of determining whether or not communication filling is established, and when communication filling is established, setting a pressure higher than an internal pressure of a tank received from a vehicle side by a predetermined pressure (for example, 5 MPa) as a pressure required for the rear facility (200) at an initial stage of filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TATSUNO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11604087
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for calculating a volume of a compressed gas storage vessel, a computer, and a medium. According to the method, three test vessels with known volume and initial pressure are used to establish a pressure equilibrium with a compressed gas storage system, and pressure values in three equilibrium states are respectively detected. In this way, according to the three pressure values and the known volumes and initial pressures, a volume of the compressed gas storage system, a volume of a hose, and a pressure value of the compressed gas storage system in an initial state can be quickly and accurately calculated. By accurately obtaining the volume of the compressed gas storage system, the volume of the hose, and the pressure value of the compressed gas storage system in the initial state, a refueling rate can be increased as much as possible while ensuring safe refueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: China Energy Investment Corporation Limited, National Institute of Clean-and-Low-Carbon Energy
    Inventors: Edward Youn, Xianming Li, Pingjiao Hao, Anthony Ku, Jerad Allen Stager
  • Patent number: 11506341
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tank for storing a cryogenic mixture of liquid and gas, comprising a first casing, a draw-off pipe for drawing off fluid, which has an upstream end connected to said first casing, a filling circuit comprising a first filling pipe with an upstream end to be connected to a fluid source and a downstream end connected to the lower portion of the first casing, said filling circuit comprising a second filling pipe connected to the fluid source and a downstream end connected to the upper portion of the first casing, wherein the upstream ends of said first and second filling pipes are designed to be connected to the same fluid source simultaneously, and a distribution valve assembly which is configured to allow distribution of the fluid in said filling pipes, wherein the tank comprises a sensor assembly which measures the pressure in the first casing, said distribution valve assembly being configured to automatically adjust the pressure in the first casing, during filling, to a predetermine
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 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: 11326856
    Abstract: A safety storage system includes a safety case with case body and a case lid; a lock bag with a bag portion made from a cut-resistant material and a cable guide; and a cable lock, including a lock body, a lock cable, and a key; such that the lock cable protrudes through the cable guide to attach the cable lock to the lock bag; such that the safety case with the handgun inside can be locked inside the lock bag with the cable lock, whereby the handgun is safely stored in the safety storage system. Additionally, the safety storage system can be secured in position with the lock cable attached to a mounting structure with the lock bag closed and the safety case with the handgun inside locked in the interior of the lock bag, thereby preventing access to and theft of the handgun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Inventor: Nelson R. De La Nuez
  • Patent number: 11307079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (50; 50a to 50c) for determining the weight of a capsule (10) arranged in a receptacle (26) of a capsule holder (25) of an incrementally rotated conveyor wheel (21), comprising a transfer device (52; 52a to 52c) for transferring at least one capsule (10) from the capsule holder (25) into a capsule receiver (55) having a plurality of receptacles (54) for respectively one capsule (10), and back again, wherein the capsule receptacle (55) has a movable arrangement in a plane parallel to the conveyor plane of the conveyor wheel (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Syntegon Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Wick, Werner Runft
  • Patent number: 11220418
    Abstract: Weighing and filling apparatus for controlling filling device based on a container weight. A linear actuator for driving a drive shaft coupled to container support unit is included, a weight measuring unit determines the container weight from a detected height of the drive shaft detected by a height detecting unit and a drive signal of the linear actuator at the detected height. A first acceleration signal is calculated from a specified height of the container support unit set in advance and the height detected by the height detecting unit, a second acceleration signal is calculated from the container weight and an expected weight expected to be applied to the container support unit. The container support unit is kept at the specified height by a drive signal calculated from the first and second acceleration signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignees: KEIO UNIVERSITY, SHIBUYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Nozaki, Kouhei Ohnishi, Toshiaki Naka, Masato Ohta, Takaharu Kikura
  • Patent number: 11199555
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for conducting immunoassay test. The apparatus includes a groove unit having a groove along a vertical direction configured to hold a rod-shaped portion of a probe along the vertical direction, and a push pin configured to move along a horizontal direction, the push pin being capable of residing at a first position and a second position. A tip of the push pin is capable of pressing the rod-shaped portion of the probe against the groove when the push pin resides at the first position. The distance between the tip of the push pin and the groove is larger than a diameter of the rod-shaped portion of the probe when the push pin resides at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Access Medical Systems, LTD.
    Inventors: Hong Tan, Ming Xia, Yushan Tan, Jun Chen, Erhua Cao, Genqian Li, Robert F. Zuk
  • Patent number: 11179688
    Abstract: A system including a containment assembly for enclosing a medication container may comprise a first housing portion or interface portion having a proximal end and a distal end. The interface portion may include a housing wall which defines a channel spanning from the proximal end to the distal end. The channel may be open at the proximal and distal end. The containment assembly may further comprise only two pierceable septa configured to form a barrier to the channel. The containment assembly may further comprise a variable-volume housing portion having a variable volume chamber. The variable-volume portion chamber of the variable-volume housing portion may be in fluid communication with the distal end of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Frederick Morgan
  • Patent number: 11169062
    Abstract: An example method for identifying an internal flaw in a part produced using additive manufacturing includes calculating a proof load of a part, in which the proof load is a load that when applied to the part will cause the part to fail based on presence of an internal flaw in the part, determining whether the part can withstand the proof load based on a geometry of the part and static strength data, and based on a determination that the part can withstand the proof load, applying the proof load to the part during a compliance test of the part. The proof load causes the part to fracture, when applied to the part, based on presence of the internal flaw in the part that is of a threshold size at which the internal flaw would cause cracking and potential part failure when the part is placed under the operational load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Aditya Chattopadhyay, Melissa Garner, Calvin Brown, Christine Sauerbrunn
  • Patent number: 11148109
    Abstract: A low-cost drug compounding system that can practically fit inside of a fume hood or the like is provided. The system can use a single pump operable in forward and reverse directions (or multiple pumps) to compound complex mixtures particularly including those requiring the creation of solutions from dry or powdered ingredients. A wireless link allows operation of the system remotely. In one embodiment, the system uses a disposable mixing tube set that can be discarded after mixing while still attached to the base ingredient containers used for the compounding thereby minimize the chance of personnel exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Zyno Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Chao Young Lee, Mei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11142352
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a powdered pharmaceutical into a bottle is disclosed. The system includes a filler having a powder filler head and respective weight sensor, two or more draft shields, and one or more static reduction devices. In some embodiments, the system also includes one or more dust extractors. In some embodiments, the static reduction device is an active static reduction device, such as one or more static bars. The two or more draft shields may include an inner draft shield to reduce small pressure and/or airflow changes and an outer draft to reduce large pressure and/or airflow changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Premal Gandhi, James B. Nagle, Kevin Hacker
  • Patent number: 11097940
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to ensure grounding between vehicles during a vehicle-to-vehicle refueling operation are described herein. An example vehicle described herein is to receive fuel from a refueling vehicle via a vehicle-to-vehicle refueling operation. The example vehicle includes a fuel tank having a vent passageway, a valve coupled to the vent passageway, and a controller to close the valve if the vehicle and the refueling vehicle are not electrically coupled during the vehicle-to-vehicle refueling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Heather L. Knechtges
  • Patent number: 11045809
    Abstract: A method of collecting a sample for determination of 1,4-dioxane in drinking water includes providing a reagent dispenser operable to dispense a microbial inhibitor. A sample bottle having a predetermined inner volume is provided to a preparation site. The dispenser is calibrated to dispense a calibrated weight of the microbial inhibitor, such that a ratio of the calibrated weight to inner volume substantially equals a predetermined concentration of microbial inhibitor per liter of water determined to acidify water to a pH of 4 or less. The sample bottle is transported to a field site. The field site is remote from the preparation site. A sample of water is collected in the sample bottle at the field site that substantially fills the inner volume of the sample bottle. The dispenser is operated to substantially dispense the calibrated weight of microbial inhibitor into the sample of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SUFFOLK COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
    Inventors: Christopher H. Niebling, Thomas E. Schneider, Francisco Vilas Boas
  • Patent number: 10692207
    Abstract: A system for preparing a pharmaceutical compound comprises: a computing device comprising a user interface providing an operator with instructions for preparing the pharmaceutical compound and at least one processor operatively connected to the user interface; a scale operatively connected to the at least one processor; and an image capture device operatively connected to the at least one processor and the scale and positioned to capture an image of at least one of a component used in preparing the pharmaceutical compound and the pharmaceutical compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Christian Sandmann, Matt Thomas, Chris Murray, Christian Hanke, Helmut Hoerner, Robert Tannen, Mathieu Turpault, Erik Kurt Witt
  • Patent number: 10618794
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for electronically adjusting the pressure in a beverage container during regular use. The system includes a connector attachable to a tapping connector of the beverage container; a gas pump operably connected to the connector for supplying pressurized gas into the beverage container through the tapping connector; a pressure sensor operably connected to the beverage container for outputting a pressure signal corresponding to an internal pressure within the beverage container; a power supply; and a controller adapted to control the gas pump based on the internal pressure and a set point pressure to maintain the internal pressure at the set point pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Raguzin
  • Patent number: 10558961
    Abstract: This disclosure provides various embodiments of systems and methods for secure communications. In one aspect, the system includes a secure payment module (SPM) in a fuel dispenser and a point-of-sale (POS) system. The POS system stores a public key certificate uniquely identifying the SPM and is configured to dynamically generate a first session key. The POS system encrypts the first session key with a public key associated with the public key certificate, and transmits the encrypted first session key to the SPM. The SPM, which stores a private key associated with the public key certificate, is configured to receive and decrypt the first session key. The SPM is further configured to receive a set of magnetic card data from a card reader, encrypt the set of magnetic card data with the first session key, and transmit the encrypted set of magnetic card data to the POS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems LLC
    Inventors: Weiming Tang, Timothy Martin Weston
  • Patent number: 10513073
    Abstract: A scraping device for a rotary press comprising at least one scraping element for scraping pellets located on a die plate of the rotary press to an outlet, wherein the at least one scraping element has at least one identification and/or position unit having identification and/or position data relating to the at least one scraping element, and wherein the scraping device further comprises a read and/or write unit which is designed to communicate with the at least one identification and/or position unit in order to read the identification and/or position data from the at least one identification and/or position unit. The invention also relates to a rotary press and a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FETTE COMPACTING GMBH
    Inventor: Sven Kolbe
  • Patent number: 10232392
    Abstract: A sealant applying device and a working method thereof, and a sealant applying apparatus are disclosed. The sealant applying device includes a nozzle; the nozzle includes an air inlet portion and a sealant outflow portion, a switch plate is arranged below the sealant outflow portion, the switch plate includes a plate body configured to horizontally move between a first state and a second state, one end of the plate body is provided with a through hole, and a discharge portion is provided at a position corresponding to the through hole and on a side of the plate body facing away from the sealant outflow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenchao Feng, Xiaoqiang Zeng, Hongyu Zhang, Lei Xing
  • Patent number: 10082517
    Abstract: A reagent management system is disclosed comprising a reagent container section for receiving reagent containers and a reagent reconstitution device for reconstituting dry, or lyophilized, reagents or concentrated reagents in reagent containers in order to carry out in-vitro diagnostic tests with the reconstituted reagents. A controller is programmed to instruct the reagent reconstitution device to automatically reconstitute an initial volume of a selected reagent type in reagent containers. The initial volume is calculated based on an open container stability time (OCS) of the reconstituted reagent type for each reagent container and on a number of tests to be carried out within the OCS of the reconstituted reagent type. A reagent container for use by the reagent management system and methods of automatically reconstituting a dry, or lyophilized reagent, or a concentrated liquid reagent in a reagent container to carry out an in-vitro diagnostic test with the reagent are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Inventors: Friedrich Ackermann, Andreas Calatzis, Rik Harbers, Roland Hutter, Jean-Pierre Bolliger, Theresa Kitcoff, Patrick Sascha Labud
  • Patent number: 10029378
    Abstract: A machine and method for reducing giveaway material on mint products. The machine may include a conveying assembly for conveying a plurality of mints products to be processed. The machine may also include a processing assembly for processing at least one given mint product at a time, so as to remove an amount of giveaway material from each one of the mint products. The machine may also include a recuperating assembly for recuperating mint products having being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Royal Canadian Mint
    Inventors: Yanick Mathieu, David John Stanley Baldwin, Frederick Leclerc, Thomas Hrach, Mag. Hermann Schurer
  • Patent number: 10012484
    Abstract: A method of supplying a rifle with cartridges includes providing classes within a group of cartridges. The classes are classified by specific and precisely graduated increments of propellant load contained in the cartridges, or by formulation of propellant, of each class relative to the cartridges of each other class. The user can test fire a rifle with multiple classes of the group and record the accuracy of the firing. A class of the group can be then chosen for a particular rifle based on accuracy of the rifle in the test firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Daniel David Pearlson
  • Patent number: 9970810
    Abstract: A weighing system and a weighing method are disclosed having uninterrupted weighing functions. A plurality of load cells in the weighing system are arranged so that each load cell has a local small neighborhood, the local small neighborhood being defined by four neighboring points in front, back, left, and right of the load cell and four points on diagonal directions in a matrix. A weighing control module polls the load cells to determine whether there is failed load cell(s), and performs a calculation: W.=f(W1,W2,W3,W4,W5,W6,W7), where f is a non-linear mapping; and W1 . . . W8 represents weighing outputs of load cells corresponding to the eight points in the local small neighborhood so as to calculate an estimated weighing output of the failed load cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: METTLER TOLEDO (CHANGZHOU) PRECISION INSTRUMENT LTD., METTLER TOLEDO (CHANGZHOU) SCALE & SYSTEM LTD.
    Inventors: Guojun Xie, Zijian Zhu, Qi Wan
  • Patent number: 9904992
    Abstract: It is determined whether the type of drug inserted into a packaging machine is correct, on the basis of the dispensing information of the drug to be packaged and the drug type information of the drug to be inserted into the packaging machine. Number-by-appearance information indicating the number of drugs for each outward appearance which are packaged in each packet is acquired. The image of each drug corresponding to each dose is captured. The number of drugs for each outward appearance which are packaged in each packet is counted on the basis of the captured image of the drugs. It is determined whether the number of drugs for each outward appearance is correct, on the basis of the number-by-appearance information and the counting result of the number-by-appearance counting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Takamori
  • Patent number: 9845167
    Abstract: A dispensing system comprises a main base with a hopper insertion hole. An upper base, fixed above the main base by spacers, comprises a stirrer insertion hole. A lower base, below the main base, has a hopper insertion hole with an aperture larger than a diameter of a hopper, and is coupled to the main base by a guide. A rotatable hopper, disposed in the insertion hole of the main base, comprises a bottom surface with metering holes. A stirrer, inside the hopper and fixed to the upper base, feeds material into the metering holes. A gate, on a bottom surface of the lower base, comprises a bottom surface with a dispensing hole. The gate diameter is greater than the hopper. A gate spring, between the bottom of the main base and an upper surface of the lower base, is mounted parallel to a sliding motion of the lower base. A vibration device agitates the assembly on the main base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: MULTIPLY LABS INC.
    Inventors: Federico Parietti, Kameron C. Chan, Lawrence Zachary Bright, Jeffrey Ackerman Cuhran, Alice Melocchi
  • Patent number: 9803903
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery/loading manifold for air-conditioning equipment has a manifold body and valves for opening and closing a passage inside the manifold body, the passages including a high-pressure-side passage, a low-pressure-side passage, a recovery-side passage, a vacuum-suction-side passage, a purging passage, and a common passage via which these passages communicate, at least a high-pressure-side valve being provided to the high-pressure-side valve being provided to the high-pressure-side passage, and at least a low-pressure-side valve being provided to the low-pressure-side passage; wherein a high-pressure connection means is provided to the low-pressure-side passage, the high-pressure connection means having a valve mechanism and being able to connect with a high-pressure-side quick joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: DENGEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Issei Higami
  • Patent number: 9796491
    Abstract: A method of filling by weight containers having respective bottoms standing on a conveyor, including the steps of: grasping each container in order to separate it from the conveyor and to bring it up to a substance dispenser spout; weighing the container while it is held separated from the conveyor under the dispenser spout and while simultaneously filling it in order to reach a desired weight; and putting the container back onto the conveyor. In addition, an installation for performing the above method is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Serac Group
    Inventor: Andre Graffin
  • Patent number: 9771212
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing dry particulate consumables includes a storage silo to store the particulate consumables. A first end of a conveyor is adjacent to a discharge opening of the silo. A second end of the conveyor is in communication with a dispensing hopper. A motor is configured to drive the conveyor in order to fill the dispensing hopper, where the dispensing hopper is filled in response to a purchase signal indicating a purchase request for dispensing the particulate consumables. A user interface is configured to initiate the purchase signal, where the user interface is configured to receive payment from a purchaser for the particulate consumables. A controller is in communication with the user interface, the motor that controls the conveyor, and the dispenser hopper in order to control an amount of particulate consumables dispensed to the purchaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Newsome, James Carter Parker
  • Patent number: 9671274
    Abstract: An apparatus including a computer processor, a robotic device, and a weight scale device, having a plurality of independent weight scales. The computer processor may be programmed to control the robotic device to cause a material located on the weight scale device to be evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales so that each of the plurality of independent weight scales indicates the same weight within a tolerance. The robotic device may include a rake appendage having a plurality of tines, which may be controlled by the computer processor to move the material to cause the material to be evenly distributed over the plurality of independent weight scales. The robotic device may include a roller device having a roller which may be controlled by the computer processor to run over the material located on the weight scale device to thereby compress the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: Alex Xie
  • Patent number: 9507344
    Abstract: A system calculates a first ratio of a prediction error variance of a model of a controller error, and the lesser of a variance of a prediction error of a naïve predictor model and a variance of a controller error. The system rates a process controller as a function of the first ratio. The system also calculates a second ratio of a variance of the controller error and a variance of the prediction error of the naïve predictor model. The system rates the process controller a function of the second ratio. The system uses the first ratio, second ratio, other ratios, and discrete indicators in determining an embedded fusion for loop performance monitoring in the process controller and for displaying a value as a measure of the loop performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Petr Endel, Karel Marik
  • Patent number: 9474693
    Abstract: Embodiments of work stations for use in medical dose preparation management system. A work station may include a camera stand. The camera stand may include a housing enclosing a camera and one or more light sources therein. As such, the camera and light sources may be directed at a medical dose preparation staging region to capture medical dose preparation images of the medical dose preparation staging region. The camera stand may include an adjustable support positionable in a plurality of positions to dispose the camera and light source relative to the medical dose preparation staging region. A base with a removable tray may be provided that include medical receptacle engagement features. The work stations may facilitate improved image quality, efficiency of work flows carried out at the work station, and administrative tasks such as cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Baxter Corporation Englewood
    Inventors: Joseph V. Ranalletta, Wesley J. Weber
  • Patent number: 9434487
    Abstract: A container filling machine comprising a container engaging device, a suction device for suctioning fine airborne particles and a container removing device for removing defective containers from continued travel along a production line. The suction device comprises a discrete article guiding passage for guiding discrete articles into a container. The discrete article guiding passage comprises a passageway having a length through which discrete articles pass prior to entering the container and at least one suction aperture into which airborne particles are sucked. The at least one suction aperture is positioned at a region along the length of the passageway. The suction device further comprises a suction pump in communication with the discrete article guiding passage for creating a suction effect for sucking airborne particles into the at least one suction aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: COUNTLAB, INC
    Inventor: Loris Bassani
  • Patent number: 9125426
    Abstract: A machine for producing and dispensing liquid or semiliquid food products, includes: a holding vat for a liquid base product; a treatment circuit for treating the liquid base product to obtain a liquid or semiliquid food product; a dispensing mechanism to dispense the food product; one or more actuators acting on the base product, food product and/or parts of the machine; and one or more sensors for detecting one or more operating parameters of the machine. The machine further includes an interfacing unit preferably provided with a control card operatively associated with at least one of the one or more sensors to receive a respective one of the one or more operating parameters and transmit it to a remote processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: CARPIGIANI GROUP—ALI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianni Zaniboni, Gino Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 9038676
    Abstract: A conveying device for free-flowing fine-particle solids, in particular for powdery and/or granular (mixed) material, especially plastic granulate, includes a vertically arranged and flexibly mountable telescopic pipe for the conveyance of, preferably, polymer granulates, for example in a plant for the filling of polymer granulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Bayer MaterialScience AG
    Inventors: Herbert Ungerechts, Hans-Joerg Frank, Dieter Scholten, Markus Hagedorn
  • Patent number: 9022080
    Abstract: A communication device or auxiliary ECU is activated when a fuel door of a fuel cell vehicle is open. Upon closing the fuel door, the communication device/ECU is shut off. The communication device/auxiliary ECU is operational regardless of whether the keys in the vehicle or not. This assures that communication of information can occur when a refueling station is most likely to request the information, i.e. when the fuel door is open. A temperature measurement device may monitor a vehicle tank temperature, communicate the tank temperature data to a filling station, and confirm that the tank temperature data is associated with the tank being filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David W. Cun, Ryan Douglas Roy Harty
  • Patent number: 9021772
    Abstract: A machine for dosing a product in capsules, includes a rotating turret which has seats suitable for receiving empty capsules and a dosing device for dosing the product in the capsules. The machine further includes a feeding unit having a first weighing device for weighing empty capsules, a transfer arrangement for transferring empty capsules, when weighed, to predetermined seats of the turret for being filled with the product, a second weighing device for weighing capsules filled with the product, and a processing device connected to the first and second weighing device for receiving data relative to weights measured by the first and second weighing devices and for calculating for each capsule a difference between the weight measured before and the weight measured after filling. In this manner, a respective quantity of dosed product is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Bedetti
  • Publication number: 20150114517
    Abstract: A container-lifting device includes a cam, and lifting elements. Each lifting elements has a container carrier on a slide element, a deformable fluid-pressure actuation element, and a guideway, separate from the actuation element, for guiding the slide element. The lifting element moves between first and second lifting positions. The control cam interacts with the slide elements to move them into the second lifting position. The actuation element, when pressurized, pretensions the slide element into the first lifting position. The actuation element has a wall that delimits an interior chamber to which the fluid pressure is applied. The actuation element is a ball-type element, a membrane-type element, or a bellows-type element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath, Dieter-Rudolph Krulitsch
  • Patent number: 9016329
    Abstract: A gas filling system (1) includes a gas tank (30); a gas filling device (2) that fills gas into the gas tank (30); and a controller (24) that calculates a temperature increase ?T and a pressure increase ?P in the gas tank (30) during a predetermined period of time (t seconds) that elapses from a start of gas filling. The controller (24) selects a filling rate map (Ma, Mb) from a prepared filling rate map group on the basis of the calculated temperature increase ?T and the calculated pressure increase ?P. The gas filling device (2) carries out gas filling using the filling rate map selected by the controller (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Mori
  • Publication number: 20150108169
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser comprises a bottle holder, a motor, and a controller. The bottle holder is configured to hold a bottle of a liquid beverage. The motor is connected to the bottle holder to cause the bottle holder to tilt. The controller is configured to control the bottle holder via the motor to experience multiple tilting movements, including multiple tilting movements each causing the bottle to tilt by a predetermined angular amount to bring the bottle into a pouring position to dispense a portion of the liquid beverage from the bottle into a serving receptacle. The liquid beverage may be wine, and the serving receptacle may be a wine glass. The liquid beverage may be liquor, and the serving receptacle may be a shot glass. The portion of the liquid may be an amount of liquid to fill the receptacle to a designated level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Richard A. Bishel
  • Patent number: 9010382
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for filling multi-chamber containers with different loose bulk materials. The apparatus and method may be particularly well-suited to packaging at least one bulk material, which is susceptible to water, chemicals, or other contaminants, with at least one other bulk material. The apparatus is a machine that includes separate hoppers for handling the separate bulk materials, and directs the separate bulk materials into different chambers of a multi-chamber container, which is then transported away from the machine for storage or use. The machine may include one or more movable hoppers supported on tracks, for moving the bulk materials to the hoppers that direct the bulk materials into different chambers of the multi-chamber container. A controller and data logger may be provided to control the apparatus and record the quantity and/or weight of the contents of each multi-chamber container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Reinhard Matye
  • Publication number: 20150101701
    Abstract: A tire inflation system and a method of control. An inflation pressure of a tire may be checked when a tire pressure sampling interval has elapsed. The tire pressure sampling interval may be adjusted based on a type of pressure drop when the inflation pressure is less than a target tire pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Dean, Kenneth Flory, Robert W. Trostle, Jonathan Honig, Anatoli Koulinitch
  • Patent number: 8985164
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling flow of a flowable material. The flowable material passes from a product supply through one or more valves which are coupled to a controller. The controller is also coupled to one or more sensors operable to generate a signal indicating whether flowable product is present or not present at a specific level within a container. The controller is programmed to operate the valves based on signals received from the sensors. The sensors may be associated with the feed container and used to control metering of flowable product out of the feed container, or they may be associated with a container and used to control filling of the container with flowable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caneel Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jonathan Seeman, Dewey Privette, Donna Elizabeth Seeman