With Testing Or Weighing Receiver Content Patents (Class 141/83)
  • Patent number: 8176949
    Abstract: A liquid crystal dispensing system includes a frame, a stage coupled to the frame; at least one liquid crystal dispenser moveably coupled the frame over the stage, and at least one measurement member operatively coupled to the liquid crystal dispenser, wherein the at least measurement member detecting an amount of liquid crystal material dispensed from the at least one liquid crystal dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo-Min Kwak, Hae-Joon Son
  • Patent number: 8176950
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a dosage includes a base frame, at least one device for receiving any dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit that is compatible to be inserted therein, a holder and at least one drive mechanism. The holder has at least one holding position for a dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit. A weighing cell arranged on a lower horizontal plane of the base frame includes a load receiver to receive a target container. A changing mechanism enables the receiving device to be moved horizontally relative to the base frame. This horizontal shift allows a dosage-dispensing unit or functional unit to be interchanged between the holding position and the receiving device. The changing mechanism also permits the receiving device, together with the drive mechanism, to be moved vertically with regard to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Paul Lüchinger
  • Patent number: 8176948
    Abstract: A liquid dispensing vending system that includes a closed, integrated system of bottles and dispensing machines. The bottles used with the instant dispensing system are designed to minimize the growth of mold, mildew, bacteria and other harmful micro organisms. The vending system may be used to dispense water, soft drinks, coffee, tea, water with nutrients, and/or antioxidants, into containers such as rugged bottles capable of being reused many times. The bottles are designed to be refilled by the dispensing machines, and therefore are tampered resistant. The bottles are made of an antimicrobial plastic and their contents are stored under pressure to discourage bacterial and organic growth inside the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Matthew Carrig
  • Patent number: 8176951
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for in-line processes of blending butane into gasoline streams, and for blending butane into a gasoline stream at any point along a petroleum pipeline. The invention additionally provides a method for measuring the vapor pressure and vapor to liquid ratio of the gasoline, both upstream and downstream of the blending operation, as well as the sulfur content of the butane entering the blending operation. The blending operation can be controlled to ensure that the blended gasoline meets EPA requirements for vapor pressure and sulfur content of gasoline. The invention further provides a method for accessing and monitoring the operation off-site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sunoco Partners Butane Blending LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Mattingly, Steven M. Vanderbur
  • Publication number: 20120090728
    Abstract: A system for filling a jar with powdery material, for example for the manufacture of nuclear fuel, including a device for connection between the jar and a material feed system, where the device includes: a stationary connection portion connected to the feed system, a connection portion which moves relative to the stationary connection portion intended to be connected to the container's filling orifice, where the moving connection portion includes in the area of a downstream end a lip seal to achieve a tight connection by contact with the contours of the jar's filling orifice and where the said downstream end is connected to the stationary connection portion by a bellows so as to provide mechanical disengagement between the downstream end of the moving connection portion and the stationary connection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: AREVA NC
    Inventor: Patrice Duval
  • Patent number: 8151829
    Abstract: A powder toner transferring method that fluidizes a powder toner with a gas supplied from an air supply, sucks the fluidized powder toner with a suction, and transfers the powder toner by discharging the powder toner in a toner storage container. The suction of the powder toner is performed with a reciprocating-motion pump. A powder toner filling method includes the powder toner transferring process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Makino
  • Patent number: 8151831
    Abstract: Containers for packaging liquid or powder products are directed onto a carousel (1) presenting a support element (9) equipped with a number of peripheral stations (10), each accommodating a relative container (2), and set in rotation about a vertical axis (X) by a drive system (6) housed internally of floor-standing frame (5) on which the carousel (1) is mounted. The support element (9) presents substantially disc-like appearance and is hollow, composed of a top panel (11) and a bottom panel (12) distanced one from another in such a way as to create an annular chamber (13) between the two panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianpietro Zanini, Marco Baroni
  • Patent number: 8151830
    Abstract: A powder dispensing device is disclosed for dispensing powder into hard gelatin capsules or the like. The powder dispensing device comprises at least one plunger for compacting the powder to a powder compact and/or at least one transfer plunger which transfers the previously produced powder compact into a capsule part ready to be filled. The device includes a sensing apparatus including fiber-optical cables and a lens for introducing and receiving radiation passed through the powder or the powder compact. The sensing apparatus is connected to either the compacting plunger or the transfer plunger, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schmied, Werner Runft
  • Patent number: 8151833
    Abstract: An inspection machine for inspecting the volume of liquid contained by a bottle filed to its defined fill height. A head is lowered and has a sealing plate which seals the open finish of a bottle. A fill tube assembly is part of the head and continues to be lowered until a level sensor is located to sense liquid at a pre-fill level. High and low pressure water lines which are a part of the fill tube assembly are operated to fill the bottle to the pre-fill level. The sealing plate is released and then the process is repeated lowering the sensor to the post-fill level and operating only the low-pressure line to fill the bottle to the post-fill level. The total liquid filling the bottle is then computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Michael C. Bagley, Philippe Spiteri
  • Patent number: 8146624
    Abstract: A system for controlling the loading of animal food into self-propelled mixing units by means of a mechanical shovel. The system includes a testing apparatus, which is mounted to the shovel to determine a series of chemical-physical information related to the chemical components contained in the food and a weighing apparatus, which is installed in a self-propelled unit to measure the weight of the food and is adapted to establish a wireless communication with the testing apparatus to receive the chemical-physical information related to the components contained in the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dinamica Generale S.R.L.
    Inventor: Andrea Ghiraldi
  • Patent number: 8146626
    Abstract: A flexible container has a container body with container walls that define a container interior. A container socket is connected to the container body and has a container opening through which the container interior is filled. Carrying loops are connected to the container body for lifting the container. The container socket has an initial retracted position in the container interior and is transferable from the initial retracted position into an upright filling position. The container socket is at least partially comprised of an elastically expandable material. The flexible container is filled by inserting into the container socket a filling tube, contacting with the filling tube the container socket in the initial retracted position, and transferring the container socket to the upright filling position and keeping the container socket secured on the filling tube in the upright filling position. The bulk material is introduced through the filling tube into the flexible container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Nordenia Deutschland Emsdetten GmbH, Reis GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Heinz Purnhagen, Siegfried Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20120060973
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the weight-dependent filling of containers, especially bottles (3), which comprise a tubular neck section (7) and which consists of a fill nozzle (8), a weighing device (5) and a holding element (6) for holding the container (3) under the fill nozzle (8). In that regard the weighing device (5) includes a force uptake element (14), a force introduction element (15) and a deformation body (17, 18) that is arranged therebetween and that is provided with strain gages (24) applied thereon. In that regard, the force uptake element (14) is secured on a machine frame (2) and the holding element (6) is secured on the force introduction element (15). The invention is characterized in that the force uptake element (14) is embodied as an outwardly lying ring element (14) and the force introduction element is embodied as a coaxially inwardly lying ring element (15), between which at least one radially spring-elastic connecting web (17, 18) is arranged as the deformation body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: HOTTINGER BALDWIN MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Jaeger, Werner Schlachter, Ralf Scherer
  • Publication number: 20120055579
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of samples by means of a dosage-dispensing device, a weighing system with a load receiver, a processor unit, a memory unit, and an exchangeable dosage-dispensing unit. A target container is set on the load receiver. The dosage-dispensing unit and/or the target container includes electrically insulating material. The dosage-dispensing unit has the capability to change positions relative to the load receiver. While the dosage-dispensing unit is in a first position and a target container is on the load receiver, a starting weight value is determined, the dosage-dispensing unit is brought into a second position, a dosage-dispensing cycle delivers a dosage material in a predefined amount from the dosage-dispensing unit into the target container by means of the processor unit, the dosage-dispensing unit is brought into the first position, and while the dosage-dispensing unit is at rest in the first position, an ending weight value is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventors: Bruno Nufer, Siegfried Gluvakov
  • Patent number: 8123731
    Abstract: An improved method for measuring and automatically disposing of infectious waste generated during and after surgical and clinical procedures is provided. The infectious waste removal device includes a suction source, a method for pressure verification, separation chamber for isolating fluids, containment reservoir, measurement chamber for determining fluid received, an information source for such fluid volumes, a quantitative method for calculating fluid dynamics, a post use cleaning method, and other attributes for use by the surgical team or healthcare staff in order to minimize health care worker handling of said infectious waste and to limit their possible exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: BioDrain Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall C. Ryan
  • Patent number: 8118068
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a dispensing unit suitable to precisely dispense material in powdery and/or granular form. The dispensing device comprises an gate valve opening sealingly closed by a blend. A control unit, which is interconnected to a scaling device, controls the opening of the gate valve opening by the position of the blend. The precise amount of the material is adjusted in relation to the signal of the scaling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Symyx Technologies Europe SA
    Inventors: Loic Pluvinage, Antonio Valella, Gian-Luigi Berini
  • Publication number: 20120037268
    Abstract: The invention proposes a device for metered dispensing of at least one liquid or viscous product measured by the weight of the quantity of dispensed product, and the method of using the device. A vertically-movable motor-driven filler nozzle (1) connected to a delivery duct (21) is made up of three concentric tubes (10), (20), (30), a filler nozzle head (11), and a probe (40). Sealing between the nozzle (1) and the container (5) is monitored by injecting a gas under pressure through the tube (10). The maximum acceptable level of product in the container is monitored by measuring the electrical resistance between the probe (40) and the tube (10), the nozzle head (11), and the tube (20). The presence of foam is detected by measuring the electrical resistance between the tube (30) and the tube (20), the tube (10), and the nozzle head (11). The device is particularly intended for dispensing bulk products on demand for home or personal use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Xavier Masselin, Cyrille Vincent
  • Patent number: 8104521
    Abstract: A dosage-dispensing device includes a drive device and a source container that can be set into the drive device, wherein a dosage-dispensing head is connected to a closure shaft which is movably constrained in the source container. The closure shaft has a coupler part configured to be coupled to and uncoupled from a drive shaft of the drive device. The source container has a first form element which is designed for form-fitting engagement with a first counterpart element formed on the drive device and serves to precisely position the coupler part in relation to the drive shaft. The source container further has a second form element which is designed for form-fitting engagement with a second counterpart element formed on the drive device and which, when in operating position, serves to precisely position the dosage-dispensing head in relation to a target container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Sandra Ehrbar
  • Publication number: 20120018446
    Abstract: A breakaway separation prevention safety device that provides warning indicators reminding users to replace a fuel nozzle after dispensing fuel. The safety warning system reminds users of a fuel pump to replace the nozzle into the nozzle mount. The system is activated as the user removes the nozzle from the nozzle mount. An audio and visual warning is emitted as a reminder for the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Johnie Lee Tague, Michael James Noble
  • Publication number: 20120012224
    Abstract: A filling device for filling containers with a food product is provided for use in the food industry. The filling device comprises at least one weighing device including at least one piezoelement configured to determine a filling amount of the food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Mathias Haeuslmann
  • Patent number: 8096331
    Abstract: A machine for filling containers, comprising dispensing heads, in which each dispensing head comprises at least two ports, which are connected to respective ducts for feeding different liquids, and is provided with elements for controlling the flow of the ducts which are controlled by automatic control elements which act as a function of the quantity of the individual portions of the different liquids that are meant to be introduced in a container, and are adapted to produce a sequential opening of only one of the ports, so as to fill each container by preset portions of the liquids which access sequentially the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Weightpack S.R.L.
    Inventor: Renato Marogna
  • Patent number: 8079750
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for administering micro-ingredient feed additives or supplements to feed rations. The amount of each particular micro-ingredient to be delivered to a feed ration may be determined by a bulk density measurement. Alternatively, bulk density measurement may be used in combination with existing weight measurement and volumetric metering methods for multiple micro-ingredients. Delivery by bulk density requires determination of a bulk density value along with use of a dispensing device that dispenses a calculated amount of the micro-ingredient ration. The dispensing calculation may be achieved by analysis of delivery time, pulse count, or some other quantitative measure such as magnitude. Use of bulk density as a measurement technique eliminates the requirement for use of scales in the micro-ingredient delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Animal Health International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Freeman, Charles H. Hoff
  • Patent number: 8069882
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling a container (7), particularly an open bag, with a powdery product has the following features” a net scale (1) situated above a tube arrangement and/or hopper arrangement (2), which terminates in a filler neck (6) above the container (7) to be filled while preferably projecting into this container. An intermediate chamber (3) is arranged downstream of the net scale and upstream of the container (7) to temporarily hold at least a portion of the product released by the net scale, and a compacting device (8, 9) is provided for compacting the product placed inside the container (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Haver & Boecker oHG
    Inventor: Alois Combrink
  • Publication number: 20110290375
    Abstract: A custom color paint or stain tinting system employs a dark-colored non-infrared-absorptive liquid base paint or stain and a point-of-sale array of concentrated liquid colorants which when dispensed into the base paint or stain provide custom-tinted non-infrared-absorptive paints or stains in lightened shades and a variety of tints. Dark custom-tinted paints or stains are tinted lighter from a dark-colored base, not darker from a white or light colored base as is done in conventional point-of-sale systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Sanford Lee Hertz, Matthew S. Gebhard
  • Publication number: 20110259468
    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: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Bedetti
  • Publication number: 20110259472
    Abstract: A system and method for controllably dispensing a predetermined volume of water at a predetermined temperature. The system and method include at least one heated water source and at least one second water source. Water is controllably dispensed from the heated water source and controllably combined with the controllably dispensed water from the second water source to produce a resultant predetermined volume of water at a resultant predetermined temperature. The system and method also includes controls and/or interfaces which allow a user to control the volume and temperature of water dispensed. The user may directly control the volume and/or temperature or may indirectly control the volume and temperature such as by introducing a control media, control selection, or recipe by which the user selects the choice but does not specify the details of the parameters associated with the choice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: BUNN-O-MATIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles H. Clark, Suresh Radhakrishnan
  • Patent number: 8042578
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for making paints from prepaints, along with a method related thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Robert Post, Ta-Jung Weng, Tsey-Jiann Yang
  • Patent number: 8028726
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for automatically maintaining a pressure differential for the continuous delivery of a liquid to semiconductor manufacturing equipment. A refillable bulk liquid delivery system includes a plurality of canisters residing along a liquid flow path, whereby an over pressure is detected within at least one of the canisters. The over pressure may be detected using an automatic venting circuit or a programmable logic controller programmed for detecting such over pressures. The over pressure is then exhausted by removing excess pressure from the canister through a venting valve to maintain a Delta pressure across the canisters for continuously delivering the liquid along the liquid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Mark C Easton
  • Patent number: 8028723
    Abstract: A receiving container is filled with a predetermined target mass mz of a free-flowing substance from a reservoir with the help of a dosage-dispensing device that dispenses measured doses of the substance. The device has a valve for variably setting the mass flow {dot over (m)} from the reservoir into the receiving container. The device is also able to determine the time t that has elapsed since the beginning of the fill cycle, the mass m of the substance present in the receiving container, and a unit for controlling the valve. The controller unit includes estimating and correction modules. At least once during the fill cycle, the estimating module performs an estimate of the mass {tilde over (m)}(t, t2) that is expected to be present in the receiving container at the end of the fill cycle at the time t2. This estimate is based on the assumptions that from the time t onward the valve is being closed according to a predefined closing-down profile and the fill cycle is completed at the time t2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventor: Marc Blöchlinger
  • Patent number: 8020589
    Abstract: A hydrogen dispensing station and method of operating a hydrogen dispensing station for dispensing to multiple receiving vessels. The station and method limit receiving vessel gas temperature during dispensing. Various components used to limit receiving vessel gas temperature during dispensing are mutual to multiple hydrogen service ports. Receiving vessel gas temperature during dispensing may be affected by pressure ramp rate control, cooling of hydrogen in a heat exchanger, and/or use of a lower temperature hydrogen source stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Perry Cohen, Tama Maya Copeman
  • Patent number: 8016538
    Abstract: The station for weighing containers comprises a line for transporting containers to be filled with a predetermined product, a zone for dosing and filling the containers with the product, a first transferring organ for picking up and transferring an individual empty container to a weighing organ, a second transferring organ for picking up and transferring the container to the weighing organ after filling. The transferring organs respectively comprise an oscillating arm which is activated with alternating motion between a pick-up and release position of the container to be weighed in proximity of the transport line and a position of release and pick-up of the container nearby the weighing organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Open Business Exchange Limited
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Patent number: 8011394
    Abstract: The invention includes a material dispenser that further includes a container containing material, a press plate or puck for exerting pressure on the material, a sensor for detecting the material discharged from the container, and a scale for detecting the amount of material discharged from the container. The sensor and scale provide feedback to a computer which controls the amount of pressure exerted on the material. The computer controls the pulsing of additional material from the container until a targeted amount of material has been discharged from the container. The invention permits the dispensing of a specific amount of material in a controllable, metered fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: GFI Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luehrsen, John Borkovec, Derek P. Pedraza
  • Publication number: 20110197990
    Abstract: Powder dispensing and sensing apparatus and methods are provided. The powder dispensing and sensing apparatus includes a tray support structure to receive a cartridge tray holding cartridges, a powder dispenser assembly including powder dispenser modules to dispense powder into respective cartridges of a batch of cartridges in the cartridge tray, a powder transport system to deliver powder to the powder dispenser modules, a sensor module including sensor cells to sense respective fill states, such as the weights, of each of the cartridges in the batch of cartridges, and a control system to control the powder dispenser modules in response to the respective sensed fill states of each of the cartridges of the batch of cartridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Trent A. Poole, David F. Bonneau, Per B. Fog
  • Publication number: 20110192491
    Abstract: A receptacle for the weighing-in of free-flowing substances has a fill opening, a tubular-shaped circumference wall, and a bottom part. The bottom part is connected to the tubular-shaped circumference wall, which it tightly closes off in the direction of gravity when the weighing receptacle is in its operating position. The weighing receptacle can be set on the weighing pan of a balance and can be filled like a beaker with free-flowing substances without allowing the latter to escape therefrom. The bottom part can be opened either by an outside force acting on the weighing receptacle and/or through the influence of a solvent acting on the weighing receptacle, forming an outlet orifice in the bottom part. The weighing receptacle, otherwise tightly sealed in the direction of gravity, can be flushed out with a fluid when the outlet orifice is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: METTLER-TOLEDO AG
    Inventors: Paul Lüchinger, Sandra Ehrbar
  • Publication number: 20110186172
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for preparing frozen drinks. The apparatus comprises a platform configured to support a blender cup, the platform reversibly translatable between a first position beneath an ice shaver and a second position beneath a flavoring dispenser, a weight sensor mechanically coupled to the platform and configured to produce an output signal indicative of a weight of an object present on the platform, and a safety circuit configured receive a sensor input and to facilitate safe operation of the apparatus responsive to the sensor input being indicative of a safe condition of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: OASIS FROZEN COCKTAIL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Herbert
  • Patent number: 7987877
    Abstract: In order to increase the hydrogen utilization rate of the cascade storage system, after dispensing gaseous hydrogen to a hydrogen vehicle, gaseous hydrogen is transferred via a compressor from at least one storage vessel at a lower pressure to at least one storage vessel at a higher, dispensable pressure. The methods of the present invention economically and efficiently increase the utilization rate of gaseous hydrogen stored in a cascade storage system by managing the storage of gaseous hydrogen and increasing the utilization rate of gaseous hydrogen stored in a cascade storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Farshad Alexander Bavarian, Dennis J. Benedetto, John Michael Brady, Daniel Glenn Casey, Dean Alan Kenefake, Charles Franklin Perdue, Jr., Hongqiao Bruce Sun
  • Patent number: 7987879
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus enable filling a receptacle with solid particles introduced into the receptacle with a controlled flow rate and pattern of distribution of the particles. A pneumatic loader may dispense the particles into the receptacle with ability to adjust the flow rate and pattern of distribution of the particles. Further, a laser sensor may enable detecting a topographic level of the particles loaded by movement of the laser sensor around a point to make linear measurements across the reactor at multiple angularly offset orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Cat Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathis Paul Comardo, Stephen Darius Bryant
  • Patent number: 7980277
    Abstract: The invention discloses a powder filling device and method which is capable of making stable powder flow rate, preventing powder from being leaked or dispersed during filling operation, and filling the powder in a short time in a new powder filling system filling the powder from a measuring tank to a powder filling container. The powder filling device comprises a measuring tank having a powder discharge port and a filling amount control unit disposed near the powder discharge port, and an auxiliary container having an opening disposed on the underside of the powder discharge port of the measuring tank which faces downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirosato Amano
  • Patent number: 7975642
    Abstract: An automatic seasoning device that includes a hopper, a seasoning dispenser positioned to receive seasoning from the hopper; and a moveable transition tray positioned to receive seasoning from the seasoning dispensing drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Franke Technology and Trademark Ltd
    Inventors: Brian R. Rudesill, Mark Edward Allegra
  • Patent number: 7967037
    Abstract: An apparatus for pumping fluids comprises a suction pump and an inlet tube extendible into a container containing the fluid. A sealing plate is provided over the liquid surface to form a circumferential seal with the inner wall of the container and the outer wall of the inlet tube. The sealing plate prevents air from entering the lower part of the container and thereby prevents the pump from cavitating once the container is emptied. A pumping system is also provided wherein a plurality of pumping apparatuses is provided on a frame. A dispensing system is also provided wherein a plurality of computer controlled nozzles are each connected to a respective pumping apparatus whereby specific volumes of desired fluids can be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Calgary Scale Services (1988) Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordon Brian Foster, Nyanza Alberta Van Vonno
  • Patent number: 7963303
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present system invention, the operator enters the customer name into the color management system and the computer screen displays the customer's history. If this is a new customer, a history file is created. The operator selects desired color from the color pallet, enters the required amount of finished dye and finally the activator strength is selected. The operator is instructed to place an empty batch container on the scale. The system prompts the operator for the first dye color, and an LED adjacent to the corresponding drawer is illuminated. The operator manually adds the amount indicated on the display panel, while the scale monitors exactly how much has been added and provides feedback to the operator leading to an extremely accurate dispense. After returning the bottle or tube to the designated storage bin, the operator presses “next”, and the next LED is illuminated along with the required amount of the next ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: The Saranow Group, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell H. Saranow, Charles C. Mayberry
  • Patent number: 7963302
    Abstract: An inspection machine for inspecting the volume of liquid contained by a bottle filed to its defined fill height. A head is lowered and has a sealing plate which seals the open finish of a bottle. A fill tube assembly is part of the head and continues to be lowered until a level sensor is located to sense liquid at a pre-fill level. High and low pressure water lines which are a part of the fill tube assembly are operated to fill the bottle to the pre-fill level. The sealing plate is released and then the process is repeated lowering the sensor to the post-fill level and operating only the low-pressure line to fill the bottle to the post-fill level. The total liquid filling the bottle is then computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Alan E. Thomas, Michael C. Bagley, Philippe Spiteri
  • Patent number: 7958916
    Abstract: Powder dispensing and sensing apparatus and methods are provided. The powder dispensing and sensing apparatus includes a tray support structure to receive a cartridge tray holding cartridges, a powder dispenser assembly including powder dispenser modules to dispense powder into respective cartridges of a batch of cartridges in the cartridge tray, a powder transport system to deliver powder to the powder dispenser modules, a sensor module including sensor cells to sense respective fill states, such as the weights, of each of the cartridges in the batch of cartridges, and a control system to control the powder dispenser modules in response to the respective sensed fill states of each of the cartridges of the batch of cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Trent A. Poole, David F. Bonneau, Per B. Fog
  • Patent number: 7958915
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering liquid color to a plastic resin processing machine include a scale for weighing a container of liquid color, a pump for removing liquid color from the container, controller for actuating pushers in the pump in a sequence whereby a first pusher is displaced to squeeze the delivery tube while a second and third pusher are not displaced thereby permitting liquid color to flow through the tube from the supply to a first position of tube squeezing, whereupon a second pusher is displaced to squeeze the tube and substantially trapped liquid color in the tube at the first and second position of tube squeezing, whereupon the first pusher permits liquid color to flow through the tube pass the first position of tube squeezing and the third pusher squeezes the tube and thereby forces at least a portion of the trapped liquid color material through the tube pass the first position of tube squeezing thereby supplying liquid color to the plastic resin processing machine at a predetermined
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: Stephen B. Maguire
  • Patent number: 7954498
    Abstract: In order to treat cut tobacco so as to loosen and homogenize the same, a tobacco stream (12, 16) passes through a plurality of processing stations (18, 19, 20), in the region of which the tobacco is loosened, during transportation, with the aid of different processing arrangements. The tobacco stream or main stream here is divided up into a plurality of smaller sub-streams during treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Christina Ott, Ralf Barkmann, Stefan Harms, Reinhard Hoppe, Thomas Jessen, Torben Baumgardt
  • Publication number: 20110126940
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filling system (1) for containers (2) fed into a filling device by means of a feeder device (3) and removed by means of a removal device (4), wherein at least one measurement device (5) is provided at least for weighing the filled container (2). The invention further relates to a measurement device (5) at least for weighing filled containers (2). In order to achieve that each container (2) can be subjected to fill level monitoring without interrupting the flow of containers, wherein reliable measurement data can be obtained at the same time regardless of foaming or of container tolerances, for example, the invention proposes that the at least one measurement device (5) is formed of a plurality of circulating measurement sensors (6) on which the containers (2) are transported from an inlet side (7) to an outlet side (8) while standing on the base thereof, and are simultaneously weighed, wherein the measurement sensors (6) circulate synchronously with the container flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Herrmann, Jan Peter Hecktor
  • Publication number: 20110108161
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering composition in a container filler installation, the device comprising a tube having at least an end provided with a nozzle and an opposite end provided with means for fastening to a feed line of the filler installation, and the device further including a plate fastened to the tube and provided with a support having a portion extending in register with the nozzle to support a container. The invention also provides a filler installation including at least one such device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Jean-Jacques GRAFFIN
  • Publication number: 20110100504
    Abstract: In one embodiment there is provided a system for recalculating a formula previously used in preparing a mixture made from adding at least two components. The system includes a control apparatus and scale. The control apparatus has a memory for storing the mixture formula. The scale, in communication with the control apparatus, allows the control apparatus to monitor a weight on the scale, such that a final weight of the mixture is stored on the memory. When an end weight of the mixture, defined to be the final weight of the mixture previously prepared minus an amount used by a user, is positioned back on the scale and when the control apparatus receives a recalculation signal, the control apparatus calculates the amount used, recalculates the mixture based on the amount used, and stores a new mixture for subsequent use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: THE SARANOW GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell H. Saranow, Charles C. Mayberry
  • Publication number: 20110073212
    Abstract: A system for measuring an ingredient in a container of a beverage dispenser includes a scale having a base with the container supported on the base. The ingredient has a recipe weight equal to a weight of a total amount of the ingredient that will be dispensed into the container and an in-flight weight that is equal to a weight of the ingredient that has left the dispenser but is not yet supported within the container so that it is detected by the scale. A dispenser controller subtracts the in-flight weight parameter from the recipe weight to calculate a target weight of ingredient within the beverage container, thereby controlling the activation or deactivation of the ingredient dispenser(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Daryl G. Erbs, James R. Mosenfelder, Jerry L. Landers, Gregory K. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7913720
    Abstract: An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: FHT, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Tribble, Joel A. Osborne, Abdul Wahid Khan, Morris W. Wallace, Vaibhav Deshpande
  • Patent number: 7896036
    Abstract: A fuel device for a mobile body comprises a fuel tank, a power consuming device, a fuel filling connector for receiving a fuel supply, and a power supplying connector for receiving a power supply. A fuel filling system comprises a vehicle having a fuel tank and a tank information processing unit, and a fuel filling device for filling the vehicle with fuel, wherein the tank information processing unit is started at fuel filling or started by power supply from the outside of the vehicle when the fuel tank is filled with fuel based on tank information. The vehicle comprises a fuel tank and a tank information processing unit, and the tank information processing unit is started at fuel filling. The fuel filling device has a filling nozzle which is connected with the fuel filling connector and provided with a feeding side connector for supplying power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Kobayashi, Yasuyuki Iida