Rotary Patents (Class 221/222)
  • Patent number: 11918152
    Abstract: A touchless food dispenser. The touchless food dispenser includes one or more types of food stored therein, one or more removable nozzles, and one or more nozzle replacement mechanisms. The touchless food dispenser is configured to dispense the food through the one or more removable nozzles. The one or more nozzle replacement mechanisms are configured to remove the one or more removable nozzles and replaces the one or more removable nozzles with a different removable nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventors: Bryan Hakim, George Hakim, Gabe Hakim, Christian Haller
  • Patent number: 11634242
    Abstract: Systems and methods for filling and sealing a container can include a housing having an opening for receiving containers, a rotary assembly including mount assemblies disposed in the housing, the rotary assembly operable to rotate the of mount assemblies about a central axis, a washing station, a filling station, a steam injector, and cap setter disposed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Boomerang Water, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Dibble, Marc Haydt, Zach Hilton
  • Patent number: 11412884
    Abstract: A method of operating a beverage preparation machine that permits automated preparation of a variety of beverages. A plurality of stations add ingredients to a beverage container and process the contents directly in the container in some embodiments. Parallel preparation of more than one beverage may be performed in some embodiments. A robotic arm moves the beverage container to the stations. The robotic arm may include a weight sensor as part of controlling the addition of ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KERRY GROUP SERVICES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: John Michael Herbert, Bryan R. Hotaling, John A. MacNeill, Scott A. Leclerc, Matthew Naples, Patrick J. Devine
  • Patent number: 11180329
    Abstract: A dispensing device for dispensing lids from a stack of nested lids, including a magazine containing a stack; a denesting unit arranged at a bottom of the magazine to detach lids from the stack bottom; and denesting rollers each of which has a lower shelf, a first upper shelf above a bottom shelf, and a second upper shelf above the first upper shelf. Some of the rollers comprise a first separator, and other denesting rollers comprise at least a second separator. The rollers are rotatable between a rest position in which the stack rests on the lower shelves; a single release position in which the first separators engage the stack to detach the last item from the stack bottom; and said rest position and a multiple release position in which the second separators engage the stack to detach at least the last two items from the stack bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: EVOCA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Dan Alexie Sirbu Villa
  • Patent number: 11116352
    Abstract: A beverage preparation machine permits automated preparation of a variety of beverages. A plurality of stations add ingredients to a beverage container and process the contents directly in the container in some embodiments. Parallel preparation of more than one beverage may be performed in some embodiments. A robotic arm moves the beverage container to the stations. The robotic arm may include a weight sensor as part of controlling the addition of ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Kerry Luxembourg S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: John Michael Herbert, Bryan R. Hotaling, John A. MacNeill, Scott A. Leclerc, Matt Naples, Patrick J. Devine
  • Patent number: 11077563
    Abstract: A picking device for picking up plate-like or pillar-shaped workpieces one at a time from the top of the workpieces stacked in the vertical direction, the workpiece picking device including: a chuck including a plurality of gripping claws arranged around a topmost workpiece, the plurality of gripping claws configured to grip a side surface of the topmost workpiece, the chuck being movable in a vertical direction; and an air blowing circuit provided inside at least one of the gripping claws, including a blowing port having an opening toward a second workpiece, the air blowing circuit configured to blow air downward from the blowing port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyouhei Asao, Naoki Akagawa
  • Patent number: 11058231
    Abstract: A disposable cup dispenser has an assembly made of thermoplastic material or another material of equivalent characteristics, the disposable cup dispenser being made of a laminar structure comprising a lower base, an upper closure lid, and a magazine formed by a set of modular elements, which can be fitted together vertically. Each modular element has a thin laminar structure, and one of the ends is provided with a uniform enlargement strip that is deployed to receive the end opposite the enlargement strip of another modular element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Spring Venture Investment Corp.
    Inventors: Luciano Missurini, Mauro Moreira de Lima
  • Patent number: 10865017
    Abstract: A mold for forming a lid having a cap connected to the lid by a tether. The mold has mold features for forming a lid body having a peripheral edge, a cap, a tether connecting the cap to the lid body, and a tear zone. The mold feature for forming the tear zone includes an elongate ridge located between the mold feature for the tether and the mold feature for the lid body for providing a reduced thickness flow path proximate the ridge that connects between the mold feature for forming the lid body and the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: DeRoyal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter C. Cowart, Randall Harris
  • Patent number: 10549933
    Abstract: A dispensing device that comprises vertical guidings for receiving a stack of a plurality of trays, a separating device for dispensing individual trays in a downward direction and a tray discharge device that has multiple rotating lifting elements. The dispensing device includes lifting elements that are formed cylindrically and have a comb structure with at least two immersing protrusions that extend in parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Multivac Sepp Haggenmüller SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Fickler
  • Patent number: 10124614
    Abstract: A printer includes a conveyor that feeds objects from a stack of nested objects to the printer. The conveyor includes a member having protuberances that extend from the member to hold the lips of objects in the stack except for the object closest to the printheads in the printer. A spindle mounted to a member is moved to be within an orifice of the object closest to the printheads to engage that object and pull it from the stack. The spindle rotates to facilitate the printing of the object. After the object is printed, it is released from the spindle and gravity directs the printed object along a ramp to an opening in the printer for collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Leo, Wayne A. Buchar, Brendan C. Casey, Daniel J. McVeigh
  • Patent number: 10043692
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate processing device, a substrate accommodation-status detection device, a substrate-transport device including a first substrate-transport sub-device which unloads substrates from a carrier and a second substrate-transport sub-device which unloads the substrates from the carrier, a control device including processing circuitry which controls the first and second substrate-transport sub-devices based on detection result of the substrate accommodation-status detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: Go Ayabe, Kouji Takuma
  • Patent number: 9984525
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for managing inventory within a vending apparatus are disclosed. The vending apparatus includes a robot, which is configured to include a camera or a sensor. The vending apparatus contains one or more storage containers filled with items for sale, and the one or more storage containers may include indicia that are readable by the robot and provide information to outside parties. The robot is configured to monitor the items for sale within the vending apparatus, as well as the level of inventory within each storage container. The vending apparatus may transmit information relating to its included items for sale to an external server, where maintenance and refreshment operations can be implemented in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Edward Will, Brian Rosner, Bryan Keith Solace
  • Patent number: 9446901
    Abstract: A storage device includes: a storage member having, in the vertical direction, a plurality of parallel storage sections that are capable of storing plate-like members; and a first lifting and lowering mechanism that causes the plate-like members, stored in the storage member, to move integrally in the vertical direction, while the position of the storage member in the vertical direction is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Yamagata, Akira Kishida, Atsushi Okada, Toshimichi Satou
  • Patent number: 9345340
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing cutlery may include a housing configured to contain a plurality of utensils for dispensing, a dispensing mechanism comprising at least one pair of indexing members configured to separate a utensil from a stack of utensils, and a receptacle configured to receive the utensil separated from the stack of utensils. A dispensing mechanism may alternatively include a plurality of linked members configured to separate a utensil from a stack of utensils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Walters, Morgan J. Lowery
  • Patent number: 9226612
    Abstract: In the coffee machine (1) exhibiting a selective loading device of a coffee capsule into an infusor, the loading device comprises at least an advancement line (L) exhibiting at least a motorized conveyor screw (11) for step movement of at least a stack (6) of capsules (7, 9) along a support and guide channel (14) of the advancement of the stack (6) of capsules (7, 9) towards a release section (8), and manual command means for enabling the advancing by a step of said at least a stack of capsules (7, 9), the channel (14) exhibiting, at an upper side thereof, windows (16) having a complementary shape to the capsules (7, 9) for introduction thereof with a compulsory orientation suitable for correct use with the conveyor screw (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: De'Longhi Appliances S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giuseppe De'Longhi
  • Publication number: 20140175115
    Abstract: A disk-shaped object dispenser includes a trough disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation for holding disk-shaped objects face to face. A guide is disposed at one end of the objects and movably engaged to the trough to urge the objects toward a dispending end. The guide is urged by a biasing device. A dispensing blade is disposed at an end of the trough and is movable transversely to a direction of the trough. The dispensing blade holds the disk-shaped objects in place when in a rest position and separates a forwardmost one of the objects when moved while retaining in place a remainder of the objects. A separator is operatively coupled with the dispensing blade and having a device to rotate fingers on lateral ends thereof. The fingers engage a bottom of the object separated by the blade to urge the separated object away from the dispensing blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Kennik Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth T. Walsh, Nicholas Walsh
  • Patent number: 8733121
    Abstract: A frozen treat dispenser (11) dispenses a snow cone and/or a slushy, and has at least an ice storage bin (14) for storing ice (10), a cup de-nesting mechanism (49) to separate a cup from a stack having a plurality of cups, an ice grinder (21) to grind ice from the ice storage bin to produce snow (82), a flavor dispenser (25), a cup transport mechanism (23) to move the cup to a first position (40A) whereby the ice grinder can at least partially fill the cup with the snow and to a second position (40B) whereby the flavor dispenser can dispense at least one flavor onto the snow in the cup, and a processor (152) to control the operation of at least one of the cup de-nesting mechanism, the ice grinder, the flavor dispenser, or the indexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Richard J. Soderman
  • Patent number: 8714406
    Abstract: A container denester apparatus which overcomes, among other problems, the problems identified above. The denester apparatus positively controls the flanges of the container so as to individually denest a lowermost container from a stack of containers. The apparatus protects the container by spreading the force required to denest the container along much of the flange structure. In addition, the stack of containers above the lowermost container are retained, again along much of the flange structure of the immediately adjacent container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Lakewood Process Machinery
    Inventors: Dale Miedema, Randy Miedema
  • Patent number: 8662088
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling under gravity from a hopper (9), a storage device (2) for articles that has the form of a columnar cavity between opposed side walls with a mass flow of mutually parallel rod-shaped articles descending from the hopper, a cavity-filling device (12) that alternates in use between a closed configuration that blocks a downward flow of the said articles through the device and an open configuration that allows flow of the articles through the device, the device being movable in translation, in alternate upward and downward strokes within the cavity, being in the closed configuration on the downward stroke and in the open configuration on the upward stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland SP . Z O.O.
    Inventors: Radoslaw Owczarek, Adam Gielniewski
  • Patent number: 8589787
    Abstract: The invention includes system for centralized rendering of user interface elements based on configurations as described in XML. A developer may create a definition for a field based on the nature of the information to be displayed to a user within a single file. Such definition will affect all future instances of the particular data type without a need to modify and/or compile code residing either within an HTML file or on a server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Suzanne K Berlin, Sonali Bimal Bose, Sitaram Inguva, Chintamani Maheshwar Chhatre
  • Patent number: 8407068
    Abstract: A medicine management apparatus includes: a medicine storage which stores a plurality of medicines used at a site of medical care; a storage and retrieval detector which, when a medicine handling personnel manipulates the apparatus to store or retrieve an accommodated medicine to be accommodated in the apparatus, physically detects the target accommodated medicine for which the apparatus is manipulated, differentiating it from the other accommodated medicines; and a counter which counts each type of the plurality of accommodated medicines. An injection prescription receiver receives injection prescription data from an external prescription analyzer. A retrieval determining unit determines whether the accommodated medicine detected as being retrieved is the accommodated medicine directed by the injection prescription data to be retrieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Tosho Inc.
    Inventors: Shiro Ohmura, Eiichiro Indei, Yoshihito Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8365950
    Abstract: A medicine dispensing device has a device body (1), shelf members (2) arranged in the vertical directions in the device body (1), and a medicine conveyance member (3) for conveying medicines (D), received in the shelf members (2), on one by one basis from the front face side of the device body (1). A shelf member (2) has cassettes (26) in which medicines (D) are received in line, a pusher (31) for pushing the medicines in the cassettes (26) toward the front face side of the device body (10), and a constant load spring (32) for applying a constant load to the medicines (D) received in the cassettes (26) through the pusher (31). To fill the cassettes (26) with the medicines (D), the shelf member (2) can be pulled out from the front face side of the device body (1) and then positioned by pivoting the shelf member (2) so as to face obliquely downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Hiroyuki Kanda
  • Publication number: 20120145741
    Abstract: A disk transferring device transferring disks delivered one by one from an disk reception opening to an disk ejection opening includes: a disk guide path having left and right guide surfaces that guide a peripheral surface of each of the disks and front and back guide surfaces that guide an front surface and a back surface of the disk, the disk guide path extending from the disk reception opening toward the disk ejection opening; and a plurality of disk pushers protruding into the disk guide path and pushing the disks by making a rotational movement about a plurality of rotational axis lines approximately at a right angle with respect to the front and back guide surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: ASAHI SEIKO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru ENOMOTO
  • Patent number: 8132492
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a deployment device that is operative to deploy Special Material (SM) to protect the vehicle when an enemy infrared (IR) threat is present. The deployment device constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one, and preferably a pair of canisters which are each filled or loaded with SM, then factory sealed to prevent oxidation or contamination. Each of the canisters included in the deployment device includes an input shaft which, when rotated, is operative to transmit the rotary motion to each of four threaded rods. The rods have two primary functions, which are to advance a piston thereby preloading the SM within the canister toward the open end thereof, and to turn rotary metering devices which are located at the open end of the canister. The advancing piston maintains consistent compression in the SM stack within the canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Meggitt Defense Systems
    Inventors: Roger D. Brum, Mark A. Imhoof
  • Patent number: 8061157
    Abstract: A refrigerator is shown having a dosing unit for dispensing ice pieces one by one from an icemaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Arcelik A.S.
    Inventor: Cumhur Ayvazoglu
  • Patent number: 8020725
    Abstract: A medicine dispensing apparatus which allows a prescribed quantity of medicines to be reliably taken out based on prescription data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Masahiko Kasuya, Akitomi Kohama, Masatoshi Warashina
  • Patent number: 7942597
    Abstract: An assembly structured to restrict contamination of individuals from association with the heads of stethoscope comprising a housing including a path of travel along which the head portion passes. Different embodiments include the dispensing of cleaning fluid or the delivery of protective barriers onto predetermined portions of the stethoscope heads, while passing along the path of travel. A dispenser assembly and a cooperatively disposed activating assembly are manually operated by moveable, driving engagement with the head portion passing through the housing. The activating assembly is thereby operatively positioned to activate the dispenser assembly when engaged by a head passing along the path of travel. Differently structured dispenser assemblies function to either deliver the cleaning fluid or individually dispense the barriers onto different heads, so as to either facilitate the cleaning or protective covering of exposed surfaces of the stethoscope heads, dependent on the embodiment utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Seedlings Life Science Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Perlman, James M. Sellers, Keith Rubin, Mathew Cardinali, Michael R. Cole, Sidney Perlman
  • Patent number: 7857164
    Abstract: Device for selection of capsules containing a food product from a, stack of capsules contained in a container, comprising a body (10) which delimits a passage (20) through which the capsules pass by gravity; first stop means (30, 31, 32, 33) for selectively retaining and releasing said first capsule (90); actuating means (8) for actuating said stop means (3, 30, 31, 32, 33) between a stop position and a release position. The first stop means (3, 30, 31, 32, 33) are distributed about the circumference of the passage (20) and are able to move by turning transversely, and simultaneously, towards the inside of the passage to a stop position in order to form several support points distributed under the capsule (90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Jarisch, Alfred Yoakim
  • Patent number: 7806292
    Abstract: A towelette dispenser is provided with an integrally molded lid. The lid has a central aperture for allowing access to a roll of towelettes maintained within a tub receiving the lid therein. The separation bar bridges the aperture, and provides a rip fence in the form of a fingered thimble that is angled with respect to the lid as a whole. The thimble is offset near one edge of the annular opening so that a user may access the back side thereof to thread an edge of the leading towelette through the thimble without having to remove the lid from the tub. A well is provided in the smaller portion of the aperture and a cap for the lid is provided with a stuffer tab to urge the leading edge of the next towelette into the well when the cap is closed. Barrier caps are also provided to seal the interior of the tub during shipment and storage before the first use of the towelette dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: Nelson E. Simkins
  • Publication number: 20100116841
    Abstract: An assembly structured to restrict contamination of individuals from association with the heads of stethoscope comprising a housing including a path of travel along which the head portion passes. Different embodiments include the dispensing of cleaning fluid or the delivery of protective barriers onto predetermined portions of the stethoscope heads, while passing along the path of travel. A dispenser assembly and a cooperatively disposed activating assembly are manually operated by moveable, driving engagement with the head portion passing through the housing. The activating assembly is thereby operatively positioned to activate the dispenser assembly when engaged by a head passing along the path of travel. Differently structured dispenser assemblies function to either deliver the cleaning fluid or individually dispense the barriers onto different heads, so as to either facilitate the cleaning or protective covering of exposed surfaces of the stethoscope heads, dependent on the embodiment utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Perlman, James M. Sellers, Keith Rubin, Mathew Cardinali, Michael R. Cole, Sidney Perlman
  • Patent number: 7487886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a more robust article dispensing apparatus that is relatively simple in construction and usage for dispensing articles in a clean and protective environment. More specifically, the apparatus accepts, separates, and dispenses articles from a nested stack of articles such as beverage cup lids one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Autpmatic Bar Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Hecht
  • Patent number: 7434704
    Abstract: A medicine feeder is composed of: a cassette (2) for housing medicines D in an array; a biasing member (6) for biasing the medicines D in the cassette (2) toward one end side; and a discharge member (16) disposed on one end portion of the cassette (2) for holding a medicine D in a holding recess portion (18) and discharging the medicines D one at a time by rotating the discharge member. This makes it possible to ensure the discharge of a prescribed quantity of medicines based on prescription data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Shinji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7320780
    Abstract: A sterilizing unit for food, pharmaceutical and like products, packaged in rigid or soft containers, includes at least an autoclave adapted to receive, through at least an access door and through a loading/unloading unit, at least a container wherein are arranged packages. Advantageously, the autoclave is vertically arranged and includes internally vertical conveying device designed to be subjected, by a motoring mechanism for loading and unloading them in a step-by-step forward movement through the access door(s) for containers in the form of shelves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Inventor: Patrice Camu
  • Publication number: 20070284388
    Abstract: A device for separating individual cup-shaped containers from a stack of such containers is provided, including a frame, a separating mechanism, an adjusting mechanism, and a power transmission mechanism. The separating mechanism includes at least a pair of screw rods arranged on opposite sides of the frame and substantially parallel to and spaced from each other to receive the stack therebetween. The power transmission mechanism is coupled to the screw rods by mated gears for driving rotation of the screw rods. The screw rods have screws engaging outer rim of each individual container and having an increased pitch whereby when the screw rods rotate, the container is driven forward in a given direction and is increasingly spaced from the other containers due to the increased screw pitch. The adjusting mechanism is coupled to the screw rods to selectively adjust the distance between the screw rods for accommodating containers of different specifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventor: Benker P. C. Liao
  • Patent number: 7270248
    Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing flexible lids includes a housing having a lid stack holder for containing a coaxial stack of lids. Lids are supported within a substantially coaxial channel of the lid stack by a pair of opposing indexing shafts that rotate upon operation of a user operable drive device to pass a bottom-most lid to a discharge area. The drive device may be calibrated to rotate the indexing shafts by an adjustable amount that is determined, at least in part, by the height of each lid and/or the spacing between lids in the stack. Further, the housing may be constructed from a fixed housing portion and an adjustable housing portion. The adjustable housing portion allows the spacing between the indexing shafts to be adjusted to correspond to the circumference of the lids currently being dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Inventor: Roy D. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 7207462
    Abstract: A dispenser is adjustable to contain beverage container lids of various sizes. A housing has a front element with an opening. Pager assemblies are mounted in slots which extend radially outwardly from the opening. A stack of lids is inserted into the housing through the opening, and the pager assemblies allow a single lid to be extracted from the stack by the pivoting of a door containing two claws which engage the frontmost lid. To reconfigure the dispenser for a different lid size, a template is positioned frontwardly of the housing front element, and the pager assemblies are adjusted to abut the template, thereby configuring the pager assemblies in the proper position. The claws on the lid are then replaced with claws which are configured to the new lid shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Acry Fab, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Gunderson, William R. Laupan
  • Patent number: 7152757
    Abstract: A coupling for connection of a tube comprises a coupling housing which includes a first end into which the tube is inserted, a clamping ring which is positioned in the coupling housing against a first conical surface, a sealing ring which is positioned in the coupling housing, and a return ring which is positioned in the coupling housing between the clamping ring and a second end of the housing adjacent a second conical surface that is tapered opposite to the first conical surface. The return ring is expandable and comprises a central aperture which is smaller than the external diameter of the tube. Accordingly, when the tube is pushed into the coupling housing and forced through the return ring, the return ring will expand and move along the second conical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Doug Huffer, Fred Lowery, Gary Petersen, Keith Gausmann, Samuel Marino, Gary Myers, Jamison J. Float, Jay F. Perkins, Steve Pever, Robert Hayes, Michael T. Kopczewski, Paul E. Hsu, Douglas G. Schaefer, Brent L. Burchfield, Jeffrey T. DeBord
  • Patent number: 7086562
    Abstract: Devices and methods for holding a tray stack having a plurality of trays configured to carry and store microelectronic devices. Several devices in accordance with the present invention are particularly applicable to carrying a stack of JEDEC trays that have been loaded with a plurality of microelectronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is a tray retainer including a guide structure configured to allow the tray stack to move in a direction of a load/unload path, and to restrict lateral movement of the tray stack with respect to the load/unload path. The guide structure can have a first end, a second end, and an opening at least proximate to the second end. The guide structure, for example, can have first and second channel sections extending in the direction of the load/unload path. The second channel section can also face the first channel section. The tray retainer can also include a cross-member and a moveable retaining element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin L. Peterson, Michael R. Slaughter, Keith P. McCall
  • Patent number: 7066708
    Abstract: Devices and methods for holding a tray stack having a plurality of trays configured to carry and store microelectronic devices. Several devices in accordance with the present invention are particularly applicable to carrying a stack of JEDEC trays that have been loaded with a plurality of microelectronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is a tray retainer including a guide structure configured to allow the tray stack to move in a direction of a load/unload path, and to restrict lateral movement of the tray stack with respect to the load/unload path. The guide structure can have a first end, a second end, and an opening at least proximate to the second end. The guide structure, for example, can have first and second channel sections extending in the direction of the load/unload path. The second channel section can also face the first channel section. The tray retainer can also include a cross-member and a moveable retaining element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin L. Peterson, Michael R. Slaughter, Keith P. McCall
  • Patent number: 6866470
    Abstract: Devices and methods for holding a tray stack having a plurality of trays configured to carry and store microelectronic devices. Several devices in accordance with the present invention are particularly applicable to carrying a stack of JEDEC trays that have been loaded with a plurality of microelectronic devices. In one embodiment, the device is a tray retainer including a guide structure configured to allow the tray stack to move in a direction of a load/unload path, and to restrict lateral movement of the tray stack with respect to the load/unload path. The guide structure can have a first end, a second end, and an opening at least proximate to the second end. The guide structure, for example, can have first and second channel sections extending in the direction of the load/unload path. The second channel section can also face the first channel section. The tray retainer can also include a cross-member and a moveable retaining element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darin L. Peterson, Michael R. Slaughter, Keith P. McCall
  • Patent number: 6824010
    Abstract: A selective actuating apparatus involves a barrel 17 rotated due to rotation of a driving motor 2, a revolving shaft 3A supporting rotatably the barrel 17, and a barrel 16 rotated as a result of transmitting torque in the case where the barrel 17 is rotated in a direction b indicated by an arrow wherein a cam section 16B is defined on the barrel 16. In this condition, when the barrel 17 rotates in a direction a indicated by an arrow, the torque does not transmit to the barrel 16, but the barrel 16 is allowed to displace along the revolving shaft 3A due to sliding motion in between a projection 16A formed on the barrel 16 and a projection 17D formed on the inner circumference of the barrel 17 in a stepped manner. As a result, the selective actuating apparatus by which a plurality of driving objects can be driven without requiring a plurality of driving sources, so that its driving system can be downsized is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Erikawa
  • Patent number: 6786359
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided for dispensing objects including for example, container lids for beverages such as soft drinks, coffee, tea, and juice. For example, a coaxial stack of lids is loaded into a housing of the dispenser. Upon actuation of a the dispenser, the bottom-most lid in the stack of lids is delivered to a discharge area by passing the bottom-most lid through a nip point defined between a pair of oppositely rotating indexing shafts. Once the bottom-most lid is delivered to a discharge area, the indexing shafts are brought to rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Roy D. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 6695698
    Abstract: A dispensing game system includes a prize capsule storage hopper above two automatic hopper loaders that replenish the game below with prize capsules as needed. Two Ferris wheels carry free swinging gondolas that receive and hold the prize capsules from the loaders. Two or more player-activated actuator arms located next to the outer edge of the Ferris wheels are used to hit targets attached to the moving gondolas, in turn causing the gondolas to tip forward and release the prize capsule, which then falls down and rolls into the prize opening for the player to collect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Pixy Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Python Anghelo, Bryan Hansen, William Pfutzenreuter
  • Patent number: 6560946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a distributor that enables covers to be fitted automatically on containers in a chamber without requiring assistance from an operator. It mainly comprises a slider (5) mounted to slide between two plates (3 and 4). The queued covers (2D) are positioned on a lowering and introducing system (11) equipped with three double-fingers (20) that enable the last bottom cover to be selected in each cycle in order for it to drop onto the slider (5). A carrier cell (7) in said slider is used to displace the selected cover towards a positioning cell (9) of the lower plate (4) and drop it onto a container that has been previously introduced by said cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Campagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Christian Orange, Philippe Hunaut
  • Patent number: 6550638
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cup-supplying apparatus for supplying tapered cylindrical cups stored in a stack, which comprises cup dispensers each supplying lowest cup from cups stored in a stack; a unit generating a force for cup-supplying; force-transmitting members each transmitting the cup-supplying force to a corresponding cup dispenser; and means for selecting one of the force-transmitting members to be supplied with the cup-supplying force; whereby the cup-supplying force generated by the force-generating unit is transmitted to the selected force-transmitting member so that the lowest cup is supplied for use by the corresponding cup dispenser, wherein the cup dispenser may be provided with a lever, the force-generating unit may comprise a motor and a cam, the force-transmitting member may be a slider provided between the lever and the cam, and the selecting means may be a mechanism for moving the cam up and down to a position where the slider can transmit the cup-supplying force from the cam to the lever of the corr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihide Mochida
  • Patent number: 6539833
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dropping device, preferably borne by a carrier aircraft, for distributing interference medium and especially electronic raspberry. The device according to the invention represents in principle an improvement to the device known through SE 8302508-0 and it is characterized firstly in that it has been provided with separately rotatable accelerator shafts (14, 15), which have the dual function firstly of acting as locks for an unwanted feed-out of interference medium packs (4) and secondly, when a feed-out has been activated, of executing this and giving the fed-out interference medium pack (4′) an increased feed-out speed, partly due to the device having been provided with a totally new, specially configured indexing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Saab AB
    Inventor: Christer Zätterqvist
  • Patent number: 6490782
    Abstract: An automated filter changing system comprises a rotatable filter dispensing assembly and a filter clamping assembly. The filter dispensing device receives filter storage magazines in which a plurality of filters are initially stored in the form of connected stacks. The filter dispensing assembly includes a filter separating device having a stationary portion. The filter separating device separates one or more stacks of filters into discrete filter units, such that individual filters are transported sequentially from the filter dispensing device. The filter clamping assembly operates in conjunction with the filter dispensing device to receive one or more individual filter units dispensed therefrom, and provides one or more coupling sites which can fluidly communicate with one or more fluid lines. The filter clamping device couples unused filters to fittings associated with the fluid lines by applying an evenly distributed force to the filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Varian, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory S. Duckett
  • Patent number: 6443689
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a screw device (10) arranged to deliver the articles one at a time, in a manner spaced from the others, after withdrawing them from a vertical pile resting on it, means for counting the articles delivered by the screw device (10) and, downstream thereof, a continuous track (20) along which the articles slide in a stacked arrangement and which leads the stacks containing a predetermined number of articles to a final station (50) in which the stacks are positioned horizontally or inclined; finally a rotary device (30) accompanies the stacks of articles of predetermined number and urges them one at a time along said track (20) from the point in which they leave the screw device (10) to the final station (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Clevertech S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Reggiani
  • Patent number: 6378728
    Abstract: The operation of selecting one cup delivery section from a plurality of cup delivery sections is performed based on the rotation of a barrel in one direction. On the other hand, the operation of driving the selected one cup delivery section to feed a cup is selectively performed based on the rotation of the barrel in another direction. Thus, a cup feeding apparatus can be provided which can feed various cups without providing a plurality of drive sources and can realize excellent working efficiency of the assembly and the maintenance and inspection without increasing the apparatus cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Erikawa
  • Patent number: 6186083
    Abstract: A digger for facilitating the application of a material to a mushroom bed includes a feed system wherein a metering shaft is provided in the compartment or hopper for the material. The metering shaft contains sets of supply pockets which receives the material to be conveyed to distribution heads. The digger also includes a digging shaft connected to a drive shaft by improved structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Remo's Mushroom Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Remo Toto